Zach Cherry

Account Manager Worldwide Wine & Spirits

9.3

Lives up to the hype. If you drink $60 Napa Cabs on the reg, you absolutely have to have the best Oak Knoll has to offer. Beats the Hell out of Trefethen. Looking forward to the white blend, which I purchased at the same time.

Dark, brilliant reflectivity, with a very bright purple rim. Dusty, yet velvety tannins, some tea leaf, blackberry compote, violets, perfume wafts out of the glass. Ability of this is in the classic range. A good decade on its side, could really show well with time. It's a rockstar now, don't get me wrong, just had a lot of potential. Absolutely ridiculous payout for a few Jacksons as of 2016. — 10 years ago

Ilya Genkin

9.0

Deep ruby colour with purple hues. Rich and ripe dark cherries and plums with some herbs, white pepper and a bit of oak. Very soft and silky tannins. Quite long savoury finish. Another great wine of the fantastic 2011 year for Central Otago. Very enjoyable. — 12 years ago

Howard Yang

9.5

100% tempranillo, aged in TWO rounds of 100% New French oak casks, 12 months each round for a total of 24 month before bottling. Decant and poured, inky opaque purple in color, for a nine years old wine, no brick color showing at all on the edge! Full body, smell of berry, lavender, cured meat, vanilla and leather. Still with plenty of fruits, fine tannin and savory acidity, smooth and long finish. — 12 years ago

Mark Lindzy

9.3

Mencia from Ribeira Sacra, old vines on slate & granite. Aged in used white burgundy barrels, and I can't detect oak flavors so...well done! Pretty black fruit and purple flowers. Definitely more unwound than 2014. — 10 years ago

Christine Havens

9.3

Soter's 2012 Mineral Springs 'White Label' Pinot Noir has a rather unique story in that it is crafted from an unidentified "heirloom" clone. Who cares what the clone is, the results are spectacular. The perfect combination of concentration and finesse, the nose is a romp through a damp and earthy forest glen, fields of lavender, and then to the market, to find juicy blackberries and blueberries at their peak. Equally lush, almost brooding on the palate, with underlying layers of minerality and spice. Pinot reserved for the white label is aged 12 months on 50% new French oak, with 30 days extended maceration and minimal racking. 14.0% ABV — 11 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

So good. Lavender fields on the nose. Not too much oak. Really well integrated. Killer. — 12 years ago

with Matthew

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.6

Color: Golden Yellow
Nose/Smell: Not sure how long this was open for but at least a few hours.  Lots of perfume and flowers such as acacia, lavender,  elderberry and honeysuckle.  Additional contained sweet honey.
Palate/Taste: A little bit of heat at the end of the palate.  No where close to as much as the 2009 last month. Thick body and syrupy like honey consistency.  Long finish that lingers and sweetness stays steady.
Opinion: Noted a few interesting things. If you are a big fan of Vin de Constance, Napoleon's wine,  you might have noticed that the was no 2010 vintage.  While the 2011 is still over 85% from 2011 it is blended with the very small yield from 2010. Each grape is hand picked for this wine and is not pressed.  This is made entirely of free run juice. Additionally this was agreed on 60% new french oak. This can easily be cellared until 2035+. Great structure and power. — 11 years ago

with Sean and India

"Odedi"

9.5

Dark ruby /purple in color with a purple rim.
Meduim to full bodied with gorgeous legs.
Beautiful on the nose with blueberries, blackberries, cherries, nutmeg, vanilla, white pepper and candy.

Smooth on palate with blackberries, dark currants, plums, raisins, oak ,vanilla, cola chocolate and black pepper.

Dry finish with dark berries, peppercorn and voluptuous tannins.

What a wonderful wine. Very recommended. The best Australian Shiraz I had so far.
Can be had by itself or with grilled meats.

This Shiraz spent 12 months in American oak barrels and aged beautifully.
WA 92.

14.5% alcohol by volume. — 11 years ago

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

A very dry style of Viognier with pretty floral notes of lavender slightly oily texture but wonderful balance and freshness and tongue tingly acidity. Four different boneyard sites produced on terraces and does have som new oak — 12 years ago

Howard Yang

9.5

Dark purple in color, smell of raspberry, sour cherry, dark cherry, white pepper, and clover, taste of white pepper, oak, and tobacco, balanced, with a medium to long finish. — 13 years ago