Jeff Venier

9.6

Can you ever have too many Burgundies to taste? Wonderful trade tasting. The Gros Frere et soeur wines don’t get additional sulphur so they seem older and wilder than many of the wines at the tasting. The Vougeot has the stuffing to balance the wildness. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.0

VERY interested to try this wine as I just bought a 3-pack a little while back. This Randy Hester wine is doing GREAT things. 100% Texas Tempranillo sourced from Tx High Plains (Bingham and Farmhouse Vineyards both claim source). The sharp bite that seems to be present in a lot of Texas Temps. Not sure if it's the soil that adds this note or what, but I believe it is because it is not there in a lot of hill country AVA fruit. Either way, this tempranillo did not have that tart bite on the front. Lovely expressive tempranillo perfume came rolling out of the glass. I do know that Texas temp really does like to sit, and this one is a baby. The thing I noted most about this wine was its structure. This. Will. Age. Well. It just needs a little more time for integration. This solidified my happiness of a 3-pack purchase, and glad I was able to get a sneak peak. Really neat project wine by Randy Hester. If anyone knows how to manipulate the "wilder side" of grapes and tame the wild beast, it is him! — 7 years ago

roland benedetti

9.1

Actually really well enjoying this.
Smells good and subtle but nothing crazy. Typical Form north italy, taste first light and easy but then come a much wilder and tougher taste, quite wild and a bit smokey. — 7 years ago

with Leah

Charles Hudson

9.1

Spicier and wilder than expected. — 7 years ago

Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.4

Now this is an interesting wine, savennieres-like--waxy/tart/oxidative-- but wilder, less tamed, drinking it felt very much like entering a time machine, worth seeking out if interested in historical wines. — 8 years ago

Ronna Dellinger

8.9

We liked this one. No idea where we got it. — 9 years ago

Carl Steefel

9.4

Hard to imagine a more dramatic transformation--at 1 hour, I would have said 100% primary, but then at 2 hours, this was aromatic, shape shifting on the palate, with tarry dark cherry flavors that turned volatile on the finish. Early, the pedigree and elegance were incipient at most, but at 2 hours (after the detonation) a wilder element had emerged. — 9 years ago

Keira Smith

10

A great Chardonnay for all occasions. A great value for the price. Fruity and the right amount of sweet. Better as it is a little warmer than ice cold. — 10 years ago

Kristina Schaefer Rinderspacher

9.0

Yum! No headaches 😊 — 5 years ago

Esther Gauntlett

9.1

She’s the wilder messy older sister of last night’s classy offering — 6 years ago

with Carley and Jenny

Carson

9.4

If Italian wines are my love then consider this little gem from the south of France to be a tryst. This wine is dusty, wild and uninhibited, packing an oh-so-sensual touch right out of the bottle. The robe, a delightfully deep crimson, is soon abandoned as it gives way to a softer and more supple hue that suggests more surprises are on the way. Light and musty on the tongue, the more you play with it the wilder it gets. The slower you take it, the flavors of licorice, currant, spice box, and pork fat on the finish reward your patience. Drink now, as this southern Rhone beauty is at peak maturity--just don't let your true love find out... — 7 years ago

Tim Herrmann

9.7

How cool to compare this to Giuseppe's monprivato. This is wilder with strawberries and curry spice and flowers and a bit more open from the get go. I love it today. Tannins present but not prohibitive. — 7 years ago

Tourswede

9.0

New stock. Less gunk. More linear on some notes but wilder on the herbal level. Different but for me better than last year's.

** only a glass in on new bottle so updates mat occur! — 8 years ago

Craig Ironside

9.1

Like a wild wilder beast, this touched my inner retarded turtle. — 9 years ago

Chris MacLean

9.2

Compared to the the previous Valtellina wine, Marsetti Grumello, this is brighter, earthier, wilder, and more acidic. Both are great, for a similar price. The Arpepe is more versatile with food but the Marsetti is more structured for longevity. — 9 years ago

Ramey Wine Cellars

10

"2010 Chardonnay, Ritchie Vineyard shows an ethereal nose that is light and refreshing with crisp lemon, sea salt and grain along with pineapple and verbena. The palate offers exceptional depth and texture with butterscotch, lemon, and toast with gorgeous balance. This will help you rediscover Chardonnay, without a doubt."
- Doug Wilder, Purely Domestic Wine Report, December 2013

All of our Chardonnays are whole-cluster pressed and fermented in Burgundian barrels with native yeast. Due to their great density and structure, vineyard-designate wines are able to absorb more oak without being overwhelmed, and see approximately 45% new French barrels. In addition, these wines spend more time in barrel (for Ritchie, 21 months), completely sur lies, before being bottled without filtration. — 10 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

This wine is doing rather well, yet you can tell that it's starting to hang on to the edge of the hill while simultaneously being pushed over by the later vintages and Father Time. Poured a darker straw color into the glass. The nose was dried herb and a little bit of tropical fruit. The entry was more rounded, but immediately a honey and dried herb note kind of hit. The fruit was more of a wilder, bramblier tropical fruit note with a touch of butter. This wine seems to be going more of the buttery route and more of the tertiary / mushroom way, as this sort of seemed to develop on the finish more when it was near room temp than when it was cold (initially it was served rather cold). I rather enjoyed this wine due to its complexity, although I cannot say that would be the case in the next 2-3 years as I feel it is starting its downward slide. Drink now. — 6 years ago

with Dan

Dario Tolone

9.2

bit wilder. strong! — 7 years ago

roland benedetti

9.0

Tasting the 2014, it's yum, not as subtle as 2013 and other wines from Montebruno. Wilder, animal, more smokiness? — 7 years ago

with Toby and Leah

Mark Duong

9.5

Beautiful nose, Gin of place from S Cal — 7 years ago

Jon Teague

9.2

Always a pleasure. Silky smooth with nice black fruit notes. Tops for Chile, wilder than some other Syrahs. — 7 years ago

Sam O'Brien

8.9

More savory and structured. A little wilder. Delicious. — 9 years ago

Russelton Handleberry

8.9

A bit more cranberry and riper fruit than the Carneros, which seemed a bit wilder. — 9 years ago

Daniel Toral

Sommelier Lippi Restaurants

9.1

Nights like this.. Surprised at how much this drinks like st Emilion. Slightly wilder & with brighter acid — 10 years ago