Gor

9.4

Huge wine. Definitely feels more like a gevrey. Very masculine, structured, concentrated. Red-currants, white pepper, hints of pine trees on the nose. persistent tannin that’s chewy through a super long finish that just lasts forever. This is insanely good and will likely keep getting better for years. — 5 years ago

Gene Buonviri

9.1

Another great Oliver McCrum wine which expresses a true traditional art form; the great flavor of the grape. You imagine apple and peach or sitting in the orchard up in the trees. Excellent pairing with Paella complimenting the mussels,
Shrimps, chorizo and chicken.
Grab a bottle open it and enjoy! — 5 years ago

Stephen Becker

9.0

The ocean sprays a forest of mossy grey-barked apple trees as a teenage Sugar Lyn Beard carves love sonnets into limestone at sunrise. — 6 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

Highly aromatic nose, one that is so powerful, you could smell it from across the room. Of blackberry blood, clinging to the eucalyptus trees.

Saline, blackberry, deep, brooding, spicy, heavy handed heat, finished by slate like acidity.

Wow. Amazing.
A glass held in the air for those we remember this day.

— 7 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Probably would have guessed a cab franc - quite vegetal and green peppery. Not a jammy overextracted cab at all. Quite nice. — 7 years ago

Patti Gamboni

9.3

Eucalyptus on nose (trees on property), silky, beautiful and lifted, savory undertones, mocha. 2011 might be last vintage with significant eucalyptus notes. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Vines first planted here in 1875 but long gone. Like many NZ Wine regions fruit trees thrived in this case apricots. A small producer with a solid Otago Pinot. — 8 years ago

James Gourley

9.3

This wine exudes the terroir of the mountain slope south of Lake Hennessey. The cool breeze coming off the water, the 100+ year old olive trees and pomegranate trees that surround the vineyard are all there in the nose. The palate shows silky smooth inky dark fruit, but without the overly tannic bite of a cab, and a funky earthiness reminiscent of a pinot. Delicious, complex wine. — 9 years ago

with Robyn

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Aromas of freshly cut oak trees, purple flowers and plums. Flavors of Dark cherry, baking spices, minerals and dill. Tannins are there, but they are refined. Excellent expression of this Umbrian wine. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Pale to mid Gold in colour. Obvious aromas of apricot also the white flowers of citrus trees, and slivered almonds. Lovely garden aromas of sweet pea. On the palate an unctuous texture of apricot and peach. A full bodied white with low acid but medium plus intensity. Enough acid to not be cloying. I have found it best to drink Condrieu on the young side - not over 7 years. No other word for it but Delicious. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Founded in 1999, part of a shared dream inspiring Robert Mondavi & Eduardo Chadwick to realize the potential of Chile as a world class wine producer. "Arboleda" in Spanish means "grove of trees" a tribute to the native Chilean trees. Aromas of fresh crisp fruits with citrus notes. On the palate crisp apple and Asian pear flavors with sweet citrus zest. Good acidity balance, medium+ finish ending with bright mineral character. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.7

It’s usually a good sign when the winemaker can articulate what the wine is about like this: “Ceras is Botanica’s counterpoint. Its color is more purple than red. It is more about minerals and herbs than fruit and flowers. It is a focused and elegant distillation of rock rather than an opulent cascade of fruit. It is an expression of the geology that lays beneath our land, the tart blue fruits of the coast range and the tender herbs that one finds amongst the trees and mushrooms of the Northwest forest.”

Her 2013 Ceras is yet another example of Maggie Harrison’s sorcery over the vines at Antica Terra. The focus and intensity of flavor is off the charts, yet it maintains an almost ethereal weightlessness, only emphasizing the layer of silk that separates you from the wine. The pungent rock is so on point and distinctive it instantly reminded me of the scent of lichen growing on rocks, which I experienced in Colorado when I was 7 or 8 years old. This sets the stage for the level of complexity exhibited. The fruit has both an extraordinarily high level of purity and yet the woven tapestry of herbs and spices and even fruit blending are impossible not to notice. The key being that nothing is forced.

The nuance of complexity only being noticed when desired is nearly an impossible feat. I can’t help but recall James Conaway quoting Andy Beckstoffer in his recently released book: Napa at Last Light: America’s Eden in an Age of Calamity. “If a wine was a model with a chipped tooth, you’d have to give her something to compensate with. If she needs better shoulders, better breasts, give her some. But her real charm is in how she carries the defect.”

After reading his book, I can tell you I’m definitely not certain whether you can accept his quotes verbatim. One thing is certain, though, Maggie Harrison’s Antica Terra wines carry the defect like no other. — 7 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.7

2012 CIRQ Estate Treehouse Pinot Noir. Michael Browne’s (of Kosta Browne) personal project which as I understand is an homage to the Summers he spent at a ‘Circus Camp’ in his youth. Treehouse is an amazing hilltop (stunning elevation) property in west Sonoma County with red, iron-rich soil surrounded by (say what?) coastal cypress trees. I had the pleasure of visiting, hosted by Damon Wong, and it's an amazing Vineyard. Unlike anything else I've ever seen. I can understand Michael's fascination with it. The wine: On the nose, red fruits, cedarbox, with notes of rhubarb and fennel. On the palate, pomegranate, kirsch, black tea, spices, roasted herbs along with hints of black truffles and white pepper. Beautiful texture. Lengthy finish. Classic expression of Pinot Noir. If I had to distinguish it from Kosta Browne from a flavor-perspective, I would say higher acidity and a bit of tannin give it a quality more accustom to Grand Cru Burgundy which is not bad company. I'm a fan. Congrats to Michael as well as his partner in this project, my friend Kenny Rochford, one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. — 8 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.1

Felt like a justifiable extravagance during quarantine. Surprisingly aggressive mousse: bubbles were audible and hit the back of my tongue like pop rocks. Austere but pretty, like an early spring day, when it’s sunny but still too cool to ditch the winter coat and when some trees are blossoming but most are still bare. Aromatics: brioche, orchard fruit & blossoms (underripe apple, pear), early spring wild flowers, a touch of something tropical (passion fruit?). Flavors: baked apple, buttery notes quickly give way to alpine snow melt and reverberating, enamel-stripping acidity. A peculiar, but perfect date for Easter brunch. — 5 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.1

Cab Shiraz is not a blend I seek out generally, but this wine has become a staple in our area thanks to its annual presence at the Vancouver International Wine Festival. It is, in fact, a very nice blend of red and black fruit with a high red plum note coming through most clearly for me. The shiraz offers smoothing here, I think, rather than any distinct spiciness. I guess in the way that merlot adds a grounding to a blend, but without the earthiness. This music is all up in the trees. There's even a light tree bark note that completes the analogy. Very nice! — 5 years ago

Andy Christiansen

9.1

Tastes like it came straight from some wild vines growing up in some trees...which it did...and is perfect in its own way. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.0

Pillow Rd. Vineyard is situated to the southwest of Sebastopol, not far from the southern tip of the Russian River Valley, and planted to two acres of Chardonnay and seven acres of Pinot Noir. Clones 777, 115, and Pommard made up the first plantings in 2000, with Calera and Swan being added later (replacing Gravenstein apple trees). The vineyard has courted her fair share of suitors, originally being one of Duckhorn’s sources for its Goldeneye Pinot Noir. The first commercial vintage under the Pillow Rd. label was 2006. I’m not sure whether Ladera had entered the scene at that point, but it was definitely in time for their release of the 2009 vintage. In 2016 PlumpJack Group acquired Ladera’s Howell Mountain vineyard and winemaking facility, and while it appears the Pillow Rd. Vineyard wasn’t included in that sale, I haven’t seen anything that spells that out explicitly. Regardless, what is certain is that Napa Cab makers can’t quit this Russian River Pinot vineyard. It had some kinks to work out, but ultimately it’s built for pleasure and not complexity, and it eventually got there. Cherry cola, sassafras, baking spice, butterscotch, and just enough of a citrus edge to keep from losing its balance. — 7 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.3

Taste like Christmas Trees decorated with dried cherries! Had this with a good friend I hadn't seen for 18years. We picked up right where we left off. Wine, friends, Christmas... doesn't get much better. — 7 years ago

Brian Edge

9.0

Fun wine with nose of eucalyptus (trees present at vineyard) and lavender. — 8 years ago

with Katie

S Butterfield

Sommelier Flask Fine Wines

9.0

Difficult to handle. Label based on Calvino novel Baron of the Trees. Softer sangio expression, darker color. Ripe tangy nose of red fruit and minor spice. Relaxed broad tannin. Very nicely done. — 9 years ago