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

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

Sasha Agapov

9.0

Earth, trees, rain, autumn, sunshine on a cold day and sun-dried plums and cherries. I like it quite a lot. — 9 years ago

A Smith

9.6

Yes! Very unusual but super smooth and round. Happily drunk on its own but would make a lovely sweet addition to a meaty meal. — 9 years ago

Raina Fraley

8.9

Fresh nose, like Violets and pine trees. Slightly acidic; med-finish; Good tannic structured but not overpowering; Tart cherry/cranberry. Pretty :-) Paired with seared duck, butternut squash risotto, and garlic string beans on thanksgiving. — 9 years ago

with Brett

Claire Walsh

9.3

Tastes like redwood trees — 10 years ago

with Dan

James Dale

9.2

Very light in color. Faint aroma of linden trees in bloom and pear. Bracing acidity and some minerality. Tingles through the finish. Makes a clean getaway. 2013 — 10 years ago

Ray Hartnedy

10

In your face flavor and depth not quite expected of a 2010. Fruity like a California wine, but much more complex than most wines that focus on the fruit-forward. Has a tangy edge to it, but also a loamy warmth that you would probably smell in a humid, misty forest that gets plenty of rain and has lots of moss growing on the trees. Easy to drink on its own, medium-bodied. — 12 years ago

Charles Baker

9.8

Beautiful fruit olive trees on the nose. Deep garnet. Extremely well balanced soft tannins and perfect astringency. Nice light oak. — 12 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

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

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

Hello friends and wine lovers. This is another wonderful California Cab from NAPA. Gamble Family Vineyard has done an amazing job with this wine. The cork was perfect. The color is a deep dark purple and the legs are long but not very thick. It's 13.9 %. The bouquet is ripe fig trees loaded with figs.The initial palate is blackberry and earth. The finish is dry with no sour hint at all. WOW. Leaves me thirsty for the next sip, and a sip of water for the dryness. I can drink this all night with no regrets. If it were 14% and darker, I would feel it the next day! Its light but much heavier than a pinot. I love this wine!!!!!!!!!!! — 9 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Plummy, chocolate-y, blackberry-bone broth, mint, cast iron in an oven, pumpernickel aromas. Caraway, graphite, black mushroom, burnt beef tips, rose stem, black, burnt cherry. black currant, pepper. Deep well of shadows that fall from big oak trees across climbing black berries. This is a decidedly rich bridge between disparate styles, and the bridge is made of iron. — 9 years ago

with Courtney

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

9.7

Salina is an amazing little island part of the Aeolian islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian sea north of Sicily... well, my dear friends #carlo and #andrea #hauner they transmit into their bottles all the aromas the essence the breeze the light the flowers the trees the cappers surrounding this paradise lost on earth. Regarding the unforgettable Passito Riserva paired with handmade house-fresh sicilian cannoli that's like to be in Arcadia Shangri-la Utopia... at one time! http://www.hauner.it/ — 10 years ago

Brett Jones

8.9

Mid ruby, smooth ripe blackberries, dry, fine tannins. Creamy, spicy warm dark red fruity berries, smooth rounded flavours with a long finish.
A good wine that celebrates and indeed supports the conservation of the rata trees, whose bloom features on the label. — 10 years ago

Kory Riley

8.9

Delicious merlot, grown by eucalyptus trees so it has a very unique flavor. — 12 years ago

Julie Smith

9.0

Good basic house red. Reasonably priced — 12 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

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

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

Stephen Becker

8.9

Pearls, vintage Chris Craft, night time ride across the lake, low moon flashes behind the trees, underwear in your pocket this time. The green flash of the aurora borealis comes out of nowhere, a slow serpentine sine-wave pulsing across the Milky Way. — 9 years ago

Michael Cordes

9.8

Visited this little vineyard during my trip to Italy 2015. We got a tour of the property but the best part was we sat with the winemaker in his kitchen sharing a bottle of this wine, eating some Tuscan snacks and listening to his stories. The winemaker is an extremely talented individual. He's an artist that works with clay, paint, metal, and wood. He broke out his home made pipe collection, showed us his paintings and shared books that he created out of all trees in the region. Each holding aspects of the tree and written facts about the tree. The wine is absolutely amazing and brings me back to the Tuscan afternoon I spent there. — 9 years ago

Uriel Frazier

9.0

It's a warm November in the city. Generous autumn days are entrenched, holding off the inevitable winter chill. Sipping a light red in the open air, it's a season of transition. As leaves change, trees are undressed, buildings razed, buildings raised and accoutred. We live in metamorphosis, recalling the bounties of summer--bright red fruit, raspberries, cherries--as they transition to the russet red of apples and ruddy cheeks and noses. — 9 years ago

with Christine

Andrew Lampasone

Owner Wine Watch Selections

9.1

A small company they make 40,000 bottles and the winery is named after the son and daughter this is all from the 2009 harvest and spends 3 years on the lees. Has lots if trees fruits from cremant and avise. Very creamy and rich with only. 3 hectares of vines. Lovely texture creamy with notes if white flowers and a nice touch of ginger spice. Less than 10,000 bottles. Excellent — 10 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

9.9

One of the best Santa Rita Hills pinots I have ever had. Smells like a burgundy. Rose bushes and cherry trees. Amazing! — 10 years ago

Sarah R

8.9

Grapy Riesling taste without the sweetness. — 12 years ago

Bjørn Rostad

9.4

Made from younger trees. I prefer the more expensive version with the elder trees though. This one was about $16-$17, so $8 cheaper from Arlequin. — 13 years ago

with Cate