Jason Soloway

9.2

Nothing obvious here. Patience required, patience rewarded. Tightly woven, black cherry, mint and a waft of smoke wrapped around a spine of acid. Compact, yet rewarding. More giving on night two. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Medium Ruby with aromas of rich ripe fruits, spice and cola notes. On the palate flavors of crushed red cherries and cranberries with touches of forest floor and oak coming through with time in the glass. Medium-bodied, long finish with concentrated, spicy fruits, well-woven tannins and juicy acidity on refreshing oaky finish. Nice! — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2015 Bodegas San Roman Toro is another sensational release from this storied property in the Toro region. Toro saw very high heat spikes in 2015 so it is not surprising to see this massive wine weighing in at 14.5% alcohol. Needing a one hour hour decant, after some air this beautiful wine slowly unveils gorgeous aromatic range from black tea and Asian spices that mingle with notes of milk chocolate covered red cherry and tobacco leaf that are all marvelously woven together in the glass. The texture is soft and sumptuous, giving this wine a hedonistic edge. Suggestions of black forest cake and sweet pipe tobacco fill the palate, deftly mingling with minerals and peat moss tones. This finishes exceedingly long with dark fruits and minerals. While this is a delight to savor in its youth, the 2015 San Roman has both the acidity and stuffing to cellar well for the next twenty years. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The ‘Amoneus’ Cabernet Sauvignon by Maybach is sourced from a hillside vineyard located just west of Calistoga. A dense, glass-staining purple, this wine needs a two hour decant to be fully aroused. Once awakened the wine yields copious and layered dark fruits that are woven into shades of dark chocolate, roasted dates and creme de cassis that all shine brightly in the glass. Dense and decadent on the attack, the ‘Amoneus’ provides a luxurious mouthfeel. Chocolate covered espresso bean, tar, blueberry compote and suggestions of black currant cordial flavors all march together on the palate. While delightful in its youth, this will only get better with some bottle age. Drink 2020-2040- 97

— 6 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.6

Such a baby still. Drank better on day two after opening up. Incredibly tightly woven black fruits with earth, charred meat and black pepper spice revealed with time. Ripe fruit in thrilling tension with fine acid and tannin. Beautiful wine with a long life ahead. — 7 years ago

Neel Master

9.5

Tart red fruit with strawberry woven thru, plus a decided mineral tang. What a great wine. — 8 years ago

Mike Mayer

9.2

Subtle and powerful in the same taste. Beautiful aromas of red fruit, spice and mocha. Powerful brambly tastes of blackberries, raspberries and dew berries (wild berries here in Houston) . Reminds me of wild berry cobbler with a hint of pie crust sneaking out of the complexity of this wine. Tannins are elegant and sleek. The acidity is nicely woven into the structure of this beauty. Love it! — 8 years ago

with Lisa

Matt Perlman

9.4

Vulgar display of power. Absurd stone drenched structure with effortless delicacy, shimmering acidity, citrus pith, apple skin, sage and chamomile woven around it. Plenty of life ahead — 5 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Remarkable! This gold-medal winner really does check all the VARIETAL boxes! Floral woven red berry poetry: check....acid and tannin “harmony”: check....deliciousness!: CHECK :) PS...it’s #vawine — 6 years ago

Ming L

9.0

I had great experience with their estate Merlot, and this reserve cab is quite impressive as well.
The initially shy nose slowly reveals black and blue berries, cedar, pencil lead, incense, cocoa, and hint of crushed rocks. The slightly ripe palate is round yet delicate, showing its classy with well woven streaking acidity and mellow tannins.
100% Cab from two vineyards from HHH, raised in 100% French oak barrel (45% new) for 20 months. — 6 years ago

Ian Staub

9.1

My true Lambrusco love - earthy (farty) crunchy red berries and pomegranate, super dry, juicy acid, great level of frizz. Woven cloth label is not to be ignored. This is such a killer food wine - muffaletta sandwich from Lucca for lunch and leftover Indian for dinner. Detecting an inkling of mouse at dinner so drink quickly. Shouldn’t be hard. — 6 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.4

The 2016 Coombsville Cabernet Sauvignon is an absolutely fantastic release from Ackerman. It immediately takes on a wonderful pure Cabernet character, with aromatics of ripe dark cherries and sweet currants, which are seamlessly woven together with sweet gochujang, graphite, dusty earthy minerals and a subtle hint of sweet oak that all come together in the glass. On the palate this is medium to full-bodied with beautifully polished, well-integrated tannins and a gorgeous velvety texture making this quite appealing and accessible in its youth. Overall, this is a delicious bottle of Cabernet that will be ready for business upon release and should also age gracefully for well over a decade. — 6 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. — 8 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Continuing the Loire journey.
A much fresher face of Chenin, without the honeyed breadth but with what depth & purity!
Green apples, fresh lemon, freshly cut hay & herbs... a touch of beeswax after a while. Super fresh on the palate, with core of juicy, vibrant acidity, with layers of crisp fruit and envigourating minerality woven around it. This will surely gain complexity with time but is already beautiful now. — 5 years ago

Jay Bergesen

8.9

Brilliant deep gold color, fresh apples in a bottle, good barn funk woven throughout. Tastes a little sweet in the mouth. While notes as brut, it could be seen as dry — 6 years ago

Keith Lite

9.3

"The 2009 Nuits St. Georges Les Pruliers has gorgeous weight and energy. Dark cherries, flowers, mint and crushed rocks are all woven together nicely in this beautiful and vibrant Pruliers. — 6 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Shy & restrained in the nose with some peach, a touch of pineapple, a whiff of physalis. The palate shows surprising precision & tension for an entry level Riesling, with flinty minerality and yellow stone fruit woven tightly around a core of juicy acidity. On top, this has only 11,5% alc. What a delight. — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.1

The Andre Clouet ‘Silver Brut’ Champagne is an excellent wine that is drinking marvelously at the moment but falls behind some others in the absolutely scintillating Clouet lineup. Sourced from the Clouet family grand cru vineyards in both Bouzy. Aged in neutral oak, this zero dosage Champagne opens with kumquat zest and melon tones woven alongside shades of damp earth on this delicate nose. Fresh and showing good verve, the ‘Siver’ delivers bright citrus rind flavors with lighter wild mushroom and baked apple undertones that follow on the palate. Excellent now, enjoy this lithe effort over the next several years. Drink 2019-2025- 91 — 6 years ago

Sarah Oettel

9.1

Super-bright citrus notes woven throughout. — 7 years ago

Chris Fransham

9.3

Really liked this - not too sweet like a few Roses I’ve had. Alex: süffig.
It disappeared within 24 hours - pretty impressive! — 8 years ago