Brian Nickerson

9.2

Invitingly dry and an everlasting finish. An almost caramel-like sweetness that seamlessly blends into the yes, silky tannins. Not a wine writer but I do really like this Merlot. — 4 months ago

S.S. Mandani

9.4

Plush velvet, tobacco, and baskets of strawberries. Soaked bouquet.

Jammy, bramble, juicy. Bundles of juice.

Super fruit at the front, cinnamon and baking spices, and a bit of leather. Enjoying this one while I watch a movie about a writer — 4 years ago

Megan Boyle

8.9

Pretty strong red blend. Not a great writer. — 6 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.1

I’ve got stories.

The less appreciated Cortázar, Argentinian writer born and Belgium and died in Paris, could spin a good yarn, too.

Red, clay, soil earthiness, redwood breeze, and a currant spice note. Leather and plums all in the bouquet.

Gotta let this one rest a bit. Mouth-numbing pink peppercorn spice, not spicy per se, but feisty.

Charcoaled bark, medium to high acidity, a bit less fruit, but obviously still there.

This was recommended to me as a step up from wines produced in the Vacqueyras appellation. While I can see that it’s a bit more grown up, reserved, balanced, and classic. I don’t think I like it better — I enjoy raucous, wild, young, and brash. There’s more adventure. There’s more unhinged flavor surprises, which naturally lead to better stories. And, really, what else is there?

Good competition, but not sold just yet, Gallo-Roman medieval land and all. — 6 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.0

Orange blossom half and half sipped out of a cantaloupe soaked in the Atlantic. Also those orange circus peanut candies you find at rural gas stations. I know this note sounds terrible but it’s just because I’m a poor writer, the wine is actually quite good as per usual. — 2 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.2

Recommended by Union Square Wines, which is a nice looking shop, but definitely a bit overpriced and the traditional type of wine shop where their natural wine section is 4 bottles big and they love their tradition and pretension. Not opposed to it, just think it’s a blue ocean, why not be open to all possibilities of what something can be?

Long as it tastes good...

In any case, this was recommended to me as the traditional example of Chenin Blanc so decided to up the ante a bit and go for it.

Straw color. Champagne mangoes, slight thyme, orange blossom, and subtle jasmine.

Well-balanced. Simple in its structure, but being a writer I know when something seems simple, it takes a great amount of precision to achieve that nonchalant exceptionalism. Graceful, may be a better word.

Brioche, honeyed pecans, and a bit of tropical fruit and stone fruit. Light to medium acidity. It’s pleasant. Like laying in a hammock on a Monday night. — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Fucking great but also I’m sad because I hoped it would be at least off-dry on my radar bc I’m a selfish writer writing about off-dry things but I’m still writing about this because IT IS GREAT. AND DRY!! Yay Lambrusco. Ripe n red. It is a pleasant friend with just pleasant tang. Also balsamic af. I like, you will too. — 6 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.3

A bit brooding, but fresh like me (then) as a goth teen and now as an actor writer who grew the f up and drinks good wine. Santa Rita Hills for the win—this is complex and mature but playful. — 3 years ago

Joe Salvatore

9.1

solid white, tart, and drank on the night of winning Ry’s first award as a writer/director! The taste of success after hard work and determination... also tastes minerally, and apparently rubber notes 🤷🏻‍♂️ - I dig it. — 5 years ago

with Ryan

S.S. Mandani

9.6

Pictured above. A hand written note left with a book of short stories by relatively unknown writer, Krzhizhanovsky. The book, I left for when I’m on shift at the coffee shop. A handcrafted wood pen from Muji. And a bottle of cluster processed red wine.

Oh, and books. Many books. I’ve missed them.

Unique pepper jam, peach and jalapeño bouquet. If gunpowder and raspberry compote had sex.

Rich, unctuous, a cornucopia of jammy fruit. This channels the energy of a very robust, energetic universe of soil, water, and sunshine.

Beautiful layer of creamy kick right at the end gives it a little sensual oomph. This one woke me up and made love to my taste buds. Lots of pheromonal references for a juicy, voluptuous wine.

— 6 years ago