Jan A

9.2

Lots of big bubbles with biscuit and lemon — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Lunch at home on Saturday with friends. Amazingly light in colour like a mid tawny cherry. Manages to be both sweet and savoury amongst the rancio at the same time. The spirit totally integrated. Needed to be drunk in its 51st year. — 6 years ago

David Kline

8.9

Surprisingly light colored head that sprung up like a ghost and then shot back down to a smoky whisper. Rum notes with caramel cream in the lead; spun sugar, cinnamon and clove with yogurt pretzel and honeyed tea. Spicy entry boasts sweetness but not overwhelming. Pumpkin oil, vanilla, oaky caramel, cinnamon and bitter note that suggests charred pecan, and peppercorns. This beer is good because it doesn’t stay sweet throughout and instantly congers the autumnal spirit. It doesn’t get too artificial, borrowing most of its flavors from barrel. #pumpkin #pumpkinbeer #ale #SouthernTier #imperialpumpkin #pumking #beer #seasonalbeer #oakaged #halloween #alehallows — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Ted Corvey

9.3

This is one of those lucky finds that just don’t come around very often. Sorry for the backstory but I think the context helps explain my excitement. There’s a small wine and spirit shop in a little beach town I drive through about 2-3 times a year and I’ll usually stop and get a bottle or two because they had a great and unique selection. Sadly, the last few stops there have been a bit disappointing as their variety seems on the decline. What was once a great range of wines with a lot of unique bottles, is now a lot of cheap high volume offerings on one end and on the other a nice selection of super high end bottles that I’m not picking up on a whim. While the high end selection is commendable, the magic of the shop seems to have faded. And if I am going to go high end I would rather do it with a shop I frequent in Charleston. Anyway, browsed a bit and didn’t really find anything I was interested in. Was on the way out and came across a 50% off rack and found this marked down to 9 dollars. Grabbed this and a few others thinking 🤷🏻‍♂️.The second it hit the glass it was beautiful on the nose, continued with deep richness on the palate. Great clarity and balance. My research suggests a 70/30 Cab/ Cab Franc blend. Have to assume this a nod to the famous Cab/Cab Franc blends in the region, and it’s a heck of nod. Have a half bottle left and I can’t wait to see how it held up for night two. — 7 years ago

Willem Koens

9.5

Excellent wine. Tasted great with duck. Happy to have some more bottled to enjoy. — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

9.5

What a delicious Bas-Armagnac. Rich with vanilla and caramel notes all in abundance. But what makes this such a delightful spirit is its intensity, smoothness and the finish that lasts several minutes. Twenty five years aged, and some, this Bas-Armagnac was a little treasure that I picked up at a store that was, sadly, closing. I'm glad I did. — 8 years ago

John Napisa

9.6

A truly sublime spirit. Serve with ice water and a sugar cube. — 8 years ago

M J

9.1

Brought this back from our honeymoon in Mendoza, Argentina 2014. Enjoyed this with steak as a pre V day dinner at home w/ @foodlasomm — 9 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Nature Gamay of very good quality, in the spirit of Marcel Lapierre (his nephew has told me). At the same time greedy, accessible, and with a very beautiful aromatic density which unfolds especially when one gives the wine time to air out. Superb for its price.

Gamay nature de très bonne facture, dans l’esprit de Marcel Lapierre (son neveux m’a t’on dit). À la fois gourmand, accessible, et avec une très belle densité aromatique qui se déploie d’autant plus qu’on laisse au vin le temps de s’aérer. Superbe pour son prix. — 5 years ago

Zack Hall

9.2

2017. Enjoyable wine with a friendly spirit. In balance and showing the best of the Loire. — 6 years ago

Joe Lucca

9.6

I’m thinking about starting a Grateful Journal. I’ve heard that writing down things you’re thankful for 5-10 mins before sleep helps you actually get the most from your sleep and also helps you wake up more energized. Tonight, my journal will note how thankful I am for friends who share great wine. @Frank this young beauty is sultry. Like making love on a hot summer’s night with the windows open. Opens with a pleasant earthy musk, meaty and gamey notes, and some fresh herbs, garrigue. Luscious and thicky-thick on the palate (see: Nelly). The red and blue fruits sing in wonderful harmony with the earthy, unadulterated tension just below the surface. Spicy, mineral, savory, and clean fruit all at once. Many years ahead. Perfect way to get in the Christmas spirit! — 7 years ago

with Frank and ADAM

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.6

It might shock you, but my favorite rosé is not French but instead comes from California! Blasphemy, I know - but Bedrock's Ode to Lulu is just that good. The difficulty is actually finding a bottle. For the last three years, I've only been allocated a case (or less) to sell here in Denver. It's possible you are one of the select few I've actually told about this wine... If not, now is your chance. This is the first year there's an "okay" supply. It won't last, but you should be able to get a bottle.

So yes, it's not French but it's made in the same style and method of Tempier Bandol Rosé- the most sought after, cult rosé out there. The name "Ode to Lulu" is actually an homage to the 4.5 foot tall, 101 year old woman named "Lulu" Peyraud (born Lucie Tempier) whose father gifted the Mourvedre heavy estate to her and her husband Lucien Peyraud. The wines they would go on to produce from the 1940's onward quite literally defined Bandol and put it on the map as some of the best rosés out there. She's still alive and presumably drinking plenty of wine.

This California-born "Ode to Lulu" is modeled after the great Tempier, but has some unique properties compared to it's French namesake. For one, the vines are EXTREMELY old. Tempier defined itself by focusing on old Mourvèdre and Grenache plantings, but even these French vineyards cannot compare to what Bedrock is working with in California. If you don't know, Bedrock is the winery of Morgon Twain Peterson, son of legendary Ravenswood founder Joel Peterson. Morgon grew up making wine and through his father has cultivated relationships with some of the most important heritage vineyards in California. The "Ode to Lulu" is made from Mourvèdre and Grenache planted as far back as 1888! These are some of the oldest plantings of these grapes around and make for unbelievable wines. Tempier's average vine age is around 40 years old today. Bedrock's is over 3x as old. Insane.

Morgon may be young, but he has a life time of winemaking experience. He started making wine with his father when he was 5 years old and hasn't stopped yet. In addition to absorbing his father's knowledge on heritage vineyards, he is a real student in the world of wine, earning a "Masters of Wine" designation (this industry's highest achievement). I've been drinking his wine for several years and I can say that his wine is made extremely thoughtfully and with expert attention to detail. This is true even with a wine as humble as rosé.

Unlike most California pink wine, Bedrock is not produced by "bleeding off" juice from a red wine. Instead, the grapes are picked early and separately at very low potential alcohols, and whole cluster pressed with low extraction. This preserves the freshness and acidity, creating a wine of clarity. In an old blog post I dug up, Morgon explains this idea:

"I pick at potential alcohols lower on the scale where brightness and lift still exist. This is not to say that fruit does not matter—I use Mourvedre from a block planted over 120 years ago for requisite concentration of complexity of flavor—but like fine champagne, the wonders of rosé lie in its unbearable lightness of being."

I agree with this idea of rosé and I think most people instinctively do as well. It's no coincidence that our best selling bottles come from provence. However, I urge you to pick up at least one bottle of this Ode to Lulu. It's a wine that's close in spirit to the best French rosé but made from vineyards that are American and unrivaled in age.

This is the fourth vintage of Ode to Lulu I've tasted, and I would say that's the most elegant yet. The 2015 was maybe my favorite for it's depth and I picked a few up to age, drinking my last bottle recently... This new vintage is great now, but it will reward with a short cellaring time. Honestly, if you can hide 2 bottles and drink them before fall or into next year, you will be blown away. Bandol rosé is a wine that improves dramatically over the course of 6 months to several years (Tempier Rosé is known to go decades). This bedrock is no different.

I can personally attest to past vintages gaining depth with time. How is this possible? Unlike other rosé which should be drank young, Bandol and Ode to Lulu are made of Mourvedre, a grape that is naturally reductive and resistant to oxidation. Further, the acidity is high and alcohol low. As the acidity starts to fall away, a depth and richness of character will emerge. In fruitier/riper rosé with more alcohol, this richness becomes too sweet and cloying... Not the case here. This keep balanced through time, gaining complexity while remaining refreshing. 

You should buy this wine. However, I think there is one more important facet to rosé that I should mention before you do... Rosé is not always about what's in the glass itself. Rosé is really an ethereal thing... It's more so an "essence" of terroir and vintage rather than a sturdy, hard representation like red wine is... Sorry if that doesn't make sense but what I'm trying to say is that sometimes rosé is more about the place and the people you enjoy it with than the exact flavors themselves. Of course, we cannot all visit the picturesque village of Bandol to visit Lulu Peyraud; but I think, with this sunny Colorado weather, we can come close. Perhaps Morgon said it better than I can:

"Proper rosé is refreshing, life-nourishing stuff that revives the soul... I drink as much for pure pleasure as for intellectual stimulation. In the warmer months there is something sacred about a late afternoon meal of cold chicken, fresh garden tomatoes, and rosé. It is one body in the sacred trilogy of rustic simplicity." - Morgon Twain Peterson

#rose #oldvine #lulu #tempier #bedrockwineco — 7 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.6

Color of amber, slightly light. Nose of concentrated aldehyde, baked apple, some cedar wood, and ripe pineapple note. Taste is very smooth, sweet, and nice spice. Flavors of dried fruits fill the mouth. Aftertaste of vanilla, nice dried peach and figs, with some refreshing zest. Some warmth in the throat is the only thing that reminds me of the smoothness actually is coming from a spirit. — 8 years ago

OMG PEDRO

9.0

Is a young wine with an old spirit. Great Tempranillo that needs to be decanted or breath before drinking it. Beautiful aroma and balance. — 5 years ago

Doug Powers

9.5

Lovely older Porto, seems consistent with my perception of Taylor as big structure, and a tad drier style, only nit might be that it seemed initially like the spirit and Porto were no longer in total harmony, but still really fine! — 5 years ago

with Jim

Mike Evans

8.9

A little grassy with melon, very nice and it combines weight and tartness well. — 7 years ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.3

100% macabeu, spontaneously fermented, aged 1y in concrete w/o any intervention. A crazy, natural wine with nice appley substance, a touch of almond, quite rounded and with a saline acidity towards the (long) finish. Ultra drinkable and works wonders with food. This is brilliant, if crazy, stuff! — 7 years ago

Trevor Kincaid

9.2

The 2015 is a light red with smooth taste throughout. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

No. 3 in the Vosne Romanee lineup. Similar to No. 2 without the spirit. The full package ( with some astringency at the finish). Both round and full yet finishes firm. A long life ahead. La Romanee?” — 8 years ago

Samuel Albert Camacho

9.3

2006 vintage on Dec 18, 2017 at Sun River, OR. It seems “de rigueure” to describe the wines of Michel Faraud “savauge”. But although not refined, this wine was worldly and almost elegant, while retaining the wild spirit and pepper of Gigondas Grenache along with a hint of Dijon mustard. Perfect pairing with hangar steak and roasted asparagus with garlic. — 8 years ago