Bruce Dunbar

9.1

This is a wonderfully complex and layered Riesling with effervescent acidity, florals, white fruit and minerality. Lemon peel, pear, slate, and honeysuckle are on the nose and palate, each with its own distinct but harmonized role. If only there was more to be had! — 16 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

7.9

I was underwhelmed by this and another 2011 Gestalt Block opened a couple years ago. Both showed raisiny traits, not much fruit and drying tannins I had hoped would have softened with 10-15 years in the bottle. Not sure if it was the wine or mishandling prior to purchase (bought a couple years after release, around 2015) but these seemed to be a bit tainted and/or past their prime. Too bad given high expectations and years of praise for Brittan. — 2 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.2

There is a lot of life left in the 2002 Petite Syrah from Turley’s venerable Hayne Vineyard. Still loaded with bright and dark fruit, the richness of port without a hint of prune, a wonderful funkiness and a long, bright, peppery finish. It’s full bodied and beautiful in its middle age. — 3 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.1

A wine with a profile as complex as the eight or so field blend grapes that comprise it. Leading with Gewürtztraminer and Riesling, it has honeysuckle and pear on the nose, along with lots of fleshy white fruit, florals and a beautiful oily/petrol counterpoint. Four years in the cellar served it well and I think it has a few more. — 22 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

I heard Bill Murray on a podcast recently raving about the bramble-berry pie he had the night before, describing the many berries that went into making it so delicious. It’s a fitting description for the current release of Bedrock’s Dolinsek Heritage red too, which is loaded with a rainbow of berry flavors and all their sweetness and bright acidity captured in a bottle instead of a crust. There’s an added bonus of a long, peppery finish thanks to the 70+% Zin in the field blend and some firm, drying tannins that signal a great future ahead. — 2 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

Medium-bodied but somehow rich, the 2015 cuvée from Le Vieux Donjon is loaded with sappy red fruit balanced by garrigue, anise, and florals. Easy drinking but not simple, it pleased a wide range of palates at our Christmas dinner. Still seems to have the legs to go a few more years. — 3 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

The 2021 Argentino follows in the footsteps of its prodigious predecessors. It’s loaded with sweet, almost syrupy fruit, oak and overall richness with wonderfully firm and slightly drying tannins to balance it out. A baby from a site with 10 centuries of history. — a month ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

Held this for a couple years and it was worth the wait. Beautiful, shimmering straw color with a nose of honeysuckle and light citrus you can smell feet from the glass. Fleshy white fruit, a bit of grapefruit, juicy and rounded nicely by the staves! — 2 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.8

A really lovely California sparkler that brings together the best of California Chardonnay with Blanc de Blanc! Rich nose with toasty oak, minerals and pear on the palate, all lifted by a delicate mousse. A great food sparkler. Can age. — 3 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

Great elements abound and will likely flourish with more time or lots of air. Pencil lead, licorice, pepper, violet, plums and minerality somewhat masked by firm tannins. See you in a couple years! — 3 months ago