Eric Naslund

9.5

Wow! I received this in a shipment this week and I couldn’t wait on cellar time to open this one. It was quite simply spectacular. We noted a nose of pepper and leather intermingled with fruit. The taste rolled around your tongue and lingered for a very long time afterwards. Wonderfully balanced and sophisticated without being overdone or overwrought. This is one of the most complex and interesting Grenaches we have had and it just takes this grape places others aren’t going. Stanley and Elena are killing it! — 4 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.6

Opened up this beauty to celebrate my 34th wedding anniversary tonight. This was a gift from my wife to salve my wait to reach allocation. Decanted this a few hours before dinner and had this with pork shoulder. I am enchanted. Justin Smith and team are quite simply making magic there. This GSM has all the qualities that one expects from a Rhone blend...except taken to another place. What maybe surprised me was a mid palette taste of fig as the flavors rolled through from beginning to outstanding end. That and the underlying aroma of leather bound books. Thought that I was in the library of my youth and all those wonderful memories came rushing back. Everything about this wine was amazing. Alchemists they are! Hated to reach the last drop. — 5 years ago

Eric Naslund

8.9

So I am always posting about Paso Rhône wines and here is yet another. My wheelhouse I am afraid. This one is from Thacher and is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Counoise instead of the usual Mourvèdre. Very balanced blend enjoyable right out of the bottle. The Grenache is definitely the first expression and one can taste the Syrah but the Counoise does add an interesting wrinkle. We enjoyed this very much and would buy it again no question. Well done Thacher! — 6 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.4

This GSM from Fulldraw was a spectacular Saturday night accompaniment to a rich dinner. These folks really know what they are doing. Decanted for 3 hours and it really came into its own. Definite cherry and smoky meats on the nose. Nice long and lingering on taste. A beautiful wine. As an aside and not at all related to the bottle contents but very much indicative of Connor and Rebecca’s care about every little thing...the design of their labels is so wonderfully artful and elegant. This is not subterfuge to hide the product! It is in fact the wrapper deserving of such a complex, thoughtful and beautiful wine. Well done all around! — 4 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.8

All I can say is wow! This is a beautiful wine. It is integrated in complex and rewarding ways and a real revelation on the still latent stratospheric possibilities of Paso. I am certain that I will not be able to properly describe the magic here. This project of Justin Smith (Saxum), Philippe Cambie and Sasha Verhage is something very special. The flavors build and last forever. I found myself not wanting it to end. Grab this if you can get your hands on it. Simply spectacular. — 5 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.2

I was given this as a gift and confess to never drinking anything 35 years old. I understand the term “integrated” now. It had both aromas and overtones of leather and citrus. Very much enjoyed this but would say that I am not likely to lay down many bottles for 35 years. Impatient I guess! — 6 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.2

This has to be the sweetest Tensley Syrah that I have had. But with 7 years in the bottle it has a rich and deeply integrated quality. Brilliant nose on this. — 6 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.5

Finally landed one of these beauties and the wine did not disappoint. Big and bold and expressive. Got better over the evening and paired up nicely with a tenderloin. Have to say though, it wasn’t spectacularly better than Central Coast Syrahs I’ve had from Saxum, TH Vineyards, Epoch or Law. Not saying I won’t seek out another one but I am feeling good about my cellar. I get though that there is not a direct linear ratio between cost and quality and sometimes an incremental but important change comes at a price. Having said all this, the wine is great and the makers are to be celebrated. I really admire what they do. — 4 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.3

I was given this bottle at a milestone birthday 10 years ago and drank it to celebrate another milestone birthday. Given that I rarely have the patience to wait for my wine to arrive at its next place, I was really looking forward to having this one. It was terrific. Deep integrated flavors and a softening tannin structure that has given way to a deeply satisfying experience. Very much enjoyed this and can see why this wine gets high marks year in and year out. — 5 years ago

Eric Naslund

9.1

No surprise to see a Herman Story review from me but this Grenache was real nice. It had a very rich mouthfeel and coated your entire mouth in a satisfying blanket of goodness. The flavors waited a minute and came rushing in. It was a bit of a strip tease frankly. This is a richer and more fulsome Grenache with complex stories to tell. Very much enjoyed this! — 5 years ago