Ian Staub

9.2

Really feeling this tonight! Purchased at the winery last year. Quite tight up front, but as it gets air and warms, really explodes out of the glass with a lush and complex aroma. Ripe lemon and lime, tree fruit, lychee and pineapple. Blooming white and yellow flowers. Sweet cream, graham cracker and spice. Palate is textured, with persistent acid from the SB, unctuousness from the semillon, and a softness from the oak. Finish is long and complex. I’d recommend drinking this with lighter food (veggies or poultry) so that it can really shine. Can’t wait to get some more! — 17 days ago

Ian Staub

9.1

Beautiful fruit and acid-driven Chardonnay with wonderful texture and a bit of funk. Holiday dinner bottle next to some old Bordeaux as an intro to the natty stuff for my folks. — 2 months ago

Ian Staub

8.3

Off the bat, fun and fruity with a touch of good VA on the nose, palate is tart and juicy - classic chugger. Then it just becomes completely demolished by mouse. I’ve got a bit of a tolerance for it in low levels but this just became pretty gross after an hour and undrinkable on day 2. Rating reflects its potential but this bottle is unfortunately flawed. Question for anyone reading: do you return mousey wine? What if you bought it at a firmly natty shop? — 2 months ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Super complex nerello with 10 years on it - sweet cherry & smoke; herbaceous and dusty, grapefruit rind and blood orange. Intense, somewhat Burgundian (similar to R. Lopez de Heredia’s Viña Bosconia) with some tasteful Brett peaking through. Aroma wafts out of the glass. Palate is on the austere side, super dry but provides tart fruit and grippy tannins that suggest this could go another 10 years and only get better. — a month ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Complex and expressive, what I was hoping for in this Sonoma Coast Syrah. Black and blueberry, purple florals, fresh mint, game, and freshly cracked black pepper. Fruit is ripe without being jammy, and acid and tannins are both nicely present as counterbalance. Bought for a steal - will be trying to get some more. — a month ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Elegant natural Savoie pinot with some age. Funky, crunchy, musky aromatics of cranberry, blood orange, evergreen and forest floor. Palate still has beautiful fruit and acid, very precise. Light on its feet but a beautiful pairing for an herb-heavy meal of salmon, sweet potatoes and roasted veggies. — 2 months ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Somehow Nic makes this 15% bruiser absolutely quaffable. It’s got pure fruit character, nice herbaciousness, and a totally balanced palate. Begs to be shared and enjoyed. — a month ago

Ian Staub

Outrageously reductive to a fault (mercaptans is what others are saying). Smells like you just opened a hundred year old sealed tomb where they buried green and yellow apples, honey combs, sheep’s milk cheese, and a few dozen pounds of sesame seeds. Palate is a bit cleaner with the aforementioned apples, bruised, and a delightful wooly texture. High acid keeps it drinkable. I’d never buy this vintage again but i learned something new today. — a month ago

Ian Staub

I suspect this bottle was either slightly corked or simply past it’s prime. Some pretty elements were there - pure fruit flavors and savory notes - but everything was very quiet and muffled. — 2 months ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Another elegant and balanced bottle from SommSelect. Ripe red and black berry fruit, musky earth and pine forest brought together with some oak. Soft velvety tannins and juicy acidity. Nicely paired with Zuni roast chicken. — 2 months ago