Shay A

9.0

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

Had no idea this type of dessert wine existed. Comes from the Rasteau region of southern France. 100% Grenache. There is definitely a typical spice note to the finish which I always get with Grenache. Grilled strawberries and cherries jubilee. Very unique dessert wine. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

9.2

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

Checks all the boxes in spades. So floral. Explosive notes of orange blossom, lychee, ginger and honeyed tropical fruit. Rich palate with added agave nectar. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

8.9

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

I love this producer’s Rosé sparkler for the price, and while this was good, it was just that and nothing more. Nothing about it made me want to keep revisiting, but nothing was off putting. Clean, slate driven, very little yeast. Limestone and Apple. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

9.2

Impromptu meet up at Classic!

Motor oil like in the glass. Every part of this wine is dark. ABV seems fairly high...didn’t see what it was, but guessing >15%? Graham cracker, blackberry pie and plum soaked aromatics. Loads of tar, licorice and baking spices on the palate. Large and in charge type wine from @Mark Flesher — 2 days ago

with Dan and Mark

Shay A

9.3

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

It was a treat for me to explain this wine and the hands that helped create it. A true tribute to Ulises Valdez who left us too soon. His relationship with Mark Aubert extended here as Mark was the consulting winemaker (alongside UV’s daughter, who has sense left to attend UC Davis). Bright and ripe black cherry. Lots of baking spice with acidity to carry for a while. Candied licorice and cranberry. Wonderful representation of this famed vineyard. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

9.2

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

Dry and aromatic; nose has typical Alsatian petrol Riesling notes. Zestiness to the palate with tangerine and orange blossom and a chalky, slate finish. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

9.4

Impromptu meet up at Classic!

Young. Almost truffled mushroom alongside ripe red and black fruit with saddle leather on the nose. The aromatics are powerful, but also soft. Very smooth with perfect balance on the palate. Kirsch, cassis, and underbrush/wood mixed with black cherry medley. Decant at this age (which is just so crazy/impressive to me) or this will go for 10+yrs easily. — 2 days ago

with Mark

Shay A

9.4

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

Gosh, do I love these wines. The American oak nose of vanilla, coconut and dill is intoxicating to me. Cedar, dried cherry and rhubarb pie, touch of barnyard funk on the tongue. Highly decorated wine and well deserving. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

9.1

2018 Fall dinner for the Confrerie St Etienne.

This has got to be one of the better Pinot Gris I’ve had. More dry in style. Notes of baked apple and toasted pear round out the palate and finish. Went wonderfully with the pumpkin soup course. — 8 hours ago

Shay A

9.5

Impromptu meet up at Classic!

Sweet oaked nose with brambly notes. Mainly red and black fruit but blueberries poke through. Licorice, plum, and the dustiness shows toward the back of the palate. This needed a decant because after 2hrs of air, THEN the power of BTK came through. Geez. No green/vegetal notes here from this powerhouse vineyard CabFranc. Very cool bottle from @Mark Flesher . — 2 days ago

with Dan and Mark