Victor Hsu

8.1

A once worthy wine, now sadly over the hill. Eight years ago this 2010 vintage was full bodied, fresh and lively with mouthfuls of fruit, reminiscent of a Syrah—a more weighty style of California Central Coast Pinot. Now that fruit is mostly gone, replaced by a sad heaviness that just isn’t that fun to drink. I had high hopes that this wine would have the structure to develop into something interesting and delicious, but was disappointed right after opening and was just as disappointed after an hour of decanting. Could be a dumb phase but I would not wait longer to find out. Many California reds, like this one, just aren’t built for 10 plus years of aging. Drank this with spice rubbed grilled chicken thighs. Preferred my Corona with lime instead; what a contrast! — 11 days ago

Victor Hsu

8.9

Most Muscadets I’ve had have been thin and sour, but this is a revelation! Nice balance of fruit, flower and acid, with a hint of minerals. A fine food wine, also enjoyable by itself. Priced right too. I had the 2018 vintage with pasta and shrimp in garlic cream sauce. — 2 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.5

Garrigue! Spicy, savory, perfumed brambles with a nice backbone of tannins and fruit, Truly excellent Santa Rita Hills Syrah that tastes like a Northern Rhône. Thankfully, balanced and smooth as well; I could drink this all night.. Was delicious at the tasting room in Santa Barbara”s Funk Zone and even better at home with bone marrow toast and pate. This was the 2016 vintage. Only $36! — 9 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.3

Fruity, weighty and delicious; brambles, dark and bright fruits, earth and tannin, but not too much. Reminds me of the best of Rhône reds, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Excellent example of what the Paso Robles region can produce. Enjoyed the 2016 vintage with grilled lamb. — 14 days ago

Victor Hsu

8.8

Nice wine but less food friendly than expected. Nice flavors of apple, pear and minerals bound with a tight acidity. This wine’s character changed quite a bit when paired with food, with some hits and some misses. Maybe needs more time in the bottle. Enjoyed the 2017 vintage with Chilean Seabass at the Palm Las Vegas. — 25 days ago

Victor Hsu

8.8

Nice wintertime red, with weighty tannins around a core of dark fruit. Needs decanting to soften and balance out the tannins and acid. Price was right. Enjoyed the 2016 vintage with beef short rib stew. — 5 months ago

Victor Hsu

9.2

Smells French, tastes French, is French! Nicely balanced and complex red Bordeaux with a gentle perfume of fruit and flowers,, subdued tannins and Gallic earth and minerals. Enjoyed the 2012 vintage with prime ribeye at The Palm Restaurant in downtown LA for my caricature dinner—a memorable evening! — a year ago

Victor Hsu

8.7

Pleasant and drinkable but a bit light. Also too lemony and acidic for my taste. Fine with food but ultimately not exciting. Had the 2017 vintage. — 17 days ago

Victor Hsu

9.1

Textbook California Petite Syrah, inky like a Zin with blueberry and floral aromas and fruit forward profile, though not a jammy and heavy fruit bomb, fortunately. This wine’s alcohol level is a mere 14.2% (downright wimpy for Turley). Enjoyed the 2017 vintage with backyard grilled prime steak. — 22 days ago

Victor Hsu

8.8

Pleasantly tannic and zesty, with Old World character. Got it as a complimentary extra when buying produce at The Palm in LA while under Stay-at-Home orders. Paired perfectly with spaghetti and meat sauce topped with copious amounts of shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano (elevating the comfort food to something memorable). Enjoyed the 2015 vintage and eager to have more, maybe when lockdown ends. — 3 months ago