Willie Carter

9.0

Every year. Every single year I buy a few of these because they’re probably the best deal in California and one of the best wines around. Dark cherry red with light plum notes in the glass. On the nose there’s every bit of forest floor funk that you never knew you wanted. Beautiful fruit that never ends and fresh tobacco. This wine is a perfect litmus test for people. Sweet or savory. Delicate or a rip roaring beast? It’s all that and more. I honestly believe the folks at Cain go into these cuvees on a mission to be unlike anything else out there. There is nothing standard here. No typical Napa stuff that everyone seems to love. Very reminiscent of the NV14, there’s plenty of plums and dried cranberries to go along with the smoke, pencil lead, and Newport’s on the palate. Go get yourself a bunch of these and enjoy them. They can be held for years to come, but honestly, that’s pretty hard to do. — 4 years ago

Rupert Taylor

9.6

Best English still wine I've ever tasted. Has years left, still very tight with fantastic balance. — 9 years ago

Marieke Alsguth

9.7

Well I drank the whole bottle so clearly it wasn't bad — 5 years ago

Tom Inners

9.2

A deeper dive into Friuli. Inspired by a recent article published on Punch highlighting the cellar led by Bobby Stuckey and the attention given to Friuli at Frasca. Sought this producer out and glad to find this bottling with some age (2003). I was especially curious to try these wines with food and [Hog Island] Oysters are always my preferred litmus test for expressive white wines. A fun look at Sauvignon Blanc from this region.
Would be interested to seek out the Friulano from this same producer in the future. — 6 years ago

Mike Elmgreen

9.5

Blinded this with Dad, thought it was like powerful unoaked chard (shows how little semillon we drink), in great shape with good concentration and a litmus for the region. — 5 years ago

Jimmy Smith

Director, West and North London Wine School

8.9

Very interesting and quite modern/new worldy for an English wine. Creamy, leesy, with white peach and apple. Quite savoury. Good texture on the palate, balanced sourness, good lees and cream upfront. Slightly dumb on the finish-would suggest with food to compliment this. Chicken, rich fish, cows cheese (aged) — 9 years ago

Andrew Stover

Sommelier/Wine Director Oya & Sei, Wine Blogger ChiefWino, Founder Vino50

10

2011 Litmus White Pinot Noir. England. #englishwine. Reminiscent of white burg. Yellow apple, lemon curd, peach blossom with a chalky, mineral laced finish plus a whiff of oak. Lingering. #wine #sommelier # Pinot #litmus #england #uk
— 10 years ago