A tasting of six aged white Rhônes, including 20 and 35-year-old Hermitages vs Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Blancs from Les Granits and a 19-year-old Esprit from Tablas Creek, Beaucastel's sister winery in Paso Robles, as well as one of the first great Viogniers to come out of California, the 2009 Calera Mount Harlan. The Tablas Creek held up well against these heavyweights, coming in second place. — 7 months ago
Amazing freshness balancing the emerging tertiary characteristics. True Mt Carmel acidity shining through. — 8 months ago
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Hilltop lifts from the glass with a peppery freshness, mixing hints of sage with chalk dust and blackberries. It's soothingly round and supple with ripe red and black fruits underscored by saline minerals as grippy tannins mount toward the close. This finishes structured with medium length, leaving the palate refreshed while maintaining youthful poise. (Eric Guido, Vinous, July 2024)
— 2 months ago
Garnet ~ orange. Complexity, lots of spices in melty Syrup, mysterious liquids!!! Now should be peak. 03 @29700, Pieroth, 240413 — 6 months ago
A tasting of six aged white Rhônes, including 20 and 35-year-old Hermitages vs a Chapoutier Saint-Joseph Blanc (Les Granits) a 19-year-old Esprit from Tablas Creek, and a Calera Mount Harlan Viognier. This 2009 Chapoutier was the winner for me, and the group. — 7 months ago
Great with Cuban! — 3 months ago
The 1989 Pinot Noir Jensen Vineyard from Calera is a real surprise. I am inexperienced with respect to mature Californian Pinot Noir, and Josh Jensen’s wine was a revelation. Candied red fruit commingles with blood orange and Kirsch, unmistakably not from Burgundy because it is too rich, but it is certainly not over-ripe. The palate is overly sweet and Californian on the entry. Still, there is structure behind this Pinot extant after more than three decades, with quite plush raspberry fruit on the quintessentially Californian finish. It's just a lovely wine that is, once again, perfect to drink now. (Neal Martin, Vinous, April 2024)
— 6 months ago
Rich Bluth
at peak, subtle and excellent — 10 days ago