Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.7

If it didn’t have such a weird name I probably wouldn’t have bought it, hefty decant needed but 😳👍🏼
Wine Advocate 95,
Reviewed by Jeb when he was with Parker,


Showing beautifully from barrel and not disappointing from bottle, the 2012 Hommage a Francois Durif No. 1 (I reviewed this last year as the Petite Sirah) is a blend of 100% Petite Sirah that's certainly one of the finest examples of this variety coming out of California. Inky colored and a big, voluptuous and decadent beauty, it offers terrific notes of blackcurrants, plum, toasted spice, leather, graphite and espresso. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich and yet always balanced and light on its feet, it has sensational purity of fruit, a big, rich mid-palate and tons of sweet tannin that coat the palate and lengthen the finish. I wouldn't open another bottle for 2-3 years, but it will have 15-20 years of longevity. — 4 days ago

Ron R

9.3

Tasted at the winery, but this has put on weight since then. Beautifully complex on the nose and palate. Sweet, rich and dense, with a squeaky clean fruit profile. This will sail on for many more years in the cellar. — 20 days ago

with Anne-marie

Vanessa

9.0

Full-bodied Zinfandel. Juicy, concentrated, ripe red and black fruit such as candied blackberry, black cherry, strawberry, also cedar, vanilla, oak, dill, black pepper. Goes well with a winter barbecue.

Turley, California Zinfandel, Old Vines. Vintage 2018. ABV 15.2%. — 5 days ago

with Deked1

Jim McCusker

9.3

Terrific new sour saison from JP (okay, maybe not that new - bottled in November 2019 - but new for me!), this is a collaboration with Perennial Ales. Brewed with peaches and apricots, it’s one of the better sour saisons I’ve had from JP. Highly recommended. — 6 days ago

Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has smokey over-ripe plum, prune, mashed black cherry, strawberry jam, dark chocolate, Finnish licorice, (minor) black pepper, dried meats and wet steel.

Palate has ripe plum, dried cherry, light molasses, wet earth, wet clove, blackberry, black raisin, (minor) moist cedar, strawberry fruit leather with a medium viscosity; Long finish improving with extended airing.

Cork pulled for slow oxidation at 6H, then 2H in the decanter. Considerable sediment in the bottle, as expected. Doing quite well, still some years ahead, but we've had other Turley Zinfandel at about this age with a stronger showing. Perhaps the 'Juvenile' is not intended for a 13-14Y slumber. — 4 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

8.9

This is K&L Wine Merchants private label wine. Named after family, Kay & Linda.

It is always a mystery who’s juice they bottled or who they bought fruit to and made the wine. Regardless, it always over delivers at $21.99.

Might have waited a couple years too long to get its best. Need to let it settle on palate before sharing more thoughts. Starting a little lean on the palate but, what a floral nose. We’ll see what a longer decant and palate coating brings.

As I mentioned, the nose is singing with ruby, candied florals that are; dark, red, purple & blue. The fruits are a little stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries and blueberries that hover. Mid, soft, dark spice, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf.

The nose is more captivating than the body. It’s complex but at the same time flatter. The palate shows; ripe, stewed & candied fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, plum, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate and blueberries on the backend. Mid, soft, dark spice with just the right amount of heat, cherry kirsch, light baking spices of; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid berry cola, black & red licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, mocha, steeped fruit tea, dark, rich, moist soil with dry leaves, older tobacco, soft leather, saddle-wood, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, dry, river stones, moist to dry clay, shades of dry herbs, ambers, touch of savory meats & black pepper, & tomatoes with leaf. The acidity is a cool Colorado stream. The finish is; well knitted, balanced fruit & earth elegant, lush, despite its complexity, a little hallow yet persisting minutes, falling onto dry soils & spice.

As I stated, still enjoyable but, at its peak two years ago from my secondary storage. However, the longer I sip it, it pushes 9.0 on the long set. Time to start drinking a number of wines I’ve stepped over for bigger experiences & more notable producers.

Photos of, the K&L store in SF, tasting bar & two different photos of K&L Bordeaux Dinners we’ve attended with Owner Clyde Beffa Jr. — 3 days ago

Jim McCusker

9.2

Reached back a bit in the cellar for this one. From the third vintage released by the folks at Epoch, this is a GMS blend that’s almost equal parts of all three varietals. Definitely on the downslope - some of the vibrancy of the grenache has faded - but it’s still excellent. Stopped getting Epoch wines a while back because of what went down there early on between the original winemaker (Dave Jelinek) and the owners - didn’t think that was too cool - but there is no denying the quality of the wines they produce. — 4 days ago

with Vanessa

Frank Kuo

9.2

Color of gold. Nose of ripe fruits like banana and papaya, roasted nuts, mix of flowering note spice and alcohol, and a touch of salty mineral. Very Chardonnay like. Taste is interesting, with good mix of sweetness and acidity. On top of that, jasmine flowering note. Almost like jasmine tea. Sweet citrus and melon on the 2nd sip. Quite soft and clean. Some minerals show up later on. Light on the aftertaste yet done well in quality. — 6 days ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is always enjoyable. Showing blackberries, coffee, chocolates, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco, light herbs and peppercorn.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Nice length on the finish with round tannins.

Good right out of the bottle, and better with airtime. 30 minutes is enough.

Nicely balanced and fruit forward.

Good by itself or with food.

89 points.

14% alcohol by volume. — 10 days ago

Shay A

9.3

My last of the 2014 Ultramarine’s. Sad day. Thankfully 2015s are up next, and I was able to secure extra 2016s during the release a few months back.

This was one of three bubblies (2010 Larmandier-Bernier VV du Levant, Egly Ouriet Rosé) opened alongside a lineup of some fun wines when a buddy, @Shawn R , was in town. As always, my experience with these wines is so unique. You can always tell this is like grower champagne from first smell and sip. Gorgeous golden color in the glass. I normally pick up aromas of cream soda with Ultramarine (aside from their rosé), but didn’t get that here. Caramel dipped golden delicious apples, spiced cider, brioche, a little shaved almond, sporting a gentle “oxidative” flair. On the palate it’s zippy and racy with a distinct herb crusted yellow fruit profile (which I get on some Heintz Chardonnays), alongside more apple, poached pear, and kiss of ripe red Berry fruits. There is also a backbone of limestone/mineral here. When compared to the Larmandier-Bernier, this drank more new world, though if I had tried this blind and not next to a true champagne, I may have been able to get there.

As an aside, we drank half of this bottle (and of the other two bubblies as well) and then put a champagne stopper on it to revisit the next day. Upon opening, the bubbles seemed to have diminish quite a bit and it drank closer to a still wine...and then 30mins later, it was like this roared back to life for one last hurrah, full of bubbles and totally vibrant. Not sure I’ve seen a bubbly do that before. The last glass on the second day was just as good as the first glass on the first day. — 3 days ago

with Shawn