Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I’ve had this vintage several times over the last few yrs. I had it two yrs ago w/ Andy Beckstoffer & Tor Kenward. This is the weakest link I’ve had. It simply lacked the proper storage of the previous bottles I’ve had.

The color is still dark and the fruit is still intact. But this bottle has just started its plum, date, dark raisin and fig stage. Let me say again…just.

This is 13% ABV…love it. As I do with many 80’s Napa & Bordeaux’s. It does get better with each coldish coravined sip.

The tannins are well resolved and there is complete integration & evolution. Plum,s date, dark raisin & fig. Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries & dark spiced circling raspberries. Potpourri, baking spice delight-soft clove, nutmeg, cinnamon stick & vanilla, understated caramel, dark chocolate baking bar to chocolate pudding, milk chocolate, moist herbs, hints of mushrooms, saline, dry soil/limestone powder, forest floor with leaves, used tobacco & leather, gentle graphite, moist clay, dark spice w/ mid palate heat, withering dark, red flowers, violets & lavender, round, rainfall acidity with a well balanced, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds and long sets on earth & spices. — 14 days ago

Paco Suro

9.4

On day 3. Still signing. — 6 years ago

Paco Suro

9.3

Best to date. Outstanding. A week later and still delicious. — 6 years ago

Daniel McGeough

9.4

I love good Cali 💛💛 Chard!! — 6 years ago

Shay A

9.4

Arietta Wines lunch with owner Fritz. We were able to taste through some current releases as well as some reserve wines Fritz brought with him personally. A treat to enjoy these Andy Erickson wines!

This felt like it was just starting to hit its drinking window. Very pretty and aromatic. Potpourri, lavender, dusted dark cocoa bits, plum and savory smoke on the nose with underripe blackberries, baking spices and nutmeg. Lovely. — 7 years ago

Leo Nissola

9.1

medium bodied, buttery, notes of oak, could drink this all day on a warm sunny day — 7 years ago

with Ben

Paco Suro

9.1

Medium. Running lean. Good structure. — 8 years ago

Atticus Honore

9.3

Bright cherry, tea — 5 months ago

with Hallie

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.0

13.4% ABV Straw color, low acid, medium mouth feel. Good wine, just not my cup of tea. — 2 years ago

Paco Suro

8.9

Hard to follow an 09 Scallop Shelf. Bright. Fruity. A bit flabby in the middle. — 6 years ago

William Feinstein

9.1

Vibrant ruby red in the glass. Red fruit with a pronounced punch of white pepper. No sign of approaching the end of the line - still bright and vibrant. — 6 years ago

with Maryalice

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Disappointing! Happy for Andy Reid.

Perfect QPR and age.

Great pair with rubbed & sauced southern style BBQ Ribs, Glazed Carrots & Cole Slaw.

Previous notes apply. — 7 years ago

Scott Kahn

9.0

What a wonderful expression of the Combsville vineyard and Andy Erickson’s mastery of wine making. A nicely balance Cabernet on the front with a treasure trove of chocolate on the backend to complement the bouquet on the nose. This 07 is defined nite at a sweet spot for opening now. — 7 years ago

Noah Hart

9.8

Toasty brioche, depth, layers, length, then lemon citrus and minerals!! — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2018 “La Bruma” pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black and blue fruits: black brambles, blueberries, figs, black pepper, lavender, some Kalamata olive, cured meat, dried green herbs, ferrous minerals and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Unmistakably cool climate Syrah made in a style I love. Drink now through 2038. — a year ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.7

Nice 👍🏼, definitely a 4 hour decant or 5-10 year hold $150. 00 on release but it has the stuffing of a $250.00 bottle, Parker 98 + review This is the second vintage from Seven Apart—a blend coming from Stag's Ridge vineyard, located up on Atlas Peak, and Base Camp vineyard, located seven miles down the mountain (hence the name). The winemaker here is Andy Erickson, formerly at Screaming Eagle and Harlan Estate and currently also consulting winemaker at Dalla Valle (among others). The upper vineyard (Stag's Ridge) is planted to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Seven miles down the road, where Soda Canyon Road meets the Silverado Trail, is the four-acre Base Camp vineyard, planted in the mid-1990s to Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Base Camp was planted in 1994 and 1998. Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Expedition erupts from the glass with explosive scents of boysenberry preserves, blueberry pie and Black Forest cake, plus suggestions of molten chocolate, licorice, tar and violets, with a waft of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is full-on rich and decadent, exuding layer upon layer of opulent black and blue fruit preserves with bags of exotic spice accents and a long, fragrant finish. Pure hedonism. It is tantalizingly delicious right now, but give it 3-4 years in bottle to blow off that puppy fat, and drink it over the next 25 years+. — 5 years ago

Paco Suro

9.1

Fresh. Have been drinking older vintages which seem to be in “dumb” phases. This is hitting on all cylinders. — 6 years ago

Mads

9.4

Dried fruit, leather, tobacco, peppercorn but also a surprising tartness (cherry? Cran?) on the palate. A Bday wine from Teresa and Andy, drank just in time as the 2004 has lost all tannins. Tannin still kicking here. 60 min decanted but still unfolding. Happy birthday and happy new year — 7 years ago

with Paul

Joe D'Angelo

9.5

The 2016 ‘Quarzo’ Syrah is drop dead stunning. Sourced from Ann Kraemer's Shake Ridge Ranch this instantly grabs your attention with its dark inky color and vibrant aromatics of ripe black cherries, fresh violets, smoked bacon, black olives and hints of earthy minerals all exploding from the glass. On the palate this is full-bodied, fresh and layered with a center of juicy dark fruits, black olives and violets that burst on to the long supple finish. This is a total gem of a Syrah from Andy Erickson and Annie Favia that is simply delicious now, but will certainly continue to evolve incredibly well over the next decade. — 7 years ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Big surprise with this wine; brown color but it had something going on can’t say fruit but not austere or vinegary. Actually opened a bit after awhile. Got this from my friend Andy in the 90s. The bottle was also recorked in the 90s as well and the recorker did a good job as the cork came out easily. — 8 years ago