Daniel Bloom

9.1

Coconut, Banana, White flowers on the nose. (With air, lots of herbs),A faint touch of the mineral quality that follows through on the finish of the palate. Said palate is less floral and more linear, mineral, especially after some airing in the glass. The bitterness that feels mineral is a nice contrast to perceived fruit, as it adds an interesting aftertaste. Viura, Grenache Blanc, and Tempranillo Blanco. Interesting blend.
I’ve had Tempranillo Blanco as a standalone, but only as of ‘25,in San Sebastián where in one Pintxo bar, it worked quite well with parts of their menu.
This winery is a wife & husband team who, from what I gather, hope to bring some “traditional” Riojan winemaking style to modern production.
I’m looking forward to trying their offerings beyond entry level.
Thanks @Rare Wine Co. — 3 months ago

Severn G

9.3

2000 | Red Blend
(65% Cabernet Sauvignon / 28% Merlot / 7% Petit Verdot)
Château Lagrange
Grand Cru Classé (3ème), Left Bank
Bordeaux; Médoc, St-Julien, France
(93-94; Drink 2030-40)

Ripe black currant, damp leather, pencil lead, raspberry-fig bar; Dried black cherry, chocolate espresso cake, faint vanilla. Decanted 10H.

Paired with long braised (local, Columbia Co. NY ❤️) lamb shanks, charred carrots w/ maple glaze and garden mashed potatoes. A great 2023 Easter dinner, BDX is the best pairing for lamb, of many preparation styles.
(We're finding that the cats also enjoy a savory lamb dish. 😉) — 3 years ago

Morgan Reese

9.7

Bar and garden. Amazing. — 6 years ago

with Andrew

Steven Beishuizen

9.0

Blackberry, big blueberry, a bit of raspberry, and loose, fuzzy tannins here... Ten years after the 2009 vintage, this one's still got a bit of room to run... That said, I wouldn't call this one tight... The Syrah contributes some pepper... I'll admit that Syrah-Cabernet isn't my favorite blend, but it was great revisiting this one after a memorable visit to the tasting bar at the winery over seven years ago with my buddy... We hit Naramata every summer, and though we've started sticking with our favorites, this place likely deserves a return visit. — 7 years ago

with Anita

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The nose is brooding as the glass even approaches. Ruby, ripe; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, an array of purple fruits, blueberries, creamy raspberries, baked, dark cherries and plum. Mid intensity grilled meats, smoke, cracked pepper, blue/purple fruit cola, black licorice, nice, soft, dark spice, crushed rocks, moist clay, vanilla, understated dry herbs, blue, purple flowers and gently layered lavender.

The body is full, thick, lush and ruby. The mouthfeel is gorgeous/sexy. It just starting to drink softer, showing good integration with another 10 plus years of good drinking ahead. This style, structure, tension, length & balance is why I love well made Syrahs from Walla Walla. Ruby, ripe; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, an array of purple fruits, blueberries, creamy raspberries, baked, dark cherries and plum. Mid intensity grilled meats, smoke, cracked pepper, blue/purple fruit cola, black licorice, caramel, mocha powder, milk chocolate, nice, soft, dark spice that brings heat to the palate, notes of cinnamon, crushed rocks, moist clay, vanilla, understated dry herbs, dark, rich, turned earth, even show a touch graphite, used tobacco with ash, blue, purple flowers and gently layered lavender. The acidity is round and nicely done. The lush, rich, ripe, well balanced, finish glides beautifully & juicy over the palate while it persists minutes.

Photos of; side shot of the tasting room that looks like an 1800’s saloon from the outside, the lounge area of their tasting room, Greg Karrington’s Co-Owner and Co-Winemakers Master Sommelier Certificate (no easy thing to pass) and my wife at their tasting bar chatting it up.
— 7 years ago

John Pizza

9.2

8.29.25 at Havana in Bar Harbor — 10 months ago

Rufus King

9.0

Decent white Burgundy served with halibut at Inga’s Bar in Brooklyn Heights, NYC — 3 years ago

K. Syrah

9.4

2017: Massive black/blue fruit concentration, young but not overly tannic. Maybe too much of a uni-dimensional fruit bomb at the this stage but also subtly oaked so I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt and round up. Less structured at this stage than Tignanello but could get a lot more interesting over the next few years. Havana/Bar Harbor. — 4 years ago

Catherine Schuurs

9.0

Great addition to Mitchell Harris Wine Bar Ballarat - delightful drop nice amount of spice — 5 years ago

Xista

9.0

Excellent fruit wine — 6 years ago

Melissa E

8.9

Sorry, dark bar and glass filled to the brim. — 7 years ago

Cindy Glennon

9.5

Bar Harbor. A French tasting Rioja with a nice fruit and smoke balance; dry side. Had with paella. Delicious. — 7 years ago

Stuart Scheff

9.1

Rose in May. At my favorite wine bar and a nice suggestion from the owner Dan — 7 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Great value blanc de noir. Mostly Pinot meunier. Quite full and rich. Acid and mousse maybe a smidge less fine than I was hoping, but still nice for the price - especially paired with some fried chicken at the Modern bar room. — 2 years ago

Rufus King

9.2

Expensive but satisfying, full bodied Albariño from Raul Perez, served with Paella at Havana restaurant in Bar Harbor, ME — 3 years ago

Dan Draper

10

Love this Real Ale. One of the best Red Ales I have ever had — 4 years ago

Morris Birnbaum

9.1

Drunk at Havana, Bar Harbor ME — 5 years ago

with Barbara

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Charles strikes again.

I said weeks ago, I’d rather drink Charles Hendricks Pinot in futures @ $75 vs. the 09 Marcassin we had two weeks back @ $150+ winery or $225+ on the secondary market. This 14, while still young, proves that point and will only continue to get better.

It’s about as luxurious as Ca Pinot gets. Just supple, soft & elegant as body gets. Candied, floral fruits of ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue fruits, lean purple fruits, dry cranberries, strawberries, plums, delicate but darks spices, cinnamon stick, vanillin, nutmeg & touch clove, salted caramel, mocha powder, limestone & grey volcanics, dry crushed rocks hints of peppered grilled meats, fresh & dry tobacco, dry stems/twigs, sage dominated dry Provence herbs, splash of mint/eucalyptus, tree sap with bright candied, fresh & slightly withering florals of; dark, red, purple, blue set in a field of violets & some lavender. The acidity is perfect. The long finish is; extremely well balanced & polished, elegant, fresh, just the right amount of candied with a long, dark spice finish in the long set.

The 14 really started to excel after an hour plus in the decanter.

Photos of; the outside of the Hope & Grace tasting room in downtown Yountville where you will find Charles Hendricks wines. He makes Hope & Grace wines as well. One of my favorite paintings that used to sit behind their tasting bar but, is now in Charles house. It is very Pollock like! Winemaker/Co-owner Charles Hendricks and a vineyard in region of the Santa Lucia Highlands. — 6 years ago

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.2

Drunk with the delicious mixed grill at Havana Parilla in Bar Harbor Maine. A Spanish wine list not to be missed if you are a fan.
Dark ruby color. Wonderfully integrated aromas of ripe fruits, leather, savory herbs and sweet oak. Polished texture that was as enjoyable without food as with. — 7 years ago

Matt Trader

9.2

Coming soon to Destinations Wine Bar...made by Morgan Twain-Peterson MW, son of Joel Peterson of Once and Future (the guy who started Ravenswood) - come in to see Doug and Eric and have some Bedrock! — 7 years ago