Neil Valenzuela

9.5

Deep ruby color. Aromas blueberry, asphalt and RC Cola. Soft, gorgeous wine, full of blue fruits and delicate tannins- superb!! — a month ago

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9.4

Saturated ruby-red. The highly expressive bouquet conveys vibrant, mineral- and spice-accented red and blue fruits, candied flowers and succulent herbs aromas. Gently chewy and incisive boysenberry, bitter cherry and fresh bay flavors deepen and become sweeter with air. The floral note recurs on a very long, mineral finish that's framed by subtly gripping, fine-grained tannins. Made with 39% whole clusters and raised in a 65/35 mix of neutral oak foudres and concrete tanks. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, January 2023) — a year ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.0

Deep ruby color. Aromas of blackberries, cardamon and dried lavender. Black and blue fruit- the way a petit sirah should be! — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

For all of you that drink; SQN, Cayuse & Horsepower, if you haven’t tried a well aged Rostaing, you are missing the best aspect of Syrah.

Côte de Rôtie translates in English into Roasted Slope. That’s exactly what this wine defines.

The Ampodium is a blend of 7-8 different Rhône vineyards. 2010 a dynamic vintage in Northern Rhône.

I bought this recently at auction and it has been decently stored but not quite ideally stored.

The nose reveals; roasted chestnut, stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries on the high nose & backend of the fruit, used coffee grounds, soft leather, dry tobacco, savory meats, dark, moist soils, anise to black licorice, fresh sage & bay leaf with candied; dark, red, blue, purple florals in a field of lavender.

The palate is; fresh, ripe, juicy, elegant and nicely resolved. The structure, tension, balance and length are perfect. It is for the palates that love elegance & beauty, not brawn & ABV. Roasted chestnut, stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy, ripe strawberries backend of the fruit, used coffee grounds, soft leather, dry tobacco, savory meats, smoke, dark, moist soils, anise to black licorice, light purple cola, fresh sage & bay leaf with candied; dark, red, blue, purple florals in a field of lavender. The acidity is round & stream like. The finish is in perfect balance, harmony that settled softy yet speaks volumes.

Paired with the Cardiff Chipotle Tri-tip. The best Tri-tip we’ve had. You can order at CardiffCrack.com. Not inexpensive though. The best never is!

Photos of; me in the La Landonne Vineyard, Rene Rostaing and our tour with Pierre Rostaing in their La Landonne Vineyard. What an afternoon!

Producer notes, Pierre (son of Rene & now Winemaker) uses up to 100% of the stems - believing they contribute to Côte Rôtie’s ineffable perfume. Macerations last from 7 to 20+ days, and the wines enjoy a long élevage in a mix of barrels and time-honored pièce for aging, so that no more than 15% of a given vintage sees new wood. — 4 years ago

with James and Christina

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This small Calistoga producer falls largely under the radar. I am thankful. The 12 vintage brings such fruit. However, this 12 Sisters rides the fence of 12 & 13. Shows dark currents, concreted mouthfeel in addition to its ripe, rich opulence.

The nose ascends with rich dark, purple, blue fruits, dark spice, violets framed in lavender for days.

The palate is ripe, ruby, lush, concentrated fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, boysenberries, very dark cherries, creamy raspberries, in & out strawberries & blueberries. Big, heated, dark spice-box, round, meaty, sweet tannins cigar ash, led pencil, tarriness, anise, moist, fresh tobacco, black licorice & cola, dark, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, vanilla, rich soil w/ dry leaves, dry, crush rocks/limestone, dry herbs-bay leaves, sage, parsley, notes of eucalyptus bark shavings, tree bark w/ hints of sap, touch of black sandalwood to barrel shavings, pepper, moist, volcanic clay, fresh & withering; dark, purple, red, blue floral bouquet framed in violets & lavender, excellent acidity with a lush, rich, big, round & meaty structure, still shows great tension, well balanced with endless polish & finish. 10 years of life ahead…properly stored. Wine post 4,600.

Such a deal at the Benchmark Bin Sale. @Paul T- Huntington Beach if you find any of this, just tell me about em, don’t buy em. 😂🤥 — 7 months ago

Nick Damiano

9.1

Very nice, blue and black berries, peach, floral notes, anise. Medium dry and lightly tannic. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I have said for many years, buy good Bordeaux second or other producers wines in great vintages. St. Emilion was very good in 2005, just not as good as Left Bank. Pavie’s other (or some would say a second wine-yet not technically true-more just another) wine.

Allen Brothers Ribeye. Not as good as their Ripcap but, none the less excellent.

I would have thought on another wine from Pavie would have been perfect at 13 years in bottle. It’s nice (good steak wine) but, still needs 5-8 yrs.

Out of the decanter & on the nose, beautifully ruby & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plums, raspberries & strawberries. Cinnamon stick, dark spice, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid dark to dark cola, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, soft herbaceousness-bay leaf with sage dominant, dry stone, forest floor, leather, dry tobacco, cedar to shoe leather, incense, burnt ambers, used, dark roast coffee grounds with candied florals that are fresh & withering; dark, red, purple& blue.

The palate is still big with tarry meaty tannins yet, round & juicy. Good first look but, better things in 5 plus years. The structure, tension is still grippy. The length & balance are rounding out of adolescence. Ruby, candied & floral fruits of; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, black plums, raspberries & strawberries. Cinnamon stick, dark spice, clove, some nutmeg, vanillin, dark, sweet tarriness, anise to black licorice, mid dark to dark cola, limestone minerals, dry crushed rocks, steeped fruit tea, soft herbaceousness-bay leaf with sage dominant, dry stone, forest floor, dry top soil, dry, crushed rocks, used leather, dry tobacco, cedar to shoe leather, incense, burnt ambers, used, dark roast coffee grounds with candied florals that are fresh & withering; dark, red, purple& blue. The acidity is nicely round. The long; elegant, well balanced finish loads juicy fruits, sliding into earth and spice that persists endlessly. — 3 years ago

with Christina and James

Conrad Green

9.2

Gorgeous supple blue fruit. Tangy cherry, dark plum. Herbs. Soulful. — a year ago

with Paul and Ara

Willie Carter

9.2

California Syrah the way I like it. And I do definitely like it. A really pretty deep dark purple with a wide brim and little cherry red flecks. This nose is just plain silly good and exciting. Plums and raspberries abound here. Blackberries with a touch of fennel go a long way. The olive aromas are jumping out of the glass and my goodness it’s special. There’s a rich meaty, fatty aspect to the nose that just blows me away. Stupendous.

Every wine I have from Big Basin is just as good as the next one. All so good and so well crafted. Hailing from the Rattlesnake Rock vineyard in Santa Cruz and definitely fruit forward. At this age, it’s drinking with more refinement than you may expect. Classy and stylish but never forgets about the fun. A lesson in how to make a big and bold Syrah without even coming close to going overboard. Smoke and grilled meat in the mouth to go with the vibrant red and blue fruits. Black pepper and menthol. The finish is long and fulfilling. Don’t listen to me, seriously don’t. Just go taste it. — 2 years ago

Doug Sayed

9.3

2016 vintage. Intense saline blue fruits with excellent supporting structure and a great finish. Seems quite youthful for its age, with lingering fine tannins and solid acidity. The only detractor is a slight vegetable element. Great juice. — 3 years ago