Jay Kline

9.2

Served double-blind. The wine pours a straw color with no rim variation; medium viscosity with no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is of medium intensity with lemon meringue, pineapple, limestone-like minerals and a touch of burnt microwave popcorn. On the palate, the wine is dry; medium(?) acid and medium(+?) alcohol. There is a very peculiar textural element that I’m trying to get my head around. I think this wine may have seen some oak but the barrels would have to have been used. The finish was long and had a saline quality to it. What the hell is this? I could see this being Chardonnay from a new world producer doing some funny stuff or possibly a Marsanne from the Northern Rhone? I will say that there is a hint of a green herbal/vegetal thing on the finish that is making me consider Sauvignon Blanc or Gruner Veltliner but I don’t detect the acid being high enough for SB and there is no way this is Gruner. I’m sort of stumped here…so I went with Marsanne from France, Northern Rhone, Hermitage Blanc with 3-5 years of age and I wasn’t comfortable with it…but whatever. I know that I liked this wine, whatever it was! Dang…this was Sauvignon Blanc and Didier Dagueneau Pouilley-Fumé to boot!! I should have trusted my identification of the vegetal note and considered Sauvignon Blanc a little longer than I did. The textural element is coming from contact with lees and threw off my perception of the acid. I’ll have to get better at understanding that. This wine is Benjamin Dagueneau’s VdF made with younger vines from the St. Andelain hill in Pouilly-Fumé. Drink now or over the next handful of years, easy. — 2 years ago

Simon Weston

9.2

Another xmas present- part of Heaven Hill Distillery selection pack. 110 proof 6 year aged. Gorgeous dark caramel color, spicy caramel notes and a smooth rye taste. This is good stuff! — 6 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.0

Wheat 🌾 Whiskey. — 3 years ago

Jeffro Beaudeen

9.4

Holy Rochioli! Still plenty of firm acidity to balance the deep cherry and cola nuances, richly textured and a long lingering finish to boot . . 2002 Little Hill Yummmo! — 4 years ago

Jack Thompson

9.1

Big day of wine! Grand Reserve tasting at Total followed by steak night.

ELLO GOVNAH! This British wine was one of the more unique Chardonnays I’ve had in my life. Briney, acidic and interestingly mineral. Very fun, but needs food for full enjoyment. — 6 years ago

with Arden

Bill Koplos

9.2

Nice raspberry nose, light tannins with some acid. Spicy taste to it, drinking well right now. Good food wine, to boot. Cheers to @Andrew Rasse @Jenks for the Phillips Hill winery visit — 8 years ago

with Jenny

Matt Sterr

9.3

Recreated historic bitters. — 4 years ago

Ming L

9.0

This 17’ is better than the 15’ I remember.
Stone fruits and light oak vanilla on the nose. Taste of green apple, underripe pineapple, and hint of roasted almond. Round yet vivid acidity with a long mineral almost salty finish.
Lovely fruits with a great price to boot. — 4 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.1

Just Riz & Pig in the blend for this one.
Still a beauty.
Acid and fruit with flavour to boot 🥾 — 6 years ago

Philip Carpenter

Founder/Educator santabarbarawinetalk.com

10

Rockin’ Pinot with new world profile. Nice smoke & mushroom with orange peel acid. — 7 years ago