Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2000 vintage. Decanted and tasted over the course of 1.5 hours. Expected amount of sed. Chunky, unresolved nose. Medium body. Still too youthful. Would try to give it another 7-10 years if possible. Initial tree branches/greenery dipping into morning fresh water morphed into classic graphite/lead pencil after 45 mins in the decanter. There was a slight metallic streak on the finish that appeared about 20 minutes in and still hadn't dissipated after 1.5 hours. More nimble than the og bad boys from this estate ('86, '88, '89, '90) and a bit less weighty. Mostly positives along with a few (mostly) minor quibblings. A ways to go, tho, before hitting the summit this estate established four decades ago. 9.24.23. — 7 months ago

Martinez

9.1

Very impressed by the Palmas series, a special release of “en rama” sherries from selected casks from the Tío Pepe solera. Traditionally, cellarmasters in Jerez would mark exceptional casks with a chalk drawing of a palm tree branch (palma in Spanish), potentially adding more branches if those wines continued to show finesse and delicacy as they aged. To make the selection, González Byass’ invites different guests (mostly wine critics and somms) every year, an honor that befell Ferran Centelles (El Bulli) in 2020.

The 2020 Una Palma comes from three casks from the Tio Pepe solera with 6 years of aging under flor, bottled unfined and unfiltered (en rama). Sharp nose with notes of almonds, yeast and hints of citrus. Fresh, mineral and very saline. Much more intense aromas and flavors than the regular Tio Pepe — 3 years ago

David D

9.1

Really plush tannins. Stewed prunes and dark red berries, dried thyme, damp soil and fallen branches, some citrus rind. From Town Center Wines, Eastham. — 4 years ago

John Bratincevic

9.5

Decanted for a couple hours. High expectations.

NOSE: branches and brambly fruit … raspberry … a little leather and shoe polish … cassis … blueberry … old book (but not must, mid-century) … minerals and earth … something very fresh … leaves …

TASTE: elegant and subtle. Smooth. Dark fruits and leaves and smooth tannins. Black raspberry. Distinct minerals - clay, stones. Something very fresh, like fresh cut herbs or spices - but not green ones. Turkish coffee? There’s some very complex range of spices I can’t quite get to … cardamom is in there. Burnt orange. A dash of rose petal. A real treat. Started subtle, then once I had a bit to eat, began to explode. 95

EDIT: I believe this is the highest rating I have handed out for a red wine. It’s good. — 2 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Nose of classical dark, moody grape.

Twigs and branches blackberry bramble Woody bits and all. High acidity - for the age amazing. I cannot imagine how acidic this wine was when it was released, because of how beautifully it is drinking now. A touch of bitterness on the back, the tiniest flaw.
— 3 years ago

Sarah Oettel

9.6

I am sooo impressed with this. Granted, we bought and brought it right from the winery (stored in their cellar for all these years); but, for me, this has been unlike any older vintage I have had to date. It was so smooth and elegant and still so complex. It kept evolving and shifting in just the short time we spent together (from an initial nose that hinted at age to toasted almond to a hint of Port to snapped tree branches) and left me wondering who it really is—what it was in its prime—and, inevitably, wanting more. — 4 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

A classic wine of the mid range that dominated the us market in 2008.

A good one to also constantly revisit.

Deep Smoked eucalyptus branches, mingled with black raspberry, mint, light stave tannins, kumquat acidity.
Very well balanced and very well made. — 2 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

A hearty nose of gray cranberry scone.

Light to medium, this wine has a spectacular focus to it, cherry skin, cranberry, twigs and branches, great jolly rancher blue acidity. This is a fantastic Pinot Noir. — 3 years ago

MaJ CappS

8.9

Peppery nose indeed! The Syrah smells like it should - earthy.

That earth continues into flavors of this blend. Medium to heavier bodied, blackberry branches, chalk, dried dark cherries, licorice.
High fiving acidity and oak.
This is a plead all blend. And for the minimal $ a perfectly good time wine. — 3 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.1

Smells of alpine strawberries and classic bramble

Wild berry bramble, twigs and branches, blackberry/ strawberry fruits, some mint, beautifully bright mouthfeel and some forest acidity. — 4 years ago