Matthew Cohen

9.6

Nose : mountain air. Hints of burnt honey.

Palate: complex. Brioche. Intense flowers. Elegantly rich. Intense integrated acidity. Age. So salivatory. Juicy af.

— 3 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

The 2021 Smash City is bright and floral with a wild blend of crushed strawberries, dusty rose, citrus and spice. This is juicy and fruit-focused, with crisp red berries elevated by traces of citrus under an air of violet inner florals. The Smash City cleans up beautifully, full of energy and perfumed, leaving the palate nicely refreshed. This lively Pinot Noir is produced with all Bien Nacido fruit. (Eric Guido, Vinous, May 2023) — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

We last had a bottle on 11th July 2020 and this time it showed better. Red savoury fruits mainly cherry and a plum skin note. Still with that burnt bracken note which is not unattractive. On the palate like Bass Phillip but more succulent. The Macedon Ranges just north of Melbourne is a proven good area for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - a neighbour being the highly credentialed Bindi Wines. — 6 years ago

Phil Castellano

9.1

Great IPA to start a Monday evening! #cigarcitybrewing — 6 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.1

A blend of Straight Bourbon, Corn 🌽 Whiskey, Straight rye and a plush of 15 YO Olorosso Sherry. All the whiskies are at least 4 YO. Unique and flavorful. — 7 years ago

Pooneet K

9.0

A really nice oloroso. Amber in the glass - like a burnt honey - and lots of burnt vanilla and almond on the nose. Deeply mouth filling with good acid on the finish as well. Delicious. — 7 years ago

Michael Mallon

8.9

This well runs surprisingly deep considering the price. Ripe berries, cocoa, coffee, herbs, burnt caramel. Creamy rich texture. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

My last 2011 bottle. The estate of Sette Ponti lies in the heart of the Chianti zone, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past the village of San Giustino Valdarno. Crognolo, aged in French Allier barriques, deep red with red fruit aromas and sweet perfumed spice. On the palate raspberry and cherry flavors, gentle spice and soft tannins with great mouthfeel. Good balance, lingering finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Aged well. — 8 years ago

Hamilton Schwartz

9.0

Passover 26 — 4 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.0

Light medium caramel core , light copper rim. Quite mature , with spiced creme brûlée , saffron , burnt sugar , some crystallised orange peel , desiccated coconut . Slightly monochrome . On the palate this is quite light , with quite high acidity and a burnt caramel bitterness . Medium sweetness only , quite refreshing acidity . Slightly bitter orange caramel finish . Drink now qnd over the next few years , won’t improve . — 9 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Severn Goodwin doesn’t know I lifted this from his cellar. Far too pricey for a Rose.

As different as the most considered typical Rose.

Splendid but, if you are expecting Bandol or new world, this is probably not for you.

I entitled this bottle shot, Roses for Rasado.

Notes of sherry, vermouth, rhubarb, concentrated British tea sack. Geraniums & pink Roses. Gravel powder, dry top soil, burnt, brown sugar, blood orange, underripe pink grapefruit, dry floral bouquet. Excellent, well balanced finished.

Crazy good change of pace.

Top photos from my 2015 visit. Great historical stop in Haro. — 5 years ago

David Kline

9.0

Powering through the last of the oak beers on the way to wine immersion. On a positive note, the baby now has a room! Anyway, last year’s Good Gourd! Looks like dark tea or a hot cider, nice eruption of bubbling magic. Orange tinged; good start! Super spiced cinnamon apple, caramel, vanilla, nutmeg, and oddly smelling of a California wine. Sierra foothills mascarpone notes and also a hot buttered rum smell. Cinnamon tea, clove studded orange, whiskey-lemon-honey tea, toasted coconut, sweet tobacco, brown sugar, dates, fruitcake candied notes with a nod to its density. A cream soda finish with raisinets. #cigarcitybrewing #cigarcitygoodgourd #goodgourd #imperialale #ale #beer #bier #biere #birra #imperialpumpkinale #pumpkinale #pumpkinbeer #ccb #halloweenbeer — 7 years ago

with Courtney

Sharon Ambrose

9.1

Very good celebratory toast! — 7 years ago

Peter Wassam

9.5

Reticent. Crazy copper hue. This was when he was experimenting with open top fermenters, pre-amphora. Lush, striking mouthfeel, but delicious burnt orange, citrus rind, savory incense quality. Out of magnum. Great experience, but would love to revisit this on day two and three — 8 years ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Beast! Big, burly, brooding, and bawesome.
Rich and gamey with smoky olive brine and savory layers of earth. Tucking a couple away. — 6 months ago

Hannah Shapiro

9.0

browner colour, smells of burnt caramel, apricots, amber honey - very syrup-y. not as sweet as the other port. tastes like raisins, maple syrup-esque. tastes similar to the maple syrup taffy/lollipops. not as fruity as the other port. after chocolate the flavours are softened and honestly not as sweet — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Celebrating with a couple of nice bottles tonight

2.5 hour decant(lots of chunky/fine/cloudy sediment). An astonishing dark purplish magenta color. On the nose: expressive notes of plum, cedar, worn leather, musky earth, floral, and smokey vanilla. Taste: smooth, creamy, rich wine with plum, cedar, tobacco wrapper, burnt earth, and a white pepper- strawberry-graphite long finish. YUM!! Comfortably in its drinking window(with decant) and more years to go. — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Austin N

9.2

Lively with effervescence. Give it a slight chill. Notes of nectarine and yeast — 6 years ago

Bill Bender

9.2

Moving fuel. 42 year old Tempranillo and a uniquely American delicacy to celebrate Independence Day 🧀 🇺🇸 I’m unpacking boxes and listening to the Padres vs Dodgers so other than the wine I’m full throttle Americana today. The Vina Todonia cork dropped in to the bottle immediately upon contact from the Durand so I was not hopeful....but it’s totally intact and it presents with significant bricking in the decanter with expected brown and red tones and is chock full of secondary notes of burnt fig, savory smoke, cigar and soil. Soft tannins and waning acidity but it seems to be putting on “weight” as the afternoon progresses. Another solid showing from this producer at an advanced age. Great stuff. Happy 4th of July to all!! 🍎 ⚾️ 🍷 ☀️ — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Masterclass in San Francisco with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite. Chateau Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.

1997 a difficult vintage for reds in Bordeaux. The upside is, when the reds lag, the whites almost always shine.

The nose shows; marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals.

The body is thick, gluey and rich. The mouthfeel magnificent. There is almost a dry tannin presence but it is it’s dry, gritty volcanic minerality, marmalade, dry peaches & apricots, pineapple, citrus blend, fresh orange peel, burnt almonds, almond cake, nut skin, burnt toffee, honey, caramel, beeswax, waxiness, toast, limestone, gravely stones, fruit blossoms and yellow florals. The acidity round and splendid. The finish is rich, well balanced, elegant, polished and delicious.

All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.

Photos of; the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, glass of 1997 showing color, Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite presenting and another view of the city of San Francisco/Bay and the Golden Gate Bride in the background.
— 7 years ago