Dr Snake MD

9.7

Attempting to accurately capture the depth of this cali cab is like putting socks of a rooster- you get scratched and your cock gets angry. Don’t let the fight dissuade you though because the cigar box nose lifts you towards a state of transubstantiation as medium minus acidity beckons you towards a bed of tannins. — 9 months ago

Shay A

9.2

My last of these. I experienced a bit of bottle variation with mine, some showing extremely fresh and others not so much. I’m a fan of Michael Cruse and enjoy his Ultramarine sparklers, and while it’s hard to compare UM to this, there are similarities and these are really delicious, especially for the money. This has a grower champagne like profile to it.

2017 base (released spring 2020), zero dosage. My first experience with this was during the dosage trial last year. Lots of fun to taste this wine at different levels. On previous bottles, it never came across as zero dosage, yet this final bottle had a pronounced carmex-like aromatic I get with many zero dosage sparklers. Oxidized aromatics and notes on the palate. This is apple everything...browned golden delicious apple, Apple strudel, apple spice. Mid palate is fairly rich with limestone, floral nuances, and a tart finish. Mousse here has died down some and the profile has become more vinous. I’d enjoy these sooner rather than later to capture the freshness. — 3 years ago

Michael Meyer

9.3

Catching up on an old capture. This was banging, but the music was distorted. Needs time, time, and more time. In the end it will be killer, but as for tonight it was a lesson in patience and looking beyond the grip. One to follow for sure! — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

I will say that K&L Wine Merchants private label is consistently very good and this 2014 is simply stupid for $22. They buy fruit and have a guality producer make their private label or buy a quality producers juice and sign ND contracts. Pushing 9.2. It is right around its peak. Drinks like a similarly aged $60 plus Napa Cabernet. After being in business for over 40 years, they have built many grower and or producer relationships to be able to capture some really nice juice with excellent value. — a year ago

Michael Greene

9.1

Marathon blind tasting dinner at Le Petit Verdot in Paris. Failed to capture most bottles and things got hazy…
This was fresh, grassy. Generous fruit. — 3 years ago

Steven Mendes

9.3

I’ve been holding on to this bottle for a long time. Okay, I have a few more... :)

Incredibly velvety smooth and a long delicious finish. Shared with four others so as to ensure it was consumed within an hour to capture it at it’s peak after decanting. Simply wonderful. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

The La Paciencia Vineyard was planted over the course of three years, with three acres each planted to Grenache, Syrah and Tempranillo. The 2015 Grenache from this vineyard is one of the best red wines from Washington that I have sampled from this warm vintage. This incredible wine was aged in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel prior to bottling. The nose is completely intoxicating with exotic aromatics of blood orange, wild strawberries, damp earth, guava purée, and peat moss tones with wild blackberry that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows an incredible range of flavors, which include blood orange zest, forest floor, white truffle, red currant jelly and umami. The wonderful combination of saline and savory characteristics makes your mouth water and completely captivates the senses. Despite coming from a warm vintage, the level of acidity that vigneronne, Elizabeth Bourcier, was able to capture is highly impressive. Thjs thrilling wine is beautiful to savor now but has another decade ahead of it. Drink 2019-2029- 97 — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.7

A bright pale to medium Ruby in colour. Soaring aromatics of. Red cherry, rhubarb, caramel , rose petals and forest floor. Much of this carries through to the delicious palate finishing with fine savoury persistent tannins. Sometimes it’s good to drink an excellent wine in its youth to capture that fresh vibrancy and realise why it scooped the pool at Royal Adelaide this year winning the Trophies for Best Pinot and Best Red Wine of the Show. Quite an achievement in one of the most competitive Wine Shows in Australia. This is a “Judgment of Paris “ type wine which would scatter Premier Cru Candidates in Burgundy. Sourced from leading vineyards throughout Tasmania and will sell out in a flash. Tasted 41 weeks later on 2nd September 2022 with consistent notes. Has that varnishy note to the oak which is not unpleasant. A lovely wine. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2018 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) is superb. Rich, deep and fleshy, this striking, absolutely delicious Syrah has so much to offer. Blueberry, violet, lavender, chocolate, spice, licorice and black pepper capture the essence of cool-climate Syrah. The 2018 is an irresistible appellation-level wine that punches well above its weight. What a knock-out! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 4 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.5

Gosh, this was good. So open at the moment that I think I enjoyed this even more so than the 17' (which I absolutely adore), although they're quite different animals. V18 has certainly brought about more ripeness but with heaps of elegance (unlike V15 imo).

As usual, Metras' trademark purity and textural allure just pulls me in. On the nose, blackberries and raspberries layered by distinct floral and spice notes. The palate is powerful, but with real focus and a mineral drive (almost like a concentrate, yet light). Crystal clear notes of dark fruits, spice, and earth, with a subtle touch of animale. Intense, but so fine. Love it!

NB: Unbeatable pairing with KFC 🤯 I also happen to notice how similar my tasting notes are for Beaujolais' I like, which perhaps doesn't capture why I think Metras is quite special. The texture Metras often brings is hard to describe - kinda like having bird's nest soup, but less gelatinous, if anyone can relate. Anyway, idiosyncratic is the word to use here. Love the Metras wines and more so, if not for their inconsistent nature. — 4 years ago