Ming L

9.5

Never tasted this bottling before, I just hoped for a decent showing. Instead, it completely reshaped my view of Barbera.

Deep opaque garnet with a slight tawny rim. The nose is captivating with blackberry jam, fig, cedar, dry pine cone, worn leather, clove, and a hint of truffle. Seamless palate - full body with vibrant
acidity, supple tannins that still have firm grip, and a velvety texture. Long, elegant finish. Still has 5–8 graceful years ahead. By far the best Barbera I’ve tasted.

In Rhino I trust. — a year ago

Peter Sultan

9.3

Da bomb, for sherry lovers: Palo Cortado versión. A shape shifter on the palate & ringing on the higher registers, this Hidalgo checks all the boxes for me, which includes a lightness & freshness heaven made for most food. Burnt pine cone & toffee bits, a subtle mushroom thing (oyster?), & a rather trim beef bouillon broth lurking on the back end. That may all be bs but it’s a wine that inspires….. — 4 years ago

Flora Bokma

9.1

A bolder darker Pinot noir. Smooth but full of feel, flavor, and finish. On this night of 2020 election, we opened a special bottle. This one’s special, not just because cost is higher than we are used to paying, but also because we met the owner of the winery years ago on a cruise...we even bought him an ice cream cone! It was a delight to visit with Eric Wente. We, too, are involved in agriculture and it was so neat to hear his frustrations about the difficulties of farming when so few people in the world understand the challenges and difficulties faced by farmers. We could definitely relate. The nose of this wine suggests cherries but also hints of red hots. The taste is complex, bold strawberries and cherries, but also some cayenne and roasted something or other. Very drinkable in an adult kind of way. Finishes pretty too. — 6 years ago

Brennan Roy

9.1

Thank you Eric! We all liked this one. Beautifully balanced with a cigar and waffle cone nose, viscous mouthfeel, dark fruit and spice with a lightly tannic and strawberry finish. — 6 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.0

Nose of cassis, black plum, blackberry preserves, late-fall pine cone, cinnamon, clove / plush, ripe tannins with some red fruit showing through on the palate / powerful with a long finish—hard to believe that wines with this kind of self-assurance and structure can be had below $25 — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.6

Twas a peaceful day reading my emails when up pops 📬 @gabymeeetswine @vilaviniteca saying fine sir 👀 we have a rather delightful Priorat for your perusal @ €121 to which I said 🗣 Stick that fine beverage on back of ye olde Spanish bull pronto & stampede those fine juices to my way - Ole 🐂💨

📍 Clos Martinet 2005

🏵 96+ points - in a beautiful place now & should be drop dead gorgeous in 3-4 years 😉 Phwoor cone here bully bully bully 🐂 A proper nice Priorat 😍

🍇 Grenache, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot

🍷 Deep dark ruby

👃 A gorgeous chocolate cherry & raspberry gateaux in a glass w/ crushed mineral sprinkles, a soft oak base, soggy earth sauce & a blackcurrant compote on the side

👄 Med body of deluxe silky creamy oozy dark cherry, blackcurrant & raspberry w/ a chocolate chaser & fine light dry minerals

🎯 Long mineral infused creamy chocolate cake filled with cherry, raspberry & blackcurrant
— 7 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Label is well done if a bit standard. Like the cone and needle border. Tamarack is my brother’s middle name (aka larch), so I had to buy this one. Dark plum skin color. Aromas are good. Dark fruit juices and sauces mixed with woodsy freshness. Slightest hint of red meat too. Flavors are chewy, fleshy and earthy. Cherry Coke and blackberry pastry. Maybe a purple mulberry too. A little anise/fennel/licorice root. Or maybe that’s sarsaparilla. Plenty of tannin to keep the fruit flavors from running wild. Just enough wood to give it a forestry feel. This is a nice structured Merlot from WA. Not quite as dynamic or complex as the weighty bottle implies, but it’s still a great bottle. — 4 years ago

David Kline

9.3

Leather with a hint of mushroom, pine cone, baked plum and cigar box aromas. Black and red currant inform an abundant palate of oak dust and cedar strip, wet cobblestone, dried rose petal, licorice extract, pencil shavings, eucalyptus, black, ripe plum skin, light pepper, and bitter cinnamon.



#cantenac #cantenacbrown #briodecantenacbrown #margaux #appellationmargauxcontrolée #brio #bordeaux #gironde #frenchwine #vinrouge #frenchred — 5 years ago

Ming L

9.0

The 15’ bottling sees Petit Verdot leading this Bordeaux blend at 32%, with 26% CS, 26% Merlot, 13% CF, and 3% Malbec.
Complex and deep nose of blackberry, cassis, fig, dry pine cone, dark soy source, butterscotch, thyme, black pepper, with hint of violet. The palate, while delicious and smooth, lacks the depth I expected. Finely grained tannins lead to a long peppery finish.
377 cases made. — 6 years ago

Dr.Meandor

8.9

Still a baby, but already solid, huge, grippy, powerful and assertive Priorat.
Garnacha/Syrah, fermented in cement tanks with wild yeasts with daily oxygenation. Macerated 10-15 days. Aged in 4000 L wooden vats, 300 L barrels, clay jars & demijohns for 18 months.

Dark inky garnet, scarlet rim.
Intense, invigorating & refined nose of black earth, tar, smoke, pome jam, raspberry pie, charred pine cone, crushed pepper, peppermint, cherry seed, bone fire, caramel, mulberry jam, tobacco, box of matches, mushrooms, pu er tea, licorice, ink, rosemary, volcanic minerals.
Impressive and massive palate. Very full body (14.5%), vivid acidity, grained tannins. Chokeberry, hibiscus, red currant skins, basil, lilac broth, black gooseberry, unripe saskatoon, earth, cigar, roasted cacao beans, lavender, savory, espresso flavors.
Saturated lasting finish of cedar, saskatoon, chokeberry, coffee and licorice.
Paired rib-eye steak finely.
88–89/100 — 6 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.5

The most unusual wine of the year, thus far. This Brunello is atypical in many ways. Color is dark ruby with a nice brick orange hue; nose is full of pine cone and resin and juniper (pyrazines?) flowery like a mature barolo without the tar; it is like a bouquet of roses and freashly-picked meadow wild flowers, there are some oak flavors and dark fruits but that’s in the background; taste is also unusual in that the acid level is low but are carried by the ”acidity” of hefty tannins, mid-palate is weak but the finish is long, satisfying and contains all the elements from the nose. Highly unusual and unique; confusing!
For entertainment value the score is 9,5! — 7 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.6

Amazing color and nose. Hints of cedar and pine cone. Bold and elegant blackberry and raspberry, with Creme brûlée. One of the best wines I have had in a while. — 7 years ago

Bill Bender

9.5

A distinct aroma of apricot, entry is a rush of intense hops followed by a breadth of flavors including pine cone, chestnut, fresh baked sourdough/yeast and a savory almost deli meat quality. Medium acidity and crispness with noticeable minerality. Always worth a quaff when you can get it. — 8 years ago

Rachael Regan

9.1

Great! Earthy olive aroma, full body and tannins. — 4 years ago

Ming L

9.1

A deep, rustic nose offers cherry liqueur, cranberry, cedar, dry pine cone, incense, dry mushroom, and hint of rusty iron. Medium body. Soft and silky palate with additional dark espresso, warm spices, and subtle medicinal taste. Soft dusty tannins.

Really good, but this bottle is far more advanced than I expected out of a good 13’ vintage. — 4 years ago

Ming L

9.1

While the nose is deep and brooding with plum, blackberry, pine cone, worn leather, and dried herbs, not dissimilar to the 04 and 05 vintages, this 06 shows the juiciest and freshest palate. Grainy but gripping tannins that will take another 3-5 years to resolve.

Lovely Merlot!

— 5 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

It’s close to being stunning, but too young. Too raw. Sour black cherry. Pine cone. Pencil, unripe fig. Background of fresh butchered game. Good acidity. Little oak. — 6 years ago

Ming L

8.9

Enchanting aromas of red and black cherries, pine cone, leather, light incense, and hint of truffles. The acidity was still quite bright and high tone, and the tannins was slightly sweet and chewy. Long elegant finish. Needs minimum 5 more years to reach its peak.
It was incredible that this 12-year Barolo was available at $54 in a local Italian restaurant. What a deal! — 7 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color of ruby, light and clear. Nose of fresh sweet berries, cranberry, spice almost cinnamon like, wood and pine cone ornaments, and fermented plum. Taste of lavish acidity, polished with berries flavors not standing out too much (except some light cherry and plum) some Unami note, some wet mushrooms, zest, a bit peppery and mineral, and low tannins. Clean yet complex. Aftertaste has more warmth, a bit minty, zesty, citrus skin, and peppery. Nicely done. — 7 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

This incredibly unique semi-carbonated Lambrusco is all about Red Delicious apples. Pretty crimson murky red with a tinge of copper on the brim. It’s completely dry with a bitter note reminiscent of apple skin. Tart cranberries and spiced cherry flavors formulate into a Dr. Pepper and nutmeg elixir. So unusual and so perfect for this time of year.

And more surprises - an odd cone shaped knobless Champagne cork that requires a corkscrew. It comes wrapped in a personal paper note from the winemaker about wine quality. — 7 years ago