Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1988 vintage. Feminine-styled. Ran into some resistance back in the day with the (re-) emergence of this Château and the massive 85/86 and 89/90 efforts. Eff all that. The 1989 AND 1990 vintages probs the best this Château has ever realized. The 1988 slid in then and performed delicate magick. That cocoa powder and blueberry combo still coming forth with undeniable impressions. Whereas those four “bigger” vintages rocked harder, all four have had more noticeable drop off. This 1988 just doing its best La Mission Haut-Brion/Haut-Brion impression and pulling it off. No rush to crush. 5.13.26. — a month ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.4

The emergence of Crown Gap is showing up in great Pinots throughout Sonoma. And this is one to know. — 5 years ago

Chris N

9.0

Wine Society - Subtle flavour - fruity emergence...... — 9 years ago

Jasmine Amussen

9.6

Glory, lord — 10 years ago

Ryan Riley

9.5

The aroma and flavor are quite tricky to describe because not like any other flavors we commonly know, but the most pronounced aspect of the wine is its texture, which is soft, so much so that it's first touch on the palate is almost unnoticeable, but then it builds, specifically with the emergence of tannins and an ever so slight spiciness. I want to believe however that the aroma and flavor are ineffable because they're only comparable to other wines from the Loire--it's not cherry or black pepper or whatever--rather, it's simply a great wine representative of its terroir. It just tastes like wine to me, and a great wine. It should also be noted that it's not rich--it's instead quite subtle. — 12 years ago

Julia Indik

9.5

Opens right off with dark and juicy fruit - layers of dark cherries, pear, apricot that then transitions with the emergence of tannins that carry notes of vanilla, earth, coffee. Really nicely balanced and a long moderately acidic finish. — 6 months ago

with Robert

Rob N

9.2

A fine burgundy near its prime. Some residual fruit (including medicinal/herbal) but also the emergence of secondary flavors; hint of leather. $109.99. Tasty but at this price point may look elsewhere. — 5 years ago

Al Shikoh

8.9

Pale ruby color. Expressive nose of strawberry, coffee bean, tobacco leaf, cedar, and pleasant floral notes. On the palate, it’s medium bodied with vibrant acidity and medium, dusty tannins. Overall, soft and approachable, yet structured, this wine is drinking well right now and gives more evidence of the emergence of Virginia wine. — 9 years ago

with Drew, Lisa and 1 other

Justin Chiotti

9.2

Dangerously easy to drink. Light compared with the other southern Rhône that night, while striking a great balance between rich soil and approachable freshness. — 9 years ago

Wayfarer Vineyard

10

This blend of the vineyard’s 12 prize clones yields a wine of complexity and completeness, the culmination of a far-reaching journey. This wine possesses a beautiful ruby color with aspects of garnet. Vibrant aromas of red cherry, strawberry and raspberry mingle with layers of crushed violet and rose petal, fresh mint and forest floor. New French oak adds even greater complexity with hints of vanilla bean and toasted bread. The entry of the wine is supple and generous, and balances with its firm structure. A harmonious blend of the site’s diverse clones, a panoply of red fruits unfurls on the palate with an emergence of cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry, framed by silky tannins and lifted by bright acidity and mineral undertones. This is a restrained, concentrated wine that opens magically with each sip. The complexity of floral notes and wild red berries lingers on the palate with a lasting finish.

We hand-picked and hand-sorted the fruit, reserving 8% for whole-cluster fermentation prior to de-stemming. The remaining berries were de-stemmed and hand-sorted again before transfer to tank. Five to seven days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The fruit was then gently pressed, its free-run juice transferred to 78% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging.



— 12 years ago

Ron from VA

9.0

71 PV, 15 Cf, 14 Merlot….classic Jefferson…no complaints considering the Just ok/challenged vintage. Loads of blue fruit the first day, and day 2 is The emergence of maraschino cherries. Acid is sufficient and tannins friendly. Essentially, a big BERRY Monticello hug ;) — 4 years ago

romo

9.0

Darker, simpler than the Emergence. — 5 years ago

Willie Carter

9.2

Pretty pale straw with a thin rim. What more is there really to say about Dan Petroski’s Massican wines? Beautifully expressive nose featuring a nice mixture of citrus fruit and floral flourishes. Crisp green apples, apricots, white flowers, and lemon rinds. The nose starts off as fresh and vibrant but becomes more nuanced over time with the emergence of honey.

Mostly Tocai Friulano and Ribolla Gialla with a splash of Chardonnay thrown in, he’s bringing Italy to California. There’s just a hint of oak through the mid palate with remarkable structure. Rich and full, there’s vibrant acidity. Clean and hyper focused without ever coming close to feeling like a run of the mill supermarket bottle. You know as soon as you open this that it’s elevated stuff, expertly crafted.

On the palate, more citrus fruit abounds. Apricot jam, honeysuckle, and melon. Stone minerality and green pepper play the background. Tons of delicious herbs that last forever. Very round and pretty on the finish. Every single one of these Massican wines are gorgeous in their own way but this one may be the best.
— 6 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.7

Even after decanting and letting this sit for almost 2 hours, I still feel like I'm committing infaticide. In reality, I suspect this is transitioning, as some of the primary components are getting muted by the emergence of secondary flavors. But then again, who are we kidding? Layers of aromatics, impeccable balance, and a 60+ second finish, this is awesome juice! — 10 years ago

with Gavin and Vanessa