Allison Lyzenga

9.2

Deep ruby; pronounced intensity aromas of blueberry compote, ripe black cherry, ripe blackberry, vanilla, baking spices, subtle cedar; dry, medium plus acid, medium plus ripe smoothie tannins, high alcohol, full body, pronounced intensity flavors consistent with aromas; medium plus finish, very ripe and juicy without being jammy, concentrated, but balanced by acid, very good — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

By chance, sports commentator Jim Nantz & wine industry entrepreneur Peter Deutsch were together at a restaurant in Greenwich, CT, each having dinner with friends, things developed & The Calling was born. Dark Ruby with aromas of perfectly ripe berry fruits & earthy spice. On the palate cherry and strawberry fruit with spice, cola and earthy notes. Good balance with sturdy tannins needing more time. Lingering finish ending with earthy spice notes. Nice! — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.6

Took a while to open up. I was preferring the entrepreneur more earlier on but that ran out. Would have liked to have done a side by side later in the evening. I think this overtook it but not completely sure. This has improved so much since release — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.6

Kirk Venge pouring the 2016 Oakville Cab barrel sample. This was neck and neck with the stagecoach. Less fruit forward with nice cherry and olive. Fine tannins. Really a wonderful wine. Girlfriend rated it 96-98 barrel sample. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had this about 3 years ago. Graham Beck entering its third generation as a family winery, established in 1983 when entrepreneur Graham Beck purchased Madeba farm outside the Western Cape town of Robertson. About a 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, aromas of tropical fruits and biscuit notes, vivid crisp acidity on medium+ finish ending with yeasty notes. Nice value. — 4 years ago

Connor Smith

9.4

There are a lot of California wineries out there that are valuable to the man at the top mostly as a way to impress their friends. There are not many that are primarily a way to satisfy the founder’s hopeless geekery for wine, soil, weather, and getting his hands dirty. 🍇🌞💨⛏

Kevin Harvey made his money in Silicon Valley as an entrepreneur and investor. But his journey to winemaking didn’t begin with a business transaction, but by planting vines in his backyard and vinifying it himself in his garage. He had the itch: he had to get real with it.

Harvey has spent most of the past 20 years developing brand new vineyard sites - often targeting old Christmas tree farms! He is deeply involved with research, planning, getting soil and grape analytics, setting up weather stations, and viticulture - though, with the fruits of his labor (pun intended) being of such remarkable potential, it is perhaps wise to turn the cellar work over to veteran winemaker Jeff Brinkman to realize it.

The result of Harvey’s outstanding grape material and Brinkman’s capable hands in undeniable. In a world full of California winemakers trying to take their shot at Burgundy, Rhys has accomplished what so often gets lost in the pursuit of style: an honest and clear communication from the vines. That’s the true Burgundian spirit.

Harvey has said their goal is to get you “staring into a glass of vineyard”. This Horseshoe Vineyard Pinot Noir, facing west toward the Pacific taking in a daily blanket of foggy marine layer, can only come from one place. In what seems like the blink of an eye, Rhys has become one of the most celebrated wines in America, with good reason. 🇺🇸🍷 — 5 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.6

Kirk Venge explaining the barrel sample. Huge fruit and huge tannins. This is a massive wine. The most fruit forward stagecoach i have tasted. This was phenomenal. Best wine i had all day. 96+

25% of wine sales support the Gratitude Network, which helps social entrepreneurs improve education, health, and children's rights around the world. Great wine club to be part of and the wine is killer. — 6 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.7

My favorite non-beckstoffer wine ever made by kirk venge. This is plush. — 4 years ago

Sharon B

9.3

Mmm this is why I like Petite Sirah! Lots of dark fruit with a smooth finish. Great story on the bottle about how a Count from Europe immigrated to America. He became the first Sheriff of San Diego County then moved to Northern California to pursue grape growing. As legend has it, he was eaten by a crocodile while in Nicaragua. This wine honors his spirit as an entrepreneur, an explorer, a true daredevil at heart. — 4 years ago

Jason and Jennie

9.4

The bacigalupi fruit quality shines in this wine. Dig the minerality and acid. . 1/3 new oak and malolactic. Rich Tropical and stone fruit — 6 years ago