LaShondra Berman

8.9

Delicious 😋 — 7 months ago

Barberry Garden

9.0

Incredible as always. I enjoy this style of wine in between light red and rich rosé. Rain is a subtle story. Forest berries compote, white pepper, pomegranate, underbrush and red flowers. Almost perfectly balanced, juicy and delicious. I would drink this wine every day. Casually.

Tasted as part of Mixed Bag Vol. 1. — 4 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.5

Lovely, delicate, and delicious Pinot Noir. Best bottle I’ve had in a while! — 5 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Megan

9.0

Up north weekend! When the rain comes out, the wine comes out! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Thought it would be good timing to finally try Rajat’s 2013 Bloom’s Field.

The nose straight out of the decanter gave a strong presence of potpourri laced candle wax. That has subsided now. The fruits are ripe, ruby; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, some dry cranberries, raspberries with blackberries pulling up the rear. Nice evenly, soft, layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon, light nutmeg and gentle vanilla. Mixed dark berry cola, understated, black licorice, whiff of lightly grilled meats, black, fruit tea, limestone alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dark turned earth, dry herb blend, light, fresh tobacco notes, worn leather with a nice bouquet of; red, dark, purple and blue florals.

The body is, round, ruby and just full. Tannins still have adolescent teeth. The structure, tension could use some more time in bottle...length and balance have just hit their stride. Gorgeous mouthfeel. The fruits are ripe, ruby, a little gluey; blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, baked strawberries, some dry cranberries, raspberries with blackberries pulling up the rear. Nice evenly, soft, layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon, light nutmeg and gentle vanilla. Mixed dark berry cola, dark spices, understated, black licorice, lightly grilled meats, black, fruit tea, limestone alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dry pebbles, moist, dark turned earth, dry herb blend, light, fresh tobacco notes, worn leather with a nice bouquet of; red, dark, purple and blue florals with gentle lavender on the back end. The acidity is a gentle rain shower. The beautiful finish is straight up; elegant, well balanced, seamless and persists nicely for minutes.

Paired with Kentucky Bourbon Marinated Chicken Skewers and Wild Rice.

Photos of; Bloom’s Field Vineyard, The Sommeliers Altas of Taste that Rajat & Jordan Macrat wrote. Good read if you are so inclined & of course, Master Sommelier/Owner/Winemaker-Rajat Parr.

Additional notes; Rajat has always loved Pinot and its many expressions from all over the world. After becoming one of the better & more well known Master Somms, it was his dream to make world class Pinot Noir. He is succeeding as his last few vintages have gotten very high notoriety. It was his 2015 Bloom’s Field that Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson featured in Somm 3 in his recreation of the Judgment of Paris with some of the best palates in NYC and again separately with The Godfather of Master Somms-Fred Dame, Author-Jancis Robinson & Steven Spurrier. — 6 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

Light and earthy, cherries, tea leaves and rain. Perfect for this rainy afternoon. Cherry rain clouds in a glass! — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

😇 I looked up to the sky & the Purple Angel came down upon me filling my glass with light blocking purple ruby rain that oozed aromas of black & blue berries w/ thick chocolate, vanilla, dates, heavenly minerals & smokey oak - “drink this godly juice” she said in a booming voice🍷

I dared embrace the heavenly nectar & succumbed to a full on palate explosion of ripe dark concentrated blackcurrant/berry bathed in raspberry cocoa and minerals💥

My mouth was left open in awe as my purple stained teeth yielded to the long silky fruit loaded intense finish & I myself turned into a naughty purple devil - spank me angel, spank me 😈

🎵 “And through it all she offers me protection l, A lot of love and affection” you’re gonna be singing this all day now 🤣 “And down the waterfall wherever it may take me .. “

📍 Montes Purple Angel 2013

🏵 93 points

🍇 92% Carmenere & 8% Petit Verdot

💥 14.5% ABV

✅ For £32 this is a cracking wine 😍 some may say even Angelic 😁
— 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Earlier I wrote about the 06 vintage, saying it was just good to very good depending on producer and terroir. Angelus is a producer that delivered in the very good range with their 2006.

The nose is subtle with just being poured from a freshly opened bottle. Yet, ripe & lush; black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, black cherries, anise to some light black licorice, dark chocolate baking bar, milk chocolate tones, dark rich earth, some nicely layered, soft baking spices, hues of sage, dark, withering dark flowers.

The palate is lush with M powdery tannins. Ripe & lush; core of black currants, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, black cherries with over tones of blueberries & strawberries. Anise to some light black licorice, dark chocolate baking bar, milk chocolate notes, understated caramel, some nicely layered, soft baking spices-cinnamon, nutmeg, clove & vanillin, really soft dark spices, mocha powder, hues of sage, dark rich earth dark, dry top soil, just moist clay, sandalwood, fresh tobacco, used leather, light graphite, withering dark flowers & red roses, framed in violets & light lavender, excellent acidity, nice soft tension/struture, well balanced-knitted, perfect elegance and finishes over two-minutes falling on fruits and soft earthiness.

This is still ascending and has 15 plus yrs of good drinking ahead but it is in a good spot today.

It is a solid 94+. The plus with another 3-5 yrs.

Paired with Lamb Salounah Gulf-Style Braised Lamb with Vegetables, served with Butter Rice.

Blind this would fool a number of people off the Right Bank.

@Ek225 — 8 months ago

Scott Soren

9.5

Serious Super Tuscan expression. Massive nose. Black Cherry and boysenberry seem to meld together. Hints of vanilla and lavender too with Italian spice. . A complete mouthful. Medium acidity and tannins falling into place. An absolute joy to consume. — 5 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc, 19% Petit Verdot and 15% Malbec.

Herbaceous Franc notes up front, coffee & chocolate in the dark notes, berry in the finish. Tannins mellowed, falling with the sediment. 2020-2022
— 6 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.3

Just a really enjoyable wine that is both hearty and even “ big” but still refreshing.
Clearly some Brett and some effervescent feel like may hint at VA, but I find both to be well integrated and enjoyable. A deep darker-side-of-red fruit profile: red and damson plum, dried red cherry, Black licorice, olive. Has a floral sense to it, and some exotic woody undertones as well earth - like a forest after the rain . A full bodied and almost lush wine that might recall the mouthfeel if a Napa cab, but with much more refreshing a acidity coming through - never the least bit cloying or overwrought. Simply a great wine with a broad food pairing potential. That said, I do wonder if it would taste dramatically different at the source. With zero sulphur amidst a long boat ride, life in distributor warehouses, a wine shop and ultimately my euro cave, whether the original intent is preserved in its entirety. Drinking fantastically but also wondering if peak drinking is 2-3 years ahead. Again, the sulphur thing... — 7 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Well integrated Cabernet Franc. Dark plum and blackberry fruit flavors. Big hints of green pepper with notes of earth and slate. A bit of a medicinal flavor on the finish. Low acid and can be served chilled. One of their last Long Island vintages. — 7 years ago

with Mark, Tom and 2 others

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

If you want to impress a Somm with a bottle of wine, bring a Grand Cru Gamay. I hate using the term Beaujolais. It gives a lot of people the lesser impression of Beaujolais Nouveau which, equates to the impression left by Blue Nun in the 70’s/early 80’s and Yellow Tail in and around 2000.

This is one of my favorite producers of Gamay, a member of the “Gang of Four”; Lapierre, Thevenet, Foillard & Breton. There is a fifth honoree member to the “Gang of Four”, Yvon Metras, who I enjoy equally. If you want to finally appreciate this varietal, look for one of these producers from Morgan or Fleurie.

The nose reveals; dark cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, blueberry hues, spearmint, granitic minerals/soil, dark berry cola, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, a whiff of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets.

The body is full, rich and guides over the palate. It shows some tannins. The structure & tension are still big. The length and balance are at the beginnings of truly rounding into butterfly form. Still will benefit from 5 plus years in bottle. Bright red florals are far more pronounced on the palate. Ripe/bright; dark tart cherries, blackberries, dark plum, stewed plum, baked strawberries, half baked rhubarb with lovely blueberry hues, blood orange & dry raisins. Spearmint, tree sap, granitic minerals/soil pressed in to the palate, dark berry cola, orange peel, thyme, rich forest floor, touch of cinnamon, very light caramel, dark chocolate, Indian spices, berry bubblegum, touch of band-aid, steeped fruit teas, limestone minerals, hints of black pepper, dark red, purple fresh flowers with shades of violets. The acidity is like a warm summer rain shower. The long, rich, ripe, well balanced, elegant finish is nicely persistent for minutes.

12% ABV 👍

Photos of; Domaine Marcel Lapierre, Marcel Lapierre (may he RIP-2010), Marcel’s son and current Winemaker-Matheiu Lapierre and their Morgan Vineyard.
— 7 years ago

James Everhart

9.0

Wine for all seasons today being with chowder in rain. $20 not at all past it’s prime. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2003 vintage. To infinity and beyond. Throwing a vintage portesque amount of sed. In the nose, post-rain earth, dried shrooms, infinitesimal hint of milk chocolate. Light-medium bod. Maan…did that finish, Cranberries-style, linger. Do you have to do you have to bring that much cedar and chocolate-covered espresso bean to the show? At the top of the bell curve and would seem to effortlessly have another decade double-parked there. Imho, consistently shows the best of the 1st growths with the least. Courtesy of @Bill Bender — 4 years ago

with Bill

Mary Wilson

9.0

Bluebirds and spring rain. Delicious. — 5 years ago

Beth Allen

8.9

Very drinkable and good price point. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Main course is a Beef Tenderloin Roast with Rosemary, Crispy Duck Fat Potatoes, Sautéed Greens. The beef is among the most tender (cut it with a fork) & flavorful we’ve had.

From magnum. The nose shows; dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, anise, dry soils, dry crushed rocks, some graphite, cigar, dark, rich earth, blue/purple fruit cola, very soft dark spice with blue and purple florals set in lavender.

The body full, lush & thick. The tannins, rounded, tarry and velvety chewy. The structure & tension have hit its stride but, a little leaner than I’m used to in a Phelps Cabernet. The length and balance are exactly what I expect from them. It’s elegant, ripe & juicy. Dark currants/cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, anise to black licorice, cinnamon, soft clove, vanilla, nutmeg, dry soils, dry crushed rocks, moist clay some graphite, cigar, leather, limestone, dry herbs, dark, rich earth, blue/purple fruit cola, very soft dark spice with blue and purple florals set in lavender. The acidity is a gentle rain shower. The long finish is delicious and persists into a dark spice.

Perfect with Hedy’s Boeuf.

Wine is peaking in Magnum with another 5-8 years ahead.

The “Truth” which, is the very bottom, concentrated part of the bottle is a 9.3.

Merry Christmas! 🎄🎅🤶🎁🦌❄️⛄️🍷 — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There are some professional critics that would tell you this 09 Bella’s Garden is at the end of its life. I understand this producer to buy into that. This wine is drinking beautifully with at least five years of good drinking still ahead.

The nose reveals slightly stewed dark currants and fruits. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, touch of rubber toy=va, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs and withering & fresh dark florals, violets and lavender.

The body is lush, ruby, elegant and full. The tannins are round, velvety smooth and still have some teeth. The structure, tension, length and balance says this wine is right around its peak. Great mouthfeel. The fruits on the palate are candied. Blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, olallieberries, boysenberries, black cherries & blueberries. Black licorice, dark cola, black pepper, steeped dark fruit tea, limestone minerals, smokey meats, mid intensity dark spice, sweet tarriness, used French Roast coffee grounds, hints of black olive, touch of rubber toy=va...a bit less than the nose, liqueur notes, mocha powder, light dry herbs, moist clay, underbrush, dry crushed rocks and withering & fresh, amazingly bright dark florals, violets and lavender. The acidity is a lukewarm rain shower. The gorgeous finish is flat out elegant, well balanced fruit & earth and persists for minutes.

I would have given this a 94 if not for the touch of va.

Photos of; Two Hands Cellar Door, fountain in the courtyard, tasting bar as you walk in and the view from our patio tasting. — 7 years ago

Dan Goyeneche

9.0

Damn good #brightcellars — 8 years ago