ESF

8.9

ruby, semi-opaque, unfurls easily w/wild strawberry & rhubarb, deeply ripe red feral fruited, spicy, vegetal, herbaceous, tomato plant - the palate has that juicy acidity running through it, med(-) body, tangy but still that wild red fruit on mid palate mingled w/earthy flavors leading to modest finish. — 4 months ago

John Bratincevic

9.1

NOSE:cassis, black cherry, leather, both baking spices and savoury herbs (like nutmeg and bay leaf). Plum and mulberry. Nutty vanilla. Smells like proper, grown-up wine - though not especially heavy.

TASTE: initially very good. Dry, bitter cassis, cherry, herbs, medium weight with nice velvety mouthfeel - but not a lot of the other fruit from the nose (more air improved). Tannins bring a long, dry, bitter finish - sticks on the tongue- burnt-plant. There’s a bitter herbaceousness that is almost like straight cassis berries (which I have in my backyard, so speaking from experience) - very elegant in its way. Went very well with steak and smoothed out with air, the dark fruit became more prominent...I think a long decant is in order. Many different impressions here … real stuff. 91-92. — 4 years ago

John Bratincevic

9.0

Nice dark color. Nose: earthy (earthworm!), something distinctly plant like or vegetal, almost a little seaweed (?), chlorine (???!?), soft cheese / ammonia - herbs - light/bright wood - a little currant. Taste: good! Good mouthfeel, nice drying tannins, dark skinned berries, herbs, all comes together in a nice weighty way. 90! Great deal for $11 on sale, $10 after discount! Definitely need to buy more. EDIT: wife strongly dislikes it, she says it tastes and smells “like a cheap hotel pool.” I know what flavor(s) she is talking about (the chlorine/earth/soft cheese element), but it worked for me. YMMV. — 4 years ago

Paul J

9.5

30+ minutes open in the bottle. Dark red color. Definitely drinking young but best value on the wine list. Nose initially smells of the General Mills plant in Buffalo, which leads to dark cherries and forest floor. Medium plus depth that is well balanced between dark fruit, earth, and smoke. Medium finish. Love this producer but tough to find in the US. — 5 years ago

with Brooke

j a

9.0

this is a smack me upside the head, wake up call in my mouth, like doing a face plant in a berry pie and occasionally coming up for air! smooth, dark berries galore and a bit of tobacco on the finish. great for the price. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

A cloudy Ruby red as you often get with unfiltered Bass Phillip Pinots. However it makes for a wine of profound palate intensity - amazing as it is the 5th ranked Pinot Noir Cuvée from Bass Phillip. Red fruits and forest floor - decayed plant matter. Made to be drunk up to 5 years of age but could go on up to 8 years if desired. — 5 years ago

Jonathan Epstein

9.4

Goes well with Italian plant based cuisine - who knew — 6 years ago

with Ellen

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

Syrah made in a Sicilian style, nearly nero d'Avola like i would suggest.
Fresh, crunchy, vibrant.
Spadafora has become very much hands off in the last few years. Certified organic, wild fermentation and no sulphites added to this wine. I love the label that says 1.8kg per plant.
Great effort. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Tastes like a Syrah from somewhere in Santa Barbara County, which is not a bad thing taste-wise. But I’m always puzzled when European countries plant grapes that are indigenous to other countries. That aside, it’s very good. Nose is complex, with animal, vegetable, and mineral qualities (plus some nice fruit). There is an intense iron quality, cured salami, ripe boysenberry, and a little tobacco leaf. In the mouth it’s dark and rich, but the tannins are well integrated and unobtrusive. Acidity is a little lower than most Northern Rhônes, but enough to maintain balance. Despite my predispositions, I like it. — 4 years ago

John Howard

Harvest production at Hirsch and Cobb Wineries

8.9

Trippy. Smells like a pea plant. Good. — 4 years ago

ESF

9.5

Transcendent - loved this wine & winery for years, believe this is my last bottle & perhaps caught it at its zenith: deep dark ruby, still inky & opaque - soaring aromas of cherry liqueur, red berry fruit, licorice, dried herbs, tomato plant, tobacco, leather and some Earthy secondary notes. Still w/decent heft from a wine that for me has always had impressive extraction, power & vigor. Juicy acidity & elegant structure, plenty of ripe fruit - on the palate it shows like finely aged Sangiovese. Wonderful accompaniment to Christmas evening ham. — 5 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.0

I like this. A nose of restrained gooseberry and tomato plant. On the palate, it's more of that with a dry, powdery feel rather than anything cloying. We had an awesome pairing for this one which made good use of the wine's acidity... A creamy mushroom and miso spaghetti... Superb pairing here. — 5 years ago

with Anita

Kristen McCabe

9.0

Tomato plant nose, cherry, well balanced. — 6 years ago

AJC

9.0

Gros Plant / Folle Blanche, Sur Lie. Pale straw color. Acidic and a little sour. Notes of grapefruit, lime and slate. — 6 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2015 | Agiorgitiko old vines| matured for 18 months in oak barrels | beautiful rich spicyness in smell, forrest, oak, vanilla, tobacco, cherries also, lovely complex smell and robust taste. This is a very good effort. Paired with tenderloin and egg plant purée. — 2 years ago

Phil Kessling

9.0

I love that the vineyard is a mix of very old, middle aged and young vines. When an old one dies, they plant a young one. One of the best values in Etna Rosso. Mix of black and red fruit, little tannic, smoke and fire on the finish. — 2 years ago

John Bratincevic

8.9

Nose: dark berries, warm spices, varnish, some plant I can’t identify, plum. Some tobacco?

Taste: tasty, but not as good or as interesting as the professional reviews claimed. Seems one dimensional to me - regular inexpensive bordeaux. Medium weight, a little bitter - a little vegetal, even - perhaps it needs more air or age. Was hoping for more, given the price ($22?) and praise. Won’t bother again. 89. — 4 years ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.3

From a 16 acre vineyard in the hills of Bel Air. Probably the most expensive vineyard property in the US. It’s currently owned by Rupert Murdoch, but this is from before his purchase in 2013. This is legit good. Much better than any Malibu wines I’ve had. 13.8 listed alcohol and fairly restrained style. Let’s rip down all of those mansions and plant some grapes! — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Light Ruby in colour. A gorgeous nose of dusty red and black cherry with Five spice, decayed plant matter, sous Bois. I could sniff this for hours. Tastes way more youthful than 12 years with a solid core of red and black fruits which is gradually releasing - finishing with silky tannins. A few hours later that earthy red fruited perfume just keeps on giving. Only 2 barrels made, so, about 40 dozen. — 5 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.1

The 2018 is once again a very herbal expression. On the nose, tomato plant is already making itself known along with pear and starfruit. Bright and alive but with a palate again showcasing that tomato plant and green fruit. Not overly acidic here. — 5 years ago

with Anita