Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2019 vintage. Pop N Pour (PNP). Immediate access and goods available. Smoky, saline, sultry nose. Medium body. Plenty of oak but held in check by current tannins/acidity + fruit balance. Could initially be mistaken as a red Bordeaux from right bank St. Émmie. Keeps piling on the cherry pastille angle and, initially, the wine drinks (not in a bad way) a tad stratified with layers of this, then layers of that. Time in the glass finds that dissipating. Graphite. Ripe dark plum. Blackberries. Dark cherries. Each of these figure prominently during. Elements of grace hovering in the meanwhile with a rich, carob, plummy flourish at palate’s end. Biodynamic and certified organic. Gotta go pick up a few more bottles. 01.01.25. — a year ago

Matt Perlman

9.5

From mag. I was very nervous about this as the cork was partially pushed out and weirdly moist under the foil. But it was totally gorgeous—go figure. The wine is in a great place, high toned raspberry and cherry, sauvage and animalistic, herbal, mesquite, feral but composed and texturally resolved. — 5 years ago

Houdad Javidnia

9.0

Great match for Moroccan tagine — 6 years ago

Nena Madonia

10

Everybody loves. This is excellent — 6 years ago

with Andrew and Mary Anne

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Multitasking. With a blend. Seems thematically correct. From Breedekloof! And Malbec based huh!? Unique. On the nose I was wearily suspicious of lush ripeness—surely this was gonna be a flabby piece of...no goodness? But no. Elegant—a result of the titular Altitude if the vines no doubt. I thought Silk Bush was a cheeky name but it does get its name from the plant Sybasboom which translates to Silk Bush. Mmmm. Resisting so many urges both comedic and animal to say more but—shut up Ellen. This is delicious. It’s rich but, well, silky go figure. This winery knows what’s up. South Africa my fangirl status for you rises (in...Altitude?!) by the second. — 8 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Those Portuguese...Interestingly enough, '85 is the current vintage on this bottle, go figure.
Our first 100% Baga, dried red fruit is the first on nose, with just minor herbs/vegetal aspects. Needed a lot of air to really get going, intially concerned when I pulled a two-piece cork (should have used The Durand), and had high acid/vinegar notes when heading into the decanter. On the palate, wow, quite fresh after a few hours of rest, great floral and dried red berry notes, perfectly balanced acidity, well integrated tannins. Honestly, blind I could almost think this is aged, Left Bank Bordeaux, St. Julien, very elegant...Wow! — 9 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.2

The hit of the Super Bowl party, everyone dug it…. Go figure they were all Chiefs fans — 2 years ago

John Bratincevic

8.9

NOSE: Overtly European. Yeast, barnyard, dirt, gun flint, dry herbs for cooking meat (including mustard?), bitter cherry.

I’ve never mentioned “mustard” in my wine notes before.

TASTE: As the nose - initial blast of yeast and barnyard. Lingering finish of … barnyard … in the sense of hay and manure. In between, silky tannins and a nice mouthfeel. Fruit is the background, but clear - tart cherry (quite distinctly cherry, bright red ones), raspberry, and plum. Go figure. I don’t know that I’d buy it again - it’s not my preferred style - but it is enjoyable. 89-90. — 4 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.2

Last bottle was meh this was excellent... go figure — 5 years ago

T New

9.3

2013 vintage, their comeback year and truly marvelous. Probably too soon. Tight tannins, takes a lot of time to open, but a wonderful bouquet right from the opening so go figure. In most ways a textbook montepulciano, in a good way. Fruit at the front gives way to more complexity. Color is fading from ruby to a more mature wine. Still, needs more time. If you have a 2013 in a good place, be more patient. Drink maybe 2023? Could go longer — 6 years ago

Diane Menninger

8.9

Aroma 3/5 flavor candies syrup 4/5 sweet enjoyable. Not my typical wine type but I enjoyed it. 90% merlot . Go figure — 7 years ago

Scott Borchert

9.7

Cherry, vanilla, woodsy, subtle & earthy colored — 8 years ago

LM Segal

9.4

Sadly, the last in a case. Reprising my notes from last year, still true except a bit more liquorice :

A year ago I was loving this, 92 and better than the 08 Dominus. Go figure this gets even better. Peaking. P&P, outrageous candy cherry nose came outta nowhere. At cellar temp, just vanilla-liquorice dreamy with power behind it and some serious length. Softer and more nuanced as it warmed in the glass. No need to wait. — 8 years ago

Justin Hansohn

9.0

For $20 you cannot possibly go wrong with this. Once winemakers figure out how to include this much acid in ANY wine they make they will also be able to sell swill at this price. I am thankful. This is forward thinking at its best. I'm not even drunk after drinking this much. I feel amazing! I feel smarter and more creative even! — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is 50% Monastrell & 50% Petit Verdot.

This is nice and on latter side of its drinking window. Go figure w/ my palate. Brickish color on the edges. It is interesting, heady wine at this stage, soft, resolved with nice evolution and nothing that bites back. The benefit of drinking older wines. The nose is Spanish rustic. Understated fruits that are floral, slightly bright and yet have a stewy character. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers.

The palate is on the leaner side. Rustic fruits of ; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, pomegranate, stewed black plums/plums. Vanillin, mid fruit cola, soft tarry notes, anise, dark rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, hint of mint, light caramel notes, dry top soil, soft, old tobacco, sandy limestone, dry twig, used leather with withering & candied; dark, red & blue flowers. The acidity is really good. The finish is well balanced with nice structure and similar wire to wire.

@Delectable this is the Pico Madama — 3 years ago

Craig Daniels

9.0

Juicy loosie lose your goosie. But also dry, go figure. This is a proper Ripasso made by a good winery that has been doing it well for many years.
I'll be back. — 5 years ago

Sharon B

8.9

My first time doing a zoom wine tasting. 2 hours later....so me and 3 friends bought the Aldi wine advent calendar. 2 of us had the Brut Rosé and 2 had the Merlot (evidently the calendars aren’t all the same, go figure)! I’m not a big sparkling wine person so this was not an exciting wine for me. The cheese and chocolate were terrific though. However, I learned a lot about camping, dogs, local restaurants, Bourbon and Christmas decorations! Oh what fun it was tonight!! — 6 years ago

with Pam and Denise

Mike Levin

9.1

Little half bottle action on the road for work in Milwaukee with some surprisingly excellent Ragú, go figure. Showing nicely but probably has got many years to go before showing its depths. — 7 years ago

Hannah DeYoung

9.0

A $30 magnum at Bottle Barn that’s a charming expression of French sparkling wine. Also better on day 4 than day one go figure 🤷‍♀️ — 8 years ago

Severn G

9.5

Leather, dried cherry, still a little bright acidity...go figure, with this bottle age. Long finish, absolutely spectacular, a stand out bottle for the vintage. Ullage was high shoulder. — 9 years ago