Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Dairyman Vineyard sits in the southern alluvial plains of the Russian River Valley near the ocean, a region where cooling fog comes in through the Petaluma Gap in the morning and once again in the evening. Medium Ruby color, with aromas of berries, tea and spices. On the palate flavors of raspberry and tart black cherry with herb, cedar and cinnamon. Fine tannins, medium+ finish with lively acidity, good structure, ending with fruit and cedar spice. — 6 months ago

Kurt Schuster

8.9

Rich, warm, incredibly deep red purple wine. I chose this and specifically because I spent a good chunk of the morning in a cool duck blind and then later in a fishing boat gathering my supper. It warmed the heart and the soul and was specifically what I was looking for. Heavy tannins, rich depth of fruit that went from coldpressed to almost roasted. Light spices with a little bit of licorice and spice as you can find in a good cocktail versus in cooked food. Paired it with a pork chop roasted with heavy paprika and garlic. Wonderful. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Mid Lemon in colour. Funky leesy notes with mineral and a touch of butterscotch. Previous sulphidic notes have diminished somewhat. A lot of winemaking on show here - this wine has been “worked “, but all to the good. The palate shows Lemon butter with under ripe stone fruit. Some creaminess from the oak and the winemaking. Medium plus intensity. Holding up easily - impressive at 10 years of age. Burgundian traits. Another very good wine from Tom Carson who is also in demand at Wine Shows for his excellent palate. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

This is their Bordeaux style red. The nose shows; dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries, strawberries & cherries. Dark chocolate, vanilla, dark spice, clove, some nutmeg, dark fruit cola, black licorice, a whiff of cherry cough syrup with dark, red and blue fresh & withering florals.

The body is near full with dark, meat, tarry and sticky tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance allow it to drink early but needs to be held 6-8 years plus. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, blueberries, strawberries & cherries. Dark chocolate, vanilla, dark spice, clove, some nutmeg, dark fruit cola, black licorice, a whiff of cherry cough syrup, deep, dark, heat penetrating dark spice, tobacco with ash, big leather with dark, red and blue fresh & withering florals. The acidy is good. The finish is nice, balanced but needs time to reveal its best self. 91 now with the potential for a little higher score in six to eight years.

We also had their 2017 Divas Chenin Blanc. It was very enjoyable but, didn’t have time to take notes as we had to get to Raats.

DeMorgenzon translates into morning sun.

Photos of; the grounds around DeMorgenzon, barrel room and stainless tanks in their cellar. — 7 years ago

Isaac Pirolo

9.1

I’ve had the hardest time remembering my new zip code even despite having written it a thousand times in the last few weeks... maybe I’m still dreaming... anyway...

It was still 90° at 7:30 so I went in search of Sauvignon Blanc. Sunshine Foods is the local grocery and has exactly the surprisingly very good selection that should be expected from a specialty local grocer in the heart of Napa Valley. I’m not going to lie, I bought this wine so that I would finally learn my zip code (even if I did let somebody ahead of me at checkout so I could finish researching it).

The winemaker is Sam Baxter of Terra Valentine and it’s sourced from the San Mateo Ranch Vineyard in Rutherford. At $19 that was good enough for me. Loaded with ripe pear and fresh, almost underripe melon, lime zest, and stony minerality, with just a tinge of honeysuckle that softens the corners. The acid is relatively toned down but still present enough to satisfy most purists. — 8 years ago

Ryan Johnson

9.2

Unfiltered, lean and tasty. Pure Anderson Valley flavor with tart cherry, fennel seed and celery. Good time to drink. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

So Williams Selyem Pinots should be treated is the same fashion as good burgundy, with age. It will always be somewhat sweeter than red burgundy but nonetheless very good.

This shows w/ an array of mid berry fruits accompanied by some darker fruits. Strawberries, cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, raspberries, hint of rhubarb, blackberries and haunting blueberries. Mid berry cola, red licorice, fruit tea, eucalyptus, pine tar notes, pine tree bark, dark, rich soils/earth, dry herbs, mid, dark spice, dry crushed rocks, dry limestone powder, black pepper notes, dry river stone, dry fall leaves, bright florals that are; red, blue, purple with a mix of red & pink roses, late spring waterfall acidity with extreme balance, tension, structure with elegance & smart polish for days and long sets on tree bark/sap & spice.

Still ascending. — 7 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Well now this is different. An oloroso from PX but it is merely off-dry. If I wanted Sherry to replace a piece of rye bread, lightly toasted and spread with apricot jam and sprinkled with walnuts, it would be this. Sadly oloroso in the morning probably isn’t a good idea but why not have breakfast for dinner? Actually I think this would pair very well with French toast with an ample pair of amber maple syrup.
Good for dessert tambien. — 5 years ago

JKT

9.3

Wow! Opened 2/21/20 and what a beauty! Still recall the distinctive metallic funky notes early on after buying at Gordon’s but for this bottle it is just astonishingly Burgundian. Light ruby color and a perfume floral dried cranberry and rose nose followed by an almost sweet touch of aged port palate and yes that sensual feel long read about but never fully experienced. Lively texture that dances and good long harmonious finish. No sulfur added and biodynamic. Hope others are like this! Well the magic kind of dissipated next day. Perfume and sensual texture went down and it’s more acidic though still very balanced and excellent wine. Score down by two to 9.3. Kind of expected it as a bit of wine left in glass went downhill over couple hours and sour by next morning. Hope the rest have that magic! — 6 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.3

$40 for this brilliant bottle while people are paying $225 for The Realm Moonracer (sane vineyard, adjusted for inflation?). If the moonracer bottle is as good as this in 25 years, that’s a huge success. — 7 years ago

Stefanie Renee

9.5

Bright with a slight sweetness....a good wine chilled for a warm day. — 8 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.1

Pale crimson. Red fruit, mushroom, and spice on the nose. Lovely balance, lithe, red fruit. Good grip. Persistent. Quaff able. Buy again — 8 years ago

TriShan

9.4

Good by itself. Fruity. Vanilla smell. — 9 years ago

Barberry Garden

9.2

Amazing wine, one of my favourite producers. Barberry candy, blood, leather, cranberry and flint. Complex, precise with good minerality. It's not profound, but rather delicate and multilayered. I would drink it every morning and every evening. Alone, without sharing it with anyone :)
— 4 years ago

Winton Sweum

9.4

Christian Moreau in 2020 has as an excellent stable led by Les Clos, with the Valmur close behind, and the Vaudésir picking up good points for favorite nose this morning. Today the Cuvée Guy Moreau was a delicious step up from the regular Vaillon. The 2017 Vaillon was ready and delicious. The 2018 Valmur stood out for its sheer intensity. Rating is for Les Clos. — 4 years ago

Edo Wachters

9.0

Pale rose colour. Strawberry, raspberry, crisp with good acidity. Sunshine in a glass! — 6 years ago

Jerome Sabbagh

9.0

Very good, surprising, elegant, peach, lychee ... Will buy again — 7 years ago

with Meaghan

Michael Seely

9.1

Good description, slate. Flavorful and sustaining. Bet it will be even better in the morning with da eggs. — 7 years ago

with Jeff and Joe

Sophia Schlette

9.5

An excellent Riesling! If you were suspicious about NZ whites 20 years ago, well, life is a journey, full of discoveries, and China is a rather big country. hell, good food demands great wines. The rest is eurocentism and, worse, Porterism for wines. We had a blast! This Riesling (not a blend) is fresh, fruity, bright, balanced, fun, v drinkable w/o any undesirable aftertastes and leaving your head okay the morning after. A friend brought it from London, a 2017 harvest, and boy, were we suspicious? Then again: Coming from a 19th vineyard - how would they not know their thing? It‘s us not knowing their wines! — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣7️⃣

🗞 🌎 Stock 📉, Kings Cross 🔥, Simpsons, -1 second
🎵 Faith, Livin' On A Prayer, With or Without You, I Just Can't Stop ❤️ You
🎥 Three Men & a Baby, Fatal Attraction, Good Morning Vietnam, Lethal Weapon
🗣 Nobody puts Baby in a corner
🌍 4.98B

Stunning Cos @ £180 - RP83 🤣

🍷 Deep ruby

👃 Gravel, flint, minerals & soggy earth through black berry fruits w/ herbs, soot, smokey oak & mint

👄 Med body of smooth b/berry loaded w/ mocha, liquorice & minerals

🎯 Long linger of ⬆️ w/ black tea — 8 years ago