Granite Heights Winery

Bethel Heights Vineyard

Estate Eola - Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2023

PnP. Raspberry, cranberry, plums, and dried herbs on the nose. On the palate, the same flavors come through, and with time in the glass, florals and cardamom with underlying hints of cloves and allspice emerge. Nice finish, with the floral and cardamom flavors lingering. Overall really tasty, but required time in the glass to open up. Probably would benefit from a short decant. — 20 days ago

Tom, Matt and 7 others liked this
Tegan Marriott

Tegan Marriott

Dependably good producer!

Pierre Gonon

Saint-Joseph Syrah 2023

Lyle Fass
9.8

Beautiful, whip-smart Northern Rhône Syrah with blackberry, violets, granite and, after air, a gorgeous olive note running through both the nose and palate. The texture is sleek and refined, with excellent freshness, fine tannins and a long, elegant finish. Not quite as complete or tightly composed as the monumental 2019, but still an exceptional Gonon and a brilliant expression of the vintage. — 2 days ago

Zach, Ira and 9 others liked this

Golan Heights Winery

Yarden Galilee Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

all in place. a benchmark CS. full body, ripe, juicy, good acidity, tasty. — 3 months ago

Dick, Dave and 2 others liked this

Bethel Heights Vineyard

Justice Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2023

An excellent Pinot Noir. Balanced, slightly tart cherry flavor with a floral bouquet. Love it. — 4 months ago

Renaissance Vineyard & Winery

Vin de Terroir Granite Crown Syrah Blend 2000

Opening granite crown is always a treat. So much warmth and spice left in it, a marvel as this was the first vintage that Gideon bottled I believe — 8 months ago

Lyle, Ben and 4 others liked this

Granite Heights Winery

Humility Merlot Blend 2012

Fabulous character! The best of Virginia’s Piedmont foothills on display — 9 months ago

Bethel Heights Vineyard

Estate Eola - Amity Hills Chardonnay 2021

Nose: hint oak. Airy. Hint sea breeze. Lovely. White flowers.

Palate: lovely sweet oak. Sweet wood. Rich. Not over the top.
— 2 years ago

Michel Guignier

Granite Gamay

Rich, fruity, effervescent. Super complex. Great value for the price. — 4 years ago

Domaine de l'Ecu (Guy Bossard)

Expression de Granite Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Melon de Bourgogne 2009

Pretty sure we tasted Guy Bossard’s 2009s in barrel in January of 2011, we were WAY late for our appointment that day (drove 90 minutes in the morning from our B&B near Chinon, started at Luneau-Papin, then lunch (which took seemingly forever), which in turn made us late for our visit to Marc Ollivier at Domaine de La Pepiere. After a great (albeit long) visit with Marc, he was then kind enough to call Guy for us to tell him the 3 idiot Americans who were his 4:00 pm appointment would hopefully make it by 5:00-5:30 pm. Guy was nothing if forgiving and gracious, he had a young Dutch gentleman there when we arrived, Fred Niger, who we found out later was in negotiations to buy Domaine de l’Ecu from Guy, which DID happen (and Fred and his wife still own the estate). Domaine de l’Ecu had already been biodynamic for some time (and remains so), and was maybe the first of the Muscadet producers to do so (???). This wine, the top end Granite cuvée, is still quite alive, but it’s time to drink up. Fun times wine tasting in Muscadet in January of 2011!!! — 11 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Ira, Tom and 7 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Great story!
Dave

Dave

Now YOU'VE lived an interesting life! I live vicariously through your wine adventure stories. 😊
Zach D

Zach D

What a fantastic story.

Bethel Heights Vineyard

Flat Block Eola - Amity Hills Estate Pinot Noir 2024

Another good Bethel Heights Pinot Noir. Great floral notes and a clean finish. — 3 months ago

Château Thivin

Cuvée Zaccharie Côte de Brouilly Gamay 2023

Lyle Fass
9.6

Another great, albeit young vintage of Zach. The palate has depth, purity, minerality and more but it’s a bit ‘all over the place’ but the bones are there. Super complex and long. Nose is blackberry, red cherry, red berry, super clear, floral and complex. 9.6. nose. Will get better. Palate is super concentrated but boy does it need air but oh man what promise. Calmer, sweeter today but still a bit backwards. Gorgeous inner mouth aromas and a spicy granite finish. This has really come alive on day 3. Best day by far. — 4 months ago

Daniel, Ray and 9 others liked this

Domaine de la Pépière

Granite de Clisson Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Melon de Bourgogne 2017

Ridiculous value and, while delicious, should ideally age another 5-10 years or more — 9 months ago

"Odedi", ESF and 4 others liked this

Bethel Heights Vineyard

Estate Grown Eola - Amity Hills Pinot Noir 2021

I really liked this Pinot. More RRV like than it was Eola-Amity like. Loads of front fruit with cherry and red berries. I liked the energy in this wine. Would definitely buy again. — 3 years ago

Shay, Bryan and 1 other liked this

Domaine Catherine Cuchet-Béliando

Cornas Syrah 2019

Lyle Fass
9.8

A beast, and still shockingly young. Barely budged in a year and a half, maybe 5% evolution. Nose is unbelievable: crystalline blackberry, blueberry, crushed granite, then more granite, then more blackberry. Palate still has that grapey, youthful, barrel-sample intensity, with massive concentrated fruit and granite oozing through everything. Tannins are significant at first, then smooth out into something velvety, sweet and seamless. Terrific purity, absurd material, huge structure and a long blackberry-granite finish. This is insane Cornas, but it needs forever. — 11 days ago

Daniel, Zach and 7 others liked this
Zach D

Zach D

Still haven’t had the courage to open a 2019; wait until 2030?
Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Zach D wait till 2030 at least.

Domaine Bernard Gripa

St. Joseph Syrah 2016

Lyle Fass
9.5

Killer. Granite, red fruits, smoke, leather, so so aromatic. Just filthy. Palate is teeming with energy. It is insane that this regular cuvée from Gripa is so overlooked. A shanda. — 2 months ago

Jay, Ray and 3 others liked this

Bethel Heights Vineyard

Casteel Eola - Amity Hills Estate Pinot Noir 2022

2022 vintage. Medium/medium heavy body/ Good push and concentration without specificity. Excellent, large party, Pinot upgrade. 4.15.26. — 3 months ago

David, Tom and 4 others liked this

Golan Heights Winery

Gilgal Galilee Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

ESF
9.2

better than the 2021, more dense extracted generous, this had a decade or more to unfurl... 2021 was Old World - this was New World, a more in your face CA Napa Cab style, outstanding QPR — 6 months ago

Ted, Tom and 7 others liked this

Golan Heights Winery

Yarden Pinot Noir 2022

Yarden – Pinot Noir – 2022
Galilee – Israel 🇮🇱

Overview
100% Pinot Noir sourced from the northern reaches of the Golan Heights, where high elevation, cool nights, and rocky volcanic soils create an ideal environment for this delicate, thin-skinned variety. Aged for over 16 months in French oak, this bottling delivers surprising depth and complexity. Kosher, and produced in a non-Mevushal style, allowing greater finesse and aromatic purity.

Aromas & Flavors
Lifted floral notes, red cherry, wild berries, rose petals, clove, and subtle baking spice. The volcanic influence adds a faint smoky-mineral edge that enhances its old-world charm.

Mouthfeel
Silky, medium-bodied, and beautifully balanced. Fresh acidity supports a layered palate with refined tannins and an elegant, persistent finish.

Food Pairings
Herb-roasted chicken, mushroom risotto, seared tuna, Mediterranean lamb skewers, or grilled vegetables with za’atar.

Verdict
A sophisticated and terroir-driven expression of Pinot Noir from one of Israel’s most compelling cool-climate zones. Remarkably elegant, with an old-world spirit shaped by a uniquely volcanic landscape. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The Golan Heights sits atop an extinct volcanic plateau. Its basalt-rich soils and high elevations mirror some of the world’s great cool-climate regions, making it one of Israel’s best sites for Burgundian varieties.
— 8 months ago

Tom, Ted and 1 other liked this

Highlands Forty One

Black Granite Paso Robles Red Blend 2019

Best $10 bottle ever — 4 years ago

Dawn and Sharon liked this
Dawn E.

Dawn E.

@Raul Puga good to know!!