Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Pergolaia 2019, Red Blend – Toscana IGT, Alta Maremma, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
Composed of 76% Sangiovese, 14% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, this biodynamically farmed blend highlights Sangiovese-driven freshness balanced by Bordeaux varietal structure. Vinified gently in a gravity-fed cellar to preserve finesse.

Aromas & Flavors
Red cherry, raspberry, dried herbs, subtle cedar, graphite, light earth.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, polished tannins, and a clean, linear finish.

Food Pairings
Grilled lamb chops, bistecca Fiorentina, mushroom risotto, aged Pecorino.

Verdict
Transparent and precise. A bright, terroir-forward expression within the Caiarossa hierarchy.

🍷 Did You Know?
Pergolaia is aged approximately 12 months in wood, reinforcing structure while maintaining freshness. — 8 months ago

Norman

9.0

An interesting sake out of LA. Drip or shizuku sake, it’s reading a bit sweet for me but true to its -3 SMV rating. They say the acidity is a bit higher than normal to balance it out which also comes across. It would be interesting to see the acidity lower. I will try the others they make and the beers look interesting as well. — 3 years ago

Karen Tripson

9.5

Amazing. Excellent WA fruit creating a stellar wine. — 4 years ago

Chris B.

9.0

Really nice - honeysuckle, apricot, maybe even some lemon peel? The oak is definitely there at the end but it’s not overbearing at all. Paired it with stuffing, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes but would also be great with grilled fish. — 6 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

I drink so much local cider in the Pacific Northwest, but it’s good to benchmark occasionally versus the Old World standards. More head on the initial pour than cider in the glass; the head looks more like a malt syrup ale than a clean cider. After dampening down, the cider shows moderate carbonation with steady flow of pinpoint bubbles through ultra clear golden brown. Funk and maybe butter, but a dense apple profile on the nose. Frothy but lightly flavored in the mouth, rich, tending semi dry with a frothy finish. Buttery, malic and slightly perfumed aftertaste. Mild pulp astringency and flavor emerges with repeated tasting. Product is 5.5% alc/vol, unfiltered, unpasteurized. Subtly textured mouthfeel overall and lightly flavored, nuanced and totally delightful, unexpected excellence as it tastes so good in characteristics I did not anticipate it would display. It’s just not crafted as most New World ciders are, in all the best ways. Calling it rustic misses most of the positives, at least of this vintage; there’s much more complexity going on here. Great value and a delightful companion on a chilly early fall evening. — 7 years ago

James Rogers

9.3

One of my favorite ciders- great for brunch! — 8 years ago

with Lindsay

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Harebrained Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Napa Valley, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
A bold Napa Cabernet led by 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, rounded with 6% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Crafted under Hall Family Wines, this bottling is all about richness, structure, and layered complexity, showing off the precision of modern Napa winemaking.

Aromas & Flavors
Intense notes of dark fruit compote, blackberry, and plum, layered with cocoa, leather, and pepper spice. Earthy undertones bring added dimension, while toasted oak nuances complete the nose and palate.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with supple, well-structured tannins. The finish is long, balanced, and polished, with a firm yet silky texture that benefits from a touch of aeration.

Winemaking Notes
Employs high-tech optical sorting for fruit precision, gravity-flow winemaking, and extended élevage in French oak (22 months, 40% new). This combination yields both power and finesse.

Food Pairing
Ideal alongside grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb chops, or aged hard cheeses. Also shines with earthy mushroom dishes or a dark chocolate finish.

Verdict
A rich, layered Napa Cabernet that captures both intensity and elegance. While approachable now, it rewards a short decant and has the backbone for several more years of aging. — a year ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.3

Ripe bright lemon yellow… with lemon curd, yuzu, ripe pineapple pouring from the glass. Alive, pulsing with lively acidity. Real tension with gravity/weight on the palate. Long, lip-smacking finish. — 3 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.5

There’s a lot of silly people doing silly things in wine. There’s this what I call the “craft wine” movement akin to the “craft beer” period. It’s all tits on a bull. But this…this is beautiful. Reminds me to keep on perfecting my ciders and wines — 5 years ago

bethany k

9.4

Delicious though we may have overaged it a bit. — 7 years ago

Maja Greig

9.0

Both of us enjoyed. Not heavy but more body than typical PN — 8 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.2

Oh man. This is so good. So pure. Dileneated pears and chrysanthemum. Great acidity and lovely sweetness. Just so fresh and did I mention... pure. Hot damn! Just plain yummy. Eric Bordelet and Jacques Perritaz (Ciderie du Vulcain) are the true kings of ciders for me. They changed the way I think of the beverage. — 8 years ago

Gabby

10

Really good apple cider! — 8 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. In the 2005 Albesani pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart and ripe red fruit: Morello cherry, pomegranate, red roses, cedar chest, a touch of leather, dried green herbs, and gravity earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. All around delicious. Drink now through 2035. — a year ago

Daniel veit

9.0

Still brooding, expressing dark chocolate, charred plum, coffee. Nostalgic. On the downside. Drink now — 3 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Single-barrel scarcity makes this a “must try.” It generates a meaningful event and a good disruption on the palate.
Green apples combine with melon and bright acidity - the signature of a typical SB. Moderately sweet. Serve it to those who appreciate uncommon excellence in wine. Approach the winery for this. — 4 years ago

with Anne-marie

Andrew Olsen

9.0

Packs a punch. Great stout from a great brewery! — 7 years ago

Graham Jenkins

8.9

Imagine Magners, but good and dry and not so damn sweet — 8 years ago

with Jasmine

Mike Hartz

9.2

Delicious, blend of the kitchen sink, but full bodied and full of flavor, delicious — 8 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

10

Mount Peak Winery on top of Mayacamas mountain range where the soil is bright red and rich in Iron, is one of my new favorite wineries in the world. This place was dormant and untouched as a vineyard from 1886 to 1920, when prohabition began. It was called Monte Rosso Vineyard. Today, they still have the same vines and fig trees that have stood the test of the elements and time. They produce three of my new favorite wines: rattlesnake zin, sentinel cab, and gravity - a beautiful blend of petite sirah, cabernet sauvignon, and zinfandel. This is the 2014 Sentinel Cabernet sauvignon! It is worth every bit of the 60 dollars it costs. The nose is the perfect cab - blackberry cobbler just pulled from the oven. The palate is blackberry and dark currants with cedar and oak. There is a buttery hint to it followed by a tingle on the edges of your lips!!!!! The finish is dry leaving you thirsty for more! This is an awesome wine so typical of California cab. What I love the most in a wine can be found here! I highly recommend this to anyone who loves California Cabernet Sauvignon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is better than the last bottle I had! — 8 years ago