Ellen Clifford

9.2

I cannot get enough word play. Especially as it pertains to wine, French Stuff, and outer space. Although I’d like Uranus jokes over UFO ones. That joke wrote itself only because I also adore alliteration. Ahem. Anyway this homage to Chateauneuf de Pape’s refusal to allow UFOs in its terroir (I don’t let them in mine either, honestly) is ever so transparent in what is in it, ever so zing pow wow, but shhhhhh chillout sweet babygirl that I am now a Bonny Doon convert. I wish I could say I was more than a half glass in writing this but you can blame to wordplay/slight tawdry-ness/silliness on...me. And the following tasting notes don’t do anything to actually explain this wine. Less than the prior paragraph anyway. But know it is more than the sum of its parts. But! If you want tech:
Appearance: pale pink. Nose of red fruits of all types, Whole Foods bulk section and a new fountain perhaps in a cheeky avant- garde art garden. Tongue: dry, medium acid, medium alcohol (whoops it’s 13.5!) body is silky and neatly suede-y. You’ll taste bright underripe strawberries, overripe raspberries, maybe an iris or so and something mineral and also green let’s call it pussywillows just to keep me thematically on track. Finish is medium plus with a hint of candied fruit punch. — 2 days ago

"Odedi"

9.4

Deep ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Strong nose of cooked blackberries, sweet plums, cherry pie, dried figs, tobacco, spices, cedar, vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, mocha, tobacco, earth, peppercorn and leather.

Full bodied, rich, extracted and bold, with medium acidity and nice legs.

Dry and extremely fruity on the palate with blackberries, cooked cherries, figs, raisins, vanilla, oak, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, mocha, light vegetables, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth, leather, coke, tobacco leaf and peppercorn.

Long finish with medium tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a great Petite Sirah blend from the house of Orin Swift. Rich and fruit forward with great complexity and mouthfeel. Still shows some alcohol on the palate.

This 7 year old is good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up (90 minutes).

Spicy with a beautiful nose. Delicious and yummy.

Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.

A blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels.

15.7% alcohol by volume.

94 points. — 9 days ago

Nick Hodne

9.3

Enjoying a head-to-head Grenache tasting with this an Nine Suns. Certainly cool climate, had the Rocks District funk, but blew off well through the day before dinner. Herbaceous tapenade tang with some iron and rock hiding underneath. Looking forward to what 5-10 years will bring. — 6 days ago

Ken Z

9.1

Drank 4/14/17. Decent pairing with chicken sausage and lentils.

Big nose of raspberry bramble, cherry, underbrush, and Blackberry liquer. Red fruits on the palate, with herbs, spice, and cherry. Medium to firm tannins on the finish, dominated by red fruit. A touch hot. I beleive WA went like 96 pts on that. Can't quite get there, but a nice wine for the price (roughly $27).

4/22/8/3/4 + 50 = 91 Pts. — 6 days ago

Scott Rose

9.0

2016 vintage. Fleshy with some white pepper in the nose. Decent tannins. Really solid group wine that’ll roll/pair w/beef, duck, pork or chicken. Medium bodied. Will pick up some more — 11 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

10

I haven’t tried this 2017 WWB wine of the year for more than a year. Needless to say, I was completely blown away with this stunner. The 2014 'God Only Knows' is an utterly fascinating wine from the amazing team of Christophe Baron and Elizabeth Bourcier of Cayuse Vineyards. This stunning Grenache was sourced from the Armada Vineyard and instantly impresses as it opens to intoxicating aromatics of red fruits, meat, tangerine rind, black forest cake, black truffle oil, and Earl Grey tea. This walks a tight rope between power and elegance, showcasing blackberry cobbler, and black plums with red raspberry preserves, red cherries and pomegranate seed. Beautifully balanced and structured this continues to impress with its gorgeous texture and poise. Flavors of blood orange, umami and black olive tapenade continue to add complexity and impressive range as they build on the finish. The combination of purity and precision are a thing of beauty. Overall, this is a complete success, and one of most impressive wines ever from Walla Walla. Outstanding now and also possesses lovely aging potential. Drink 2019- 2029-100 — 5 days ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

Monchego cheese, olives, iberico hams.... wait... that’s what I’m eating. Paired perfectly. Had an earthiness that went great with the ham and acidity that kerpowed with the cheese. Loved it. — 22 days ago

Roman Sukley

10

2016 Sine Qua Non "Dirt Vernacular" California Grenache. The blend is 78% Grenache, 11.5% Mourvedre, 7% Touriga Nacional and 3.5% Petite Sirah, dominated by estate fruit, but some 9% came from the Krankl's blocks at Bien Nacido Vineyard that are farmed to their specifications. 16% alcohol. So for me, it all started with “Incognito.” Greatest Grenache I’d ever tasted. Simply stunning and still one of my favorites. How do you top that one? Well then “The Inaugural” showed up. Phenomenal!Then it’s “Ode To E.” Y’all know I absolutely LOVE that wine! Oh but wait, here comes “Trouver L'Arène.” Exquisite! And just in case you missed them all, now there’s tonight’s selection. And I’m pleased to report that the streak continues. As I’ve mentioned previously several times, Grenache is quite possibly the most difficult and finicky grape. But what really sets SQN apart is the final blend. Simply stated, Manfred is a genius when it comes to blending. If you have one, feel free to pull the cork as this wine is absolutely open for business. About a 3 hour decant at cellar temperature, the nose is, as usual with SQN, mind blowing. Cherries, plums, pepper, teriyaki, kirsch and a bouquet of roses. Full-bodied, ultra-rich, multi-layered palate-staining ripe black fruit smorgasbord. Tremendous depth and purity. What a finish! The parade of excellence marches on! — 6 days ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

A shy fruit nose,, a nod of the high heat.

Two meet, and the dance begins.
One has all the colors, red and black raspberries, pomegranate stem of rose.
The other, dapper with black - anise, mint, earth and stone. A step from one and a step from the other, a flit of the skirt, a tip of the hat, a bow, a kiss, a dip, , a spin, a tango of the fruit and tannins, the herbaceous and acidity. Plucked from the dance floor a touch too early, with many dances left.
Such is the life of wine in my cellar.

Great producer, consistently great wine. — 21 days ago

Dick Schinkel

9.4

Single vineyard 100% Garnacha, from a plot planted in 1945 at 580 meters above the monastery, 1500 Bottles and 100 Magnums

On the nose black fruits, red cherries, herbs, a hint vanilla, roasted cedar, medium to full bodied, fine layers of ripe dark fruits, ripe fine tannin, lovely acidity, fine cedar, juicy, creamy aftertaste ! 94 DSP — 4 days ago