Louis Martin

8.9

Light, high mineral and acidity undertones, pairs well with cheese and fruit. — 4 years ago

Jeremy Krantz

9.2

Very high carbonation when taking the top off the bottle but didn't gush. Bubbles are small enough to give it a creamy mouthfeel and head. Berries on the aroma and finish. — 6 years ago

Justin Hart

9.6

Holy cow! The lower ratings of this wine must be referring to a different wine. This is a voluptuous, heady, powerful petit verdot, huge even. Wet concrete, pencil shavings and blackberries on the nose. Ripe blackberry, huckleberry, and blueberry gush across the palette, and immediately get squeezed by firm tannins, peppery and cured meat notes. This is an amazing wine that could easily go 3-6 more years (or longer). Yum!! — 6 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Willie Carter

9.0

Bright cherry red in the glass with a wide brim. Floral notes abound on the nose along with red fruits, orange peel, and fresh herbs. The first thing that jumps out to you is the innate cleanness of this wine. I usually like my Pinots with a bit of funk but this is just the opposite and brilliant. Subtle, delicate flavor profile on the palate with raspberry, cherry cola, clove cigarettes, baking spices, and tea. I could gush about this wine all day. It strikes an almost perfect balance between Sonoma and Burgundy. — 8 years ago

Joshua Crisp

9.7

Sometimes, when you had a long day at work, you just want something that is happy to see you. This gorgeous wine is so perfumey and dynamic on the nose, changing from spicy potpourri one moment to floral the next to fresh, dark cherries to umami and fresh mushrooms. Both rich and powerful yet elegant, cranberries and fresh blackberries gush on the palate, pulling back into pomegranates and dark cocoa, and finally finishing in fresh oyster mushrooms and wet, meadows. Fine powdery tannins and a long acid backbone. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. A gem in the glass. — 9 years ago

Joshua Crisp

9.0

Incredible pairing with white chocolate bleu cheese cheesecake- incredible floral and yeasty nose and ripe lemons and quince that gush into the palate. Finish in river stone and citrus pith - beautiful! — 10 years ago

David Hale Smith

9.4

Gush of alcohol at (dry) cork pop. Thought the bottle was a goner. I decanted for 45 minutes and it totally mellowed into a fabulous Bordeaux. Glad I opened it now. Thanks for always sound advice @Jordan Mackay — 10 years ago

with Julia

DAL 9000

9.1

Picked up this at the winery. Aroma of mild green apples. Minerals and a gush of green apples in the middle. Then a quick fade to mild mild mild minerals. — 5 years ago

Jake Hajer

9.1

Bright and upfront in the nose. Fried-salted chili, toasted rice, light game (light as in, pheasant). Exotic blend of grapes, but somehow...tastes just like a blend of them, savory cherry of Syrah, leather-earth tannins of Mourvèdre, with a gush of funky blackberry fruit ala touriga national. Balanced. Have no idea how it will age, but I’d be interested to see. — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Full disclosure, I’m a sucker for Bea and my infatuation may blur my objectivity as a result. However, it would be disingenuous of me if I were not to gush over this bottle. A tree full of ripe cherries, pie spice, asphalt, charcoal, smoke, mushrooms, damp forest floor, teriyaki...it was a feast for the senses. After 11 years of age it’s still fiercely tannic but it’s not enough to both considering the character. The finish lasts for minutes. I realize that making wine like this is scary and the results aren’t for everyone but my God, I am thankful that the Bea’s have the guts to do it. Bottle No. 08054 — 8 years ago

David Adolf

9.1

Wouldn’t typically gush over a PF, but this is excellent. Lots of ripe fruit, green apple, citrus zest, and minerality. Very good effort in a wonderful vintage. — 8 years ago

Ron from VA

9.4

I referenced this vintage in my 2014 notes. I don’t want to gush on and on....it simply a grand slam from a once in a decade vintage. The effects of FULLY ripe fruit are on display here. Punches FAR above its fighting weight. Glad I served this wine to the Gov of Va ;) — 9 years ago

David Adolf

9.0

Wouldn't normally gush about Macon, but this is very good . The 2015 vintage shines through with excellent fruit, acidity and length. Terrific value in white Burgundy! — 9 years ago

Ben Jones

9.1

Really love this wine from D&G. Dried prunes and cherries, sweet smoked meat, barrel room and cooking herbs on the nose. Dried herbs and honeyed and savory bright fruit work though and lead to a surprisingly subtle yet pleasant finish. All the best parts of Grenache and Pinot, I don't mean to gush but it really is excellent wine. — 10 years ago

Jeremy Krantz

9.6

Absolutely delish. Lively, very dry and full of citrus, pear and lime notes. Very little tannins and vivid carbonation but no gush. I need more Maloof wines in my life — 5 years ago

S.S. Mandani

8.9

Bouquet is kind of non existent. Slight pear and limestone quality.

Solid effervescence, acidity, sweetness, fruit, and mouthfeel.

Most importantly though, missing the bone dry fresh blades of grass quality that I usually love in Riesling.

This is an expression for the masses to check a box, not discover and gush. — 6 years ago

Kirk F

9.2

This was ready to go the moment the cork was pulled. The juicy blue and black fruits just about leap from the glass and the palate, wow, just fabulous. Sweet, juicy tannins gush across it leading to a long, intoxicating finish. Love everything I’ve had from this producer. — 8 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.2

Syrah seemingly in the zeitgeist right now so I picked up this 2011 Coulet. Wow - it's so different than the Cote Rotie I just had. I know syrah can run the gamut but this is radically different. Biodynamic, low so2, neutral oak & concrete. Not really Vin de Garde; Not really Vin de Soif...

So what then? Certainly intense. Plum & liqueur-like raspberry notes that are both in-your-face "sexy" & "scary" at the same time. Even more prevalent than the fruit are the aromas of menthol, acetate, & iron. Nearly akin to robitussin - & I mean that in the best way possible. It's weirdly delicious & syrah freaks will get it.

Unfortunately, the regular consumer might find it to be too much. The slight volatility is both good & bad. It dials up the fruit's sweetness, giving the wine body & texture. But also amps up the medicinal quality. This is not a wine to guzzle & ignore. Admirably, not subtle.

Coincidentally this wine reminds me Pax - who is getting a lot of attention right now & rightfully so. I have't tried the new 100 point Hillside bottle yet (though I have one ready), but I've always been a huge fan of his wines for a long time. My favorite site he works with is Griffins Lair & I believe I've tasted every vintage of it going back to 2002. Those original vintages are bigger & riper (which I still love & fuck you hipsters for not), but even back then Pax never used superfluous new oak, sulfites, yeasts etc.. Yes, they were broad shouldered wines but they were pure & unmasked - like this Cornas. Some of the early 2000s Griffins Lair had a slight volitility that came across as kirsch sweetness. It's an interesting balance that punctuates the varietal character perfectly - & it demands your attention while doing it.

This Cornas is not some delicate wine that somms gush over; nor is it a slick, parkerized wine without sense of place. It's something else. A wine for the true syrah aficianado. The audience is small but those who can appreciate it, will appreciate it. If you like weirdness, intensity, complexity & the flavors to scream at you from the glass, this is your wine.

#cornas #syrah #coulet #biodynamic #pax #coterotie #rhone #northernrhone #rhonevalley — 8 years ago

Joshua Crisp

8.9

Fresh, sun-ripened blackcherries and freshly-picked thyme are upheld by aged leather, black peppercorn, and subtle pinecone and mesquite bark. Fresh plums and dates gush onto the palate, which give way to ripe Kalamata olives, brine and wet basalt, velvety tannins coming in on a short finish. Full yet lithe, fresh but aged, it is a great sipper wine. — 9 years ago

Shawn R

9.3

Love the bubbles! Peach color in the glass-nose of strawberry, cotton candy and stone. Clean, fresh and crisp on the palate exposing flavors of tart cherry, lime and red berries with a gush of bubbles hitting the top of the mouth. Long finish with a slight mineral hint and oak. Great acidity to give you that subtle pucker! Well done! — 10 years ago