Kia

8.9

Really refreshing and crisp. Made me excited to download this app again after quite a hiatus. — 2 years ago

Shawn Powar

9.0

Some old grapes, after a long hiatus.

Things may not be going in the best direction right now, but I’m glad to have my SO by my side.

January 15, 2023 — 3 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.1

Back from a 10 day hiatus. Lovely fully mature white burg. Fresh, harmonious with a slight nutty finish. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.7

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

Here’s your finisher. Tied with the L&M for my favorite of the day. This seemed to take the best of the L&M (lifted profile, elegant) and the best of the Harlan (dense, rich, powerful) and marry them together perfectly. Iron fist in a velvet glove. It sported the entire fruit spectrum on the nose (red, blue and black) with added notes of sandalwood, espresso, cinnamon and nutmeg, and scorched earth. It pulls you in immediately on the palate with tantalizing notes of fondue dipped dark fruits, cherry-vanilla pipe tobacco, crushed gravel, before letting you go softly with elegant floral notes like jasmine. Stunning. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab. — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

The first of a monster lineup of 5 incredible red wines. For the first 10-15mins, this was actually my favorite. Very high toned and lifted. Bright. Rich red fruits, spicy black fruits, kirsch, sage and potpourri jump from the glass. On the palate, it was the most elegant of the five with Black Forest cake, mulberries, cedar, dark chocolate shavings and baking spices. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab (but it certainly seemed a bit of an outlier compared to the next 4!) — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.6

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

Everyone in the room knew this was something spectacular from first whiff. It was one of those wines where every aspect felt perfect as not one thing stood out. It was slightly yeasty but also fresh and citrus driven. Rich, but racy. Baked lemon pastries, caramel dipped golden delicious apple, classic chalk and limestone. Incredible mousse. I called this late ‘90s Dom Oenotechque/P2. — 6 years ago

with Jeff, Jid and 3 others

Jill Schuchardt

9.7

Minerals, cream, acid, long finish — 7 years ago

Martin Sher

9.1

Returning after a hiatus of more than a year. Not sure why now. I have been drinking, just not posting. 🤷‍♂️. Great 4-course meal at Vinkkeli in Helsinki, started with this super fresh Albariño. — 3 years ago

JJ Lumia

9.5

Celebrating a good day after a minor hiatus from the sauce. Just awesome. Lush, complex, elegant. Oozing with cherry, blueberry, cola, and baking spice. Supple tannins and a long finish. Maybe I should start writing in haiku to mix things up. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.3

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

A palate revitalizer after the reds! Like a shot of vitamin C to your taste buds. Apricot, ripe peach, and mango all drizzled in orange blossom honey. Didn’t have the nuttiness of Sauternes but there was really nice acidity here. I called this late harvest Cali SB/semillon. — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.6

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

And the hits just keep coming. A total monster. I found this to be the most extracted of the 5 reds. Could smell it five feet away. Dark chocolate dipped blueberries and blackberries, graham cracker, mocha, violets all jump from the glass. Velvet like texture revealing a streak of ripe red fruits and an herbal/mineral like note down the middle of the palate. Dusty. So much beautiful freshness but commanding power here...longest finish of the day. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab (specifically Shafer Hillside Select). — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.4

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

I had this same vintage a little over a year ago and my note is very similar. I got a distinct hay note aromatically that I really haven’t come across much. It wasn’t herbal, but slightly more green and unique. Honeysuckle and honeyed stone fruits on the nose as well. Big and commanding on the palate and slightly more savory...lemon oil, sea salt and almond croissant. I called this 8-10yr old Cali chard. — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Arden Barnett

9.5

Make Merlot great again! After a little hiatus from the wine world, I’m back with a banger. Thanks @Shay A for introducing me to Arietta! Saw this gem for a killer price on a wine list and had to pull the trigger. To be honest this wine still needs a few more years. Big bold red fruit but a subtle amount of acid and a tannic structure that’s built for aging. After an hour decant the wine became richer and richer. Very impressive stuff. Really would like to snag a few bottle of Arietta’s Merlots for my cellar — 6 years ago

Brian Reedy

9.2

It’s back after a 25 year hiatus. Delicious black currant and soft tannins. Look gored to a bit of time on this blend — 3 years ago

with Sarah

Angelo Casagrande

9.0

Lovely fruit, spices linger, solid but not cloying tannins. Nose has some barnyard scents to it. Really enjoyed this after my 2 week or so hiatus from drink. — 4 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.3

No, this is not a QAnon cuvee - that would be an empty bottle because we all know wine doesn’t really exist: it’s a lie created by the Deep State to steal your money - it’s another awesome chard from Greg Brewer’s Diatom operation. For those who haven’t had it, the Diatom wines are truly unique. Fermented at low temperature to suppress malolactic conversion (around 40 F if memory serves) and never seeing oak, this is like a Grand Cru Chablis on steroids. Incredibly pure fruit with bracing acidity, but high enough in alcohol to produce a beautifully balanced wine. The label took a hiatus for a couple of years during Greg’s transition away from Melville (I still have one bottle of the 2005 Clos Pepe from the first vintage), but its been back for a few years now. At ~$40 a bottle, you will not find a better QPR chardonnay anywhere. Great stuff! — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Shay A

9.6

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

Compared to the 2012 Quella it was next to, this was much darker in style. Scorched blue and black fruit, sandalwood, plums and mocha on the nose. Copious amounts of dark chocolate and fresh squeezed dark fruits on the palate wrapped in a silky and slightly dusty profile. I called this 7-10yr old Napa cab. — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Shay A

9.5

After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind.

I was somewhat surprised to see this was a Marcassin, mostly because it seemed more elegant than my normal experience. It didn’t have that roasted marshmallow note I seem to associate with Marcassin. This was my favorite of the two whites...extremely aromatic with chamomile, honeysuckle, powdered lemon tart and orange blossom. Massive amounts of juicy fruit (which I associate with Peter Michael) on the palate...frosted guava, sea salt and lemon meringue. I called this 8-10yr old Cali chard (specifically Peter Michael Point Rouge). — 6 years ago

with Jid, joe and 3 others

Lauren Baldwin

9.5

I found this to be delicious after about a year-long hiatus from Cabernet Sauvignon. Would purchase again. — 6 years ago

Victoria Ferguson

10

A great way to break a nine month drinking hiatus;-) 🤩👶 — 7 years ago