Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2023 vintage. Medium-medium heavy body. Old-school RRV swill that eschews the sweetness that crept into the area during the Williams-Selyem heyday/culty scores of the mid-80's to mid-90's. Big tea, earth, light mud, restrained cherry and plum. Structure. Fruit. Balance. No sizzle, all steak. Blind tasting this, you'd be hella pressed to call this as being from RRV. Tastes like it's got 8-10 years of age on it already as a new release. You could sock this away for an easy 15-spot if you're that disciplined, unorganized or behind on opening other stuff. One of the best new domestic pinots tasted in the last few years. P.S...tasted the 2023 MacIntyre (the one that gets all the scores/pub) right after this. It was nice. A new school nice at 9.3. I'll take this any day that ends in "y" instead. You can have my MacIntyre allocation. 3.25.26. — 3 months ago

Andrew Griffin

9.1

Once in a while, I'll move away from the craft brew scene to a discount wine, and I will come back again. Nice mixture of dry & sweet.

2016 — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.3

Dan was being very curmudgeonly as he could taste butterscotch in this wine. I say he was right. I'd ALSO say I'll take every last bottle of this he has left and will even volunteer to take them away personally! Poured a medium amber color. Notes of butter and herb om the nose. Entry is overripe stone ground fruits with a nice weighted base. Butterscotch in front and middle but trails away in the finish where this wine just kind of dances more with a tarragon and peach kind of note. The only white I dared to try with the braised pork and pickled peppers. Although neither was a perfect complement, I was shocked at how this one definitely didn't run away! A true Marcassin! If you have these, I think I'd drink now. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Shay

Joe Davant

9.4

This wine was such a pleasant surprise - we won it at a holiday party raffle, so we had no idea what to expect. We were all blown away by layers of deep, rich blue fruits combined with chocolate, leather, a touch of graphite and a hint of oak. Despite the rich fruits, it managed to deliver bright acidity and complexity that paired well with a rib eye. I'll definitely seek out more of this wine. — 8 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.2

2015 Kutch Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir. I think we all know Jamie's story, stock trader turned winemaker, so I'll not repeat it here. Suffice it to say that I lived vicariously through him for years as he apprenticed with Michael Browne and then graduated to his own label. A nicer man you will never meet ( and he knows a thing or two about Porsche as well). Expressive nose of cherries, plums, menthol and forest floor. The palate is slightly sweet with cherries, black raspberry, clove and a touch of oak and brambles. In recent years, Jamie has progressed away from the big, over-the-top, high alcohol Pinots currently dominating the California market. This wine has an earthy, Burgundian character with mouth-watering acidity and smooth tannins. 12.9% alcohol. I see your vision Jamie @kutchwines and I'm still interested in that 912.) — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose; dark cassis, blackberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, caramel, dark, rich soil, dry stones, caramel, dry stems, fresh violets & dark, fresh & dry florals. The body is full, round, lush, thick with nicely resolved, soft, velvety tannins. It glides in the over the palate. Creamy, lush, thick; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum and poached strawberries bring up the rear of the fruits. Mocha chocolate, caramel, dark soil, stones, steeped tea, crushed rocks, bramble, suede leather, liquid violets, fresh dark florals & acidity is soft and perfect. The finish is flat out pure elegance. Creamy fruits and beautiful complimentary soft, semi-sweet earthiness. This is my first of bottle of 10. I'll have another each year for the next nine years. Enjoy noting the changes in the bottle. It's drinking beautifully and has at least another 10 plus years of good drinking ahead. Photos of; Clerc Milon, their barrel room, private tasting room and our friend Jean who is their Winemaker since 09. Prior to that he was the Assistant Winemaker at Opus One for 10 years. He is perhaps the nicest person we've met. We are not the only ones to say that. He was nice enough to allow us to work the 12 Clerc harvest and scheduled a dinner for us at Chateau Mouton Rothschild. An amazing dinner accompanied by 76 Mouton out of 6L. Andy Warhol did the label. He also managed for us to have lunch with the Baroness the next day where 82 Mouton was served. May she RIP. Sadly, she passed away just short of two years later. The Clerc vineyards are adjacent to Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Love the two Baffoons on their label. Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there! Cheers. 🍷 — 9 years ago

with Cari

Kristen Grimes

10

Of all the comrades that e'er I had
They're sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I had
They'd wish me one more day to stay

But since it fell into my lot
That I should go and you should not
I'll gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all

Fill to me the parting glass
And drink a health whate'er befalls
Then gently rise and softly call
Good night and joy be to you all

Week, months, years will pass. But I will miss you every single day 💙 — 4 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

One of my very favorites!!!!!! Blackbird XV Paramour 2017 blend. Cab franc, cab sav, merlot. Black bird is born to fly baby!!!!!!!! Loads of black berry and elderberry fruit. This is followed by dark chocolate and smoke. There is a well rounded silkiness that tantalize is the tongue. Then there is a spicy, earthy, oaky finish leaving you screaming for more. See what happens when the bottle is taken away and you’re ready for more!!!!!!  Or someone over pours themselves a big glass and they dont even know what good wine is. You will SCREAM!!!! Im ordering more!!!!!!!!!!!!!! — 6 years ago

Diane Withrow

9.0

Inky and leggy. Deep dark currents, blackberries, hint of oak. There’s a sensation of bursting - the sensation of rich ripe fruit. The dust of tannin doesn’t overwhelm nor does the floral create a feminine flounce of near silliness. Celebratory without solemnity. Saxophone. Snare drum. A single alto female- singing I’ll Fly Away - Etta James- not a bluegrass version-this is heavier stuff. Why yes- another glass.... cheese? Dark chocolate? Yes! — 8 years ago

Bobby Gilbane

9.8

I'll fly a starship
Across the Universe divide
And when I reach the other side
I'll find a place to rest my spirit if I can
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again
Or I may simply be a single drop of rain
But I will remain
And I'll be back again, and again and again and again and again... — 8 years ago

Margot Mazur

8.9

Absolutely delicious and thriving Syrah. Fruity, earthy, really a great experience, and an easy buy. This is a wine I'll store away a case of for when friends come over. — 8 years ago

Suhel Trivedi

9.0

Loved it. Picked it up from Whole Foods and came away pleasantly surprised by its depth. For under $15 you cannot go wrong with this. I'll be buying more. — 9 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.7

@Paul Treadway @Ryan Callahan @Christine Wow!!!! What a freaking Rockstar this was!!! WOTN and I'm not just saying that because my buddy Paul gifted me this 1.5L Beaty!! He's permanently on Santa's list!! It's a wine that I've never had which is always fun to uncork since you truly don't know what to expect!!
This had many of the same characteristics as the Carter but it was so perfectly balanced in comparison. Huge lush dark blue fruit, dark red fruit & all without being "overly" sweet. The lingering sweetness of the Carter really took away from the overall tasting. This was firing on all cylinders. Ryan & I immediately said "WOTN". No questions asked. It was rich, elegant and layered with a minute + finish.
This bottle impressed the hell out of all of us.
I'm a fan! I'll definitely be researching to secure some for my cellar. Paul actually gave me a 750ml of this as well!! I'll be saving that bad boy for another special occasion 👌
Badass in a glass as I always say!!! 👍👏👏👏👏👍. Thanks Paul!!! I — 9 years ago

with Christine and Ryan

Ellen Clifford

9.1

F-ing delightful, Pegasus, take me away. Well first let the Pegasus catch its breath (aka let the vino breath), then hop on. Smells a little earthy as a winged horse is want to be, but take sip and the steed takes flight. Fly through hella raspberry…orchards? Descend enough to grab those and some cherries fresh off the tree then accelerate through a tunnel of (politefully chill) oak barrels and chill. Oh! But this flight didn’t have turbulence rather (abandoning metaphor) it is supes silky but while it punches with fruit and pepper it then smooths itself across your tongue like a lace tablecloth. Aka achieves smoothness with texture and the flavors and sensations seem to pop all over my tongue prior to my hopping on my metaphorical pegasus who is (describing the finish) descending into a cherry orchard (not just cause I’m doing a stage reading of Chekhov’s “Cherry Orchard” soon) and lovingly (as lovingly as a creature with wings and hooves can) sending me to find my way back through the barrels to who knows? It’s like I’m Alice in Wrinkle in Time-land. Cool Pinot from NZ I’d like to take another flight on a different Pegasus Air line. Just to see. — 5 years ago

Cody White

9.2

I love Steve Matthiasson. I love his philosophy and everything that he stands for. But I've always struggled with the wines. They are undeniably great. Very well crafted, balanced, technical, and delicious. But they lack that "magical" quality that would otherwise elevate them to top tier status. Maybe too technical? Again, I have absolutely nothing to take away from these wines. Wine "magic" is entirely subjective, but it's always missing for me in these wines. But I'll keep drinking because I believe they're on the cusp and I can't wait until that sip when I find it. — 7 years ago

David Shaw

9.2

Pale yellow white in color, excellent clarity. Sulfur, dried apricot, wood and cheese rind notes in nose. (Thanks to previous tasters, it's a ringer for the rind of a hard dry cheese like a Parmigiano Reggiano - all that extended contact with creamy lees). Apricot, pumpkin, lemon juice flavors, medium bodied. Crisp finish with lactic and citrus-orange undertones. Mild astringency across most of tongue. Pleasing balance of acid and alcohol. In the mouth, you get something a bit like the smell from the inside of a Halloween jack o'lantern (paraffin wax candle included) or an oven baked acorn squash with real Parmesan cheese in it. The 25% Semillon character comes through in the richer flavors and more syrupy mouthfeel. Elegant wine, makes a statement, or certainly reflects the winemaking effort. Not sure I love it, but it is well made and aims at being something refined and distinct. Give it a chance. Cries out for roast chicken or simple rustic cuisine, though I'll probably sip away at it the rest of the evening and think about autumn and shorter days... — 8 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.1

A lighter and delicious IPA. — 8 years ago

Joe Kaiser

9.2

What a wonderful wine, and in a good place, wonderful mouth feel, tropical fruit, with hint of vanilla, on the palate apple, pear, with hints of spice giving away to balance & finesse. Beautiful wine! Thanks David @RameyWineCellars! Think I'll take my double mag 05 Larkmead Cab to 4th cookout tomorrow. — 9 years ago

TheSkip

8.9

You know, I wonder if the truest test of a wine is if you'd buy it again?

Given the opportunity tonight to buy at a cheaper price than I originally paid, I felt like giving this a try. Unfortunately it fell a bit flat. The tannins weren't quite where they were last time. It veered slightly to the acidic.

I'll put away the last 3 bottles I have for a while and pass on further of this vintage. — 9 years ago

Tan Ernest

9.2

Still a beast at the moment, but after some air, hints of its elegance appears. I'll put this away at the bottle and revisit again many years later. — 9 years ago