Ray Vanderhoff

9.4

Primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (77%) with the balance being a blend of Petite Verdot (12%), Malbec (8%) and Merlot (3%). Aromas of blueberries, kirsch, violets, forest floor and cedar wood. Well integrated flavors of blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, chocolate, tobacco, and graphite. Beautiful notes of vanilla, wild herbs and clay on the long and earthy finish. Amazing complexity and balance! Medium-plus bodied. Beautiful creamy texture and velvety tannins. So good for being so young. Looking forward to trying this wine again in a few years. Thank you so much for sharing this one, Keith S! — 15 days ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

Quite Chablis like. Just 600 bottles made. Not super complex. More on the subtle side. Lemon and touch herbs 🌿. 12.8%. One of the the producers which are on the burgh side of the spectrum. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened and decanted about an hour prior to service. The 2016 San Valentino is a blend of mostly Sangiovese mixed with some local varieties. It pours a deep ruby purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the palate, the wine is developing with fascinating notes of ripe cherry, blackberry, exotic spices, wild underbrush, old leather and rich woody notes, some VA and dried rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ viscosity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and lovely and despite the concentration of flavors, surprisingly nimble and super versatile with the variety of fare on the table including sturgeon in a miso with noodles (it kinda blew my mind actually). Sublime. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 4 months ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Has some fight, bite, and spice. Dark persona, firmly structured with a core of sandy salinity, a little weight and tannic tension. Wild sour green strawberries, unripe raspberries, cedar lining.

Reserved, but punchy. — 21 days ago

William

9.1

A good rioja kind of expensive $45 — 3 months ago

Steve Rura

9.3

Very good Rioja. Classic in style. Red fruits, dried cherry, herbal and a little earthy. With mushroom and tomato pasta. Let’s see how it holds up on day 2. Honestly too hot and humid for this kind of meal, but it’s what I have on hand!

Day 2: Still great, but became a little pruney. I prefer the freshness on day 1. — 4 months ago

Ely Cohn

9.0

Fruity, austere, and wild. One of the few Rose's you could spot in a lineup - distinct E&M natty twang in a lucid cherry crimson glow, a little bit candied, sour, and herbaceous.

Wild sour cherry, strawberries and cream, and dark green rosemary.

— 5 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby/Inky in color with a wide reddish rim.

Stinky nose, as expected, and dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Full-bodied and smooth, with medium acidity and long legs.

Showing black fruits with wood, earth, vegetables, spices, barnyard, dark chocolates, tobacco leaf, tar, black tea and bitter herbs.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.

This is a unique Syrah from Walla Walla Valley. Rich and extracted. Soft and elegant. Very much 'in your face' kind of wine.

This 7 year old is still young, and needs a few hours to open up properly. Will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.

This Single Vineyard is nicely balanced and complex with a nice mouthfeel. Not my usual style, but very tasty.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it always delivers.

Wine Spectator 94 points. Wine Advocate 96 points.

Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of Syrah with a touch of Viognier. Only 859 cases produced.

13.8% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.4

94-95

My first Gonon StJo…unfortunately, I loved it. Wish these were easier to find at good prices!

At 8yrs, this was so perfumed out of the glass. At 90% whole cluster, it shows typical green/stemmy aromatics but it’s not the dominant note, trending toward green peppercorns, violets/potpurri, olive, and black cherries. Mineral notes, pepper, mix of red and black fruits, mocha, and so much verve on the palate, absolutely buzzing both days. This wine is floral and herbal but with so much power and balanced fruit…kind of a wild-ness to it that I loved. What a beautiful expression of Syrah. Killer.

Day two showed the whole cluster aromatics fade a bit, but it also showed the palate bulk up. So good. — 4 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.6

The full-bodied 2020 Cornas is a wild thing. Concentrated and expressive, it combines all the elements that Clape-enthusiasts rave about: a juicy core of fruit, ferrous gradations, crushed flowers, meaty undertones, rustic funkiness and an herbal edge. Remarkably round tannins lend solid structure to the delicious 2020, an instant classic that shows excellent persistence on the savory finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 8 months ago