John Maltese

9.1

Never had anything quite like it. Cava meets saison meets sour lager. Grassy, chalky, lemon, pepper, funky/damp forest floor on the nose. Wine is fuller bodied than I expected. Not thin n crisp, but coating while still managing to be lemon-citrus-bright. Super yeasty, very beer-like. Finish is an odd one, but I’m saying white pepper and car exhaust. So sue me. — 3 days ago

with Kim

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2019 vintage. Vulcanico is the entry level label for the Azores Wine Company. Heroic wine farming on infertile rocky volcanic soils where nothing else would grow with amazing results. This rosé is a multi-varietal field blend from grapes sourced from different growers. Very attractive nose combining fresh strawberries and red currants with flowers and iodine. Light and fresh with juicy red currant flavours, crispy acidity and a distinctive salinity and very good length. Amazing intensity of flavour with only 11,5 % abv. Fantastic value at 9,50 euros. Highly recommended. — 2 days ago

Mario Vaillancourt

8.9

Colour is dark yellow gold given 100% Pinot Meunier. Green apple, some pastry, fresh, fairly large and full feel on the palate, vivid acidity, not the most finesse and elegance i have seen in a Champagne, but still good given the soft price.

Couleur assez prononcée due surement au fait que c’est 100% Pinot Meunier. Pommes vertes, un peu brioché, belle acidité, assez large en bouche, une certaine fraîcheur mais pas le plus fin et élégant Champagne que j’ai bu, toutefois assez bien compte tenu du prix doux. 88-89 — 2 days ago

Mikko Tyllinen

9.2

Nice, refreshing beer! — 2 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#MerlotThursday

Deep ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Strong nose of blackberries, black currants, cooked cherries, cedar, licorice, vanilla, peppercorn, spices, dark coffee, espresso, tobacco, light alcohol and cinnamon.

Full-bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and very fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, light vegetables, licorice, peppercorn, light earth, coffee, dark chocolates, coke, tobacco and spices.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cherries.

This young Napa red blend is already drinking very nicely. Tasty with lots of coffee notes. Smells like walking into a coffee shop. Loved that.

Needs time to open up properly, I gave it 90 minutes, but longer would be suggested.

Nicely balanced, although a little rigid right now. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Loved smelling on it for a long time.

A good wine to pair with a big piece of steak, but good all by itself as well.

Still young with potential to be even better in the next 5 to 10 years. I had the 2013 recently, and it showed so well, so be patient with this 2 year old.

Spicy, tasty, delicious and interesting.

A blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 7% Syrah and 2% Petit verdot.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$50. — 4 days ago

Daniel Maquin

8.9

Organic and biodynamic wine. The nose is showing Grenadine, a bit of an irony thing (could it be brets?), cherry, blackberry and bit of heat. There is a floral thing too, violet and a bit of licorice too. The palate is rather smooth with a strong acid backbone, cherry and that Grenadine thing all around, not much weight but a nice width, a good grip, some drying tannins in mid palate and cherry, Grenadine and a bit of black pepper in the end. This is likely too young but pairs well with a roasted lamb leg. — 17 hours ago

ES Faiello

9.4

Gorgeous Stunning aromatics on this: soaring & decadent kirsch liqueur, blueberry pie, spice cake, cedar, vanilla, pipe tobacco, coconut and so much more. Deep dark dense and oh so plush, velvety soft caressing tannins and lubricating acidity. Only very slight bricking, this has many more years ahead: straddling the line between traditional & new international style Rioja - .2 bump for $20 price tag. Buy a case of this stuff — 3 days ago

"Odedi"

8.9

#kosherwineSunday

Deep purple in color with a purplish rim.

On the nose blueberries, black currants, plums, earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, light vanilla, tobacco, barnyard, licorice, coffee, vegetables and pencil lead.

Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, oak, licorice, tobacco, sweet vanilla, spices, espresso, diet cola, tar, earth, pencil lead, herbs and peppercorn.

Nice length on the finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very enjoyable Shiraz from Israel. Spicy and nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Drinking nicely now as a 3 year old, and will be nicer in the next few years.

Feels like a new world wine with a touch of old-world. Needs 90 minutes to open up properly. Once it opens up, it reminds me of a young Northern Rhone.

A nice wine to have all by itself, but better with food. I paired it with dried meats.

100% Shiraz grape from the Galilee region in Northern Israel. Aged for 14 months in Oak barrels. Kosher and not Mevushal.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$35.


#Hurricaneparty — 8 days ago

Severn Goodwin

9.2

Nose has lemon juice/zest on sourdough bread, peeled green apple, sugar cubeb and lemon peel.

Palate has salted green apple slices, oxidized yellow apple, yellow cherry, minor oak notes and crusty bread.

Initially my prior notes assumed this might be Chardonnay based, but a few years on, I'm thinking no...my goal for this week is to get the actual blend out of Bruce Murray, and I'll report back.

This has a long window, future bottles can be 2028-2034. (Note to future self, move to cold cellar.) — a day ago

Paul T- Huntington Beach

9.3

Magnum from K&L
Great QPR at $25.00 per mag
Winery notes,

beautiful terroir skillfully worked by Jérômine Paret and Philippe Garnier. Responding to the call of his parents, Jérômine gave up a career as an English teacher to take over the family estate. She then studied business and allied herself with Philippe Garnier, who has one goal in mind: to achieve excellence. She does not regret her choices today and her customers don't either! Thus, the estate evolves each year with new wines and techniques. The organically-farmed vineyards are planted mostly to Marsanne, and this is reflected in the blend, which also includes Bourboulenc, Clairette, Sauvignon, and Ugni Blanc. Fermented entirely in stainless steel and resin-lined cement vats, the wine shows notes of white flowers including honeysuckle, jasmin, and citrus blossom, while aeration reveals secondary nuances of aniseseed, eucalyptus, and hazelnut. — 10 days ago