Daniel M

9.0

R. Lopez de Heredia, Viña Cubillo, Rioja Crianza 2017
This is one of the many bottles we brought back in the trunk of our car from Spain and France after our summer stay over there. The nose shows dark berries, prune, meat juice, autumn forest soil after rain, oak. This is rather complex and layered. The palate is very well made and defined. There is a good acid drive, some nice dark berries and dark cherry notes all along, some width, some spices, a good tannic wall in the rear, disturbing ever so slighlty the mouthfeel by leaving a grippy, drying layer over a long, fruity, spicy finish which goes on for quite a while. The meat juice note that was showing in the nose makes a come back in the very end, adding a savoury, umami touch which is pretty nice, I must say. It's not at the level of the viña tondonia 2011 I tasted a while ago (and it costs only a fraction of the price) but it's very good Rioja Crianza in its own right. Not in-your-face, fresh and balanced winemaking style. Great effort !
90 out of 100 — 2 days ago

Shay A

9.2

92-93 for me.

Consumed half bottle at pop, then corked for another 4hrs before consuming the rest. No change.

What a beautifully elegant and refined ‘09. The highest compliment I can give this is that it was a simplistic joy. Some wines make it easy to get nerdy and command your attention…some wines are underwhelming and not worth your time. This was squarely in the middle. It was a joy to not feel the need to overthink…it’s exactly what it should be. No bricking at almost 15yrs. Decidedly black fruit heavy (black currant, cassis, underripe blackberries) with a sprinkling of raspberries and black cherries. Aromas of sweet pipe tobacco, dark florals. Integrated on the palate with good structure and acidity…not a massive wine, but it put on a bit of weight/length the longer it was open. Still sporting a fair bit of tannin at the finish, but it’s balanced. Drink or hold. — 2 years ago

Helen Arvanitopoulos

9.2

Wow. I was lucky enough to return home to aus, go through my wine collection, and see that the 2000 Coonawarra Merlot needed to be drunk right now. The cork had broken before we were able to get it out, but it's still an amazing drop. Just wow. It's one of the best Cabernet Merlots I've had here in Australia. We make fucking great wine. Looking forward to getting my hands on a fre mire. We enjoyed this with Charcuterie and cheese from Australia.
Medium bodied red with a beautiful velvet finish in my mouth. Get your hands on this gem. — 3 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

For my remote friend Severn. In Boston right now at Lenox Sophia. A great bring your own bottle Restaurant. An awesome place. Sit at the counter. 4 seats only. This 2019 is tart and fantastic no VA at all. Can’t help it E$M is still the unparalleled. — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2018 vintage. Mint, cinnamon, molasses, spent coffee grounds, cassis and orange peel compose the bouquet. Medium body but medium/big tannins. Orange-based tea and earthy finish. Meanders in an endearing manner with just enough richness to coat and mitigate multiple astringent flavors…and ultimately…comes into focus pushing a really delicious balance. Ignore at your own peril/price point. — 5 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

Chateau Yvonne Blanc 2018: Despite being youthful with a very bright future ahead is so moreish and delicious in its infant stage. Serve 10-12 degrees in your large burgundy glasses and even better after some time in the decanter. And most importantly, make sure to get som while its still available.

Dense concentration on the nose with grilled lemon, ripe peaches and nectarines, honey, blossom a very integrated oak profile and a chalky minerality.
A piercing and electric acidity dominates the palate and cuts through and brings balance to the a full body with a waxy and creamy viscosity. Pronounced flavour intensity with full presence through the complex mid plate. There is definitely a long and very serious finish but falls short from being a hall of famer.

A very smart craftmanship from the artisanal organic and biodynamic Chateau Yvonne, the Saumur Blanc went through malolactic fermenation and spent 12 months in oak (20%) new
— 6 years ago

Yoonjung Joo

8.9

Mike 7월마쿠. 소테른. 샤토 라프리 페르게이 프로듀서. 오래 에이지해서 스파이스가 느껴지는 풍부하게 달콤한 아이.

보르도 1샤토(성. 와이너리를 보르도에서 부르는 이름. 캐슬로 생각하기 쉽지만 그냥 집이다.)=1프로듀서=그 안에 있는 vineyard를 소유한다.
버건디 different producers own different parts of a vinyard. (도메인/자기만의 vineyard는 소유하고 메종/buy grapes from other people and make wine) - 그 지역에서 나온건 다 빌리지, 그 안에서 빈야드를 갈린다. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

When Caymus was Caymus!!!

It is good to remember the style of wine Chuck used to make. His wine from 2011 backwards. The wine I used to collect. I refer to this now as Caymus Classic. I have requested they make this style again every time I see a Caymus representative. Just 500 cases by simply picking earlier at lower brix and applying past winemaking. They under estimate how fast those cases would sellout.

I get they made a business decision to make a sweeter wine that will drink easier young. They get better critic scores and sell to a larger customer base. A customer base that generally drinks it like supermarket buyers…within the first two weeks of purchase.

Of course, 1997 was an epic vintage in Napa and this 97 bought weeks ago has been well stored and in perfect condition. I miss this wine as it has so much more character than their 2012 vintage & forward. So do many former Caymus collectors.

The nose reveals, bright, ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries that are just starting to reveal some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, dark spice, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets.

The palate is exquisite. It is all beauty with nothing bitty or angular. Ripe, juicy, lush; blackberries, cassis, black raspberries, dark cherries with hints of some liqueur notes, raspberries, strawberries, mulberries as it unfurls & plum. Sandalwood, old, dry tobacco with ash, baking soda, mid berry cola/licorice, some light graphite, perfect dark spice with some tongue heat, mocha, dark chocolate baking bar, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, dry herbs, baking soda, dry limestone powder, top soil with pebbles, slightly moist volcanic clay, dry stems, decayed red flowers, red roses and violets, excellent, rainfall acidity and an elegant, balanced, nicely tensioned & structured, polished finish that last two-minutes and lands on spice & gentle earthy tones. I miss their distinct spice. Glorious!!!

This bottle is somewhere on the other side of the bell curve and still singing. Still very sound. It won’t improve and recommend if you own, drink them sooner than later but certainly not a rush.

88% Cabernet, 10% Merlot & 2% Cabernet Franc. 25.95% Paladins, Skruggs, Wright-St. Helena. 52.15% Caymus Estate, Glos, Usibelli-Rutherford, 15.84% Sciambra-Atlas Peak, 6.06% Tambor Vineyards-Mt. Veeder.

Photos of: Caymus tasting room, tasting room courtyard, owner Chuck Wagner and vineyard. — a year ago

Shirley Cooke

9.3

I bought a bunch of different Prosecco to make ruby red mimosa. I taste them first to see if I like them just on their own. Will definitely buy this again just for some bubbles. — 3 years ago

Some Dude

9.1

Yes yes yes.

This has lots of wonderful flavors: it's crisp and refreshing, with asian-pear notes and even a hint of smoke on the finish. Very complex and delicious.

We drank it for a toast — much to everyone's delight. We also paired it with a gnocchi and Brussel sprout dish, full of parmesan and lemon. This is a wonderful food-friendly wine. Don't limit your enjoyment of this to toasts: make a whole meal around it! — 4 years ago

Beth Hamilton

8.9

Celebration time! The hubby is OFFICIALLY full professor. Got the letter from the university prez today. So to celebrate: cava brute nature. Aroma of pear with a dash of almond.. Zesty taste of lime, green apple, seashell and chalk. A little bitter at the end but I still like it. Good on its own or would be good to make cocktails out of. — 4 years ago

with Parviz

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 6 years ago

barak heller hayun

9.1

this bottle takes me back to Alsace.
i spent a weekend in Strasbourg in 2006 protesting/partying in front of the European parliament that's located there.
no wine was tasted as i sticked to self imported bottle of zubrowka vodka, drops of potent LSD (that were dropped to the tail end of the vodka by a really short vicious smiling man - true story) and local pilsner beer that i remember fondly that's called 'meteor' and came in large 750ml bottles(pretty good ice cold and just ok after the sun warmed up the last 3rd of the bottle).

and now... 13 years later. different tastebuds. but I'm still the same person essentially.

100% pinot gris

off dry officially but feels dry.

14% ABV

pale green 👀

🧀 rind, green apple, pear, very fresh lemon and finely chopped greens👃

full body. I'm guessing the rs helps to build it.
medium plus acidity.

creamy, tart and a bit fruity with added white pepper and maybe even ginger 👄

long lingering pleasent creamy 🎯 like tasty and slightly bitter 🍬

great wine, no doubt about it.
tasty and complex, plays with you and changes every sip, but always superb.

excelent vfm (110 nis). expensive but works hard for your money.

need to try the winery Riesling now.

had it all day on it's own while vacationing.
soft and spicy cheese platter could have helped but I'm too full. — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2018 vintage. Léoville-Poyferré-involved concern. 73% Malbec 18% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Petit Verdot 3% Syrah 1% Cab Franc. 100% delicious. Medium/medium-heavy body. Nice balance of grip/zip and sleeko suave. Can hold its own in a street fight now or be the scheduled, 12-round, main event in 2040-your choice. $28.85 resto cost on 3 cases. 14.5% ABV. Definite big red blend value contender. 04.13.25. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.7

Deep and ripe nose that is totally giving me Corton Charlemagne vibes. Ripe apple, melon, cantaloupe and pear. Gorgeous in its purity. Man this is like white burgundy mimicry. Gorgeous spicey notes and complex smokey tones and amazing mineral notes. Such an enveloping and evocative nose. Palate is so awesome. Rich and textured and so deep and this has those German iodine and hazelnut notes that make you think your in Corton Charlemagne. Ripe and unctuous and so forward and unreal marzipan notes on the mid and finish. Wow does this really hammer you on the finish and not let up. Remarkable elegance and large scaled but nimble. As this airs it gains remarkable aromatic complexity with pulverized stones and barely ripe tropical fruits. So complex. Rich yet tense is the biography of this wine. One of the best 18’s I’ve had from Germany. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

The origins of the Damilano family dates back to over a century ago, when Guiseppe Borgogno, the great-grandfather of the current owners, started to grow and make wine from his own grapes. Medium Ruby with aromas of fresh berry fruits and generous spice. On the palate this medium body wine shows flavors of juicy cherry and blackberry with notes of citrus and vanilla spice. Light tannin structure, lively acidity, medium ending with fruit finish. Nice value. Drink now, consistent, no aging benefit. — 3 years ago

Deborah M

9.0

Out to dinner with my parents last night and I was trying to find a wine that would make everyone happy. No it was not going to be the greatest pairing, but my objective was family happiness. I had previously opened a 2016 at home that they enjoyed, so I knew this would be a safe bet. The 2018 is drinking surprisingly well for being so young. While this was a nice bottle, it will be better with a few more years. If 2018 is your only option, I suggest a bit of time in the decanter.

Produttori del Barbaresco’s website offers a good bit of historical information on their wines — A cooperative founded in 1958, now has 51 members and controls more than 100 hectares (250 acres) of premium Nebbiolo vineyards in Barbaresco. Each family is in full control of its land, growing Nebbiolo grapes with centuries old skill and dedication. They produce a blend harvested from multiple vineyards, but in great years they will produce 9 single vineyard wines. I still need to try one of those single vineyard wines.

Facts: 2016 Produttori del Barbaresco. 100% Nebbiolo. Bottling date was April 2021. 15% ABV, but despite the number it does not come across that high.

Rule #4 Sometimes wine pairing importance comes second. I have to remind myself that not everyone I share a bottle with is as obsessed about wine as I am (i.e. my parents) — they just want to enjoy our time together with a nice glass of wine.
— 4 years ago

Some Dude

9.1

What do you want in a champagne? This one is livelier and lighter than some, possibly because it leads with Chardonnay. It’s more of a “Dance on your tongue” version, so if you want a deeper toastier glass, there are other makers. They grow about half of their own grapes, but this isn’t a grower champagne with that sense of terroir. But don’t take these comments to be anything but praise: this is just context. Choose the wine you want for your pairing and occasion! — 5 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Pale gold with tiny persistent bubbles. Inviting nose and palate of ripe golden apples, ripe peaches, and clover honey. Light and fizzy on the tongue. Sweet (of course) but balanced with refreshing acidity. Short-ish finish, but you’re likely taking another sip before that matters. The gold standard for Moscato. A lovely treat on its own, with fresh fruit, or with lightly sweet dessert crepes. Also a great pair with the exceptionally spicy dishes that my dining partner likes to make (remember, “Sweet beats heat!”). Stop fronting. You know that you like this stuff. Drink now. — 6 years ago

with Jay

Severn G

9.1

It's sunny and just over 30°F today, so fire in the chimnea time! First flames of 2019.

One of our favorite new (2009) AOC's in France, this is 80% Gamay & 20% Poulsard, but the epitome of 100% sparkling strawberry juice! So GD delicious!

One thing to note, last bottle is always the best, we're out of stock now, but don't hold these too long. We've seen bottle variation, likely best to track lot codes on the bottles and make sure your buying a newer version than the last, since we're talking about an NV product. — 8 years ago