Map Maker

The Paring

Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2023

I’m a huge fan of Matt Dees; the wine-maker of the Paring wines. The 2023 Pinot Noir sourced from Santa Barbara County fruit, is in the running for ‘best under $30’ that I’ve come across. Its color is a remarkably deep crimson and its nose is stuffed with smoked cherries and raspberries. The body is rich, smooth, and silky, and the finish (while mildly abbreviated) reminds you to get back to it. — 2 months ago

Beth Zitzman
with Beth
Laura liked this

Bodkin Wines

Maker Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc 2027

Fruit forward, dry, nice skin contact and crisp! — 2 years ago

Map Maker

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Rhonda loves, and says buy it all on chairman's. At total wine and Moore it is $17 before discounts. It is winery direct, so buy 2 cases at 20% off. — 4 years ago

Roar

Garys' Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008

A lineup of 10 August West and Roar Pinots, 2007-2011, all made by wine maker Ed Kurtzman, who attended our tasting! This one was meaty and elegant, my #2 of the group. — 5 years ago

Ira, Shay and 9 others liked this

Watchful Maker

Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Ice cubes. Gentle grapefruit. Kasugai peach gummies. — 6 years ago

Chateau Montelena

Premier Napa Valley Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Beautiful example of what put our Napa on the map! 2005 and could sit for another few years. — 6 years ago

Paul liked this

Chambre d'Hotes Rijckaert

Coteaux Bourguignons 'Correaux' Vieilles Vignes 2015

Favorite maker who brings soul & detail —a decant really makes it sing, this ain’t no one note gamay. Dry, structured, dark fruits ( not cherry compote like beaujo). — 7 years ago

Owen Mazon
with Owen
Ira, Jason and 3 others liked this

Arianna Occhipinti

SP68 Terre Siciliane Nero d'Avola Frappato 2017

Awesome funky wine - good acid. Fun friends. Great female wine maker. — 8 years ago

Foradori

Fontanasanta Vigneti delle Dolomiti Manzoni Bianco 2023

I adore this woman maker in the Dolomites, but my friends felt this white blend too suave for the setting (San Juan, PR) — a year ago

Jay, Ceccherini and 3 others liked this

Loring Wine Company

Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008

Wes Hagen, 20 year veteran wine maker at Clos Pepe Vineyard, joined our group and gave us a master class in Santa Barbara pinot noir. We tried 11 PNs from 2004-2010, made by Loring, AP Vin, Sandler, Siduri, and Brewer-Clifton. This was my favorite as well as the group’s #1. — 2 years ago

Eric, David and 8 others liked this

Watchful Maker

Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Delicious and well balanced cab, not super complex but very satisfying. Good value. — 4 years ago

August West

Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007

A lineup of 10 August West and Roar Pinots, 2007-2011, all made by wine maker Ed Kurtzman, who attended our tasting. This one was a bit faded so ranked lower than its peers. — 5 years ago

Ron, Josh and 8 others liked this

John Duval Wines

Entity Barossa Valley Shiraz 2018

Love, love, love this wine from an ex maker of the revered Penfolds Grange and instigator of RWT.
A gem of a wine that punches well above its price point. 18 was a good vintage but this is already drinking well with some development. It’s going to be stellar in 6-8 years.
— 5 years ago

Ira liked this

Doubleback

Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

We toasted the old Year with Doubleback’s 2014 Cab. Signed by both Drew Bledsoe and the wine maker. Dusty leather came to mind. Deep dark earthy flavors. However, they didn’t transition into a multi-layer complexity. Also the finish was not as intense and grippy as I had hoped for. So contrary to our 2019. Here at the end of the year where Tammy is concluding her mayor tenure after 16 years and 25 years of service to the community and the City. She received overwhelming gratitude and love from folks from all walks of life who felt she had impacted their life for the better. Reflecting back at the honoring we received at Capital Church (my first standing ovation I have received in my life ...it pays to hangout with the big wig 😄), the heart warming, full of grace and gratitude dinner with the Stake Presidents. The emotional, caring, loving, tears and laughter farewell event with the City directors and employees and finally, the 250 community stakeholders, friends and family joining us at the Mayor Tammy farewell dinner at Scentsy. What a grand finale. Cheers 2019! You have been fantastic and your finish will linger forever!!! — 6 years ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Jan, Tammy and 2 others liked this
Skip Smyser

Skip Smyser

She’s the best! Have a great 2020 and remember life is too short to drink bad wine🍷🍷🍷🍷😎
Tammy de Weerd

Tammy de Weerd

What a great description of the wine AND my last month in office. We love a great cab, love Walla Walla wines, and love Drew Bledsoe who was quarterback at our beloved WSU. It was contrary to our amazing 2019 - memorable, some mystic, full concert! However, it set our palette for continuing to taste, discover, and always try something new. Cheers to 2020 and new adventures with the best partner to live life with!

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2016

If I could use just one word? Intense! Still tight but the layers of dark fruit are starting to shine through the angular, lead pencil soaked tannins. Everything is super balanced and leads you to a grippy, lingering finish. Drinking it right here in the Idaho Mountains! What a life. Oh, talking about Idaho. It finally got on the map of Wine Folly! Do you want to personally visit some of the best Idaho wineries and try their outstanding wines? Go to www.spokenwines.com 😁. And while you are there signup for our monthly newsletter. Every month you will get intimately introduced to a new winery we visited somewhere in the world with exceptional wines and captivating stories. Cheers! 🍷🥂 — 2 years ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Jan, Andrew and 15 others liked this

Penfolds

Grange Bin 95 Shiraz 1991

95% Shiraz, 5% Cabernet. Considered to be one of the top 5 Granges in the 50 years between 1951 and 2001. I’ve always rated the 91 slightly higher than the 1990 which put Grange on the map in the USA when Wine Spectator made it their Wine of the Year and front page of their magazine. Nicely mature at 32 years with at least another decade or two in front of it. Black fruits of berry and cherry with mocha and dark chocolate. An absolutely smashing opulent wine which is made to go with Roast Lamb. Next one in 5 to 10 years. — 3 years ago

Stephen, Douglas and 30 others liked this
Bob McDonald

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Also drinking a wine like this is cause for celebration at the likely lifting of punitive tariffs on Australian wine imposed by China a few years ago.
Brandon Beldengreen-Karas

Brandon Beldengreen-Karas

I’m sitting on a couple 98 and 02’s, and will continue to sit after reading this. Thank you!
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge Premium Badge

My pleasure.

Watchful Maker

California Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Berries and mocha. Nice full cab. — 5 years ago

Benovia

Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2015

A good Chardonnay with a candied lemon rind finish with descent length. This vintage Janet was still assistant wine maker. — 6 years ago

Tom, Ron and 6 others liked this
Ira Schwartz

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@Jay Eagan Vintage? Thanks
Jay Eagan

Jay Eagan Influencer Badge

It’s 2015 - I used to buy their Pinots as well.
Ira Schwartz

Ira Schwartz Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Jay Eagan Very good folks, visited them back in 2008. Extremely gracious and generous.

Lillian Winery

California Syrah 2012

A great Syrah from an Oregon Winery, but the grapes come from California. Made by the previous assistant wine maker of Sine Qua Non.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, vanilla, licorice, wood, chocolates, coffee and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show some tannins.

Well balanced and complex with a great mouthfeel. Delicious and yummy.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$80.
— 7 years ago

Dr., Shay and 28 others liked this
TheSkip

TheSkip

I love this wine

Giuseppe Rinaldi

Brunate - Le Coste Barolo Nebbiolo 1991

The 1991, with 27 years on it, is a stunner. Going to brown on the rim, but with good fruit remaining and some tannins left. Earthiness does predominate, but still rounded enough to show amazingly well! A testament to the wine maker, as well as the importer and distributor! All in all, an amazing 9.5 , even as it approaches the 30 year mark! Yummm...! KNJ — 8 years ago