Ben Allee

9.0

Quite good for a dry, balanced red. Paired excellently with The Heat (2013) starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. — 3 months ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $11

Bursting with tropical flavors, lots of pineapple and guava, almost reminds me of POG juice. Balanced with a crisp acidity and very easy to drink. Amazing for the price, I immediately went back and grabbed 2 more bottles — a year ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.2

McCarthy & Schiering, $21

Great Washington grenache, mineral and subtle oak — 2 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $50

Bittersweet occasion and went way above my budget to celebrate my birthday and also mourn Grandma Julie's passing. She loved CdP so thought I'd splurge on one. I've only had a couple but have loved every one I tried. This was a bit different, I'm used to bright fruit forward but this was very muted cooked dark fruit with a lot of emphasis on the baking spice and earthy tobacco notes. Incredibly complex - licorice, coffee, clove, tobacco with an underlying subtle dried/cooked dark fruit. Crazy smooth, but I'm comparing it to sub $20 wines that I'm used to, and you can barely tell that it's 15% alc. Nice tannins but I think it would benefit from a touch more acidity. I'm being picky since I paid so much for it but in summary it's one of the best made wines I've ever had, but not among my favorites. But it's still a great experience and I don't regret the purchase — 3 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.4

McCarthy & Schiering, $17

Very aromatic nose, cherry and almost like a candied orange and black tea note, very nice and inviting. Similar notes on the plate with a fresh acidity, maybe some herbs and noticeable minerality. Reminds me of a Beaujolais, but with more complexity than I'm used to in a typical Beaujolais. My first Bardolino, and if this is what they're like, then I just found one of my new favorite appellations! — 6 months ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $27

Complex fruit, not too much oak, really nice — 2 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.6

McCarthy & Schiering, $17

Wow I don't think I've ever reviewed a white wine because I don't really drink them because I very rarely have had one that I like. This one finally changed my opinion, I love it. Lots of citrus zest on the nose with a touch of pear. Acidity that hits you in the face but it isn't harsh at all. More citrus zest and pear notes and maybe floral, with a slight honey sweetness on the finish that reminds me of a really nice caramelized pear dessert. I get none of the fermented funk that I always associate with white wines that makes me steer clear, maybe I've just been drinking shit white wine before now — 3 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.2

McCarthy & Schiering, $19

Really really nice Dolcetto. Clean, light, well balanced. Fresh red fruits with that classic bitter almond note on the finish. — a year ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.3

McCarthy & Schiering, $18

Cloudy in the glass and nose of slight smokey oak and juicy berries. Super soft tannins on the palate, nice acidity, bright juicy mouth watering berries, oak is super well integrated and barely noticable. A little bit of anise sweetness and spice. Of all the Portuguese wines I've had this one reminds me the most of port. Absolutely loved it! — 2 years ago

Benjamin Shirk

9.0

McCarthy & Schiering, $26

Dark concentrated purplish red color. Tons of oak on the nose with raisin-like dark fruit. Tastes similar, lots of oak and tobacco notes that almost gives it a bitter quality, followed by a jammy blackberry. Very smooth and soft while also having high grippy tannins, really nice balance of acidity. This is a bit too oaked for my personal tastes but still really enjoyed it nonetheless, very well-made wine and was a pleasure trying such an unusual grape varietal. — 3 years ago