Conrad Green

9.7

This is all it’s meant to be. Great deep fruit. Some tar and tobacco and iron and gnarly pure fruit. So complex and involved. A punch of salinity and iodine on the finish. Great — a month ago

with BOT, Matt and 1 other

Marcus Chacos

9.0

Possibly the most balanced Chardonnay I've ever tasted. At $35, it represents great value. It is dry and simultaneous rich with flavour. A sweetness that is not overbearing, and a an ability to hold its own with or without food.

For a couple where one person really likes their dry, and someone that is less,partial to a dry wine, it is something that can be shared and enjoyed and really valued. — 10 months ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

DARK, slightly clingy purple. Inviting nose and medium full palate of baked plum and blueberry compote. Dusty medium tannins and medium acidity. What Merlot was meant to be. A fine accompaniment to beef in all formats from meatloaf to filet. Drink now through 2030. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This bottle was one in a brace of Brunellos, generously shared and curated by our friend Tim.

Served blind after a lengthy slow-ox, I knew we were drinking Brunello di Montalcino but that’s it. Visually, there were no obvious signs of age. Initially quite reticent, I found this slow to come around but after an hour or so in the glass, it became quite the charmer! Tart cherries, black tea, earth and minerals. Long, lip smacking finish. Great balance. Seemed ultra traditional to me.

Revealed to be a 1997 “La Palazzetta” Riserva. There seemed to be a youthfulness about this wine that belied its 23 years of age. I have little doubt that we’ll stores examples will be drinking well in 2030. Killer with meal of certified Piedmontese eye of ribeye and simple pasta with red sauce. — 6 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Smells of sweet grass and a barnyard.

A large strapping wine, both in mouthfeel, and heft.
Minty, gravelly, horehound, sweet grass, herbaceous and savory cracked pepper.
This is a meal on its own, throw the food away now, this is meant to be acknowledged solo.
Heard. — 6 years ago

JeremyC

9.4

The last of these 12's. Was getting nervous it could be close to post peak but.....wow! Intense, balanced, complex acidity, oak, fruit. A wine that makes you consider qualities of Burg and Rhone tho this btl perhaps not AS MUCH as the last. Very old world in nature. Could hv waited but very happy to hv enjoyed it and shared. Wnehse. — 7 years ago

Thomas McKee

9.2

A magnum for a special night to be shared with the wonderful staff at Sorella. — 8 years ago

Mark LaClair

9.8

My first Amarone was this 2006. 20 years age might just be the sweet spot. Deep, dark, inky garnet with fig, prune, raisin on the nose. Smooth texture, ripe tannins, more dark fruit on the pallet leaning into tertiary notes. Shared in my wine class how the Appassimento method is used to dry the grapes, concentrating the flavors prior to fermentation. This was a treat for all of us. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2021 “Date Night…” Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby purple with an impenetrable core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of black fruit: blackberries, black plum, black currants, purple flowers, some tobacco, vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. While this is meant to be their workhorse wine, it’s got plenty of stuffing for aging and I think this vintage would appreciate some cellar time. Already tasty though. Drink now through 2036. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind; cloudy in the glass, sediment?…almost opaque but not quite. Color a deep ruby with a slightly lighter rim. Aromas of red and dark fruits with baking spice and damp forest floor. On the palate, very generous black and red fruit with baking spice, earth and leather. Apparent use of some new French oak. Medium plus alcohol, medium acid. Tannins are soft and integrated. Long, immensely satisfying finish. Most thought it had 5-10 years of age on it; Napa or Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon. Some thought Southern Rhone…noting that it shared some similarities in profile to Pegau and Rayas (!!!). Everyone swooned with it was revealed to be 2007 Rafanelli Zinfandel. FWIW, this wine has many years ahead of it. — 6 years ago

Fiona Crambrook

9.1

Grenache made like its meant to be, light, addictive and soul warming. If you ever need an excuse to open a red to make the day fade away fast, then this is your wine. AU$25. — 6 years ago

Stuart Pollack

9.2

Powerful, deep Brunello. Brooding with prune and plum and some licorice. Meant to be consumed with steak. The wine itself tastes like blood, so steak just adds to it. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Enjoyed while cleaning out the boss' cellar. Say what you want about this wine, but the one thing you can say is that this wine is incredibly consistent. This wine reminds me of the family uncle who always gives you some silver dollars at Christmas...even though you are now a grown adult. And if you actually listen to his crazy advice on investing when you were a kid, you just might be able to be that Uncle when you grow up. This wine is a thoroughbred. Meant to be consumed at least after 10 years. And this wine is in a really good spot. The nose does show a tiny bit of age as does the palate. This is front-loaded with slightly aged blackberry and a bit brambly. This wine smoothed out quite a bit over 3 hours. Finish with very nice integration, a hint of stiff oak tannin but a lot of it has resolved. Very enjoyable. This wine still has another 10 or 15 years left. — 7 years ago

Ronald LaMascus

9.2

Now this is Pinot Noir the way it was meant to be! Floral, more subtle and less in your face like Meomi or Belle Glos. The nose is shy upon opening but after a couple of decanter days, it’s really come alive! Excellent with pork or salmon and turkey, it’s great for sipping or pairing. The mouthfeel is excellent and the flavors linger long after your last sip. Never thought California Pinot could be so authentic tasting. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. Although this is Godello from Bierzo, this was meant to be a fun counter example to Sketch which is arguably a bit unique when it comes to Raul Pérez’s typical style. The 2020 “La Claudina” pours a deeper straw color with notes of lemons, grapefruit, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts (yeah, it’s definitely more in the oxidative style) and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and saline with a slightly sherried, creamy texture. Charming stuff and definitely something I would like to track over time. Enjoy now through 2035. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a several hour period. No formal notes. I figured this would be a baby and it certainly was. At this point, everything is wound up into a tight coil. The nose is loaded with dark crunchy fruits, green bell pepper, tobacco, dried Italian herbs, aromatic wood and light baking spices. On the palate, the fruit is super fresh. This comes across elegant however the structure is pretty significant; the acid in particular with the tannin being a bit more on the sneaky side. I drank alongside the 2018 Beta “Maus” and while the nose on the San Leonardo was a bit more exotic, these shared a lot of similarities from a body, texture and structure standpoint. I expect this will begin to show better after 2026 however, I have no plans to touch my remaining bottle until after 2030. Patience will be handsomely rewarded. — 3 years ago

Chris Blanchard

9.1

2009 vintage opened July 26th, 2020. After all this time and given Mexican wines are not necessarily meant to be laid down for much if any time...I have to say I really enjoyed it. It took longer to open than expected but it was worth the wait and a real gift. Love the dark cherry, plum, oak and earth notes. — 6 years ago

Dan Weisshaar

9.2

Lovely acidity, endless finish, nutty citrusy balanced beauty. Not to be shared with a cheap date, but with a keeper. — 7 years ago

with Lyle and Matthew

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

No detailed notes as we were at dinner with friends. Three Somm’s present for dinner and all thought this was wine of the night. I was one of them.

I believe their 15 is even better than their fantastic 2010.

If you are not familiar with this producer & terroir, I highly recommend you do. It remains under most consumers radar. I should probably stay silent on it as it will only drive up demand and price. But, good wine is meant to be shared with people who know how to appreciate it. This is around $55 on pre-arrival and $70ish if not bought on pre-arrival.

Olivier Lamy left the family Domaine to learn from other producers before returning to his family Domaine. He made Méo-Camuzet for few years just before his return.

The body was thick and slightly waxy. Nice green apple, pineapple, lime, honeysuckle, fruit blossoms with excellent round acidity, texture, elegant and well polished finish.

Recommend you slightly over chill it and decant it for an hour if you drink it this young. After it hour, it really blossoms.

Photos of, the Domaine property, Saint-Aubin Vineyard, amazing Saint-Aubin Chardonnay grapes and Domaine building sign — 7 years ago

Balakrishna Narasimhan

9.0

Excellent, Chardonnay as it was meant to be. — 8 years ago