Laura Purdy

9.7

Celebrating the Mr.’s 50th — 2 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Mercian – Mariko Vineyard Syrah 2013
Ueda City, Nagano – Japan 🇯🇵

Overview
From Château Mercian’s pioneering Mariko Vineyard, this Syrah is unlike any other. The 2013 vintage, now over a decade old, shows how Nagano’s cool climate shapes the grape with freshness and elegance rather than sheer power. (Educational note: Nagano’s elevation and wide day–night temperature swings preserve acidity, giving Japanese reds their distinctive lift.)

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry, plum, and dried cherry with accents of pepper, violet, and subtle herbs. Secondary notes of leather, soy, and earthy spice emerge with age, weaving seamlessly into the fruit.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with pronounced acidity — rare for Syrah — making it bright and affable even after a decade. Tannins are softened with age, leaving a silky texture and a long, savory finish.

Food Pairings
Perfect with Japanese-inspired pairings such as yakitori, teriyaki beef, or soy-glazed mushrooms. Also pairs beautifully with duck breast, roasted pork, or aged semi-hard cheeses.

Verdict
One of the most distinctive Syrahs out there: fresh, bright, and terroir-driven. Still harmonious after more than ten years — a wine that surprises and delights in equal measure. 🍷cheers

Did You Know?
Legend says “Mariko” takes its name from the Maruko region, once Prince Mariko’s territory in the 6th century. Today, the same land provides the ideal conditions for world-class viticulture. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2012 was a good vintage but was never going to age as many thought. That is not to say this 2012 is not in perfect form now. Still not happy the family cashed out and sold this Napa pioneer winery to a corporation that had no previous wine experience. As well, eliminated the last free tasting in Napa, which included their Maratha’s Vineyard. These corporations pay a top price for these grand wineries and then squeeze it. That’s just what corporations do. So disappointing!

The 12 is smooth as silk. Nothing that bites back. Fresh, ripe; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Mid, Indian spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, crushed rocks, dry twig, mid cola, brilliant, fresh, red & dark, violet florals, amazing acidy, well structured & balanced, easy tension with two minute ruby polished wire to wire finish. — 3 years ago

Martin

9.0

Unique barnyardy aroma. Hibiscus. Super drinkable; especially in the humidity. Almost like a wild ale. Can’t wait to pick up another bottle. — 5 years ago

Kirby Elaine

9.0

Very tasty light and not sugary Sauvignon Blanc! — 6 years ago

John Munro

10

Oldest vines I. Japan — 7 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.2

Great for margaritas,
🍟🍟🍟 — 8 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

My first Japanese Red! Blend of Merlot and Muscat Bailey A (A Red Japanese hybrid grape). Interesting ruby color with garnet and purple highlights and a slight brick rim. Aromas of red and black fruit and purple flowers. Flavors of red/black cherries, raspberries, strawberries, cola, and black licorice. Slight hint of vanilla on the medium finish. Low (but pleasant) acidity and light on tannins and structure. Well polished texture and quite delicate. A light bodied and chill-able refreshing red. Not overly complex. I found myself continuously reaching for the bottle. Very unique. Thank you so much for sharing this wine, John P! — 4 months ago

eamon gallagher

9.3

marzipan and double bubble. — a year ago

Jake Hajer

9.4

Brdx blend. 12.5%. Medium bodied. Elegant. Mint, earth. Smooth. This impressed a lot of wine pros at dinner. — 2 years ago

Neal Ferry

9.0

A late post from several days ago….Washington Cab, from Prosser, Washington, I worked on a freeway interchange there in 1978. The Cab, it’s fantastic — 4 years ago

with TwiLea

Chris Grimm

8.9

Lots of floral notes, and a little bigger body than I'd expect for PG. Tasty! — 6 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.4

Spearmint. — 6 years ago

Kristina A.

9.6

From Kyoko when she visited in June 2019 — 7 years ago

Jack Petras

9.2

Had this at a forgotten bottle in your cellar party and it was like visiting an elegant mountain resort that has not been taken over by a corporation. Old fading elegance — 4 months ago

Norman

9.3

End of the fiscal year. Long one but a good one so this is an exhausted versus drown sorrows drink ;) Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2024 (12 Year, 107 proof)

Nose is surprisingly light for the proof. Soft sweetness, light oak, and a hint of rye spice.

On the palate it isn’t heavy, but it fills the whole mouth. The heat shows early and stays present, reading higher than 107. Sweetness is there but restrained. More spice builds with time, rye-forward and focused on the tip and top of the tongue, with some grip on the cheeks. Oak stays light rather than deep or dusty.

Bit hotter than I’m feeling I want tonight. — 6 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.5

Imagine a great Cote Rotie, Cornas, and a Cal Syrah step into a bar. The atmosphere is all French but the ‘Mercian makes it interesting and overblown with too much density. It was spectacular, but if it were a bit more reserved, and didn’t stain my Riedel, it would have been on another level. — 3 years ago

Jonathan Wall

9.2

My ‘Mercian wine for a happy 4th! And these exploded! The cab was very good. Initial nose was big, but the mid palate was thin, even watery. Finish brought it back. Threw it in a decanter and 6 hours later it came together with black currants, chocolate, and just enough oak to backbone without ruining it. Meanwhile we had the ridge Syrah behind it which is my happy place. — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2018 vintage. Dourthe managed this estate for the Japanese owners (Mercian) since 2001 and finally bought it in 2014. The soils are somewhat atypical for the Médoc, with a lot of clay, which explains why Reysson has probably the highest Merlot content (92%) on the left bank. Cru Bourgeois Supérieur. Another great Bordeaux value. Black cherries and very subtle oak. Round and balanced, with the high (abv. 14,5 %) alcohol well-integrated. Soft tannic structure and good length. — 6 years ago

Justin Kline

9.2

Lots of fruit. Cherries and Apples. — 7 years ago