Bob McDonald

9.7

Definitely one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons I have had this year - also one of the oldest. What a beautiful perfumed nose - red florals, red fruits, mulberry and Spice. A well balanced medium weight palate with those same aromatics coming through on the palate. Smooth resolved tannins. This is the last of a dozen bought on release in the early 2000’s from an excellent vintage. This is living proof of how good Margaret River Cabernet is for top quality Cab. 2 hours later that beautiful perfumed nose never quits. I wish I had a few more bottles left. I do have a magnum of 1996 which needs to be drunk. 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. — 3 days ago

Severn G

9.2

2019 | Pinot Noir
Enderle & Moll; Liaison
Rhine Valley; Baden, Germany
(92-93; drink 2024-29, 2H decant)

Paired to duck confit & green lentils, a favorite meal for cats and humans in our humble abode.

After a mere ~13 month wait after receiving into the cellar, we're finally pulling a cork today. This really wants another year to unfurl for my palate. All the hallmarks of this wine are here; ripe black cherry, tree moss, dehydrated strawberry, damp cedar, past season rose, orange zest, slight VA but unobtrusive, medium finish, dried cranberry.

A very special/unique vintage for Liaison based on this commentary from the winemakers:
"Unfortunately, we had quite heavy frost in some of our best red sandstone vineyards last year and additional problems with hail and high fungus pressure, which is the reason why we ultimately decided to only bottle our "Basis", the "Liaison" and our "Muschelkalk" (shell limestone) this year. The barrels from the other top vineyards ended up in our "Liaison", which is ultimately reflected in the quality of this years "Liaison"..."

With the best of luck, this situation will not be repeated; so 2019 drink happily knowing it's a blend of the best grapes. — 3 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2008 R. Lopez Heredia ‘Vina Tondonia Reserva’ Rioja is a marvelous effort from this challenging vintage in La Rioja. The wine is a complex blend of Tempranillo (75%), and Garnacho (15%), with Graciano and Mazuelo (5%) that was aged for six years before bottling. The wine is might be showing a bit more depth and concentration than the ’07 bottling while the ’07 is slightly more geared towards finesse. Deep white truffle and wild blackberry notes combine with shades of cinnamon, orange rind and sour kirsch on this gorgeous bouquet. The palate is wonderfully viscous and concentrated. Layers of sour red and ark fruits collide with minerals, smoky terroir and shades of blood orange zest and peat moss on this simply gorgeous palate. Rich and layered, yet having a sterling sense of tension, this magical new wine will cellar well for at least another fifteen years. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — 6 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.8

Dark ruby with a narrow caramel colored edge. Moss and strawberries on nose. Medium body, dry, perfectly balanced. Raspberries, cola, and clove on palate. Spectacular! One of the two or three best Pinot Noirs I’ve had. 98/100. — 6 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Nozomu Takase

8.9

Nicely matured wine(20 years old), prune colour, all warm spice notes and complexity on palette — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

This is the 30th anniversary of this iconic Pinot Noir bottling. This particular edition was aged for sixteen months in 65% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose here is simply sensational ranging from cardamon accents to peat moss and black truffle shavings to bright red fruits and citrus zest that all amalgamate marvelously. The texture is beautiful as this silky wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. The seamlessness of this wine really entices. Dense dark and red fruits pack this incredible new release. I realize that I have written this before but this 2016 ‘Evenstad’ is up there with the best of its kind ever produced. If enjoying in its youth I beseech you to afford at least a two hour decant prior to enjoying this seductive, hedonistic Oregon Pinot Noir. Drink 2020-2040- 95 — 7 years ago

David White

9.0

A good value Bordeaux blend which has s a good cellar defender mid week and you not ready open something with some age,
It’s made to drink young and doesn’t pretend to be competing with top Cabernet from Margaret River — 7 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

I love what Girard does with this cuvée. Gorgeous nose of sour cherries, wet moss, flowers and mid season perfectly ripe cherries. Little earthy, feral vibe as well on the nose. So Savigny. Palate feels so alive and has terrific fruit and texture. Sweet, silky, gritty and feral all at the same time and has that stunning balance that is a signature of the 23’s from Girard. The best vintage here since 19. So fresh and sappy with great acids and remarkably sweet and velvety tannins. Let’s see what air does but man this is good on the pop and pour. Long, chewy finish. The energy here is top notch. Love the mid palate opulence here. — a year ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.6

Vincent Dauvissat “Les Clos” 2014- A stunner. Power, intensity and an electric and tense palate that is clearly built to age. Shows an intense seashell minerality, sea spray salinity, rock moss and stone fruit. Exceptionally long and concentrated finish that coats the palate with its seashell and ocean mist persistence. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

See previous notes from November 2020. Herbaceous is the word together with plum and blackberry - some earthiness with a note of mushroom. In summary - Herbal, Mineral, Bay leaf. Not the complete package like it’s more illustrious Wilyabrup neighbours like Woodlands, Moss Wood, Vasse Felix, Cullen etc but also half the price so good QPR. Tasted again 60 weeks later on 6th September 2022 with similar results A good wine that drinks to its price point. Not quite the standard of its illustrious neighbours. Not as much maritime influence? — 5 years ago

Rease Kirchner

9.5

Perfect summer wine! — 6 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

The 2000 Valbuena 5° is a simply magical Ribera del Duero bottling which is harmonious and highly Bordelaise at this exciting stage in its development. Taken from a good, albeit challenging vintage in Ribera, the wine is is evolving beautifully. The wine opens with a beautiful bouquet of peat moss, forest floor, wild mushrooms, and suggestions of wild blackberry compote which all mingle together marvelously in the glass.. The palate is plush showing off a silky texture and delightful mouthfeel. Bright acidity remains, as a light dusting of salinity runs through a core of black fruits with suggestions of black truffle shavings, cigar box, and leather tones. The exceedingly gratifying finish lingers long. While this wine is showing magically at this stage, it still has at least another decade of life left- Drink 2019-2033- 94 — 7 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.4

Cajeta nose. On the palate more caramel, mulled fruit, spice, mole sauce, and tobacco on the back end. Light tannins for a cab. Medium plus acid and body. Smooth throughout. — 7 years ago

with Susan

Mark S.

9.0

citrus acidic honey Nuts Moss Wood Margaret River Semillon 11 @, Dmar, 251012
Deep lemon yellow. High viscosity. Iron+, Pear peach. Clove. Petroleum slightly. Woody. Fermented. Matured Grapefruits? Nutty honey
Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M++ straight forward. Bitterness M+ Body M Finish M 14% Dry but Rich from aging. Complexity. Moss Wood Margaret River Semillon 11 @6732, Dmar, 251031-260211 — 8 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

I love this wine. Dark and sinewy nose as it goes for this 1er Cru. Blackberry, blackberry flower, dark cherry, blueberry, almost smells like a N.Rhone Gamay/Syrah blend from Cornas. Wild. Amazing nose. 9.5 or 9.6. Loads of moss and wet earth. Really complex and compelling. Oh wow, what a palate. Like an orb. So round yet structured, sweet and deep. Blue and red fruits galore and such high quality fruit here. Best one ever. Sappy and fresh with such intensity and explosiveness but that hint of opulence and roundness is utterly compelling. A wow wine. Sick stuff. Can’t wait to see how this evolves. Dizzying complexity on the nose now. That wet/dry moss is so stunning. This is genius. After two hours superb spice on the nose. Awesome inner mouth aromas, dark fruit and energy for days. — a year ago

Angela Brown

9.5

Stunning Chardonnay with beautiful balance of nuttiness and acidity — 5 years ago

Jean Kim

9.4

Silky tannins, fresh raspberry and tart cherry, earthy mushroom, moss, wet soil, dried rose petals. DELICIOUS. Keeps the palate intrigued - I keep picking up the glass to see what I’ll taste next. A wonderful collab between Raj Parr and Screaming Eagle. — 6 years ago

with Mark

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2017 Toil Oregon Pinot Noir is absolutely singing even in its youth. Shades of blood orange zest and peat moss combine with the core of red fruits on the nose. The palate is vibrant showing a great combination of tension and weight. This has a prettier fruit profile certainly than the 2015 edition, with pomegranate seed and Tangerine zest that mingle with minerals and the earthy undertones of the wine. This is highly elegant Pinot Noir. Bright and very pretty now at the three year mark, the 2017 Toil Pinot Noir will show beautifully for two decades. Drink 2020-2038- 95 — 6 years ago

Scott Clawson

9.0

Really good inexpensive zin. — 7 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.3

The 2016 ‘Gowan Creek Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another gorgeous bottling from this storied estate in the Anderson Valley. This Anderson Valley Vineyard is known for its steady coastal fog and is planted to eight different clones of Pinot Noir. The wine opens with good range on the nose with milk chocolate and sassafras to wild blackberry cobbler and red currant with earthy undertones that all connect in the glass. The soft mouthfeel entices here as orange rind melds with red and dark berry flavors alongside shades of peat moss and exotic spices. This is seriously good now but will only build as it ages over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2019-2033- 93
— 7 years ago