Ellen Clifford

9.3

Sauvignon Blanc in Napa is having a moment (or had it been and I’ve been neglecting it?). I’ve tasted some fun, elegant, evocative bottlings recently and this Gamble Vineyards example is another lil’ example of how malleable and exciting SB can be. I’ve “dated” about four SBs in recent months and like, I can’t give just one of them the rose they are all special.
This particular specimen has the tropical fruit vibes of passion fruit and ripe citrus laced with good-ol’ honeysuckle florals. The palate is like “surprise I saw oak!” And I was like “I didn’t know we were seeing other people but cool cool” especially as it is well integrated and subtle oak, rounding out the corners and ballasting the further citrus on the palate. I’m not saying forget CAB Sauvignon from Napa but give the Sauvignon BLANC a swirl. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.6

We pulled this from our cellar and brought it to V. Mertz for dinner. We enjoyed a couple of other wines as aperitifs and then ultimately did what anyone given the opportunity should do: pair it with lamb chops. We poured it into a decanter while we enjoyed the conversation and opening courses. Given the setting, there were no formal notes however, I can confidently report that the 2015 “Tintot” absolutely slaps. From the first sip to the last, it was all balance, power and class. It was also a spectacular showcase for Mourvèdre. It was hard to fully judge color because the lighting was so low but it appeared to be nearly opaque. A touch feral with a slightly gamey element to it but there’s a great big ol’ basket of black and blue fruits with red and purple flowers, garrigue, some black pepper and cedar chest. Structure is still quite firm but totally enjoyable. While this is an unusual assemblage for the region, it still comes across as a wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This was my first “Tintot” and it has left quite the impression. Drink now with an hour decant or over the next 7-10 years. P.S. it probably goes without saying, but the pairing with lamb chops was sublime. — 4 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

Very solid Loire Sauvignon Blanc. Steep Hill Importer-I like their portfolio as seems to emphasize true to type varietals. Nothing flashy, just good ol fashioned terroir. — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Not always my favourite on the table, but always solid. Dassai's like the Penfolds of sake - producing high quality beverages at a scale that's accessible to the multitude. In 2013, Asahi Shuzo, Dassai's brewery, sold 1.14 million bottles of sake, which is peanuts compared to what Treasury does, but no mean feat in a struggling sake industry. For me, Dassai is at least large enough to have reached little ol' Kuching, and to have been one of my first encounters with a Junmai Daiginjo.

I've always found Dassai's quite rich and it's no different here. Exotic nose of melons, pineapple, candied fruits even. Palate's like a fruit punch, plush but toned back by herbaceous notes and some acidity. Clean, lengthy finish. Very approachable. The best drink on the table this time. — 7 years ago

Sam T

9.1

Big ol’ Cali Can blend. Ripe cherries — 8 years ago

Bromento Mori

9.8

Rich as a draught of poppies. Slithers across the palate with dope secondary & tertiary notes the way the Grinch be slithering across your floor to steal your Crimbo. This here is wrought, right and got the stink, stank, and the stink.

TL;DR this here a Beethoven wine. Got power, guts, the deep sadness and all the joy. Krug go on eat ya heart out, but when I need that big ol deep bottle, this the King. — 8 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

May not have the character of say a Baudry or Raffault Chinon, but still a profoundly true-to-terroir Chinon with all that fine grained dark berry earthiness, low on the funko-meter, & just plain ol’ low alcohol fun. Paired with brunch cheesy egg casserole of Gruyère, nutmeg, Parmesan etc that soaks overnight in Half & Half. — 2 years ago

Donald Williams

9.6

Tempranillo blend only tells part of the story. No telling what else is in there, but it sure works. — 3 years ago

with Bonnie

Stephanie giometti

10

For making partner! — 4 years ago

Adel K

10

My favorite! — 7 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.3

A solid performance as always from ye good ol’ Petruccino and a great expression of the diversity that Sangiovese can provide. 15% alcohol by reading the label, but only a bit warming, instead it brings texture that is well encapsuled by the dense fruit profile without loosing its freshness, superbly textured tannins and a vigourating acidity is drivning the wine forward with an athletic posture. Luxurious nose where the perfectly placed oak profile is well nurtured by the suave and dense fruit over a stony and stimulating background. — 7 years ago

Jay Liddell

9.0

Having a Gran ol' time in Buenos Aires... — 7 years ago

with Stefanie

David Hale Smith

9.3

Yes Yakima! Big ol Syrah — 8 years ago

Jeffrey Vlasic

9.7

Ol’ faithful. — 3 years ago

with Michael

Wulf Losee

9.0

2018 opened December 2023. Cool notes dominate the nose. I want to call the scent that I detect as spearmint, but it doesn’t have the spiciness of a mint— just the coolness. Menthol without the ‘ol? Hint of ripe cherries underneath its chill façade. The cherries and the mint continue  their theme on the front of the palate.  Light to medium tannic structure that expresses itself towards the finish. Kinda weak on the mid-palate, but that’s a momentary lapse. It ends with a medium-long bitter finish that mostly consists of mildly bitter volcanic high notes. I drinking this along side, a beef stew with lots of carrots, brussels sprouts, and some leftover bacon in it. I’m not much on wine pairing, but this compliments, my stew perfectly. — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

What a deal/qpr -& released with some age. Persistent cherry life savers, some gamey notes. I used a big ol Pinot Noir glass for first time, kinda fun. Day 2 notes: so much deeper & nuanced, with the cherry life savers giving way to a meatier, meaner body. The QPR is now glowing. — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Good ‘ol reliable Dassai 50 — 7 years ago

Kevin Løk

9.1

Ol @Sam Shepard got me on a Pinot kick. This is very solid. Light bodied and earthy. Muted fruit with meaty tannins. Nice offering from Santa Barbara. — 7 years ago

with Caroline

Dave Genevro

9.4

Crunchy almost snappy red berries, sticks and earth and a nice salty character at the finish...Overshooting it’s $15 price tag by far. Good Ol’ School Sangiovese! — 8 years ago

ESF

8.9

Pretty solid: has the typical Right Bank swagger, rich dark fruit- lot of plum, some smoky graphite notes, very tightly wound and rigidly structured. This has a lot more time and if you drink now, decant for a couple of hours and serve alongside a big ol steak — 9 years ago