Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This survived vacuum sealed in the refrigerator from last Saturday. Seems it benefited from its cork separation that long. 🤷‍♂️

I bought this two weeks ago and last weekend is the first time I’ve had this producer. So, why not make it an 07? I bought it for $69 two weeks ago from my new secret source. 🤫

Last weekend it was good but still fairly youthful. Tonight, round, softened, ripe fruit elegance. I like it this weekend better.

The nose is ripe, candied with just a faint hint of baked fruits; blackberries w/ some bramble, wild, black raspberries, black plum pudding, dark, slightly baked cherries/strawberries & raspberries glass edges. Melted, dark chocolate, black licorice, softly layered baking spices, dark & mid berry cola, steeped fruit tea, melted caramel, some eucalyptus notes, brownie, super soft earth of, dark, moist, rich, sweet soil, some light flinty hues, faint tobacco & leather notes, sandalwood with dark flowers and soft lavender & violets for days.

The entry is round, full, lush and juicy. Great mouthfeel. Ripe, ruby, candied with just a faint hint of baked fruits; blackberries w/ some bramble, wild, black raspberries, black plum pudding, dark, slightly baked cherries/strawberries & raspberries glass edges. Melted, dark chocolate, black licorice, softly layered baking spices, dark spice with some palate heat, dark & mid berry cola, steeped fruit tea, melted caramel, some eucalyptus notes, black tea, brownie, super soft, dark earth, limestone marl, moist, rich, sweet soil, some light flinty hues, faint tobacco & leather notes, sandalwood, moist volcanic clays with soft dark flowers, liquid lavender & violets. Round, perfect acidity. This finish is the definition of elegance, balance, structure, length, tension & and two-minute finish that lasts minutes. Perfect storage.

I expected this to be half gone and it is better this weekend vs last.

Congratulations Team USA on an excellent 2024 Olympics. Paris on being an amazing Olympic host aside from that whole toxic River Seine thing. Ladies soccer today & throughout. Shutouts 💪! Men’s B-ball delivering. What a storied career and a giant stepping up in the biggest moments is Steph Curry & LeBron James. Great watch. — 2 years ago

GV

9.0

Fix is one of my favourite Greek beers. Good balance of malt and hops with a nice light carbonation and flavour. — 3 years ago

Fish Tony Fisher

9.0

More balanced than an Olympic gymnast. Tight and restrained at first then opens up to blackcurrant, vanilla and spice. Lovely finish. — 5 years ago

Allyson Vaccaro-Pelton

9.7

Great blend — 6 years ago

Ryan Flinn

9.0

This was surprising in a good way. I expected a burly wine, like a burly NYC night club bouncer. Instead I got a lithe Olympic athlete. No fat on this wine - big but a balanced. Tangerine peel made a surprising appearance. — 7 years ago

Tobineaux

9.5

Light Flat Earth tones with a balanced an Olympic gymnastics judge would absolutely love. Great vintage. Great wine. — 7 years ago

Mandi Speidel

City Territory Chicago, Maverick Wine Company

9.0

Olympic Alpine Skiing — 8 years ago

Peter Isacksen

9.1

Good Olympic companion…. Smooth and true Pinot! — 2 years ago

Douglas Braun

9.1

2019- Vintage - spiced strawberry rollup , some Brett , spice , medium plus acidity , great wine to watch Olympic badminton - never knew it was so exciting . — 2 years ago

Kerstin Kothrade

9.5

A tipping point vintage in the Clare Valley and for some producers a year of Olympic proportions. This wine combines tradition and transformation. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to taste it again, 12 years later. — 2 years ago

Sarah

9.9

I’m an East coast Jersey girl hanging on the Pacific Northwest for the week, staying in Olympic National park for the next two days. I’m drinking only local wines and headed to vineyards later this week. I love this wine because of where I am, otherwise I’d just like it. Xo — 3 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has warmed strawberry, tangerine, apricots and wet roses. Quite expressive tonight, marked improvement from our prior several months earlier.

Palate has under-ripe strawberry, cool Clementine slice, (light) fresh cherries and wet slate. Nice acidity and refreshing finish. Decanted 90m.

Truly, Summer in the glass on a beautiful evening.

+

On the Lawn at Tanglewood this evening with the the Boston Pops Orchestra. Our Conductor Keith Lockhart is leading an all John WILLIAMS program, with Mr. Williams (hopefully) sharing some of his wonderful stories to accompany the scores.

The program includes selections from..Superman, Heidi, Jaws, The Towering Inferno, Memoirs of a Geisha Oliver, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Olympic Fanfare & Theme, JFK, Schindler's List, The Witches of Eastwick, Solo: A Star Wars Story, The Empire Strikes Back, The Force Awakens and...Star Wars. So to say we're going to be well versed into the JW catalog will be the understatement of the evening for sure!!! — 5 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

Label says Homestead Cider, Dry, 8% ABV, produced and bottled in Port Townsend WA, but “crafted from heirloom apples grown in homestead orchards in Washington’s Olympic Peninsula”. Pale yellow with green tinge, hazy clarity with pinpoint bubbles. Slight head after pour, ring of foam and bubbles persists on edge of glass. Funk and complex apple profile in nose. Rich dry complex flavors, difficult to pull apart but my initial reaction was “Wow”. Style is consistent with a farmhouse or craft style production, but very well done. Good stuff, rich, fruity and at times it does taste like applesauce (Gravensteins?), with an interesting combination of acidity, flavors and aromas, but definitely dry. It does seems pricey given the simple package and label, and the bottle is elegant with a resealable closure so it’s also reusable but yes, there is really great cider inside. Worth seeking out, and worth every penny spent. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

I don’t drink a lot of Pinot Grigio or Gris. I used to when I was studying for my Master Court exam as it was a testable grape. Not a varietal that lights up most palates.

I bought this to make my Veal Bolognese for tomorrow night’s Olympic watch in my backyard w/ friends. Thought I’d try it since I went to K&L to buy it and all. Had orders to pick up as well.

It’s not bad for $13. The nose shows the craziest notes of pineapple, topical melon w/ baseball card chewing gum. Can’t say I’ve strung those words together in the same sentence. Notes of apricot & nice chalky minerals.

The palate is round with nice waxy viscosity. The pineapple is overly ripe, semi-dry apricots, tropical melons, underripe Meyer lemons, hints of tangerine, inside banana skin, whip cream, tiny bit of caramel, has the same tropical baseball card gum as the nose but less impactful, light, soft, white spice that give a bit tartness & bitterness, sandstone powder, yellow flowers, spring flowers and jasmine, nice, round acidity, with a round, rich, well balanced, elegant finish that fall on dry earth and lasts nearly a minute.

Guess I enjoyed it as I poured a bit more.

Picture of the Veal Bolognese is still under construction. — 2 years ago

Ming L

9.4

The nose showcasing the perfectly ripen fruits with a richness and freshness. More cherry notes than dark plum that one would expect from Napa. Intense flavors glides over the palate effortlessly like an Olympic ice skater. Silky tannins lead to long soaring finish.
A young elegant beauty.
— 2 years ago

Chris A

9.0

Superb, sublime & smooth - S to the 3rd power. Has a fantastic ride from nose to tongue with a finish that is like an Olympic diver entering the water without a giant splash from 40ft…it’s just that smooth. I’m suddenly wishing I would have purchased another bottle. Mature red fruit, masterful finish and a lingering note that just speaks to near perfection. Buy 2 of these at a time! — 5 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

Explosive bubbles that quickly dissipate.
Very lifted red fruit and florals that make it hard to take your nose out of the glass. The palate is like an Olympic high jumper with ripe red fruit, cranberries and minerals speeding down the length of your tongue then lift off into a ball of vinous goodness. Young and acidic. My only nit-pick is the finish , could have been longer but that could be the result of the tightly wound structure . — 5 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.1

This burly wine paired to grilled Persian kebabs like an Olympic ice skating couple. Two bearded ladies in perfect balance and unison. — 7 years ago

Nimish Modi

9.0

At Olympic stadium in Barcelona — 7 years ago

Donna Liu

9.4

Honeysuckle, lilac, luscious on the tongue. Perfect start to the Olympic Games. — 8 years ago