Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Tasted at the winery 1/14/25.

I did not take realtime notes. However, while this shows some nice fruit and drinks easy, it was simply not up the with their better vintages. It lacks some of the complexity I’ve tasted in their other vintages.

The one thing I do enjoy about the Promontory is they do not use new wood. Their wines don’t show much wood at all. Their Cabernets begin their journey in half small-medium oak vats and the other half in concrete. Then, moved into large oak vats that are reused vintage in vintage out for about two decades. The elevage is generally around 36 months in Austrian oak…time in oak can change depending on the what the season brings. Then, held back roughly another year before released.

This 17 was unaffected by the fires as they were finished harvesting before the fires began. I always recommend cross referencing a producers harvest dates and dates of the fires. You will find some good wines and well priced at retail or the secondary markets because many will write off the entire vintage under those circumstances. Cross reference & you’ll find you’re rewarded. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

A continuation of some 1981’s that I’ve been opening to celebrate my 40th and this might be one of the biggest revelations yet. Over the last 20 years of my education, I’ve had the honor of being humbled countless times by wines, both good and not so good. However, every now and again, a wine comes along that challenges basic conventions and broadens my perspective. This was such a wine. Popped and poured; served alongside an assortment of grilled fare. The cork was about as healthy I’ve seen from a wine at 40 years. It came out mostly intact save for a small piece that was easy to remove but it served as a reminder that I ought to spend the money on a Durand. The color is deep garnet with some ever so slight browning at the edge of the rim. There is some fine sediment towards the bottom of the bottle but it’s otherwise quite clear. The nose was immediately engaging and full of interest. Predominate notes of old leather, dark cherry, mushrooms, black pepper, tobacco, and sweet baking spices. On the palate, the wine was rich, redolent. A mix of dark, mostly desiccated fruit, pipe tobacco, and baking spices. The real star however was the structure. Everything was still in its right place. Tannins were noticeable though clearly softened with age and very well integrated at this point. The acid provided all the necessary lift and a perfect zip to the finish. A wine of supreme balance. The four of us who shared this bottle looked at each other in wonder and amazement. A truly special wine that has years of life ahead. I have little doubt that it will still be handsome at 50. — 5 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Enhance Your Mind by Other Half Brewing Co. is a triple IPA with an array of hops: Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe, Motueka, Citra Cryo and Simcoe Cryo. Tastes very balanced for a 10% beer. Citrus, grapefruit, a little pine. Very smooth texture. Elegant finish. Other Half really excels at this style. — 7 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Garnet in the glass with wet dirt, cherries, and floral notes. Talk about fresh. This baby is alive and kicking. Tannins providing so much excitement here that couple with the wondrous acidity and delivers a stunning package. Wet funk, subdued cherry tartness, and dark fruits on the palate. This isn’t anything like the other New World Tempranillos I’ve had before. Head and shoulders above the rest. — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

A light version of Other Half. Definitely sessionable, as the name indicates, and hits the spot when wanting something refreshing and a notch up from "simple". — 8 years ago

Tyler Felous

9.4

Half bottle shared on day 2 by a friend. What a friend :-). Just delicious. 10 yrs old and totally on point. Fruit is so present and delicious — 8 months ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.3

A gerwurz like no other. From high elevation, dry farmed old vines. More green melon, lemon, white rose, and lychee. So. Much. Acid. (especially for this variety). Stunning.

wine country 2022 with the boomers — 4 years ago

Panagis Vagenas

9.6

Half of each varietal is aged 12 months in French oak and the other half in American oak - very interesting. Rich and delicious!!! 🇲🇽 — 5 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.4

Cannot get enough of this wine.
Unfortunately stock is already depleted.
Good things come in small volume.
A great wine with supreme pedigree. — 6 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

Super smooth and creamy. A mango smoothie, perhaps. Classic Other Half. — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.2

Small Green Everything from Other Half is such a good, light hazy IPA. A session beer that demands a session. — 7 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.2

Gave this 5h slow ox then 1 hour decant. It’s made in the “old” Cali style of the 70s/80s, or perhaps Mayacamas of today, or obviously Bdx. Low ripeness, low extraction, moderate oak. Shows beautiful freshness and clarity of terroir and fruit, with nice secondary notes. This is a little unfocused at the moment with the acid a touch too strong. But overall it’s a fantastic and refreshing bottle swimming amongst an ocean of oak and extraction. I will pop my other bottle in 5 years. — 8 years ago

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9.1

Slightly tart blackberries and a suggestion of toast on the nose, followed by wild blueberries and creamy vanilla notes in the mouth. Finishes with a rush of zippy acidity. This shows more oak than other Bedrock zins I’ve had. It’s still terrific; I would just give the next one a few more years for everything to integrate further. — 8 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.5

man this aged really nice, blackberry, plum, other dark fruits, not much acid but still lingers on the palate! — a year ago

Shay A

9.2

As a lover of Solera/perpetual reserve wines, this intrigued me…as far as I know, this is the first Solera champagne I’ve had where the perpetual reserve is coming from the red wine (Pinot noir), not the base wine.

50 chard/ 35 Pinot noir/ 15 Pinot meunièr; 7g/l dosage

Faint copper hue in the glass (not a deep vinous style rosé). Initial reaction is this reminds me a bit of Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Rosé (which I love), but just a touch less layered. Very “big-house” in style. Plenty of toasted croissant, strawberries, and even some sweet spices. More red fruit on the palate but there’s also some apricot. With air, oxidized apple type notes show. The finish has a strawberry shortbread vibe alongside a classical mineral/chalk profile. I’m sure this would still be tasty if you cut the dosage in half, but it works for this wine (and the texture/broad feel on the palate from the dosage show nicely). — 2 years ago

Ross Fulton

9.0

Slip & slide — 5 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.1

Blueberry and peppery aromas. Blueberry, plum, spices. Fresh and more vibrant than other recent zins. Had with Vicia roast chicken and wheat berry sal and charred broc. Dinner was subpar. But wine was even better 2 hours later. — 6 years ago

James Forsyth

9.4

All Green Everything from Other Half is a terrific hazy IPA. It was streets ahead of others when it first came out. Now it probably lacks a bit of the finesse of some of its peers but still has tons of depth a nuance. A reference point and always a pleasure. — 7 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Medium purple color. Half Pinot from CA the other half from Burgundy. Cranberry, moss and baking spices. Interesting Pinot for sure. — 7 years ago

Norman

9.1

Not as good as the other time I had it a month or so ago. Might have been due to the service... Waiter breaks the cork in half. Happens to all of us. He then proceeds to tell me that it wasn’t his fault and that the cork was soft. Ok. Not sure I care, it happens. Says he has to decant it. Great, thought we would no matter what right :) Comes back with one of those tiny decanters, filled to the top with cork all over the top of the wine. Sigh. Then proceeded to pour very full glasses for my parents who are sitting there saying just a little please. Comes back a bit later and proceeds to top off the glasses and empty the decanter. Can I blame the wine for not having a good showing? My last one too :( — 8 years ago