Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Very Nice! A Fav! — 4 months ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

A day opened from another dinner, and shared during our cheese course. Honestly didn't focus much on this wine after the insane Comté and 13' Les Chalasses Marnes Bleues pairing. Plus, let's not forget about the battering of Rieslings that came before. One taste and I knew this just didn't have a fighting chance during the night. Too rich and creamy to match the energy of the Rieslings, yet not quite rich enough to match the 09' Lafon Perrieres. Nothing wrong per say, but it was just so average among the other wines of the night. Another one to look into again on better circumstances. — a year ago

President Obama

9.6

$81 @ Domestique — 3 years ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Slightly vegetal, stone fruits, licorice and great acid. — 5 months ago

Jess

9.2

Pale ruby color.
Aromas of ripe black cherry, spice.
Dry. Flavors of sour cherry, clove. Vibrant flavor!

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 2/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 4/5 — 9 months ago

Cory Kenny

9.3

Excellent wine at Sagardi in Shoreditch with colleagues. £200 per bottle. Paired brilliantly with the meat. Aerated for 15-20 minutes. Delightful — 2 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Virtual tasting with Texture Wines and winemaker Erich Bradley. Big thanks to @Joe Lucca for setting it up.

Anderson Valley fruit. A blend of Ferrington Vineyard and Deer Meadows. Somewhat surprising is that this is 100% destemmed. Based on how the Lucky Well chardonnay was so old world in style, I’d assume some whole cluster or stem inclusion, but based on vineyard location, they feel like the tannin can be easier to achieve and there is no need to increase.

I only gave this about a 30min bottle decant and while it was approachable, it was significantly better at the 3+hr mark. Initially, it was driven by a slightly syrupy/maple richness that seemed out of place. It dominated the other aspects (candied black cherries, potpourri, baking spices) but eventually yielded to a more lifted profile and added black pepper spice. Day two picked up where day one ended showing a more elegant and spice driven profile. I’d say this probably won’t get much better, but definitely give it some air. — 4 years ago

with Ron, Shawn and 6 others

Ed Chin

9.3

There is a kind of elegance to it that is so unlike a N Rhone. More mineral driven and subtle clean fruit. I’m curious if these gain weight with age. — 7 months ago

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9.2

The 2021 Riesling Poet's Leap is decidedly green in character, wafting up with notes of lychee, lime zest and crushed green apple. This flows across the palate with grace, displaying a pleasant inner sweetness, as tropical citrus and saline-minerals add a lovely tension throughout. This tapers off with young mango notes accentuated by a salty flourish through the long and crisply refreshing finale. The 2021 is so balanced and refined, just 12.5% alcohol, and at just under one gram of residual sugar per liter. (Eric Guido, Vinous, March 2023) — a year ago

Brian

9.4

Unbelievable wine, the typical Okanagan flavour profile that has balanced out over 8 years. Well worth the wait. — 3 years ago