Tom Garland

9.2

Charlie's(St Helena) Maitre De Chai(Berkeley, CA) wine dinner.

Limited intervention, old school wines using old vine organic grapes from Sonoma/Napa/Sierra foothills.

WINES:
2019 Maitre De Chai Mara Sparkling Solera
2017 Maitre De Chai  Heron Sav Blanc
2017 Maitre De Chai  Heron Chardonnay
2017 Maitre De Chai Stampede Zinfandel
2019 Maitre De Chai Gala Mtn Cab Sav

FOOD:
Canapes: Petaluma fried chicken, smoked St Helena sausage, Tamales Bay oysters, Angwin avocado & Regis Ova cavier.
1st: grilled escarole Caesar salad.
2nd: Jamon Iberico and Rancho Gordo grits.
3rd: Double cut wolf ranch pork chop.
Espresso martini affogato. — a month ago

with Brenda

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Tried this about a year ago, tried again, aged nicely! HALL Wines is located in Napa Valley and employs organic small-vine viticulture and precision winemaking. ‘16 is a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cab Sauv. Very deep Ruby with rich berry fruit aromas, complex but not overpowering adding a touch of floral and spice. On the palate rich fruit, raspberry and cherry flavors with sweet vanilla, cacao and some oak. Smooth tannins, great balance, long finish, a joy to drink. — 4 years ago

Rhonely Boy

9.1

Very enjoyable organic, old vine, dry farmed Mendocino Carignan rose. 11% abv, nicely balanced. Keep up the good work Jason Charles! — 5 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Definitely not white wine. Savory and structured Roditis with skin contact. Bergamot, quince, dried orange peel, tomato vine, cashews, hazelnuts, tannin. Organic. Dare I say this is a “classic” orange wine? Pair this with spanakopita when you’re feeling funky. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

Generally not a fan of natural wines particularly with a little age like this one. Jauma is in McLaren Vale and has access to some lovely old vine Grenache fruit. This wine is unfined, unfiltered, no added sulphites, biodynamic, no temperature control, organic, fermented spontaneously etc etc. It does have bright red fruits of raspberry in amongst the gravelly, earthy funk. A medium weight rustic palate where the iron stone in the soil really shows through. Low tannins Low acid. I believe these wines are best consumed when young and fresh. Certainly different. — 3 years ago

Scott C

Founder / Co-director SR Wine imports

9.0

Beautiful Xinomavro , from this group of organic producers . 6 months oak , vine age average 15 years . Red berries , leather , so fresh . Very good — 5 years ago

Ryan Kravitz

10

refreshing summer sweet taste — 3 years ago

Roger Ray

9.0

90 points from Wine Advocate. " A red fruit and balsamic nose, and a long silky finish on the palate". An old vine (avg age 50 yrs), organic, dry farmed, indigenous yeast Tempranillo wine — 3 years ago

Henry Fuseler

9.2

2/2021. Big and full of flavor. Nice finish. Paired nicely with the Pasta Fagioli Soup and the Mussel & Lobster Spaghettini at Gervais and Vine.

Bottle No. 03830 from 13,188 bottles. — 4 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.3

Organic old vines from the Sonoma side of mayacamas. I absolutely love Sonoma valley zin way more than cabs or anything else from here. History in a bottle and damn good at that. Very pretty fruit (almost old world in character - is there carignane and Alicante here?) wonderful wine and one my favorite zins of the year.... after reading more and more about California’s wine history, I’ve been drawn more and more to old vine zin because it is our mark on the wine world. I can’t imagine a better expression of Sonoma than this kind of stuff. Very cool — 5 years ago