Norman Gennaro

9.2

People are harsh on the ratings here. This is a light whiskey with an apple finish. It’s exactly what you would expect from a Japanese whiskey. Not heavy power. Light. Easy to drink. The apple finish is absolutely there and is delightful. This is any drink for those who want something that doesn’t knock you over and has a fruity taste. I’m a fan with the right context. — a month ago

Dale Scott

8.9

Let it breathe, it definitely gets better (not that it was bad). — 2 years ago

Barry Shailes

9.9

Had this at WiTC — 2 years ago

Gage Orion

9.1

I usually am not one to run out to the grocery store and buy wine. But tonight, the wife and I were feeling lazy and wanted a frozen pizza and wine. I’ve seen this bottle before, but this was the first time I bought it. Vanilla forward, light and bright. Really a good bottle for $20 at food lion!! I’d most definitely buy again. — a month ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

Bruce Phillips and his wife were pouring their 2021. Talked w/ him at length. Very nice couple.

The 2021 showed well young with room for improving with 10-25 years in bottle and beyond. It showed some evolution, wasn’t all primary. Elegant, very well balanced with excellent structure and finish. Drink 2033-45 properly stored.

The general Napa consensus on 2022 vintage will be a story of did you pick before or after the 6 days of extreme heat during the harvest window. One producer told me his would add 5% of 2023 to some of his 2022’s, which is allowed. He mentioned that he was going to add 15%. But, I think he just misspoke? Get ready for an amazing 2023 vintage from Napa. It was a cooler, not hot-hot, which was a near perfect growing season for long slow even ripening. Some say a vintage of a lifetime and others would only say exceptional.

The Saturday-Sunday Pavilion tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine is an excellent four hours to taste a lot wine, taste curated dishes from chefs from all over the country and meet the people behind the bottle. These short ribs were one of the top two or three things I tasted at the Pavilion Saturday. — 9 months ago

garry post

9.2

Excellent 2015 Oppenlander vineyard Pinot Noir. Smooth, aromatic, rich, lively, black cherry, Plum, bright acidity, light leather and earth notes. — 2 years ago

Matt Schwartz

9.2

Caramel, sugar cane, maple syrup and vanilla — 5 months ago

Jerry Raphael

9.0

Very smooth and easy to drink. Had some hard candy notes on the nose and taste. — 6 months ago

casey Burnett

9.5

Gift from Matt. I really like this. Each time I have it. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

I bought this for the winter months and finished the last of it over the weekend. This is a blended malt named in honour of Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese Whisky. He was the first Japanese who mastered Whisky making in Scotland and brought this expertise back to Japan. It was an incredibly pure and rich Whisky with a certain smokiness. I don’t drink enough Whisky to know the difference but this could easily have been Scotch to my palate. 43% ABV. — 2 years ago