Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A proprietary blend, made by Founder and Winemaker Dave Phinney, from Chardonnay, Roussanne, Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Muscat, and Vermentino from California. Golden yellow color with aromas of tropical and citrus fruit and melons, aged, 25% in new oak, 60% neutral & 15% stainless for 10 months. On the palate flavors of melons, citrus, and pears, hints of cinnamon spice and toasty oak. Long finish, lively acidity, good balance ending with fruit and mineral character. — a month ago

Greg Gratson

9.2

Exceeded expectations — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Nothing to add to my extensive notes from January 2021. To reiterate this was the last vintage for the founder, Dr Bailey Carrodus before his passing. Just an excellent aged Yarra Valley Cabernet. — 3 years ago

Kristin Aleksandrowicz

9.5

Bone dry peach and strawberry. Porch sipper — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Giovanni Allegrini was the founder of the new generation and revolutionized changes to accepted practices. A blend of Corvina Veronese 45%, Corvinone 45%, Rondinella 5% & Oseleta 5%, deep Ruby with aromas of dried dark fruits, spice and herb, about 120 days of appassimento. Palate shows ripe cherry & raspberry flavors with fig, cacao, flint and mineral tones. Soft smooth tannins well balanced with acidity on a long spicy finish. Will continued to get better with age. Sustainable. — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This red blend from Columbia Valley is easy drinking and tasty.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with mild complexity.

Showing black fruits with earth, wood, spices, chocolates, light vegetables, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco and black pepper.

A good everyday wine to sip on by the porch. Tangy and spicy.

Good right out of the bottle and better with airtime.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and crackers.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$22. — 3 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Hey, Delectable— this is the Visions 2018 North Coast Pinot, but the ID wasn’t available.

Unabashedly ripe and warm, but with a distinctive umami flavor (hoisin sauce?) that I’m really digging. Black cherry, black plum and even blue fruit on the nose and palette. Lovely satiny texture. Medium + finish.

Hedonistic in the way you’d expect from a winemaker mentored by the Wagners, but the suppleness and umami notes make this wine stand out in a sea of north coast Pinot Noir, and the absence of new oak lets the fruit do the taking. Perfect with chicken lettuce wraps and haricot verts smothered in Madeira mushroom cream sauce.

Owner/founder, Mac Macdonald, has been making his own California Pinot Noir for more than 25 vintages now and it shows. Side note: he’s also one of the better story tellers in the biz.

Initially sampled as part of a tasting with the #AAAV (Association of African American Vintners) and took the bottle home.
— 3 years ago

David Shaw

9.0

Orange pink, dryish. Strawberry and floral nose, strawberry and nectarine flavor. Lush flavor profile but good enough acidity for food. A different rosé style — 9 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Ruby in color with medium intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, light oak, chocolates and light spices.

Medium bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, raspberries, light wood, earth, bitter herbs, light vegetables, spices, tobacco leaf, dark coffee and black pepper.

Nice spicy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is an enjoyable Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast.

Easy drinking and good for parties. Showing mild complexity with a nice smooth mouthfeel.

Spicy and entertaining. A good porch wine, too. Would be interesting to try it again in 3 years.

Shows light barnyard on the nose, that gets lighter after an hour of airtime. After 2 hours of airtime, it drinks more like a Beaujolais. Interesting stuff.

Good by itself or with food. Paired wonderfully with a fresh brick oven pizza with prosciutto, parmesan and arugula.

Aged in French oak barrels.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$36. — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.2

This is cask strength, personally just for cocktails. Makes a killer sour. — 3 years ago