Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2015 vintage. Light-medium body. Tasted via Coravin. Earthy, mushrooms, some very subtle spice components present. Old enough to thankfully have tossed the usual candied prettiness that marks this wine the first few years after release. Ready to boogie but no rush with this particular disco party. When we can all get together and ease up our mind. This is entering the proverbial villain phase. 2.11.26. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2022 vintage. Richer upfront in the flavor profile. Medium body. Almost smelled like Napa Cabernet which was a bit off-putting. Could taste the quality but it was just not putting the proverbial best foot forward. 08.07.25. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.0

2023 vintage. Light-medium body with a consistent palate presence. No über-demonstrative characteristics but no gaping holes either. Pleasant, pretty and unafraid to converse throughout. At $15.10 resto cost a bottle, beyond decent value with most red Bourgogne efforts running me $35-$50 these days. Picked up two cases. The proverbial cheap chicken and the nice price. 03.28.25. — a year ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.3

Dry as the proverbial fart. Lots of lemon, citrus and stone. Good but not excellent — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.9

A rich crimson in colour with a little bricking developing - a tawny rim. Aromas of cassis, plum and dark chocolate on the nose. Smooth and silky with black currant - totally balanced with resolved tannins. The proverbial iron fist in the velvet glove - great density. See previous notes - I’ve never seen this for sale in Australia. Bought this from Vinfolio in San Francisco and was immediately impressed. A world class new world Cabernet - just gorgeous. 100 points from Robert Parker and also Jeb Dunnuck - tempted to do the same - I settled on 99. The best wine I’ve had this year. — 5 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.3

There is an herbal quality in this wine which stops just short of the proverbial cat pee made famous in some Sauvignon Blancs. The nose borders on it, but it smells, to me, more like a bushel basket of fresh green beans. It rather tastes like green beans, too, but there is enough grapefruit and lime on the palate to mask the flavor somewhat. A very savory wine with a long finish of citrus… and green beans. Nice acidity.
— 7 years ago

TJ Young

8.9

Full bodied and quiet. Exogenous tannins run rampant, stronger than the sheer cry of a howling babe. The Franciscan monks who were exiled from a city of cowards and yes-men poured their heart into these last few bottles. Quintessential, proverbial, haughty, contemptuous. — 8 years ago

with Cass

Jay Kline

9.4

These were still the early years for Joe Swan. Andre Tchelistcheff was consulting and a young Joel Peterson was under Swan’s proverbial wing before he launched Ravenswood. It’s getting harder and harder find these gems so this was a real treat.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1975 pours, a dull ruby color with a translucent core and rust colored rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of bruised and desiccated strawberry, smoked meat, mushrooms, forest floor, and an intriguing mix of spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. At 55+, this is stunning and proof that California Pinot Noir does have the capacity to age gracefully when in the hands of a master. Drink now. — 5 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2018 vintage. Last tasted 8.26.22 (9.3) and 7.21.21 (9.3). Medium/medium-heavy body. Slightly less end palate lift than last two encounters and tasting like it is in that proverbial "state of confusion...er...transition." Would like to taste again and will give it 3-4 years before revisiting to do this justice. Pretty unified now without side projects and ancillary rabbit holes but something tells me this has another third act of mayhem and debauchery up its' sleeve. 07.09.25. — a year ago

Alan Weinberg

9.6

fabulous wine with the proverbial peacock’s tail, everything you want in a wine. — 3 years ago

V Holdforth

9.0

Terrific wine for the price. The real bonus was I bought it blind without knowing anything about it because it was BOGO that was icing on the proverbial cake. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

From the excellent 1986 vintage. Still dense in colour - a deep Ruby. Cedar cigar box dusty some tobacco, mint, a touch of menthol and remnants of black currant. Medium weight with inner strength. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove. In total balance finishing with soft pliant tannins. Always with these old wines there is the trade off between losing the exuberance of youthful fruit versus the complexity and softening tannins brought by extended cellaring and hoping you pop it at the best time. I have one of these wines left which I hope to share with my son, Hugh (born 1987) and his girlfriend if they can get home from New York for Christmas this year. — 6 years ago

Adam Eagan

9.5

Huge fan of anything Booker or My favorite neighbor. This is in my proverbial wheel house. Big fruit, mocha, chocolate, and paso’s signature minerality. Love love love!!! — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2015 vintage. Opened with a Durand, decanted with minimal sed, and tasted after 20 minutes and one hour. Decided woofer. Darker than the proverbial soul of a hit(wo)man...er...moonless night. Slight amount of initial, buy-in with the merest hint of tartness before slipping into the classic (arena), crunchy rock solo (go with your favorite-so many good ones) on repeat. Richness. Structure. Depth. Levity. Self-awareness (just messing). Power. Nuance. Another 15-spot wouldn't hurt as this be a relative infant currently and, in another 15 years, it's likely still too youthful. 10.05.25. — 9 months ago

Matt

9.7

Ah, the Main Divide 2023 North Canterbury Riesling! A delightful creation from the windswept expanses of New Zealand's North Canterbury, where the vineyard dances with the cool embrace of the Pacific.

This Riesling unfolds a bouquet of zesty lime, fragrant jasmine, and a tantalizing hint of honey, with a crisp acidity that pirouettes playfully on the palate. The lingering finish evokes whispers of green apple and a soft mineral backbone—delightful indeed!

The illustrious producer, Main Divide, is borne from the legendary Waipara Valley Wine Company, founded by the celebrated winemaker, respected in the industry for their refined strokes of genius.

Now, diving into the delightful world of Riesling—a varietal known for its versatility, thriving in cooler climates, and likened to the proverbial chameleon of the wine world.

Pair with spicy Thai cuisine or a fragrant duck à l'orange; the wine’s acidity cuts through the richness while enhancing the aromatic spices.

Notably, rated a delightful 92 points by Wine Enthusiast, this Riesling is, by all accounts, the life of the party—much like a well-timed punchline! — a year ago

William Paley

9.3

this is the proverbial mineral-horse-pulling-the-rose-carriage: drama unfolds, you know the story but it still entertains - 30 min in and the water drops, the flint arises, gets loftier, and the mouthfeel starts to make sense. prettier, too, in ten minute increments. a nice one act play. — 3 years ago

with Jess

Angelo Casagrande

9.2

Kind of angular with too much oak at first. But with some air and grilled cheddar- bacon burgers, this transformed into the proverbial princess. I like her. A lot. — 5 years ago

Ron from VA

9.0

The proverbial “5 Wood” to play when you need steady and precise. Wonderful 2 varietal waltz of fluid precision and Elegance. Not hyper-charged in tannin or acid, this super plush and refined winner was a perfect match for lamb sausage. Well grown Virginia Hamlet!! — 6 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.0

Deep and dark ruby garnet. Abundant nose of black cherry and pipe tobacco. Echoed on the palate with a stony mid-palate and a cigar box finish. Velvety tannins coat the mouth from entry to the medium long finish. Toro is probably best known (to those who know it) through really high-end wines that cost more and are less well-known than their fellow Tempranillo-based brothers from Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Darker and fuller than either, Toro at more moderate price points (like this one) let the wineaux experience Spain (and Tempranillo) at a higher level without breaking the proverbial bank. A great alternative to Cabernet Sauvignon (New or Old World) that’s ready for steaks, roasts, root vegetables, hearty casseroles, or any other “deep red” meal. Drink now through 2025. — 7 years ago

Lyn Farmer

9.5

Bright, clear ruby with a great nose of cassis, blackberry, violet and mint.
Beautiful length and finesse. Great impression of crushed fruit with hints of forest floor and cedar. The finish leaves a lasting impression of sweet red fruit and supported by a soft blanket of tannins. This is the proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove - just lovely — 8 years ago