Brian Ager

9.2

This 2015 Russian River Valley (Sonoma) Pinot Noir is just hitting its stride and is drinking beautifully. Complex nose & palate full of stewed strawberries, baking spices (allspice & clove), alongside an enticing hint of tobacco leaves. A well-balanced wine with silky tannins and a vein of acidity throughout. Tasty on its own and a stellar pairing with arrabbiata & Italian sausage pasta! [1/30/23] ($51) — a year ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.9

Deep gold color. Aromas of botrytis, dried apricot, pineapple and honey. Stunning! 2014 wasn’t the best D’Yquem I’ve had, but it always exceeds expectations.

🥇 96-99 points - Wine Spectator
🥇 96-98 points - Robert Parker
🥇 97-98 points - James Suckling — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

This is a $30 retail Chardonnay that just hit K&L this week at $14.99. To quote Ralph their Senior Buyer who buys their Bordeaux wines, “The best screaming deal in richly styled California Chardonnay I've tasted in my 40 years here. When I tasted this here at my desk with our buyer Ryan Woodhouse, I said to myself, wow this is very good, expensive Chardonnay.”

The nose shows big, round richness. Lots of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice, volcanic minerals, good presence of nice chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies.

The palate is, round, rich and phat. It’s beautiful over the palate. Loads of green & golden apple, Meyer lemon, ripe pineapple, lime zest, some stone fruit with apricots dominating, slight notes of honey, caramel, vanillin, butter, cream, white spice with some palate heat, grainy volcanic minerals, good presence of; beautiful, moist, powdery chalkiness, hint of herbs with yellow flowers/lilies. The acidity is round and voluptuous. The long, rich finish is; elegant, well balanced, hedonistic and persists minutes.

Nice to see a newer release California wine at 13.4% ABV.

Drinks nicely even beyond its full retail price!

A little background on their Winemaker, Dan Fitzgerald. Dan cut his teeth as Brack Mountain’s founding Winemaker. Prior to that, he worked with Winemaker Bob Cabral at Williams Selyem Winery in the Russian River Valley, rounding out his trifecta of Pinot noir and Chardonnay winemaking. Also, had experience at James Halliday’s Coldstream Hills Winery in Australia’s Yarra Valley and Robert Sinskey Vineyards in Napa Valley.

The Sierra Mar Vineyard was planted by the Pisoni Family and sits adjacent to the famous Gary’s Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. It is owned by Gary and Rosella Franscioni. The vineyard has been in their family for three generations. “Mountain Sea” translates in Spanish to Sierra Mar. The vineyard sits just over 1000 feet and is one of the highest altitude vineyards in the Santa Lucia Highlands.

Photos of, the barrels this vineyard is fermented, WineMaker Dan Fitzgerald and their Sierra Mar Vineyard. — 5 years ago

with James and Christina

Rob N

9.4

Delicious raisin-y GSM blend. $120, 96 pts Robert Parker. — 2 years ago

GaryWEdwards

9.7

Robert Parker says it best of the 1990: “This magnificent Lynch Bages has been drinking well since the day it was released and it continues to go from strength to strength. The biggest, richest, fullest-bodied Lynch Bages until the 2000, the fully mature 1990 exhibits an unbelievably explosive nose of black currants, cedarwood, herbs and spice. The majestic, classically Bordeaux aromatics are followed by a full-bodied, voluptuously textured, rich, intense wine with superb purity as well as thrilling levels of fruit, “ — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

This Rioja Reserva is made from 100% Tempranillo grapes. 💃 The “Reserva” designation in Spain means the wine was subject to certain minimum aging requirements prior to release. More specifically, it must have aged a minimum of three years prior to release, where at least one of those years was spent in oak barrels. Producers, especially those from Rioja, often exceed these minimum requirements, but the labeling designation certainly helps give a sense for what you may expect to experience in the glass.

👁 This wine is medium ruby with secondary garnet hues and pink rim variation. There’s noticeable tearing.

👃 It has those quintessential, front-stage notes of oak, 🪵 cedar, nutmeg, coconut, and vanilla on the nose along with notes of lush cherry, 🍒 plum, strawberry,🍓 molasses, taro, toasted caramel, hazelnut, cigar, sweet tobacco, balsamic, olive, and saddle leather. This wine has good aromatic intensity.

👄 The palate is dry, with medium acidity, a medium(+) body, high alcohol, medium tannins, and medium(+) intensity in flavors consistent with the nose. The finish is medium(+). This wine is ripe, soft, smooth, and delicious. 👏👏

It has received, deservedly so (IMO), critical acclaim from the likes of Robert Parker/Wine Advocate (91 pts) and James Suckling (93 pts).🤩🤩

I have never had a wine I didn’t love from this producer – La Rioja Alta, S.A. @lariojaaltasa — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Pale gold color. Aromas of baked apples, lemon, vanilla and dried orange blossoms. Perfectly balanced, good structure with a stone fruit finish.

🏅96 points - James Suckling
🏅93 points - Robert Parker — 2 years ago

Charles York

9.2

Dark Bertie, cranberry, mushroom. Plenty of time left. At Georgia James. — 3 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.2

Deep ruby color. Aromas of Kalamata olive, iodine, pepper, wet blacktop and violets. On the palate, peppered smoky meat and black fruit.
🥇 98 points - Wine Enthusiasts
🥇 97 points - Jeb Dunnuck
🥇 96 points - James Suckling
🥇 95 points - Robert Parker
🥇 93 points - Wine Spectator
— 3 years ago

Tania Fabiani

9.1

Fantastic wine a note of cream and smooth ... with James, Adriana, Juliana first evening — 5 years ago