Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

Darker than the Muschelkalk with more weight. The M. is grown on Mussel based limestone. This is grown on red sandstone. Like the one used for the Cathedral in Freiburg. Much more approachable then the M. Dark cherries, turmeric, black tea, elderberry, hint black currant. I don’t know but - i just feel sorry for the many people who never had a chance to try these wines. The Muschelkalk is often limited to 1-2 barrels and the Buntsandstein to 3-4. The Liason their mid level wines are more broadly available and also very good. Will be at the winery in May for a barrel tasting. A ridiculous value for the money if you can find it. — 3 months ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

We found this to be excellent…. Matched well with Meatballs & Sauce….. — a year ago

with TwiLea

Tom Casagrande

9.4

Another very elegant, balanced, complex, and distinctive Syrah from The Rocks district. Sultry color. The nose is extraordinary and so “The Rocks”: tobacco leaf, asparagus, fire pit, sandstone, with the ripe berry ooze fruit in the background. On the palate, it’s so soft and enveloping, with dark ripe berries shot-through with crushed smoky rocks. Though it’s not heavy or jammy, texturally it coats the palate and won’t leave. So good. What I love about this small and unique district is that it shows, almost more than any region I can name, the effect of geology on wine. Rhône varietals, especially Syrah, grown here are unlike anything else I’ve ever tasted. I just hope that global warming doesn’t wreck things here. — 2 years ago

Martinez

8.9

Gewurztraminer from the Zinnkoepflé Grand Cru - known for producing exceptional, very aromatic Gewurztraminer. Located above the villages of Soultzmatt and Westhalten (west of Colmar), the Zinnkoepflé takes its name from “Sonne Koepflé” - the local name given to small circular marine fossils found in its
predominantly sandstone-limestone soils (some examples on display at the winery). Fragrant, round, smooth. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Perfect pair with Christina’s Bolognese Sauce.

Italian red are so astringent w/o this kind of age. At this age, it shows its bright fruits rather than all wood plank and barrel toast young. It takes this kind of age to shine. Roughly 18 years in bottle and it is near its peak.

Bright, ripe, floral; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, touch of plum. Dry herbs-sage lead, bay leaf, moist, grey, volcanic clay, sandstone, sandalwood, light dry, tobacco notes, dry brush, dry top soil, powdery dry rocks, some cola, cocoa powder, dark spice, baking spices- clove, light nutmeg, touch of cinnamon, light vanillin, withering red roses, excellent acidity, perfect balance, tension, structure, length and a two-minute finish. — 4 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Bought this recently at the Benchmark Bin Sale for $45. I’m unsure of its storage. But based on the bottle, cork, what’s in the glass…over delivering for $45. Decanted 2 hours. Having said that, the wine is sound. However, the wine appears cloudy…in the glass it visually almost seems a bit broken down. Seems earlier than I’d expect for an 07. Still delicious. Elegance, floral, balanced fruit & earth. Might have been better in proper storage. Think this bottle in good storage would hold another 3-5 yrs and then fade rather quickly.

The ripe, juicy, floral fruits are; blackberries, black raspberries, both plums but more plum, dark cherries, strawberries, boysenberries, raspberries, mixed mid berry cola/licorice, anise, almost sweet, dark, rich soil with dry leaves, dry herbaceousiness-sage, bay leaf, hints of thyme, semi-dry tobacco, sandalwood leaning into cedar, mid intensity dark spice-box, wafting nutmeg, cinnamon, vanillin, sandstone, steeped tea, touch of raisins, fig & dates, grilled meats, just a touch with of black pepper, dry brush, dry top soil, limestone marl, withering; dark, purple flowers framed in violets with a touch of lavender, excellent acidity with excellent integration & evolution, tall structure, well balanced fruit & earth with a long finish that last minutes falling onto dry, volcanic minerals.

96% Cabernet, 3% Merlot, 1% Cab Franc. — 7 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Color starting to mature a bit. Nose has lots of different things going on: cassis, warm brick, an iodine note, cigar box, and a bit of eucalyptus even. Soft and expansive in the mouth, though not terribly dense of concentrated. Dark berries, leather, lots of dry sandstone. — 2 years ago

Ge Reid

9.0

Enderle & Moll Pinot Noir
Liaison 2021
Baden, Germany
12.5% ABV

German Pinot is supposed to be the next big thing, the best Pinot Noirs outside the Cote D'Or. And Enderle and Moll is reputedly its top producer , with a cult-like following in the German-speaking world. They make 3 versions, somewhat comparable to regional level , village level and grand cru, their top wine being the Buntsandstein. The Liaison is their mid-level offering from old vines up to 50 years old grown on limestone and sandstone soils. Needless to say , I've been dying to try one and see if it lives up to the hype.

On Day One , pop and pour. Very light, translucent ruby. Pretty red fruit and fresh mushroom aromas lead to a light yet intense entry on the palate with bracing , mouthwatering acidity dominating the wine at this stage. Showing more '21 Germany than Pinot character at this stage, so corked and revisited the next day.

On Day Two, this has completely transformed . The first thing noticed is that the color has become darker and deeper, and now looks like classic young burgundy. Aromas are also much more developed , with scents of Indian spices underneath the cherries , raspberries and forest floor. The tiniest hint of wood adds breadth and depth to a bouquet of classic pinosity, but with a character all its own.

On entry, this shows typical flavors of red fruit (currants , marasca cherries , cranberries ), brown spices , and sous bois in a light -bodied but incredibly intense package , with bracing acidity unlike any Pinot Noir I've ever tasted. Despite all the mid-palate energy , this has only moderate length and intensity on the finish. There's a bit of barely noticeable tannin. Built for medium term aging , it will be interesting to see if it remains balanced as it develops. Regardless , the acidity helped make it exceptionally good at the table , here paired with an herb and teriyaki roasted Salmon.

The Liaison can be found for around $30 here in the States , making it an excellent value, though California Pinot lovers might find the level of acidity shocking . While it's not going to make me think about pouring my Wilamette Valley Pinots down the drain , this is really good for the level, and really food friendly. A Pinot for Italian Wine lovers . — 5 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

A gift from a neighbor, this is a friendly and open red. Medium intensity nose shows red fruit (even a little strawberry), cigar box, and sandstone. Broad and flowing in the mouth. Tobacco leaf, plummy fruit, iodine. Ends on a lengthy savory note (the 20% Syrah signature?). — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Keeping with our night’s theme of aged Rhône and Rhône-ish, we popped this and OMG. Time has stood still for this wine. Blind I’d probably say 2016. Ink, iodine, kirsch syrup, eucalyptus, salty sandstone. In the mouth it’s huge, but still has a sense of balance, with surprising acidity (not saying it’s high acid, because it’s not, it’s just that it seems higher than one would expect for a wine this large framed) lifting up the rich, long, mouthcoating flavors. A hefty amount of soft tannin still present. Lengthy, clingy finish. — 2 years ago

with Angelo