Norman

9.0

This is just ok. I’m not rating it anywhere near where others have. Aromatics are light. Light on sweetness and also power. It fades fast and the weight on the power is light too. Daishichi “Minowamon” (大七 箕輪門)


Sake type: Junmai Daiginjo (純米大吟醸 = no added distilled alcohol, daiginjo-grade polish)
Starter method: Kimoto (生酛 = traditional, naturally built lactic acidity; tends to add depth and structure) 
Rice: Yamada Nishiki (the gold seal indicates, and it’s the standard spec for Minowamon) 
Polish ratio: 50% using Daishichi’s “super-flat” polishing
ABV: 15% (back label) 
Brewery / Place: Daishichi Sake Brewery, Fukushima (Nihonmatsu) — 5 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

A compelling, historical and sophisticated Chianti Classico Riserva dedicated to the Mazzei’s notable ancestor, Ser Lapo, known as the “father” of the Chianti wine appellation in Tuscany. The V.2016 also had a composition blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. This wine as a “Riserva” under the Chianti Classic Classification system has to be aged a min of 24 months in barrels including 3 months in the bottle prior release.

Decanted for 35 Mins served as an opener of an Italian-inspired dishes, made it a perfect amplifier to appreciate the balance of freshness, richness and complexity. The acidity remains at the perfect point and the red cherries and fig notes are quite palpable from the very beginning, the wine dances in your palate, it jumps on flavor of cherry, tobacco leaf, toasted spices and fresh herbs notes come out alive from the glass, as an overall this wine dances in your mouth with great harmony of the juiciness and integrated medium plus tannins.

The label is another great release from Mazzei family, which is one of Tuscany’s oldest wine dynasties (25 winemaking generations for 600+ years. The script at the top of this wine label is a reproduction of a historic correspondence of a document dated December 16, 1398 that addresses this “father” of Chianti.

Simply lovely, cheers! — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

First of all Kudos to Ant Hill love the wax seal over cork! Deep Ruby with aromas of dark Berry fruits with notes of herbs, citrus, floral and earthy spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry, tea, vanilla and herb tones, well balanced with acidity. Firm fine tannins on a long finish ending with fruit and floral herb character. Very nice! Will age well! — 3 years ago

Will Stanley

9.2

Heavy and broad-shouldered in bottle, with a wax seal to boot, the 2016 Zorgvliet Richelle conforms to the stereotype of an expressive, extracted wine but does so in a commendable manner. Too young now, the oak needs another five years at least to integrate but the aromas of cassis, graphite and rich chocolate show promise. The palate is incredibly rich, and though it’s quite unapproachable now I’d love to try it in five to ten years’ time. — 5 years ago

Will Stanley

9.1

Zesty and herbaceous, the 2017 Sancerre Les Chailloux by Claude Riffault sports a nose of lemon peel, garden mint, limestone, flint, and a touch of tomato leaf. The palate is juicy and vibrant, characterised by Granny Smith apple, high acidity, and a depth of flavour that suggests some (very gentle, and successfull) use of oak.

I’m not a great lover of Loire whites, but this is a very good quality Sancerre that should continue to improve with age. The minimalist label and wax seal makes for an attractive bottle. — 5 years ago

Evan Bienstock

10

Unofficial last night of summer... so long Dark & Stormy’s for a bit.... — 7 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.3

From a nice old-looking bottle that had a mid shoulder fill. Solid branded cork and seal. Dark tawny color, mostly translucent with clear rims. Soft delicate nose. Notes of dark berries, old cedar box, gravel, mocha and old saddle leather. In the mouth this comes across as a bit fruit-faded, no tannins. This bottle was past it's prime and fun to try, but I would hope there are better samples of it still out there to be had. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Tenuta di Renieri – Chianti Classico 2022
Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany 🇮🇹

Overview
A traditionally styled Chianti Classico, this wine highlights the Sangiovese grape in its most authentic form. From the Berardenga subzone, known for producing some of the boldest and most structured Chianti Classico wines, this bottle remains refreshingly approachable while carrying the DOCG pedigree.

Aromas & Flavors
Vibrant red cherries, ripe cranberries, and a touch of dried herbs meet subtle notes of violet and a whisper of earthy spice.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with silky tannins and a lively acidity that keeps the fruit bright and the finish fresh. Straightforward but elegant, perfect for everyday Chianti enjoyment.

Food Pairings
Margherita pizza, tomato-based pasta dishes, roasted chicken with rosemary, and Pecorino Toscano.

Verdict
A lovely, cherry-driven Chianti Classico that balances tradition with easy drinkability. Berardenga’s terroir lends just enough structure to give depth, while still offering immediate charm in the glass.

Did You Know?
Chianti Classico wines are marked by the iconic black rooster (Gallo Nero) seal on the neck, symbolizing wines from the historic heart of the Chianti region. — 8 months ago

Billy L.

9.4

John K’s 75th Birthday Lunch🍾🥂Cheers
👍🏻👏🏻 @SPAGHETTINI Seal Beach — a year ago

David Kline

9.3

Rim to rim color density. Red and black cherries poke through cedar and sweet tobacco on the nose with dark chocolate chunks, plum, prune and date, toasted sesame, cinnamon, rose petal, and cardamom. Chewy tannins that roll satin-smooth initially, then cassis, black currant and licorice flip the script. Graphite and blackberry frame dark chocolate and mocha-tobacco, oak and black bread.


#dunn #dunnvineyards #howellmountain #howell #napa #angwin #cabernet #cabernetsauvignon #cab #cabsauv #2014 #2014napa — 2 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.1

N: Very minty, earthy right out of the gate. It sure smells like Tuscany, one vineyard in Gaiole(sp) I believe. Some liquorice and crushed stone/tar. Dark flowers.
P: Light on it’s feet w prominent acidity. Earth, graphite, black fruit, med finish. It begs for food.
Delicious.
Held up spectacularly overnight in fridge w just a rubberized cork seal. — 5 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.3

2005 Vintage.14.8% Alcohol. Need to open with an Ah So type opener, not a corkscrew as the corks have become brittle over time. Thank goodness for the thick bright blue wax seal as it likely saved this bottle from being corked. — 5 years ago

JKT

9.2

Another incredible oldie that held up amazingly well. Cork looked like it’s ten years old with only bottom third stained through though it did break apart when pulled and lead seal is in excellent condition. Wine level showed no loss. Wonder if recorked at some point. Nice ruby color with little bricking. Whiff of worrisome sherry note that dissipated very quickly. Again like that Souverain Pinot a beautiful endlessly sniffable nose of almost fermented fruits and apples and autumnal forest floor carrying through to firmly textured palate but a relatively short finish. It’s a class act that still plays well. So second gem of the four. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

This is a young wine that I opened last weekend and enjoyed but, had to seal it up and put back into storage until tonight. It’s a touch faded (10%) but, like all young wine, resilient.

The nose reveals, ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spices, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, hints of dry crushed rocks, limestone, dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender.

The body is full with a fair amount of tannin presence. Nicely knitted structure, tension, length and balance for such a young Pinot. Ripe & candied; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, well extracted pomegranate, the blue fruits he does so well and I love in Pinot, dry cranberries, poached strawberries, touch of cooked rhubarb, raspberries, beautiful layered baking spices, medium intensity dark spice with shades of palate heat, steeped fruit tea, red fruit cola, saline notes, dry herbs, menthol, eucalyptus, hints of dry crushed rocks, volcanic minerals, dry & moist clay, limestone, leathery, wood staves, amazing dark, blue, purple flowers with hints of lavender. The acidity is excellent. The ripe, elegant, balanced, polished finish is delicious and persists nicely for minutes.

Paul makes beautiful expressions of Pinot, Rhône styles & Chardonnay. If you have not had them, well worth your time & investment to seek out.

Photos of; his Sierra Madre Vineyard...netted to keep the birds from eating his fruit, fruit near harvest time, my picture meeting Paul for the first time last week weekend at a “Matter of Taste” in Napa last weekend and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Vieux Château Palon – 2021
Montagne-Saint-Émilion AOC – Right Bank, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A distinctive Right Bank Bordeaux, this cuvée flips the classic Merlot-dominant Saint-Émilion script. Instead, it is crafted from 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc, making it unusually bold, structured, and aromatically lifted for the appellation.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and cassis dominate, with graphite, cedar, and tobacco leaf from the Cabernets. Subtle violet and peppery notes emerge from the Franc.

Mouthfeel
Firm tannins, medium-plus body, and a long, savory finish. More muscular and linear than many Montagne-Saint-Émilions, leaning toward Left Bank style but with Right Bank elegance.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops with rosemary, cassoulet, duck confit, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie cheeses.

Verdict
An atypical but fascinating Montagne-Saint-Émilion that highlights Cabernet structure over Merlot plushness. For those who love Pauillac or Saint-Julien, this bottle is a bridge into the Right Bank world. Cheers!

Did You Know?
Montagne-Saint-Émilion is one of the four “satellite” appellations of Saint-Émilion, known for offering excellent value Bordeaux reds. Few estates here lean so heavily on Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes Palon stand out stylistically. — 8 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

With some of the entry-level Brunelli like this one, it’s a tough call when to open them. In my experience many try to play in the big leagues by overextracting. This one’s always been on the tannic, somewhat astringent side, so you want to wait to allow the tannins to drop and for it to settle down, but you don’t want to wait so long that the fruit dries up. I think this is about as good as it’s going to get. The fruit is still there, and the astringency is abating a bit. Still tannic. Good acids. Should go well with a simple pasta with tomato and sausage sauce.

UPDATE: After 24 hours under a vacuum seal, it was so astringent as to be nearly undrinkable, to my taste. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

See previous note from March 2022. Very dark Ruby in colour- impenetrable. Blackberry, smoky notes. A rich full bodied dense palate with a tarry note. Dusty. Granular persistent tannins. Again, Thomas Matthew’s drinking window is way too early (to 2025). This wine will cruise to 2030 with ease. When you taste this wine you have a new appreciation of the allure of Tempranillo, in this case old vine Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero. Post Script: The next day - aniseed and a crushed ant note. — 3 years ago

Jonathan Fuss

9.3

Picked up from ambassador after telling them I liked Akashi. Tastes similar. — 5 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.3

Boy. This one makes you stand in attention. Dark extracts gripping your throat and keeping a hold for nearly one minute. Forest, earthy tannins slowly highjacking your taste buds and letting you go just in time for your next sip. Bone dry. Decanted it before we went on a four hour fall ride in the Idaho Mountains. Great way to seal the day! — 7 years ago

with Tammy

P A

9.2

This Province Rosé is absolutely one of our favorites. The 2016 vintage was good this 2017 is very good and earns Mrs. A’s seal of approval. Light fruit aromas , blush in color, a clean crisp mouth feel displaying some complexity. Long legs for a Rosé with a slightly tart finish. Another fine selection from Metrovino Calgary, AB . 13% Alc/vol. — 8 years ago