Ely Cohn

9.3

Pinotage is a grape everyone loves to hate, but I think it has parts to love. Kanonkop makes an ambitious, bold showy wine that swings big, has to nail it, and mostly does. To me, the Pinotage tell is a thing of smoking wet tar and milk chocolate coffee sludge. That's here. Follows with black pepper, bourbon spice and a curious banana note which I think may just be oak and smoke stacked sideways. Then follow the dark fruits. Blue plums and blackberries, and an underlying mineral saltiness. There's lots here and lots to love. — 13 days ago

Ben Richardson

9.2

Bloom! Tasty and complex yet gluggable. Swings big for the price point. Cranberries, licorice, leather, earth with a slightly carbonic feel. Great with a little chill — 2 years ago

Andreya Nightingale

9.7

This wine playfully swings across my palate from the supple, round lows to the bright, angular highs. These Chardonnays are like that little child who quietly waits for the precise moment to tell their story, and when their words begin to flow, we find ourselves blissfully captivated amidst the twists and turns and realize that the story wouldn’t have been nearly so delightful had we rushed the speaker. — 2 years ago

Dimes

8.9

Yummy big time — 2 months ago

S.S. Mandani

9.5

Quarantine materials ready. Creature comforts are getting me through this thing. Give me good coffee, pavement to pound, a pen that dances on the page, a worn notebook with still empty pages to fill, jazz weaving the air, and a bottle of wine, and I will kill all the time there is.

A magenta shawl in the glass.

Earth’s fragrance caught in a bottle. Sweet, sweet clay. Leather. Intense plums and orange zest. Sea breeze. This is a memorable and rich bouquet.

Subtle smoke quality reminiscent of the char in the bark of good brisket. A reserved dark fruit quality which is there, but just teases you as a spicy black peppercorn note swings in for a jab. It’s smooth.

An eloquence in the expression and structure. Like a mathematical proof or a line of poetry you cannot easily forget.

It slaps. — a year ago

Georgina McDonald

9.2

Nose says old but tongue says young. 2016 Tempranillo that swings down the palate with perfume and some peppery heels; touch of cardamom, little chocolate and a lick of tart cherry. — 2 years ago

with Hugh and Bob

Charlie Marshall

10

Was put off a bit by the Hype - or at least - probably gave it a hard time for the hype - but it’s great - little funk, relaxed, touch of ride symbol- it swings, no bebop crazy Miles shit, this is Coltrane Giant Steps - it moves — 2 months ago

with Alexis

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2012 vintage, the first ever produced and it's spectacular. Areni grapes, from prephyloxera bush vines at extremely high altitude (1600 meters) with enormous diurnal temperature swings. For me Areni Noir feels like a hypothetical blend of Sangiovese and Pinot Noir, and this shows perfectly what this unique ancient grape variety is capable of. Impressive nose reminiscent of a great Brunello. Complex taste with ripe pomegranate fruit, red cherries, subtle spices and Chambolle-Musigny-like velvety tannins, with a lingering aftertaste. — a year ago

Scott Rose

9.4

2014 vintage. Super perfumed nose that swings over to the flavors. Big plum, cherry, strawberry and raspberry creates a big mouthfeel but extremely polished finish. Gorgeous wine and almost too pretty for Callfornia juice. — 2 years ago

October Cleveland

9.0

Serious cab sav. — 4 years ago