Jan de Weerd

9.0

We had the battle of the Shiraz at our family gathering over Christmas. A Shiraz from South Australia and South Africa. Both 2016. This Shiraz, despite from the Adelaide Hills where I think it is a little cooler, was very rich, very bold and broad and a slight jammy note on the edge perhaps. People liked it, but all the votes when for the Shiraz of Cederberg from South Africa. Fun!!! — 5 months ago

with Tammy

Ming L

9.2

A classy Graves with emerging tertiary notes. Blackberry, ripe plum, cassis, cedar, tobacco, green olive, and subtle dried mushroom. The palate is broad and intense, with sense of graphite minerals adding an angular dimension to the fresh fruits. Supple tannins leading to a long juicy finish.
A domaine more famous for its white. And at around $65, this 14’ is a very good bargain. — 4 years ago

Michael G

8.9

Some peach and other tree fruit, but also some lemon. It’s balanced. Sweet, but not so sweet. Off dry blend. Seems like it’d be good would with spicy food. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I do like this Polish immigrant’s craft.

The blend of fruits are a broad spectrum of, sour, candied and floral, ruby, mid & dark, red fruits, dark, smooth spice, cinnamon stick, floral heaven & flat out elegance. The blue fruits in Paul’s wines are incredible.

Photos of, two of his Southern California vineyards, Paul Lato at a Matter of Taste during our 40 minute chat & their concrete fermentation eggs. — 6 years ago

Ira Schwartz

10

Wine stimulates our sense of smell and taste but in this case it also created a tidal wave of emotion. Through a tremendous act of generosity a dear friend shared this special bottle when he heard me lament I was not able to secure a bottle of wine to celebrate my mother’s 100 birthday. My friend stood the bottle up for several days. We decided it made sense to PnP. As you can see the cork was intact and the color of the wine defied its age. The excitement to take that first sniff was overwhelming for me. Old but alive scents wowed me. Lots of tobacco, leaves, leather and dried fruit. In the mouth those same scents were transferred to my palate thanks to a tsunami of acid. At about the one hour mark the wine quickly entered a death spiral. I cannot imagine another bottle of wine that will ever conjure up that amount of emotion and happiness. When I described my experience to my mom, a very broad smile came over her face. A blessing to share this experience with my mom and a privilege to taste a wine like this. — a year ago

with Richard

Delectable Wine

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9.4

Bright, saturated medium ruby. Captivating aromas of cassis, blackberry, graphite, licorice, exotic spices and lavender convey an impression of medicinal reserve. Enters the mouth thick, utterly seamless and suave, displaying alluring sweetness to its dark berry, bitter chocolate and spice flavors. This wonderfully rich yet juicy 2017 Cabernet finishes with broad, refined tannins that are already in balance with the wine's fruit. Just this side of voluptuous, this beauty may not have the sheer verve of the '16 but it will offer earlier fireworks. Very long and vinous on the palate-saturating aftertaste, with the tannins coating the entire palate and front teeth. The wine's spicy complexity should contribute to its early appeal but it would be a shame not to hold this Cabernet for at least a few years. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020) — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.3

Confidently red and blue fruit forward—fresh and macerated, ballasted by earth. The palate is stunningly smooth—those tannins are well-integrated, and the fruit leads the way, but it welcomes some lavender and violet notes. Tart and ripe, even giving a hint of…ouzo? Yeah, licorice! And a whiff of smoke. It has a kick, a spice, and a…can a girth be slender? This wine is broad and, at the same time, dialed in. The finish lingers, a long purple-y road. — 2 years ago

Kelley Raymond

9.0

Reliably good Cabernet at a reasonable price — 3 years ago

LM Segal

9.5

Stunning nose of brambly dark red fruit and black tea. Bacon fat and scorched clay on the entry followed by a broad beam of melted tannins and fig, iron, Provençal spices and lavender. 45+ second finish. Outstanding, another great bottle though now at its apogee (but likely to stick around and turn to burgundy over time). — 5 years ago

Mat

9.2

One of our favorite. $22 at Voyager — 6 years ago