Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.1

Back label on this 2021 bottling identifies Saint Laurent as the varietal and claims "the wine is part of the project 'Primi Vini' for grapes that ripen early, enabling the wine to be put on the market earlier. I don't know if this means it is a Nouveau style/carbonic maceration or just refers to the precociousness of the variety.
Inky purple. Boisterously fruity nose with a crushable balance that invites another sip. YUM. — 3 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Nose has charred cigar box, sauteed cherries, dried blueberries, freshly whipped cream, sliced black cherry, old-dark chocolate shavings, oak bark and mashed blackberries.
Palate has earthy blackberry juice, chocolate covered cherry, wet cedar shavings, grilled raspberries, muddy-mashed cherry with a medium+ finish.
Our second to last bottle from an experimental case project, bought on release ($15) and I'm just floored on the presence of this wine in our glasses today, expressive on all fronts, quite satisfing after many years of patience. — 6 years ago

Zach Demers

9.2

Drinking really well at this age. Tannins still pretty upfront and powerful on day 1 along with lots of tart cherry, some brett funk, and earthiness. Great acidic backbone. Was better on day 2! Seemed a touch softer and more integrated with an amazing mouthfeel. Nose was all cherry cola with some root beer, menthol and medicinal notes. So good. Next time I’d just open the bottle and not drink it until the next day — 7 years ago

Josh Raynolds

9.7

Remarkably pure and lively. Citrus fruit, floral, vibrancy and focus. Just superb — 8 years ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

This is a bottle that Vanessa was given by a former student who was apparently trying to clear out his cellar. Bottled on October 4, 2011, this is the best incarnation of Noel de Calabaza that I’ve ever had. Incredible balance, great secondary aromas, and a finish that lasts far longer than younger versions of this beer. Just goes to show how awesome JPs can become if you hide them away for a few years. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa

Cody Anderson

9.4

Because sometimes you just need a great beer instead of a good wine to celebrate Friday! — 9 years ago

with Roli

Aaron Miller

9.0

When the waiter poured it, it smelled just like when I bake banana bread at home. Interesting, one is probably enough for me. — 10 years ago

Carter Snead

9.5

Just outstanding. So delicious. — 4 years ago

with Kara, Leigh and 1 other

naomi gl

9.1

heavy-hitting barleywine! 10.2% alcohol, and you can tell, but not in a hot way - more of a rich, boozy, caramel-y way. this beer is *almost* too much, but for these darkest, longest days of winter - the name translates to “winter solstice” - it’s perfect. drinking it all on its own under a blanket on a cold night is just right. — 6 years ago

barak heller hayun

9.1

this bottle takes me back to Alsace.
i spent a weekend in Strasbourg in 2006 protesting/partying in front of the European parliament that's located there.
no wine was tasted as i sticked to self imported bottle of zubrowka vodka, drops of potent LSD (that were dropped to the tail end of the vodka by a really short vicious smiling man - true story) and local pilsner beer that i remember fondly that's called 'meteor' and came in large 750ml bottles(pretty good ice cold and just ok after the sun warmed up the last 3rd of the bottle).

and now... 13 years later. different tastebuds. but I'm still the same person essentially.

100% pinot gris

off dry officially but feels dry.

14% ABV

pale green 👀

🧀 rind, green apple, pear, very fresh lemon and finely chopped greens👃

full body. I'm guessing the rs helps to build it.
medium plus acidity.

creamy, tart and a bit fruity with added white pepper and maybe even ginger 👄

long lingering pleasent creamy 🎯 like tasty and slightly bitter 🍬

great wine, no doubt about it.
tasty and complex, plays with you and changes every sip, but always superb.

excelent vfm (110 nis). expensive but works hard for your money.

need to try the winery Riesling now.

had it all day on it's own while vacationing.
soft and spicy cheese platter could have helped but I'm too full. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.6

This wine is made by Dan Standish who started his career by traveling all over the world learning the skill of winemaking. He returned to Australia to make wine at Torbreck. After making Torbreck, he starting his own project. This wine is produced from a vineyard with 100 year old vines with a yield of only a 1/2 ton on fruit per acre. In comparison to quality Napa producers, their yields are 2-3 tons per acre. Dan is absolutely one of the very best producers in Barossa.

On the nose, mulberries, olallieberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, lavender and violets.

The body is full, rich, ruby, lush and very inky. The texture is elegantly sexy. The 06 is still youthful & fresh. It still needs more time but, it’s delicious tonight. The length, tension, structure and balance are just coming into it own. mulberries, Olallieberries, Boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, raisins, blackberries, black cherries, dark berry cola, vanilla, dark spice, black pepper, dry crushed rocks, limestone minerals, soft leather, saddle-wood, coffee grounds, black licorice, dark, rich soil, purple flowers, lavender and violets. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, thick, ruby, lush, elegant, well balanced with deep heat penetrating dark spices that rise off the palate and lasts several minutes. The 06 is still 5 years from it peak.

Photos of; The Standish Cellar Door, Owner/Winemaker Dan Standish, beautiful Barossa Vineyards and the old tasting room — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

This is Cobra Dawn of the Dank. Last of the four and I hate to admit is the winner over the Dogfish! Poured a hazy DANK amber color into the glass. Nose of citrus and melon, almost kind of smelled like a torqued up Hefeweizen. Great hop structure. Finished really well. Almost as well as a Stone beer. But not quite! LOL, this was still a ridiculously good beer. Great way to start the weekend! — 9 years ago

Rafael Landestoy

8.9

I'm not a beer drinker but I must have liked this if I took a picture of it. Just can't remember when I had it! Haha — 9 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.7

Arguably my fave beer. The nose just goes on and on. It ain’t exactly a lightweight. — 5 years ago

Keith Crump

9.0

Nothing more to add — 7 years ago

Jay Miner

9.5

This drinks perfectly at 11 years old. Definitely Jura reminiscent. A bit tight at first, tart lemon and rind. Then toasted marshmallow and burnt sugar, then some funk. Just brilliant. — 7 years ago

Joachim Modlich

9.5

Rich, full but still elegant. Just great. Peter Sissek‘s Project. Well done — 8 years ago

David Kline

9.1

Buttery, candied grapefruit and pineapple, lemon marshmallow, aloe, beeswax candle, juniper berry and pine parchment aromatically. Fluff biscuit head that pontificated amidst perimeter chatter leaving scrawl and stalactites. Creamy with burnt points like baked Alaska. Yammy and browned with sugar before pulling apart to cola, egg cream and bitter chocolate with electric malt shadows. Gum Arabic and pine sap are just the catalysts to this green pinecone and sweet grass turned bitter almond, and oregano oil medicine rinse. Kicks out all the head fog that ails you, and replaces it with resin and tar. Sinus meds. #Lagunitas #hopstoopid #ale #ibu #ibuubme #102ibu4u #LagunitasBrewing #abv #beer #bitter #headmeds — 8 years ago

with Courtney

Emily Kresie-Harrington

9.1

2016 vintage. Very strawberries and cream on the palate. Little bit of chalkiness, peach yogurt, rose water, white raspberry. Delivers on the quality and definitely well-made, just personally wish it was a little less creamy. Did not notice the overt creaminess when I tried it before. — 9 years ago

Jeffrey Long

9.1

This is an excellent new small Brewery in Brussels with some really well-made beers. Delta IPA was good, but the New England IPA was truly exceptional and could easily pass for a Hill Farmstead Beer. Truly outstanding. — 9 years ago

with Vanessa and Jim