Tree Kilpatrick

9.3

This is Ophiolite Russian River Valley Merlot. Dark and stormy color. Purple as purple. Smells like old books and jams. Hint of tape and paints. Chewy and fruit driven. Cassis and the rest of black berries. Complexity and intrigue are here in spades. This is a beaut. — 5 days ago

Chris Durall

9.3

Stoneface Brewing. Pink Duct Tape 8.2% ABV — 3 years ago

B

10

1989 La Mission Haut Brion. Decanted and strained through cheesecloth over 4 hours prior to service. Glad we did. Continued to open up for the next 1-2 hours. Cassette tape, acetone, blueberries, gravel, soil. Really long finish. Drank side-by-side with the 1999 DRC Echezeaux (which we decanted just before serving) and it was a toss-up as to which we favored. Very different wines. The DRC was feminine, had more fruit, and a refined elegance. It was the favorite early on. However, as the La Mission evolved, it became hard to decide which was the favorite. — 3 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.1

Classic, pretty Spanish label of abstract art evoking greens and blues of the ocean. Great garnet red color. Smells like mineral water, painter’s tape, rosewood and smoked pork products. Flavors of rosewater & cherries in a rich cheesecake. Or maybe a bit of Red Zinger and rosehip tea with a bit of red grape juice in it. Very floral with elderberry jelly, raspberry sorbet and flower essences all in the mix. For a screw-top cheapie at Grocery Outlet, this is excellent, graceful garnacha. — 5 months ago

John Dykstra

9.4

Weird nose. Like tape. But the flavor is Christmas. Clove. Pine. Really good. Fun. — 3 years ago

Mario Vaillancourt

9.1

Drank one a week ago, so good drank another one. Dark fruit, spices, gorgeous fruit, great potential too.

Tellement bon, on s’en tape une autre. Profil fruits noirs, des épices, une bouche dense, fruitée, de la poigne avec des tannins assez enrobés. Un vrai délice. 91-92 — 3 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Dark purple/red color. Pretty deep color. Smells like stewed plums and cherry cider. Hint of soils and forests floor. Maybe a tiny bit of masking tape. Flavors are zingy and tart with a nice minerality in the mix. Plums cooked down. Not prunes but like Santa Rosa plums. Slight hint of licorice/fennel/anise in the finish. Plenty bittersweet. This is more complex, chewy and strange than most CA red blends. The label says ‘dark chocolate, dark cherry and toasted marshmallow’. I get some dark chocolate, but not the rest. Less candy and more good cooked fruit things… — 8 months ago

Caleb Krell

9.2

It’s like a Cali best of or greatest hits mix tape. — 3 years ago

Angelo Casagrande

8.9

Robust, big Shiraz hitting the tape at 14.9. But had jammy fruit uncontaminated by oak. — 4 years ago

Hugh Jarce

9.0

Really struggle to find a pinot with a pH over 6, but this one is a box ticker. Soft, low acid, mild tannins and a decent finish. The Tasmanians could learn a lot from this drop instead of producing the garbage they produce. Will buy again. — 5 years ago