Janice in Livermore

9.0

2018 Christmas Eve at Uncle Yu’s. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Very Nice! A Fav! — 2 years ago

President Obama

9.6

$81 @ Domestique — 5 years ago

Kevin Ortzman

9.6

Today was a reason to celebrate, my good friend was promoted to MD at the Big 4. Well deserved, Joe! This bottle is amazing - loads of minerality with lemon zest, lemon curd and a hint of butterscotch (although, the butterscotch may be the influence of the subsequent rating/bottle; Meursault-Perrier’s 1997) — 6 years ago

with ADAM and Joe

Rob Mullen

9.2

Another bottle of funky, bacon-y deliciousness. Thank you Joe Davis — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.5

WNH event number two. Rhône varietal wines with TX BBQ...a match made in Heaven!

A true treat to try this next to the Clape Cornas. More fruit forward here with a darker fruit profile...even some blueberries. Heavier mouthfeel than the Clape. Smoked cedar, peppercorn. This wine in 5yrs or so would likely be incredible! Loved this. Thanks @Joe Lucca . — 8 years ago

with Mike, David and 4 others

Marcia Finberg

9.0

Nicely balanced. Good tannins. Easy to drink. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Deep Ruby with aromas of berry fruits, oak and floral spice notes on this Joe Wagner creation. On the palate blackberry and cherry currant flavors with hints of cedar and leather, adding some herb notes. Fine chalky tannins, good acidity, well balanced, ending with fruit and earthy mineral notes. Nice! Grab a filet! Well done Joe! — a year ago

Anjali Gupta

10

Got this in Dallas where the uncle helped me find Wine to have with pizza with Shalu Mausi & Vineet Mausa — 3 years ago

Kevin Cahoon

9.3

Blackberry, plum fruit and aromas of spring flowers are supported by a subtle touch of road tar and graphite in the airy nose.
Palate is a great combo of red and black fruits with precise mineral tone, lithe tannins supported by vibrant acidity. Plum minerals and freshness lead the way on the finish. One of the freshest St Joe expressions I have had from the domaine. Shares a lot of vintage dna with their 2011 L’Ermitage Rouge. Drink now for its bright fruit but based on the wines balance I see upside over the next 3 to 5 years. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

2005 Marc & Alex Bachelet formed their domaine with aid of their Uncle Monnot & father, first release of the domaine’s Puligny wines garnered immediate recognition, locally & internationally, a rare feat in the wine world. Sourced from 11 acre vineyard, with an average age of 50 years. Aged for 12 months in French oak, has aromatic red fruit with earthy notes. On the palate cherry and strawberry with currant notes, fine smooth tannins, long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice! — 6 years ago

Ali Casassa

9.0

A good go-to, delicious rose. — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Tasted this about 1 1/2 ago, distributor indicated a new batch, some lots underwent malolactic conversion enhancing flavor & weight. 40/40/20 blend, Pinot Meunier-20%. Founded in 1776, Reims France, rare family owned company, still managed by Roederer family. In 1833, Louis Roederer inherited company his uncle & renamed company under his namesake. Fresh fruit aromas, nice mousse, rapid bubbles, citrus & toasty apple flavors, crisp & refreshing, lingering ending with lemon, smoke & yeasty mineral notes. — 8 years ago

Michael Seely

9.6

Outstanding. With Joe and Steve Santa Fe — 8 years ago

with Joe

Brian Boulden

9.2

Amazingly smooth. Fantastic — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

‘Las Alturas' Spanish for 'the heights', a fitting name, this vineyard located on one of the highest grape-growing benches in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA. 4th gen Winemaker Joseph J. Wagner from family with farming & winemaking roots in Napa since 1906. Met Joe several times. Deep Ruby (darkest Pinot I have come across). Nice berry and floral spice aromas. Rich cherry/plum flavors with oak, spice and vanilla. Long finish, bold ending with sweet oak notes. Nice! A Fav! — 3 years ago

Peter Heidt

9.2

...absolutely rocked and their Blue label is one of my favs; with Joe D in Vegas... Nora’s... — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

Virtual tasting with Texture Wines and winemaker Erich Bradley. Big thanks to @Joe Lucca for setting it up.

Anderson Valley fruit. A blend of Ferrington Vineyard and Deer Meadows. Somewhat surprising is that this is 100% destemmed. Based on how the Lucky Well chardonnay was so old world in style, I’d assume some whole cluster or stem inclusion, but based on vineyard location, they feel like the tannin can be easier to achieve and there is no need to increase.

I only gave this about a 30min bottle decant and while it was approachable, it was significantly better at the 3+hr mark. Initially, it was driven by a slightly syrupy/maple richness that seemed out of place. It dominated the other aspects (candied black cherries, potpourri, baking spices) but eventually yielded to a more lifted profile and added black pepper spice. Day two picked up where day one ended showing a more elegant and spice driven profile. I’d say this probably won’t get much better, but definitely give it some air. — 6 years ago

with Ron, Shawn and 6 others

Shay A

9.2

Weekly Wednesday Wine Committee. Incredible hosting by Joe. 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds, 1 dessert wine, all tasted blind.

This really epitomized CdP. I called it 10yr old CdP. The black pepper has died down and integrated well with the spicy red fruit and underripe black fruit. Hint of tart/iron, but overall, this was really smooth. No problem open and enjoying these now. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Jeff and 3 others

Martin G Rivard

9.4

This will take a bunch of you by surprise but this is my absolute first bottle of 2012 edge Hill Bacigaluppi that did not literally blow my mind! I consider this one of the top five Chardonnays that I have ever had from Napa and I’ve had a lot of Chardonnays from Napa! It was not Corked but definitely fell 100% flat tonight. No depth, no structure simply fruit. I had friends at the house and was trying to impress them But literally threw this bottle down the drain and open to something else. Oh well, shit happens as they say! @David L @Shawn R @Joe Lucca @Mike R @Ron R @Howard Greenfield @Shay A — 8 years ago