David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

@Severn Goodwin doesn’t know I lifted this from his cellar. Far too pricey for a Rose.

As different as the most considered typical Rose.

Splendid but, if you are expecting Bandol or new world, this is probably not for you.

I entitled this bottle shot, Roses for Rasado.

Notes of sherry, vermouth, rhubarb, concentrated British tea sack. Geraniums & pink Roses. Gravel powder, dry top soil, burnt, brown sugar, blood orange, underripe pink grapefruit, dry floral bouquet. Excellent, well balanced finished.

Crazy good change of pace.

Top photos from my 2015 visit. Great historical stop in Haro. — 4 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.2

There really is something about island wines. We seem to have an affinity to them all—Madeira, Corsica, Sicily...and here we with are with Canary sack. Red, actually, with terrific poise, balance, and expression of terroir. Double decanted and enjoyed on the second day. Funky nose, with some sweet fruit mixed in. Peppery palate, wet stone, easy fruit, and great acidity. Another winner. — 6 years ago

with Alsu

Daniel P. Drake

9.1

To start the weekend I have opened the 2008 Four Vines Petite Sirah from Paso Robles. You would not think that this was a 10 year old wine it tastes as if it were just bottled.

The nose is big and thick with jammy aromas of blackberry, blueberry, boysenberry, black pepper, sack bakers chocolate and licorice.

On the palate the thick dark black fruit that coats your tongue is big and robust with blueberry, blackberry, boysenberry, black pepper, dark chocolate, and dusty soil.

The wine is full bodied with medium + acidity and high chewy tannins that leads right into a long fruit filled finish. This is a nice Petite Sirah that has many years ahead of it. Enjoy your weekend and please be safe. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 years ago

Nick M

8.9

This is labeled as a dry Riesling, but I’d probably call it a Halbtrocken. I’m not sure how to describe this wine. It’s kind of like if some weird dude that you knew in college told you that he made Riesling in his dorm room and you were like, “What? Is that what you’ve been doing all day instead of going to class? I thought you just smoked weed and played hacky sack.” But then you taste it, and you’re like,”Wait! This doesn’t taste like any Riesling I’ve ever had, but it’s really freaking good. What kind of strange wizardry is going on here?” — 4 years ago

Connor Smith

9.2

Sanlúcar de Barrameda was the port that Christopher Columbus set off from in 1492. Just 1 year earlier, duties on wine exports from Sanlúcar had been abolished to take advantage of English merchants desperate for new supply after the loss of Bordeaux.

It began a centuries-long romance between Sherry and English wine lovers, as immortalized in Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 2, when Falstaff glorifies sturdy Spanish 'sack' over thin Bordeaux 'claret' and Rhine 'hock'.

But the honeymoon, quite literally, was not to last. Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon drove a wedge between England and Catholic Europe, and left English wine lovers in need of a new source once again. But Sherry fanatics wouldn't have to go entirely without. When Sir Francis Drake sailed into Cádiz and burned the Spanish fleet in 1587, he carried away 2,900 butts of Sherry - enough to supply London for years - as his most famous prize.

(This is adapted from notes for Le Dû’s Wines ‘History of Wine 1453AD-Present’ seminar, where this wine was poured) — 5 years ago

Shannon Roque

10

Yummy sweet with oaky smooth crisp notes! You can’t go wrong with this sherry! — 7 years ago

Ross Fulton

9.1

Map pack nut sack — 8 years ago

Ross Fulton

9.0

They know how to brew a cat from a sack of bones — 5 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.4

A funky swervey champagne Rose’ of all Pinot (8% still juice) where all the fruit is contained within a burlap sack of barley husk and smoked peaches. Muted dried fruits - dried orange peel, dried rose petals, dried wild strawberry, celery seed, fennel, and Parmesan. Tart berries only on the finish. So awesomely unexpectedly savory. — 5 years ago

Chris England

9.2

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 21 🎄

🎅 Santa says “Three days to go so just had Mrs Claus do my sack, back & crack - gotta be beech ready for some regions I deliver 😉”

📝 I say My favourite 🇺🇸 Merlot that’s not a Merlot 🤣 not as pungent & in your face as the 2012/13 and a bit easier going 👍 You can’t go wrong with this wine 😍 especially with 🥩 I’d give this 3-5 years but good now to 😀

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Bruno Paillard Premier Cuvee NV

📍 Shafer Merlot 2014

🏵 92-93 points

🍇 78% Merlot, 14% Malbec & 8% Cabernet Sauvignon

🍷 Opaque black ruby

👃 Dark damson plum, black cherry & blackcurrant w/ raspberry, cloves, cocoa, spice, liquorice, mint & gravel w/ a touch of smokey oak lingering

👄 Med+ super smooth silky spiced blackcurrant, dark plum, dark cherry, blueberry & cocoa cream w/ a sweet raspberry undertone w/ a touch of green stalk & coffee kick

🎯 Long ripe black fruit finish covered with dark chocolate, raspberry & blueberry sprinkles — 6 years ago