Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Sanguis Amour Fou Rosé #12, Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An adventurous, skin-contact rosé by Sanguis, the Santa Barbara auteur driven by Matthias Pippig. Amour Fou #12 is a bold, sensory-rich expression blending Grenache, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Roussanne (skin-fermented), and Pinot Noir, with a vibrant splash of Cabernet Sauvignon noted in earlier editions. It embodies the wild-spirited, terroir-first approach that defines Sanguis.   

Aromas & Flavors
Enchanting and layered, grilled peach, tangerine peel, crushed petals, and wild herbs on the nose. The palate shines with juicy watermelon, subtle herbal spice, and a lingering chalky minerality, reflecting the cool coastal vineyards.  

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a lively structure, delicate tannic grip, and a finish that is both fresh and enduring. The skin contact gives it a nuanced grip while maintaining aromatic finesse.

Winemaking Notes
This vintage is a co-ferment in concrete and seasoned oak, with prolonged skin contact. It’s meticulously unfiltered and artisan in style.  

Food Pairing
Terrific with grilled shrimp tacos, gazpacho, or sushi. Also delightfully versatile with charcuterie and summer fare.

Verdict
Amour Fou Rosé #12 is a fearless, complex rosé that defies simple categorization, it’s bold, elegant, and utterly compelling. A must-try for any adventurous wine lover. — 10 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2021 vintage. First tasted this wine with the 1991 vintage when it was resto cost $240 a 12-pack case (which was pretty pricey for CA chard at the time). FF three decades where I'm pouring this btg and paying less than the 1991 pricing. Has always held a soft spot in my heart. Unique flavor profile that consistently upends a blind white Burgundy tasting as a ringer-regardless of the price range involved...and it do get pricey these daze. Still bringing the serious mineral hammer along with bracing acidity but a bit of lanolin and variety of citrus when things warm up a tad. Last tasted 5.5.23 (9.1). 10.27.24. — 2 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.8

Golden sour A. Aged with apricots. Best beer of the 12 pack so far. Just outstanding wild grassy flavors with subtle ripe apricot mixed with tart skins. Hugely floral with lemongrass. — 6 years ago

Carla Pollard

10

Love this! I am a lover of Pepperjack but at between $8.50-$12 it is by far our budget friendly version. Really fantastic for the price (even for wines double the price) — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.3

🎄 Advent Halfy Calendar Day 12 🎄

🎅 Santa says “This purple headed beast would warm me making deliveries but I don’t want a SUI yes Sleighing Under the Influence 😊”

📝 I say a powerful fruit filled annihilation on your senses that will please any big bold wine lover 😉

⏩ 🍾 Mrs E got Perrier Jouet Grand Brut NV

📍 Ridge Geyserville 2014

🏵 93-94 points

🍇 60% Zinfandel, 24% Carignane, 12% Petite Sirah & 4% Mourvèdre

🍷 Deep blackened ruby

👃 A blackcurrant, blackberry & black cherry nasal slam w/ a blueberry & raspberry wallop followed w/ earth, spice, creamed violet, melted chocolate, light oak & damson plump plum smash 💥

👄 Full bodied juicy plump rich explosion of punchy powered black fruits w/ a red liquorice & mocha slap

🎯 Long creamy warming dark fruit 💥 & purple teeth stain w/ a red liquorice & mocha linger as the blackcurrant punches you again w/ a blueberry spank
— 8 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

The 12 is fantastic, flu is over time to test out the green Ghost Peppers & Trinidad Sweets, plus some new weird skinny yellow ones, pack a punch too
Parker 98.
Mediterranean diet! — 8 years ago

P A

9.0

On a crystal clear sub-zero, star bright night, the snow pack on the mountains gleaming and the fire roaring we attended the first of several parties for friends moving to the interior of BC . We opened the night sharing another of our old loyal friends that never lets us down Taittinger Reserve Brut Champagne. Still lovingly family owned in an age of conglomerates “Old Taitts” blends 40% Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunière into a superb blend that giggles on the light and cheery side. A lovely aperitif to start a night with old friends. 12% alc/vol Cheers 🥂 — 9 years ago

Willem Booij

9.4

The Iconic Wines of Estate Argyros – Santorini’s Volcanic Elegance in a Glass

On the windswept volcanic slopes of Santorini, Estate Argyros crafts some of the island’s most expressive and age-worthy wines. This historic family-run estate, founded in 1903, combines deep-rooted tradition with modern precision to showcase the full potential of Santorini’s unique terroir—defined by volcanic soils, scarce rainfall, and sun-drenched vineyards.

🍷 Cuvée Evdemon

One of the estate’s flagships, this biodynamic Assyrtiko is sourced from old, ungrafted vines and reflects power, minerality, and finesse. A wine of great depth and aging potential, with citrus oil, wet stone, and saline energy on the palate.

🍷 Cuvée Monsignori

Named after one of the oldest vineyards on the island, Monsignori is a single-vineyard expression of Assyrtiko, made from vines over 200 years old. It’s precise, textured, and layered—combining volcanic tension with elegant complexity.

🍷 Vinsanto 4, 12 & 20 Years

These legendary sweet wines, made from sun-dried Assyrtiko, Aidani, and Athiri grapes, are a tribute to Santorini’s history. Aged for years in oak barrels, they offer stunning aromas of dried apricot, honey, caramel, and spice. Rich, balanced, and endlessly long on the finish.

🍷 Cuvée Palatia (New Release)

The latest jewel in Argyros’ crown, Cuvée Palatia is a bold yet refined new interpretation of Assyrtiko. Crafted from a meticulous blend of grapes from seven different vineyard plots, each adding its own nuance, the wine is strikingly complex. Vibrant acidity, intense minerality, and layers of citrus, flint, and white flowers make this a truly distinctive, age-worthy wine that speaks of place, precision, and innovation.

Estate Argyros’ premium wines are more than just drinks—they are stories bottled in glass, capturing the essence of Santorini’s raw, ancient beauty and the passionate craftsmanship behind every vintage. A must for any serious wine lover. — a year ago

Casey @ Travelling Corkscrew

9.0

Have you grabbed your $60 wine subscription sampler from Wine Selectors yet?

This pack includes 12 mini bottles of Aussie wine. Head to the blog to read all about it: travellingcorkscrew.com.au/blog/wine-subscription-sampler/

This Leconfield 2020 Cab Sauv came in the sample pack I was sent and it went down a treat! Definitely a nice taster.

In the glass it’s a juicy plum red colour. On the nose it’s rather earthy/forest like alongside having notes of blackberries, and vanilla oak. On the palate it’s fruity and fresh with plentiful black cherries and berry flavours. Nice full flavour without being overpowering. Balanced and delish!

All opinions are my own. Drink what you enjoy! — 4 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.0

January 12, 2020. Tucson. This was TTW Wine of the month, Dec 2019. Brought to AZ for the holidays and to share with my favorite wine critic and fellow old world wine lover. We are, BTW left bank Bordeaux fans. In blind tasting my fav critic says “Tastes like a California wine.” We did, nonetheless, enjoy it. Not bad for a right bank imitation Bordeaux. Will still spend my money in the old world. Hope my cellar outlasts the tariffs...😬 — 6 years ago

Kevin Kaley

8.9

Part of a 12 pack gift from my b-inlaw. Mellows out with some time, a nice fruit forward taste of blackberries. I enjoyed this with chicken and a nice spicy peach sauce. Too bad there isn't a second btl in the box... oh, lucky me, there is! Going to have with smoked/grilled tomahawk ribeye. — 7 years ago

Philip Patston

9.5

Now we’re talking! Awesome dry cider with enough apple texture and overtones that this is not just one dimensional. A bit more pricey than most ($12 for a 4 pack) but well worth it. — 8 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

Working on the 12 pack was a great buy really a fantastic value , not cheap yet delicious and superior to many at this price point, complex, rich and delicious with cassis, earth, mushroom and mineralogy, medium body, rich and complex , delightful finish. My score 90, drink to 2022 — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Firing. On. All. Cylinders. Wine was purchased about 3.5 years ago in a six-pack and was intended to be consumed rather fast. Back story: ran into a 12 pack of 2005 "Prima Voce" close to 10 years ago at about 10 bucks per bottle and was told it was "ok" for an Italian blend but it wouldn't last longer than a year or so (but noone knew for sure). It. Killed. Come to realize the only reason it was available readily in the states was because Kendall Jackson acquired them. Fast forward about 6 years from that and requested to find this one. Today, Arceno is still under the KJ umbrella. Have slowly been drinking on the ones I found a few years ago. This wine is rather aromatic even from Coravin. Dirty raspberry, grilled meat, Italian spice on the nose. Medium + density and mouthfeel. Acidity has died down quite a bit, allowing a floral dirty raspberry to show up front, losing a lot of sweetness. that I remember,Leathery and "bloody" in the middle. Finishes with some brambly herb, green olive, and a hint of black pepper spice. This wine is RIGHT at the top of the hill now. There are many 12 year old Chiantis that I would gladly pass on, but this one is a definite "yes please" even at 12 years of age. Ratings likely in the 8's because people just don't give this one the time that it needs. D — 8 years ago

Doug Powers

9.3

So, Barbara and Jim Richards (RIP) planted 5 acres back in 1991 (1990?) of Syrah on the northeast (downslope) corner of their Paloma vineyard on Spring Mountain in what visually looked like a “low spot” (partially shaded and also maybe an area that maybe occasionally got standing water back in the days when California got enough rain). The rest of the vineyard was of course Merlot and also some Cabernet Sauvignon used mostly for blending with their fantastic mountain Merlot. The vineyard is just east of Pride Mountain and across the road from what used to be (??) Schweiger Vineyards.

Anyway, Bob Foley, who was making the wines for Pride in those early days, was consulting for Barbara and Jim early on, but I have ZERO information as to what involvement he had with the Syrah, if I recall correctly, the first Syrah in 1995 was less than a barrel (12-15 cases), and was aged in a super OLD, neutral barrel. My Chicago friends, who knew the Richards, dragged me along to taste that fateful day. That 1995 Syrah, first wine they ever made from those young Syrah vines, was, frankly, eye-opening and FANTASTIC, as I told Jim Richards that day. After tasting the INCREDIBLE 1995 Syrah, which was so northern Rhône-like and so pure, I begged Jim to sell me a bottle or two, but he politely declined. Later that day, after tasting the rest of their great wines, as we were leaving, Jim GAVE me a 4-pack box of that 1995 Syrah, which he wouldn’t accept any $$$ for, and that 1995 Syrah still in my memory remains the GREATEST CA Syrah I’ve ever tasted!!

As you can probably tell, I adored Jim and Barbara Richards, amazing people and generous to a fault!! Amazing people!!! I don’t think I ever met their son, Sheldon, but from all accounts he is continuing the tradition of great Paloma wines, though that great Syrah vineyard was pulled out in the early 2000s — Sheldon, if you happen to see this post, I welcome any corrections if I got any details wrong!!

Oh, and this Syrah is pretty dang good as well!!! — 2 years ago

with Jim

Ira Schwartz

9.3

A perfect example of a low alcohol (12%) wine that can pack a punch. A variety of citrus scents that transition effortlessly to the palate. Mandarin orange, grapefruit, lemon all draped in a robe of saline and smoke. To top it off, an extended and lingering finish. — 4 years ago

Seiji Takeuchi

8.9

A twist of ripe black cherry in the taste.
One of a pack of 12 from nakedwines. — 7 years ago

David Walser

8.9

Bought a six-pack of this wine from Penfolds for $12 each, then paid generally an equal or greater amount for screw-age. This is our last bottle as we have been taking a bottle each night to our restaurant dinners. Pleasant and reliable enough wine to enjoy with our Australian dinners and not having to suffer from some overpriced and uninteresting wine from the “list” — 7 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

A high altitude, cool climate, and finessed Nebbiolo that doesn’t need a fatty steak to cut the tannin.

AR.PE.PE. Has delicate layered aromas of cherries, tar, crushed gravel, rose petals, and fresh cut flower stems. At 12% ABV it is lean and transparent showing a good dose of minerals and earth wrapped around flavors of raspberry and cherry beneath hidden hidden tannins.

For the Burgundy lover. — 8 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Thanks @Martin G Rivard much better experience than my 2012, unfortunately the 12 arrived with some TCA so I returned the 3 pack to the winery and never tried again. 14 shows me the 12 was an anomaly.
Bourne was formally Hayne Vineyard — 8 years ago