Ming L

9.2

Aston was one of two Pinot projects by Schrader, Boar’s View being the other. I believe it’s now solely under TRB’s helm.

The winery makes just two bottlings: one mostly from sourced fruit, and this, from 100% estate vines. The nose offers ripe plum, cranberry, black cherry, cedar, a touch of baking spice, and steeped tea. The palate is generous yet lifted by bright acidity, with a hint of sweetness on the long finish. Should have 5–6 more years of prime drinking ahead. — a year ago

leon egozi

9.7

Really nice tasting event with all of Melkas wine projects and Melka himself — 5 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.3

Huet and Vega Sicilia are two storied producers with quality side projects in Tokaij. Vega Sicilia makes one that is supremely rich with laser acid and oak sturdy, expertly integrated. Sour notes of ripe lemons, the kind about to go black and turn to rock. And spiced ginger and popcorn kernels and vanilla spice. WOW. — 7 years ago

Adam Knoerzer

9.2

South African Nebbiolo that would make some Italians blush. — 8 years ago

Shawn R

9.8

One of the most complex wines I have had. Rich mahogany, cool cellar nose maybe a hint of sweet black fruit. Again, projects this soft texture yet has so many layers on the palate. Madero leaf, toffee and milk chocolate blanket the palate. On the finish I get the return of the black fruits and smoke. Beautiful- — 8 years ago

Vino Kaela

8.9

Alain Graillot I love you and all your projects! — 9 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2018 vintage. Last tasted 8.26.22 (9.3) and 7.21.21 (9.3). Medium/medium-heavy body. Slightly less end palate lift than last two encounters and tasting like it is in that proverbial "state of confusion...er...transition." Would like to taste again and will give it 3-4 years before revisiting to do this justice. Pretty unified now without side projects and ancillary rabbit holes but something tells me this has another third act of mayhem and debauchery up its' sleeve. 07.09.25. — a year ago

Kate Merna

9.0

Super bubbly. Great for drinking during the Biden administration. — 5 years ago

Connor Smith

9.1

Finger. Lakes. Saperavi.

If this ain’t American winemaking in the 21st century we don’t know what is! 🇺🇸🍷🇬🇪🍇

At least, that’s what we were thinking before reading up on Standing Stone and founders Marti & Tom Macinski. They actually first planted this fascinating Georgian grape here in ***1994*** (just 3 years after Georgia left the USSR, for those keeping score at home) intended for blending.

Increasingly impressed by the quality of the grapes, they offered their first varietal Saperavi in 2010 - as “The Dark Red”, since the grape name was as yet unrecognized by the federal government. Once it was, they became the first American winery to release a wine labeled Saperavi.

Fine tuned to the cold, high mountains of Kakheti in eastern Georgia, it makes sense why it would thrive in the Finger Lakes! The name Saperavi literally means “ink”, a sensible name for a grape with pitch-dark skin AND flesh! 🖤

Marti and Tom sold the winery and retired in 2017. But their enduring legacy may just be budding. We’ve heard of Saperavi planting projects underway in New York, Virginia, and Oregon.

Saperavi’s runaway affinity for the Finger Lakes may have been a bit of a happy accident, but the Macinskis deserve every bit of credit for thinking outside the box, putting it in motion, and bringing it to fruition! 🙌🙌🙌 — 7 years ago

Dario Scimeca

9.3

This is going to be fantastic in 10 years. Pitch black and complex, it projects as a high 90’s wine. — 7 years ago

with Tom

Matt Trader

9.4

The Struie is also a 100% Shiraz, but what makes this one different and quite interesting is that it comes from the quarter of Eden Valley, from old vines growing at high elevation. This gives the wine more powerful fruit, muscular textures, elegant tannins, and juicy dark black and blue fruit character. Umame soy on the nose, along with aromas of blueberry cobbler, crushed rock, red apple skins, milk chocolate, tar, and grilled meat. Fairly muscular texture but the tannins fall off like silk - black plum jam, lavender, vanilla, cocoa nibs, and a less grippy finish than the other Shiraz wines I tried. Outstanding wine for value, considering this one comes in at half the price of the Descendant and The Factor.

What is most amazing in my opinion is that oddly he started us off with one of the most expensive and best wines they make, RunRig, and descended the price spectrum finishing with their $20 Shiraz, and even weirder the $17 Semillon to end the tasting. What is amazing about that is that the wines did not once degrade in quality or complexity. They ALL performed as great as the more expensive RunRig. That truly shows they only make wine that exceeds their standards, and if it doesn't, it is declassified for other projects. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On the nose; liqueur style blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, sweet spice, vanilla, wood shavings, dark, rich, moist soil, crushed, dry rocks, violets and fragrant, fresh, dark florals. The palate is medium bodied and the tannins are nicely resolved and round. The fruits are also liqueur is style. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries, baked strawberries and a touch of dry cranberries. Sweet, soft leather, lead pencil, cola, vanilla, cinnamon, soft spice-box, understated herbal notes, rich, moist, dark soil, crushed rocks, a touch of bramble, crumbled volcanic minerals, nice, soft, round acidity and a long, lush, fresh, elegant fruit finish that is 75% fruit and 25% earth. The 06 has plenty of life ahead of it...at least 10 years. I'm pretty sure this bottle was around $35 at Costco upon release. Photos of, the view from their tasting terrace, the legend/Napa maverick Joseph Phelps, terrace seating and interior shot of the remodeled estate. Producer notes...the winery was founded in 1973 by Napa wine pioneer, Joseph Phelps. Like a number of other vintners in the valley, Joseph came to wine from another industry. In the 1960’s he ran one of the largest construction companies based in the USA, Hensel Phelps Construction One of his projects was to work on building the BART system in the San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Joseph's transition into the winery business started with a banker informing him of several potential winery projects in Napa and Sonoma. One of the projects was to build Souverain Winery in Napa (now Rutherford Hill Winery). After that project Joseph became interested in purchasing his own property in the valley. He acquired 600+ acres. His first vintage of Insignia was 1974. Joseph Phelps began planting grapes – varieties such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. They ultimately discovered these grapes were not suited to the particular climate of this part of the valley and they changed over to other varietals...namely Bordeaux based red varieties.The first vintage of Joseph Phelps was made at Heitz Cellars. Sadly, Bill passed away in April 2015 at 87...may he rest in peace with a glass that never empties. All and all a good life I'd say. Today his son Bill Phelps is President of winery. Not that long after Joseph's passing, Joseph Phelps opened their remolded hospitality center (photos above) located in what was the original winery building. It's sad that Joseph did not live to see it's full completion and opening. The last 1/4 of glass or less from the bottom of the bottle which; is called "The Truth" was so rich, concentrated & beautiful, I was tempted to push the rating to 9.3/9.4.
— 9 years ago

Brittany Stewart

8.9

Great celebration of new administration. Did not like as much as other dom vintages — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

I did a side by side tasting of all of the Moueix projects in Pomerol and St. Emilion (except Petrus) and this was our favorite and is wonderful for the price. It is smooth and elegant. — 5 years ago

with Rosario

Sybaritewino C.Lawrence

9.6

At 23 years of age, this wine sings with a voice of tropical notes, yet never strays too far into the realm of cloyingly annoying thanks to high notes of tongue lashing acidity. Absolutely gorgeous. Lengthier than the administration of tRump and finishing with so much more grace. — 6 years ago

with Kn

Ming L

8.9

A beautiful blend of Cab Franc and Malbec with dash of Syrah. On the nose it was a interplay between red and black fruits, violet, and hint of barnyard. Entry was smooth, fresh, and elegant, building up an intense mid palate with spice, pepper, chocolate and a long meaty finish. I really like what Marcelo Pelleriti, of 100-point Chateau La Violette and 99-point Chateau Le Guy fame, is doing with all these projects with various artist in Argentina. — 7 years ago

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.3

After a decade of bottle age and an hour of aeration, projects iron minerality, organic-matter earthiness and dark blue fruit, within a fine acid-etched silky texture. — 8 years ago

Shai Boe

9.2

Sweet for chard- company does cool environmental projects/ donations — 9 years ago

andrew spresser

9.2

Light and dry. Very good! Date of wine Sept 10 2016. — 9 years ago

Laura Ess

9.0

Obsessed with all Pinot project projects! Noir, Grigio, and rose! All 💯✨🙏🏽! — 9 years ago

with Steve