Greg

9.3

Certainly one of the most interesting and delicious wines of 2021. From grapes, a producer and a region I have little familiarity with. Cave de la cote was winery of the year and this wine, a hybrid blend of gamay and ancellota aged 18 months in oak is wonderful. Tense with great acid, fruity and aromatic (violet, rose and blackberry) from the moscato terpene influence this is a wine that would pair amazing with a pork chop, schnitzel or a steak with egg noodles. — 3 years ago

Greg

9.3

Philip Mazzei of Tuscany influenced and informed Thomas Jefferson’s insights in drafting our Constitution. This is a most patriotic wine. Aged cab from Toscana is treat when done well and this is a consistent winner at a fraction of the cost of the Bolgheri brigade. This wine tends to require age and over time it softens, integrates its oak and acid and is a perfect foil for bistecca fiorentina. — 4 years ago

Greg

10

Wow. compared at some point by an Italian sommelier like a 1990 Sandrone Cannubi Barolo this really is a fantastic wine worth exploring now and again in 5, 10 and 20 years. I know you will question the price for Santa Barbara county but this wine is a line in the sand. It’s one of the wines from the county that demonstrate the power and potential of Bordeaux blends from Happy canyon . Hope you have a chance to appreciate one of the the last 120 btls. — 5 years ago

Greg

9.4

New project from luis duarte an expert in alentejo. Arinto elevated and fermented in concrete. Really lovely lemon curd, wet stone and mouth watering finish. — 3 years ago

Greg

9.7

This was 100pts and James Suckling #1 wine in 2019 it was great and still young. Benefits from 1 hour of air, like most brunelli. Incredibly balanced and wonderful umami, tea leaf, leather, kirsch and just yum. Fabu wine that I’ll cellar at least a 6pk of to enjoy Over the years to come. — 4 years ago

Greg

9.0

Drinking something unique and old like this is often a joy. But, I’d put this in the interesting but not delicious category. Brown like a Solera sherry, I can really only imagine this wine working in a haute cuisine pairing. Or in Sardinia on a cliff overlooking the sea, eating fried fish or some pecorino with tartufo and nuts as an antipasto. — 4 years ago

Greg

9.4

Super high quality Shea vineyard from a true Pinot auteur. Tension, leather, dried cranberry, exquisite oak profile and a long life ahead. My only regret is that i don’t have another 6 btls. — 5 years ago

Greg

9.5

In a prime drinking window at 9 years young this is clearly a Bordeaux inspired masterpiece from knights valley. If it had a napa Ava, it would be 2-3x the price. I’m struggling to recall a better cab or Bdx blend from sonoma. Will definitely drink more of this wine. Bravo Luc. — 4 years ago

Greg

9.4

Hard to be objective about this OG wine from a fellow Stanford alum. Really love this vineyard and this wine at 10 years young was probably still baby killing. Could easily go another 20+ years. Although it was perfect tonight with a handmade summer burger and tater tots! Really top shelf Malbec and a $100 wine from Argentina really does compare to a $200+ wine in Bordeaux or Napa. — 4 years ago

Greg

9.5

An experience wine to know, love and appreciate the history and genius of Bob Lindquist in birthing Santa Barbara/Central Coast as one of the great wine regions of the world. Here is proof. At 22 years young, a revelation in ageable Rousanne From Alban vineyard. Reduced with some matchstick, the fruit is mostly cider apples, but the long oak toast and yeasty, buttery golden color and honeyed deliciousness make this a wine to remember. Most will dismiss it as lightly oxidized, nutty or flat. But, there is charm and intrigue and the right pairing will entrance those who love wines from Jurancon and appreciate aged whites.
Glad I have more to share in the years to come. — 5 years ago