Jody Wycech

9.3

Mostly Shiraz with some small cab and merlot blends to make for a lovely red wine that went well with lamb and Rosemary. Aroma is deep and complex. I get facing notes of chocolate, vanilla and tobacco from the barrel. I get fruity notes of cherry, plum and black currant. I get light herbal notes from the soil with touches of Rosemary and pine. I get spicy notes from the yeast like cardamom and clove. The palate is full bodied with a heavy sweetness quickly balanced by very strong tannins so that it never feels too sweet or oppressive. Definitely finished with a strong tannic astrigency that would be aggressive if it wasn't scrubbing the heavy fruity sweetness. — 3 months ago

with Ethan, Peter and 1 other

Paul T HB

9.5

Nice Wednesday keto bottle, with some pesto topped barramundi
K&L notes,

This Champagne is composed of juice from all old vine Grand Cru grapes on property that used to belong to Krug right in the Cotes de Blanc… so you know they’re working with great land and great fruit. The nose is earthy, almost a little sandy toned, but there’s also good fresh fruit here with scents of citrus peel and Golden Delicious apples. The mouthfeel is soft and supple with a great apple/pear balance that becomes more intense in fruitiness and even borders on tropical flavors before coming to a gradual vanilla finish. — 4 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Certainly a very good Napa producer that still largely flies under the radar. This is delicious.

The nose is a 95. Ruby currants & cassis, dark chocolate wrapped in bright & withering dark, purple, red flowers laid on violets with baking & dark Middle Eastern spices dashed on top. Boysenberries, mulberries, slightly, candied & ruby raspberries, black raspberries, baked, black plum, strawberries on the high nose, star anise, black licorice, mocha, caramel, limestone, dry sage, thyme, touch of rosemary, dry top soil, black, rich earth, slightly moist clay with light notes of dark berry cola & dark fruit roll-ups.

The palate is; round, ripe, lush, juicy and simply delicious. The round tannins are; slightly tarry, meaty with cocoa powder. This is a good check on the 12 which, is still ascending. The structure & tension are just get to their good drinking point. The length & balance are really good with better things ahead. She is an elegant beauty. This has another 15 plus years of good drinking ahead of it. However, the 12 vintage has always drunk well young. Dark cassis & currants, boysenberries, mulberries, slightly, candied & ruby raspberries, black raspberries, baked, black plum, strawberries, star anise, black licorice, mocha, melted caramel, dark spices with lots of palate heat, vanillin, clove, nutmeg, light cinnamon, limestone, dry sage, thyme, touch of rosemary, dry tobacco, wood shavings, graphite, dry underbrush, dry top soil, black, rich earth, slightly moist clay with light notes of dark berry cola & dark fruit roll-ups. The acidity is round, voluptuous & holds the slightly elevated alcohol level. The finish is all you want in a wine; ripe, ruby, juicy, balanced with warm earthiness that slides into spices that persist endlessly.

Photos of; the rotating waterfall/ball as viewed from their amazing terrace patio, the Estate with their signature windmill, tasting room and kitchen and their patio with views of the Estate and valley floor. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; consumed over an hour. The 2018 Nostros Blend is an interesting combination of Rhône varieties. A GSM with a touch of Roussanne. The wine pours a deep garnet color with medium+ viscosity; faint staining of tears. On the nose, a combination of ripe and stewed red, black and blue fruits, oiled leather ball glove, black pepper, olive tapenade, salmiakki, tomato leaf, dry rocky minerals and just a hint of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (+?) tannin, medium acid. Alcohol is medium + but comes across a touch hot. Finish is long and spicy. My favorite red so far from Manousakis. Should drink well through the end of the decade. I can sense Laurence Féraud’s hand on this ❤️ — 2 years ago

Paul Secombe

9.4

Sadly the last bottle.. simply superb. Peppermint, black berries, plums rolled into a ball that rolls across the palate — 3 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.3

A very complete nose of brioche, citrus and apple pie. In the mouth air is needed to really give this a chance to strut its stuff. Prominent but not overwhelming acid at first but an hour of air makes this as round as a beach ball. The palate starts to duplicate the nose with an hour or so of time. Another positive ‘08 champagne ,with upside from here. — 5 years ago

Steven Lee

9.5

Friend house warming. Recent discovery of cabernet blend in beechworth is pretty good. Vanilla and chalky mineral. Abit of white paper feel. there is also some blue fruit and floral taste like pomerol. Quite smooth and elegant but still got some background bitter taste. Plum sweet — 3 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.1

87% Merlot along with Cab, Petite Sirah, and a touch of Malbec. Strawberries, boysenberries, and chocolate. — 3 years ago

Laz Ryan Lackner

9.2

An excellent Caymus wine if you want to ball on a budget. — 4 years ago

Jeff Ball

9.1

The name’s Ball... Jeff Ball and I found this champagne to have quite a bit of yeast and some caramel on the nose and palate. It was surprisingly syrupy as well. — 5 years ago