Jay Kline

9.3

I’ve often struggled to appreciate Beaucastel, particularly when young. However, the more often I drink older Beaucastel, I find myself slowly starting to understand why these wines are so important.

Opened about two hours prior. The 2001 Beaucastel pours a pale, slightly hazy garnet with a watery rim. Medium+ viscosity with signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Strawberry preserves, leather, bacon fat, and some chicory. On the palate, medium tannin, medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Is this the most powerful expression of Chateauneuf du Pape? No. But it’s balanced, complex and it makes me think and I like that.

As a sort of epilogue, I was able to enjoy this bottle with someone who drinks old Beaucastel more regularly than I do. He described this bottle as being one that is in-between plentitudes; which makes sense as some of the tertiary characteristics are beginning to show themselves. Subsequently, you can drink now but this will likely enter a new dimension in the next few years. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

The 2020 vintage presented many challenges for wine producers around the world but the fires in California added a layer of complexity that nobody needed. Many of the producers I enjoy didn’t even make red wine and if they did, it was never released. For some, the effects were more catastrophic. Unfortunately for McHenry Vineyard, the situation was the latter. Not only was the entire crop lost to smoke taint in the CZU Lighting Complex Fire but the winery and most of the structures on the property were destroyed. They even lost some of the majestic redwoods that have surrounded the vineyard for centuries. Despite the pandemic and the destruction, Brandon and Annelisa were resolved to rebuild. However, with the crop lost and nowhere to make wine for the foreseeable future, they had to enlist some help. In the near term, Brandon was able to purchase fruit from the Christie Vineyard in Corralitos (the longtime source for Storrs Winery & Vineyard) and John Benedetti of Sante Arcangeli came in the with the assist; just as he had in the production of the 2019 vintage. The fruit from Christie Vineyard is more Dijon heavy than McHenry’s estate vineyard but John did a great job of honoring the McHenry approach and style. The results were remarkable.

Popped and poured and enjoyed over a four hour period, the 2020 McHenry “Christie Vineyard” pours a bright, luminous ruby color with a transparent core. No obvious staining of the tears; medium+ viscosity. On the nose, bright ripened cherries, raspberries, roses, cloves and other spices. The wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. The finish is long. The overall impression is fresh, juicy and full of life. Like all vintages of McHenry, production is minuscule with only 150 cases produced.

As a sort of epilogue, Mother Earth giveth and taketh away. For all of the gifts that California’s climate brings to the production of wine, they are not immune to the whims of nature and these sorts of stories are becoming more and more common. With that being said, there have been at least two other occasions in McHenry’s past where they have been forced to purchase fruit or choose not release wine due to fire or pests. Unfortunately, this will probably not be their last but as long as they are determined to make beautifully balanced Pinot Noir way up on Bonny Doon Road, I will be drinking them. — 3 years ago

John Kanellopoulos

9.6

The best of the best, this wine deserves the premier position at the 1855 Bordeaux classification. I cannot imagine a better epilogue after a superb meal by supreme French chef Emmanuel Renault! — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Sangiovese from Toscano and the other from the Southern Rhone (which was later to be revealed as a 2010 Chateau Rayas). This poured a deeper garnet color with a nearly opaque core. On the nose, it smelled Italian. Tart cherries, black tea, dried herbs, dusty earth and some dried spices too. On the palate, the wine was bone dry and medium+ across the board. This came across very traditional in terms of winemaking which I found very attractive yet, this was holding something back. Almost like it was opened ten years too soon. I thought about a young Pergole Torte…then it was revealed to be a 2012 Biondi-Santi Riserva. Wow…no wonder! A lovely wine with a bright (and long) future ahead of it but I would hold these for later if I had some in my cellar. Best after 2030. — 3 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.5

The nose explodes with precise aromas of dried flowers, orange rind, raspberry, wild blueberry, white pepper, smoky earth and forest floor with an almost Burgundian level of finesse. Made from a single vineyard parcel with 66% whole bunch fermentation and aged partially in concrete and 400 liter Austrian oak barrels, the 2020 Epilogue Syrah offers a streamlined, elegant mouthfeel with pixelated tannins and a terrific freshness. Full-bodied, tightly structured and at only 13.5 vol., this wine is worth hunting for. Drink from 2025 until 2035. — 3 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.2

Mastery Champagne style blend of Chardonnay and Malvasia - buy with frequency.

Spiced rye bread and lemon zest. Teeny bubbles with high pitched lemon, jasmine, yellow apple.

Bone dry racing acid and zippy. Also rich and round in the epilogue. — 5 years ago

Adriel Lares

Vintner/Owner Memento Mori

9.1

Still has the aromatics. Prologue and mid chapters but no epilogue. Still hanging in there but on its last legs. — 10 years ago

Jay Kline

10

Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Southern Rhone and the other wine, Sangiovese from Toscano (it ended up being a 2012 Biondi Santi Riserva). This presented a bright ruby color in the glass with a transparent core. This wine…had an OMG nose. The kind of aromatics that could end all wars and bring a century of peace to all mankind. It’s both powerful and elegant. Both ripe and fresh. An androgynous wine that represents both masculine and feminine with a grace that would make Prince or David Bowie envious. Gorgeously layered red and dark fruits, exotic spices, licorice and garrigue wrapped in the most beautifully textured package imaginable. It reminded me of something similar a previous experience; like Fonsalette…but this was different, there was more here. When you taste this, everything becomes clear. You look at everyone at the table differently; for what you have more in common instead of what makes us different. An experience akin to an Odesza show on MDMA. It’s that profound and then you are forever changed. You wake up the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that and weeks go by and your worldview is different. You see love in everything. And then it was revealed to be a 2010 Chateau Rayas. *Insert expletive*. A magnificent wine. An epiphany and, as far as I’m concerned, perfect. This is not merely a great Chateauneuf du Pape. This transcends the appellation. It should be its own AOC. Drink now or whenever you’re reading this note. — 3 years ago

Fredrik Finn

9.3

The master of Chianti Rufina, Selvapiana’s Flagship wine. The Riserva Bucerchiale is a stunner and a bargain at 288 SEK (29EUR). Youthful and would do well with a couple of years on its back, but as its open and invites you to its inner soul it presents a gorgeous mix of red and dark fresh berries with floral minty streak lying a par with incense, herbs, licorice with cold steel and gravel that is luring in the background.
Fresh acidity and plenty of gripping tannins holds the palate in a firm grip as its walks through a fresh but concentrated and evolving palate with a good stamina cross the mid plate through a complete and long finish.
Stock up on this one and drink from 2023 and onwards.
Epilogue: very positive development over two days, fruit turns sweeter, more florals emerge and palate is overall more approachable, yet I stand firm that it will be even better after a couple of years in bottle. 93+
— 5 years ago

Andy Hock

9.1

Key lime and jasmine. Mellow and full palate. Pleasant bright acid epilogue. Diggin' it. — 8 years ago