Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.

This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I opened it and let it breathe in bottle for 45 minutes and then decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.

This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.

The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. Dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful style!

To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 6 months ago

Tara Rudo

9.1

Ginas favorite! From paradox in Stevenson — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Herbal aromas (typically Margaret River) with Geranium Capsicum and a touch of menthol. Some green notes - medium weight. Savoury wins out over Cassis and black fruits. Not in the upper echelon of Margaret River Cabernet. Just a silver medal. We went to the Cellar Door some years ago and the story goes that the Reserve Cab was served at the wedding of Prince Frederick of Denmark to Sydney Real Estate agent Mary Donaldson originally from Tasmania now Crown Princess Mary and one day will become the Queen of Denmark. Fred is a keen sailor who was representing Denmark at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and they met at Sydney hotspot The Slip Inn where Fred was flashing his Black AMEX so the story goes and was captivated by Mary and the rest is history. — 7 years ago

Clifton Jackson

9.5

My wife and I enjoyed this sparkling Blanc de Blanc/Noir with two close friends (Tom and Renee Stevenson) on our deck looking out on the water near St. Michaels, MD. The wine exploded into a creamy flood of aromatic bubbles with every sip, and proved the perfect foil for the dazzling array of both creamy and firm cheeses that our friends, both French Champagne lovers, knew would complement it. Gloria Ferrer is always a favorite stop when we visit the Napa/Sonoma area, both for the quality and diversity of their wine offerings, and the warm friendliness of the greeting that they always provide on their gorgeous elevated patio! — 8 years ago

Drink Organic

8.9

2015 vintage. 100% Chardonnay. The perfect weeknight bubbly! #organicgrapes — 8 years ago

Sarah Anne Ward

9.0

Bought this in Aldi with Frederick after he got the UN internship — 8 years ago

Ron from VA

9.2

Amazing after eight years — a year ago

William

9.0

Whitney Frederick brought. Really good. Dark brown — 4 years ago

Peter Sultan

8.9

I don’t drink many purple wines these days in fact if any, but this was a gift from a colleague & supervisee so I felt a certain obligation. Not a bad one: new oak obvious, still has some lift and floral notes through that blueberry/ blueberry pie palate. You could do a lot worse, and Frederick Wildman thought enough of it to import. Still, caveat is that not my taste but some may be wild over it ( a 92 from J Suckling?! My lord, he does score high). — 6 years ago

Flora Bokma

9.0

At a recent tasting at this winery in Walla Walla downtown tasting, it was interesting to try Spring Valley Vineyards lineup of wines. We were already familiar with their Frederick Red Blend, which we would rate very high. Katherine Cabernet Franc is also delicious, perhaps slightly less bold than the Frederick, but an excellent rich red wine too! — 7 years ago

Clifton Jackson

9.1

A shocking surprise that the cork was sufficiently intact to provide a quality wine experience ... no corking, and improved immensely over the hour while four of us sipped it. The wine had more acidity than expected, but very light on tannins and fruit ... a lot of cedar I might say, but enjoyable to see how it evolved in the glass! I’d owned the wine since 1970, with storage limited to cool basements in different houses, but no “cooking” experiences. I was hopeful since there had been no wine leakage, and the level was only 0.5” into the shoulder, but we were all still surprised. No cork debris at all went into the bottle, and upon decanting, sediment levels were revealed as extremely low. Great fun for all! Tasted with Florence Jackson and Tom and Renee Stevenson! — 8 years ago

Catherine Anderson

9.3

Smooth pinot with great after taste, very nutty earthy flavor — 8 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Biodynamic Aussie Grenache from the Hongell Vineyard’s 90 year old vines. Partial whole cluster and neutral oak. Cherry cordials. Just shy of reading jammy. Not sure what’s crossed out on the label, maybe Australian drink units?
Thoughts anyone? — 4 years ago

Harold Flamenbaum

9.4

Great with Brisket on Sept 18,2020 — 6 years ago

Enrico Nicoletta

9.5

Bright, focused and pure. Excellent richness and energy, Sava, Savart, can’t go wrong with Frederick. — 6 years ago

Chris McClellan

9.2

Wow, big over the top Shiraz...thick blackberry, black cherry, black currant, mint, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom smooth tannin, acid in check...needs two days to decant! — 7 years ago

with Ryan

Kate Rothen

8.9

Recco by som at Big Poppa. Kooky winemaker with made up name. A pirate! Looks super big and starts tannin-y but softens up nice. — 7 years ago

with Michael

Erik Wochna

9.0

12' vintage — 8 years ago

Diana Kim

10

Bomb.com ass dank ass sour. Better dan da perp scurrp. — 8 years ago

Kim Stanbro

9.2

2014. Good job, Maryland. Smoke, hay, corn husk. Also this place sells Polish Pottery. — 9 years ago

with Turd, Dave and 1 other