Bruce Dunbar

9.0

It’s not just the name of the 2018 Under the Wire Alder Springs Sparkling Pinot Noir that is more than a mouthful. This is a beautiful, multi-layered sparkler with floral notes, hints of fragrant herbs and strawberry along with crisp acidity and a subtle mousse. It’s somewhere between a white and rosé, having taken on a copper hue from brief skin contact. The Alder Springs is a great food wine with room to develop. — 5 days ago

Erica Wheeler

9.0

Spicy, easy to drink red. — 2 years ago

ESF

9.3

Purchased at winery: legit Priorato here with that schisty style, took forever to open, disintegrated cork, and I almost lost hope - eventually yielded stunning eclectic & complex nose of dusty minerals, cherry & blackberry compote, medicinal, spice, a hi-toned note, really evolving. Smooth rich luxurious on palate, great density & mouthfeel, tons of minerals & red & black fruit w/just enough acidity to balance it all out. Persistent finish. This isn’t their hi end bottling, and it isn’t Clos Mogador or anything like that, but this is absolutely Priorato with some more life ahead. — 3 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.3

2015. Side by side compassion to the 2014. Strong love. — 5 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This one is a 93+ at this stage with room for improvements with some more age.

The Farella showed a more savory character than the rest. It’s body thicker than the others. Ruby; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries & raspberries. Herbaceous notes, soft minerality-rock powder, limestone, volcanics and just drying top soil, dry tobacco, sandalwood, perfectly executed baking spices, dark spice, vanillin, withering dark, red, blue and violets, nice round acidity, nice tension, structure, well knitted & balanced structure with an excellent full minute finish.

Pano photo of Pritchard Hill from the estate (what a stunning view), barrel room, the estates wine collection; which given the excellent producers in it (bottles of Petrus just one of very expensive producers), I’d be a little earthquake nervous & lay some thin wire over the bottles to hold them in place and their tank room. — 10 months ago

Natalia Ignatenko

10

Amazing wine served in Hisa Franko. — 4 years ago

Michael Burns

9.4

Lemon, grass, passion fruit, great texture — 4 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2021 vintage. Well-made. Slightly plushy but verry pricey for just Willamette Valley juice. Would spend the extra ca$hi$h for single vineyard offerings from this producer this vintage. 5.1.24. — 7 months ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2012 was a good vintage but was never going to age as many thought. That is not to say this 2012 is not in perfect form now. Still not happy the family cashed out and sold this Napa pioneer winery to a corporation that had no previous wine experience. As well, eliminated the last free tasting in Napa, which included their Maratha’s Vineyard. These corporations pay a top price for these grand wineries and then squeeze it. That’s just what corporations do. So disappointing!

The 12 is smooth as silk. Nothing that bites back. Fresh, ripe; blackberries, black plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries. Mid, Indian spice, nutmeg, cinnamon stick, crushed rocks, dry twig, mid cola, brilliant, fresh, red & dark, violet florals, amazing acidy, well structured & balanced, easy tension with two minute ruby polished wire to wire finish. — a year ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

2005 such an amazing vintage.

The 05 Pipeau is a bottle that I’ve looked at in my EuroCave for awhile & have passed on it for bigger name producers. But, not tonight w/o disappointment. Especially, for $25 a bottle upon release.

It took a small glass & a few sips to get there. I’m there now.
.
Ruby, Claret in a classic style.

Showing the beauty of the age & vintage. Ruby, inky, ripe, slightly candied; blackberries, black raspberries, black cherries, raspberries, dried strawberries & notes of dry cranberries. Dry top soils, dark, rich, forest floor, river stones, dry tobacco, graphite, dark, grey volcanics, limestone/sandstone, anise to black licorice, dark, sweet tarriness, dry, dark dates, steeped tea with dark, withering florals that are also, red, purple and red. The acidity is mountain, cool, stream like and elegant finish that set nicely wire to wire with persistence.

Good first look and will drink well for another 15 years with proper storage.

Allen Brothers Ribcap...10 — 4 years ago