Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2014 vintage. This Cab Franc effort coming together nicely after a decade+. Couple that with a $33 a bottle resto cost and you've got a winner. Some chunk. Some polish. Some intrigue. Some deal. 6.3.26. — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Perhaps not quite on the same level as “La Romanée” in terms of history, but certainly in terms of exclusivity and intrigue, “Lake” is another one of those vineyards you read about, you hear whispers about, but you rarely see and even more rarely, get to experience. In fact, “Lake” is even smaller than “La Romanée”, less than half its size. The unique characteristics of the site make full ripening a challenge; it’s the coolest site at Diamond Creek and partially shaded. In the last 50 years, “Lake” has been bottled on its own 23 times. When there isn’t sufficient harvest for its own bottling, it usually gets blended into “Gravelly Meadow”. This bottle was graciously and generously brought back from the estate.

Poured into a decanter an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1996 “Lake” pours a deep garnet/purple with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with beautiful notes of cassis, tobacco, Poblano pepper, horse blanket, gravelly earth and a balanced mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. What a special wine.

If you’ve followed my tasting notes over the years, you may have caught me using the word “soul” or “soulful” to describe certain wines. For me, this describes a wine that expresses its site with a high degree of transparency and fidelity. This does not describe technical genius. In fact, the wines can often have some foibles. However, coming from me, it is the ultimate term of endearment, for whatever that is worth. Anyway, this bottle of the 1996 “Lake” has it. Drink now with patience and through 2046. — 5 months ago

Ron from VA

8.9

A very solid yet obtuse version of Aglianico compared the 2014 I had recently. This was much more similar teroldigo than the Nebbiolo-styled offering I experienced. Downside: less nuanced, a bit dull, and lacking intrigue. Pro: sturdy and effective…good for big rich foods like meat lasagna or sausage & peppers. 18$ for Kim’s  — 4 years ago

Steven Beishuizen

9.3

The intrigue here starts with the nose... On the nose, there's a ton going on with blackberry, mint, and eucalyptus... On the palate, this is fresh blackberry, raspberry, and a great red currant note. Very earthy and deep here... Big but powdering out tannin... Significant nutmeg throughout. A long, wispy finish. — 5 years ago

with Anita

Tanya Koob

10

Great summer wine with a robust flavor — 6 years ago

Patrick Derdeyn

9.2

This wine really shows sonoma coast, very dark fruit but not at all heavy, also has a really nice tarry note on the mid palate that adds intrigue. Framed by medium+ acidity I think these will improve for a a few years, but all of mine are already gone! — 8 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2023 vintage. Light-medium/medium body. Gorgeous color. Musky, mountain morning nose. Plenty of flavors in the palate bouncehaus but none of them fall completely out and are forced to wait out a turn. Nice balance framed with intrigue. Existing acidity cuts through cream sauces or garlic butter but pleasant enough to tackle on its own. Very unexpected and the nice price (< $20 USD). Will keep this one on the short list. 4.1.26. — 3 months ago

with Pinotman

Mark Rosse

9.3

Made with assistance of Jean-Marc Roulot. Picking up some nuance and intrigue since last bottle. — 3 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Thought this blind was an aged red burg, so colour me surprised when it was revealed to be a young NZ pinot. Clearly a little more developed than it should be (colour and aromas), but credit where credit’s due, this was quite elegant. Even after the reveal I could not detect that marmalade finish I find so often in NZ pinot’s. This was all red cherries and ripe strawberries, with savoury spices and earthy notes. Perhaps the quality of the oak, which left much to be desired, and rich velvety texture were the only indications of it’s origin. Finished a touch short. There were wines with more intrigue on the table so I didn’t drink much of it, but it definitely wasn’t a bad drop. One to revisit. — 4 years ago

Alexis M

9.5

From Spokane trip for magoo reunion years ago. Visited this winery. Very drinkable and smooth! — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

8.9

I’m not that into this one. It HAS TO BE ICONIC. But Iconic leads to over extracted over sexed over. Just lacking finesse. Lacking intrigue. Don’t get me wrong. It’s delicious and I don’t mind drinking it and can age in the bottle but it’s missing it’s MOJO. #petitesirah #alicantebouschet #zinfandel and #carignane #sonoma #sonomacounty — 6 years ago

NJ Lim

10

Christmas 2019 cheer! An amazing smooth Syrah. The best I've had so far in my wine appreciation journey of 3 yes so far! — 6 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

If you look up tasting notes for the 2008 Abtserde, you'll come upon a common trait - green and herbal... MFW goes as far to say "as if Sauvignon Blanc has crossed the wine". Odd, yet undeniable when tasting the wine. So let me present the clincher - there's some whole bunch in the ferment.

What?! Whole bunch in a white ferment?! From KP of all people... But there's a damn good reason for this - it's to tame the wild acidity of the vintage... And let's not even talk about Abtserde being typically the most laser-focused site of KP's. Perhaps not a necessity, but sure is an interesting take on tackling deacidification in a natural manner.

For me, the 2008 Abtserde is incredibly special. There's so much pleasure in the power and salinity, yet intrigue in the herbal tones. But most of all, it feels personal... Like how I desire to make wines inspired by KP one day... KP made this wine inspired by the ideas of someone he holds in high esteem, Bernd Phillipi... This resonates with me... I don't know how to express this properly... But it's like the comfort of knowing that great wines didn't start out of nowhere... And that there's a chance in grasping the whole idea of great wine one day. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Perhaps the most interesting & intriguing older wine/Barolo I’ve had in memory. It showed its tannin profile and fruit. Tart and just gently sweet cherries, tomato leaf, soft, almost sweet tarriness, light tobacco & leather. Group intrigue. Special.

Happy birthday to me. — 3 months ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

Medium in body, fresh and driven, the 2022 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is pretty forward in its red-fruited profile, but it also possesses a core of stern, rocky minerality. An enticing air of highlands herbs and sweet lavender adds further intrigue. Juicy, sweet raspberry, clove and a kick of toasty French oak sweetness make the 2022 an inviting choice for drinking over the next several years. (Billy Norris, Vinous, August 2024)
— 2 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

A Nerello mascalese from the slopes of Mnt Edna in Sicily. Easy drinking light red wine full of intrigue. Earthy mineral undertones integrated with dry raspberry and red berries. — 4 years ago

with Tammy

Will Stanley

9.7

Simply one of the greatest wines I’ve ever tried to date, the 1961 Real Vinicola is my first venture into mature Port and a complete eye-opener to this style of wine.

A veritable miracle on opening, the wine has a clear brick-red colour and a hauntingly beautiful nose. There are exotic aromas of toasted nuts, dried cherry, fig, raisin, lavender and clove; it’s a wine you don’t need to taste for a long time, such is the intrigue up front. The palate, then, is explosive for a wine of this age, almost full bodied with great complexity and acidity that belies its six decades of life.

The finish is staggeringly long, with a lasting impression on the palate. A new and totally enthralling experience for me in the world of wine. — 4 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.0

Honied florals, crisp yellow apple and hints of citrus set the stage for soothing textures that balance ripeness of fruit against stimulating mineral tones. A sweet-and-sour sensation creates further intrigue, as well as lending a drink-me-now persona to the wine. $18.00 (Eric Guido, Vinous, August 2020) — 6 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.4

Again my kind of wine. Thank you Don — 7 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

Seamless and put together like a championship team. Lots of moving parts and versatility striving towards a single goal. RFG (really effing good). A decent amount of mystery and intrigue as well. — 8 years ago