Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

8.9

2005 vintage. Tasted after being open for approx two hours. Emperor's semi-new clothes. I get that people dig this fruit bomb style but the lack of tannins/acidity leave it rather one-dimensional. The single dimension is really nice, yet not enuff to overcome needed Napa Cab balance. Ditching structure and attempting to reinvent the wheel has obviously pulled plenty of people into this producer's orbit. To each their own-orbit. 12.27.24. — a month ago

Jan de Weerd

9.5

Funky indeed. Dirt, earth and dark fruit carried by spice and a tannins. We had it with lamb, Alexia sweet potato fries and a red/golden beet salad. Perfect pairing taking it to outer orbit. — 2 years ago

with Tammy and Todd

Jan de Weerd

9.6

On to the 2012 Pontet-Canet from Paulliac paired with grilled lamb chops and made from scratch boulonese sauce. Fantastic. The wine expressed it selves very well after a good hour and half of decanting at about 60 F. The earthy umami flavors of the food propelled the wine above its weight. But the absolute best ever tasting quartered, seasoned potato wedges/fries from our guests brought the wine into outer orbit. The duck fat tasting fries revealed herbaceous floral notes on the mid palet and created a soothing long finish. With smooth fine grained tannins. — 3 years ago

with Skip and Tammy

GV

9.3

For a British brewed Schwarzbier, this is very good. — 6 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.8

Wow. Best wine of the year 😁! An elixer to lift you into outer orbit! Everything is intense. Fine grained tannins soaked in oak spice carried this dark, dark dry concentrated, dense juice on an exhilarating journey from the first touch to the long lasting finish final. Evolving complexity that started with varying layers fresh pipe tobacco and dark chocolate evolving to cigar box, earthy lead pencil minerals, and worn leather. Why is it that these mind blowing wines never have quite 750 ml in their bottles 🤔 — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Byron Fuller

9.5

Poured blind. Nose of cabernet sauvignon. Estate was located in Grignan, ie current CdR orbit (but post-war labeling hilarity / historical reference to classical Kingdom of Burgundy with capital at Arles?). Fascinating, dazzling, unexplainable. Color guesses ran ‘70s (totally clear rim, some super thin hint of browning, but still very pure dark core running almost to the edge before). Great length, but again blind we all called cabernet nose for the minty, cedary character. Body maybe suggested some cinsault, but we were all way off mark served blind. Buy at auction if ever spotted! — 3 years ago

Aravind A

9.3

Reduction, but not nearly in the same orbit as my previous btl. Beneath that, stunning: cranberry, rose, olive, rosemary. On the palate: fantastic acidity, rose, cranberry, rosemary, lovely density. Yeah, words...yum. — 3 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.7

At dinner and Sky & Sea in La Jolla were we saw a Falcon 9 rocket blast into orbit. Limited formal notes - Raspberry driven with some herbs. — 7 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.7

Fantastic. Pure, focussed, vibrant. Layers of fresh dark red fruit carried by smooth tannins slight hints of pepper. Addictive. Beautiful roasted raw, medium/raw prime rib propelled this wine to outer orbit. Boy, life can be good!! — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Jan de Weerd

9.8

And Yes! There she was, where have you been hiding??? Always great to run in a near perfect wine. That is what we live for, searching every day (actually every other day, try not to drink wine every day 😊). Bold dark fruit framed by angular tannins and a robust backbone, all in an extreme intense harmony, taking over your senses and putting you in a hypnotic trance. We set the palette with a few different hard cheeses, an aged Gouda cheese, a Harvarti and P’tit Basque (all at Costco!) which lifted the wine to outer orbit. I am writing this the next day and still haven’t quite returned to earth. — 2 years ago

with Tammy