Bob McDonald

9.1

A beautiful rich, plush full bodied McLaren Vale Shiraz. Trial sentence. I can continue. Well performed on the Australian Show Circuit. Even though Innocent Bystander is based in the Yarra Valley the fruit for this Cuvée came from the Gateway biodynamic vineyard in McLaren Vale. Supple and delicious with that spicy overlay and soft tannins. — a month ago

Jack Petras

9.1

If there was a poster for “ food friendly” wine this 2019 would be on it. Nearly perfect in every way. Light lively fresh , fruity, earthy, deep, lingering, literally mouthwatering. A Thursday night wine when your week is just about over and you have a veal parmagiana heating up. Here’s to the simple pleasures of life. — 4 years ago

Adam Kincaid

8.9

This was an easy drinking little gem that we enjoyed over a few hours. Dark red and looking luscious, it’s aromas came streaming out in a harmonious orchestra of manly musks: smoky leather, dark cherry, and soft floral arrangements. Handsome. Drinking offers other pleasures like earthy minerality and spiced plum pie. — 5 years ago

with Jillian

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

8.9

Weeknight guilty pleasures wine — 5 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.2

Soft, silken goodness! Old Rioja is one of my guilty pleasures. Tobacco, leather, medium weight. Age has only partially completed its work... acid/ fruit balance .... tannins are resolving, sharp notes are becoming round and supple. This wine sings with roast pork shoulder. — 6 years ago

Keith Crump

9.2

My last bottle of this 2016 it’s a wonderful exuberant Chardonnay full of bright citrus and peach not bombarded with oak but generous to a fault I need to try and find some more and put them away for. time may unlock even more pleasures — 7 years ago

Tom Inners

9.5

Falling for all the first hints of autumn. Tonight, it’s roasted Red Kuri squash and Chassagne-Montrachet. This wine is in a great place, striking its balance between fresh, vibrant acid structure on the palette and seductive toasted hazelnuts, toasted sesame, and red apple spice driving the nose. Marzipan / almond skin, oxidized apples, pastry dough, and green carrot tops are amongst some of the deeper pleasures of the nose of this wine. Delicious!
Perfectly paired with Gillian Welch & Lucinda Williams in the speakers. — 8 years ago

Brian Hearty

9.2

2023. Dark berries and Italian Plum. Rich body without the heavy tannins that young Petite Sirah can have. — a month ago

with joe and Paul

Erik Longabardi

9.0

The simple pleasures can be truly gratifying. — 3 years ago

Mark Howard

9.8

WOW! One of the best pleasures in life is enjoying a spectacular wine at its pinnacle. Tonight was one of those nights. Dining with life long friends we enjoyed this wine. A dear friend selected this bottle as a backup for dinner. A definite case of Wally Pip taking the day off. This wine is not just peaking, it sings from the glass. Everything you expect from a classic Napa Cab with the style, elegance, and finesse of a First Growth in spades! You want aromatics, here is red and black fruits, cigar tobacco, lavender, anise, scorched earth, Asian spice…okay so we drifted into mid palate yummy flavors. A finish that lingers while dancing over the palate for more than 30 seconds, titillating the taste buds into pleasurable submission. Did I mention the WOW factor? This wine has it! Where can we find more?!?? What a spectacular selection! — 4 years ago

with Elizabeth

Bob McDonald

9.3

One of the pleasures in life is having a 10 year old Clare Valley Riesling. Had the last one a year ago in August 2020. This time some kerosene notes creeping in with the peachy notes. Honeyed nuances on the palate. Delicious. Diminished acid but could be kept for a few more years. A little chalky minerality. I think I have one left. — 5 years ago

Pat Taylor

9.3

I’m getting a real taste for these delicious aged rieslings. This is the second bottle of this vintage I’ve had, and man - it was rocking. It’s in such a perfect place right now. Ripe acidity balanced with the sweetness of honey, caramel apple, brûlée’d peach, kerosene and lilac flower. I’m making a mental note to buy more for the cellar. Despite the wait, these are too good to rob your future self of their pleasures. Yum. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A little cool coming out of the cellar. 2 of life’s great pleasures / an aged Margaret River Cabernet and a grass fed Rib Fillet. You would not pick this as 16 years old in a blind tasting. My wife and I traditionally do this exercise and she is usually very close but missed this one by 9 years! Initial herbal bracken aromas with some berry notes still persisting in this warmer year. On the palate savoury yet fleshy berry flavours with M+ intensity finishing with fine powdery Tannins. So lively and fresh I will leave my last one until 2023 for its 20th Birthday. — 7 years ago

Scott Rowe

9.5

Perfect Sunday Spring sunshine vino.
Cheers to life’s simple pleasures! — 8 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.1

Blackberry, cassis, vanilla, coconut, dark chocolate, smoked ribs, forest floor, graphite, game, leather, sweet baking spices. Such an oak bomb but with loads of grilled meaty ashy charcoal. Wet crushed dark stones. Guilty pleasures. — 2 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

A well-made Valpo is one of life’s simple pleasures. This one certainly is. Light, great fruit, nice acids. Perfect for chicken roll-ups with prosciutto and Swiss cheese braised in white wine. — 3 years ago

Willem Booij

9.3

One off the great pleasures working in the wine business is a midweek bottle from El Jeffe. This is a great example of what a great winemaker can do in a lesser year. Just a very good wine with a aftertaste as long as my trip home. — 4 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.3

Buddha’s hand citrus, lots of crushed rock, flint, chalk on the nose. Such an interesting expression, green grass on the palate which is very tart and crisp with just a hint of butterriness. Super herbal, very dry finish so this seems austere at first but its pleasures creep up on you as you keep coming back for more. Structure is evident though it’s just started to take on volume. — 5 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

1am guilty pleasures wine. — 7 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has spicy cherry, tanned leather, juiced raspberry-blackberry, cigar box, cocoa nibs, exceptional.

Palate has blackberry reduction, ripe cherry mash, moist leather, cedar shavings, light mocha, nice acidity and dissipating tannins are gentle, long finish.

We've been enjoying these Heredia crianzas for many years, but they do need time to settle in and we're still drinking these too young, but damn they are guilty pleasures.

Decanted 2+hrs, drink now or enjoy over the next 4-6 years without concern.

$22, yes I know that reads like a crazy price, because it is, only patience is required! — 7 years ago