Running With Bulls

Domaine Masse Pere & Fils

Vieilles Vignes Côte Chalonnaise Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2023

2023 vintage. Light-medium body with a consistent palate presence. No über-demonstrative characteristics but no gaping holes either. Pleasant, pretty and unafraid to converse throughout. At $15.10 resto cost a bottle, beyond decent value with most red Bourgogne efforts running me $35-$50 these days. Picked up two cases. The proverbial cheap chicken and the nice price. 03.28.25. — 3 months ago

David, Daniel and 10 others liked this

Chatto Wines

Pinot Noir 2018

Notes of Toffee Apple initially - a little reductive to begin with. Pale dirty crimson - transparent in parts - quite Burgundian in colour. A light to medium weight palate but Medium intensity. Like a good Village, verging on Premier Cru. Interesting and tasty but needing about 4 or 5 years more to develop complexity. Jim Chatto is regarded as one of Australia’s best winemakers having been in charge at Mt Pleasant in the Hunter Valley and now running his own show in Tasmania. — 3 years ago

Ira, Eric and 18 others liked this

Alfredo Maestro (Bodegas y Viñedos Maestro Tejero)

Viña Almate Tempranillo 2018

Burly dark fruit with notes of earth/tar. Savory with a trace of dry granite running through the finish. Nice grippy tannins. Really enjoyed it. — 4 years ago

Keith and Allison liked this

Franklin Hill Vineyards

Vidal Blanc

In the running for favorite wine, neck and neck with Stony Run Riesling. Yum! — 4 years ago

Turley

Juvenile California Zinfandel 2020

Revisiting the ‘20 Juvie with two more years in the cellar in it. Pleased to say it has mellowed quite a bit — medium purple with a nose that’s bright, sweet and full of dark fruit. The palate is long and warm (no longer ‘running hot on 15% abc’ as note on release) with kirsch, plum and subtle tannins. Excellent value. — a year ago

Peter Michael Winery

'Ma Belle-Fille' Chardonnay 2018

A bold nose of apricot pastry, maybe sweet apple tart, with notes of cinnamon, pineapple and subtle sweet lemon. Medium to heavy body, beautiful deep golden color inside, with lighter gold on the edges. The palate explodes with delicate oak, orange peel, roasted pineapple, lemon peel, bright acidity, slightly burnt brioche crust, apricot and a long lingering finish of tingly acid, with a slight dryness, but it goes running forever and it’s beautiful. Maybe even a slight wet-slate minerality at the verryyyy end. — 3 years ago

Severn, Nicolas and 9 others liked this

Jarvis Winery

Will Jarvis' Science Project Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2014

Mike R
9.4

First time trying and wow - nicely woven integrated wine but my friend and fellow wine nerd @Shay A says it best so borrowing his comments from 2018 and I quote

“Jarvis winery is one of my all time favorite winery visits in Napa. Their caves are the most impressive I've seen, along with their natural springs running through the tunnels. Their merlot is my favorite out of Napa, and their
Cab Franc is a close second. This is 95% CF, 5% merlot. It balances ripe Napa CF and Loire Valley CF. Streak of green bell pepper down the middle with herbal spice, ripe
blackberry and stemmy dark fruits. There is plum, and spice cake on the finish. This needed an hour+ for the mid palate to beefen up and match the entry and finish”

Bravo and well said Shay - glad I found my patience with this wine bud
— 4 years ago

Mike, Eric and 45 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Glad you enjoyed @Mike R ! Merry Christmas my friend!
Jody Scharf

Jody Scharf Premium Badge

Merry Christmas 🌲 Mike. God bless

Terroir al Límit

Arbossar Priorat Carignan 2016

Blue-red berries layered with a pervasive malty sweetness and cocoa-accented depths. Red jolly ranchers rolled in iron and mineral dust. Robust; a bit inky, but light-footed; lively acids running through. Classy bottle; aging beautifully with a long way to go. — a year ago

Ted, Paul and 15 others liked this
Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass Influencer Badge Premium Badge

what’s the alcohol?

Majella

The Musician Coonwarra Cabernet-Shiraz Blend 2018

This wine must be the best value red in Coonawarra and also from the great 2018 vintage. Excellent value at $17.50 per bottle. Initial aromas of mint and blackberry. Excellent structure for such an inexpensive red. Bought this at the Cellar Door exactly a year ago when we were in Coonawarra doing vintage at Bellwether. Around 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Shiraz. Weirdly, another thing I liked was the really light empty glass bottle. Had my last bottle of a dozen 170 weeks later on 7th July 2025 with consistent notes. Must be in the running for best value red wine in Australia. — 3 years ago

Scott@Mister, Romain and 20 others liked this
Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Vs those crazy heavy wasteful wannabe cult wine bottles? Amen.00
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

I hate overly heavy bottles designed for novices to somehow think they are getting a quality wine based on all the weight of that extra glass. Something should be done about it. Environmentally unfriendly.

Amerighi

Cortona Syrah 2010

Still up and running
The comparison with a Cornas makes sense
I trust other vintages are even better
Quite dark fruit like blueberry
White pepper and coriander
Velvety fee
Long and intriguing

I have a feeling that my grey mood is making me underrate some wines as if i can't enjoy them fully😑
— 4 years ago

Ira, John and 9 others liked this