Jay Kline

9.3

I sort of forgot that today marked the 50th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris and this was the best I could do to celebrate in the moment; a wine from a participating producer but in the red category, instead of white. From magnum, the 2010 “Elivette” pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, Fresno chili, dried purple flowers, purple SweeTarts, tobacco, some dried herbs and fine spices with minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ viscosity and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is long with ferrous minerals. Tasty stuff. Drink now with some patience and through 2040. Bottle No. 095/900 magnums. — a month ago

Wulf Losee

9.2

Anise and fresh leather on the nose. Chalky dry tannins on the front of the palate that lack any expression of fruit (!). If you’ve been following my reviews, you may have observed I enjoy minerally taste profiles, so, this doesn’t offend me in the least— but it is very surprising to taste it on the front  of the palate (because I didn’t think I had taste receptors for that sort of thing on the front of the tongue). To be doubly confusing the fruit appears briefly on the mid palate as candied cherries. But before it can become offensively saccharine, the fruit is quickly replaced by burnt umber dry notes—along with a cool minty substrate—that yield a very loooong finish.

I just realized that I sucked down half a bottle while trying to evaluate this wine. I initially gave it a 9.0 rating but I’m going up it to 9.2, because this wine is intriguing and it kept my interest.
— 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

Nose is ripe. Caramel, sultana, dark black cherries, tree bark, black berry, this is a ripe and dark Pinot nose but has stunning freshness and after some swirling, clearly defined minerality. So pretty and so mesmerizing. Palate is just incredible. Rich and creamy but with stunning freshness and an assault of minerality. This needs a minimum decant of 45 minutes to an hour as it’s got a lot going on and needs to sort itself out. Amazing balance and purity and this is the most large scaled Max wine I’ve had but still is balanced and delicate. Big, substantial tannins. This needs, actually demands 5-7 years in the cellar. Tangy, juicy fruit on the impressively large and long finish. 9.4 for now. I’ll be back.

Yea baby this has come around. Palate is rich and has insane freshness and acids to counteract. They really nailed 18 in Baden. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured from my cellar. The cork was absolutely perfect. The 2005 pours a rather turbid, deep garnet at nearly 17 years old. There's quite a bit of fine sediment that clings to the edge of the glass with each swirl. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, this was initially a bit grumpy but within minutes, it relaxed and started to show some real charm. A fully developed wine, this is becoming a bit of a Leather Daddy, full of leather (obviously), bruised and desiccated red, black and blue fruits, Christmas spice fruit cake, coffee, damp earth, and candied nuts. On the palate, the fruit remains quite stunning and confirms the mix of bruised and desiccated fruit with a sort of sherried character. Loads of salmiakki (salted licorice), spiced nuts, pepper, coffee and, you guessed it, leather. The wine was dry, technically, but almost gives the sensation of some RS with all of the over-ripe fruits and the texture was almost sappy, in some ways. However, while this was absolutely rich and well-endowed, it was not cloying. Tannins have fully integrated (though still present) and the acid was like a girdle keeping everything held together. This remains a rather large personality even if it's showing its age. Definitely in a lovely spot...but how much longer will that last? If this wasn't my last bottle, I would probably be drinking these over the next five years unless you want the full Leather Daddy experience...which is okay if that's your thing. — 4 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.2

Sticking with the “great wines from grapes you’ve never heard of” theme for a while longer, why not join me for a sip of this alpine gem. Grown in the northerly reaches of Italy’s Valle d’Aosta, just over the border with France and Switzerland, and in some of Europe’s highest altitude vineyards (1200 meters) this wine is made from the Prié Blanc grape. Prié Blanc is the region’s only indigenous white grape, and is rarely found within the Valle d’Aosta, let alone outside of it. Vibrating with mineral intensity, the wine tastes of green apple, lemon cucumber, dried honey, and a hint of herbs. Electric acidity and a sort of peach-pit tanginess linger in the finish. Because the region is mostly tiny growers, Cave Mont Blanc is a cooperative, and a very high-quality one at that. — 5 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.0

Citrus-saline accord. Very rounded and modern. Creamy, rich. It is sort of like a salty cross between the richness of a village meursault with chablis minerality. Very well-made, but as to type rather beguiling. — 5 years ago

with Alsu

Jay Kline

9.6

Double-decanted the night before; enjoyed over several hours out of red Solo cups. It’s been several years since my last experience with the 2005 Blanc. The extended air treatment ahead of service is now customary for me with the Blanc and Rosé in particular. The entire bouquet has a chance to unfurl. The wine pours a deep golden color. On the nose, the wine is vinous and recalls my previous experience with the 2005 Blanc: redolent of ripe stone fruits, some dried citrus, wild flower honey, echinacea, marzipan and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with slightly bitter, testa/skin coat sort of flavor. Fabulous texture. At this rate, I expect well stored cellared examples to drink well beyond my original assessment several years ago. Drink now through 2045+ — 8 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.2

She is red-fruit forward, she has brioche touches and sea salt nuances on the nose. The palate is that sort of balance there isn’t a proper word for but gosh it’s there. Finishes slightly toasty with a zip of lemon and a squeeze of cranberry. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Pop and poured; consumed over five days. Best on day three and four. The 2016 pours a deep garnet, bearing purple with a near opaque core. Medium+ viscosity with some fine sediment. On the nose, brambles, garrigue, lavender and borsellino. It sort of reminds me of a damp earthen basement in the most endearing of ways. On the palate, the wine the dry; medium+ tannins that build through day four before softening. Acid is medium. The fruit set from the nose is confirmed…it’s a lot of delicious fruit with some leather, black pepper and earth. Long finish. These needed some time and the rewards are beginning to show. I have another bottle left and I’ll save that for a few years down the road. — 4 years ago

Adam Shobert

9.1

Sort of exactly what I wanted right now. Kinda farm funky, totally spicy and black fruited with notes of smoked meat, paprika, burnt rosemary. Really soft on the palate with pure fruit and nice acidity on a long finish. Yum. — 4 years ago

Jack Goldenberg

9.3

I’ve read the other comments and I sort of disagree. ‘83 was a classic year in Bordeaux. This is Classic Mouton Rothschild. The wine is fully aged, but it evolved after being opened and decanted for an hour. The fruit came out and the wine showed great power. It was delightful!
— 4 years ago

with Linda

Daniel Bloom

9.4

Beautifully Salty, sort of pear/ Green apple goodness. On a hot August eve, that funk is quite refreshing.
As Townsend said” Extra, extra, miracle cure”
Wow…The beach. — 5 years ago

Wulf Losee

9.8

2018 vintage tasted June 2021. If I were to blind-taste this wine, I would have never guessed it’s a Cab! I think I’d say it was some sort of weird blend of Pinotage and Merlot. But if the tasting judge pulled off the wrapper, I would smack my forehead in embarrassment and exclaim, “of course it’s a Cab, but it’s soooo unique!” The tannic structure is not what you get from a Cab from its optimal growing regions (Napa, Sonoma, Coonawarra). The body is lighter, and its medium tannic structure lets a lot of spice through. I don’t think it’s quite as good as the 2016 vintage, but I have to give it same 9.8 rating which I gave the 2016. Maybe I should edit my 2016 rating and push it up to 9.9? (I’ve never given a wine a 10 or even a 9.9, but maybe I’m being too much of a wine snob?) Anyway, I taste so few wines at this level of sophistication that I worry I am underrating it and that I’m not damning it with faint 9.8 praise.

This wine is young, but I’m sure it will be fully drinkable in 20 years (long after I’m gone!). But I’m not sure it will get any better with age—rather it will only change from great to a different great.

Tasting notes: cinnamon and blackberries on the nose. Dry red fruit on the front. Medium tannic structure—not silky, but not puckery. It has a long finish with all sorts of spicy post-orgasmic pleasures.

All I can say is, if it you can get yourself on the Quilceda Creek mailing list, you will be blessed, and you will be one of the coolest wine drinkers around. — 5 years ago

J Greene

9.3

Beautiful nose on this, remembering why I bought this while in the tasting room in Sta. Rita Hills (nice little spot in Los Olivos, highly recommend). Med+ intensity on the nose with bright cherry and strawberry. A bit of cedar/vanilla, but not much. Floral notes that almost turn to candy or runts. Nice on the palate too with a big pop of red fruit, med+ acidity and nice fine, integrated tannins. Long finish that sort of turns from sweet to tart cherry. Just a really nice wine. I scored a 93 but guessing this will improve and become a bit more elegant with a few more years. — 8 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.8

A aus Abtserde from young vines. Nose unmistakable Keller. Depth of flavour through the roof with tropical fruits lingering in the background. Strength, balance and precision. Could still taste this minutes later...wow.
Drinking this sort of wine is always a privilege and should be done with excellent friends! — 2 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.6

This is a find. Tiny appellation Saint-Pourçain smack in the middle of France, renowned in the Middle Ages but sort of forgotten today. 70% Chardonnay, 30% tressalier (Sacy). Honeysuckle nose, pear. Rich luxurious palate unfolds like velvet curtains all balanced out by coursing acidity & mineral notes. Judicious buttery oak notes play second fiddle supporting the fruit. Stone fruit. Wow. 😍 @Lyle Fass @Matthew Cohen — 4 years ago

with Alsu

Jay Kline

9.3

Over the last few years, I’ve grown quite fond of Raul Pérez’s wines. The challenge is, some of them can be rather elusive. “La Penitencia” is one of those wines. So I was pretty excited to try this. Popped and poured; consumed over three days. Wine pours deep ruby bordering purple and slightly turbid with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity. There does appear to be a small amount of fine sediment clinging to the side of the glass. On the nose, the wine is intense. There’s obvious presence of VA and overall, comes across natty; more than any other Raul Pérez wine I’ve had before. That being said, it is remarkably fresh with notes of cherry and blackberry; the pits, seeds, stems and all. There’s also spices, cinder block, and un-excavated basement. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+, bordering on high acid. Again, bright red and dark fruits along with pomegranate, grapefruit, and basil. The finish is a touch mousey with a biscuity sort of thing happening but it’s tolerable and I’m pretty sensitive. This would be too wild for many. Reminds me a bit of Fabio Gea’s “Onde Gravitational”. Plenty of life ahead for these. As it stands, I have another bottle and I won’t be in any particular rush to drink it. Lovely stuff. — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This was a fun one. A friend of mine, a wine guy that predominately drinks new world Cabernet Sauvignon, was visiting my place and wanted to try something from the old world. I figured it might be fun to try two different expressions of Syrah from the Rhône; one from the North (Auguste Clape’s “Le Vin des Amis” with vines located in and around Cornas) and one from the South (Chateau Fortia “Reserve” from Chateauneuf du Pape). Both bottles were from the same vintage and aged (at least partially) in foudre. Popped and poured. “Le Vin des Amis” appears as a deep, glass staining purple color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, high intensity with purple flowers and a powerful bacon fat/deli case smell. Funky, but not in a barnyard sort of way; more like a reductive sort of way. The funk eventually blew off after 15-20 minutes. There are blue fruits with a generous amount of black pepper. On the palate, blue and red fruits with black pepper, lavender and iron-like minerals. Medium tannin, Medium+ acid. Medium alcohol. Long, lip smacking finish. A very giving wine that punches way high above its weight class considering this is Clape’s “entry level” wine. Clape’s “entry-level” offering — 5 years ago

Taylor Styers

9.0

Balcony wine with Sam 💕 aka — 5 years ago

A. R.

9.0

Fascinating wine. Sort of a blend of a Chianti and a village burgundy....sour cherry and roses, a little funk, high acid, med high tannin. Quite good. 12.50€ — 5 years ago