Stand Tall Wine Co.
Vine Hill Ranch
Baker & Hamilton Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Matchbook Wine Co.
The Arsonist Chardonnay 2018
I gave this a try knowing I strongly favor their red blend. They did this right. Well done and a stand out. — 3 years ago
Castello della Paneretta
Torre a Destra Riserva Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2013
Single vineyard 100% Sangiovese, this 13’ Chianti Classical Riserva displays
fragrant nose of sour cherry, strawberry, thyme, balsamic, incense, hint of violet and barnyard. Great fruit intensity on the palate with lots of earthy nuances. High yet round acidity. Polished grippy tannins lead to an elegant long finish.
This would stand tall to a lot of BdM. — 3 years ago
Escarpment Wines
Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Light bodied ruby colour 13% alc with good nose of berry flavours, great integrated tannins and good balance of fruit and acidity with quite a long lingering finish
We are fortunate that Australia is flanked by NZ and South Africa and all three have great Pinots that can stand tall with the wines of Burgundy at very affordable price points 🤗 — 4 months ago
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Simply stunning! Especially, for a Sonoma, not a Napa Cabernet. 😳
Follow up AB Cowgirl wine after the Saxum. If ever you thought a Sonoma Cabernet could not stand tall with a great Napa Cabernet, have a well aged good vintage of A. Raf..
4 hour decant.
Still medium plus, round, velvety tannins. Lush, rich, ruby; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, ripe strawberries, hints of heavenly raspberries, plum, dark, rich forest floor w/ dry leaves, steeped fruit tea, mid/dark berry cola, dark, dry Indian/Asian spices, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon to stick, caramel notes, malt balls, dark chocolate baking bar, black licorice to anise, dry, crushed limestone powder, soft, fresh tobacco, dry, used leather, softened tarry notes, some dry herbs-bay leaf sprinkled with sage, dry crushed rocks/river stone, dry top soil, candied & withering, dark, red, blue flowers framed in violets & lavender, crazy, round, excellent acidity, well structured & balanced for days, elegant, polished and an endless finish. Harmony on the palate.
Find an 07, you’ll thank me later. My highest recommendation for Napa/Sonoma Cabernets.
10-15 years of good drinking left in this 07. — a year ago
Vinhos Barbeito
The Rare Wine Co. Historic Series Madeira New York Malmsey
The Madeira New York Malmsey Special Reserve is a rich, heady wine. It offers gorgeous depth and layers that open beautifully in the glass. Dried flowers, cloves, fruitcake, leather, chocolate, cedar and tobacco are nicely amplified in this generous, inviting Madeira. All the elements are so well balanced. This is a stand-out. L22209. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2022)
— 2 years ago
Bedrock Wine Co.
Vineyard Under the Mountain Heritage Santa Clara County Red Blend 2021
Holy smokes this is good! My expectations were modest due to my stereotyping its Santa Clara County provenance, but I stand corrected. This is apparently an old-vine blend featuring about 50% Zin and a mix of Carignane and Mataro (Mourvèdre) to round it out. The purity of the black and red berries on the nose is remarkable. A bit of crushed stony earth. In the mouth, there’s tremendous flavor concentration but with an athletic mouthfeel that balances nice acids and super-soft tannic support. Great length. Color me duly impressed. Shoulda got more. 14.5% alcohol thank you very much. — 5 months ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
My first wine after a two-month hiatus. I ended up buying a case of this in increments at Costco for a price not even close to what I’ve seen anywhere else for their 2021. Since I think highly of this producer and the vintage, I didn’t bat an eye acquiring w/o tasting first. Also, I was aware that every major wine critic gave the 2021 VHR flagship Cabernet a score of 98 w/ Lisa @ TWI a 💯.
Only coravined a glass & let it stand for 30-40 minutes and consumed over the next half-hour detailing my notes.
Baker & Hamilton is the other or second wine of VHR depending on how you see it. If you didn’t know this was another or second wine, you would never know it. Both bottling's come front the same vineyard in Oakville.
When I first put the glass to my nose, I almost thought for a few seconds & wanted to say that’s Coombsville it’s that dark & brooding, but make no mistake it’s Oakville fruit.
The nose is full & brooding. Dark currants & cassis and inky as is the color. Candied violets leap out of the glass. Ripe rich; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum and dark cherries wrapped in dark chocolate. Sandalwood, sweet tarriness, fresh tobacco, crushed limestone, volcanics, dark spices with aromatic heat, clove oil w/ withering dark flowers, sweet lavender & endless lift of candied, lush violets.
The body is full, lush, ripe & brooding. It drinks rather well for such a young wine baring a bit of alcohol throat burn. 14.8% ABV. Cellaring time will tame it. The 21 is a two decade and more wine. It needs 7-8 years to integrate everything in this full & packed Cabernet. Lush, ripe; blackberries (almost pie), black raspberries, dark cherries, black plum & raspberries around the edges. Melted dark chocolate, anise into black licorice, dark spices w/ heat, clove oil, nutmeg, cinnamon stick hovers, vanillin, fresh & dry tobacco, dry top soil with limestone mixed in, crushed rock & stone, strong sandalwood to cedar, light rain on clay, dry herbs-bay leaf & a hint of ground sage, notes of iron pan, dark withering flowers, lavender & candied violets for days, round acidity-maybe a bit to high for today’s consumption, huge length & structure, not quite in balance but it will get there, well made/knitted with a full elegant finish that lasts minutes & lands on spice & earthiness. It’s a huge wine that will end up adding two points as it evolves & integrates.
A few things about the producer & this wine. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Vine Hill Ranch Vineyard aged 23 months in French oak, 85% of which was new. Most of the Vine Hill Ranch fruit from 71-acre Oakville vineyard is sold off. What they keep, 40% of that fruit goes into their VHR flagship wine and 60% makes the Baker & Hamilton. The label of Baker & Hamilton is an homage to the hardware and agricultural implements of the company co-founded by third-generation grape grower Bruce Phillips’ great, great grandfather R.M. Hamilton, who emigrated from Scotland to California in 1849 hoping to make his fortune in gold.
Photo’s of, VHR vineyard, Bruce Phillips-Managing Partner and Winemaker-Francoise Peschon. — 2 months ago