The Intern

Scholium Project

Golgotha Widowmaker Block Hudson Vineyards Syrah 2010

Golgotha - Scholium Project 2010.
Widowmaker Block Hudson Vineyards.

Abe, the man who would be king, gifted this bottle (amongst many others) to me after being an Intern in 2013. They travelled from Napa to London to Western Australia.
15 years later on a Monday night of a week I wasn’t meant to be drinking…
I pulled it out of the wine fridge in Margaret River. Cork fresh as a daisy and some decent sediment on first pour. Aerated with Vinturi and poured. Some early VA blew away and a Star Was Born. The floral powderiness on my mid palate is intoxicating. Never before have I tasted a big inky, 15% delicate ballerina like this. So glad I opened it alone so we can have a week together understanding each other. Has to be Petite Syrah. Wine study X 1000 ♥️ Pretty Pimpin
— 10 days ago

See TaleggioErika Turner
with See and Erika
Laura liked this

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin

Demi-Sec Champagne Blend

Always a treat. Congrats on finishing intern year, Mike! — 6 years ago

Left Coast Cellars

The Orchards Estate Grown Pinot Gris 2016

Helped make this wine when I was a harvest intern at Left Coast Cellars in 2016! I swear my rating isn't biased. — 7 years ago

Trixie, Serge and 8 others liked this

Failla

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021

Oh Failla how I’ve missed you ❤️. I remember my tasting visit on the verandah and Ehren walking in through the front. This was back in 2013 when I was working as an intern for Abe Schoener at The Scholium Project. Magical times, magical wine found in my small Australian hometown. 2021 at $110 Australian and worth every dollar ❤️ — 9 months ago

See TaleggioErika Turner
with See and Erika
Erika and Laura liked this

Par Binner

Les Vins Pirouettes Pinot Noir

Glouglou indeed! Fresh strawberries and just the right amount of brett.

Updating because of a coincidence too fortuitous not to document/share: I just learned that my current boss/winemaker for Goldeneye was herself a harvest intern at Domaine Binner back in ‘14 and has lots of great anecdotes...
— 5 years ago

Maura Passanisi
with Maura
Paul liked this

Domaine Bruno Clair

Clos de Bèze Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2006

Ross Cobb
9.1

Great post- harvest surprise from our intern — 7 years ago

Kimberly, Andrew and 15 others liked this

Black Canvas

California Pinot Noir

Drank at 2nd intern bachelor night — 3 years ago

Bread & Butter Wines

Napa Valley Pinot Noir 2018

Enjoyable PN with unusual tasting notes. Nose was light maraschino cherry & brown sugar essence. Appearance is transparent electric red & legs are skinny. A debate on tastes between myself & my trusty intern...I had splash of raspberry with flavour of Kahlua throughout mouth & end of sweet chilli warmth. The intern had flavours of Lowney’s chocolate Cherry 🍒 Blossom nugget bar. Maraschino Cherry + syrup, milk chocolate, shredded coconut and roasted peanut pieces. #Grasshopper👏🏻 well played. Bargain @ $15 🍷! — 5 years ago

Top Winery

Poise Top Roussanne 2015

Somm David T
9.3

This wine is called "Poise." On the nose, the fruits are combination of candied, tart and just a touch sour all at the same time. The fruit on the palate are ripe; Banana w/peel, pineapple, Meyer lemons, green & golden apple & lime candy. Soft/delicate minerality, spice that's subtle but builds as it sits on the palate, dry top soil and yellow florals/lilies. The body is medium. It's slightly waxy & oily. There's a honey beeswax quality. Banana w/peel, pineapple, Meyer lemons, green & golden apple, lime candy, grapefruit, soft/delicate, powdery minerality, dry top soil, brilliant round acidity, yellow florals/lilies and a long, rich, well polished finish. Most of the photos were sent to me by Elena from Top. One of their vineyards, Stanley Barrios (Owner/Winemaker), barrel storage & tasting area, some of their beautiful fruit and some rows of vines. Producer notes and history...Stanley Barrios was born in Los Angeles and raised in Inglewood California. Stanley got into wine after he met Nick Elliott of Nicora at a wine storage facility in North Hollywood where he was pouring his wines. At the time, Stanley was getting deeply involved in wine. He read all winemaking materials he could get his hands on. The day he met Nick he convinced him to let him intern in his cellar and worked his first harvest in 2013. Stanley still holds his investment firm job in Los Angeles. He and his wife started TOP in 2014. They both shared a passion for wine and had talked about starting a winery but with limited resources and living in Los Angeles the idea of starting their own winery seemed far-fetched. When opportunity knocked, they rushed to the opportunity. They chose a spinning top as their logo. For them, it's a metaphor for balance. Life is constantly in motion, but seldom in balance. Right now, they make wine in small quantities...only 200 cases their first vintage. In 2015, they produced about 500 cases and the 2016 vintage about 800 cases. They mainly focus on Rhone varietals; Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Roussanne. They are very minimalistic in cellar and try not to get in the way of what the grapes want to do. I have said this many times, if you have good fruit get out of it's way. If you don't, bring in lots of influences...like over oaking it etc.. Good to see a young producer know that earlier in their career. Nice job on the Poise. — 8 years ago

Sofia, Paul and 12 others liked this
Stanley Barrios

Stanley Barrios Influencer Badge Premium Badge

@Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher Exert Syrah releasing in two weeks!
Somm David T

Somm David T Influencer Badge

My pleasure. Nice work on the Poise and look forward to trying the Exert Syrah as well. Will be ordering more Poise.