Tom Frymire

8.9

Marauders wondering the Plaza. And Douglas. — 3 years ago

with Susan

Shay A

9.1

I’ve been wondering when to open this wine, and when a local group decided to do a Pinot theme blind, I thought this would be a fun contender.

My second time with this wine in the last year, and I remain impressed at how this 13yr old Alsatian Pinot is holding up. Translucent ruby in the glass. Doesn’t seem to show much bricking, actually. Aromatically, it’s bretty…smells more Bordeaux like than anything else. Leather, herbs de Provence, underripe black cherries. The palate shows a small bit of carbonic character (not with the bubble gum vibe, but more of that cru bojo wintergreen profile). The fruit shows a faded/muddled profile due to the age, but there is plenty of dirty raspberry, black cherry and a savory red clay like note. Good acidity still. While this is on the downside, I’m hard pressed to say this is way over the hill. It’s actually a really fun and delicious wine to enjoy over an evening (especially with food). — 4 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.2

Still young and crisp
Maybe not extremely long, but super delicious
Perfect summer drink (wondering when summer comes, still less than 20 here everyday 😢) — 7 years ago

Ian Staub

9.0

Was wondering if my tastes moved away from this in the last 18 months, but I’m impressed once again with my last bottle of this 2016. I may be repeating myself, but this brings out much of the greatness of CA Cab Sauv (dark fruit, spice, graphite, cedar, incense) without the ponderous new oak attack and flabby extraction. High acid CS, great with food, absolutely ridiculous at $20. Will be on the lookout for more. Enjoyed with homemade burgers and fries. — 7 years ago

Frank Kuo

9.4

Color is so light yellow green tone, almost transparent and bubble. Nose of roasted nuts, canned peach, ripe pineapple, honey and flowering note, and a bit Sprite note. Taste is bubbly, zesty, a bit tinkling spice, ripe fruit and honey note again. Slightly sweet and a bit minerals. Very clean and some more acidity backbone. After taste is light yet refreshing. I am wondering why the ratings from the community is literally too harsh. — 7 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

The Northern Rhône example in our little, impromptu North/South face-off during Christmas Eve dinner. This is a European bottled version of “Les Journaries” which is labeled there as “La Maestria”. Most of the grapes are sourced from Levet’s holdings in La Landonne. The bottle was opened about two hours prior and probably would have benefitted from being opened two days prior in retrospect. That being said, this was stunning...and positively feral. Underbrush, herbs, brambles, flowers, meat, anise, and cinnamon bark on the nose and on the palate. As striking as this is right now, the best is yet to come and these will deliver even more joy in 10-15 years. These wines are a beautiful little secret. If you must, drink after a rather protracted decant otherwise stash these deep in the cellar. For those wondering, we paired a 2009 Domaine de Beaurenard “Boisrenard” as the Southern Rhône example which, while massively different in style, was stunning in its own right. — 8 years ago

Michael Duffy

8.9

Interestingly different than past vintages. A lot of length, bright stone fruit. The usual cidery-ness up front, but without the pink glow of previous vintages...is this still Pinot Grigio? Slope called it ribolla gialla and the color change has me wondering... — 8 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.1

@Delectable Wine this is actually the Ju Quarto Priore label which i had been able to review in the past, i was wondering why I wasn't able to find it this time🤷‍♂️
However this is a very focused red from cesanese grape. It's smooth, but vibrant with more evident complexity in the aftertaste rather than on the nose
Quite long and easy drinking
I'd say at peak — 3 years ago

Alexandre Gillioen

9.5

One glass and I did not open the whole bottle. Still I am not disappointed. So far one of the best Chateauneuf-du-pape I had except for Rayas. I am wondering how it wilm evolve. Sor far we have dark fruits, a bit of spices and quite à long finish. I am also surprised that such a wine is pretty much unknown. — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.4

A producer I’ve had a handful of times, and really find myself wondering why I’m not putting more focus/attention on Paul Lato wines.

Gorgeous translucent ruby color in the glass sporting 13.9ABV. I followed this out of the bottle over the course of a few hours and it showed well from pop all the way to the end. Profile here is restrained richness. I didn’t pick up any whole cluster/stem inclusion spice or greenness. Aromatically it is filled with cranberries, black raspberries, bright floral tones, and cracked peppercorns. Beautifully balanced on the palate with vibrant acidity. A back and forth between dark red spiced fruits and herbal/crunchy flair. Black tea and even some savory iron notes too. Still young and will improve, but this is already excellent. — 5 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

Wow. This one was served pop and pour for the most part, and I still believe that this one could have benefited from a 1 day slow-ox at 11 years of age! This wine is vibrant, dark, powerful. Youthful, sweet punchy blackberry pie, roasted figs and dark chocolate swirling all around the place. Decadent. Hedonistic. Where some 08's sort of seem to be developing mild signs of tertiary notes, I'm sitting here wondering if this one was even ready to go yet! Finished strong with toasted tannins and black pepper. — 7 years ago

with Dan and Bradley

Julia May

9.1

Drinkable and so lovely - lemon and tart. Very awesome summer wine. No tannnins or bitterness present. BUT headache developed after consuming 3 oz within an hour so wondering about additives. If you’re not sensitive to hangovers or wine headaches - this is fabulous for its light and refined flavor. — 7 years ago

Gil Krakowsky

9.1

Fantastic QPR, just beginning to show it’s stuffing, but 2 yrs until peak. Very primary, with typical Oregon dark raspberry , black cherry, cherry cola and forest floor. Very primary at this point, but precise and well balanced with great acidity an structure. Wondering how secondary and “serious” it may become — 8 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Funky. More on the mushroom, meat, leathery side, but the nose on this wine was definitely a bit...."tertiary." Dark black pour. Inky. On the front, quite dark, full-bodied. On the middle, this one started to lose more of its black fruit character and gave more to a bacon fat and leather. The finish of this wine is very rounded and delicate. I think that this is definitely a wine that would have paired better with food. Although nice, didn't have a lot of muscle, and wondering if this wouldn't have been better a couple of years ago. — 8 years ago

with Dan and Keith

David Koenen

9.2

Earth, wood, tobacco, sun dried tomato, oak, coffee, pencil lead and lovely balance to top it off. True to type! I’m quite surprised, since this used to be stubborn years ago, and I was wondering if it had enough substance to go the distance. It does. — 3 years ago

Steve Sánchez

9.2

This was absolutely delish. Great structure for that perfect pairing with fatty rib eye. Just right amount of acid to balance out the meat. Lush tannins and oak. I mean c’mon , it’s Napa stuff after all. Dark Inky vibes 🖤, and easy drinking. My only beef is the Napa stamp is so prominent it leaves you wondering if they could have easily called this Cab and you wouldn’t know the difference. 14.5% Lip Smacking enjoyability💋😋 — 4 years ago

Matthias Muth

9.5

I was wondering whether my 2003 bottles made it through the years. They did!
Mature, very 'round', full bodied, a bit on the sweet side just as i think is typical for a German 'Spätburgunder' (aka. pinot noir).
I love it! — 6 years ago

Tobin Trevarthen

9.3

A really funky nose that left you wondering what was in the bottle. And then, like a mist that lifts from the river - the tastes and nose showed up. A Phillipe Melka version of Washington’s best grapes. Power Bordeaux blend with Syrah added in. Soft tannins and subtle fruit kept flowing in and out. Wonderful comparison to an 06 Oakville Cab. — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

8.9

Interesting wine. I spent the first 45 minutes wondering if this one had some kind of taint going on. And after four hours or so, probably found that it is a little bit of volatile acidity. However, after an hour it started settling down.
Didn't affect the palate. At an hour and a half, it started to show some wildflowers, black fruit, some herbs, some baking spice, but really quite subtle with a finish that was a little more acidic and out of balance vs. the fruit on the front and middle. White pepper finish. This is still a nice wine and IMO deserving of a 90. But I think the best years of this wine were about 1-2 years ago and probably should have popped the cork on this one then. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Bradley and 1 other

David L

9.3

Getting better. Wondering if it will be that much better in two years? — 8 years ago