Joe Lyons

9.0

Good Anderson Valley, fruit forward, good body, good acidity…. Drink now or within the next 18 months IMO — 4 months ago

with Michelle

Katie Dooley

9.6

Excellent wine with dinner. Went with lots of meat and cheeses — a year ago

with Keith

Harvey Raben

9.0

One who waits can be rewarded. Still lots of with resolved tannins and a seer finish. Not a lot of complexity in the finish. Nice bottle that was over the hill at 35 years. — 2 years ago

Tom Garland

9.1

Ritche vineyard chardonnay.

Pop and pour. A light golden color. On the nose: subtle notes of lemon, apricot, nutty vanilla. Taste: orange peel, lemon, honey, vanilla toast with a medium finish and medium plus acidity keeping it crisp and fresh.

Enjoying with the fresh Langoustines, red shrimp, and raw crudo!

VEGAS BABY!!!!!! "I hate Disneyland, it primes our kids for Las Vegas".... Tom Waits. — 5 years ago

with Brenda

Ira Schwartz

9.1

Stopped off at a lifelong friends apartment. He likes wine but it does not go beyond that. Says to me after pulling several bottles ( including 2 Rockford BP) from the corner of a very warm room, “What should I do with these wines?” Trying to remain calm, I said , “I think you need to open one.”
Surprisingly, the cork was intact, but totally soaked to the top. What we encountered was a red/purple wine that looked like it was bottled a few years ago. The nose was big and full of dark fruit along with some oak but zero alcohol Taking a small taste I was absolutely taken back by the juiciness & deep plummy flavors swirling around my mouth. I noted very little secondary flavors but the level of acidity shocked me. Tannins were soft and the fish was modest. — 9 months ago

Percy Mathebula

9.0

The bomb!!! — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Quite dense crimson in colour. Very spicy nose with meaty notes. Silky graphite like tannins. More savoury spicy than fruity on the medium weight palate. Great conditions in the Yarra Valley in 2015. The winner of the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz and also Trophy for best single vineyard wine at the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards in 2016. Amazing QPR at only $30. Will go on for 5+ years at least with the structure it has. Have 2 bottles left. — 5 years ago

Jimmy Hayes

Estate Director Mayacamas Vineyard

9.4

Too young, obviously, but it called to me from the cellar! Gorgeous layers - individuals now, but I’m guessing will integrate together beautifully with more bottle age. Big dense black fruit leads the nose, whole the palette brings a great meaty smoky quality. There’s already a satisfying savoriness there I can’t wait to check in again 10 years or so. That special energy and beautiful texture I expect from Colgin is there in spades. Bottle 2 waits patiently! — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

A youthful Ruby red with a purple tinge. Black pepper, dried plum and other savoury dark fruits. A wonderful rendition of a Northern Rhone Syrah - not dissimilar to a good Saint Joseph. Still young in its drinking window with a long future into the 2030s. Winner of the Trevor Mast Trophy for best Shiraz at Royal Melbourne in 2019. The first of 6 bottles. Great value for only $38. It’s not often I taste the same wine only 4 weeks apart but I had a 2nd on 4th December 2022. Just a terrific Shiraz by any measure. I can see why it won the awards that it did. Black pepper and spice. — 2 years ago

Nik Weinberg-Lynn

9.3

Somewhat muted nose full of baking spices. Beautiful flavors of cranberry, ginger, milling spices, and forest floor that just goes on and on. — 4 years ago