Paul J

9.8

Merry Christmas!!

1hr-+ decant. Dark red color. Cedar, dark cherries, and subtle pencil shavings on the nose. Drinking at its apex! Could be mistaken for a high end Bordeaux. Silky texture, juicy but elegant with lovely terroir, and complex. Nice depth and long finish. This is right in my wheelhouse!!

Pairs perfectly with ham!! — 6 months ago

with Brooke

Adam Beasley

9.3

Stellar bottle right here. Deep stewed black and red fruit, violets, campfire, rosemary & thyme, with plenty of barnyard funk, and river rocks. Great structure with grippy tannins on the mid-palate and sturdy acidity that keeps you coming back. Long pure finish. This kind of wine is firmly in my wheelhouse, and really came alive with turmeric baked chicken thighs. — 5 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.2

Big ole beefy bottle. Fancy. Does that mean it’s going to be good? Maybe that it should be aged long? Anyway, pretty cool etched dragonfly on the label. So dark ya can’t look through it in the glass. Smells lovely. Sweet alfalfa blossoms with olives and something musky. Has an herbal side as well. Fenugreek? Fennel? Forests? It’s lovely on the tongue. Savory. Is that bacon? Lamb and prune stew? Or popcorn seasoned with butter, smoked chiles and nutritional yeast? As savory of a red as I’ve every tried. The seasoned pork thing really hits on this. Hint of fruit. Maybe dried plum? Definitely slightly sweet good cured olives. Dark black licorice as well. Drying on the finish. Chewy as Chewbacca’s throaty yelp. If you like big Petite’s and you cannot lie this fits right in your wheelhouse. — 6 years ago

Chris Loretta

9.1

2013 is in its wheelhouse! — 7 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Wonderful. Bright cherry red clear fruit. The lifted and shrill VA nose of sweet rayas. Lovely intense fruit. A good find- in the wheelhouse of stay as and superb stuff. — 8 years ago

with Bex

Heather McCann

9.0

This was from adorable Mar Vista (Los Angeles) cheese shop Wheelhouse. I bought a very pungent raw milk cheese called ‘Zimba’ - guy said hard to pair as such a distinctive tasting cheese. I picked this and it was a great pairing! It’s dry-ish, with a fruity element as well. Enjoyed it greatly! — 8 years ago

Martin G Rivard

9.5

Another beauty that was so graciously gifted to me from DAVID L 🎤! Realm’s “Moonracer” is now produced from these grapes. This Hartwell is incredible!!! Juan Mercado certainly picked a gorgeous winery to buy!!!
All the profiles that are in my wheelhouse: lush dark red fruit, just a minute hint of spice on the back palate., strong contender but Mole Hill ruled the world tonight! — 8 years ago

with Christine

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

I’ve had a number of Paul Bara N/V’s & a few vintage cuvées, all have been ok to good. This 2016 Special Club stands out as one of the very best I’ve had from this producer.

It is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Its dosage is 6 g, which makes it just into the lowest level of Brut, which is another reason why I probably enjoy it. Extra Brut has definitely become my wheelhouse. This right now is more 93 to 94. With 5-8 yrs of cellar time, it should improve another point or two.

Paul Bara is one of 28 or 29 special club members currently.

The nose shows; bright, lemon, cream, notes of honey, caramel, lime, zest, pineapple juice, honeydew, and tropical melons, beautiful, chalky powder, yeasty notes, spring, flowers, yellow, lilies and Jasmine.

The mouth entry shows beautiful, mousse and crisp acidity. Meyer lemon, frothed whole milk, cream, notes of honeysuckle & caramel, lime zest, green apple, pineapple juice, honeydew, tangerine, white stone fruits, yellow & red Rainier cherries and tropical melons, touch of fresh herbs beautiful, chalky powder, gritty, grey, volcanic minerals, white spice, limestone, yeasty notes, spring, flowers, yellow, lilies and Jasmine. The finish is; well structured & balanced, elegant, last nearly 2 minutes and falls gently on chalk, volcanic minerals and nice spring florals.

Definitely delicious!

Pairing - green, vinaigrette salad w/ honey crisp apple, pomegranate, heirloom tomatoes, walnuts & more.

Photos of; the Champagne House of Paul Bara, Paul Bara brand Ambassador, library cellar and Bouzy vineyard. — a year ago

Billy L.

9.1

Brother-in-law likes Limoux Cremant! This was right in his wheelhouse! Lot’s of Fruit! Cheers 🍾🥂 — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.4

Playing a little catch up.... Terrific Cab from David Arthur. Opened for dinner tonight. Served pop and pour. The nose on this wine is nice -- roasted black fruits, sweet youthful blackberries and blueberries, spicy. Entry is youthful, powerful full bodied blackberry cassis, allspice, cinnamon, toasted tannin but is actually rather soft not only on the front but all throughout. There was a dried wildflower and herbal character to this one in the middle. Finished with roasted tannins, still quite youthful, loads of black pepper on the finish and a bit punchy yet the wine maintains this elegance about it all at the same time. Diggin' this wine, and it's right in the wheelhouse right now. I think this wine will do well for the next 5 years or so and will probably start the decline. But I don't think this one is going to get much better in the bottle right now, so bottoms up! — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.8

Few wines fit perfectly into my wheelhouse. This is one of a few. I picked this up at Seavey last weekend. 1997 is such a historic Napa vintage and this wine lives up to every inch of it. It’s a wine that you want to slowly sip all night.

On the nose; very, ripe; blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, huckleberries with slightly baked strawberries haunt the background. Mixed berry cola, vanilla, cherry liqueur notes, some black licorice, limestone minerals, very light clove, soft subtle dark spices, dry crushed rock powder, sweet tarry notes, saddle-wood, very soft leather, forest floor, blue flowers and dark fresh & withering flowers.

The body is gloriously soft, round and beyond elegant. Still has plenty of soft, round, slightly tarry tannins. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit its sweet spot with another 7-10 years of really good drinking left. It’s harmony on the palate. Ripe; blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, huckleberries with slightly baked strawberries haunt the background. Mixed berry cola, vanilla, notes of caramel, cherry liqueur notes, steeped fruit tea, some black licorice, just a hint of herbaceous, limestone minerals, very light clove, soft subtle dark spices, dusty tannins, dry crushed rock powder, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, sweet tarry notes, saddle-wood, chewy soft leather, forest floor, blue flowers and dark fresh & withering flowers. The acidity is about as perfect as I’ve had. The finish is nothing short of astounding. It’s long, elegant, ripe, well balanced and doesn’t end. One of the more exceptional wines I’ve had in some time.

Photos of, Seavey Winery & tasting room, the stairs the lead up to Williams office and show that late 18th century architecture, Williams desk in his old office and their Estate vines with the hillside painting the background. — 8 years ago

Chris Loretta

9.4

In it’s wheelhouse! Drink up! — 9 years ago

Paul J

9.6

1hr+ decant. Maroon color on the pour but darkish red in the glass. Aged Bordeaux on the nose with cedar and floral elements. Palate reflects the same with dark cherries, tobacco, and anise. Medium plus depth and medium finish. Right in my wheelhouse! — 2 years ago

with Brooke

Jon Huang

9.1

Peppery on nose, dark berry jam taste, balanced tannins, very good — 5 years ago

David Nicewicz

9.4

Tapas and Montrachet - is there anything else to say? Lovely full-bodied white burgundy with a nose of stone fruit and citrus. The palate is luscious and full-bodied and a long finish with notes of honey and lemon. Low acidity may deter some people, but I love marsanne so this is definitely in my wheelhouse. — 6 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.6

A fitting wine for my 3000th (CT) review. This wine is in the wheelhouse. Nose of black cherry, brambleberry, cola. Entry is full, mature, ripe sweet black cherry and Cherry Coke. The middle has a bit of a smoky character, tobacco leaf, mint, grilled mushroom. The finish showed great acidity and moderate tannins. With hummus, more of the savory side of this wine came out. With a spicy turkey and brie, more of the sweeter side. Full bodied wine from Dyer, and probably one of the best balanced and integrated Diamond Mtn wines I have had in a LONG time. — 7 years ago

Eric

8.9

I can only say that this pairs nicely with seared fois gras. Sauterne isn’t really in my wheelhouse. — 8 years ago

J Chisholm

9.2

Right in my stony wheelhouse. — 8 years ago

Aaron Means

9.4

Not in my typical wheelhouse but has that hedonistic likability. Extra special to be drinking it with the owner at the estate! (Played "America the Beautiful" on the bells atop the Chateau upon our appearance!) — 8 years ago

Roman Sukley

9.9

2012 Greer Cabernet Sauvignon. My outright favorite Napa cab right now. 4 hour decant, crimson color, this wine has a killer explosive nose of dark fruits, cinnamon, baking spices, menthol and flint. Maybe a hint of flowers for @DAG Chocolate covered cherries, cocoa and espresso mid palate, and a touch of nutmeg with moderate trademark Rutherford dusty tannins in just the right proportion. Dense and concentrated. Not for the old world palate, which puts it squarely in my wheelhouse. Beautifully layered with a silky mouth feel, and a lingering finish. Just a baby, but who can resist pulling the cork. I'm obsessed with Greer. For the money, this Cabernet simply cannot be beat. A case of Greer or a bottle of Screagle? Seriously? If your palate is on the same page as mine, get you some. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. You rock Rob Greer. — 9 years ago