Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.5

E x p e n s i v e O a k — 5 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.6

Mason had this 6 years ago

with Jillian and Adam

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.3

I heard this wine is rare or something!? Delicious! Very vinous and structured with an incrediblely persistent finish. Really no oxidative notes whatsoever which I wasn't expecting because that flavor does typically show up on their aged white wines. 🇪🇸 — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.5

Dang. — 5 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.4

This really reminds me of some of the more natural Cote Rotie producers I've tasted (especially Jean Michel Stephan). Mint, eucyliptus leads the nose with white pepper and subtle bloody meat notes. On the palate, very subtle tropical fruit notes (almost like pineapple and strawberry) but subtle. Plenty of meatiness and herbal quality on the palate too. Ideal wine for lamb. In a really good, soft and easy drinking stage for the 2011 vintage. — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.4

Second time tasting this, but this time it blew us all away. Really great balance. There's a richness and weight here, but not enough to overpower or draw attention to itself. Subtle and layered, it's gorgeous and classic Syrah aromatically. Blackberry, white pepper, purple flowers... It's terrific. Everyone tasted blind though Northern Rhone or maybe a high quality California producer of Syrah. Washington surprised us! — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

Blind tasted... I said Chassangne or Saint Aubin, so I was pretty close. Really nice but very tight and closed. Reductive and chiseled but needs a few years in the bottle to reveal midnpalate. — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.1

Mason had this 6 years ago

with Adam

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

Ultra reduced to the point where I have a tough time recommending it without a disclaimer. That being said, it did come alive after I triple decanted it. Very dense, green apple pith and cream behind a heaping dose of matchstick reduction. Really needs time and or air. — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

8.9

Really nice little Sablet. Soft, plum and blackberry fruit notes with a fairly full body and minimal tannin. — 6 years ago