Christy Canterbury MW – Master of Wine
Pietradolce Etna Rosso DOC Nerello Mascalese 2013
“Odd to use a French word to describe a Sicilian wine, but only “aérien” will do. Impressive lightness & elegance for Nerello Mascalese. Blackberries, black plums, slate.”
Rated 9.1
Trader Joe’s Grand Reserve Howell Mountain Zinfandel 2012
"Why take Howell Mountain fruit & obliterate it with sweet oak? Near drinkable on day 2 after some of the dill, pre-fab vanilla icing & toasted
raisin bread aromas subsided a bit. Massive disappointment for my 1st try of Buyers' Own Brand from Trader Joe's."
Rated 6.8
Bollinger Special Cuvéee Brut Champagne Blend NV
“Toast, beeswax, bruised apple, fennel.”
Rated 9.3
Pierre Moncuit Cuvée Nicole Moncuit Vielle Vigne Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Champagne
“Magnificent Blanc de Blancs. Pristine clean, itty-bitty perlage. Sappy yet fresh. Can go on its own or pair with a myriad of dishes.”
Rated 9.6
Moreau-Naudet Petit Chablis Chardonnay 2011
“A Petit Chablis to compete with proper Chablis. And nicely pure for the sometimes unfocused 2011 vintage. Chalky, buttermilk and tugging texture.”
Rated 8.4
Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay 2012
“Utterly astounded by the graceful structure of this wine, despite its inherent “big-ness.” So happy to revise my thoughts on this winery’s Chard, even if only in this vintage.”
Rated 9.2
LA Jota Vineyard Co. W.S. Keyes Vineyard Merlot 2010
“Another lovely Napa mountain wine: baked blueberries, blackberries, black plums laced with dark chocolate covered coffee beans. Fab balance!”
Rated 9.1
Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Reserve Selection Chardonnay 2013
“Super tasty, well-balanced Napa Chardonnay that is a crowd pleaser. Lightly toasty with slightly tropical fruit, refreshing acidity & creamy texture.”
Rated 8.8
Domaine Gros Frère et Sœur Les Chaumes Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2011
“Vibrantly acidic, light in body and still primary with red berry fruit. Everything a 2011 should be right now!”
Rated 9.4
Ken Forrester Reserve Ken Forrester Vineyards Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2011
“4 years on and showing well. Savory, leesy, nutty. Brightly acidic with a good finish.”
Rated 8.7
Montes Montes Alpha Aconcagua Valley Pinot Noir 2012
“Super cool to see where Chilean Pinot Noir is headed. This is the right direction.”
Rated 8.7
Cathy Corison – Winemaker and proprietor at Corison Winery
Domaine William Fevre Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru Chardonnay 2011
Rated 9.1
Chateau Giscours Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2011
Rated 9.1
Schloss Schönborn Domdechaney Riesling 1996
“Slate, rose petals, apricots. Very nice.”
Rated 9.2
Camille Giroud Côte de Beaune-Villages Pinot Noir 2010
Rated 9.1
Calluna Vineyards The Colonel’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Rated 9.0
Joh. Jos. Prüm Zetlinger Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling 2012
"Like to see a little more acidity.”
Rated 8.9
Golan Heights Winery Yarden Galilee Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Rated 8.7
Weingut Josef Jamek Ried Klaus Riesling 2013
Rated 9.1
Château Malescot St. Exupery Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2011
Rated 8.8
Steve Matthiasson – Farmer and Winemaker, Matthiasson Wines, 2014 SF Chronicle Winemaker of the Year
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Milllénaires Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Chardonnay 1995
“Lovely rich traditional champagne – one of the few white wines where some oak and sugar is a really nice thing.”
Rated 9.5
Ayala Brut Nature Champagne Blend NV
“Lemon curd/lemon grass – interesting and very refreshing.”
Rated 9.1
Georges Descombes Brouilly Gamay 2012
“Cherries and earth – no clue why that combination is so delicious.”
Rated 9.4
Arianna Occhipinti Sicilia Il Frappato 2012
“A happy fresh floral red-fruited bottle of goodness.”
Rated 9.7
Rajat Parr – Producer of Domaine de la Cote, Sandhi, ELV, Seven Springs & Maison l’Oree
Domaine Georges Mugneret Les Vignes Rondes Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 1992
Rated 9.1
Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Sec Vouvray Chenin Blanc 1999
“Evolved and rich!”
Rated 9.1
Veyder-Malberg Viesslinger Bruck Riesling 2012
Rated 9.4
Domaine René Engel Grands-Echezeauc Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2001
“Firmer & longer lived, perhaps!"
Rated 9.5
Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Erdener Treppchen Auslese Riesling 1995
Rated 9.5
Domaine René Engel Les Brulées Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2001
“Spicy & Roasted!”
Rated 9.5
Albert Boxler Sommerberg Grand Cru Riesling 2004
Rated 9.2
Luis A. Rodriguez Vazquez Viña de Martin Escolma White Blend
“Coolio!!”
Rated 9.4
Krug Brut Champagne Blend 1996
“More oxidative than I remember.”
Rated 9.3
Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 1985
“Soft & deelish.”
Rated 9.5
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Taillepieds Volnay 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2008
Rated 9.4
Ippongi Kubohonten Gohyakumangoku 1999
Rated 9.3
Sylvain Cathiard Aux Murgers Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2002
Rated 9.4
Domaine Leroy Les Beaux Monts Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Pinot Noir 2009
Rated 9.6
Sylvain Cathiard Les Clos De L’orme Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir 2005
Rated 9.3
Georges Laval Cuvée les Chênes Brut Nature Cumières 1er Cru Champagne 2008
Rated 9.5
Jon Bonné – Wine Editor, SF Chronicle
Domaine Guillot-Broux Mâcon-Cruzille Gamay 2013
“That damn Gamay, creeping back into Burgundy.”
Rated 9.0
Domaine Jousset Cuvée ‘Rose à Lies’ Gamay-Grolleau Blend NV
“Adore the flavors, but toeing the line between brisk and wispy.”
Rated 8.6
Domaine Regnier-David Saumur-Puy-Notre-Dame Chenin Blanc 2011
“Big partisan of Saumur but struggling with this one a bit.”
Rated 8.5
Jordan Salcito –Beverage Director at Momofuku, founder of Bellus Wines
Domaine De L’Anglore Tavel Red Rhone Blend 2011
Rated 9.5
Dalla Valle Pietre Rosse Sangiovese Blend 1997
“Sangiovese from Napa – not much lost in translation. 1997 vintage has aged very gracefully.”
Rated 9.1
Jacques Selosse Substance Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne Chardonnay
Rated 9.8
Gary Vaynerchuk – Founder of Wine Library TV
Domaine Des Terres Dorée s Beaujolais Blanc Chardonnay 2013
“Beaujolais is for white too … Simple and clean …”
Rated 7.8
Stone The Crows Three Twins Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
“Very elegant massive black fruit and a wonderful finish … A balanced and well made Cabernet Sauvignon.”
Rated 8.2
Henri De Lanzac Cuvée Réservée Lirac 2010
“Peppppppppppppppppppppppppppppper”
Rated 8.3
Sine Qua Non Esto No Es Una Salida Estate Grenache 2005
“Huge I mean Big John Stud big … Massive cherry, black currant, black chocolate … A long creamy finish and wonderful … Wow big big big big big big … “
Rated 8.6
Masi Serègo Alighieri Valo Armaron Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006
“The nose is loaded with raisins and prunes and a wonderful hint of tea leaf, the palate is clean and focused like a “A” student prepping for the SATs. The wine finishes with some flowers crushed up and a hint of cherry liquor. Solid and yummy. “
Rated 8.1
