Alder Yarrow – Wine Writer at Vinography.com
Ceritas Costalina Pinot Noir 2012
“Very pretty and floral raspberry and green herbs give way to earth and cedar and dried flowers. Gorgeous.”
Rated 9.4
Scholium Project Reserve Wolf Skill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
“2012 vintage. Tangy and yogurty, grape and raisin, but not all that.”
Rated 7.5
Alienor Lake County Merlot Blend 2008
“Smooth and beautiful. Well integrated oak and great acidity. Cherry tobacco and graphite with just shunt of green herbs.”
Rated 9.2
Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram Sparkling Blend 2006
“Baked apples, dark honey and sea air, with a lightly bitter finish. Tight and stony now, I’d leave this one in the cellar for a few years to blossom.”
Rated 9.1
Domaine Fourrier Vieille Vigne Gevrey-Chambertin Pinot Noir 2007
“Stunning forest floor and berries transforms to crushed stones and berries and herbs in the mouth. Crystalline and silky smooth with the faintest of funks. Still tight but opening beautifully.”
Rated 9.3
Clos Mogador Priorat Red Blend 2001
“Deep dark rich oak inflected but pretty damn good.”
Rated 9.0
Carriel Dels Vilars Catalunya Garnatxa Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Samsó 2012
“Funky cherry cola blackberry and raisins. Tastes of carbonic and clear natural upbringing.”
Rated 8.7
Drew Family Cellars Fog-Eater Anderson Valley Pinot Noir 2010
“Killer juice. Cranberry and raspberry with crushed herbs and wet stones.”
Rated 9.4
Verget Les Enseignères Puligny-Montrachet Chardonnay 2000
“Mature and delicious: butterscotch lemon curd mineral and oak.”
Rated 8.9
Arnot-Roberts Luchsinger Vineyard Rosé Touriga Nacional 2013
Rated 9.2
Clos Du Moulin Aux Moines Auxey-Duresses Pinot Noir 2009
“Dried cherries and raspberries but not killer. Tasty but not profound. Definitely glad to drink it now as I don’t know that it’s going to improve.”
Rated 8.8
Abe Schoener – Winemaker at the Scholium Project and Red Hook Winery
Cantine Valpane Euli Grignolino Del Monferrato Casalese Grignolino
“Really special. Not sweet or super floral. Very like poulsard from the best producers.”
Rated 9.4
Château Rayas Reserve Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2006
“In some ways, terrible and wonderful at once. Soft, high volume floral in the register of expensive perfume from another century. Not fair to rate.”
Domaine Marquis D’Angerville Domaine du Pélican Arbois Savagnin Ouillé
“Stunning. Tight. Clean. Reminiscent of excellent Sancerre more than Jura.”
Rated 9.6
Jean-Pierre Bouchard Inflorescence La Parcelle Blanc de Noirs Brut Champagne Pinot Noir
“Drop the bomb superb”
Rated 9.5
Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vigne de Cramant Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne Chardonnay
“Super good. Powerful, expressive, saline, mineral. Complete. Very young but absolutely delightful.”
Rated 9.4
Ehren Jordan – Winemaker and owner at Failla Wines
Sami-Odi Hoffman Dallwitz 0.354 Syrah
“2008. Exceptional! Fraser is the MAN!”
Rated 9.3
Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1992
"Great silky tannins. Delicious!”
Rated 9.3
Luciano Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo Nebbiolo 2004
“Stunning from a 3L!”
Rated 9.6
Dow’s Vintage Porto Port Blend 1963
“Superb from magnum.”
Rated 9.1
Failla M x M Estate Syrah 2010
“Absolutely singing, if I do say.”
Rated 9.8
Alain Voge Les Vieilles Vignes Cornas Syrah
“2010 from Magnum. I’m sure the potential was great, but the beast was gaining the upper hand :( “
Rated 8.4
Domaine Dujac Bonnes Mares Grand Cru Pinot Noir 2006
“A bit softer and more generous. Also from magnum and also quite tasty.”
Rated 9.2
Jasmine Hirsch – Sales and marketing at Hirsch Vineyards
Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Riserva Barolo Nebbiolo 2001
“Chef Sal Marino bringing the truffle blizzard.”
Rated 9.2
Becket Cellars Lake Country Cabernet Sauvignon 1975
“This wine was a revelation for me. 40 year old Cabernet from Lake Count?!”
Rated 9.0
Domaine Jamet Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2007
“Never not delicious.”
Rated 9.2
Domaine G. Roumier Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir 2001
“Another of last night’s awesome wines. Wine of the night for me.”
Rated 9.0
Domaine Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Chardonnay
“Last night’s yummy wines. This one was 2011 vintage.”
Rated 9.0
Matthiasson Napa Valley White Blend 2011
“New California invades Old Hollywood: Matthiasson at the Chateau Marmont”
Rated 9.1
Cobb Coastlands Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
“Gorgeous, complex, intense, elegant.”
Rated 9.3
Anthony Lynch – Wine Merchant for Kermit Lynch
Champalou Trie de Vendange Vouvray Chenin Blanc 1996
“Great fresh acidity and just enough of the honeyed caramelized butterscotchy goodness. A regal!”
Rated 9.0
Frank Cornelissen Contadino Etna Rosso 2013
“If you’ve ever licked a volcano…this doesn’t really taste like that. But it is freakin awesome.”
Rated 9.4
Selbach Saar Spatlese Riesling 2013
“Delicious with lime and wintergreen notes, delivered with a jolt of mouth-watering acidity.”
Rated 9.3
Castello Di Verduno Basadone Verduno Pelaverga 2013
“Pretty, floral; bright acidity. Lovely.”
Rated 9.1
Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Grüner Veltliner 2012
“I’m a fan. Fresh and breezy.”
Rated 8.8
Domaine De Chevalier Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé Red Bordeaux Blend 1970
“Exceptional and still unraveling.”
Rated 9.6
François Jobard Les Poruzots Meursault 1er Cru Chardonnay 1987
“Lean, fresh, restrained but still very much alive. Quite good actually.”
Rated 9.5
Domaine De Chevalier Pessac-Léognan White Bordeaux Blend 1983
“Still real fresh, mineral, matchstick, honey butter.”
Rated 9.1
Musto Carmelitano Serra del prete Aglianico del Vulture
“A little taste of Italia: taggiasca olive oil (Liguria), 2011 Aglianico del Vultrure from Musto Carmelitano (Basilicata), passata di pomodoro from Napoli.”
Rated 9.5
Domaine Ostertag Clos Mathis Alsace AOC Riesling 2010
“Rich and masculine but chiseled and teeming with minerals. A great vin de gastronomie.”
Rated 9.5
