Steve Somermeyer

9.2

Opened a bottle 2 years ago & it was excellent but a bit of tannin bite on finish. Today this bottle retained the fruit aromas & palate feel but it’s finish softened so I found it bit better. — 4 days ago

Paul J

9.6

First Rose of the season! Always great! See previous notes and vintages. — 3 months ago

with Brooke and

Magnus Hovet

9.2

Really smooth. A lot more dark plums, and softer tannins. Earthiness, small amount of spice and looong aftertaste — 3 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.4

[Tasted on November 23, 2025 at Home with Michael, Rachel and Kat]

Raspberry and blackberry fruit, with violet and soft cedar notes. Wine Spectator rated 96 points and rated #4 in its Top 100 of 2025 list. — 7 months ago

Shay A

9.4

This 2017 is less opulent, more compact, and tightly coiled compared to the 2016. Because of that, I followed this wine over two days.

On day one, this was tart and tangy…almost steely and too powerful. Day two saw this blossom and expand on the palate. The tart/tangy vibe is still there but it’s accompanied by a deep richness. Everything about this Chardonnay is lemon driven…lemon oil, lemon scone, powdered lemon tart bar, especially on the nose. There is a nervy vein of acidity at the core carrying notes of pineapple and white peach, but never pushed too far to the ripe side. One of those wines that retains freshness with the richness. If popping now, decant 1-2hrs or hold another few years, and enjoy the 2016 before opening this 2017! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Sette Ponti or "seven bridges," refers to 7 bridges crossing the Arno River on the road from Arezzo to Florence. Blend of 50% Merlot, 40% Cab Sauv & 10% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in new French oak. Very dark Ruby with pronounced aromas of dark fruits, cigar box & earthy notes, touch of floral citrus. Flavors of black cherry & blackberry with tobacco & spice. Fine tight tannins, long finish ending with cacao, tobacco & mineral spice as the finish builds. Decant now! Will continue to age! — 5 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

8.9

Dusty earthy cherries and herbal stemmy viney soft tannins. Has the sensation of crushed mulling spices in dark tea. Soft Xmas in April style Pinot. A great value Pinot! $22 at Uncorked Hermosa Beach. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Unmistakably Central Otago to my palate. Red plums and raspberries. 20% of the grapes were whole bunch. Also aged in 27% new oak. I must mention Neil Martin’s famous Quote, “ Whenever there is a tasting designed to challenge the supremacy of Burgundy, it is usually Felton Road that is ushered into the ring”. Very much on allocation these days and can be difficult to source. — 23 days ago

Magnus Hovet

9.2

Maybe the best chard I have had, jumps out of the glass, aromatic and on the palate quite smooth and silky but still got enough acidity to balance it out. Honeysuckle, melon and some peaches. Really lovely — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Located in the western end of Dopp Road where the Chehalem Mountains converge with Ribbon Ridge, medium Ruby with aromas of red fruits and enticing spice. On the palate flavors of raspberry and wild cherry with pepper, toasty spice and earthy notes. Young with fine integrated tannins, well defined, elegant with underlying richness, long finish ending with oaky notes. Nice value, will age well! — 2 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. 100% Grenache. Ripe, spicy biggie in need of a decade's worth of time or a serious decant. 4.19.23. — 3 years ago

Adriana Fabbro

9.2

Mourvèdre Madness Monday. Common threads: tart blackberry, characteristic rustic meatiness/ferrous quality and reduction.

Mataro from Zin master Joel Peterson. Richest, most forward and fullest bodied of the bunch by far. Extracted but balanced. Tannins are plush and wooly. Fresh violets, smoke and licorice. — 5 years ago

with Maura

Paul J

9.4

PnP’d. Very robust nose of flowers and some vanilla. I smelled this the minute the cork came out. Lovely texture and very complex. Chocolate, vanilla, and cherries; some Amarone characteristics. Medium plus finish. — 5 years ago

with Brooke

Big Wave Dave

9.6

Outstanding block 5. Much more concentration and power than precious vintages. Strawberry, raspberry, pepper, wood spice. The power of the very best from Central Otago but with an elegance.
Really great pinot.
— 21 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Hopefully Delectable will allow me to write a complete note. Here we go ….
Dark Ruby with a crimson rim. Closed on the nose initially. Straight from the bottle - should have decanted it. Rich on the palate. Latent power with much to give. Dark cherry with dried herbs still to come with further cellaring. This is the first of 5 bottles. In the early days Block 3 was the undisputed best Pinot in NZ but now Block 5 is considered along with other contenders from around NZ. Have the next one in a year. Many good judges think this is the best ever Block 3 up to this point. — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Pale lemon color with aromas of citrus and tropical fruit and floral notes. On the palate flavors of grapefruit, green apple and pear fruit flavors with lemongrass and grassy tones, lively acidity. Medium+ finish ending with fruit, herbal, floral, lemongrass and salty mineral notes. Do not over chill so you can experience all of the nuances while you sip this fine wine. — 10 months ago

Chris

9.2

Really approachable out of the gate, bright red fruit with good length on the palette. — 5 years ago

Brandon Boesch

9.3

Really nice. A lot of baking spice, raspberries, cherries, rose petals. Good tannin. Large structure but great with a hearty meal. — 5 years ago

with Randy

John W

9.0

Dark ruby coloration. On the nose, dark berries, anise, leather, tobacco and warm spices. On the palate, big fruit right away, dark berry and cherry, with hints of vanilla, oak, raspberry, tobacco and leather. Medium body and nice smooth mouth feel. Long finish with the fruit prevailing. — 6 years ago

Erin Joyce

9.2

Waited a few years to drink the 2017 and it’s even better than I remembered. In times like these it’s important to savor the floral bouquet and stone fruit deliciousness of this wine and essentials like Clorox bleach. — 6 years ago

with Sandra