Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2016 vintage. From a magnum. Medium body. Built for the long haul and not stopping at any of the stations near you-now or anytime soon. Dark fruits and earth but no one aspect leaping out. Team effort and in exactly zero rush to arrive. 3.27.26. — 3 months ago

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9.3

The 2022 Barbera d'Alba is a fabulous wine that marries Barbera fruit richness with a Nebbiolo-like sense of structure. Aging is done entirely in cement. Ripe cherry, plum, lavender, rose petal and blood orange are front and center in this juicy, inviting Barbera. $23.00 (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2024) — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2020 vintage. Another great effort from this Château. Already easy drinking. A lot of sweet fruit, smooth with a nice ripe tannic bite, freshness and good length. Merlot 70%, Cabernet Franc 16%, Cabernet Sauvignon 9%, Carmenère 2% and Noir de Pressac (aka Malbec) 2%. Abv. 14,5%. Hubert de Boüard consults.Don't know if it will make old bones ( a 2008 recently tasted was totally over the hill). — 4 years ago

Ron R

9.5

Single-barrel scarcity makes this a “must try.” It generates a meaningful event and a good disruption on the palate.
Green apples combine with melon and bright acidity - the signature of a typical SB. Moderately sweet. Serve it to those who appreciate uncommon excellence in wine. Approach the winery for this. — 4 years ago

with Anne-marie

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

Made by superstar winemaker, Randy Dunn, of Dunn Vineyards, the 2017 ‘Feather’ by Long Shadows is a masterful effort from this exciting warmer vintage in Washington. Once on the nose there is a lovely round core of toasty oak that wraps around the rich dark fruits, sagebrush and chocolate fudge aromatics that all meld in the glass. The palate is silky smooth, revealing a round and generous mouthfeel. The seamless effect created mid-palate is utterly fantastic. Black currants and blackberry cordial dance with shades of Black Forest Cake and espresso bean on this highly complex palate. This finishes long with dark fruits and a beam of minerality. While enticing to savor now, the 2017 ‘Feather’ will have a long life ahead of it. If enjoying in its youth, be sure to afford a two hour decant prior to enjoying. Drink 2021-2040- 95 — 6 years ago

Frank Chen

9.1

Served at rose dinner pairing — 7 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Center of Effort – Rosso Corsa Pinot Noir 2021
Edna Valley, Central Coast, California – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
The Rosso Corsa (“racing red” in Italian) is Center of Effort’s bold expression of Pinot Noir, sourced from their organically farmed estate vineyards in Edna Valley. Known for its cool climate and marine influence, this AVA delivers Pinot with both freshness and intensity. The name nods to the classic Italian racing heritage, emphasizing speed, energy, and elegance — qualities mirrored in the wine.

Aromas & Flavors
Bursts of dark cherry, ripe strawberry, and pomegranate meet hints of baking spice, cocoa, and dried rose petals. As it opens, layers of earthy forest floor and a faint touch of savory herbs add dimension.

Mouthfeel
Silky yet energetic, medium-bodied with polished tannins and a vibrant acid backbone. The wine flows seamlessly across the palate, balancing plush fruit with savory complexity, finishing long and precise.

Winemaking Notes
Estate-grown fruit, hand-harvested, fermented in small lots with partial whole-cluster for structure and aromatics. Aged in French oak barrels (30–40% new), which imparts subtle vanilla and toast while preserving freshness.

Food Pairing
Versatile and food-friendly — pair with roasted duck breast, grilled salmon, mushroom risotto, or charcuterie with earthy cheeses. Its balance of fruit and savoriness allows it to pivot beautifully from lighter fare to richer dishes.

Verdict
A dynamic Pinot Noir that captures the spirit of Edna Valley with a nod to Italian flair. Sleek, energetic, and finely structured — a wine that feels both luxurious and alive in the glass. — 10 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Night one at Bern’s, from deep in the cellar. Bottle is in great condition. Decanted and poured. Great color. Dark ruby center with clear rims. Translucent. Awesome nose. Notes of red fruit, cedar desk, dusty earth, Cuban cigar, cherries and some white pepper. Light on its feet at first but firms up nicely with air for a few hours, then plateaued before softening up later on. Really good showing. — 3 years ago

Nicolas Greinacher

9.4

A brilliant effort, the 2016 Château Faugeres shines all the way through. Deep ruby colored, the nose reveals whafts of tobacco, violets, red and black plum, blackcurrant, mint, leather and forrest floor. Full bodied with boatloads of ripe and polished tannins, the wine closes with a long, intense finish. This is a fantastic wine from Château Faugeres. Drink now until 2041. — 4 years ago

Tom Kohli

8.9

My second favorite Pinot Noir — 5 years ago

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9.4

The 2018 Vin Perdu from Amuse Bouche is fabulous. Juicy and wonderfully expressive, the 2018 packs a serious punch while remaining very much medium in body, in the style of these wines. Succulent black cherry, plum, chocolate, lavender, spice and leather are front and center. The 2018 is a joyous, inviting red to drink over the next handful of years. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2021)
— 5 years ago

Joe D'Angelo

9.8

The 2013 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a total beauty from Randy and Mike Dunn. This refined and beautifully made Cabernet begins with alluring aromatics of dark cherries and blackberries, which are laced with spring florals, tobacco and graphite nuances. This showcases the Dunn’s signature winemaking style of a beautifully structured and balanced Cabernet. It continues to impress with gorgeous ripe fruit and outstanding precision and tension that pulls it all together. It's no secret that the Dunn’s are making some of Napa Valley’s finest wines up on Howell Mountain and this is a testament to the effort and experience they put into their wines. A sensational Cabernet with a long, bright future ahead. — 7 years ago

Doug Sayed

9.1

2014 vintage. Bright red and blue fruits with a stout structure and a really nice finish. Needs. A good decant or another year or two to smooth out. Really nice though. — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.5

2022 vintage. A blend of 53% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Petit Verdot. As Siran is consistently of Cru Classé quality, I've put the bar high, tasting it next to the 2022 La Lagune. While it doesn't have the depth and quality of tannins of the latter, Siran 2022 is an impressive effort, a classic Margaux in the same league as the magnificent 2019 Siran. — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Night one at Bern’s, from deep in their cellar. Decanted and poured. Deep ruby center, mostly translucent. Killer nose. Notes of currant, sweet plums, spice and earth. Rich and silky in the mouth. Its “youth” shows when compared to the glasses of 1929 and 1933 next to it. Maybe the best of the 3 tonight? Hard to say, but it’s nice to find old off vintages that show like this. — 3 years ago

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9.0

The 2020 Rosso di Montalcino tempts the senses with a perfumed mix of wild strawberries, plums, lavender and sage. This is a pure yet potent effort, with depths of mineral-laced red fruits carried across silken textural waves. The 2020 leaves notes of hard candies, licorice and pretty rosy florals while finishing with just a hint of grippy tannins that frame the wine well. For all of its finesse, there's an underlying power here that will carry this for many years to come. (Eric Guido, Vinous, October 2022)
— 4 years ago

Rob Brobst III

10

2018 Materium comes from the Weitz Vineyard in Oakville and is all Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in mostly new barrels. It's a very different wine than the Amoenus release and has more elegant, seamless aromas and flavors of crème de cassis, black raspberries, tobacco leaf, flowery incense, and sandalwood. Château Margaux-like in its elegance and complexity, this brilliant wine has loads of sweet fruit, flawless integration of its tannins and acidity, flawless balance, and just a heavenly overall profile that I wish every reader could taste. This extraordinary effort can be drunk today or cellared for 30 years or more. — 5 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2015 / This is a benchmark for Bordeaux from more unknown AOC’s, ‘petit Bordeaux’. Deep dark color, 4/5 transparant with starting of a brown rim. Purple reflection. Classic Bordeaux smell with laurel, plums, even some pencil shape. A restraint smell at this moment. Some tannins in taste, needs a decanter or air in the glass. With food it’s already delicious. That is if you like a bit stubbornness as I do. Very good effort. / Paired with tenderloin and snow peas. — 7 years ago

Max Hollander-Eberly

9.2

Garnet rim with a deep Ruby center. Classically Left Bank Bordeaux with dark fruit, green peppers, tobacco, gravel and pine on the nose, also displaying molasses, caramel, leather, gunpowder and riverbank. A touch of VA, seemed to be a bit more than an added complexity. Slightly underwhelming for a 1st Growth. — 7 years ago

Brandon T

9.4

My Quivet syrahs don’t usually make it long enough to have this kind of bottle age, but I may need to hold a few back going forward. Tremendous effort here and an easy 3-5 years ahead of it. — 7 years ago

with Sam and JRM