Tree Kilpatrick

9.1

Showing rust in the glass for sure. Lighter color than expected. Ruby really. Aroma is not bad. Wet leaves from plants in the chaparral hills. And rye bread soaked in red currant liquor. Maybe a hint of a wet unfired clay pot. Flavors have cola and tobacco big time. It’s very dry and ‘Euro’ flavored. Plenty of fruit, but funky and complex. This is a nice Franc that has aged wonderfully. — 2 months ago

Alan Johnston

9.0

3.0. Napa Valley Cab with deep fruits and complex tannins, but some dullish lingering taste of earthen flavors perhaps from the chaparral. On sale for $32.49, regularly $37.99. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

1997 vintage. Still dark as all get out. A quarter century has thinned out the massive body to medium body but the unified nose/flavors are full of chaparral/scrub, cassis, baking chocolate, gravelly dirt and blackberry reduction. Tasted approximately two hours after decanting. Miles to go before this one sleeps. In the zone now and likely so for another decade before any noticeable drop off in this old school Dunn experience. — 3 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.0

Quick taste; brilliant ruby; aromas of rose petals, sulfur, red berry; dry, medium plus acid, medium tannins, light body, flavors of bright tart berry, cranberry, sour cherry chaparral, thyme; very interesting — 4 years ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.0

Medium ruby medium plus intensity aromas of red cherry, cherry hard candy, pomegranate, red and black plum, chaparral, thyme, dry earth; dry, medium plus acid, medium rustic tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; lovely and balanced — 5 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.0

When I lived in Houston in the aughts, I drank a few fragrant Cotes Du Rhônes from this estate, so I was eager to try their Giggie, even though I’ve grown tired of Southern Rhônes as the climate has warmed and Phillipe Cambie seemingly put a spell over the majority of producers. Well, this is a bit better than the typical blocky, heavy wines that seem increasingly prevalent there. It’s densely colored (of course), but the nose has a bit more elegance and nuance than the typical Gigondas estate these days, showing fresh dark berry fruit, really interesting almost chaparral-like garrigue/earth notes, warm stones, and meadowy wildflowers. In the mouth it’s dense, but a little lighter than the new norm thank goodness, with nice savory flavors and decent acids. Tannins are soft. It won’t make me forget Giggies from the early ‘80s, but it’s nice. — 5 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Dark as solstice night. Aroma is lovely. Cranberry and pine needles. Flavors are European. Chaparral plants. Bright finish. Lacks the funk, but it’s still lovely Syrah. — 6 months ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.1

Cute little building on the label. Lovely red, red wine color. Smells like I imagine the warm, dry hills of the Rhône must smell. Hint of red berries. Some chaparral stuff (or garrigue as they call it over the pond). Flavors are classic and very clean. Berry jam, fresh cut herbs, beets, little smoke, black licorice. This is a lovely little bottle of red. Crowd pleasing yet complex. The Paul Simon of wines. — a year ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.1

Lovely color. Smells nice. Woodsy and a bit fresh. Flavors are juicy and interesting. Plenty of tannin. Floral rose petals and hips are here from the Bobal. Elegant. Fleshy. Plenty of chaparral and Mediterranean coastal herbs in there too. — 3 years ago

Matt

9.5

Lithe, perfumed, graceful and yet ample in its delicious fruit and length. Unlike most wines made in the style, Gauby always manages to have this tannic framework and structure that is tense and fine boned yet yielding at just the right moment. Dried red cherry, crushed berries, blood orange, chaparral, wet leaves, black tea, potpourri, rose petal, candied apple, cinnamon, clove. Has some natural leanings but pleasantly so. — 4 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.0

Nose is interesting. Hint of raisins with a forest or chaparral type woodsy thing. Maybe mushrooms too? Flavors are luscious, lovely and intriguing. It’s kinda like good Syrah and Beaujolais mixed. Smooth tannins, juicy AF, and tart on the backside. This is still one of the best values in CA wines. Thanks J.Lohr for keeping it coming. — 5 years ago

Matt

9.5

Everything I want in Grenache; heady perfume, delicious fruit, that perfect spice/herbal balance, firm and persistently fine grained tannin with a rustic edge, soul, and distinct minerality. Crushed red plum, redolent of soaked cherry, dried herbs, chaparral, lavender pastille, chalk, crushed rock, white pepper, ceylon cinnamon, singed brush, black tea. Elegant, complex, full of personality and length. — 5 years ago

Matt

9.4

Always a fav. First taste of 2015 vintage, nice balance for the year, extraction is deft and carries some finesse to it. As usual, complex, layered, full of goutte de terroir. Layers of cherry from crushed to soaked, slight hint of prune, raspberry confiture, game, fur, roast beef, juniper, forest and cedar, pure garrigue, licorice root, ceylon cinnamon, chaparral, powdered sugar, 5 spice, singed tobacco, graphite, bitter cocoa. Still taut, the tannins need time to relax, but I think they will always have persistence in the wine. Ok with me. — 6 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Fancy looking bottle. Lots of cursive and a crest on the label. Also embossed crest glass on the neck. Dark maroon to purple color. Nice in the glass. Smells like warm rocks, saunas and berry pies. Hint of chaparral plants too. Flavors are great southern France style. Black and blue fruits. Hint of smoke. Ink well as well. Tannins are strong. Bittersweet in a good way. This is great Rhône style stuff. Complex and elegant, but not too much. Was a great deal at $6 at Grocery Outlet. — a year ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Really nice for current drinking. Spicy berry fruit, intense chaparral herbs, and beef jerky on the nose. Palate is super soft and flowing, with loads of savory, iodine-tinged minerally notes overlaying dark berry fruit. Loads of flavor without loads of weight. Very much reminiscent of an old-timey Cotes-du-Rhône (pre-global warming/Philippe Cambie). Good value too about $21. — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2019 vintage. Last tasted 4.6.22. Medium-medium/heavy body. It’s got the garrigue stink (Mediterranean herbs/native scrub flora…similar to the Southern California herbs/native scrub & chaparral) and smoky nose. Prominent lavender, fudgie flavors thin out slightly on the finish. Definitely brooding. Hide a bottle or two away for future considerations but it’s firing now. Not a lot of Vacqueyras juice escapes from France (not a lot made) since it’s a relatively smallish, SoRhô (Southern Rhône) area. Generally, fantastic value play on resto lists or in the retail world. This one is no exception. 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsault/Mouvèdre mystery combo. Vines are 35-40 years old. If you encounter this out in the wild, throw a net over it and wrangle it back to camp. — 4 years ago

Matt

9.5

This wine fucks. Deep, heady, absolute pleaure in the glass. It’s fruit, herbal tones, alcohol, tannin and acidity all holding form and balance. Serious yet hedonistic in its deliciousness. Roasted plum, orange peel, peach pit, raspberry jam, white pepper, beef, juniper, talcum, coffee, gravel, chaparral — 4 years ago

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.2

Fully mature. Elements of sage, chaparral, grilled fruit. Rose hip. Palate full of blackberries and some minerals with furry tannins. Smoke em if you got em. — 5 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

8.9

Pretty nice color. Light and dark at the same time. Smells like rain, cranberries and chaparral. Flavors are nice. A simple Rhône type red. It’s great for a cheapie. I could drink this anytime. — 6 years ago

Matt

9.2

Found this to be drinking quite well, tannins were integrating nicely, distinctive tertiary character has taken form, and the wine carried a gracefulness without loosing any rustic charm. Dried brambly fruit, wet leaves, dried leather, sous bois, dried flowers, and almost this parched landscape quality, like high desert or chaparral sort of note. Very intriguing and brought lots of joy to a simple French meal. Procured in FR, not a KLWM import — 7 years ago