Bob McDonald

9.2

Apparently one of the oldest Distillery sites in Scotland. Located by the sea on the Isle of Islay this receives the slowest distillation of any Islay malt, then spends 16 years in old oak casks before being bottled. This is very pungent, peaty and smoky. One of my favourite single malts. — 2 months ago

DomDoc

9.2

2015 is reporting for duty. Balanced with brighter fruit and acid with cassis, plums and pencil elements. One could drink this with a variety of meats, fowl and fish. This wine is locked and loaded and ready to fire. — 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

Xavi

8.9

Just falls short of excellency. Great mouthfeel. Not too acidic for a riesling, medium fruitiness and balanced intensity. — 6 years ago

Ian Staub

9.1

As expected from Enfield, this oozes class and balance. Not as austere as true Sonoma Coast, and not as sauvage as the northern Rhône, this has pretty ripe black and blue fruits while still possessing all of the beautiful floral, smoky, meaty, peppery elements you’d expect from top notch Syrah. Tannins are resolved and acid plays a leading role, keeping this fresh and exciting. Enjoyed over two nights with Szechuan (and Szechuan leftovers). Perhaps a bit subtle for the food, but still delicious. — 6 years ago

Matt Perlman

8.9

Beautiful light cloudy rhubarb/garnet color. Medicinal sour cherry and vibrant tangy strawberry. Lacks the complexity and funky/savory elements of the top Jura examples but compensates with purity of the fruit — 8 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Medium golden color. Bold aromas of lychee, spices, tropical and orchard fruit and honeysuckle. Lychee fruit also on the palate with additional flavors of green apple/pear, honey, dried apricots and mangoes. Touch of spice and some residual sugar on the long and plush finish. Light on acidity but still nicely balanced. Buttery texture. Elegant, complex and well nuanced. Not for everyone, but I found this wine to be interesting. Excellent with spicy food. — 8 months ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Another wine of interest to me in the Bordeaux masterclass although it looks nothing like the critics’ notes online. Where’s all the floral and mineralic notes? Perhaps shut down at this stage? The nose itself was still interesting though - fruit-dense with lots of irony elements (rust, meat). Sweet fruited, spicy, and concentrated on the palate, but still energetic courtesy of a little more obvious acidity here. Tannins were dusty, fine, and directional. Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot.
— 4 years ago

Paul J

9.3

Always a favorite!

1hr+ decant. Definitely needs a decant! Dark red color with purple rims. Wine is dominated by vanilla, watermelon, and candied fruit. Medium depth. I actually thought it had some Pinot elements. Reminded me of the Chateau Philippe Le Hardi Montee Rouge which I love. This definitely was like candy and my first review of this wine. Last bottle of this vintage :( — 5 years ago

with Brooke

Paul J

9.3

1hr+ decant and needed every bit of it. Fruit forward nose with lots of Pinot elements. Wine was refined and silky, with more tannins than expected. Cherry fruit mixed with meat and a touch of spice. Not what I was expecting from this, but very nice. — 6 years ago

with Brooke

A. R.

9.1

Lightly floral, slightly sweet and a touch of smoke (unpeated)... oily mouthfeel. Good dram. — 7 years ago

Ichiro Kawachi

9.3

Blast of peat / approaching Ardbeg level / sensation of sitting next to hearth in some crofter’s sod house — 7 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

8.9

Nice blend. Much more straight tasting than their Islay cousins. I miss the peat and smoke flavor. — 8 years ago

K. Ross

9.3

14.4% abv. Lend of 2011 and 2012. 2011 Grenache (40%), 2012 Mourvèdre (44%), 2012 Cinsault(16%abv) Elegant, very nice tannin, layered. Delicious. — 9 months ago

ESF

9.3

I’m not quite as effusive as @Lyle Fass but this was indeed gorgeous - step above their straight Spatburgunder w/tons of personality. I was really taken w/perfumed nose and earth driven elements. Yeah there’s gobs of decadent cherry, raspberry & strawberry, but the brambly herbal spice elements are downright sexy. It’s all about complexity & generosity not to mention balance & elegance. — 2 years ago

Paul J

9.5

Great! 1hr decant but probably should have PnP’d as this tired quickly and is a little past prime drinking window. Started out at 97 and ended at 94. Dark red, maroon color with ample bricking. Nose has bramble, cedar, and licorice. Massive depth which separates the $50+ Bordeaux’s from the same priced Napa wines. Lots of cherries and some Amarone and Port elements near the end. Medium finish. A fav of mine! Very consistent across vintages. — 4 years ago

with Brooke

Delectable Wine

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9.7

The 2018 Angélus is striking. Cabernet Franc aromatics make a strong first impression. Vibrant and delineated, the 2018 is incredibly refined in every way. The move towards a bit less extraction really seems to let the purity of the fruit come through. The same is true of a reduction of oak. All the elements come together so effortlessly. The 2018 has all the richness readers expect of Angélus, with much more finesse and more overall vibrancy, a combination that works so well. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2021)
— 5 years ago

Robert Rothfield

9.2

“The most richly flavored of all Scotch whiskies”.....I would tend to agree! — 6 years ago

Paul J

9.6

45+ minute decant. Dark red color. Has that great barnyard nose I love with meat and spice elements too. There is an interesting tartness when it first hits your tongue, which isn’t good or bad, just different and maybe out of place. Nice balance of cherry fruit and smoke. Medium plus finish. I really enjoyed this!! — 7 years ago

with Brooke

Marcus Pollack

9.5

Very peaty, campfire smoke hits the nose immediately. There’s a hint of raisin and some tar, then a long saline finish. One of the best Islay’s I’ve had. It is a beast; consider yourself warned if you prefer a lighter or fruitier flavor profile. — 8 years ago