Doug Powers

9.1

[40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon] Jonathan and Susan’s homage to Priorat, red and black fruits from the Grenache and Syrah, respectively, and then the structure of the Cabernet Sauvignon, this is drinking well tonight, but might evolve for a few more years, very fine Sierra Foothills Priorat look-alike!! — 2 months ago

with Jim

James Forsyth

9.3

Did a blind taste off with this and a very high end Napa Cab. Two of six chose this one. Fair enough. It is explosive, complex and delicious. Dark fruit, leather. All very distinctly Bordeaux. Yum. — 6 years ago

Dylan Thomas

9.2

Strawberry again, rhubarb, musty attic in a good way — 6 years ago

Michael Seely

9.4

What a splendid nicely aged wine. Tyson Crowley is exceptionally talented! — 7 years ago

with Jeff and Joe

Craig Otten

9.3

Happy Birthday Doug W. — 7 years ago

with Felisse

Neal Krishna Devaraj

9.2

Smooth and floral with notes of honey. Celebrating our 4 year anniversary. — 8 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.1

32 Winds Lucky Well PN Barrel Sample. 91-93 Points. — 8 years ago

James Forsyth

9.3

An enjoyable dinner at the Tapas Bar at La Sirena was further enhanced by this delicious wine. Burlotto is certainly one of the hot Barolo producers right now. This Barbera is equally dripping with quality. Violets and layers of red and dark fruits make for a wine that is both sophisticated and accessible. Superb value too. I'll probably pick up a few bottles especially as it has the structure to last a fair while, while also delicious right now. — 8 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

One of the best Syrah I have had outside the Northern Rhone! — a year ago

LM Segal

9.5

Not really fair to rate this now, so damned primary. Dark cassis and coarse cocoa, dark red fruit. Even after an hour not totally sorted but the quality burst through at the back of the palate where it lingered for >a minute. Would love to see this in 10 years. — 5 years ago

Juliet Sussman

9.1

Berry fruity! — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It is really not fair to have their 06 after their 09. It’s good but, all you can think about is the 09.

The nose reveals, slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice and withering red & dark florals.

The body is lean, not quite full. The structure, tension, length and and balance are just ok to good and reveal the shortcomings of the 06 vintage. slightly stewed to cooked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, strawberries, rhubarb and bright cherries. Steeped tea, limestone, licorice, dry crushed rocks, cedar, dry tobacco, soft, used leather, dry crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, dry stems, dry top soil, understated baking spices, some v/a or bandaid, light graphite, dry herbs, light, dark spice with some heat across the palate and withering red & dark florals. The finish is nice and elegant but, lack the fullness and beauty of most really good vintage Palmer’s. It finishes with nice persistent dark spice on the long set. Just give me another taste of the 09. 😜

Photos of; Chateau Palmer, their barrel room, a photo of their vineyard soil structure-if you didn’t know where all that earthiness comes from, a picture is worth a thousand words and their tasting room. — 7 years ago

Shay A

9.4

I really enjoyed tasting this next to the ‘14 Progeny Veeder Cab. Same winemaker. While I thought the Progeny edged this out slightly (though it wasn’t entirely fair with them being different vintages) this was still a textbook Veeder wine. It is rich and powerful without being out of balance. Inky blue and black fruits, sweet oak and vanilla tobacco on the nose (almost identical to the Progeny). The palate here was a bit more expansive and less reigned in than the Progeny...signature mountain structure, dusty youthfulness in the ripe fruits. Dark chocolate & plum on the finish. This will improve a point or two in the next few years...fantastic. — 7 years ago

with Dan, Mark and 1 other

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Fruits started more mid dark, even after a 40 minutes in decanter. Showed a fair amount of spice and smoke (Sonoma fires). However, after a couple hours decanter, the fruits really brighter up and shined beautifully. Ripe, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, dry cranberries, soft chalkiness and bright red florals for days with a well balanced beautiful rich, polished finish. — 8 years ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.1

Cork was soaked through and spongy on this 22-year old magnum, but the wine was still drinking nicely, with a fair amount of fruit still evident and balanced well with still active acidity, floral notes, secondary earthy notes, and well integrated tannins. — 4 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.2

2020 fall. Similar to other recent bottles. Really nice wine for a fair price - I’ll be looking for some more — 6 years ago

Gary Grose

8.9

8.9 is a really fair rating for this consistent Pinot from WA. Sometimes the Pinot producers try for too much and miss? This isn’t it. All you want in a subtle Pinot and none of the heavy alcohol content. You get the lite wood and the fruit. Actually doesn’t change much from first glass to last. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

If you didn’t know already, this is the second wine of Dominus.

The nose reveals; sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, blue fruits, vanilla, light clove, anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth,sweet tarriness, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, leathery notes, cedar, moist crushed rocks, dash of dry herbs with withering, dark, red flowers and old violets.

The body is medium full. The tannins nicely resolved but, still show a fair amount of firmness. The structure, tension, length and balance have hit a high point. Sour dark cherries, blackberries, baked strawberries, sugar style plum, black raspberries, sweetened, lean pomegranate, candied raspberries, a fair amount of blue fruits that hide on the nose, vanilla, light clove, dark spice anise, steeped, black fruit tea, graphite, dark, rich, turned earth, dark tar, limestone, alluvial soils, dry top soil, underbrush, tough shoe leather, cedar, moist crushed rocks, gritty volcanic minerals, dry clay, dash of dry herbs with fresh & withering, dark, red flowers and bright violets. The acidity is vibrant and fresh. The long finish starts ripe, bright candied fruits and slides into slightly dominate, dry earthiness and persists several minutes.

I would say this is still a hold for another 3-5 years. The 05 could show another point or two then. Just missing 92 now.

Photos of; Dominus and their estate vines, wine making legend, Christian Moueix, (been blessed to sit with him through a couple of dinners), their barrel room and the reverse view as you approach the winery. — 7 years ago

Alejandro Rabinstein

9.1

Nice blend with fair complexity and a little kick at the end. — 8 years ago

Art Oz

9.0

A blend likely from the 1960s and 70s. Aged 6 years in oak. This wine needed several hours to decant before it finally started to come back to life. It was likely past its prime by a fair amount, but it surprisingly still had some structure. — 8 years ago