Cline Cellars

Ancient Vines Contra Costa County Mourvèdre 2022

8.9

Lot of dark fruit: blackberries, blueberries, and a tinge of spice. Dark, the wine smells like it tastes. Good value. — 13 days ago

Dave, Tom and 1 other liked this

Tom Casagrande

Seriously, has there ever been a disappointing red wine from Contra Costa? Every red vine there is over 100 years old on ungrafted roots in 20 feet of pure sand. What kind of jerk can fuck that up?

Saxum Vineyards

James Berry Vineyard Red Rhône Blend 2010

Joseph Barsky

9.8

2010 James Berry rough by our buddy Rob went up after the 2013 Alban Patrina. Wow, a Syrah blend with plenary of Grenache, it was more elegant and very smooth with velvet mouthfeel and red fruits. Long finish. Lovely evening. — 8 days ago

Shay and Jan liked this

Domaine Charvin

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhône Blend 2009

Michael Phillips

9.3

Robust full bodied should nicely over the next decade — 11 days ago

Matthiasson

California Rosé Blend 2025

Ki Punwar

Owner, California Wine Republic

9.3

The prefect compliment for Halibut tonight; floral and light with good acidity to pair with food — a month ago

Château Pradeaux

Bandol Mourvedre 2017

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Blind tasting for the staff. Still loads of tannin here but approachable enough. Dried black currant, mulberry, and licorice root. Garrigue. They all guessed ten year old Southern Rhone or Bordeaux. Lovely. Got this on sale for $27 about 5 years ago. — 24 days ago

Tom, romo and 3 others liked this

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

Nice ringer.

Domaine Tempier

La Migoua Bandol Mourvedre Blend 1995

Doug Powers

9.5

Unlike La Tourtine, this bottle’s cork wouldn’t come out in one piece, on first sip this is more dark-fruited and almost brooding aromatically and on the palate, massive fruit impression, great balance, also a super long, lingering finish, another WOW! While I hesitate to say this, in the old days I would describe this La Miguoa as rough and masculine, and La Tourtine as silky and feminine, but both are truly outstanding. The price tag from WinEx back in the day was still on this bottle, $22.99. — 22 days ago

with Jim

Pooneet, Dave and 13 others liked this

Dave

Nice! We're hopping on the next flight

Tom Casagrande

In my second wine biz job (mid-80s) I sold Tempier for Mosswood Wines, Gerald Asher’s company. It was a hard sell. No one had heard of Bandol at the time. Tempier hadn’t started making the single-plot wines yet. They had a regular bottling and a “Speciale Reserve” or “Reserve Speciale.” I can’t remember. I loved the wines and visited the region in ‘85 with my wine-hating then-girlfriend. The growers we visited were amazed that an American had heard of their region and were super hospitable.

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, the “enhanced basic” cuvée back then was “Cuvée Speciale”, not sure when Miguoa and Tourtine started, first vintage I saw was 1985 (and Kermit was the importer back then). I think Cabassou and La Louffe started in 1993 (a GREAT vintage, I still have a fair slug of that vintage for when you and @Dave finally ACTUALLY get on an airplane). By 1995 KLWM’s pricing had driven me to other sources, thus these 1995s from WinEx in the OC!!

Domaine Tempier

Cuvée La Tourtine Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2021

Ericsson

9.5

Bucket list wine. Always wanted to try the red but it is elusive. Some say it’s the Grand Cru of Provence. Found it at Grand Barrail in Bordeaux FR. It is decadent, I’d have it again any day. — 8 days ago

John, Tom and 16 others liked this

Domaine du Gros' Noré

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2022

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.2

2022 vintage. PNP. Rich and smooth. Thought there would be some earth/dirt but this was gone too quickly to properly investigate. 3.11.26. — 12 days ago

Zach, Andrew and 14 others liked this

Domaine Tempier

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 2015

Chris MacLean

9.3

I preferred this slightly over the cru La Tourtine, from the same year. This was slightly shorter but the flavor profile was more mature. Seemed like the ideal drinking window. — a month ago

with Mike, Jason and 1 other

Jason, Ira and 9 others liked this

John Duval Wines

Plexus Shiraz Blend 2010

Frank Lin

8.9

Rich and full bodied. I decanted it for 4 hours and it was a lot better than the last bottle. Amazing structure after 16 years. Would get more in the future. Nutty and spicy. — 22 days ago