Andy@andyberke.com

9.1

Set good at the price. Good tannins — 25 days ago

Joe Flo

9.6

Wine Spectator #1 wine dinner. With a good decanting this was a great wine. 🍷 — 7 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

Nose: lovely florals.

Palate: good toast. Good fruit.

1/3 ea pn pm chard

$43 Monteray bay — a year ago

Fabio Franchella

9.3

Vom@Regen in die Traufe? Nein! Vom der Terra di Ea (mit unfertigem Zimmer) zum Emidio ins Zanobi. Welch schöner Ausgang! — 2 years ago

with Kathrin

Shay A

9.4

Last bottles from a 6-pack. I had two bottles that were sadly riddled with EA, but the other four were sound.

This was one of the wines I served for my annual WWC hosting. All wines served blind.

65 semillon/ 34 Sauvignon Blanc/ 1 Muscadelle

Always love these, more so than most domestic Bordeaux Blanc style white wines, mostly because of the texture. Straw color in the glass. Quite the tropical aromatics (white peach, mango) but it’s not overpowering. The barrel ferment is apparent with the rounded profile on the palate…the vein of acidity that was there a few years ago is fading, so this showed even more opulent than normal. Honeyed lemon, guava, orange blossom but a backbone of sea salt and herbs snap the structure in place to show nice balance and a nod to Bordeaux. I’d recommend popping now and over the next couple years to enjoy the freshness. — a day ago

Jason Phillips

9.2

Wonderful nose. Light color, almost like a Pinot. Very balanced, coating the palate. Higher acidity but smooth finish. — 10 months ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). I was really hesitant to open this given the fanfare of this specific wine, but also how DrCrane can be an in-between wine for me (so explosive young, shut down at 5-10yrs, re-open 10+). Decanted two-three hours.

Classic deep purple-black DrCrane in the glass. Aromatics are immediate with ripe blue and black fruits, baking spices, mocha and graphite. Just a little bit of high-toned EA to make it pop, along with this roasted character I always get from DrCrane wines. Opulent and polished in every way on the palate, this is a tidal wave of flavor with no hard edges. It’s a towering wine in the sense of so much concentration and depth on the mid-palate, but it’s so incredibly polished at the finish…almost shockingly so. The ripe fruits and the dark chocolate linger longer than any Napa cab I can remember. Iron first in a velvet glove.

No need to worry, these are open for business. Plenty of structure to carry a while, but this window seems like it was made for how this wine is drinking now. — a year ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.5

Almaviva – Red Blend – 2022
Puente Alto – Chile 🇨🇱

Overview
A “pure evil” expression of ultra-fine winemaking produced by the collaboration between Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Viña Concha y Toro. The 2022 Almaviva blends precision and power from Chile’s premier terroir in Puente Alto.
Varietal Composition: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Carmenère, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 

Aromas & Flavors
Cassis, blackberry liqueur, violets, graphite, cedar spice, and a touch of mocha, all densely packed but beautifully lifted.

Mouthfeel
Velvety, deep, and resolute. Superb tannin refinement with a long, elegant finish that balances richness with precision.

Food Pairings
Dry-aged ribeye, lamb chops, charred mushrooms, or a luxurious truffle risotto.

Verdict
Expressive, beautiful, and undeniably classy. A solid, velvety powerhouse that is enjoyable now or will age with grace.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
The finest expression I’ve tasted from Chile’s greatest terroir, Puente Alto, with roared potential and impeccable balance. — 6 months ago

Ron R

9.4

Close friend gifted us this over 15 years ago. This has stood still and I’m loving it. Typical Bdx profile displaying saddle leather, wood and smoke from the barrel toast. Tannins are moderate and standing tall. Outstanding in my book. — 10 months ago

with Anne-marie

Shay A

9.2

If you can calibrate your mind for Turley (or Zins in general), these are fun and hedonistic wines to simply enjoy.

My first experience with the Turley Dusi. Initial impression is this has Paso all over it (as it should, since it’s a Paso vineyard) with a sense of weightless gravitas. Wave after wave of ripe fruits from the entire spectrum (red, blue and black berry fruits), cedar, espresso all on the nose. Little bit of EA sharpness (as I’ve found common with Turley) but only at levels to elevate the aromatics, not enough to detract from the overall profile. Mixed berry pie richness on the palate with more cedar, spiced plum, dark cocoa and just a faint profile of chewing tobacco leaves (not sure if that’s the profile of Dusi, or if that’s evolution after almost 8yrs). ABV is noticeable when warm but drinks nice closer to cellar temp. Pop corks and enjoy over the next few years. — 2 years ago