Dave

9.1

2nd time I've had this. Every wine gets a higher score at Christmas. This is a stern Barolo, uptight after 4 hours of air. Yummy, though, and pleasant to sip slowly next to the fireplace. Cherry cola, raspberries, roses, serious leathery tannins. It's a 6 year old Barolo, and that's what it tastes like.
Listening to Little Feat — 6 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Deep ruby , garnet rim. Quite a lot of cedar , leather and dark fruits . On the palate lots of cassis , blackberry , cedar , grafite . Fills out well on the palate , quite stern but fine tannins . Good acidity . Long and complex on the finish , but needs time , 10 years perhaps and will last a further 10-15 . This was decanted for 4 hours. — 3 years ago

Mats Rytther

9.6

The fir almost sweet and yammy plums grow more stern as The wine breath a bit. It natur and superb to drunk right away. Harsh and soft, lots of character, good tannis and acidity but a bit ronder then young. Rich flavours leather, tobacco, plum. Hits way above its price level.
I say yam and plums, but its quite fresh and Nice acidity, draes towards cherry. Sure is some deep integrated rosted oak also. In many ways like a super tusan, just better. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Dark crimson in colour. Red florals with earthy beetroot notes on a medium bodied palate with medium plus intensity. Still quite stern tannins but overall starting to break the confines of over extraction finally at 12 years of age. This is my last bottle and the best of 6 originally bought. Previous notes have said that this is a Shiraz drinkers Pinot and I still stick with that assessment. I believe Dry River are now making their Pinots less extracted and more approachable at a younger age. In summary this is excellent, it just needed time. — 5 years ago

Richard Rosensweig

8.9

Bitter orange, bergamot, pear and a hint of green pepper make for a satisfying four season Grüner. Granite soil provides a stern mineral dimension to the fruit profile not often found in the cultivation of this Teutonic noble grape. — 6 years ago

Joseph LaPanna

8.9

What’s not to love about high elevation, old vine garnacha! Dark purple with an opaque rim. The nose was bright and brimming with minerals, earth and Asian spices. Tons of fruit runs from tip to stern; dominated by black cherry lavender and brambley spices. Great depth and grip! — 6 years ago

Mike Miller

9.4

Most certainly stern and direct. And wonderful. — 8 months ago

with Anne

Austin Hohnke

9.2

So consistently good. Pineapple, baked apricot and golden raisin. Medium to full with stern acidity. I’ve found this wine is best at 3-5 years with a decant. So unique and original. Love the packaging. — 3 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

These are pop ‘n pour notes. Will update tomorrow. For now, the color is dense and youthful. Nose reluctantly gives up deep ripe cassis and berry notes, moist clay, cedar, and pretty red florals. Dense in the mouth, and still pretty tannic, but there is very nice depth of fruit behind the stern texture and dry profile. Still several years to go before peak. For now, 9.2. Could be significantly higher later.

DAY 2: It’s opened and softened some, but the tannins, while settling, are still there. This suggests to me that at least 3 or more years are needed before the peak plateau is reached. — 3 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.0

Stern and classic. Less fat than I expect from pinot rosés. Served young could be a Bandol. — 5 years ago

Ryan Vento

8.9

Sampling this new addition to my collection, which is also my very first Kavalan. On the nose it closely resembles bourbon, with notes of caramel, holiday spices, dark chocolate, and creme brûlée. On the palate, however, it’s a bit more stern and less suave than I anticipated with notes of worn saddle leather, toasted nuts, clove, espresso, and bananas foster. The finish is quite warm. — 6 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

What a nose. Citrus, perfume, spice. Crazy aromas. Palate is so tangy, salty and citrusy. Acid is off the charts. Superb purity. Juicy. Decadent yet stern and energetic. Linear and long. In a perfect space. — 6 years ago

Raj Harb

9.4

06 & 08 side by side. 08 took a lot of air to come alive. Still quite stern. 06 more open. Sensed some va initially. It eventually straightened out and overtook the 08 — 6 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.2

Medium in body, fresh and driven, the 2022 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is pretty forward in its red-fruited profile, but it also possesses a core of stern, rocky minerality. An enticing air of highlands herbs and sweet lavender adds further intrigue. Juicy, sweet raspberry, clove and a kick of toasty French oak sweetness make the 2022 an inviting choice for drinking over the next several years. (Billy Norris, Vinous, August 2024)
— 2 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Medium to full bodied. Mashed golden apple, ripe pear, and pineapple. Vegetal. Stern and structured. — 3 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

Nose is very 15. Ripe and bright cherry fruit, dusty earth and some spice. The clarity is ok not great. Palate is juicy and bright but very 15. Not hot at all but the fruit lacks focus. Very fresh. Not awful but as it ages the “15” comes more into focus. Tannins are stern and hard and it finishes very mineral. — 3 years ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Star bright vibrant pink. A bit paler than I’m used to with Tavel. Medium full palate or ripe strawberry, earthy cherry, and stern mineral. Medium plus acidity. No tannins but a decidedly tannin-esque mouthfeel. Medium finish. 2020 was a superb growing season in southern France and this Tavel is a spectacular example of the effects of that vintage. Pale as it is, it still delivers that distinctly Tavel punch on the nose and palate that makes it an excellent wine for a wide range of foods. Take it to your Thanksgiving table for a stellar T-Day pairing. Drink now or hold through 2030 for a classic Tavel experience. — 5 years ago

Keith Crump

9.1

2015 still rather stern — 6 years ago

Chris Zitzman

9.3

It’s gorgeous from stem to stern. We tasted it straight out of the bottle in addition to a good-time of decanting and while different experiences between the two- this is a luscious, GORGEOUS blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre- and a splash of Viognier. It’s the perfect bottle to take to pair with lamb, steak- SHRIMPIES, whatevs. We were blown away. It is NOT cheap- but with regard to value- I’ve yet to meet its equal. — 6 years ago

with Beth

Ericsson

9.0

Ruby red color with a watery rim. Hint of large game blood, wet earth, and fresh dark cherries on the scent. Ripe dark fruit up front, sweet almost; followed by stern tannings and a dry finish. A young wine, medium body, almost light alcohol but with lots of character yet easy drinking. Unassuming wine, extremely enjoyable. One of those, great all-around, Southern Rhône blends... — 6 years ago