Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Magnum,
I wanted to try this somewhat close to the opening of the 2016 Schrader Colesworthy Mag.
Over extracted for my taste compared to the Schrader. But it garnered two 100 💯 point reviews by the paid professionals 🤷🏼‍♂️
I really want another Colesworthy now!
Jeb 100
Wine Advocate 100
Review Date: 10/2018
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Raison D'Etre is a barrel selection wine, made entirely from estate fruit and bottled in late May 2018. Composed of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, — 6 months ago

Jake Hajer

9.0

The start of petrol, tangerine, white peach, nectarine, lemonade. Good acidity. Want more mineral and layers, but I enjoyed this. Tasted with some other professionals who enjoyed as well. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Pale to medium lemon in colour. Immediate impressions- Oaky, Leesy, white peach, hazelnut - profound aromatics. A medium to full bodied palate with these same peachy leesy nutty flavours - a little broad - medium minus acid. Savaterre from Beechworth is near Giaconda, who many wine professionals in Australia, think make the best Chardonnay in Australia. The label on this Savaterre recommends decanting which I didn’t do. Rarely decant whites. — 6 years ago

Erin Joyce

9.2

This is the last Wind Gap bottle I have from their original owners. Savoring the leathery, cherry, woodsy elegance and toasting to all Medical professionals who are risking their lives right now. — 6 years ago

with Sandra

Antonio Galloni

Founder, Vinous

9.6

Superb. Still young, but starting to show the first signs of opening in its aromatics.

More than anything, for me wine is about people. That’s why I spend so much of my time on the road, visiting with winemakers, vineyard managers, owners and other professionals. I first tasted this wine in the spring of 2013. I visit many Napa Valley properties at that time of year (2020 looking like an exception) to taste the new vintage. At Blankiet that usually means working blends, but in 2013 I tasted straight from the barrel with Claude & Katherine Blankiet and Denis & May Britt Malbec. It was a fascinating tasting, as I had a chance to not only taste many unblended lots but also see how the same wine responded to barrels from different coopers. So, when I saw this label, it took me right back to that day. It was a delicate time for me. I had left The Wine Advocate, but Vinous did not exist yet. And of course, Denis Malbec is no longer with us.⁣
— 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This Anthill is well extracted. Too much for how I like my Pinot’s. It is also has a slight alcohol burn in the back of my throat which; I & other professionals consider a fault in wine. It’s like Oregon fruit & florals meet the over-extraction of Bella Glos. That aside, there are some merits here.

The nose reveals slightly stewed, yet ruby & candied fruits of; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, creamy raspberries and notes of pomegranate. Pronounced baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Black, rich earth, black licorice, sweet tarry notes, limestone, dark spice, dry, crushed rocks and bright; red, dark, blue and purple florals.

The body is big, thick and lush. She still has sticky, meaty, tarry tannins. The structure & tension is quite big. The length and balance are good but, still require some more time to hit their peak. Slightly stewed, yet ruby & candied fruits of; blackberries, strawberries, dark cherries, plum, creamy raspberries and notes of pomegranate. Pronounced baking spices; vanilla, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Black, rich earth, gravely, dark volcanic minerals, black licorice, sweet tarry notes, limestone, dark spice, stem inclusion, leather, hints of graphite, dry, crushed rocks and bright; red, dark, blue and purple florals. The acidity is round and good. The big, long, finish is, rich, ruby, elegant, well polished and persists for minutes.

Photos of; one of the vineyards they source fruit, three friends & partners that founded Anthill; Anthony Filberti, David Low, and Webster Marquez who met while working at Williams Selyem and the staff working the process in the cellar. — 7 years ago

Randall Hopkins

Winegrower Co-Winemaker and Owner Corvus Vineyard and Corvus Cellars

9.0

So enjoyable, such a crowd pleaser, especially with a group of wine industry professionals. — 7 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Brief notes at home with Fettuccine in the Puttanesca style. Ended up being the perfect accompaniment. Menthol and savoury cherry with earthy aromas. Balsamic notes with a tarry nuance. Really enjoyable and tasting way younger than its 14 years. I would love to have the experience and knowledge to distinguish the different nuances between the Produttori Cuvées. Rabaja and Asili seem to be two of the preferred Cuvées among professionals. — 4 years ago

Leo Gentile

9.3

Tremendously flavorful wine. Balanced richness and enough acidity to be food friendly. Enjoyed with a dry rub sirloin and cucumber salad & Brussels sprouts from garden. Inky and clear with no brick. Nose is understated but no alcohol burn despite 14.6 AbV. Loads of ripe black fruits without jamminess. A hallmark of the vineyard and winery professionals, Ridge consistently manages to produce these monster wines that are always fun to explore and enjoy — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

First experience with Launay-Horiot. While I've heard lots of good things about this rising star in Burgundy, the 15' Chaponnières was just underwhelming. Sure, there's balance and depth in the wine, but I expected a little more freshness and fineness from the domaine. Tasting notes from the professionals seem to indicate the prevalence of the vintage's warmth in this wine. Rich and earthy would best sum it up. Bouquet of cherry brandy, earth, mushroom, and graphite. The palate is muscular and smokey, balanced by well-judged acidity. Nice chalky tannins and finishes with a savory tang. A miss here for me especially for the price, but at least there wasn't any marmalade notes which I detest in Pino. Will seek out Xavier's wines again, but probably 16' onwards first. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Transitioning in the Lounge. Night is a little better than day. Love the glow.

This 07 has been hanging out in my secondary storage (temp & humidity controlled but, not EuroCave) for 12 years. Time to drink up, right? Nope. The cork was super pliable with nearly no seepage. This wine has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead with proper storage.

The nose reveals fruits that are steeped in style. Although, ripe, ruby and quite floral. Dark currants, blackberries, blackberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, black plum, touch of pomegranate, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, malt in malt balls, haunting caramel, whiff of black pepper, mix of Asian & Indian dark spices, incense, limestone, volcanic minerals, dry crushed rocks, leather, dry brush, liqueur, liquid fruit chocolate truffles, oak shavings, leather, some graphite, anise to black licorice with dazzling; dark, blue, red, fresh & withering florals and violets for days.

The palate would fool a lot of wine lovers/professionals. There is an earthiness about it that might take you to a warm vintage Bordeaux or a Rhône blend of mostly Grenache and Syrah.

Ripe and lush, dark currants, blackberries, blackberries, black cherries, poached strawberries, black plum, touch of pomegranate, sweet tarry notes, dark chocolate, malt in malt balls, warm caramel, some black pepper, mix of Asian & Indian dark spices, dry Provenance herbs, black offering palate heat, incense, thick layered baking spices; clove, cinnamon & nutmeg with a mini splash of vanilla, limestone, gripping volcanic minerals, dry top soil & clay, dry crushed rocks, dark, rich, turned black earth, leather, dry brush, dry river stone, liqueur, oak shavings, leather, some graphite, anise to black licorice with dazzling; dark, blue, red, fresh & withering florals and singing violets for days. The acidity is round and good but, short of the vintage. The structure, tension, length and balance are approaching their peak. The long, big finish is; ripe, lush, ruby, show the quality of the vintage, well balanced and persists until you put something else on the palate.

P.S. It just gets better & better as you slow sip it. Now, 9.3.

Photos of; kicking nighttime in the D&S Lounge. — 7 years ago

Rosie Johnson

9.6

A little sweet as is with a dessert wine. Rated -00 points many times over by professionals. I loved it but I wouldn’t give it 100 points. — 7 years ago

with Richard

Bob McDonald

9.6

My last bottle from an original dozen - drinking at its peak. Mid Lemon in colour - aromas of Honey, Beeswax, Toast, Lemon and loads of minerality. Waxy texture on the palate. Good tasters even professionals say this wine has been matured with Oak but it only ever sees Stainless Steel. It puts on palate weight and complexity with time - an intriguing drink. Great match with Oysters and Prawns. — 8 years ago

Rick Stiles

9.5

I'll leave the detailed reviews to the professionals. I've had this in the seller for a few years. Finally opened, decanted, let it sit for about an hour. Fantastic tannins on the finish. Exactly what I like. Does not disappoint.  — 8 months ago

Aaron Tan

9.3

Less dense and minerally compared to the 09' d'Eugenie Clos Vougeot, but it was my preferred red Burg on the table. It just had more energy! Pure and pretty bouquet of red and black fruits (leaning on the latter), florals, savory spice, and earth. The same can be said of the palate, with quite a bit of power in the back-end. Finishes weighty with a drawn out fruit sweetness that's perfectly in tension with the saline, tangy elements. Dissipated quickly over dinner. Another win for the sisters and 2010!

NB: An episode on Wineking got me thinking about the way I rate wines. Totally "unprofessional". Haha. The hosts were talking about how wine professionals have to forgo preferences and put on their thinking hats to judge wines, which makes perfect sense (and is taught in WSET too) but I just rate wines here based on how "drinkable" it is to me (and in context of the occassion). Scores wise, I'm sure this was the "lesser" of the two red Burgs we had. Just had less "substance". But "drinkability" wise, clearly everyone thought this was better. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Dense Ruby in colour. All the classic Cabernet descriptors - Blackberry cassis, black olive and of course Mint - textbook Coonawarra Cabernet. On the palate such purity - ground cocoa, call it dark chocolate, berry fruits, touch of cedar. This wine at 10 years of age, whilst only young, and will live at least another decade, is drinking beautifully now. Made by the talented Sue Bell who was the Dux of the 2007 Len Evans Tutorial ( a handpicked group of only 12 - outstanding winemakers, somms and other full time wine professionals. Aubert de Villaine every year generously donates a mixed dozen of DRC, such was his friendship with Len Evans and James Halliday). Needless to say Sue Bell has one of the best palates in the country. A few years ago she was a guest Judge at the Toowoomba Wine Show where I often judge. I was in awe of her knowledge and her palate. On the strength of this wine I will order her 2015 Cabernet. — 6 years ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

10

Not the best looking cork for a 2013,
But easy to see the high ratings it received on release,
3 or 4 💯 from the so called professionals,
Has improved significantly since my last bottle in November,
.375 bottle — 7 years ago

David Langstaff

9.3

Great wine. Nice acidity but with creamy undertones. Not a wine for the ‘professionals’ as it doesn’t fit their oaky template. Just a wonderful wine with food. 2013. — 7 years ago

with Lee, Allister and 3 others

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

P&H was founded in 1988 by industry professionals Donald Patz, James Hall, Anne Moses and Heather Patz. Aromas of fresh ripe stone fruits, honey, nutty and floral notes. On the palate fresh fruit flavors of apple, pear and sweet pineapple with savory toasty oak tones. Lingering finish ends with creamy fruit and oaky mineral notes. A bit rounder than previous vintages. Wonderful. — 7 years ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.4

Again under rated by the professionals. Chronic Cellars SOFA KING BUENO 2017 from Passo Robles is AMAZING!!!!! A blend of syrah, grenache, petite sirah, tannat, and Mourvedre. This is almost like an Organ Pinot noir except better!!!!! Its not overly complex, but so easy to drink with no sourness nor bitterness. Lots of cranberry and blackberry up front. There is also cherry!!! The finish leaves a lingering semi dry oaky dark chocolate and buttery finish!!!!!!! So YUMMY... As they say at Chronic Cellars, “Wishes in one hand. Chronic in the other.” — 7 years ago