Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.

This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I opened it and let it breathe in bottle for 45 minutes and then decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.

This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.

The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. Dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful style!

To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 4 days ago

Jim McCusker

9.3

To quote Miles: “Andrew Murray. Well okay.” Been a while since I’ve had one of Andrew’s wines, but I recall purchasing this at a Harvest Party a few years ago. Probably on the downslope just a bit, but this is still terrific. I always view the Roasted Slope as his homage to Guigal in my view, and it is a terrific wine. — 5 years ago

with Vanessa

Kirk F

9.3

Superb effort here. Golden hued with an intoxicating nose of hazelnut and butterscotch. Luxurious palate does not disappoint. Quote on the label “you will do foolish things but do them with enthusiasm”. Amen. Cheers all! — 7 years ago

Spencer Dodd

9.0

More fruity than last night cab franc and less green pepper. A little green pepper on the nose and a certain softness. The taste has a soft round raspberry ish note with a tiny tinge of the green pepper at the end. But more vegetal than green pepper. A pretty and lovely wine. Might get another and will definitely get more loire cab franc.
I feel like this style of wine is easily not super popular with people that expect a big fruity wine it’s softer and elegant and lean. Like a quote paired down Bordeaux. If someone had this with mostly experience from new world wines they probably would feel like it was watered down. Food for thought. — 2 years ago

Kyle Miller

8.9

Leather and earth. Medium body. To quote a fellow wine dude it drinks like a feral Beaujolais — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.3

Nose has old tar, countless stems of red roses, dried cherry, library stacks and dried raspberry.

Palate has jammy and bright cherry preserves, fresh tart cherry, old leather, moist earthy notes (positive trait) and some neutral wood.

Mellow tannins after an extended decant, this bottle is really singing. I am lucky to have tasted older vintages to give an understanding of where this wine is going. Now, whether or not I have the patience to hold the remaining bottles another 20-years is a major question, very nice today.

Decanted ~3hrs, in a cool place. Not my kitchen today, which was quite warm as I preserved our first real harvest of 2019 tomatoes, converting them into pizza sauce. I beat our first processed batch from 2018 by an entire week...don't believe anyone telling you we're not living through climate change, or more appropriately 'climate disruption' to quote Ralph Nader. This is why the best Nebbiolo is now coming from northern Italy, and the best Pinot will transition to Germany. OK, enough politics, this is a forum for wine, mostly. Cat photo-bombs appreciated in your bottle pics (sorry none from me today). — 6 years ago

Anthony Pro

9.0

If I can sum up this wine with a movie quote:

‘Fucking lingerer man. Yeah, totally!’ — 4 years ago

Marisa Gianfortune

9.7

“I am a little drunk but this is my favorite of the Alisa wines of the evening” - Laura’s thoughtful quote re: wine — 4 years ago

with Michael, Dan and 2 others

Sarah O'Kelley

9.0

Like many I opened a bottle of ochota last week to toast the life of Taras Ochota who passed on Monday. I have long loved the Ochota wines and have felt lucky to have them in the Charleston market, but this “A Forest” Pinot was a gift from afar and one I  have held onto for a year knowing the right time would come to open it. Well, last week seemed perfect time to celebrate a person who was a leader in making natural wines that were vibrant, beautiful, and sound. Any article about Taras and his wife Amber brimmed with their positive energy, and I loved this quote from him that appeared in a Imbibe tribute:

‘We could make more,’ he said to a room full of journalists, sitting round his enormous kitchen table last year. ‘But then I’d have to work harder, and then I wouldn’t be drinking wine with you guys.

‘I just want to make wine and have a nice life.’

Here’s to a life well lived! ❤️
— 5 years ago

Michelle Connely

9.0

Consumed 2/2019. The bottle has a quote on it that I like. It says a pessimist is never disappointed. Made me giggle. So I bought it and tried it. Not bad. Alc. 15.5% by vol. — 7 years ago