Pinotman /// Andreas

9.8

Faint - Dijon mustard. I rated this vintage many many times. Very pale. Drink up really. At its peak - this is awesome but will not get better. Quite oxidized. Profound orange 🍊 notes / Inter-dispersed with fading dark cherry. Incredible well balanced at this point. „Tip of the spear….“. Super complex back palate - what the hell is this? Tumeric, ….boy am I glad i have an Argon line at home to be able to taste this for days. Last bottle. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2017 “Tip Top Vineyard” pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe black and red fruits: brambles, plums, cherry lozenges, black pepper, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This worked really well with a variety of grilled fare though I suspect a few more years in the cellar would help add some complexity. Drink now with patience through 2032. — 2 years ago

Joseph LaPanna

9.0

Dark purple with gobs of fruit billowing from the glass. Blueberry, blackberry and currant with hints of coffee and leather. Full bodied with silky smooth tannins, the mouthfeel is soft and juicy. The mid palate is round and full of black cherry, currant, plum black olive and toast. The finish is long and lush with hints of smoke and nutmeg. Paired with grilled Tri-Tip! — 5 years ago

Andrew Holod

National Sales Grapes of Spain

9.1

Hat tip to @Delectable Wine @Josh Raynolds for the vintage guidance.
Everything in its place for this mid week pairing w grilled peppers and Persian inspired lamb burgers.
Plenty of dark fruits on the nose. Not a lot of funk. Hint of CO2 on palate entry that dissipates w time in decanter. Suave, silky texture and with balanced acids that seem fairly mild. — 6 years ago

Eli Barton

9.3

My last bottle of the 07... it was in pretty good shape, definitely more youthful than the other bottles I’ve opened in the last few years, so I’m guessing it was in a good window - thanks for the tip @Andrew Mecoli! After some decanting it opened up a bit more and was really good with a hearty homemade lasagna. Still plenty of acidity, and the fruit was mature but not old. This is one I wish I’d bought more of! — 6 years ago

with Jennifer

Natassia

9.8

First impression on the nose is of freshly installed carpet and peppercorn. Hits the tip of your tongue as a tingling glitter and down the back of throat with notes of peppercorn, blackberry, Cuban cigar ash, and slight smoke taint. — 7 years ago

with Nick, Sara and 1 other

Nic Anderson

9.5

Love Black Stallion. Great cab went extremely well with a tri-tip steak. One of my favorite all time cabs. Great finish, fruity, but still bold — 8 years ago

Paula Strebig

9.2

Cherry pie on the nose. Hints of cherry, berries and plums on the fore palate. Smooth, moderate finish of leather. Not as spicy as expected for a Shiraz. (Sirloin tip steak, lobster tails, baked potato, saluted kale w baby Bella mushrooms - last meal with Kendra - Tim) — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have wanted to do this producer side by side with Alban with well seasoned Tri-tip. Tonight is the night.

The crowd that leans California liked the French better.

I have always thought Alban in the new world mimicked Rostaing’s style.

Both phenomenal and I enjoyed both for slightly different climate & soil reasons.

These two producers do Syrah without the heavy smoked meats & bacon fat of say Cayuse. — 10 months ago

Greg Bencivengo

9.0

Wow! Briny Oysters and shellfish nose. Held the most brilliant tangerine color. Tannins registered on the tip of the tongue. — 4 years ago

Kelly Carlin

9.3

Wowee zowee. Layers of strawberry, citrus, savory notes, mousse. Tip-top. — 5 years ago

Jayna Fontenot

9.3

Medium legs, and a pale straw color. Smells lightly citrus-like, with maybe melon. A small acidic bite on the tip of your tongue when you first taste it, followed by a dry tannic sort of mouthfeel. Crisp, refreshing, and not too fruity. Would be great with cheese or fish. I like! — 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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

I have wanted to do Alban side by side with Rostaing with a well seasoned Tri-tip. Tonight is the night.

The crowd that leans California liked the French better.

I have always thought Alban in the new world mimicked Rostaing’s style.

Both phenomenal and I enjoyed both for slightly different climate & soil reasons.

These two producers do Syrah without the heavy smoked meats & bacon fat of say Cayuse. — 10 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Grgić Pošip, Korčula Island 2022
A Croatian white with California roots and Adriatic soul.

Crafted by Grgić Vina, the Croatian project of Napa legend Miljenko “Mike” Grgich (of Judgment of Paris fame), this 100% Pošip is sourced from steep, sun-drenched vineyards on Korčula Island, overlooking the Adriatic.

Pošip, a native Croatian grape born from a spontaneous crossing of two local varieties, delivers a crisp, dry, and complex profile. This 2022 vintage is beautifully aromatic, with notes of citrus, ripe melon, apple, and savory herbs, rounded by hints of vanilla, hazelnut, smoke, and lemon rind. There’s even a faint whisper of resin and orange blossom in the background.

On the palate, it’s voluptuous yet vibrant, a brilliant balance of brisk minerality, layered fruit, and a clean, snappy finish.

Pairing tip: It sings with seafood, think oysters, shrimp pasta, grilled white fish, or even creamy pasta with wild fennel. Also works nicely with soft cheeses.
A standout wine that’s both regional and refined, offering a true taste of Dalmatian coastal charm.
Cheers!
— a year ago

Joe Estrada

9.7

Introduction of Saarloos to our new neighbors…..perfect pairing with Santa Maria Tri-Tip — 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

9.7

Raul Perez, Mencia wizard and human garden gnome, makes some of the most innovative and highly allocated wines from anywhere. I don’t often drink stuff this good. Sometimes you need to be reminded that average and good wines are made for relaxation and enjoyment and that extraordinary wines are art.

La penitencia could be the best thing I’ve ever opened at home. It’s elegant and bootlegged. The front label probably designed in an Internet cafe, the back label looks like it was cut and glued by a five year old. These things make it lovable because it’s so bad and it’s so good.

Pours a browned purple motor oil. The aromas fly. Perfumes of red and blue colored berries, clove, spice, leather. Like a brand new catchers mitt that needs some oil and some love. Feels of plush berry fruit and flavors of prunes and macerated strawberries and boxed raisins that seem to hang around for about as many years as I waited to open this thing. — 5 years ago

Danielle Shea

9.0

A much bigger and bolder Claret from winemaker Matt Loso. Notes of stewed plum, chicory and currant jam. Full bodied and complex on the palate, mild to medium tannin with a velvet finish. Great addition to my Christmas table paired with coffee rubbed tri tip steaks. — 7 years ago

Kristen Grimes

9.5

Dark fruits on the nose, blueberries and blackberries, and a bit of brininess. All the black pepper on the tongue, lingering tingle on the tip of the tongue and a bit of berry tartness, nice tannins that lingers. Bring on the steak! — 7 years ago