Frt from the winery's "...own Home Block vineyard was blended after fermentation with 3 select parcels of fruit from the Blind River, Dashwood, and Lower Wairau sub-regions. The fruit from each vineyard was independently monitored & harvested before being carefully pressed to ensure minimal skin contact to prevent juice deterioration. Once settled, the batches were cool fermented in stainless steel tanks using specific cultured yeasts..." 13.0% ABV, 7.3 g/L T.A., 3.26 pH, & 1.9 g/L R.S.

N: A MOST intriguing melange of flowers, minerals, smoke, with grass underneath?

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt beautifully counterbalanced by an acidity which slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions to a very LONG, BALANCED finish with a discreet tangy/swtness. EXQUISITELY done for now & through '20! My EXC, & a claim can be made for MORE based upon the QPR of this vendor's $13.95, which is $5 < the lower of wine-searcher's 2 entries.

Note: In April of 2017 a Decanter Tasting Panel gave the '16 vintage of this 98 pts, THE *highest* score Decanter has EVER awarded a S.B.!

"Each lot is gently crushed and pressed into s/s tanks for 48 hrs of cold settling. The juice is either transferred to s/s tanks (65%) or older FR oak barrels (35%) for fermentation. The wine in barrels is sur lie aged & stirred every other wk for 2 mos, then blended and bottled." 13.8% ABV, 3.35 pH, & 0.57 g/ml T.A. Bottled: January 2018, Released: March 2018.

N: Grass with notes of minerals & smoke

P: MF body; Very RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) offset by acidity. The finish is LONG with a tangy/swtness (30:70) & GLIMPSES of bitterness. POSS still coming together? Otherwise, drink now & into '20. My VG, *poss* VG+. [This vendor's $10.95 puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's already large field.]

SOIL: Low-vigor, stony, clay-rich, shale-derived soil; 13.16% ABV, 6.00 g/l T.A., 3.30 pH, & 1.40 g/l R.S.
BARREL FERMENTATION: 90% 228 liter French Oak Barrels, FOUDRE: 4% CERAMIC EGG: 1% STAINLESS STEEL: 5%
BARREL AGEING: 9 mos in 228 L 100%, tight grain Francois Freres barrels 1ST FILL: 31% 2ND FILL: 33% 3RD FILL: 33% 4th FILL: 3%
TOASTING: 47% Blonde, 40% Medium, 13% Medium Long
YIELD: 3.78 tons/ha, 27.90 hl/ha
PRODUCTION: 5929 cases of 12 bottles equivalent (2,100 cs imported to the U.S.)

Note: The U.S. Importer's & Winery's notes for this differ somewhat. [I've chosen to go with Vineyard Brand's version.]

N: An ATTRACTIVE lemon vs. butter dialectic, poss with floral aspects?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE oak/frt artfully balanced by an acidity which defines the wine as it transitions into a LONG, VERY slightly spicy, tangy/swt finish with OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of bitterness (though ULT only a refines swtness). For now & through '22 (& that may very well be conservative). IMPRESSIVE! My EXC-/EXC. 93 pts ea Jeb Dunnuck & WS. [This vendor's $28.95 is $1 < its nearest wine-searcher competitor.]

"The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed while the fruit was still cool. The juice was pumped to tank to cold-settle overnight before it was racked to barrel for primary & malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred every 2 wks to give the wine rich flavors and a creamy texture." Ave Brix @ Harvest 24.0; "9 mos in AM & FR oak barrels (1/3) new;" 14.5% ABV; Released Aug 2018.

N: FRAGRANT notes of smoky butter with notes of flowers & spice

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish OAK/frt, acidity trying to balance as it transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly bitter, tangy/swt finish. P *not* up to N, at least currently. IF it comes around, more than my VG/VG+. [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price.]

Typical aging: "The 1st year is spent in FR oak barriques & tonneaux with different capacities, to strengthen the innate structure of the wine, while the 2nd is spent in larger Slavonian oak barrels which allow the wine to achieve balance. After completing the maturing process in wood, the wine is transferred into concrete tanks." 9,166 cs made in 2013

N: Vanilla with minerals/earth underneath, berries with swirling; Intensity lurking

P: LM body; NICE frt met by a puckerish astringency which resolves more than I would have predicted as it transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with a swtness to the surprisingly "tame" (for this DOCG), very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves/NEEDS into '20, then drinking for 4 or 5 yrs more? 14% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. 96 pts Suckling, 93 ea WA, WS, & WE @ $65, 90 Decanter, and 88 Vinous (D'Agata). [This vendor's $46.95 puts it @ the very bottom of the top half of wine-searcher's listings.]

"Our 131-acre Smith Vineyard planted @ 590-1,280 ft boasts eastern exposure above the fog line for a long growing season. Its well-draining soils are formed primarily from alluvial materials. A few exotic P.N. clones (such as Jardini, Calera, & Mt. Eden) have been spectacularly successful in this vyd." 14.2% ABV; 1,012 cases made

N: RIPE berries with notes of smoke; Intensity lurking!

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by somewhat puckerish astringency which DOESN'T lose sight of the frt as it slowly, SEAMLESSLY morphs into quite a LONG, BALANCED, VERY slightly spicy finish with a tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '22. SPECTACULAR! My EXC, arguably EXC+ *if* one takes into consideration the QPR of this vendor's $29.95, which is an ASTOUNDING $15 < its closest wine-searcher competitor!

N: Vanilla, smoke, ripe berries, & milk choc, with undertones of earth

P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which loses much of its roughness as it morphs into what is ULT a LONG, very, VERY slightly tangy/spicy finish with a refined swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21 (guesstimate) in order to short circuit the early mid-P, then drinking for 4 yrs more. Everything SEEMS in place, & to quote someone here re a previous vintage, "a Petite Sirah lover's PS" -- from an appellation you might not associate with ANY type of "quality" wine! My EXC- with certainly the potential for more! [This vendor's $37.95 is likely VERY competitive for this LOW production wine which does not yet show on the winery's website.]

Typically, "60% aged in big oak barrels for 24 mos and 40% in new 225 l
barrels for 18 mos."

N: RIPE, lots going on, but tough to parse; Intensity lurking!

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE met by some puckerish astringency which loses the MAJORITY of its bite as it transitions into a LONG, balanced, VERY slightly tangy, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with notes of swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Needs/DESERVES another 12-18 mos, then approaching its 10th. My VG+/EXC-.

"The Syrah undergoes a traditional style fermentation in concrete Nomblot tanks, incorporating 35% whole bunches which are foot crushed. Spontaneous, natural fermentation occurs with minimal punch down and pump over’s. The wine spends 12-14 days on the skins before being racked into a combination of a 2500L foudres & older FR oak barrels for 13 mos maturation." 13.68% ABV, 1.7 g/l R.S., 5.6 g/l T.A., & 3.74 pH.

N: Ripe, lots going on, but tough to parse; Intensity lurking!

P: Med body; RNDISH etry with NICE frt met by some puckerish astringency which loses the MAJORITY of its bite as it transitions into a LONG, balanced, VERY slightly tangy, very, VERY slightly bitter finish with notes of swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Needs/DESERVES another 12-18 mos, then approaching its 10th. My VG+/EXC-. 94 pts Tim Atkin, 88 WS, & 17/20 Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $22.95 is ≈$6 < than the only U.S. wine-searcher listing, & that vendor wants a min order of 6 bottles!]

From an estate owned, headpruned field blend (Zin, Peloursin, Négrette, Syrah, Petite Sirah, & Carignan) vyd originally planted in Pleasanton gravelly loam & clay soils "at the start of the 1900’s." 100% destemmed & aged "18 mos in neutral FR & AM oak barrels;" 14.8% ABV

N: RIPE, LOTS here, but couldn't unpack; Intensity lurking

P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency which DOES pretty much mitigate by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the tannins which ULT pretty much resolved. DESERVES through '19 (for the early mid-P to clear up), then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. My EXC-, with more almost ASSURED *if* one hones in on this vendor's (closeout?) $19.95, which is an *incredible* $16 < the next lowest on wine-searcher! 93 pts Vinous, and 91 ea WS, WA, & Connoisseurs' Guide.

80% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec, & 10% Petit Verdot, yielding 2.2 tons/acre, & grown in varied soils @ 3000-5000 ft; Fermented for 22 days in oak barrels @ 84.2 °F, punched down & delestage 30 days; Aged in 225 L FR & AM oak barrels (35% new) for 18 mos, then 12 mos in bottle.

N: RIPE, LOTS goin' on, but couldn't parse; Intensity lurking!

P: Med, poss MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by SOME puckerish astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/swtness & OCCASIONAL glimpses of a very, VERY slight bitterness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now & probably making its 10th, + MIGHT improve for 6 mos or so. My EXC-/EXC. 95 pts ea Suckling & Tim Atkin, 94 ea WA, Descorchados, & WE with “Editors’ Choice” @ $90, 92 Vinous (Tanzer), and 90 WS (Marcus). [This vendor's $55.95 is $6 < the only other currently listed U.S. source on wine-searcher.]

93% C.S., 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% C.F., & 1% Malbec; Aged 18 mos in FR oak (50% new); 14.5% ABV, 0.58 g/100ml T.A., & 3.61 pH.

N: Vanilla SLIGHTLY atop ripe, jammy frt; Intensity lurking?

P: MF, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST rndish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by a puckerish astringency (but without ever losing the frt) which somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with ULT a swtish veneer to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '21, I'm guessing, then approaching its 10th. For me this is TOO ripe & verging upon over extracted, so my VG+/EXC- may well be underrated. 97 pts & Platinum @ '18 Decanter World Wine Awards, 92 & "Exceptional" tastings.com, 90 @ '18 S.D. Int'l Wine & Spirit Comp @ $39.99, & Silver @ '18 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp. [This vendor's $23.95 is $3 < the next lowest of wine-searcher's listings.]

THANK you for sharing an early part of the Sarah and Sparky Marquis "timeline", Dr. Tom! :)

N: Iron, ripe berries, choc, POSS some stemminess? Rest tough to parse

P: Med body; NICE frt counterbalanced by an astringency which QUITE resolves by the LONG, very, VERY slightly spicy finish with a tangy/swtness & very, VERY slight bitterness to the few remaining tannins. For now with food (e.g., would stand up to rich meats), & SHOULD at least APPROACH its 20th. My EXC/EXC+. 96 pts WA & 91 WS.

An *absolute* TREAT, Dr. Tom! As you alluded, can CERTAINLY be mentioned in the same breath with Salon, which I once had @ a trade tastiing.

• 60% P.N from the 1er & Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims & the Grande Vallée de la Marne, 40% Chard from the Côte des Blancs;
• Dosage: 4 g/l
• 20% vinified in oak barrels with partial malolactic fermentation, then aged for 10 yrs on the lees; 1,500 cases imported

N: VERY attractive yeasty minerality with apples moving forward; Intensity lurking

P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with GORGEOUS frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by an acidity which makes its presence known into & through the LONG, tangy finish with an attractive swtness in a dialectic with a very, VERY slight bitterness. SUPERBLY done, & with MANY yrs of life left! :) 12.5% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL-/EXCEPTIONAL! Press *highlights*: 2-98s & a 19/20 Decanter, 98 Suckling, & 97 Vinous. [This vendor's $159.95 puts it @ the very bottom of wine-searcher's TOP 15% of current listings.]

Storage conditions unclear

Typically, 65% Grenache, 15-20% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah, 3% Clairette, 2% Cinsault & Counoise, ave age of all vines ≈38 yrs when this was made; Unfiltered & unfined

N: Ripe, prunish, but ATTRACTIVE! Complex & surprisingly intense!

P: LM body; Nice frt met by surprising astringency (but without loss of the frt) which DOES quite recede by the LONG, tangy/swt, very, VERY slightly bitter finish. For now, but MIGHT still hold another 5 yrs? My EXC-. 91-94 pts (7x) RJonWine, 18/20 winedoctor.com, & 4*(*)/5 drinkrhone.com.

THANK you for the contribution, José!

N: Hints of vanilla with berries, poss some pyrazines (or steminess?); Intensity lurking

P: Med, poss LM, body; LOVELY frt firmed by some VERY slight astringency which pretty much resolves as it morphs into quite a LONG, balanced, VERY slightly spicy finish with an ATTRACTIVE swtness to the SCANT, very, VERY fine tannins. Drinking BEAUTIFULLY right now, & may still improve for a bit, then hold for 4 yrs more? My EXC, poss EXC+

THANK you for the experience of tasting a varietal I never even realized this winery had made, José!

N: Attractive berries with notes of oranges & flowers?

P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by some firming astringency which does QUITE resolve by the LONG, tangy/swt finish with OCCASIONAL glimpses of bitterness. LOVELY stuff for now & poss even 4 yrs more? My EXC/EXC+

Storage conditions unclear

From dry farmed vines grown in deep red volcanic ash planted in a small bowl on the western edge of the Mayacama mountains just shy of 1800 ft in elevation;

N: Closed; some butter?

P: Med body; Still nice frt firmed by acidity. For now & the next couple of yrs? My VG+/EXC-. 96 pts WA, 93 Tanzer, & 91 WS.

Dr. Tom, THANK you for yet another SUPERB Sauternes! :)

N: Honey, apricots?

P: MF body; SWTISH entry with LOVELY frt at LEAST "adequately" offset by acidity -- & it had been in a small tasting glass for close to 4 hrs by the time I tasted it. For now & __ ? [I can't even BEGIN to predict longevity for such a wine, though it didn't even BEGIN to fall apart under the conditions I put it through.] My Exceptional- [Incredible press on this, including 3-19s, 2-18s, & a 17 from Jancis Robinson, & 98 pts with #9/Top 100 from 2004 WS.]