5/22/2023 - CR lawrence wrote:

The 2002 Verite La Joie was special last evening… soft / very pleasant. Glad to have one last bottle to share sometime soon!

4/2/2023 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

I found a 2012 year old Ramey Claret in my cellar, opened it, and an outstanding Claret; Cabernet - 70% Merlot, 24% Malbec, 2%, Cabernet Franc 1%, and Petit Verdot 1%, quite a fine wine. Glad to have three more to share. Well done Mr Ramey.

3/29/2021 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

My first tasting of 2012 Columella in 2016: it needed time to age. Now, it is 2021, Much Better. Tannins are now smooth and silky, aromas matched up its tasting, and much more pleasing tastes, and a great wine to match up with a steak. Glad to have brought it out last evening, and that I have another bottle ready to drink and in another year or two; it may be even better!

2/28/2021 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

After a long wait, this Cappella 2006 is outstanding. Tannins are soft, and though hard to identify, the aromas are very pleasing like a mountain of fresh trees and wild plants near a stream. Mouth watering too, and wonderful with a great steak.

1/7/2021 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

2014 Cuvée Indigene Chardonnay is outstanding, period. When offered as a blind tasting, it’s hard to initially determine it is a chardonnay... it is impressively mouth watering, very smooth with great aromas, and soft with very long, succulent tastes. A great white wine!

12/30/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

2010 Realm Cellars Beckstoffer to Kalon Vineyard is outstanding. Full of sweet aromas, fresh, soft, integrated tannins, a wonderful mouth feel, luscious drink, and long finish. Still drinking great.

12/30/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

So much of Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir offerings are outstanding. Always fresh, full of very pleasant aromas and equally soft grapes with little tannins. This Ulises Valdez vineyard is still rinking very well after 6 years.

12/29/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

The 2010 One Point Five is outstanding at this juncture; full of fresh aromas and soft tannins, fresh barnyard after a cool rain, and lots of fruit. Give it 30 minutes, and what a pleasant surprise. Great with anything: beef, lamb, cheese - plus, or just simply drinking. If one is lucky to find a few bottles that have been stored properly at 55 degrees and perfect humidity... it will be a great find, and great drinking.

6/29/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

13 years of bottle aging was totally worth having waited from my 1st tasting ~9 years ago. The 2007 Hundred Acre Ark is drinking incredibly well enough for me to give it One of my few best ratings. This wine is so smooth, supple tannins, a waft of very pleasant barnyard, very pleasant aromas to the nose, pleasing, but nothing heavy, which makes it hard to identify these great mouthwatering stirrings in the mouth. The grapes are so well integrated at this time, and not overpowering; the high alcohol content is not even perceptible. The bottle was finished last night, but the bottle aromas today are still incredible as I am now moving it to the trash. Looking forward to sharing with friends that truly appreciate great wine!

1/20/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

The 2008 La Muse is every bit an outstanding wine at 11 years of age. Great aromas, morning fresh barnyard and hints of a farm just plowed over in a mountain valley. There is a complicated cornucopia of tastes in the mouth, all blended together and difficult to describe... but oh so delicious: dark berries are dominant, some mocha, coffee, slight hints of a smooth cigar... silky smooth tannins, and just barely sweet enough to show, and lingered for minutes; from here I am lost. The pairing was a beef tenderloin; it was a great evening with great friends.

1/20/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

One of the few best Sparkling Wines produced in the US.

1/3/2020 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This wine continues to improve with age. Great aroma, soft tannins, wafts of coffee, chocolate and sweet dark fruit, but incredibility well integrated juice that simply mouth watering.

2/8/2019 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This wine is a great heavyweight that dances so smoothly. Always a pleasure.

2/10/2019 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Outstandingly smooth and mouthwatering with wonderful aromas and tastes of dark fruit, fresh forest floor and hints of chocolate and coffeee with a very long finish. Paired with a ribeye made for a great dining experience.

1/21/2019 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Age has been incredibly good to soften up this full bodied pinot. Scratchy tannins a couple of years ago are now softened to a smooth structured texture; a fresh aroma of forest floor on opening, then comes aromas and tastes of dark berries, red currant, a little strawberry, blackberry, ending with a mouth watering long finish.

1/13/2019 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Who wouldn’t appreciate this wine! Wonderful aromas of dark berries and fresh forest floor after a cool spring rain; lite sents and tastes of dark berries, chocolate / coffee and slight caramel with smooth, soft tannins. Long tastes. Drinking very well now and likely better with aging.

12/25/2018 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Outstanding; paired with ribeye steaks. Great aromas / tastes of blackberries / dark fruits, coffee and chocolate, well integrated tannins and a long silky finish. Given time, this 2008 is capable of higher ratings.

11/13/2018 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Though 2011 was a tough year, Altagracia’s fresh dark berries aroma, soft and silky tannins, tongue watering envelope of tastes including dark berries, hints of coffee and chocolate, and a long finish puts this 2nd wine among the top tier for this year.

8/18/2018 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Excellent on all counts: aromas, silky tannins, deep color, dark berries, with hints of tobacco, coca and fresh meadow after rain. Outstanding and just now ready to drink.

4/16/2018 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

The 2011 Prince of Hearts has finally come around. A few years ago, it was lacking in aroma, weak notes of red fruits and structure. This week, aromas and structure were more evident, and a very pleasant surprise with a meal that did not require a powerful wine.

2/12/2018 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

The ‘13 CVR is a really nice, supple wine that pleases in taste with enough aroma to get your attention. While not a powerful wine, it is smooth with silky tannins, hints of mocha, coffee, medium dark fruit, and drinking very well now.

2/4/2018 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Time has been good to this Catena Zapata Malbec. Fresh aromas of forest floor, dark berries, coffee and coca. Soft tannins and a long finish come across with hints of coffee, chocolate, spice & beautifully ripened and not too sweet blackberries. Most likely at its peak now.

12/26/2017 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This cab blend is starting to strut its stuff now. Despite the early Napa reports for this grand vintage, the 2007’s have been “in your face” out of bottle in early stages. They’re starting to mature and drink very well now. This Derenoncourt Blend should still be blossoming over the next decade, and possibly earn 2-3 more points as it matures.

12/15/2017 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

The 2010 Fortunate son has arrived. Silky tannins, fresh aromas with tastes of blackberry, cassis, hints of chocolate and coffee. Reminds me of 2005 Hillside Select, which is great company to be compared. Incredible.

9/21/2017 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This Cab surprised me. A previous bottle was fine a year ago, but not memorable, not up to its pedigree. Now, more than a year later, it is finally coming out; I recommend an hour of decanting; this simply blossomed with deep tones of fresh forest floor, coffee and hints of chocolate and additional tastes of blackberries / cassis. Still young, cellaring another year or two should provide an even better experience.

8/27/2017 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Incredible. Aromas of fresh fruit, fresh mountain forest; combined with tastes of blackberries, black currant with hints of vanilla, chocolate, coffee... drinking very well now, and should continue to improve.

2/8/2017 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Nice Super Tuscan... might have had a better rating had it been decanted an hour or more.

11/26/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This Cab Franc is just now hitting its stride with great aromas, structured-but med-soft tannins, dark berries with a hint of chocolate. Served after a Pinot, with cheese and crackers, before NY strips and Cabernet... a nice progression with room filling aromas.

10/19/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Wow... this Crossbarn pinot is coming along nicely and was a hit when given 30 minutes to open up. I was perplexed to see that the average rating (although only 2) was 84 points. I had to rate it at 91 because it was fresh, well integrated, very smooth tannin, bright fruits with a nice structure, and nice aromas of fresh berries.

10/19/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Some wines just need time... and this one is ready to drink now. Very smooth tannins, nice aromas of fresh barnyard and dark fruit, long finish of dark berries with strong hints of coffee and chocolate... excellent.

10/3/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Last bottle, unfortunately. This 2012 golden chardonnay is really drinking nicely; musty (nice) scents of fresh barnyard with hints of citrus flowers, tastes are silky smooth with strong hints of citrus, sweetness and fig, and just the right amount of acid for this purpose... fresh catfish with dashes of lemon pepper and chipotle, grilled in butter 8-10 minutes, tops: a perfect combination.

9/21/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This Platt Vineyard Chardonnay is blossoming at this stage. It was a wonderful companion for our Salmon dinner.

9/2/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

The 2008 Grand Reserva Malbec is simply delicious, mouth watering, aromatic, and possesses structural but soft tannins. This is the best value Malbec I have had the pleasure to share; and rivals wine that costs $60+ and more... it just needed time to mature. it was wonderful a couple of years ago, and better now. Served with Pork chops this evening, and a great hit... will likely be this good+ for a few more years.

8/31/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

At this age, let me recommend this 2011 should have an hour decant. It will evolve quickly enough from a Pinot-lite to a luscious pinot semi-lite, but much better that this description... well worth the effort. Mouth watering red fruits - strawberry and blackberry-lite, soft and silky tannins and minutes long finish... I am writing this about 2-3 minutes after finishing the last drop, and still salivating. Enjoy the ride!

8/19/2016 - CR lawrence wrote:

Not sure this wine is on its way up or already flatlined. Served with a steak, but it's not wanting to express clearly definable tastes or aroma, like tasting a good wine after brushing your teeth, or gargling... maybe just a flawed bottle that's not up to the task.

8/7/2016 - CR lawrence wrote:

It may be great to others, but this is the 2nd or 3rd tannat that I've tried... and this wine/grape just doesn't appeal to my taste.

7/21/2016 - CR lawrence wrote:

I believe this wine needs a couple more years cellaring... currently, although almost 4 years since bottling, still dormant?

6/11/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Wonderful fresh nose of sweet berries and meadow with very balanced tastes of dark berries, silky tannins and possessing a long finish. This drink was just fine right out of the bottle, however, I'll be doing a 1-2 hour decant with the next bottle because I believe there are some deeper secrets yet to be revealed in this fine wine.

5/25/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

I'd been highly disappointed over the first 6 years of trying to appreciate this Pinot; however, this is one that needed a LOT of time in the bottle. MY experience is this is one of those wines that had a good review, but became dormant for a much longer time than the expected "drinking windows" reported. I'd pretty much forgotten it, but decided to try in again when I found a couple of bottles hiding in my cellar. Glad I did... it's finally opened up and managed to claw its way into being appreciated. Interesting tastes for a medium-dark colored pinot; a combination of blueberry jam, apricot (who would have guessed this?), and raspberry. Kind of a shifty personality, but worth the wait, finally.

5/25/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

A really nice burst of aromas upon opening the bottle, garnet in color, notes of blueberry and black currant (cassis), forest floor, hints of chocolate, coffee & nutmeg. This is a really nice malbec, ready to drink... performing well at first opening. Soft and well integrated, silky tannins. We don't normally drink a full bottle (we use a Coravin when we think we want only a glass each), but decided this bottle was worth finishing.

3/6/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Initially tried a glass (using a Coravin) several months ago without decanting, and drank during a quick meal which did it a disservice. Opened to finish last night with my wife after 45 minute decant; excellent nose, long legs, soft, nice texture with well integrated tannins, coffee, cinnamon and chocolate to the taste... very likely would have been even better if it had been a 2-hour decant.

2/25/2016 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

A four hour decant was insufficient, but enough promise showing to be sufficient with a great ribeye. There are a few 2010's in my cellar that are starting to drink very nicely, but this PH B. Dr Crane '10 is like a young teenager that cons you into thinking it's going to get out of bed, but you keep going back to find it asleep, again. Advice to self: give this pedigreed beauty 2-3 years when it is ready to be awakened...

11/16/2015 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Three hour decant, room filling nose of old deep-woods forest during early morning mist, mushrooms, loam; full body tastes of bright dark fruits, hints of chocolate with an expresso chaser, polished tannin and a very long finish. Incredibly appealing now, but very likely over the top in another 5 - 10+ years. Note to self... be very patient!

11/16/2015 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

After a 2 hour decant, expressed a massive nose similar to the tastes, found it very alluring with soft tannins, dark fruit, loam and chocolate followed by a coffee chaser. Great now, but I have no doubts this will get even better with age.

11/16/2015 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Still going strong! Excellent with an hour decant.

11/14/2015 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

This wine is still coming around very nicely. Nice aromas of deep forest floor, full body - dark fruits, smooth - integrated tannins.

11/6/2015 - CR lawrence wrote:

My first Robert Craig Howell Mountain Cabernet that tastes as good and complex as Howell Mountain wine from more lofty producers. Picked up in San Francisco on the way to Pebble Beach, and had it at C.P. during happy hour... fine wine, at a great place. This 2012 is ready to drink.

10/8/2015 - CR lawrence wrote:

Patience with Bond pays off. This wine shows none of the young astringency that I've experienced with other Bond wines when younger; the 2003 Vecina is outstanding. Notes of dark fruit and fresh barnyard, tastes of dark rich fruit with seamless tannin and a long finish. Wonderful.

9/2/2015 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

I'd suggest a few+ hours decant, now filling the room with wonderful deep old-forest mountain scents in the fall. Served with a grilled New York strip steak, tastes of dark berries, chocolate, expresso, pepper, with satin tannins and a long finish... incredible.

8/26/2015 - CR lawrence Likes this wine:

Decanted an hour... very impressive 1st time with this wine, flowers and a sweet perfumed aroma of cool fresh forest after a rain; dark berries and truffles supported by silky / structured tannins and lingering mouth watering tastes. This is one of the better Cab Franc dominated wines I've experienced from Napa... kind of like a younger brother to Derenoncourt CF.