1/9/2021 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Always killer. Pale pink from some skin contact. Soft peach and pear aromas with some nice floral notes. Refreshing acidity.


Fantastic value and always reliable

12/25/2020 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Absolutely loved this wine yet again, but it really needed an hour decanting before it showed well.

Lots of leather and tobacco balanced with dark, dried fruit and baking spice.

The tannins are mature and soft, but still present, and the acid keeps a bit of life on the palate.

Still beautiful, but I can't imagine it will develop much further. Drink it if you have it.

12/26/2020 - Ben Venga wrote:

Delicious, light, fruit forward and tangy. It has a little carbonic candied note, but otherwise is just a simple, refreshing wine. Drank this bottle with roast beef hash for brunch, but it's also an ideal wine for pizza and Netflix

11/12/2020 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

The 2011 is savory and elegant, with a driving acidity and well integrated tannins.

Like most Gibbston pinot, especially from cooler years, it's red fruit driven, with an abundance of ripe cherry on the nose.

The really special character is the classic Otago wild thyme which presents on the nose and then again on the finish.

All in all, this wine was amazing, and opening it for my birthday really made me miss being able to drive out to the vineyards.

We paired it with a seared duck breast with a cherry and port pan sauce, and it was lovely.

8/11/2020 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

First of several bottles purchased at auction, definitely did not disappoint.

Tannins have begun to mellow, but are still present, acid keeps it super lively and fresh. Fruit character is dominated by dried cherry and cranberry.

Not fruit really shines. Earthy, savory, with balsamic and compost on the nose. Extremely floral: dried roses and candied violets.

All in all, classic, mature barolo. It's drinking beautifully now, and I bet it will continue for some time, though I can't imagine it will get much better with more time.

Drink 'em if you got 'em.

4/9/2019 - Ben Venga wrote:

Always an enjoyable bottle. Medium body, with juicy dark fruit. Superb value.

4/4/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Really juicy ripe strawberry and cherry backed by a nice lees character and plenty of acid. Really refreshing.

I enjoyed this wine a lot, but I'm not sold on the value. It's delicious, but at $30, it is a bit more than I want to be paying for the experience.

3/21/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Lovely and balanced. Definitely off-dry, but overall savory in character.

Beautiful notes of raisin and almonds.

I don't drink enough Madeira, and need to remedy that.

2/27/2019 - Ben Venga wrote:

Light, acid driven wine with herbal notes to balance the bright citrus. A bit of phenolic bitterness.

Not the most complex, but tasty.

2/11/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Very generous, classic maconnais to me.

Ripe citrus and a little stonefruit on the nose, with a generous leesy character and some creamy, lactic flavors. Plenty of acidity to hold the wine together.

2/7/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

This is one of my favorite inexpensive wines.

Light, super citrusy and floral, plenty of acidity to balance the bit of sugar.

2/5/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Medium body and very juicy, lots of fresh strawberry on the nose. Just enough earthiness and a hint of green to give some depth.

1/24/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Pretty classic young rioja.

Tart cherry, medium body with dusty tannjns. Earthy, leather and spice finish. Balanced.

1/17/2019 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Cheap and cheerful. Black and blue fruit, medium medium medium structure. Smooth, easy drinking, just a bit of savory, meatiness on the finish.

Worth the $15.

9/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Very much enjoyed this wine. Would like a bit mute structure and intensity, but it hit the right notes for me.

Tart red and blue fruit with a meaty, gamey back.

A certain almost acetic tart palate I find particularly in low intervention Rhone wines.

Very tasty, but a little underwhelming.

9/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Adored this wine.

Super bright acidity balances the moneyed sweetness perfectly.

Another classic honey drizzled on slate expression from a ripe Mosel wine.

9/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Brought to a Bordeaux variety tasting. Beautiful cassis and vanilla, surprisingly vibrant structure. Brilliant example of mountain fruit from Napa.

Drinking great now, but still feels very youthful.

9/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Loved this. Laser acidity, slaty minerality. Exactly what u want in a sparkling Riesling.

9/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Totally different experience this time.

A little less fruit on the nose, though that might be in comparison to the Riesling I had before it, but beautiful bready, toasty notes (one friend said toasted hazelnut), and a rich, soft texture still lifted by a vibrant acidity. Wish I had another couple bottles to see how it develops.

Great intro to white burgundy.

9/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Delicious wine, showing very well, but I would love to see how it would continue to develop.

Definite vegetal, green note, but beautifully balanced with a subtle, dark fruit, and an intriguing core of earth, graphite, and spice.

Medium body with gentle tannins and acidity.

Classic Chinon to my palate.

8/26/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Loved this wine.

Medium body with a fair amount of acidity and little tannin.

Earthy, dark spice balances the fresh cherry and Dr Pepper on the nose. A bit more 'burgundian' than many Willamette pinots I've had.

Delicious.

8/14/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

Surprisingly big and tannic. Very evident carbonic. Not really to my taste, stylistically, but a good wine regardless.

7/28/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

One of the tastiest wines I've had in a long time.

Fresh white peach and lily, backed by a razor sharp acidity and saline, slate minerality. Full, textural body and lingering finish.

7/27/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Stellar wine. Fantastic example of what old wine can be. Fantastic floral notes with a decadent decay, dominated by a rich earthiness. Structure held up beautifully, with the tannins and acid, which must have been absolutely brutal in youth, beautifully balanced.

I hope chambers street has some more bottles.

7/25/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

To be honest, I didn't have high expectations. I assumed this was another flabby, overripe, overmanipulated Cali Zin.

I was pleasantly surprised. This was a solid wine, well balanced.

Still big fruit and an easy drinking style, but definitely a decent wine.

7/19/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Delicious, classic rosé to me. Good acid, fresh, vibrant fruit. Raspberries and ripe, juicy citrus. I got this for $12 and consider it a steal.

6/29/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Great wine. Lean, mineral, citrus. Rounded out a bit by evident lees contact and malo. Delicious.

6/21/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

It wasnt the first bottle of the night, but I loved this wine. Balanced, zippy, and great fruit. Everything I want from a rosé.

6/21/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

Surprisingly balanced. Dark fruit, noticeable, but not overpowering oak. Enough lift to keep it fresh. Not bad for a $7 wine.

6/17/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Delicious, with red fruit and tobacco on the nose. Distinct minerality. Overall a great example of what I expect from a good Beaujolais.

6/15/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

Nice red fruit and balanced acidity. Really enjoyable wine. Very ripe, but still balanced.

6/14/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Brought to blind tasting practice.

Pretty classic nebbiolo nose: very floral with a darker undertone. Tart cherries on the palate.

Structure was remarkably fresh with a lively acidity and tooth coating tannins, much more so than the last bottle I opened.

5/27/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

Mediocre. Medium body, simple fruit, but very over oaked. Lowest common denominator wine. Possibly a fair amount of RS to boost the perception of body.

5/16/2017 - Ben Venga Does not like this wine:

Initially pleasant, with some lemon custard and peach on the nose.


Palate was disappointing. Overripe and a bit flabby, lacking in acidity, and with too much RS. Out of balance, and rather cloying.

Sticky finish.

5/12/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

Pale garnet color, showing some signs of oxidization.

Slightly dirty, barnyard nose (perhaps a little brett?)

Palate is a bit more pleasant, with light tannins and good acidity. A little red fruit is hiding in there.

Not a bad wine, but I wouldn't pay more than $10 for it.

5/12/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Beautiful, ripe fruits on the nose, with citrus and some tropical fruit, alongside cool herbal notes of mint, basil, and lemongrass.

The palate is a little more tart, with the herbal notes shining alongside a slaty minerality.

High acid makes this an ideal pairing wine.

Highly recommended.

3/29/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Spicy and earthy, with great acidity. Some vegetal notes on the palate.

It felt super disjointed, and I think it needs some more cellar time.

3/30/2017 - Ben Venga Does not like this wine:

Kind of funky, not much character. There are better options for cheap bubbles.

3/14/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Beautiful young Pinot. Black cherries and raspberries on the nose, with some loam, leather, and spice on the palate. Vanilla sneaking in on the finish.

Definitely enjoyed this.

3/12/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

Beautiful off-dry wine with a tropical fruit and honeyed nose, backed up by a core of minerality and a fantastic fresh acidity.

3/12/2017 - Ben Venga wrote:

I did a poor job pairing (traditional Filipino mix of food), so this showed poorly.

Overwhelming oak influence with black cherry and butterscotch on the nose.

This may be a good wine, but it was not the best choice for this meal

3/1/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Loved it. Dry, nutty, a little balsamic note and almost an illusion of sweetness. I need to drink more sherry.

2/18/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Drank over two days.

Day one it was incredibly juicy with an intense cassis or black currant candy nose and an almost syrupy grenadine/pomegranate note on the palate. This was backed up by a bit more savory, vegetal finish and a nice tannic structure.

Day two the wine had mellowed a bit, and the pomegranate had dissipated, replaced by stronger tobacco and cedar notes.

I enjoyed this wine immensely, especially given the $20 price tag.

2/16/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Dark fruit, especially blueberry and a fair amount of cocoa on the nose.

Even more dark chocolate and fruit on the palate.

Incredibly tightly wound with very sticky, immature tannins. I would either decant for a very long time, or hold onto it for another five years or so.

2/16/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Pale golden in color, beautiful honeyed orange nose. Peaches and cream on the palate, and a trace of oak on the finish. Fantastic fresh acidity. Overall, a very balanced wine with very intense flavors.

I absolutely adored this wine, and will hopefully be able to update on how it ages as well.

2/11/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Simple, straightforward wine. Nice dark fruit with a hint of spice, and some balanced tannin and acidity to hold it together.

Leans a little bit towards the overripe/jammy nose, but very enjoyable for $11. Would recommend as a weeknight wine.

1/31/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Drank over two days, surprisingly little change.

Nice acidity, and a bit of tannin. A bit of fruit up front, but I found more earth and spice notes. A little vanilla on the finish.

Creamy texture for a very light wine.

1/29/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Great zippy acidity, a little waxy in texture with nice citrus and some light tropical notes.

1/29/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Surprisingly dark fruit and some vegetal notes and earthiness. Soft tannins, light body and nice acidity. Enjoyed this.

1/22/2017 - Ben Venga Likes this wine:

Delicious, fresh and nutty. I don't have much experience with sherry, but I enjoyed this one.