2/6/2024 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Paired with a risotto made with super fresh chanterelle mushrooms and it was perfect.

1/23/2024 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

It's been years since I had a Burgess wine and it didn't disappoint. Drinking nicely in 2023 but probably has some time (but why wait). Didn't need decanting. Good balance of fruit and structure and a very good value.

1/21/2024 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Perfect with dinner at a local Italian place. Did not need decanting. Smooth and well integrated. Calamari appetizer, Cannelloni stuffed with meat sauce and a creamy red sauce on top, spaghetti with clams and broth, meatballs with read sauce and brussels sprouts. All worked.

12/25/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was just wonderful. Paired with Beef Wellington for Xmas. Approachable when opened and held through the dinner and beyond, even good the next days. This stood its own, and more, against a $400+ (gifted to me, I don't spend that much on a bottle of wine) 2014 Napa Cab from Bond Quella! My guest brought one to drink and one for me to savor. Yum, they get a repeat invitation.

12/28/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This is a lovely cab. I'm not sure it is worth what I see it listed for on the internet! We had this for Xmas with Beef Wellington and a side by side tasting of 2008 Chateau Moulin Pey-Labrie that a guest brought from Kermit Lynch. This needed a bit of time - maybe 20-30 minutes, to settle down and open. It was lovely, but I'll drink that 2008 any day at a much nicer price point!

12/23/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

The first two nights (I have a good wine keeper that seals and maintains temp) it was very nice - tried it with a mix of foods. On the third night I just had some for sipping by the fire and it had a funky aftertaste - almost bitter. But then on the fourth night, it was lovely with dinner. So, I conclude that this needs food to bring out the best.

12/19/2023 - RJandGB wrote:

mostly las brisas fruit, 50% new french oak, notes of licorice, cinnamon, dried bay leaf, cherry, backberry and a hint of juniper (sounds odd) Bright fruit flavors and savory finish

12/19/2023 - RJandGB wrote:

Many clones. 50% new french oak. Cherry and strawberry aromas with hints of tea and black pepper.

12/19/2023 - RJandGB wrote:

well balanced fruit forward elegant cab. blackberry, black cherry, plum, huckleberry and dried herb aroma with wood spices.

12/9/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was a nice every day red - I have not yet had a bad wine from the local produce/deli/specialty store that has a very small rack of wines. This one was, I think, under $20 and on the end cap by the register. Fun to try these. I am spoiled by living in California where we have so many very nice wines, but I really like to try different wines from Europe and other regions.

12/4/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Wow, this is drinking so smooth and beautifully. I can't believe they sold the vineyard and aren't making wine anymore :(. Paired this with a superb and not too spicy Chili made with ground turkey and a blend of Rancho Gordo midnight black and domingo roja beans that used Gochugaru (Korean) chili flakes and New Mexico chili powder. The bottle was gone before we realized it. Lots of sediment at the next but little in the bottle.

12/3/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Opened for appetizers, the green olives stuffed with lemon paste, nuts and Toma Truffle and Red Hawk cheese. It was perfect and got rave reviews from guests who are not normally into 'pink' or 'bubbles'. It's only a little effervescent. It's git a hint of sweet (but barely) or simply it's not as sharp as many bubbles can be. And it worked perfectly with the app's, particularly the olives (available at Spanish Table in Berkeley) which also flew off the platter.

11/26/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was very nice, as always, little bubbles nice and tart. But I will say that having just opened Alexandre Le Brun "Cuvée Fascination" Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne (2015). I would drink Fascnination all day long. It's $70. J would be $45 for a 2016 and $82 for a late disgorged 2015. I don't remember what I paid for the 2013 (club shipment). But they are all good.

11/24/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Wow, just wow. I wish Talisman still had access to fruit from this vineyard. I know magnums age slower but at 17 years this was just wonderful. We decanted really just to make it easier to pour and in case there was sediment. None noticeable. Wax came off easily and cork came out cleanly. We paired this with Duck Confit (home made-its really so easy), duck breast with a sauce of currants, shallots, mustard, brandy and butter (how can you go wrong), green beans and potatoes sarladaise (southwest France Yukon gold fried in duck fat with sea salt, parsley and garlic. There was still nice fruit. It was very smooth no visible tannins (not typical for Scott anyway). It had aged very well.

11/23/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Really smooth and wonderful. Truly a wine first and bubbles second. Shared with friends and appetizers for Thanksgiving.

11/23/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

A great wine consumed with good friends for a get away at the beach. It works with a wide variety of food.

11/23/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Cork broke but all was well. I think Wildcat benefits from extra time to tame some of the earthiness and lets all the flavors blend beautifully.

11/15/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

100% Tempranillo - another fine find from the local Deli/Organic Produce place. I got it for paella dinner, though it got relegated to a later day. Very good any day drinking and pairing with lots of things, though stew or meaty dishes probably best.

11/15/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Nice everyday (for me at $21) red that goes with most anything Grenache, Carignan and Syrah - a good combo. Found this at the local market that is mostly a deli and organic fruits and veggies but also carries all those little unique foods, like Rancho Gordo beans, and my favorite crackers, Strauss milk, etc. But they also have a small wine selection, rally just some end caps and one two sided display. They have great taste in wines and I've never had a bad wine and they are often quite affordable and from lesser known parts of the world.

10/31/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This has plenty of time left. I should have paired it with something bigger, but I didn't look at my prior tasting notes when I opened it. I think it would have gone well with a meaty red pasta ragu or something like lamb shanks. But it was very nice.

10/22/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Someone brought for a paella dinner. Typical rioja. Nice light bright red.

10/22/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Brisa Suave (“cool breeze”) is produced by an estate that adheres to the EU Standards of Integrated Production, protecting local biodiversity and conserving natural resources. The estate practices organic viticulture and is also EVU Vegan Certified. This “breezy” Vinho Verde is made from native Portuguese grapes loureiro (50%), arinto (40%), and trajadura (10%), fermented in stainless steel vats. The result is classic light, spritzy Vinho Verde in a liter bottle. Delicate notes of citrus, orchard fruit, and sea spray finish clean and refreshing. The ultimate summer sipper. Organically grown, vegan.

9/9/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Sue L brought for a party - opened the next day and paired with salmon cooked on a cedar plank - great pairing. And pretty nice over the next couple of days with a variety of food.

9/3/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Thumbs up from everyone at the party for a crisp and flavorful wine

8/1/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

I bought this to use for a recipe - because you should always cook with wine you would drink. I enjoyed this with a variety of foods over a couple of weeks. Kept fine in the fridge. I'd keep this in rotation in the cellar.

7/16/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Did a vertical dinner 2013-2014-2015-2016 of this wine. Made a cream of corn soup with fresh sweet corn - cut off the cob and broth from the cobs, then tuna conserva with a tonnato sauce (inspired by the Talisman wine pairing dinner last year). Great pairings. Winners were 2013 and 2016 with 2014 close behind. 2015 was fine, just not as good - it was also a little cloudy versus cleaner red. This is a nice bright wine but still has depth of flavor.

7/16/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Did a vertical dinner 2013-2014-2015-2016 of this wine. Made a cream of corn soup with fresh sweet corn - cut off the cob and broth from the cobs, then tuna conserva with a tonnato sauce (inspired by the Talisman wine pairing dinner last year). Great pairings. Winners were 2013 and 2016 with 2014 close behind. 2015 was fine, just not as good - it was also a little cloudy versus cleaner red. This is a nice bright wine but still has depth of flavor.

7/16/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Did a vertical dinner 2013-2014-2015-2016 of this wine. Made a cream of corn soup with fresh sweet corn - cut off the cob and broth from the cobs, then tuna conserva with a tonnato sauce (inspired by the Talisman wine pairing dinner last year). Great pairings. Winners were 2013 and 2016 with 2014 close behind. 2015 was fine, just not as good - it was also a little cloudy versus cleaner red. This is a nice bright wine but still has depth of flavor.

7/16/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Did a vertical dinner 2013-2014-2015-2016 of this wine. Made a cream of corn soup with fresh sweet corn - cut off the cob and broth from the cobs, then tuna conserva with a tonnato sauce (inspired by the Talisman wine pairing dinner last year). Great pairings. Winners were 2013 and 2016 with 2014 close behind. 2015 was fine, just not as good - it was also a little cloudy versus cleaner red. This is a nice bright wine but still has depth of flavor.

7/7/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Fantastic reviews from friends when we opened it. Great fruit and rich flavors. This is drinking beautifully at 8 years. I would agree with the other taster that it has more fruit than acidity, but somehow that worked.

7/5/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Delightful fresh any day white wine. Lots of citrus notes. Paired well with a variety of cheeses and appetizers and also a creamed corn soup. I would buy this again.

6/9/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Nice, very pale color, simple flavors, had this with a picnic lunch of pate, asparagus, cheese, olives, etc.

6/9/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This is not a vegetal SB - I enjoyed it and it's a nice price point.

5/27/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Blended from Las Brisas and Mahoney Ranch fruit. Mostly cheery notes with caramel/brown sugar accents.

5/27/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

8 different clones, but 50% Swan Clone (which seems high but Ken really likes how it presents and says it's different from various places in the vineyard). 16 months 50% French Oak (versus the single barrel of 100% slow toast french oak). Still has typical strawberry and cherry fruits.

5/27/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

A nice follow-on to the 2018 cab. The vines were planted in 2015 on the Mahoney Ranch. Full bodied with blue/black fruit (blueberry, blackberry, currant) with a little forest floor earthiness.

5/27/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Dijon 667 and Swan from Block 1 (Northwest Corner). Plantings are tight Dijon between Swan and the established Swan makes it hard for Dijon so the fruit berries and clusters are really small. Red fruit (strawberry, cherry and raspberry). Barrel brings out plum and cherry on the darker side.
This is an interesting experiment with a single barrel that was long and slow, so while medium toast, it is much milder. From Eric Millard who studied in Beaune and then worked at Franois Freres and then Latour Cooperage (nearly 30 years). He makes his own barrels - 5 per day, by hand, working with his daughter. Wood is from Jupilles and Western Loire forests. The barrel was toasted for 4.5 hours (most barrels toast in 1 hour) and custom water pans to bring hydration in during toasting and a metal sarcophagus to allow off-gassing in the back half of the barrel. The result is a very gentle oak that does not over power the fruit. While it is medium toast, it is not darker than caramel colored so appears more like a light toast, but has tons of complexity.

5/27/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Very nice everyday drinking white. Paired with oysters and salmon dinner.

5/14/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Good value (paid $21) for a nicely aged and ready to drink Rhone blend. Smooth and well balanced. I generally like a little more fruit forwardness but this is a nice wine that pairs well with many food options.

5/13/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Delicious and a nice expression of Syrah. This was a gift from Candice at Comerica. Enjoyed it with a variety of foods, sous vide tri tip, chicken thighs with tomato mushroom sauce. Smooth, good sipping too.

4/22/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Still drinking beautifully at almost 10 years.

3/28/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this with duck breasts topped with currant jelly sauce. Perfect pairing.

3/17/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

I think this could be a 'go to' white wine for many foods. Absolutely delicious. Refreshing but with substance. Good minerality.

3/16/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely, but certainly ready. Everything you come to expect in this wine - very consistent year to year. Always annoyed by the long cork, it always breaks. But run through a filter anyway for the sediment - about what you would expect.

2/28/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was simply outstanding. I have not been drinking as much cabernet as I used to, and much of my cellar has been Caymus, and some very nice holiday client gifts. But this one really made me take notice. (or course it's priced there as well!). It was a fabulous balance of fruit and tannin and body - very supple and smooth. Truly special.

2/28/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was a nice year. These wines would have been in the barrel during the horrific Tubbs fire of 2017. This has aged nicely and probably has more time left, but why wait.

2/28/2023 - RJandGB wrote:

This got better as the bottle sat a little. But I need to remember that these wines are not meant for longer aging. This bottle was a little 'sharp'.

1/24/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was very nice, I'd buy it again. Doc recommended with charcuterie, and that was good, with hard cheeses, but I finished the bottle over the next couple of days with a variety of food and it was good with most anything.

1/24/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This is drinking very nicely. It probably has more time left, but why wait?

1/13/2023 - RJandGB Likes this wine:

This was lovely. Why do I only have 2014 vintage?