August 19, 2017 - pale gold; nose of honey, ripe (orange type of) melon,a little brioche; rich melon, ripe peach and a little lemon flavors backed by crisp acidity; full bodied but the acidity keeps it lively and refreshing; long finish by SB standards. One of the best SB,certainly from Calif that I've had.
Vinous review notes it is 67% Sauvignon Musque- probably the source of the honey like sweetness.
October 14, 2015 - Clear gold. Honey, guava, pineapple and a light mineralogy on the nose. Slightly oxidised. Some bitter almond/floral notes. Full bodied, with medium acidity.
June 16, 2013 - Gold and straw colored. 14.3% ABV. Lemon and grass on the nose. Pear, pineapple, honeysuckle and citrus on the palate. Rich and creamy. Great mouthfeel. The wine is lush and decadent. Paired beautifully with a chicken ceasar salad. Drink over the next year or so.
September 23, 2012 - Very impressive considering its age. It needed about a half and hour to show itself. Nice fall fruit flavors (apple, pear) with some tropical and floral notes and a very nice long finish.
September 19, 2012 - Opened with a whiff of menthol that dissipated completely in about 15 minutes. Distinctly gold in the glass. After 15 minutes or so the nose turned tropical with ripe pear, pineapple, cream, vanilla, and melons. I suspect I would not have correctly identified the wine as SB blind. The wine apparently sees some french oak, and that is discernable. Rich and creamy to the tongue. Long finish. 14.3 alcohol. From the strikingly good, and aged, list at the Lousianna Purchase, Banner Elk N.C.
November 10, 2010 - Mon's 56th Chef's Table in the Four Seasons Chicago (Four Seasons, Chicago): Green apple color, great flavor, turpintine, clean, young, age worthy, grassy, classic
October 10, 2010 - Cut grass, citrus, and floral aromas. Beautify balanced and creamy citrus and tropical fruit flavors with finish that lasts forever. Great example of an older SB from California that can last.
February 27, 2010 - Pale yellow. Nose more on the spice side with a hint of grass. Mouth rich, a hint of acid. Nice.
September 27, 2009 - Interesting, but not necessarily great. Compared with a $9.00 bottle of Dashwood New Zealand SB from Costco, is this really worth more than five times the purchase price? That said, this was much more complex than the Dashwood, with lots going on. Much more minerality than fruit, or at least the fruit was much more subtle.Long finish for an SB. Best drunk at cellar temperature or even warmer
July 30, 2009 - Alc. burn has not subsided.....still tropical and tasty, but I'm liking it less and less, especially after having some Greystack, Merry Edwards, Altamura, Mondavi Reserve Fume. And they are cheaper too!