Retail $35. Heavy Bottle. Under cork. A rare occurrence: I get to try a bottle of the Shop. Usually, this is the go-to wine for my wife when I am out of town. Not tonight. We were binging on one of our shows and my wife wanted another glass and she went to the cellar and pulled one of her all-time favorites. This bottle, while still stellar, comes off as a bit stewed. The fruit is aq shade tired but there is still plenty of spice and more than an ounce of verve. The palate follows that theme with good, albeit slightly stewed, fruit, nice acidity, and overall great balance. But it is time to drink up--ten years now and on the downward slope.
Retail $35. It is rare that I actually get to taste this wine as it is one of my wife's favorites and, as such, she invariably pops one of these when I am off galavanting. Since I have not been able to travel at all these past six months or so, however, I was actually afforded a taste of this next-to-last bottle of this wine. The workhorse of Byron Kosuge's portfolio, this is an amazingly consistent wine vintage to vintage. Bright cherry fruit with a bit of spice and even anise on the nose with the same great cherry fruit on the palate along with vibrant acidity and plenty of earth (particularly for a Carneros Pinot. Delightful. thedrunkencyclist.com
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The Drunkencyclist is away which gives me all the votes in what to drink from the cellar! I am a creature of habit and went for one of my go to favorites - The Shop by Byron Kosuge 2013. It's been a few months since I've had one and it continues to be well balanced with not overpowering flavors of blackberries and cherries with a bit of spice. Is terrific with or without food. Still love it!! (Might even pull another one before TDC gets home)
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The Drunkencyclist is again off on a wine adventure and that gave me the opportunity to raid the cellar. I chose a go to favorite of mine, The Shop by Byron Kosuge. Byron is an all around terrific guy - humble, super talented and so generous with his time and talent. He takes such care in what he does and to me, it shows in all of his wines. This one is no exception and it has maintained its balance, its delicious flavors of blackberries and cherries with a bit of spice and its versatility. Had it today with Korean pork. One of my favorite things about this wine is the nose, which has dark fruits, a little vanilla and spice - love it!!
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OK. Let me start with this: I consider Byron Kosuge a friend of mine. Not the kind of friend that comes over to watch the kids when my wife and I go out to dinner, but the kind of friend that I will definitely call when I am out in his neck of the woods. I first met him tasting through his wines after he gave me a tour of the custom crush facility where he crafts his wine. This is one of my wife’s favorites for good reason: black cherry, raspberry, and just a touch of black pepper. On the palate? Yum (I hate that word, but it is a propos here): near perfect balance and just the right amount of “fun.” thedrunkencyclist.com
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11/26/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points
Retail $35. Heavy Bottle. Under cork. Our last bottle of this vintage and this falls right in line with my last note. Drink up.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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7/31/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points
Retail $35. Heavy Bottle. Under cork. A rare occurrence: I get to try a bottle of the Shop. Usually, this is the go-to wine for my wife when I am out of town. Not tonight. We were binging on one of our shows and my wife wanted another glass and she went to the cellar and pulled one of her all-time favorites. This bottle, while still stellar, comes off as a bit stewed. The fruit is aq shade tired but there is still plenty of spice and more than an ounce of verve. The palate follows that theme with good, albeit slightly stewed, fruit, nice acidity, and overall great balance. But it is time to drink up--ten years now and on the downward slope.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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9/20/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 92 Points
Retail $35. It is rare that I actually get to taste this wine as it is one of my wife's favorites and, as such, she invariably pops one of these when I am off galavanting. Since I have not been able to travel at all these past six months or so, however, I was actually afforded a taste of this next-to-last bottle of this wine. The workhorse of Byron Kosuge's portfolio, this is an amazingly consistent wine vintage to vintage. Bright cherry fruit with a bit of spice and even anise on the nose with the same great cherry fruit on the palate along with vibrant acidity and plenty of earth (particularly for a Carneros Pinot. Delightful. thedrunkencyclist.com
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1/18/2019 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 92 Points
The Drunkencyclist is away which gives me all the votes in what to drink from the cellar! I am a creature of habit and went for one of my go to favorites - The Shop by Byron Kosuge 2013. It's been a few months since I've had one and it continues to be well balanced with not overpowering flavors of blackberries and cherries with a bit of spice. Is terrific with or without food. Still love it!! (Might even pull another one before TDC gets home)
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5/21/2018 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 92 Points
The Drunkencyclist is again off on a wine adventure and that gave me the opportunity to raid the cellar. I chose a go to favorite of mine, The Shop by Byron Kosuge. Byron is an all around terrific guy - humble, super talented and so generous with his time and talent. He takes such care in what he does and to me, it shows in all of his wines. This one is no exception and it has maintained its balance, its delicious flavors of blackberries and cherries with a bit of spice and its versatility. Had it today with Korean pork. One of my favorite things about this wine is the nose, which has dark fruits, a little vanilla and spice - love it!!
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10/15/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
Consistent notes.
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3/19/2017 - bobvictor Likes this wine: 92 Points
Better on day 2!
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1/21/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
OK. Let me start with this: I consider Byron Kosuge a friend of mine. Not the kind of friend that comes over to watch the kids when my wife and I go out to dinner, but the kind of friend that I will definitely call when I am out in his neck of the woods. I first met him tasting through his wines after he gave me a tour of the custom crush facility where he crafts his wine. This is one of my wife’s favorites for good reason: black cherry, raspberry, and just a touch of black pepper. On the palate? Yum (I hate that word, but it is a propos here): near perfect balance and just the right amount of “fun.” thedrunkencyclist.com
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7/23/2016 - wineforrest Likes this wine: 92 Points
fruity and delicious
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