Azienda Agricola Sofia
Antiyal
Red Blend 2015
#Remembrance #Love 6/25
One of our special stops in Maipo, Chile.
The day we visited, they had just received & were using their basic bottle labeling machine. They were elated to no longer have to do it by hand. 2018.
49% Carmenere, 42.5% Cabernet & 8.5% Syrah.
Picture of Sofia in Nefertiti’s Tomb. The top of Sofia’s bucket list.
The fruits are ripe and dryish; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with big skin, plum pudding, darkest cherries & strawberries hues, creamy raspberries. Dark chocolate w/ fudge frosting, caramel, mocha, deep, dark spices w/ some palate heat, moist, forest floor with dry leaves, clove, nutmeg, soft cinnamon stick, vanillin, black tea, black licorice, dry river stone, moist, grey, volcanic clay, limestone & dry crushed rock minerals, dry top soil, some black pepper, dry tobacco & chewy leather, oak wood shavings, dry, withering & candied flowers, excellent, round acidity with a ruby, fresh, round, well; tensioned, balanced, knitted, smartly polished finish that lasts minutes.
Still has 10-15 years of good life ahead.
It was Bordeaux that first embraced Carmenere and the only Chateau that I know that still blends it is Clerc Milon…only about 2-3%. Chile champions Carmenere now.
Photos; Sofia & I tasted on top of that structured & their barrel room. — a year ago
Roger Sabon
Prestige Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2013
What I didn’t realize until this week is when I bought this 2013, Sofia & I tasted this with Roger in his cellar before it received the label shown in this post in 2015.
This was $25 on release and it is beautiful tonight as it was last weekend.
Ripe, juicy; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, purple fruits, blueberries & some dark cherries. Grilled meats, light black pepper, dry galet stones, spice, dry top soil, dry tobacco, used leather, slightly moist volcanic mineral mixed w/ clay, sandalwood, dry & withering dark, red & purple florals, rainfall acidity, a well balanced, nicely structured, beautifully tensioned, balanced, elegant finish that last two-minutes and lands on minerality and florals.
Photos that Sofia & I took in 2015, wood vats, my backside looking at cement tanks, estate vineyard and their facility building. — 2 years ago
Seméli
Orinos Helios Moschofilero 1979
Excelente! - Sofia Assyrtiko/Moschofilero — 2 months ago
Williams Selyem
Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2011
#Remembrance #Love 6/25
Sofia’s favorite producer of Pinot Noir.
Her picking the Merlot at Chateau Mouton Rothschild in 2012. If your 12 Mouton Rothschild is better than expected, you’ll know why.
My favorite picture of Sofia. — a year ago
Mary Taylor
Sofia Brescia Veneto Frizzante Bianco Garganega - Glera Blend
Light, bubbly and refreshing. Good stuff me option with more melon, lightly sweetened and smooth bubbly — 4 months ago
Jones Family Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Birthed the year we were married and one of the more stunning producers we learned to embraced.
Love you endlessly Sofia! ❤️
Just picked when we were married & likely still in tank.
I can’t tell you enough how much you need to find a well aged & stored bottle. — a year ago
I actually have 2 mags of the 07 Jones. I’ll save for the day we finally get together and grieve & commemorate the loss of our wives.
Launois Père et Fils
Veuve Clémence Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay
#Remembrance #Love 6/25.
Sofia loved Penguins. We played w/ them in Dubai and she also skied indoor while I had a spot of Champagne and watched from a very big window. Only in Dubai. They have to build things of that nature…cus w/o them…just a bunch of sand. — a year ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
I have enjoyed this producers vineyard over many vintage and this might be the best.
The 22 vintage is stunning and as good as it is, 23 might be better based on a somewhat limited exposure at this point.
The entry is glorious…such balance and wire to wire it doesn’t change much.
Green apple, perfect lemon & lime pulp into subtle candy, grapefruit, white stone fruit, kiwi, tropical melons, pineapple, cream reduction, saline, perfect sea fossils, fine powdery taut chalkiness, crisp volcanics, white spice, grey volcanic minerals, limestone marl, mix of fresh & dry stubble herbs, honeysuckle, light caramel, warm lightly done toast, yellow florals, spring flowers with greens, grand waterfall acidity, beautiful structure-tension, incredible balance with an elegant finish that lasts two-minutes and long sets on volcanic minerals and spice.
Decanted 1 hour.
When I first started buying this bottling, it was $50-$60, now $150. Might be my last bought. My white spend has a more limited range than my red. Don’t think I’m alone.
A property Sofia & I have visited in 2015. — 21 days ago