Wow. Big fan. Lots of bright red fruits like cherries and raspberries in the beginning. Great acidity. It is more earthy than I expected, but not unwelcome. I really appreciated the almost floral/rosy note that contrasts the brightness off the bat. Still pretty tannic, I imagine this would only get better with age. Tasted expensive. I have no clue how much it costs. Only improved with time/air as we ate dinner. Super cool to taste how it “opened up” and how it changed. — 3 months ago
Took a flyer buying this from Benchmark. Bottle was in perfect condition, but sadly past its peak. Nose was outstanding - huge - chocolate, spice box. Had lost any acidity to balance the huge fruit. And at 17%, it kicked our ass. Would love to try a slightly younger rendition. — 8 months ago
Black cherry away, zeno — 2 months ago
Absolutely wonderful #opentuesdaywines so sad we have just one more of these bottles left…. — 4 months ago
Cork of the north. — a year ago
Sweet smooth fruit yum — 2 years ago
Great for its youthfulness. Would benefit from another year or two in the cellar. — 2 months ago
Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.
Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…
So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — 5 months ago
Amy
eataly- love! — a month ago