Jay Kline

9.2

This is the Gran Reserva “Edición Limitada”.

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and some significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cherries and raspberries with some red plum, old leather, old cedar chest, a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Aglianico, or Cabernet Sauvignon (and based blends) from Italy, France or the United States. With the fruits and non-fruits presenting the way they were, the use of some new small format oak, throupled with the significant structure despite what was obvious age (I was thinking 40+ years), I went with Sangiovese from Italy, from Tuscany, from Chianti Classico, Riserva level from a modern leaning producer like Antinori, 1985. Damn…Tempranillo didn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t think the color was dark enough and I didn’t really get American oak the way I would expect with Rioja…but here we are. Now that I think about it, Antinori may not have using barrique back then. Perhaps I was trying to be too be too clever; I’ll learn from this. Regardless, I thought this was freaking delicious and showing really well! Fully mature but should enjoy this stage for the next ten years. Drink now through 2033. — 2 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.6

So smooth and charming and elegant and well-balanced….
Shining brightly and utterly gorgeous..!
Great off-vintage wine.
— a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Pale lemon color with aromas of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and nutty scents. On the palate complex flavors of apple, peach, pineapple and lemon citrus, well balanced with acidity on a nice mouthfeel. Long finish ending with oak, vanilla, mineral and citrus notes, will continue to age. A beautiful Chardonnay. — 17 days ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

So delicious and balanced. Deep cherry and red berry fruit on the nose, with warm gravel and a hint of sweet vanilla. Deep flavors in a lively frame in the mouth. Nice acids and a slightly chalky feel from those Carignane country-boy tannins. — a month ago

Jay Hall

9.2

Fantastic fruit and delicious. Highly recommend! — a month ago

Atticus Honore

9.2

Cherry, earl grey tea, anise, mossy — a month ago

with Hallie

Jody Scharf

9.4

never disappoints Zin, full of jam, cherry, dark fruits with cinnamon,decent acids — 18 days ago

Hum

9.2

Rich cassis and tobacco … vanilla frosting … everything well integrated… faint graphite ? Touch of bell pepper. — 11 days ago

John Malcolm

9.4

An excellent wine from a not great year. Gorgeous on the nose. Plum, cassis, lavender, and milk chocolate. Just a bit weak on the finish. — 18 days ago

Sam Friedland

9.2

Very pleasant, soft tannins — a month ago