Jay Kline

9.3

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. — 6 days ago

Sam Rubin

9.3

Fruity forward. Soaked mouthfeel. Great wine for great price — 5 days ago

Takuya Namise

9.2

Bacco
Dark chocolate — 7 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petite Verdot (7%). Dark ruby color. Aromas of black bramble fruit, forest floor, purple flowers and leather. Concentrated black cherry/berry fruit flavors with additional notes of mushrooms, figs, tobacco and sweet and savory spices. Bit of minerality on the long and lingering finish. Rich, powerful and dense. Nice oak integration and mouth drying tannins. Well structured and firm/noticeable acidity. Just a bit past peak but still an outstanding drink. So well crafted. Thank you so much for sharing, Keith S. — 4 days ago

romo

9.3

A Barolo wearing a paisley tie. Very fresh, medium minus body. Would have guessed five-year old Nebbiolo. — 18 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Mineral and citrus with a touch of straw and oak. — 4 days ago

Jerry Dixon

8.9

I had this with Tamara and Mario when I made a rabbit stew in Alexander Valley. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

After pressing dried grapes from making Amarone, Valpolicella wine is passed over the still warm skins of Amarone for 2nd alcoholic fermentation, increasing the alcoholic content, aromas and color. Blend of 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta. Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet dried berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, currants and sweet cherry with complex spice. Well balanced with acidity and alcohol, full-body with soft tannins on long finish. Nice value. — 3 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium deep ruby , quite thin garnet rim . Aromatic and open at the start , dried herbs , rosemary , thyme , hedgerow , dried dark cherry , black tea , black pepper and touch of anis. On the palate this is quite rich , but with refreshing acidity , dried dark fruits, black tea and dried wild herbs , hedgerow notes . Quite fine tannins and surprisingly integrated alcohol with a long dried rose , herbal tinged finish . This is perfect now but no rush though is unlikely to improve, from now and over the next 5 -8 years . A unique take on Valpolicella , complex, lively and though
Weighty is extremely well balanced . — 18 days ago

Matthew Davis

8.9

Fantastic! This Brunello is amazing - the 2017 feels like still quite young, chewable and still very complex. — 11 days ago

with Navin and Elizabeth