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. — 3 days ago

Pietro Amirkhanian

9.5

This is a special wine to be enjoyed with soft creamy cheeses. The 2004 is it’s best expression. Loved it. — 7 years ago

Erika

9.4

Paired this wine with classic italian "pasta al forno". Cherry notes are predominant. — 8 years ago

Tyler Felous

9.4

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. — 3 months ago

Rania P

9.3

Wow, this is so similar to a Dal Forno Amarone with rich dark berries. Good finish, very impressed. — 5 years ago

with Viviane

Vicente Piedrahita

9.3

Had side by side with dal forno amarone, this was much lighter and fruitier. Very good. — 8 years ago

Sam Rubin

10

Excellent. Fruity explosion at BOKA in Chicago — 7 months ago

Tom Swennes

9.0

2008. Borderline port, but delicious in its own right. — 8 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.3

Perhaps no Valpolicella Superiore deserves more than 9, but this is the best in this style that I have had. (I am not counting Dal Forno Romano or Quintarelli, which are really baby Amarones.) I drank this chilled with penne alla vodka, and it paired perfectly. This wine is light and fruity, but also has a rich cranberry flavor. A nice value for $30. — 5 years ago

Les Huisman

9.8

God damn. Even worse infanticide than the Dal Forno. So damn good. I can literally live on this stuff. — 10 years ago

with Tim, Karl and 1 other