Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Gavi comes from small growing area in northwestern Italy located north of Genoa on steep slopes of Ligurian Apennines. White label is La Scolca’s everyday wine, an alternative to their “Black Label”. From Cortese di Gavi grape (younger vines), pale yellow color with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, extended lees aging. On the palate flavors of apple and lemon, nutty notes, nice mouthfeel. Medium finish, vivid acidity ending with a mineral character. Nice! — 14 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.8

Still a very dense crimson with no tawny rim, at 28 years of age but the tawniness is beginning. A certain feral, Animale, earthy note. Palate is ultra smooth, medium bodied / very savoury yet with a sweetish earthy note with a hint of raspberry. Jancis Robinson was invited by Stephen Henschke to a vertical tasting at the winery in May 2013 to cover vintages back to the late 1950’s. She described the 1996 as “pure hedonism “ and gave it 19/20. Medium plus intensity on the delicious palate with those gnarled old 160 year vines showing through. An absolutely stunning wine - one of the best we’ve had this year. — 2 years ago

Rick Wolfen

9.7

If you like CA cabs you must try this wine!!! Any vintage will do. Unreal depth and balance and a finish that just keeps on going! Enjoy!! — 3 years ago

Lois Bloom

9.0

Wood Ranch yummy dinner on a very windy night before NY Eve, almost the end of 2025. Thanks to Mitch and Krista for Xmas gift card here. — 3 months ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.5

Outstanding, the purity is off the charts here. Balance is impeccable. This is so light on its feet and deep and long in every way good.  — 10 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Made in a small town at foot of Sierra Cantabria in the DO. A single variety Tempranillo from 50 year old vines has a deep Ruby red color and aged for 18 months in French and American oak. Aromas of red fruit and spice. On the palate ripe black fruit, fine tannins, well balanced with a medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and some oak notes. Nice! — 2 years ago

Will Stanley

9.3

A welcome departure from a focus on Bordeaux of late, this GSM from Barossa, despite being in the lower end of their range, is a gorgeous, powerful but quite pure wine with great complexity for this price point. The nose has southern Rhône personality mixed with Barossa weight, with steeped fruit, lavender, white pepper, a touch of iron. It has Port-like density on the palate, with flecks of liquorice and kirsch, is slightly hot even at 14.5% but otherwise a really solid wine! — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

Dark purple/black color. Aromas of cooked red fruit, tobacco and prunes. Flavors of cherry jam, ripe raspberries and plums, baking spices and vanilla. Pleasant note of dark chocolate on the long and lingering finish. Full bodied, rich, plush and concentrated. Lingering acidity keeps the wine in balance. Soft tannins and great intensity. Outstanding! Appreciate you opening this bottle, Keith S! — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Vines of Lilian-Ladouys are found a stone's throw from the Graves of Cos d'Estournel and the Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. Deep Ruby red color, with inky tones, blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, aged in French oak for 15 months, aromas of black and blue fruit, cedar notes and herb spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and plum with licorice and toasty oak flavors, full body with fine tannins, long finish ending with earthy oak mineral character. Will age over short term. — 2 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

We absolutely love exploring the world’s many expressions of Pinot Noir!  It’s a lifelong endeavor and we’re here for it. 😆

Tonight, we’re taking a sensory trip to South America and, more specifically, Río Negro, Patagonia 🇦🇷 – the most southerly wine-producing region of Argentina – where Antarctic currents, winds descending from the Andes, & high latitudes offer cooling influences, ideal for producing elegant Pinot Noir styles.

Bodega Chacra was established in 2003 by Tuscan Piero Incisa della Rocchetta (grandson of Sassicaia’s founding father) in search of purity and nuance in fruit expression from the terroir of Patagonia. 🍇
 
Piero now partners with esteemed Burgundian winemaker (and friend) Jean-Marc Roulot in the production process, each contributing their respective oenological “genes” to the final wine, which is first and foremost a child of the earth in Mainqué, Río Negro. 🌱
 
Paying utmost respect to the land, Bodega Chacra cares for its vineyards organically and biodynamically aided, in part, by the arid, windy conditions that naturally mitigate fungal pressure in the vineyard. Their fruit is harvested by hand, allowing for selectivity and the use of whole bunches during fermentation. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This wine is called ‘Cincuenta Y Cinco’ (fifty five) because its fruit comes from vines first planted in 1955, carefully preserved by the team at Bodega Chacra, whose oldest vines actually date back to 1932!

This wine was fermented in cement vats using native yeast, adapted to the environment and matured 11 months (50% in concrete, 50% in French oak of various ages) before release. ⚖️

In a word this wine is ethereal.
 
We served it with a slight chill. Its pristine, berry and cherry fruit profile, complements the delicate cherry blossom, peony 🌺 and baking spice notes. It’s light on its feet w/ medium alcohol (12% ABV) and bright acidity.  It’s lovely & perfumed.

Cheers to Bodega Chacra and all of the beautiful Pinots of Patagonia! — 3 years ago

with Deked1