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. — 9 days ago

Alessandro Starita

9.4

The vineyards are treated in the perfect climate. The grapes are harvested by hand after careful selection of the bunches. The must, obtained by soft pressing, lends itself to a gentle maceration on the skins and undergoes a light fining in the bottle before being released for sale. It produces a strong, intense ruby color with violet reflections. It releases aromas of blackberry and cherry, tobacco, chocolate, spices, and vetiver, harmonious and persistent. Great expressiveness and completeness.
This wine is a tribute to this successful combination of craftsmanship and technology, an authentic expression of experimentation. — 4 months ago

Tom Swennes

9.0

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

Pooneet K

9.3

Absolutely excellent. Aromatics actually faded a bit with a 1.5 hour decant, so might watch that in the future. Lots of earthy cherry. Not overly refined, but in a good way - tastes like the older school piemonte that it is, with just the right bit of earth and leather. Excellent acid and a long pure finish. Great pairing with Kinderhook pork chops with a porchetta style seasoning. — a month ago

Dave

8.9

I've been passing this in the shop for about a year and bought it tonight. It's delicious! What a fool I've been.
Listening to The Jayhawks — 3 months ago

Joe Christenson

9.0

Bright, salty, mineral notes, has some body. The reviewers noting an oiliness are spot on. Floral, plenty of baked yellow fruit (pear, golden apple). — 6 months ago

Andy Stabile

9.2

Very nice. Earthy. Soft tannins. — 3 months 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

romo

9.0

Got all super-herbal weird when warmed up. — 5 months ago

Sam Rubin

10

Excellent. Fruity explosion at BOKA in Chicago — 8 months ago