Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice and oak. 4 grape blend from some of CVNE's best vineyards in the Rioja Alta (85% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), aged in both French and American oak for 24 months. On the palate flavors of blackberry and currants with licorice, vanilla, tobacco & toasty oak tones. Soft full ripe tannins, wonderful balance, lively acidity on a long finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Very nice! Tried several bottles! — 5 years ago

Loren Loftesnes

9.3

This is a deep Syrah, dark chocolate, dark berries, and damn good with some braised beef. Need to buy some more pronto. — 5 years ago

with Rosita

Jay Kline

9.1

I’m always excited to try a new vintage of Tondonia and earlier this week, I got to try the 2007 for the first time. A significant departure from the 2006 which was (and remains currently) open for business with very little coaxing, the 2007 is austere and loaded with VA. Some aggressive decanting was able to get the VA to blow off and slowly but surely it started to open up, revealing some high quality and seriously dark cherry fruit. A heady, serious wine that needs loads of patience right now if this bottle is representative. Hold or decant for 24 hours. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.3

Always reliable amazing QPR NV Rose bubbles @ £30-36 that is our go to Rose next to Bruno Paillard, LP Rose, Billecart Salmon, Perrier Jouet Rose ... oh ok we like too many NV Rose but hey it’s nearly Christmas 🎄🥂 & perfect in Zalto Universal glass 👍

📍 Bollinger Rose NV

🏵 93 points

🍇 62% PInot Noir, 24% Chardonnay & 14% Pinot Meunier with 6% still red

🍷 Peachy salmon glimmering pink

👃 Strawberry cream biscuit w/ raspberry & peach in rock minerals & a citrus mist

👄 Med bodied creamy fresh fine mousse of peach, strawberry, raspberry, red currant & grapefruit w/ red apple & a sweet citrus shortbread biscuit in med acidity

🎯 Long fresh red fruits w/ a dry biscuity grapefruit & red apple finale — 7 years ago

David Walser

9.6

Day 20 of our 24 day Amazon cruise. Ate Wagyu beef at Silk Road tonight with this wine. The wine was delicious with the beef at this seafood eatery. — 9 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A favorite. Dark red color with aromas of ripe fruit, floral notes and perfume spice. Aged for 24 months on French and American oak, the 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon blend shows cherry and blackberry flavors, rich with notes of espresso and oak. Tannins are a bit gritty and savory, good balance carrying fruit to a lingering finish, ending with some earthy tones. Excellent! — 10 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Decanted for about an hour before we tasted Franco Batzella’s wines. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 to 24 months in French Oak and a further 12 months before release. The wine is Deep Ruby red with aromas of red/black fruits and sweet spices. The palate shows black cherries, blackberries and cranberries with some cacao, leather and vanilla spice. The wine had soft structured tannins, medium length and ended with earthy notes. Drinkable now but a few years would enhance the experience. Very nice! Tasting Sample. — 10 years ago

Ash Dewey

9.5

Fruity but light and refreshing — 10 years ago

Mikey T

9.1

Dark perfumed aromas of blueberry jam combine with cocoa, vanilla cream, and tobacco. The palate is bold, complex and fruitful. Loganberry and blackberry intermingle with dark chocolate, and are seamlessly brought together with perceptible tannins that sustain a long and youthful finish.
Varietal Composition: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Malbec
Barrel Aging: 24 months in French oak, 90% new — 11 years ago

Dirk Pettigrew (Pirate)

Sales Pirate Cru Wines

9.3

Superb Amontillado, quite rare in Australia — 13 years ago

Severn G

9.1

So...I had a birthday a couple weeks back and due to scheduling, my regular bottle finishing team wasn't available until now, so we're finally doing it up in my grand, unique style.

Notes possibly tomorrow, scores honestly tonight.

Decanted 6H.

24-Hour Update:
Nose has cedar, over-ripe cherry, crushed red currant, crisp red pepper slice, old leather, blackberry jam, over-ripe cranberry, black pepper and dry garden soil.
Palate has strawberry jam, tart cherry, dried cherry, orange zest, blackberry fruit gummy, dried tangerine, volcanic rocks and warm molasses cookie.
In a fine spot, anyone holding this in proper storage could probably expect this to live to a 10th birthday. — 5 years ago

Eric Vishria

9.5

Wow. No way I would have placed as 24 year old wine. It was every bit as fresh and bubbly as a much more recent vintage. Interesting compared to the 96 P2 which I had a few months back. That had so much more density and nuttiness. Anyway, excellent. Could drink a lot of this! — 6 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

It's time for #MerlotThursday. Here is a nice one from California.

Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.

Pretty nose with blueberries, black currants, plums, cherries, oak, vanilla, spices, licorice, dark chocolates, earth, light vegetables and vinaigrette.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, sweet cherries, vanilla, earth, wood, spices, peppercorn, chocolates, tobacco, graphite and dark coffee.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Santa Clara Valley in California. Showing nice complexity with a nice mouthfeel.

I've had this vintage before, and it is showing somewhat differently now, with more blue and black fruits. I'd like to see how it evolves in the next few years.

Needs an hour to open up properly and show tannins and structure.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with cheeses and olives. Goes really nicely with an aged Brie.

A blend of 85% Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$24. — 7 years ago

Phil Gurin

9.2

Smooth and balanced — 7 years ago

Thomas Sorbo

9.2

2013 drinking beautifully. A fitting Super Bowl eve cuvée! — 9 years ago

Micah Clark

9.8

Just outstanding. Holds its character even after being open for 24+ hours. Rich and structured drinking like a much younger wine and almost like an elegant, warm year Bordeaux — 10 years ago

Ryan Carey

Founder Wine Confidential

9.2

2010 B Cellars Blend 24. Described as "hedonistic" and "sexy" by Robert Parker. Bursting with fruit, like an exploding blackberry in your mouth. Immense mouthfeel. Little bit of a mint kick at the end — 10 years ago

Gregg Congleton

9.4

Better than the '12 - the cassis and vanilla come through beautifully - well done Booker and thanks Tom for sharing your allotment ! — 10 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.0

The 8/24/2014 Napa earthquake did what it could to ruin the label but I can still read 14% alc. on the label.
A beautiful clean (read; no jam) expression of Syrah. Just enough funk on the nose to be both varietal correct and interesting and great balance on the palate.
Count in the (ridiculous low) price and you have one helluva solid QPR.
Kudos to Morgan and Chris!! — 11 years ago

Brendan Leary

8.9

Decanted , waited an hour and still harsh and too much tannin, large amount of sediment, decide to skip placed back in the bottle and will try again on 24 — 12 years ago

Aravind A

9.1

Pop and pour. The density this has shown has just increased in the last few years. On the nose: spicy red fruit, a hint of savory licorice, lovely intensity. On the palate: lovely acidity and density. Fills the mouth with lovely red fruit, earthy spice and a touch of herbs. Attenuated tannin on the finish. Yum. — 5 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.2

The 08 Hayne Zin has developed wonderfully and is still packed with flavor. Blackberry jam, some fresh red berries, maybe a hint of mint and enough subtle tannin to provide structure. Even some port-like qualities between the sweetness of the fruit and some dried fruit flavors. Excellent and drinking well. UPDATE: still drinking great 12/24 — perfect with a steak au poivre! — 5 years ago

Josh Hirsch

9.0

A delicious Zin. Neither too spicy or sweet. A great balance. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Had to get a bottle for holidays. Beautiful dark color, blend of Tempranillo, Graciano & Mazuelo, aged in new French oak for 24 months. Concentrated red fruit aromas with light oak and spice. On the palate ripe red fruit flavors, complex with layers fruit & spice, noting espresso, cacao and toasty oak. Tannins are a bit biting now but should softer with time. Lingering, great balance on the finish ending with . Decant to drink now, otherwise let this baby sit in the cellar. No ‘12 or ‘13, so grab ‘10 & ‘11 now — 7 years ago

David Shaw

8.9

52% Cinsault 24% Grenache 24% Syrah. Light salmon pink, excellent clarity. Strawberry and herb notes in nose. Strawberry and cherry flavors, maybe some watermelon too. Dry. Slightly hot, slightly tart. Fruit flavors are toned down, some skin astringency in finish. Don't overchill this one. Restrained but well structured, not something I'm used to saying about roses but it applies here. Briefly reviewed in Eric Asimov's column on top American roses, July 5, 2018 New York Times — 8 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.0

Cena thanks mazf 11/24/16 — 9 years ago

Nicola Morvillo

9.6

On 24/8/16 da Beaufort a Ambonnay — 10 years ago

Amy Lajiness

9.7

Enjoying with some homemade pizzas tonight. Quite smooth, mellow oak, and bursting with fruit. Definitely a fun wine to drink! — 10 years ago

Kit

9.3

Need to breathe, yum. — 11 years ago

with Brian

Nate Jolly

9.8

Loved it. — 11 years ago