Jay Kline

9.4

Not to be outdone, the 1989 Chave Hermitage Rouge showed more brambles than the ’88 along with other desiccated blue and black fruits. Dried flowers, beef, blood, leather and mushrooms. Every time I have the pleasure of drinking old Chave, I’m reminded that these wines have so much character and there is a reason they are so adored. Lovely with grilled lamb and Moroccan spices. Drink now through 2040. — a month ago

Falk Lorenz

10

We had a 2016 vintage. Great! The 2010 we liked a little, little more. — 3 months ago

Will Stanley

9.5

Pure, bright colour. Crazy, as it always is with these wines, that this is fifteen years old. It could be three. The nose is a recognisable medley of macerated cherry, nutmeg, vanilla, with a presiding aroma of freshly juiced blood orange. The palate has flecks of blackcurrant to go with the more cherry-like flavours.

Concentrated, juicy and long on the finish, this is a great vintage for Tondonia that will far outlive the 2007 and ‘09. — a year ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Black and green pepper. Blood and cool iron. A lovely savory nose. On the palate cool and balanced. Great fruit without too much heat. A punch of salty and iodine. Delicious — 3 months ago

with Bex

Shay A

9.2

Last bottle of my 2018 SC.

Followed over two days. Juicy, ripe and balanced. Astounding value at $30. Haven’t found the signature TRB blood orange profile in these RM SCs, but that’s a small nitpick. Loads of red and black berry fruit upfront, boysenberry, red currant and dark florals. Mid palate was much better on day two as it bulked up and showed the nervy side of SC Pinot. It has a high toned/elegant profile while retaining weight. Stylistically it sits in between RRV and cool climate SC. Banging value, as always. Drink now or in the next 3-5yrs. — 8 months ago

Daniel Bloom

9.2

N: Freshly tilled soil, Blood oranges, iron/blood, pink grapefruit, roses.
P: Magnificent inner mouth presence, viscosity, cherries with almost a metal tinge, long finish. Blanched citrus rinds,
A wonderful thing indeed. W agitation, fresh strawberries come to the fore.
Thanks @ Fassselections — 2 years ago

Rob N

9.1

I enjoyed this peppery syrah with classic notes of blood and iron. For a ‘16, there was a surprisingn amount of sediment in the bottle, and the last glass was a little bitter. But overall, an interesting wine. $55 SommPicks. — 3 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.1

Deep ruby color; black cherries, oak, and blackberry jam on the nose; high acidity; high tannins; tastes like blackberry sauce, sweet tabacco, sassafras(I think), and a hint of camphor with a long fruity finish. It has a little bit of a children's cough medicine flavor at the end. It's not enough to be bad. I really like this wine, but it's enough to knock my rating down a point. — 3 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Deep reddish tawny color, mostly translucent. Floral nose. Notes of red fruit, rose petals, dark soil, smoked meat and blood sausage, and a little anise. Rich and powerful in the mouth. Still has some tannin. Gets bigger with air over the evening. This came across as a somewhat different bottle of juice than the 70 Monprivato next to it - with the 70 being more aged-Barolo like, and the 78 being more of a hearty Cote-Rotie or something. Nevertheless everyone loved this and having the two side-by-side. — 2 years ago

Matt

9.7

Effusive, soulful, brimming with delicious fruit and goût de terroir to keep you engaged for hours. Ripe black raspberry, stewed red plum, blood orange, juniper, white pepper, cinnamon, nori, menthol, cool/damp earth, black tea, potpourri, lavender pastilles. This well seated, its fruit and structure are generous where they need to be and restrained at just the right point, certainly expressing the 2016 vintage perfectly right now. Such a great compliment with paella. — 2 years ago