AHF

9.5

Feb 2023. Slightly brick red color, more than last year. Palate slightly less candy sweet. Carefully decanted. A week later, very fine sediment on bottom of decanter. Recommend long decant. A month later, still drinks smooth and sweet. — 3 years ago

Joe Lyons

9.1

Great structure, fruit, spice really well bodied!!! Can only get better!! — 5 years ago

with Michelle

John McDermott

9.1

*tasted with somewhat congested nose due to allergies* 45 min decant. Medium garnet color, showing more brick-red than I would expect for the age. Very meaty with slight red currant and strawberry on the nose. Palate of milk chocolate, raspberries, under-ripe strawberries, leather, and tobacco. Medium + tannins. Medium + acidity. The acidic backbone of the wine makes it good with food. — 6 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.0

Earthy nose. Full, balanced body. Dark fruit forward, some mineral and spice on the finish. — 7 years ago

with Michael and Joe

Paco Suro

9.2

Just gets better. Light to medium. Some grit. Some sweet tart. Yum. — 7 years ago

Kristie M. Connor

9.0

Cherry pie with homemade whip and cinnamon. Red plums. — 7 years ago

Kim Brater

9.4

Really delicious Pinot. Burgundian style. Elegant. Cassis and muted earth. Amazing for the original price. This 2011 is long gone. Paid under $40 several years ago. Wish I had another. Hear my Dad saying in my head "Always buy two..." 😀 🍷 — 8 years ago

Dana Brown

9.2

Ruby red delicious! — 3 years ago

Kari Hamilton

9.4

From day In Lodi. — 5 years ago

with Frank

Hannah Estes

9.0

So smooth! A favorite for sure. — 5 years ago

Darren Dittrich

8.9

Uber light weight field blend, labeled Cabernet Pfeffer. 13.8% ABV but doesn’t show it. Candied cherry, bright rhubarb, violets... dry on the palate, low tannins. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.8

My favourite Pomerol in a great year 🏆 now sells @ £250-£285 😱 On its 6th try & it’s now much better integrated & drinking lovely but will age more 😉 A New Year’s Eve delight 😍 enjoyed with Lasagne 🍝
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📍 Vieux Chateau Certan 1998 Pomerol
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🏵 98 points for 1998 😁 & should improve
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🍇 90% Merlot & 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
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🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
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👃 Nasal Nookie Gang Bang of creamy dark spiced damson plum in soft smoked oak & light cedar w/ soggy earth, wet leaves, liquorice, rock minerals, cracked pencil lead, dirty gravel, cocoa, black berry fruits, charred soot embers, mint & herbs - nasaltastic baby 😍
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👄 Med earthy body of silky smooth ripe dark plum & black berry fruits w/ red cherry, raspberry liquorice & choc mocha in slight dry rock minerals
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🎯 Long deep plum & dark berry earthy soft liquorice mocha choca cherry & a light dry mineral oaky seductive smack in your chops — 7 years ago

Jonathan Davidson

9.4

Silky tannins and sweetness. Brick color. Lengthy finish — 8 years ago

with George, Paul and 1 other

DAL 9000

9.0

Aroma of dusty raspberries. A hint of sweetness with a big raspberry strawberry dryness in the middle. — 8 years ago

Keith Crump

9.1

A good brick red plenty of tannic strength holding it together — 4 years ago

Lynn Penner-Ash

Owner/Winemaker Penner-Ash

8.9

Better day two. Needs some time — 5 years ago

Martin Bergo

9.1

Saw this in the Delectable thread the other day and realized I haven’t tried the -15s with food and a long decanting. In a nutshell, high quality, too young, as expected. Light ruby slight brick color; youth- and powerful nose of not tar&roses but sharper, like diesel exhaust & Tom Ford’s Rose Prick - an excellent mix; very high acids and tannins on the palate, dominated by unripe strawberries; finish is of medium length and quite chest-burning despite the indicated 13.5% alc. content. As 2015 was very hot in the summer, one might expect overripe grapes and lower acidity, but not in this beauty. A half-a-decade or more in the cellar should do wonders. — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.6

This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏

📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001

▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗

🏵 96 points

🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia

👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice

🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 7 years ago

Megan

9.0

I usually tend toward Pinot Noir, but when I want something just a bit bolder, Gamay hits the spot. I have really been enjoying this 2015 vintage. — 7 years ago

Kirk F

9.0

Birth year bottle for our first born daughter, Haley. Celebrating her graduation from Iowa State this weekend and her achieving gainful employment one week from tomorrow. The cork was stubborn but eventually cooperated, and we decanted and filtered the wine. Tart cherry the first sip, wondering if we needed a backup. Beautifully brick coloring and the sharp edges are rounding out and now we’re getting a smooth mid palate of dark berries and spice leading to a bright finish. And a bright future! 👍🏻🍷👩‍🎓. Cheers! — 8 years ago