Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Pretty deep ruby narrow ruby /garnet rim . Quite austere at first , dark dusty mineral tinged , grafite, charcoal , touch of oak spice . On the palate quite austere , mineral and grafite tinged dark fruits . Good balancing acidity , quite grippy tannins . Long finish . Young still needs time . Well balanced and refreshing . — 10 months ago

Brian

9.3

2015. Cherry. Strawberry. Black currant. High tannin. Med high acidity. Dry. Med light body. Pale garnet. Med finish. — 3 years ago

Tom Garland

9.5

Celebrate Labor Day with In-N-Out Double Doubles & protein style burgers....it required a decently aged wine!!

1 hour decant (a little cloudy sediment). A phenomenal inky dark garnet color with little signs of aging. On the nose: dark cherries, mocha, spearment, smoke, planting soil, creme brulee. Taste: Nice!...A rich, elegant and soft wine with blackberry, chocolate, currants, spice, and a blueberry caramel sweet tannin long finish with a slight hint of alcohol burn at the end.....must have been a beast when young..tamed and drinking great now and more years to go. — 4 years ago

with Brenda

Vanessa

9.2

Returning to one of my Fav Alexander Valley Cabs. Lovely candied black fruit and cedar and baking spice notes on the nose. Deep ruby color with secondary garnet hues. Delicious and so smooth on the palate. #silveroak #alexandervalley #lifeisacabernet — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.3

Dark garnet red with a ruby hue. Aged characteristics on the nose with some tobacco leaves, anise, damp leaves and dark berries. Medium tannins (6/10) and full bodied. Quite earthy on the palate with some dried cherries, cigar box and some light leather. Long finish with solid acidity. Drink till 2023. — 5 years ago

Jean-Francois Pelletier

9.2

Just found a bottle of this in the cellar. Bright ruby-garnet color. Dark and red fruit nose, with soil, pencil shaving and distinct herbal tone. Plush medium+ body, with great acidity and tannins not yet fully integrated. Long finish. No rush to drink. — 6 years ago

with Frankie

Andrew Cullimore

9.7

Quite a young looking colour , ruby core still with garnet rim. Lovely expressive nose . Ripe blackberry , Asian spice, licorice , leather lots of complexity . On the palate rich and rewarding , sweet tannins and balancing acidity . Lovely ripe fruit , real length also , goes on and on. Lovely wine . — 6 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.4

Deep garnet red, no bricking on the edges. Layered nose with a touch of brett, bright cherries, perfume and forest floor. Heavy tannins (7/10) and full bodied. Smooth and elegant attack with perfumed notes, crushed gravel and dried cherries. Excellent backbone and dry, long finish. Drink till 2032. — 7 years ago

with India

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.0

Garnet red with some browning on the edges. Nose was definitely tight to start, with a couple hours of air it changes from chalky and savory to some dark berries. Kind of all mixed together. Cassis and blackberries in the attack with some earthy and vegetal undertones. Moderate tannins (6.5/10) and a moderate body. Slightly furry moderate plus finish. Drink till 2019. — 8 years ago

Osvaldo Gomez

9.3

Red garnet with dry dark sherry,fig,licorice, hazelnut, prune, tobacco, toasted coffee beans, well integrated and silky tannins, long after taste — 9 years ago

Madeline Puckette

9.0

look: pale ruby red core with slightly garnet rim.  medium viscosity.

smell: medium intensity aromas of roasted red bell pepper, allepo pepper flake, raspberry sauce, roasted jalapeno.  overall, sweet and ripe fruit smells followed by slight iron-like gravel note.

taste: medium + acidity, nearly high acidity, medium - tannin, flavors of smoked tomato, sour cherry, ending with a note of sweet dried/roasted pepper.  

profile: flavor is 'bursty' and drops out quickly and then hangs in a very subtle low way on the palate.  
purchased with Somm Select. honestly, it could have cellared a few more years. — 9 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

Quite deep ruby and , garnet terracotta rim. Quite spicy nose , slightly green touches , mix of red and dark fruit . On the palate fills out quite well , good acidity , slightly gritty tannins still with mineral , tobacco notes on the finish . Ok reasonable length . This comes across a bit greener than I remember it , so not sure how representative this bottle is , fine to drink now and over the next 10 years . 91

Second bottle medium deep ruby with garnet rim . Took a bit of time to open up , but very good definition , red and dark fruits, truffle , undergrowth, cigar box and grafite. On the palate quite charming sweet red fruits, red plum, cassis , dried spices, undergrowth , elegant for las cases , grafite and tobacco stained finish . Well balanced acidity and quite gritty but ripe tannin . This is lovely now with time in the decanter and over the next 10 -15 years . Completely different from first bottle . — 10 months ago

Tom Garland

9.5

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky cloudy sediment). An imposing inky purplish garnet color. On the nose: A beautifully expressive nose with sweet blackberry, currant, anise, smoke, floral, chocolate creme brulee. Taste: Wow! Had to buckle my seat belt...elegant , rich wine with dark cherry, spice, charcoal, earthy, leading to a cocoa cedar Dry long finish. Firm tannnis.....this powerful (15% alc) still coiled wine wants 3-4 more years to start showing its best and a better score to come!!! Cheers! — 3 years ago

with Brenda

Kimberly Anderson

9.3

Dark garnet in color. Heady scents of bay leaf, red plum, and tobacco. Mid-palate of dark chocolate, raspberry, and a hint of graphite. Long, plush finish — 4 years ago

with Chad

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 — 5 years ago

GabWine

9.4

Color : Red
Wine estate : Tenuta San Guido
Designation : Bolgheri
Name : Sassicaia
Country : Italy
Vivino : 5/5
Note : Opening of this Magnum 2002 that had not moved from its individual wooden case in special. Always so many emotions to take out such a wine and please the family. Perfect time to open it and we are on a silky red robe blood with shards garnet. The typical nose of Sassicaia with flavors of black fruits, pepper, copper and cigar. Once in the mouth, the aromas explode and the final is long, greedy, structured and elegant. Excellent.
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Ouverture de ce Magnum 2002 qui n’avait pas bougé de sa caisse individuelle en bois. Toujours autant d’émotions à sortir un tel vin et faire plaisir la famille. Moment parfait pour l’ouvrir et nous sommes sur une robe soyeuse rouge sang avec des éclats grenats. Le nez typique du Sassicaia avec des saveurs de fruits noirs, poivre, cuivre et cigar. Une fois en bouche, les arômes explosent et le final est long, gourmand, structuré et élégant. Excellent.
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👍🏻Vivino, FB : GabWine | IG : gabriel_dvl 🥂 — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.2

1️⃣9️⃣8️⃣3️⃣

🗞 Anorexia, 1st mouse, MS Word
🎵 Every Breath You Take, Billie Jean, Let’s Dance, Down Under
🎥 Flashdance, Return of the Jedi, Trading Places
🗣 Go ahead, make my day
🌍 4.64B (🇨🇳 1B)

Yum @ £160 but a year past it’s prime

🍷 Garnet bricked cherry

👃 Soggy smokey leaves, mushroom & earth in faded blackberry & fermented cherry w/ leather, prune & liquorice

👄 Med body of tart cherry & smooth blackberry w/ an earthy dry twang in med acidity & creamy mocha tone

🎯 Med dry red berry/cherry & blackberry — 6 years ago

Chris England

9.5

Stunning gorgeous old world Rioja in an awesome year @ £75 that's drinking just lovely in a Zalto Burg glass 👍

🍷 Garnet cherry red w/ brick wall

👃 Smokey burnt oak, old sweaty leather, crushed ripe black cherry, caramel, sherry, herbs, earth, dusty cellar, red currant, potpourri & cocoa dust w/ liquorice hint - I ❤️ the 💨

👄 Med smooth balanced body of slight tart & sweet bruised red cherry soaked in earth, oak, sweet liquorice & cocoa - happy mouth 😃

🎯 Long earthy oak cherry linger 👊💥 — 7 years ago

Larry Frierson

9.4

At peak. Garnet to the rim. Decanted for an hour. Just classic St. Estephe. A tiny bit short. — 8 years ago

Natalie Wurst Harris

8.9

Smooth way drinking. Not too heavy! — 9 years ago

with Dave and P

Vanessa

9.1

Catching up on my March Issue of Decanter, which, among other things, celebrates the wines of Spain from regions such as Rioja, Toro, Rias Baixas, Alicante, Manchuela, Valencia, and Jumilla. 🍷🍷🍷 This Issue reminds me of how much I have yet to explore in this country. 🇪🇸 It inspired me to have a glass of Rioja made from the Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache) grapes.

👁 This wine has a medium ruby hue with garnet rim variation. 👃 It has a medium intensity of developing aromas. 👄 Aroma and flavor notes are concentrated and include black cherry, red currant, plum sauce, violet, black licorice, anise, balsamic vinegar, black olive, sweet tobacco, leather, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, clove, earth, and peat. This wine has medium acidity, medium tannins, high alcohol, and a medium(+) finish. It’s complex; it has finesse.

This wine is from La Rioja Alta, S.A., Viña Ardanza, Reserva 2012, with an ABV of 14.5%. This wine is predominately Tempranillo (78%), coming from 30-year-old vines, which is blended with Garnacha (Grenache) (22%). It has extended American oak aging.

I have tried numerous wines from this producer – La Rioja Alta, S.A. – and have loved them all. — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Peter Keohan

9.4

Deep black fruit overtones with earthy aromas. Dark garnet color. Balanced with long finish — 4 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

So happy that I got a chance to try this legendary Super Tuscan wine. Primarily Sangiovese with some Cab Sauv and Cab Franc. Deep Garnet color and aromas of iodine and purple flowers. Black cherry and currant fruit. Hints of chocolate and baking spices. Touch of vanilla. Smooth tannins and nice and round. Beautiful! — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.0

Black licorice, anise, cassis, blackberry, cedar, oak, smoked meat, leather. Heavy mouthfeel, dark garnet color. — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Kimberly Anderson

9.2

A bit cloudy. Light garnet@in color, but huge in flavor! Bright cherry, spice, leather. Amazing — 6 years ago

with Chad

Chris England

9.5

My 28th/29th/30th & 31st bottles of the beautiful 04 & @ £40 & they are still superb value for a stunning old world Rioja 👍 & keep getting better & better 😁

🍷 Garnet w/ brick edge

👃 Old world Seduction of soft smokey oak, leather, plum, spiced cherry, vanilla, red berry & fig jam w/ a balsamic prune tone

👄 Med body of silky creamy red cherry/berry driven earthy & oaky mashed fruits with cocoa, fig & thick balsamic

🎯 Long soft smooth oaky rich cherry fruit linger with earthy cocoa & balsamic
— 6 years ago

Joakim Bogström

9.1

Garnet. Orange medium-sized rim.
Lovely balanced with aromas of cigarbox, dried red apples, figs and chocolate. Really a blend of red ripe fruits and dark fruits. Peppery.
Dry. Medium acidity. Medium high plus tannins. Medium plus alcohol. But very well integrated. Full, lean body.
Great balance.
Serve at 16 degrees celsius with braised ox, cabbage and butter fried artichokes.
Drink now ord hold for another 4 years. — 7 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.6

2006 vintage. At Au Fil du Zinc, Chablis. Pale garnet hue. Savoury, Earth and manure nose, red currant and wild strawberry, red cherry. On the palate, medium acidity, medium body, medium plus alcohol. Full concentration. Long long finish. Licorice, mint, savoury spices, the whole shebang. More evolved than the '05. Superb. — 8 years ago

Kevin McGarry

9.0

Fuller bodied. Great match for poultry. From high altitude Sonoma vineyards. Petaluma gap. Lots of cherries and spice. — 9 years ago

Lewis Chester

9.2

1990 vintage in magnum. Deep garnet hue. Quite medicinal and herby, with a touch of menthol. Fresh blackberry, leather and dark chocolate. On the palate, rich black fruits, sweet spices, prune and fig, dark chocolate. Medium acidity. Medium plus integrated tannins that still have grip. Good long finish - some bitterness at the sharp end. Very good. But suspect this wine is already on a shallow downhill slope. NB: after an hour, there's a herbal, savoury character to the wine. Confirms my view that this wine isn't going to get better from herein. — 9 years ago