Severn Goodwin

9.1

Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.

Nose has washed green table grapes, clean cotton tee shirt, candied pineapple and stainless steel.
Palate has smashed crabapples, faint maraschino cherry, (minor) green melon and present but fading acidity. This bottle is in decline, but I still enjoy it more than the 2016. — 5 years ago

"Odedi"

9.1

A pretty color of dark ruby with a reddish rim.

Fruity nose with black currants, black cherries, black plums, oak, vanilla, licorice, mint, alcohol, pencil lead, chocolates, cola, dark coffee and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, herbs, spices, dark chocolates, coffee, peppercorn, vegetables, green herbs and tobacco.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This Cabernet Sauvignon from California is drinking very nicely now as a 4 year old, with nice complexity and mouthfeel.

Good right out of the bottle and very fruity. Better after 90 minutes of airtime, when tannins and some more structure come in. Good by itself as a sipping wine.

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Sonoma County 64%, Lake County 29% and 7% from Napa County.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$21. — 5 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.3

Fruit forward. Strong dark grapes.. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Impressive wine for $20! Grapes sourced from Oregon Valleys of Willamette, Umpqua and Rogue. Cool climates enable a longer growing season, giving an intense structure. Deep Ruby with loads of Berry fruit flavors & sweet spice. Ripe fruit, cranberry and cherry, with cinnamon spice, consistent quality. On the finish, vibrant acidity, great balance and a touch of earthiness with subtle tannins. Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Joe Fusaro

9.0

Almost a sauv blanc. Apple and a bit tart. — 7 years ago

Aaron Rankin

9.1

All the grapes! — 7 years ago

Christy Fitzgerald

8.9

This Italian wine is unique. Floral Aromas and berries. Slightly sweet on first taste , labels says finishes of candied violets. I have never tried candied Violets. Might have to try them sometime. When you are looking for a wine that has a subtle sweetness but does not taste syrupy this is it! Yum . I have never had Refresco grapes. Very interesting flavor. DULCE!!!!!!! — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Made with Oseleta grapes which give the wine a unique character and complementing the Veronese grapes. Deep red with aromas of dark Berry fruits and sweet spice. On the palate, this full body wine shows ripe jammy Berry fruits, a touch of and cacao with sweet vanilla spice. Fine smooth tannins, generous oak and well balanced. You can taste the dried grapes (dried for 2 months) on the long lingering finish. A great value. Tasting Sample. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Found another 2009, 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown in the Ovello Cru, a premiere site. Ruby with red Berry fruit, floral and flint aromas. On the palate, cherry, raspberry and ripe strawberry flavors with a touch of earthy floral tastes. Tannins are muted, balanced with acidity, well structured. Drinking great now, should last a few more years but why wait on this beauty? — 9 years ago

Lamar Hannah

9.5

Killer grapes really enjoyed — 10 years ago

Brett Pinkin

9.4

Still needs a serious swirl in the decanter for full enjoyment. Watch out for the fruit flies! These nefarious buggers are officially in abundance now that the grapes are harvested and fermenting (Oct 2014). — 11 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

A blend of (changes each vintage) mostly Chard, with Sauv Blanc and Muscat, aged in 35% new French oak for 8 mos. Grapes sourced from some new AVA’s this year, Sonoma Coast, RRV, Santa Lucia Highlands & Atlas Peak AVA’s. Pale lemon with aromas of stone & citrus fruits with complex floral spice. The palate shows flavors of peach and apple with hints of sweet lemon, vanilla and wet stone. The wine is well balanced with integrated oak, crisp, lively acidity and a long finish ending with pepper & mineral. Nice! — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

What a nose. Mondeuse like but made from many wacky grapes. Fresh and deep .More later.

After 4 hours open.

Nose is dusty earthy and loads of berry fruit. Mineral and precise with just loads of fruit on the nose. So pure. Palate has loads of crunchy berry fruit that is blue and black with light tannin and terrific freshness. Sappy and even a little complex. Great value. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Pretty sure I haven’t had a better bottle of Champange at $24.99 and even some higher.

The nose reveals; bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, soft honeycomb, oysters, sea spray, baguette crust, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies.

The entry is clean, fresh, rich and lively. Bruised green apple & Bosc pear, lemon meringue, golden apple, overripe & slightly sour pineapple, lime zest, nougat, vanillin, caramel, soft honeycomb, sea fossils & spray, baguette crust, nice white spice with some palate heat, grey volcanic, pleasant chalkiness, whiffs of herbaceousiness, spring flowers, mixed greens and yellow lilies. Crisp lively acidity. The finish is refreshingly delicious, well balanced, good, seamless, delineation, nice polish and persists with spice for several minutes on the long set.

Photos of; The House of Baron Fuentes, grapes at harvest, Proprietor Eric De Brisis and one of their Grand Cru vineyards. — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2015 Tempier Rosé is drinking marvelously after a few years. The grapes used to make this rosé come from selected parcels where the vines are on average 20-years-old. This wine immediately awakens to aromas of rose water, lemon zest, smoke and ripe guava that are simply sensational. The palate unveils a wonderful concentration and a gorgeous, soft texture. Guava purée and red cherry candy flavors connect with suggestions of blood orange toward the back end. Truly delightful to savor now, this beautiful Rosé will continue to evolve in the cellar over the next decade. Drink 2019-2028- 92 — 6 years ago

Lawrence Asrikin

9.0

South African blend of mostly Rhône grapes. Similar nose to fuller Southern Rhône blend, perhaps Vacqueyras. Notes of blackberry, violet, black pepper, cocoa nibs. Dry, medium to full body on the palate. — 8 years ago

Shay A

9.0

Excellent port! Still has many years to go before hitting its peak obviously, but this is already delicious. Boxed raisins, petrol and brown sugar on the nose. Full bodied and a fairly quick finish. Thanks for bringing @Andrew Heffley ! — 8 years ago

with Andrew, Benjamin and 1 other

Sebastian Ekberg

9.0

Really enjoyed this. Fruit forward, lots of red fruit. Strawberry, grapes, very lush and juicy. Great length, not astringent at all — 9 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

8.9

Third time trying this wine, opened the day before. From my father’s cellar. Something very interesting that I found out about this estate is that they air dry 30% of the grapes before they begin the fermentation process. The color is dark opaque garnet red with the brownish edges. Within the nose there are a lot of sweet berries or prunes. As it opened up more some brown sugar and hard candy came with the nose. The palate was very interesting, because of how sweet the nose smelt compared to the palate. The mouthfeel started off very sweet and light then changed to full and lingering finish. A little fur dancing across the tongue drying out my mouth. Soft/light start across the tongue and then spikes mid to end of the tongue. Not yet at the end of its life, probably has about two or so years left in it. Very interesting varietal that I need to get more experience with. Great QPR, especially for an Italian wine and only for $19. — 10 years ago

with Sean

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Cakebread wine offerings are among my Favs, Chard is no exception, consistent quality year/year. 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, ‘18 saw 8 months on 1/3 new oak with about 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of stone fruits, slight & honey scents. On palate complex flavors of apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, will benefit from short aging. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A solid Chard! Only 15 acres planted with grapes grown in Rutherford (warmer with rich ripe fruit) & Oak Knoll (cooler with fresh acidity in grapes). Pale lemon, with fresh & crisp citrus & stone fruit aromas, no malolactic fermentation. Palate shows peach, apple & Asian pear flavors, with lemony & toasty notes, lively acidity & balance with touch of vanilla oak (9 months of French oak aging (25% new & 1-year old, remainder neutral oak). Long finish ending with fruit, spice & biscuit notes. Very Nice Value! — 5 years ago

Jordi Pazo

9.0

Monvínic. Club 50 Sep-18.
14.12.19 — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Family-owned and operated since 1985. Found a ‘16 vintage in my cellar. Grapes sourced from several vineyards, complex aromas of fruits, citrus & sweet spice. On the palate ripe fruits, apple, pear and peach with lemon citrus and vanilla adding toasty oak. French oak aging, great balance, lingering ending with toasty oak finish. I continue to have this wine as a staple in my cellar for a number of years. Enjoy! Great value, compared to Chards costing more! — 6 years ago

Michelle Lee

10

Beautiful pure expression of syrah. — 7 years ago

Saman Hosseini

Writer Maison Abattoir

8.9

Demand is high for these wines, prices are ratcheting in some markets, and grape sources may be expanding (this used to be a DOCG Cerasuolo). The amphorae aging brings interesting tertiary flavors and strips some vitality in the process, and when the grapes aren’t sufficiently concentrated, maybe too much is stripped. — 7 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.0

An absolutely delicious field blend (Nebbiolo, Croatina, some other local characters including white grapes) to drink while we're waiting for its more serious Piedmontese cousins to come around. Spicy, fruit forward, feather light, one of those bottles that just disappears. — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Grabbed a bottle I had in my cellar. Nice blend of 4 grapes from the Bierzo Valley. Deep red color with Lighter edges with tons of Berry fruit on the nose adding some sweet floral spice. The smooth soft palate shows cherries, raspberries, and blueberries with a mineral tang. Well balanced with integrated dusty tannins, lively acidity and a smokey dry finish that lingers nicely, excellent structure. Tremendous value. — 8 years ago

Lady Bananna

9.9

My favorite! — 9 years ago

Steve Goore

9.4

Grenache dominates but no fewer than 8 different grapes comprise this superb rose. One of the best roses I've tasted! — 10 years ago

Asbestos Jones

9.1

This! Let me learn you something: You're hit with smokey plum and deep purple grapes. Keeping this taste, the oak gradually comes through. This taste stays and doesn't fade after day 2. Love this wine! — 10 years ago