Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Ravera is name of the cru where the vineyard is located. Hillside Vineyard encircles the cellar, surrounding the estate. Aged 24 months in large Slavonian oak barrels & 6 months in bottle. Ruby with pronounced aromas of red fruits, tobacco, licorice and gentle wafts of cedar. On the palate flavors of dried fruits, strawberry and raspberry with notes of cacao, leather and tobacco, slight herb citrus tones, well balanced with acidity. Firm structured tannins, opened quickly giving way to long finish ending with fruit, leather and earthy mineral character. Very Nice! Tasting Sample. — 2 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.6

What a great wine. Wonderful nose. Campfire, cherries, spice, graphite. A bit quiet but the detail and aromatic precision are stunning. What a palate. So deep, so rich, so pure, so complex, big 17 tannins and wonderful balance and freshness. So long. This is exquisite. Once nose opens up I cannot wait. So much energy and precision. Structured for the long haul. This is brilliant now but needs air. So much more to say. Nose is now getting mintier. Like a wild mint. This is fantastic! I’ll be back.

Really has opened up. Super floral, tree bark, incense and spice. Just so great. Ripe and silky and super elite. This is beautiful. So elegant and structured. Amazing purity and depth. 9.4 to 9.6. — 12 days ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Light garnet color with a bit of an orange rim. Aromas of dark cherries, rose petals and cocoa. Same dark cherry fruit on the pallet with notes of dark chocolate and minerals. Mild and dusty tannins. Long finish. — 4 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Nose is ripe and rich. Florals and chestnuts. Tar. Roses. Elegant and apparent at the same time. Vibrant mid to late season cherry. Really lovely chestnut. Super classic nose here. Juicy, clean and pure. Elegant. Sweet and soft. Lovey freshness and ripe 2017 but very sweet tannins. Beautiful purity and finesse but needs an hour or 24 as the 17 tannins are coming in strong. I’ll be back as this opens. — 2 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Really pretty nose that is super floral. Complex cherries. Confectionary aromas. Minty. Menthol. Really pretty and very nuanced. Bright and high toned. Wow, what a terrific palate. Tannic but sweet and super juicy. Really complex and deep. Lovely balance and freshness. This is really really close to the 16. What a talent. Finish is a mile long. Very very impressed. This tastes and smells like it’s from a cooler vintage than 17. Wonderful texture, structure, depth and sweet tannins and fruit. Endless finish. This is on the verge of a 9.5.

9.4 to 9.5 now with air. What a talent this guy is. So elegant and complex. Just stunning. This is better than his 16.

Nose is so floral and enveloping. A stunner. — 12 days ago

S.S. Mandani

9.3

Oh my god. Red wine with oomph, how I have missed thee. My 31 year old taste buds thank thee for your powerful musk.

Italian wines smell like my grandfather. He was a Don. Capital D and all. Dark, spiced perfume of hot cinnamon, blackberry compote, cherry pie, a tannery, and black pepper.

Tannins are welcome here. A muted acidity allows the purity of the fruit and the smokey warmth of the baking spices to glow. — 10 days ago

ESF

9.5

Purchased @ winery - stunner! Pristine & peaking, showing some age w/rich dark ruby w/slight bricking, not entirely opaque - soaring gorgeous red fruit like cherry, rhubarb, strawberry & violets & roses, dusty, tar, unmistakable Piedmont Earth, mineral, liqueur like, so clearly delineated & pure. Impeccable balance, seamless - a treasure. — 7 hours ago

Randy Fuller

9.3

This fine Italian wine has a medium ruby tint. Its nose is dark, full of plum, black cherry, strawberry, flowers and earth notes. The fruit really comes through on the palate, along with some oak spice. The acidity is racy, the tannins firm. It is perfect for pairing with mushroom dishes. — 5 days ago

Aravind A

9.1

Pop and pour. On the nose: a touch of VA, adding a glossiness to the scents; wild strawberry, soft plum, vanilla. On the palate: fantastic acidity, lovely density, sandalwood, blackberry, blood orange. Tannin leans very drying on the finish...fine with food, but a bit over-tannic without. Still, extremely pleasurable based only on aromatics. — 8 days ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

Mahogany Nebbiolocolour in the glass.
Cherrycoke, tar, sticky date pudding, dried flowers, tobacco, toasted oak, sweet brown spices.
Masculine and powerful, still pretty tannic upon opening. A wine for the dinner table. — 5 days ago