Beautiful wine. Purchased on @garagiste Brick red color, intense nose of candied raspberry fruit leathers, black peppercorn. In the glass, intense dried red fruits, tangy raspberries. Huge acidity - you feel it in your teeth. Sour candy finish. Can’t believe I only paid $9 for this bottle at 11 yrs old. Huge steal — 6 years ago
Last of several bottles, 2005 vintage- still strong but perhaps some wear & tear. Still, an elegant (for Etna) wine, brick red in appearance, strong acidic backbone yet lithe in its medium body. Black fruits, no blueberries here, & the strong tannins are mostly integrated.I can imagine the Pinot comparisons, but feel this kind of Etna is even more unique. Has a slight petrol character, not unpleasant, reminds of a modern Alsatian Pinot noir. Nothing suave here either, but the in house aging & overall old school approach reminds too of old school Rioja like Lopez. Oh, & these sell for under 30$. Crazy. — 7 years ago
Magnum of my favourite Rioja in a fab year & £145 - A guaranteed 98-99 given a few years 😎 Great now, fab in 5 more years!
🍷Garnet cherry red w/ brick edging
👃 Soft warming seductive smoked oak w/ dark stewed spiced cherry, cocoa, punchy balsamic, vanilla, nutmeg, coconut & light leather - old world Rioja 😍
👄 Med creamy body of super soft silky dark dirty cherry & vanilla cocoa w/ a balsamic undertone
🎯 Long oak filled cherry vanilla cocoa berry & balsamic linger - boom 💥 — 8 years ago
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
— 8 years ago

Jammy, Smooth, yummy — 8 years ago
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 👊💥 — 9 years ago
Good drop with pasta! — 10 years ago
#AgedWineTuesday
A beautiful color of ruby with a wide brick rim.
Light and gentle nose of blueberries, black cherries, black currants, light oak, Indian spices, cinnamon, light licorice, coffee, light vinaigrette, curry and black pepper.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with cherries, strawberries, red currants, light cedar, vegetables, coffee, tobacco leaf, herbs, black tea, peppercorn, vinaigrette and earth.
Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 14 year old is drinking very nicely now, although not from the best vintage.
Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show the beautiful nose, but pretty good right out of the bottle too.
This Gran Reserva is always enjoyable. A nice wine to have by itself or with food, and especially great with fatty cheeses.
13.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$28. — 5 years ago
I first drank this wine in 2004 as a 22 year-old wine neophyte—with duck confit & spaetzle at the late great Earth & Ocean in Seattle—it blew my mind. As Swift said, “I drink no memories” so how does it hold up?
Quite respectably. Opening palate is fresh, mouthwatering, the memories of great Beaujolais crus past. Mid-palate with currant & slate. Excellent acid-tannin accord, cherry liqueur finish. Glorious with roast chicken & black trumpets. — 6 years ago

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick /reddish rim.
Strong nose of over ripen blueberries, currants, light oak, spices, dark chocolates, vinaigrette, tar, forest floor, tobacco leaf, spices, black pepper, river rocks and earth.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity and long legs.
Dry on the palate with plums, black currants, oak, forest floor, plums, tobacco leaf, spices, graphite, bitter herbs, black tea, black pepper, earth and espresso.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a wonderful CDP. Well balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food. Showing nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.
This was a great vintage in Southern Rhone and it is showing. I loved the tangy ending here too.
This 14 year old is drinking very nicely now, and will be good in the next 10 years. Gentle, delicious and elegant.
Needs 2 hours to open up properly and show some tannins.
I paired it with meats, cheeses and light appetizers.
Wine Advocate 93 points.
A blend of Mourvedre, Syrah Grenache, Cinsault and Counoise, each was vinified separately.
14% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$100. — 7 years ago

Cherry pie with homemade whip and cinnamon. Red plums. — 7 years ago
I like this label design. I like Mourvèdre as well. You are smarter for reading this. — 8 years ago
1️⃣9️⃣7️⃣8️⃣
🗞 GPS, Mobile Phone, Space Invaders, Sony Walkman, Test Tube 👶, Ben & Jerry 🍦
🎵 Night Fever, You're the One That I Want
🎥 Grease, Animal House, Halloween, Superman
🗣 Nanoo Nanoo!, Za Plane! Za Plane!
🌍 4.223B
40yrs old & @ £105 & alive & kicking 👍
🍷 Dark ruby w/ brick edge
👃 Charred oak smoke, leather, herbs, faded blackcurrant, pencil lead, dates & minerals
👄 Med body of lively blackberry/currant w/ red berry, date & earthy liquorice dry tannins
🎯 Med dark fruit dry finish — 8 years ago
great wine easy drinking — 8 years ago

Digging this Syrah's suave sophisticated style, dry dusty tannins, black currant, nearly ripe blackberries, licorice and dusty earth. Abundant acid carries the abundant dark fruit. Planted in sandy loamy soils. 7000 case production. $20 SRP 60% new French Oak. 17 year old estate vines. — 12 years ago
#AgedWineTuesday
Dark ruby in color with a wide brick/ reddish rim.
Great nose of black currants, sweet cherries, blueberries, wood, cloves, vanilla, espresso, cola, light vegetables, tobacco leaf, cumin, saffron, graphite, herbs, Indian spices, earth and dark chocolates.
Medium bodied with medium plus acidity.
Dry on the palate with currants, cherries, sweet raspberries, tobacco, oak, spices, earth, dark chocolates, graphite, peppercorn and leather.
Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.
This is a delicious 14 year old Rioja Gran Reserva. Drinking very nicely now, but still a little hot at the back of the throat. Tangy and soft with great complexity especially on the nose.
Needs 2 hours open up, and even better after 3 hours.
A nice wine to pair with food, but definitely good by itself too. Loved smelling on it for a long time.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me. Really enjoyed it.
Robert Parker 96 points. Wine Spectator 92 points.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha and 10% Mazuelo and Graciano.
14% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$75. — 5 years ago
Time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Here's a delicious one from Israel.
Inky in color with a short reddish/brick rim.
Fruity nose with blackberries, blueberries, black plums, cooked cherries, vanilla, light cedar, spices, cola, tobacco leaf, black tea, alcohol, coffee, milk chocolates, light herbs and black pepper.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with cooked plums, black currants, coffee, cedar, vanilla, spices, earth, milk chocolates, tobacco, peppercorn and light vinaigrette.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a wonderful Merlot blend from Israel. Showing nice complexity and well balanced with a great mouthfeel. Really enjoyed the nose here, even after a few minutes out of the bottle.
This four year old is already yummy right out of the bottle, but better after a couple of hours in a decanter.
I've had this before, and this time I decided to give it a slight chill, and boy it was delicious.
Nice buttery mouthfeel, even looks buttery when poured. Drinking very nicely now.
Very tasty and fruit forward. Dark, extracted and rich. Feels like a Napa Bordeaux blend.
A blend of 42% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit verdot and 26% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 18 months in French Oak barrels. Unfiltered and Kosher. Mevushal.
15.5% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$65. — 6 years ago
From a great old looking bottle with a top shoulder fill and solid cork. Old light brick color, translucent. Notes of tart cherry, cola, some wood and some dry earth. Rustic. Still has reasonable fruit and structure. This bottle was better than the last one. — 7 years ago
Time for my #MerlotThursday. Here's a great one from Napa Valley.
A nice color of dark ruby with a wide brick rim.
Fruity nose of blueberries, blackcurrants, plums, vanilla, cedar, licorice, spices, pencil lead, peppercorn, chocolates, dark coffee, earth and light vegetables.
Full bodied and bold with medium acidity and long legs.
Dry and fruity on the palate with black plums, cherries, wood, cloves, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, vegetables, leather, chocolates, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.
Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a very enjoyable Merlot from Napa Valley. Well balanced and spicy. Fruit forward and big. Showing nice complexity and mouthfeel.
Good right out of the bottle, and better as it opens up and shows some tannins (1 hour).
This 6 year old is drinking very nicely now. From a great vintage, and is peaking now. Will be good in the next 5 years.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
100% Merlot grapes were aged in 50% New French oak barrels.
14.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$26. — 7 years ago
I have a few bottles of this from ‘12 vintage. I was fortune enough that Elie Wine Company had a case of 2004 laying around. Since I am not a big consumer of these wines I thought it would be fun to try an older vintage and see what may be in store in the future. I tasted with @Todd Abrams. Old leather and cherry and starting to get some old cigar box/smoke. Old red brick in color. Threw it in the decanter for dinner so I am sure it may get more expressive as the day wears on. — 8 years ago
Love this aged library release @ £32 that's fab value 👍
🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
👃 Gorgeous stewed spiced dark berries & plums through old leather, warm smokey oak, mushroom, red cherry potpourri, wet earth, liquorice, dates, prune & rich cocoa - it's sniffing oo la la 😍
👄 Med+ body of creamy silky dark fruits galore w/ an earthy liquorice & mocha gateaux backbone
🎯 Med+ deep earthy dark fruit mocha chewy gateaux finale
Recommended for sure 👍 — 8 years ago
Old world, brick red color. Warm red pepper. Acid. Earth. Soft, warm, and coating yet still a bit shallow and acidic on the finish. — 8 years ago
If I had one sentence to describe this wine, it is this: "Ca' Togni is the definition of desire." The vintage was a 2006, and let me tell ya, have the years been great to this mistress! Showing a deep brick red color, and a wine still showing all its wonderful fruits, with an expected maturity thrusting forth delightful complexity, this wine will make you love Black Hamburg! (Black Muscat) On the nose, notes of dried figs, dried rose petals, old leather, strawberry-rubarb jam, followed by a pallet of racy dark maraschino cherries, brown spices, and a vanilla finish. Phillip Togni is a hell of a wine maker out of Spring Mountain! I highly recommend trying one of these, even if it is $50, it was most certainly worth it! On top of that, it is 1 of only three wines he crafts, still in his 80's, still the king of the mountain. — 10 years ago
Bright, solid, and elegant. As close to Old World perfection as the New World can get... — 10 years ago
"Odedi"
To bring in the New Year, here is a delicious wine, one of California's icons. Happy New Year to all of you.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim. Not showing age at all.
Great nose of blueberries, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, graphite, dark coffee, chocolates, tobacco, beef jerky and peppercorn.
Full bodied, elegant and smooth, with medium acidity and nice legs.
Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, currants, oak, cedar, leather, vanilla, licorice, spices, tobacco leaf, peppercorn, pencil lead, light vegetables, coffee and chocolates.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This is a great Cabernet blend from California. Showing great complexity with a soft mouthfeel.
This 13 year old is a delicious Bordeaux blend. Well balanced and engaging, with a tangy finish that makes it interesting.
Needs a couple of hours to open up properly, show the tannins and become its own.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with light appetizers. A good wine to pair with BBQ Meats.
Thank you Scott for sharing this with me.
Drinking very nicely now and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.
A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 18 months in mostly American oak barrels.
13.1% alcohol by volume.
93 points.
$230 (current vintage). — 5 years ago