Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, liqueured dark cherries, cherries, poached strawberries, dark raisins, plums, dates, figs, baking spices, chocolate, dark rich soils, light spice and decayed dark florals. The mouthfeel is thick, rich and nicely resolved. Although it's nearly 20 years from inception, it's quite fresh and somewhere just the other side of it's peak. Dark cherries, plum, raisins, figs, dates, prunes, cherries, poached strawberries, somewhere between black raspberries & raspberries, dark & milk chocolate, light spice, rich, dark, moist soil, dry loamy top soil, violets, decayed, dark florals, light baking spices and caramel with nice round acidity. The finish is thick, rich 50-50 fruit and earth and lasts nearly a minute. This 98 is drinking nicely tonight with our Burrata, olive oil, Tondo balsamic, roasted garlic, garden cherries tomatoes and pesto sauce. Photos of; their beautiful villa estate, straw mats in warm rooms for drying the grapes to make this wine, Owner/Ambassador-Marilisa Allegrini, one of their vineyards and our charcuterie. Producer history & notes...Allegrini is one of the most acclaimed wineries in Veneto and a benchmark producer of Amarone. Their owner Marilisa Allegrini is a global ambassador for the region and internationally. Many in the industry considered her, "the voice of Amarone.” The Allegrini legacy spans six generations of wine growers. The Allegrinis have played a leading role in Valpolicella since the 16th century. Giovanni Allegrini is the patriarch of the modern estate. Today, his children, led by owner Marilisa, carry his legacy forward as one of the Veneto’s most acclaimed estates. Marilisa is the Ambassador for the estate while her brother, Franco, is internationally praised as one of Italy’s finest winemakers. They have 247 acres of vineyards in the Valpolicella Classico, the Allegrinis nurture a collection of remarkable sites. Each with its own personality, soils and focused microclimate. All seven vineyards range from the steep hillsides of La Grola to the plateau of La Poja and offer uniquely special expressions that make up their truly amazing wines. Allegrini has earned many accolades. In 2016, they were named Winery of the Year by Gambero Rosso, Italy’s definitive wine and food magazine. Parker called Allegrini the “reference point for fine Amarone.” Tonight this 98 was a nice example of those accolades.
— 8 years ago

Lance Aker

9.1

Dark cherries and black currant. Deep purple color. Really gets better after being open for an hour. Moderate+ tannins. Had another glass 24 hours after opening and I think it was even better. — 9 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.1

Wine tasting and dinner at home for Mrs A's friends. Planned on four bottles for seven people, ended up with six. Nice start on a warm evening. — 10 years ago

Tom Riley

9.2

Rich and Melinda do not make shy wines. They can be, in their youth, brash and feisty. But if you let them mature a bit, you will be delighted with their poise and good manners. Only took me seven or eight years to realize this. Tonight's wine, a southern Rhone-style blend is proof of the reward that aging, even for a little, can bring. — 10 years ago

Howard Yang

9.2

Inky dark purple/burgundy in color, eight years in the bottle, the edge still shows no sign of brick color! Extremely fragrant, in fact, when our sommelier was decanting the wine for us, you can smell the wine from six feet away, Smell of black cherry, dark fruit, tobacco, cacao, raisin, plum and date. It takes more than 30 min to open up with a decanter, still plenty of leg in this wine left. Taste of red fruit, bacon fat, with chewy tannin. Smooth with velvety finish, full body masculine Tempranillo! — 10 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.3

At the time, the highest elevation Chardonnay in napa. This 2006 is drinking beautifully! — 12 years ago

Gary Westby

Champagne & Sherry buyer K&L Wines

9.4

This exceptionally clean, refreshing Champagne comes from the northwest part of the region in the tiny village of Brouillet. It is composed of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Meunier all from the Ariston estate and aged five years on the lees. Paul likes a good pop, so this starts out at seven atmospheres of pressure as opposed to the usual six. The Carte Blanche has citric zip, and very subtle depth that is worth searching for! — 8 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

9.1

In our blind Chateauneuf tasting, which turned out to be all Pierre Usseglio, this was my number seven of eight and the groups' number five. — 8 years ago

Gemma Corrigan

9.4

Merry Christmas! — 9 years ago

with Laura

Michael Townley

8.9

Disappointed as it was not much up front and the finish was just ok — 9 years ago

with Oscar and Carin

Bob Colman

9.2

A nicely balanced durif with some good acid to drive it along. My pick of the seven or eight durifs tasted today — 10 years ago

Uncle Bill, FWS, IWP

9.0

Great Village Wine. 2009 was such a wonderful year around Beaune. I had this about seven months ago and the fruit was more forward, this bottle was a bit tight, I decanted it and after two hours it opened beautifully and really became a complex and wonderful experience. I have six bottles left. See you in September. — 10 years ago

with Tim and Darren

Bruce Rudman

10

Quote a night. Six people- good friends- eight bottles.
— 11 years ago

David L

9.3

13' Vineyard 7 & 8 Chardonnay. Big boy Chardonnay. Pop & pour. Love drinking this wine. — 8 years ago

Ashley M

9.4

I really really like this! — 8 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Established by Kathy Joseph in Santa Rita Hills the 728 is a bright Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruits together with spicy and floral notes. On the palate blackberry and cherry flavors with pepper and cedar tones. Sharp acidity with firm gritty tannins carry this wine to a lingering finish ending with some earthy minerality. — 9 years ago

Peter 0'Neill

9.2

Probably the best of the six or seven bottles I've had from the same case. A bit of a musty note on the nose blows off to reveal pencil, cassis, a little sandalwood. Deep and broad on the palate, this has some stuffing but still good acidity which gives it a lift. On this evidence there's more to come but other bottles from the same case have suggested more immediate drinking. The '96. — 10 years ago

Rick Baumgarten

8.9

1995 vintage. I've had this many times, and unfortunately, this bottle was not showing well. Number six out of eight in the flight — 10 years ago

Katie Decker

9.5

Blueberry nose, tart jam with black strap molasses and leather. — 10 years ago

with Mark and Frank

Sean Rosenfeld

9.8

Whole cluster pressed. Settled for one week in stainless steel tank at 45 degrees no SO2 added, no other additions were made to juice. Racked to 22 HL foudre and stainless steel barrels. Primary fermentation with indigenous yeast lasted approximately eight weeks. 100% malolactic fermentation was completed. Aged for six months in foudre. Cold stabilized, no fining, light filter for clarity (5 micron). Bottled February 28, 2012. A total of 310 — 11 years ago