Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.

This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.

This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.

The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. The dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant flavor mush that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful!

To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 9 hours ago

Anuja Agnihotri

10

Bought at Barrie LCBO, drinking at winter staycation. Loved the taste. — 7 years ago

Catherine Anderson

9.3

Smooth pinot with great after taste, very nutty earthy flavor — 8 years ago

Ceccherini Cristiano

9.0

It falls in the chilled red category
I am starting to appreciate why here in Queensland this typology is so popular.
Cinsault, grenache, shiraz and mataro
Very easy and pleasnt
No edges.
Quite long too — a year ago

Tara Rudo

9.1

Ginas favorite! From paradox in Stevenson — 6 years ago

Kim Sharpton

9.0

Fundraiser dinner with Jack & Barrie — 7 years ago

Clifton Jackson

9.1

A shocking surprise that the cork was sufficiently intact to provide a quality wine experience ... no corking, and improved immensely over the hour while four of us sipped it. The wine had more acidity than expected, but very light on tannins and fruit ... a lot of cedar I might say, but enjoyable to see how it evolved in the glass! I’d owned the wine since 1970, with storage limited to cool basements in different houses, but no “cooking” experiences. I was hopeful since there had been no wine leakage, and the level was only 0.5” into the shoulder, but we were all still surprised. No cork debris at all went into the bottle, and upon decanting, sediment levels were revealed as extremely low. Great fun for all! Tasted with Florence Jackson and Tom and Renee Stevenson! — 7 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Biodynamic Aussie Grenache from the Hongell Vineyard’s 90 year old vines. Partial whole cluster and neutral oak. Cherry cordials. Just shy of reading jammy. Not sure what’s crossed out on the label, maybe Australian drink units?
Thoughts anyone? — 3 years ago

Kate Rothen

8.9

Recco by som at Big Poppa. Kooky winemaker with made up name. A pirate! Looks super big and starts tannin-y but softens up nice. — 6 years ago

with Michael

Clifton Jackson

9.5

My wife and I enjoyed this sparkling Blanc de Blanc/Noir with two close friends (Tom and Renee Stevenson) on our deck looking out on the water near St. Michaels, MD. The wine exploded into a creamy flood of aromatic bubbles with every sip, and proved the perfect foil for the dazzling array of both creamy and firm cheeses that our friends, both French Champagne lovers, knew would complement it. Gloria Ferrer is always a favorite stop when we visit the Napa/Sonoma area, both for the quality and diversity of their wine offerings, and the warm friendliness of the greeting that they always provide on their gorgeous elevated patio! — 7 years ago