The firehouse

9.5

Incredible depth, terracotta madness, sherry like depth — 9 years ago

Catherine Le

9.4

Easy to drink on its own — 9 years ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.3

Ahhh... This is my kind of Ch9!
A bright, fresh, translucent, airy bouquet (full of funk, red cherry, dried herbs, touch of mocca and kirsch) is creeping up my flu-infected nostrils.. Beautiful, harmonious, old-fashioned palate oozes the good-life: hot terracotta tiles, dry lavender branches, black olives, tomato tapenade, grilled paprika, lambchops on the BBQ. Wish I was right there... — 9 years ago

Christine Havens

9.2

La Rioja Alta is but a stone's throw from my other favorite Rioja producer, Lopez de Heredia. The pedigree of the 2005 Reserva Viña Ardanza is evidenced by layered, complex aromatics—leather, terracotta roof tiles, plums and sun-baked figs, Madagascar vanilla bean and a lofty top note of char. In the mouth, it's medium bodied, but no less intense, and varied, with red cherries giving way to black peppercorn and green notes of dill, celeriac and dried rosemary. Perhaps even dark chocolate shavings. — 9 years ago

Elizabeth Schneider

9.0

Wow! A 2003 that some friends brought back from Hunter Valley. Dark yellow, smells like petrol, cheese rind, mushrooms, curdled cream, and honeycomb. Tastes like burnt sugar, sautéed mushrooms, cheese rind, toasted marshmallow, petrol. Jasmine flower. So interesting. — 9 years ago

Matté

Manager The Wine Cellars

9.3

Fantastic precision of bright red berry fruit, some sweet smokey cherry and graphite a warm terracotta roof tiles (!?) and freshly planted roses. Abundant red fruit on the palate, irresistible! — 10 years ago

Ed Merrison

9.2

Garrigue, bacon fat, game, terracotta and red fruits show on the nose. Fresh, medium bodied and moderately intense on the palate, with pleasing layers of the bouquet. Good all round. — 9 years ago

Jimmy Randall

9.0

Terracotta in colour touch off berry on nose and well balance fruit — 9 years ago

Stephen Hall

8.9

Concentrated Blackcurrant aroma, hint of herbs. Noticeable 'hear' in grapes reminding me of hot terracotta tiles. Softer structure, perhaps run & raison. A bit of white pepper. Medium tannin, body, length. — 9 years ago

Francesco Iacono

9.1

Affinamento in barrique di terracotta — 11 years ago