Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A blend of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot, aged in French oak 65% new and 35% 1 year old, fruit sourced from Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruit, earthy and floral spice. On the palate flavors of blackberry and tart cherry flavors, with vanilla, licorice, citrus and herb spice. Fine tannins, well balanced long finish ending with tart fruit and a sweet earthy mineral character. Nice! A Fav! — 23 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistently enjoyable throughout, but best after several hours of air and through Day 3. The wine pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with expressive notes of ripe and dried cherry, plums, toasted coconut, fresh dill, cedar chest, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, the fruit is much more tart. The finish is long and tangy. A textbook example of old-school Rioja. Lovely. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened 24 hours prior and decanted for sediment before returning to the bottle; enjoyed over the course of two days. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart brambles and plums, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, all of the decomposing earth and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, mostly integrated tannins with medium+ acid, borderline high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Overall, a wine that is a reflection upon the vintage and at 43 years of age, that’s a big compliment. The 1981 is very much alive and will likely live for a very long time. However, it is backward, rustic, and somewhat tough to love unless you’re an old-school masochist. But I’m guilty and this wine is charming despite all of its green character. Drink now and over the next 30 years probably. — 4 months ago

Shay A

9.3

Color me shocked. Up there with one of the more surprising bottles of the year (alongside an old Carlisle Cardiac Syrah). Had very little hope, but was completely and pleasantly surprised.

Cork split in two coming out. Trusty Durand saved the day. First small pour was not encouraging…lots of funk. After leaving alone for 30mins, the faded ruby with tinge of black in the glass had aromatics of sous bois, black tea, and dirty red and black berries. On the palate, this was elegant showing more herbal/earthy notes, dark berry fruit in the background, sweet pipe tobacco and a still-tart finish with both acidity and tannin. I have to admit that if someone said this was older burgundy, I could see it in the realm of possibilities. No sappy, rich, cola type notes here. Open and enjoy! — 2 months ago

Peter Heyboer

9.7

Paired with ratatouille and polenta. This wine was surprisingly complex. Aromas of tart strawberry and white peach has hints of floral and minerality. Taste is a delicate white peach tea with a splash of strawberry/raspberry quickly removed with a balanced tannin. This wine was great and paired amazingly with the food (as I would expect). Would drink again! — 4 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

Louis Martin

9.1

Ruby red, youthful, earthy mushroom accents, dark plum finish. Lovely tart wine, would likely pair well with gamey meat. — 4 months ago

Laura Berry

9.8

crisp and tart, CB likes, had at Islander 71
— 5 months ago

Ben Tang

9.0

A solid young gamay. Bramble and tart blackberries strong on the taste buds and a hint of pomegranate. Potting soil and forest floor at the end. Med+ acidity, low-med tannins, med+ body. — 2 months ago

"Odedi"

8.9

#AgedWineTuesday

Pretty color of ruby with a wide brick rim.

Nose of red fruits, tobacco leaf, light wood, spices, coffee, black pepper, vegetables and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, fresh cherries, spices, light oak and espresso.

Short finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a nice 11 year old Barolo.
A little tight right out of the bottle, and needed 90 minutes of airtime.

Fruity on the nose and earthy on the palate. Elegant and soft.

Still feels very young and would be nice to revisit it in a few years.

Not as complex as I expected it to be, but showed a beautiful nose once it opened up.

Not balanced at this point, and a little tart for me. Could be this specific bottle though.

100% Nebbiolo grapes were aged in large Slavonian oak barrels for 30 months.

14% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$50. — 2 months ago

Marta Jackowska

9.6

Dug out of the wine fridge for a night in….
An excellent wine and everything we love in fine red Burgundy, concentrated fruit, long finish, light and smooth at the same time. Will need to restock! — 5 months ago

with Neville