Chris MacLean

9.1

Ferrando forever — a month ago

with Sarah

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — 7 months ago

Eric Urbani

9.3

We tasted nine Minervois Red Blends (Languedoc region of France), an unknown AOC to our group. This was designated a “vin de table” because as a single-varietal, it did not conform to the Minervois arcane AOC rules. I loved it anyways — 10 months ago

romo

9.3

Called 90s Barolo. Looks at that color! — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Founded in 1932 by Isaac Muga Martínez, now run by Manuel, Isabel & Isaac Muga Caño. Deep Ruby, aromas of sweet red and black fruits with pepper spice, unmistakable Muga. 4 grape blend from the Haro district (70% Tempranillo, rest Garnacha, Mazuelo & Graciano), palate shows cherry and currant flavors with espresso, vanilla & toasty oak tones. Soft full tannins, lively acidity on a medium+ finish ending with an earthy mineral character. Nice value! Great vintage! — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

From a lesser known “produttori” in Piemonte. Cantina Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema (what a mouthful) is a tiny cooperative in, you guessed it, Carema.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout but I think I preferred the energy on Day 1. The 2016 Riserva pours a pale garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of pomegranate, slightly bruised strawberry, toe jam (yeah, well…I’m not wrong), alpine herbs, roses some balsamico and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and saline with a silky texture. Until now, my only experience with the Carema DOC has been with Ferrando’s Etichetta Bianca and Etichetta Nera. While this bottle didn’t have the same drama as those wines from Ferrando, this was a very good example of Carema. Drink now and through 2031. — 8 months ago

Steve Rura

9.5

Hell yes. Raspberry nose. Red fruit overlayed with crushed dry rose, savory herbs, spicy black pepper, red licorice, assertive tannins and a delicate acidity. Unconventional but absolutely great Chateauneuf du Pape. Give it a lot of air, and drink it slowly over the course of an evening. With cheese ravioli and Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. Divine. (Also not a blend, but 100% Grenache) — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Same notes from early 2023 apply. Pair this with a variety of Mediterranean fare and thank me later. This stuff is absolutely delicious.  — 7 months ago

Angelo Casagrande

9.0

Very tasty. Pear/ lemon with great acidity and a mouthful of flavor. Medium- bodied. Excellent — 9 months ago

Daron Watson

9.7

this delivers it all and will tremendously reward those that cellar away a case ~ black cherry & raspberry in the forms of fruit, preserves, candy and liqueur ~ lavender, garrigue, exotic spices ~ simultaneously juicy & dusty ~ DEEELISH — 10 months ago