Mackenzie Svee

9.1

Wild strawberry, ripe peach, hint of tropical fruit and grapefruit — 3 days ago

with Katie

Conrad Green

9.6

A glorious nose. Kaleidoscopic fruit with bright cherry, violets, lifted wild strawberry. So much going on and sooo pretty. Very pure and defined on the palate. Still quite contained. I suspect this will be spectacular in a few more heard but truly delicious now. Pure class. — 3 months ago

with Chris, Alec and 1 other

Jay Kline

9.2

This was presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appeared deep ruby with a nearly opaque core. There’s slight staining of the tears and the viscosity appears medium+. On the nose the wine is intense. It’s slightly funky with an almost cheese rind sort of thing going on. There’s a combination of red and dark fruits with some purple flowers, dried tobacco leaf, something that sort of resembled pyrazines and a little bit of baking spices which suggests there’s some French barrique being used. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and fiercely tannic. Acid is medium ++. It’s definitely on the darker fruit side with some black berries and blue berries, black pepper and baking spices which all but confirms French barrique at this point. Long finish. I’m scratching my head with this one. It’s wild. Clean and fresh…but wild.

I could see this in a few places: Moulin-à-Vent is one possibility considering all the darker fruit and firm structure. However, I find some real Italian sensibilities to this wine. Despite the monumental structure, I cannot place this in northern Italy. Given the presence of French barrique, I could see this being a Cabernet Sauvignon-based Super Tuscan with a little Syrah and Sangiovese for good measure. So that was my call: 2015 Super Tuscan.

Wow…what a lovely surprise. I mistook the Rotundone for pyrazines (a recurring issue for me) which had me thinking Bordeaux varieties instead of Syrah. And to be fair, we don’t see a lot of Côte Rôtie at Tasting Group. This was my first time tasting the 2016 “La Chavaroche” and while it was a real treat (big thanks to the generous member of the group), it was also a reminder as to why I cellar my bottles of “La Chavaroche” for so long. This is a wee babe and frankly, pretty tough for me to love right now. That being said, the quality and character is unquestionable. I say give it until 2030+ and these will light up your right prefrontal cortex like a supernova.
— 3 years ago

Mark Eastom

9.1

Wild fruit, leather, white pepper, dried herbs, other than fruit notes, nice acid. — 2 months ago

Ivor

9.1

Well developed and plateauing now. Lacks fruit density to carry tertiary development. Great match with veal cheeks, wild mushrooms and risotto. — 4 months ago

Dave Mayers

8.9

What a joy to find this bottle at a NYC steakhouse. It’s been a while. Initially turned on by these ancient Lebanese vineyards and organic practices. And blending fruit that we are Las Jaras use. Drinking well for being a ‘16. VA a bit high but reminiscent of some wilder Barolo — 2 years ago

ace

9.0

Fruit forward with a hint of spice. Very nice Zinfandel for having with dinner. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2006 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black and red currants, black and red, bramble fruit, tobacco, leather, cocoa, earth, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Despite the character and quality, I didn’t find this to be a powerhouse rather, this was quietly confident. The finish is long, lovely…very demure. Looking great at 18 years young and there’s a lot of life left. If this is any indication of longevity, the 2006 “Terrace Select” might live forever. Drink now with a decant for air and sediment and enjoy through 2036 easy. — 3 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.2

Super funky. This wine is WILD. It’s got some super ripe fruit AND it has some really pungent mushroom and dirt. It’s got an exotic flair to it. We only had about a 1.5 decant but it sorta popped between an Amarone, a Turley, and a sherry. Paired with lamb in the grill. WILD. — 2 years ago

Scott E. Becker

9.0

[Tasted on November 23, 2021 at Home]

Red plum and wild cherry fruit, with minerality, spice and nice acidity. — 3 years ago