Tom Casagrande

9.0

Another big boi from this producer. Obviously uses at least a significant proportion of partially dried grapes. Fairly saturated color. Nose is rather subdued, reluctantly giving up scents of leather, underbrush, crushed rock, and dark cherry underneath all of that non-fruit stuff. In the mouth, it’s big, with initial slightly bitter, extracted notes. Tannic. Dissimilar from straight Valpos in its size and austerity. Dissimilar from Ripasso-style Valpos in that the fruit is not especially ripe or sweetish. It will go well with our stuffed shells in red sauce, but is a little challenging on its own. It occurs to me that this might fit in well in a tasting of 2017s from the left bank in Bordeaux. In other words, very atypical for a Valpo. Still, it’s pretty good, as long as you don’t harbor any expectations of typicity.

UPDATE: two nights later (using a vacuum closure), this has actually improved. Kind of amazing for a Valpo of this age. The fruit has moved closer to front-and-center, and it seem a bit more Calpo-like, though it’s still pretty large-framed. Upping score from 8.8 to 9.0. — 5 months ago

Chris A

8.9

Like Sade’s “Smooth Operator” - this Bordeaux blend brings that best of Bordeaux red but toned down a bit on the nose and mouth feel. Not as strong as big red French can be - but a good measure of a good glass of wine that is incredibly smooth. Perfect weekday glass with dinner! — 3 years ago

Anthony Martin

9.0

Big fruit, good acid, full mouth feel - not weak or thin. Fan! — 4 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.3

Lime zest, mint, and a little guava/lychee on the nose. Starts out all flint and grapefruit then broadens into something richer and more mouth-coating. A note of chamomile too. Beautiful, I would love to see how this ages.

Update: Enjoyed this over 4 days. Though there was no big surprise to the evolution, it settled into itself and provided so much joy. For all around enjoyment to the dollar, this is hard to beat. — 5 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Enjoyed at our friend’s on the Big Island for NYE dinner. Dark and opaque. Rich in the mouth. Notes of black fruit, slate stone, some menthol and some five spice. In a good window. — 2 years ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It's time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Deep purple in color, almost inky, with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, cooked plums, sweet cherries, cedar, light vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, coffee, light cocoa powder and peppercorn.

Full-bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with blackberries, black currants, plums, cooked cherries, cedar, vanilla, spices, espresso, cola, light herbs, earth, chocolates, coffee, peppercorn and tobacco.

Tangy finish with round tannins and raspberries.

This is a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon based Bordeaux blend from Napa Valley. Tangy and interesting.

Spicy, rich and extracted, yet elegant. Nicely balanced with a nice mouth feel.

I had the 2018 not too long ago, and it is very consistent.

Very young, but already drinking nicely, after a couple of hours of airtime. A good quality wine that will age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

A good sipping wine that doesn't necessarily need food, but will be great with a big piece of steak as well.

A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Aged in mostly French oak barrels for 18 months.

14.2% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$85. — 3 years ago

Carlos Garcia

9.6

Now is powerful, deep red, big nose, extraordinary in mouth, leather, licorice, beautiful... — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.8

Wow. Just wow. This nose has unlimited depth. Huge dark cherries. Black. Red. Dark red. Stunning limestone. Blackberry as well. Just huge, dense, but serene. Spice. A new nuance every time I stick my large nose in the glass. Palate is painfully intense and has a kaleidoscopic intensity. Ungodly sweet fruit and a huge limestone mineral wash but in classic Holle fashion this is around 10% of its potential upon opening and the finish is again clipped like the 19 Holle Riesling. The nose has almost a macerated cherry effect. The balance and length are perfect but it’s a donut wine right now with a big gaping hole in the the middle. It will bialyize soon. The nose is at a 9.7 now. I know the palate will catch up. The nose has some of the most stunning fruit ever. Truly wow. The finesse is starting as are the sweet inner mouth aromas and the tannins are sweet and so fine. Really profound length and such a finesse. I can see why Piggott gave this 99. I’m not quite there yet but I might with air. Getting super tangy and even more black cherry fruited. What a finish. Sneakily long. 9.6 to 9.8 with air. Just so elegant and seamless. Mind blowing. — 3 years ago

ESF

8.9

Not sure if Draper is still making these wines, but Ridge has been so consistent & solid over the years... and this affordable kitchen sink blend is delicious: dark & rich, big extraction here w/mouth coating tannins and gobs of brambly red & black berry fruit. Def some oak in this bad boy, hi ABV as well. Bit unruly right now - probably needs a nap for a few years. — 4 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Deep, dark amber tinged and tawny color. Hits me immediately as a gravel-influenced Bordeaux and I’m am in Graves with my guess. Notes of tobacco, graphite, ash, earth and gravel stone. Big shoulders, and a little hot. Yet silky in the mouth. I guess 82 La Mish HB. This has plenty of life in front of it, but give it 5+ hrs of air if consuming in the near term as the provider of this wine did. — 5 years ago