Fredrik Finn

9.1

This wine can stand tall as a gatekeeper of its provenance and act as a proof of the true greatness of Merlot when its crafted with respect. Everything is there, we have some dark, graceful and plush fruit, we have some red soft fruit acting in the background, we have complexity coming from spice, nutmeg, coffee and we have a fine dose of pencil shavings luring in the background. The palate jumps off with a prune like character, but the tannins are quick to act, embracing the fruit, keeping the wine dry and surrounds the palate throughout a good lenght. A bit of heat from the alcohol in the back end, but I guess you need that after a week like this. It’s lovely and makes me long for the great right bank of Bordeaux. — 5 days ago

Fredrik Finn

9.4

One of 2019’s favorite new acquaintances Tenuta di Carleone Il Guercia. Equally impressive today as its displaying a wonderful combination of playfulness, transparancy, gracefulness and intensity. Opening with a vibrant and nuanced red fruit profile followed by a perfumed and herb infused floral note with a salty and gravelly minerality in the back end. It’s developing in layers with the time in the glass reaching unexplored territories in each sniff.
The palate is an act of grace, a wonderful flow and an enticing texture
with very fine yet present tannins that is balancing the fresh acidity as they together carries the complex fruit profile throughout the gravelly encore.
An impressive act worthy standing ovations — a month ago

Fredrik Finn

9.3

Now when we’ve been praising the new generation of Rioja, it is time to pay tribute to a classic, and there’s nothing more classic in Rioja than R. Lopez de Heredia. The 2007 Reserva is a homerun, aged with such an grace yet with a vital fruit, balanced between the clusters as it‘s evolving from its primary red fruit that is spiced with a volatile lift, through herbs, cedar and leather before hitting the earth with mushrooms and truffles. The palate glides through with a silky texture, yet with a good grip, well defined presence and a proud posture. — 2 months ago

Fredrik Finn

8.9

Listan Prieto, aka Mission aka Criolla chica aka Pais. The Benje Tinto from Envinante sourced from the DO Ycoden Daute Isora on Tenerife. Opens up very reductive, so be patient with it. Tart red fruit, very savoury and salty, like licking a stone, peppery. Like a northern Rhône but in the lack of flesh. Now call me conservative, but this above my threshold. However, very playful and fun, complex as well with a decent lenght and playful. — 12 days ago

Fredrik Finn

9.4

A solid proof why you should age your Bourgogne wines. A “simple” Village Lieu-dit (above La Tâch) is finding itself in a wonderful stage in life near 10 years past harvest. Just let it dust off its shoulder and catch your attention as it opens up with a toffee like red fruit character, dried roses, sous bois, truffle, spice and rocks before slowly walking out with a graceful posture. — 22 days ago

Fredrik Finn

9.8

Absolutely outstanding performance by the 2011 Opus One. Dense and concentrated with a mesmerising complexity, a fresh and vibrant core that keeps the wine very much alive with a penetrating sensation through an everlasting finish. The nose shows an multidimensional complexity, ranging from cassis, blackberries, lavender, through cedar, pencil shavings, coffee, cocoa powder before finishing with a gravelly sensation. The palate is marked by its high, yet powdery tannins with a good acidity with an athletic stamina that holds the complex profile a length that lasts for minutes. Drinks well right now but with plenty of life ahead. — a month ago

Fredrik Finn

9.0

Matias Riccitelli is one of Argentinas Young Guns and a beam of light in the countries wine scene crafting wines with plenty of soul and character. The Blanco de la Casa is is much more than just a label. A very smart varietal blend of 40/40/20 Sauv Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay all sourced from high altitude in Uco Valley, fermented and matured in concrete eggs. A playful and serious wine at the same time. Lemon, boxwood and underripe tropical fruit with a pronounced salty and stoney core. Electric texture on the palate with a fresh acidity and a persuasive length — 22 days ago

Fredrik Finn

9.2

Well well well, isn’t that something! Envinate Lousas Vinos de Aldea. Give it some time in the glass to unwind and expose its inner complexity, a vibrant red fruit profile, lavender and capsicum is accompanied by a pronounced savoriness with crushed rocks, soil and white pepper. A fresh spine runs through the palate with solid but fine grained grip from the tannins. Ribeira Sacra. Mostly Mencia with some other stuff thrown in (field blend), whole cluster ferment in cement tank followed by elevage in neutral barrel. A privilege to have these unicorn wines available! — a month ago

Fredrik Finn

8.9

Very good quality wine with a good complexity and a mineral and somewhat funky identity. Driven by a good freshness and that holds the fruit through a medium lenght finish. Somewhat rowdy but with a fun and playful identity from the hyped Envínate. — 2 months ago

Fredrik Finn

9.0

A solid act brought from the Mullineuax Syrah 2017, well representive of its varietal and provenance alike with its fresh but ripe fruit and floral qualities that surrounds a a spicy and stoney savouriness. Ripe and fruity tannins with a fresh acidity keeps palate in check. Somewhat shy on the finish though and lacks the complexity and concentration to reach further. Day 2 and its open up beautifully, more high definition and deeper interplay between the savory and primary characters raising the overall interpretation to a greater level. — 2 months ago