Ken Z

8.8

Drank 3/19/19 over 2 nights.

Nose and flavors of blackberry, tar, and earth. Modifying my previous score as this was a bit less expressive and a touch more muddy than my previous tasting. Still, a very nice value.

3/21/7/4/3 +50= 88 pts. — a day ago

Ken Z

8.9

Drank 3/5/19. Paired well with shrimp.

My go to every night chardonnay. Right now at around $11, an excellent buy. I enjoyed this vintage perhaps a touch less than others, but overall a great wine and an outstanding value.

Nose of light tropical fruits, a touch of citrus and butterscotch. Palate medium + body with pear, lemon curd, buttery notes, and a hint of oak. A nice balance for those who enjoy a bit of oak in their Chardonnay.

3/22/7/4/3 +50 =89 pts. — 16 days ago

Ken Z

9.1

Drank 2/21/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

Tar and sweet black cherry with some magic marker. Dark flavors, with blackberry, tar, soil and big tannins long, drying finish.

4/21/8/4/4 +50 =91
. — a month ago

Ken Z

9.1

Drank 3/13/19. Excellent pairing with grilled lamb chops.

A big, dark brooding wine. Plenty if dark fruit, soil, tar, and firm, well integrated tannins. See my earlier tasting notes.

4/21/8/4/4 +50 =91 pts.

A great value Southern Italian at around $20. — 8 days ago

Ken Z

8.8

Drank 3/4/29. Nice pairing with a seared pork chop .

Smokey red and black cherry on the nose. Cherry, vanilla, and wood presence on the palate, with notes of soil and medium + tannins. The wood and soil notes go on for a while, but the fruit fades rather quickly on the finish. This did improve a bit as it warmed. Preferred at around 76 degrees.

3/21/7/3/4 +50 = 88 pts. — 17 days ago

Ken Z

9.2

Drank 2/21/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

2nd wine of Gruad-Larose.

On the nose, black fruit, earth, and tobacco. Lighter on the palate, with sweet blackberry, black cherry ,and medium tannins. Medium finish.

4/21/8/4/3+ 50 = 90 pts. — a month ago

Ken Z

9.0

Drank 2/21/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

Soil and black fruit on the lighter nose. Very smooth, dark flavors of blackberry, black cherry soil, and tar. Medium, very well integrated tannins. An incredible value for those looking for a big old world red.

3/21/8/5/3 +50 =90 pts. — a month ago

Ken Z

8.7

Drank 3/11/19.

@Delectable this is the Chiantia Rufina Vendemmia.

Scents of tar, tobacco, black cherry, and a touch of barnyard. Earth, and black cherry flavors with medium tannins giving some structure. Medium finish. Overall, not quite enough fruit on this one. Expected more given the vintage. You could do much better for around $20.

3/20/7/4/3 +50 =87 pts. — 10 days ago

Ken Z

9.0

Drank 2/23/19.

Plums, red fruit, soil, and graphite on the nose. Plum, blackberry, earth flavors mix with firm tannins on the drying finish. I would hold this a few more years, but could drink now with a nice steak and an hour decant. Always a quality wine for the money.

3/22/8/4/4 — a month ago

Ken Z

9.2

Drank 2/21/19. Tasting event. Tasting pour.

Nice nose of sweet pipe tobacco and black fruit. Dark flavor profile of black fruit and soil. Firm, but well integrated tannins. Long finish.

4/21/9/4/4 +50 =92 pts. — a month ago