Severn Goodwin

9.3

Nose has dried roses, white pepper, crushed cherries, loose tobacco, dried orange zest and dried mud.

Palate has dried tart cherry, black cherry, blackberry, wet leather, anise and very dry garden soil. Medium+ tannins not overpowering, more savory/earth notes than fruit expression on the palate; a very nice bottle with a unique expression of terroir.

Opened for slow oxidation of 6H then +3H decant, expect this to show better tomorrow. Paired to local beef short ribs (Kinderhook Farm; Valatie, NY) in an Asian-style braising sauce, plated on top of Parmesan polenta, so yum.

85% Nebbiolo, 15% Neretto & Ner d'Ala

Anyone approaching the 2016 vintage, please wait until 2024-26 until opening, and likely still too soon even then... — a day ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Color is quite youthful. Nose has Graham cracker, tilled soil, dried cherry and cherry ooze. Big whack of (non-jammy) fruit initially, but quickly framed by soft tannins, and a nice but subtle minerally, savory component comes in. Very nicely balanced, with nice acids. Nicely concentrated too. Will go great with my pasta tonight. — 3 days ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

Part 3 of Columbia County weekend: the last leg of a great dinner, w ginger ice cream. At 7.5% abv it’s remarkable the archeological dig of flavors— from candied yam to gummy bears. The texture stands out-so caressing, friendly even, like a golden lab. I don’t drink enough Auslese, & at 20$, it’s even possible — a day ago

with Owen

Ray Vanderhoff

9.3

I would describe this Uruguayan blend as a hybrid Napa/Bordeaux Red Blend with a touch of Rioja blended in. 45% Tannat, 25% Cabernet Franc, 18% Petite Verdot, 12% Marselan. Red and black fruit aromas with hints of violets and baking spices. Juicy red and black fruit flavors with hints of blueberries, grilled herbs, black licorice, Forrest Floor and dark chocolate. Excellent meaty texture with a long and minerally finish. Very complex with dusty tannins. Fantastic now, but this one might need some additional bottle age. — 2 days ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.4

I adore 2016 at Laible. Nose of white flowers, apricot pit, lanolin and super intense minerality. So complex, ethereal and deep. Awesome nose. Palate is luscious and has an icing on the cake like texture and just dazzling purity. Grippy structure and almost tannins but also a looseness that is super appealing. More like well knit. Excellent. — 3 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

This is a big and bold Zinfandel based red Blend from California.

Showing black fruits with tobacco, chocolates, coffee, cola, vanilla, cedar, licorice and mocha.

Full bodied with medium acidity.

Jammy and creamy. Smooth and easy drinking.

Enjoyable by itself, and would pair nicely with a burger.

Would be interesting to try it in a few years, as it might calm down a bit. Might be too sweet for some.

A blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Syrah.

15.7% alcohol by volume.

92 points. — 9 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot & 5% Tannat, aged 20 mos French oak. LaJota has deep roots in Napa, in 1888, wine pioneer W.S. Keyes planted the first vines on Howell Mountain, 10 years later LaJota Vineyard established, named for location on Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. Deep Ruby, rich berry fruit aromas & herb spice. On the palate blackberry & cherry flavors with sweet spice, licorice & cacao notes, rich & tangy. Soft full tannins, long finish ending with oak & earthy herbs. Just starting to drink now, will cellar for a decade. — 8 days ago

Wulf Losee

9.1

2016 opened July 2021. Still a little too young for it’s maximum potential IMHO. Leather and loam on the nose. Distinct cherry fruit on the front. Heavy tannic structure — more so than the average Bordeaux — and more so than the most of the Margauxs I’ve had. The tannins kick in on the mid palate. They’re velvety (With a lot of complexity that might be revealed in few years). Unfortunately some sour high notes appear at the mid palate and amplify themselves to the end of the pallet. Very much sour cherries. But this wine redeems itself by having a long but subtle mineral finish. I might retry this wine in three or four years. I can’t give it a better score than 9.1 right now, though. But I might’ve the score in 2024 or 2025. Hopefully, I’ll have a personal jet pack by that time. But heavens no, I won’t drink and fly. — 9 days ago

"Odedi"

8.9

This is a nice Mourvedre based blend from Sierra Foothills, California.

Showing black fruits with earth, licorice, oak, tobacco and light vegetables.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and smooth on the palate. Spicy and good by itself or with food.

Good right out of the bottle and better after 2 hours of airtime.

A blend of 64% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache and 6% counoise.

14.7% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$85. — 3 hours ago

Allison Lyzenga

9.3

Medium ruby; medium plus intensity aromas of red and black plum, pomegranate, black cherry, black currant, subtle cedar, baking spices; dry, medium plus acid, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, full body, medium plus intensity flavors consistent with aromas; lovely and concentrated, a classic Napa Cab, just what I was in the mood for — 6 days ago