Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

In the heart of the Chianti lies Estate of Sette Ponti, 15 miles northwest of the city of Arezzo, past village of San Giustino Valdarno. Has 10% Merlot, aged in French Allier barriques, deep Ruby with red fruit aromas and floral notes. On the palate blackberry, plum and cherry flavors with blossom notes, spice and fine integrated tannins. Good balance, long finish ending with some oak and mineral tones. Nice! Will age a bit! Tasting well now! — 14 days ago

Tom Garland

9.3

Happy New Year Delectable!

Double decant and pour. A splendid tawny red color. On the nose: dark fruit, cigar ash, cedar, smoked meat, pencil shavings, mint. Taste: soft, silky, elegant, still fresh wine with dark red fruit, worn leather, graphite, loamy soil, spiced herbs, minty black tea and a dry medium finish. YUM! What a fun wine to end 2024 with. A wine bought at auction, and a cork which was not in the best shape, so not sure if this is a true representation of where this wine is at.

FOOD:
Island creek oyster and cavier
Lobster butternut bisque
Pan roasted duck breast
Braised beef short rib
Black forest chocolate cake — a month ago

with Brenda

Tom Garland

9.1

Decant for sediment and pour. A majestic deep ruby red color with bricking. On the nose: Seductive notes of dark cherry, eucalyptus, cigar smoke, forest floor, new leather. Taste: creamy, elegant, savory medium body wine with a little brambly cherry/red plum, tobacco, earth, dark chocolate, spice, and just a hint of it's signature minty eucalyptus. YUM! Such a treat to drink tonight. — 2 months ago

with Brenda

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1996 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a lovely combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: cassis, brambles, horse blanket, cigar box, old leather, earth and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another lovely and immensely charming Poyferré. Drink now with a decant and through 2046. — 18 days ago

Jocholla

9.5

Earthy, blue fruit, smoked pork, olive brine, more alcohol on the nose than I recall, nice cigar smoke, dark ruby almost purple yet bright still, terroir driven with a sense of place. I feel like royalty with every sip. — 2 months ago

Dan Appenfeller

9.3

Happy Thanksgiving, y’all! We’re gathered tight in Pittsburgh, cozy familial bonds keeping us cozy. And what better in this city of forged steel than a bricking roasty wine to match? — 2 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Another great btl from a vintage I have had many times. This was fresh and drinking much younger than its age with red, black fruits, currant, cedar, leather, earth, sweet spices, tobacco & cigar ash — 3 months ago

Ivor

9.1

My go to Bordeaux classic. Small black fruits, tobacco, cigar boxes and the ever present stubborn dusty bitter note. — a month ago

LM Segal

9.7

My crazy BIL did it again. Same rating with one add’l thought: 20+ years to go but divine now with decant.
“Lithe, feminine nose led a nicely delineated palate of dark red fruit, cigar box and velvety tannins. Wonderful.” — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.5

Quite deep ruby garnet core and medium ruby garnet rim. This is showing more development, with cedar , cigar box , cassis and blackberry richness , aromatic and enticing from the very beginning . On the palate with is well balanced with a good mineral backbone , grafite and blackcurrant hints , really good symmetry and balanced , refreshing acidity , polished fine tannin . Long finish . Showing well now , in a really good spot where this has development on the nose but no lack of fruit of backbone on the palate . Will certainly continue at this level for another 10- 15 years . — 2 months ago