Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Pingus, named after childhood nickname, deep Ruby with concentrated dark fruit aromas and gently smoky notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and plum, licorice, sweet vanilla spice, well balanced, fine grainy tannins, long finish ending with slight oaky tones. Very Nice! — 14 days ago

Suzanne Verhulst

9.2

Very dry and juicy at once. Blackberries and minerality. Yum! — a month ago

Liselotte Brouwers

9.0

Mooie frisse wijn. Was ook fantastisch bij de kreeft met gruyère, kaffir limoen en sambal — 2 months ago

Jan A

9.7

Beautiful saline nose — 3 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.4

Despite a 17 pct alcohol level this wine is perfectly in balance. Blood sausage, long afterburn rather sweet. — 25 days ago

Sébastien F

9.1

Nez viandé fumé, bouche longue équilibrée tanins parfaitement fondus — a month ago

Rob van Kalmthout

9.4

Ribera at it’s peak of the drinking window. Seductive dark fruit backed with elegant vanilla, cedar and subtle bacon fat. Love it. Bought directly from Jorge Monzon. Fascinating visit. Still taste the Albillo. 😉 — 2 months ago

Victor Charcan

9.0

Expressive nose of dark cherries, blackberries, clove, strawberry, a hint of caramel, well integrated oak. In the mouth the tannins are still harsh, thinner Ribera (this is Soria, they filmed Dr Zhivago here). Drunk too young (the story of my life) — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…

So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — a month ago

Adam Baker

9.4

Great dark red fruit. Bright and could use a few years, but great with thanksgiving dinner at marks. See stafford hill for food notes. — 2 months ago

with Elissa