Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Referred to as the “Baby Grange,” blend of 51/49 Cab Sauv & Shiraz, aged for 12 months in 36% new American oak, partly in previous-vintage Grange casks. Dark Ruby with aromas of fresh black fruits, complex with sweet spice. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry flavors with notes of cacao, oak and toasty spices. Well balanced with acidity, full firm tannins, long ending with smoky spice, fruit well integrated with oak, drink over next 10 years+, will only get better. Nice! — 7 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

#kosherWineSunday

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, black plums, light cedar, spices, licorice, light vanilla, tobacco leaf, black pepper and herbs.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry on the palate with black currants, plums, cooked cherries, spices, oak, vanilla, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, light earth and peppercorn.

Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 7 year old Petite Sirah blend from Israel is still drinking very nicely. Fruit forward and rich. Complex and interesting.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 30 minutes in the decanter.

I had it 2 years ago and it is still delicious. Alcohol is high, but it is well integrated by now. Spicy and tangy on the finish.

Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a Lamb Loin with red wine and baby Bella mushrooms.

A blend of 51% Petite Sirah, 33% Petit Verdot and 16% Shiraz. Aged in French oak barrels for 15 months. Kosher and Mevushal.

15% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$40 (recent vintage). — 2 years ago

Joseph Barsky

9.4

2017 Vintage. 100% Syrah Clone 470 from two vineyards 51% Laetitia and 49% Bien Nacido. Very smooth. — 3 years ago

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9.6

When I tasted the 2018 Cheval Blanc from barrel, I felt that it deserved a very good score, though not one that implied potential perfection. The bottle was tasted upon opening, but I only began to pen my tasting note after 3–4 hours’ decanting. I still find the bouquet more open than many recent vintages, the ripe brambly red fruit intermingling with clove, sage and light graphite notes originating from the Cabernet components (46% of the final blend). It is a really seductive bouquet, though not as complex or as nuanced as, say, the astonishing 2016 or the impressive 2015. The palate is medium-bodied with refined tannins. A harmonious and elegant Cheval Blanc that has retained the linearity I remarked upon in barrel. So it is not a flamboyant Cheval Blanc like the Cabernet-dominated 2017, but it is a far better wine thanks to the Merlot imparting flesh and rondeur. The finish is extremely precise but never powerful, almost Burgundy-like in weight, with a lightly spiced aftertaste. As the hours pass in the decanter, it gains depth and a little more precision on the finish. This does not possess the otherworldly profundity to equal legends such as the 1934, 1964 or 2016; it is simply a wonderful Cheval Blanc to sit back and savor as a Saint-Émilion par excellence. (Neal Martin, Vinous, March 2021)
— 5 years ago

Jamie Lauder

9.0

2016 vintage.
51 % Merlot, 31% Cab Franc, 17% Cab Sauv, and 1% Petit Verdot.
Dark ruby red with aromas of ripe black fruit, nutmeg, cedar and mushrooms Rich, ripe plum and raspberry with milk chocolate and smooth tannins. This wine is so easy to drink now but will age beautifully. Great value.
— 6 years ago

Alexander Connell

9.3

Complex blend. Dark red core with light brown edges. Nose of coffe and dark chocolate with a hint of blackberries and raspberries in the finish. Medium to full on the palate with bright fruit notes. Blackberries, grape, and ripe cherry. Finishes with coffee and dark chocolate flavored tannins. Yet due to age tannins are very smooth. Blend of 51% sangiovese, 13% pinot noir, 13% shiraz, 13% mourvedre, 6% nebbiolo, and 4% barbera. — 7 years ago

Rana Sahni

9.5

Magnum Format and 51 years later it drinks like the complex wine it is — 7 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

Outstanding QPR! 51% Cab Sauv, then Merlot, Cab Franc, and Petit Verdot. Drinking very well now with some air but has stuffing. Love the balance here. With NY Strip. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A blend of 6 vintages - 2020 (51%), 2019 (31%), 2018 (3%), 2017 (8%), 2016 (5%), and 2015 (2%). From the Hoffmann’s Dallwitz vineyard. 6327 bottles filled. Aromatics of old vine Barossa Shiraz. The fruit is so plush and ample together with liquorice, chocolate, blue fruits, and spices that it masks the M plus tannins. I note that Fraser likes to taste these Little Wines “when primal and vital, a year or two after vintage “. I totally agree. I have tasted Little Wines with over 5 years of cellaring and find that you are giving up that freshness and vitality for a limited increase in savoury profile. The secondary value of Sami-Odi wines have increased dramatically in recent years. I paid $55 per bottle on release and note that United Cellars are now selling for $325. All the more annoying when I broke a bottle unpacking the tricky little cartons of 3 when I received them. The odd 4 letter word was uttered!!! Therefore I have one left for future enjoyment. I ended up having the last bottle 68 weeks later on 4th May 2025 with consistent notes taking into account Fraser’s note that he likes to drink Little Wine in its first couple of years. Blackberry currant and chocolate. — 3 years ago

Alan

9.2

Okay, no one is confusing this with a Chateau Margeaux, but that's only because it lacks the really deep complexity. And many other ways, it has the rich depth and smooth tannins and even some of the aromas of the real thing. Lovely one. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Tasted alongside the 2015 vintage. Both wines were opened about eight hours in advanced and allowed to slow-ox at cellar temp (51°F). Comparatively, this was more open for business. Dark cherry, gym sock, dried herbs, leather, and tomato leaf on the nose. On the palate, dusty cherry fruit with black tea and dried herbs. Rustic. Quite an old school charmer! Towards the end of the bottle, this started to tighten back up a bit but it was still my favorite of the two vintages tonight. I expect this to enjoy a long life. — 5 years ago

Sarah Stuart

9.5

Baby making yum yum! — 6 years ago

Anna Vocaturo

9.2

Kentucky straight bourbon- 6 year old Jim Beam casks, Suntory blends in Kentucky. Delicious and very interesting — 7 years ago

JKT

9.1

First taste!? Mature with a bit of bricking but still nice solid color and bouquet of mature red fruits and earth. Velvety and enticing on palate. Excellent with Evan’s Shanghainese pork belly. 51/43/4/2 Merlot/Cab/CabFranc/Petit Verdot on label from Bernard Magrez touting same attention as his Pape Clement, and long history dating back to 1120. Importer label says 37/55/6/2 instead! (Oldest in Medoc, 1400 by house of Foix loyal to King of England. 1486 Camet new owner. 1500s by Michel de Montaigne.) — 2 years ago

M F

9.0

2021 Salmon Run Chardonnay-Riesling
51% Chardonnay 49% Riesling
Very nice. Birthday gift from P. To E. — 2 years ago

Jeffrey Woo

9.2

Dark ruby hue. Medium-plus tannins and acidity. Notes of bell pepper, blackberry, blueberry, bramble, and tar. Stark on the nose, but brilliant and smooth on the palate, with grippy tannins. 51 Merlot, 42 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7 Petit Verdot. — 3 years ago

David Walser

9.4

51% CF, 49%ME. Enjoyed the wine & blend. For me, these wines are a bit rough when young but smooth out nicely with age. — 4 years ago

Jody Scharf

9.3

Strong sangiovese grape Chanti. Delicious begging to finish. — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

8.9

Another very interesting example of this cool climate Bordeaux Style Blend. Pennsylvania grown and produced. Cabernet Sauvignon (51%) Merlot (43%) and Cabernet Franc (6%). Only bottled in select years. Dark cherry aromas and flavors with subtle notes of earth and vanilla. (Aged 19 months in French Oak.). Lighter in body than many traditional Bordeaux Blends, but the tannins are reasonably chewy and the finish is long. Nice effort. Revisited in November 2021. Aging nicely. — 5 years ago

Erik Longabardi

9.4

I love Hardy’s wines. They are always full of soul and hard work. Grateful for his humanity because in every bottle that always comes through — 6 years ago