Oak. Sweet and spicy. Concentrated. Extremely powerful. Raspberry matured flavor. Masseria Surani Riserva Dionysos Primitivo di Manduria 2012 @1280, Ascent -, 210427-210520 — 5 years ago
Oak, fruity. Good balanced among concentration, fruitiness, spiciness etc. Soft tanning. Blueberry and black fruits. Tobacco, vanilla, chocolate nuance. 2013 @1880, Ascent -, 201224-201231 — 6 years ago
The 2016 Barbaresco Ronchi, the estate’s top selection, marries elegance with power so well. Freshly cut flowers, mint, sweet red berries, anise and blood orange confer freshness that plays off the wine’s dense, expansive fruit. A rush of sweet raspberry, cherry and rose petal punctuates the exuberant finish. The 2016 is a fabulous wine from a property that has been on the ascent in recent years. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, October 2020) — 6 years ago
Smells like canned green Chile’s from New Mexico, and slow roasted portabello mushroom juice.
Delightful on the tongue with blue/black berry, hint of dragonfruit, pine. A Minerality that is a great accompanying back beat. Love the way the zing on this wine lifts the tannin from the tongue in an ethereal way and carries it, for a long,long finish.
Kevin Zraly would approve.
Another great wine at a great price. Perfect recovery from my 4000 ft worth of cycling ascent today. — 7 years ago
Krupp Brothers – Cabernet Sauvignon “Veraison” 2009
Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley – USA 🇺🇸
Overview:
From the famed Stagecoach Vineyard, this 2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon shows why Krupp Brothers has earned a reputation for power and finesse. At nearly 15 years, it’s still on the ascent, with structure and depth that promise more evolution ahead.
Aromas & Flavors:
Layers of dark cassis, blackberry compote, and black cherry mingle with graphite, cedar, and espresso. Hints of dried violets and cocoa powder emerge with air, weaving a bouquet that is both bold and nuanced.
Mouthfeel:
Full-bodied and dense, yet polished. Firm tannins and vibrant acidity still hold the core tightly, making it feel youthful despite its age. The finish is long, savory, and mineral-driven, echoing dark fruit and spice.
Food Pairings:
A classic match for dry-aged ribeye, braised short ribs, or wild mushroom risotto.
Verdict:
An outstanding wine, multi-layered, complex, and still climbing toward its peak. A bottle to savor now with decanting, but also a treasure for collectors willing to wait.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight:
This vintage remains one of the standout expressions of Stagecoach Vineyard fruit, alongside 2010, it is a benchmark release. Collectors take note: the 2009 is still gaining complexity and shows remarkable staying power. — 9 months ago
2002 vintage. Decanted and tasted over the course of two hours. Great fill. Excellent cork. Heavy body. Initially, just oodles of richness (still!) but after 30 minutes, began to fill in structural details on the back end dossier. First impressions, a 9.3 so things definitely improved. Tasted more like a 2016 or newer vintage-very fresh. Nicely made and seems to be effortlessly gliding along currently. Feel it needs another 4-5 years to kick in the door to "the zone" but in the adjacent zip code currently. Still on the ascent to the top of the bell curve. Be patient. 12.8.23. — 3 years ago
Matured black fruits aroma and taste. Concentrated. Enjoyed just after opening it. A bit spicy and dry. It would be still matured. Tenuta Argentiera Villa Donoratico Bolgheri Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2011 @1440,Ascent -, 210427-210501 — 5 years ago
Good choice. Ready to drink just at opening. Oak. Fruity, chocolate nuance. Blue black fruits flavor. Enough spiciness. 2012 @1280, Ascent, 201224-210102 — 6 years ago
Creamy mouthfeel with floral ascent and balanced oak. Lasting finish with lemon zest and Meyer lemon. — 8 years ago
2016 vintage. Decanted and tasted after 1.5 hours. Throwing a small amount of clumpy sed. Medium/medium-heavy body. Graphite/lead + just dampened earth in the nose. Well-framed tannins balanced nicely with chocolate, plum, cherry, cassis notes. Tasted the 2023 Bevan Cellars Tench a few days ago (9.4) and it added an unnecessary voluptuous layer/weight. This was intrinsically more satisfying and perceived pure. Still on the ascent to the top of the slide. Yes she is. Yes she is. Look out cause here she comes. Hehe. 08.24.25. — a year ago
Aromas of blackberry, cassis, cedar, light menthol, worn leather, and hint of tobacco leaf. Fig and subtle licorice add to the taste. The medium to full body is broad and self assured. Balanced acidity. Refined tannins.
A 5th growth in a very good vintage that’s still on its ascent. — 5 years ago
Comfortable mid body Chianti Classico. Vanilla flavor. Blue and black fruits. More than one hour decanting makes it much better. Elegant. Meet with various cuisines. Everybody should welcome. Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2015 @1280, Ascent, 210415 — 5 years ago
Necessary to decant, but ok. Mushroom. 2015 @1100(880), Ascent, 201113 — 6 years ago
A bit of surprise - Josh’s first effort at the Meritage. Nice Herbal/spice ascent with juice dark fruit - good length and balance :) — 7 years ago
Fantastic bottle! Buy more of this one — 8 years ago
Stephen Mathews
This bottle seems tired — 8 months ago