Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Portelli, grower in the southern bastion of Vittoria, Frappato grape. Medium Ruby color with aromas of rec berry fruit and earthy herb spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with minty herbs, floral and earthy notes. Full-bodied, well balanced chewy drying tannins on a smooth medium+ finish. — 13 days ago

Berry

9.0

Bastion with Andy — 4 years ago

Gabriella Boros

9.2

White burgundy written in bottle. Bastion de L’Oratoire Chanson. So not corresponding to this description. — 4 years ago

Andy Hall

9.2

Very nice. Nice expression of terroir. Thanks to Will at Fine Wine Vault for this bottle!
— 5 years ago

Michael Walker

9.8

This is the Chanson/Bastion G-C…decanted 90 mins….lovely Burgh, very refined/subdued, but lacks depth to me, turned a bit sour late. Maybe a bit more earth than I like? Really lingering over it. J loves it — 2 years ago

Will Stanley

9.1

Once again an absolute winner of a wine, this bottom-line Syrah from Yves Cuilleron hits all the right notes and represents terrific value at around £13/btl.

I’ve enjoyed this wine before, but Matt Walls of Decanter, whose column on sub-£20 Rhône wines I recently read, describes its predominant flavours quite accurately as ‘blood, blackberry, blood orange; tangy, balsamic’. I’d add to this a hint of white chocolate, cranberry and Worcestershire sauce. This wine lacks the intensity of fruit that makes much of the northern Rhône so special, but it’s nonetheless a terrific bottling that is a great bastion both for Yves Cuilleron and the Collines Rhodaniennes. — 3 years ago

Mary Lemier

9.3

Deliciously soft cherry, blackberries — 5 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Had it in Bend, OR - was good in my cocktail. — 2 years ago

Tree Kilpatrick

9.2

Label is very Declaration of Independence or Constitution looking style. Not sure there are many Federalist in Dry Creek Valley in the liberal bastion of Sonoma county, but hey, it’s catchy. Lovely color of blood in a test tube. Smells clean, clear and lovely. Rocks, leather and, berry jams. Flavors are classic CA fine wine. Zingy, dry and herbal. Some spice. Like a nutmeg or black pepper spice. More of a coast Zin style than Syrah. But the Syrah does have its role in there. This is a nice gratifying wine with lots of complex flavors. Amazing because it’s coming in HOT at 15% ABV. Must have been very dry and hot in 2015 over there. This could age a bit into itself too. Nice juice. — 2 years ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

Syrah married to Viognier for a daring blend (like Côte-Rotie) on Langedoc lands. Exuberant grape, it expresses spices, coulis of fresh black berries and finally a note of fresh licorice. Supple, early, fresh, delicious. — 4 years ago