Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Aged in new, and used oak. Deep Ruby red color, with aromas of ripe dark fruits, spice and floral herbs. On the palate flavors of blackberry, plum wit cacao, toasty oak and cinnamon spice. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, smoky spice, oak and earthy mineral character. Will age! — 4 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2021 | Ventiventi Lambrusco Rosato dell’Emilia | Frizzanto secco | Bio wine | confession: I would never buy a wine with such a childish colorful label. It was recommended to me. So I bought it. Big surprise! It is an elegant, vibrant, refined sparkle. I love it. A very different Sunday bubbly. — 2 years ago

Tim Hinck

9.0

Confession: it’s hard for me to take something so fun seriously. Beautiful floral bouquet (dried),seaside breezes, fruit popping off the brambles. The carbonic making it a little too glou glou for me. — 5 years ago

Andrew Lohse

9.1

First off, the confession: I love and embrace Hofgut Falkenstein with little reserve. They produce Rieslings of serious individual character and precision which are also tasty, approachable, absolutely brilliant with a range of dishes, and of tremendous, in some cases absurd value. This 2018 Krettnacher Euchariusberg kabinett—quite pointedly off-dry—was no deviation from the mean: stony and fresh with notes of ripe white peach, green apple, petrol, and rubber, it showed a sharp attack, ethereal mid-palate, and a fresh, sweet-leaning finish. I suspect these prices to catch up to other more widely-vaunted names. — 7 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

Vintage 2008 / Confession: I am really bad in recognising #tempranillo. So I ‘punish’ myself regularly to taste and drink it 🤨 Today it makes me really happy. A nice roof tiles colour, a smell with spices, warm cooked summerfruit, but above all: E L E G A N C E. Beautiful mouthfeel, satin, smooth. A wine you can easily underestimate, with finesse. Probably I would not recognise it as #rioja tasted blind, it is such a fine wine. Great effort of this Spanish winegrower. / technical: 85% tempranillo 10% graciano and 5% maturana. 30 months aging in French oak barrels. — 8 years ago

Toonie Doolins

9.1

Dry vitamins. Perfect afternoon sparkle for some confession style talks. STRESS ORGASM ANYONE? — 8 years ago

with Heather

Gary Grose

9.2

Ok, confession. We loved this wine and yet I was so jet lagged I fell asleep after I poured 3rd glass. Paired with Lamb ragu and was incredible. Bold cherry and oak yet didn't overwhelm the food. Good with chocolate pie for dessert. — 8 years ago

Thomas Brenner

8.9

I need to Margaux to confession because I've had impure thoughts about this wine — 9 years ago

Bob Yoon

9.0

So…confession time. Due to some drama regarding my client, I had my Barolo for Tony day early. A sip and nothing out of the ordinary. And then, a touch of the typical volatile acidity nestled in a cushion of subtle mocha and dirt. Let’s raise a glass for Gigliotti! — 7 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.6

Confession, really like Spanish red. And I love Ribera Del Duero. And this 2015 Gran Reserva is magic, though I’m told there 2016 vintage is even better — a year ago

Tristan

9.5

Great fruit forward red, smooth — 3 years ago

Jeremy.Buss

9.1

Full confession. . . I’ve driven by this winery in past trips to Sonoma and failed to enter because of the name. But when I saw this bottle on winespies I decided to try. And. . . I wish I had stopped at the winery in prior visits. This 2015 drinks smoothly with soft, medium tannins. A nose that brings cherries and over ripe strawberries to the front with a small spice hint. Palate has the slight earth/chalk tones along with the fruit. A bottle that pairs well with simple homemade pizza or could go with something more elegant. Glad I have more bottles for the future. — 5 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.1

Velvet as can be I picture wrapping up in a purple velvet cloak (okay confession sorta-former goth I could do that right now), hiding in a cedar closet with a glass of creme de cassis, bouquet of lavender and dark music but not to dark. The more air it gets the more interesting things come out. This is the Joy Division of Stellanbosch cabs? Dark and deep yet consumer friendly. Not pop but not quite goth. — 8 years ago

Christina Hansen

9.2

Confession: I am not a huge fan of Australian wines. However, this is a really good wine! It is an inky, full bodied, high alcohol shiraz with strong tannins. The fruit is primarily blackberries and black plums, it's the other aromas I am digging though. It has a lot going on actually but is incredibly balanced! The other strong aromas are tobacco, mushroom, eucalyptus, and olive. Hang on, there is a tertiary aroma of cured meat! Someone get me a rack of lamb, STAT! — 8 years ago

Nicole Ocasio

9.0

Confession: This is that one bottle that one must purchase bc of the beautiful label. Turns out it is actually a really good wine. It looks light but it has a heavier bold taste, fruity with a dry finish. — 9 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

Here is a confession! I try very hard to quit delectable and give it up: But then the wines come along with a personal connection. I visited Silvio in the early 2000‘s and we tried his 2003. Great wine in a hot vintage. His son was born 2003. Ever since i have a soft spot for his wines. # This one is quite spectacular. Drink now it is f….great or keep for 10 years +. Classic. Sold out at Kermit Lynch. I bought just one bottle. 😢 Enough said. — 9 months ago

Tom Garland

9.0

1.5 hour decant(decent chunky/cloudy sediment). A delightful deep murky dark garnet color with slight bricking. On the nose: Nice muted nose of forest floor, cigar, strawberry, burnt coffee, floral, start of that sweet aged perfume. Taste: smooth, fresh, medium body wine with big cassis, earthy, minerals, plum, crushed rocks, and spiced tobacco medium plus finish.....still a little austere and thin on the end with some unresolved tannins. Will it come together with more time?

Confession: these notes may not be reliable......bought a case of this off vintage wine.....going to like it whether I did or not — 5 years ago

with Brenda

Mike Mayer

9.5

Upfront confession. This is my absolute most favorite winery in Napa. The Clarke family are super people (not to mention Spencer and Amizetta are from Texas). This wine is a beautiful deep ruby leaning almost to purple in color. Great hints of dark fruit, baking spices, cedar and leather on the nose. On the palate there are fantastic flavors of blueberries, black plums, dark cherries, cocoa and dark chocolate. The tannins are fully ripe and sweet. A very balanced wine with a long fruity finish. On top of making great wines they have an unparalleled view of Lake Hennessey from their outdoors tasting area. The only thing that would make this wine better is if I was sitting there enjoying it with the Clarke’s. — 7 years ago

with Lisa

P A

9.7

Delectable friends: full confession I am not a vodka drinker but last night at the Ice Bar in the Lizard Lodge with friends we enjoyed this Swedish hand crafted vodka that blew us away. Smooth with a peppery mouth feel this vodka could make me a convert. Cheers to the Sweden 🇸🇪🥃 — 8 years ago

Roman Sukley

10

2002 Sine Qua Non “Just For The Love Of It” Syrah. 15.2% Alcohol. So I have a confession to make. When this wine was released and Mr. Parker rated it 100 points (and correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this might have been the first Parker SQN 100 pointer), I couldn’t wait to pull the cork. And when I did, I was totally.......underwhelmed! I began questioning Parker. Questioning Manfred. Questioning my palate. What was I missing? What was my problem? Could I continue on in this world? Well, I never did reconcile things, and then “Papa” was released and all was right with the world again. So here we are, 15 years hence, and I’m here to report that Mr. Parker knew what he was talking about after all. We’re talking absolute perfection screaming from my Zalto stem. Notes of exotic flowers, toasty oak, anise and spice box on the nose. Just gorgeous. I could swirl and sniff all evening. On the palate, a predominance of sweet black currant, white pepper, blackberries and plum jam. Juicy, opulent, intense, pure. Stunning really. Endless finish. I haven’t tasted this wine in ten years because as I said, it never impressed me. But it just jumped up to co-number 1 SQN Syrah with me along with “Poker Face” and “The 17th Nail In My Cranium.” One addendum to Mr. Parker’s review which stated this wine would drink well for 10-15 years. This piece of art is just getting started! Remember, “...never for money.” — 9 years ago