Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2023 | great effort, real charmer with beautiful fruitiness — 8 months ago

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9.1

The 2022 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is redolent of sweet dried cherry, spice, new leather, mint and sweet pipe tobacco. This aromatic, gracious Pinot is a charmer. All the elements are nicely balanced throughout. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2024)
— a year ago

Peter Sultan

9.2

Decanted less than an hour but still strutted its stuff during a sloppy Knicks first playoff win: rose petals, ripe red cherries, autumnal leaves, all folded into an elegant fine tannin & medium bodied, svelte charmer. — 3 years ago

with Owen

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Best on Day 1. The 2011 “Caravina” pours a deep, we’re going to call opaque, garnet with some slight browning towards the rim. There appear to be signs of very light sediment. Medium viscosity and medium staining of the tears. On the nose, cassis, tobacco, bell pepper and the faint smell of baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and notes from the nose are confirmed. Medium tannin and medium acid. Finish is a bit clipped so I would place at medium-. On Day 2, the wine was still intact but it seemed to have lost some of the energy that it had on Day 1 and now came across even more green and earthy than before.

This 2011 Caravina is probably the most “2011” Cabernet from Napa that I’ve had in some time. It’s green and lacks the structure I would want for longevity. While I would still call this a good wine, it’s not the charmer that Caravina is in most vintages these days. Drink now with a meal. In this case, it worked well enough with Cincinnati-style chili 😋.
— 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.1

30% Montepulciano, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese, 10% Marselan, and 10% Alicante & an absolute charmer — 8 months ago

ESF

9.5

Spectacular! Really wanted something special and this delivered: purchased in CdP, and lugged across the world 12 years afterwards. Showing some maturity w/med ruby colored and bricking on edges. After 30mins in decanter started showing enticingly complex nose of Chinese 5 spice, mulberry, stewed blueberry, bramble & bush, white pepper, sweet earth, baking spices, hoisin, etc. A real charmer. Med weight on palate, lithe smooth graceful regal, impeccable balance & cut. Stood up to grilled NY Strip & Filets w/sautéed shiitake, asparagus & baby potatoes. — a year ago

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9.2

The 2019 Pinot Noir Jolie is the most ethereal and lifted of these Pinots. Crushed red berry fruit, cedar, mint and orange peel hover across the palate. Understated and classy to the core, the 2019 is impeccably balanced, not to mention a real charmer. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2023) — 3 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2018 | Tasted blind | Deep dark colour with a cardinalred rim, rich smell with wagon loads of cherries, still tannins and a promising attraction. Charmer. — 9 months ago

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9.2

The 2021 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard is bright and effusive. Crushed red berry fruit, flowers, dried herbs and a kiss of sweet French oak are nicely lifted. This racy, exuberant Pinot is quite the charmer. It, too, will benefit from a bit of cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, November 2023)
— 2 years ago

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9.0

The 2021 Soave is a charmer. Vividly fruity, floral and wickedly fresh on the nose, it blends candied lime and salty minerals with sour melon, all driven by juicy acidity. A tropical flourish appears as this tapers off with lovely tension. Enjoy soon to take advantage of its zesty character. $15.00 (Eric Guido, Vinous, April 2023) — 3 years ago