Conrad Green

9.6

Gorgeous fruit. Great balance and acidity. Goat resolved oak with red cherry. Pretty and long — 8 days ago

with Matt and Paul

Jay Kline

9.3

Double decanted two nights before service. The 2006 pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of desiccated fruit and funky umami notes: bruised and desiccated strawberry, red rope licorice, nori, Cherry Dr. Pepper, cracked black pepper and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long and saline; it just hangs around forever. Initially, this came across as bit backward but it really gained power and character the more time it spent in the glass. Drink now with patience and through 2036. — 16 days ago

Will Stanley

9.4

A gift from my old man for my thirtieth birthday this year. My last experience with this wine was the 2001, enjoyed around ten years ago. I described then how the wine lived up to its popular reputation. Happy to reaffirm that feeling with this 1994, that is an absolutely gorgeous, captivating wine that ticks every box one may have for older Rioja. It marries sweet with sour in that way that the best wines from this region do, a medley of ripe blueberries with sour cherry; bitter orange, coconut, balsamic, tobacco and cranberry. The finish is long, with flecks of sweetness that beg you for another sip. I would imagine that Faustino produce in excess of a million bottles of this stuff, given the size of their holdings, which only impresses me even more that it turns out so well. — a month ago

Jeroen Koenen

9.2

Shifting to a more feminine and elegant profile, after almost 20 years this still has a lot to offer. Complex fruity and umami notes of cherry, currants, pepper, spice, cured meat, tossed earth and truffle.
Great effort, year after year. — a day ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Aldo Vaira took control of the family vineyards in 1968, when he was just 15 years old. Today, G.D. Vajra consists of 150 acres, mostly around the commune of Barolo.
Ruby with a rich bouquet of fruit, spices and floral notes, fruit from several vineyards, aged 26 months in Slavonian oak casks. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with notes of pepper, cinnamon and floral, slight earthy notes. Long finish, nice balance with fine soft tannins ending with earthy floral notes. Enjoyable now, a few more years will benefit. — 21 hours ago

Jess

8.9

Deep ruby color.
Aromas of tobacco, cherry, tomato leaf.
Dry. Flavors of tomato leaf, tobacco, leather, dried cherry. Rich, chewy tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — a month ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Showing well with dried cherry, strawberry fruit, savory spice, dried herbs, rose petal & tobacco. — 22 days ago

Ming L

9.3

Quite approachable at this young age. 30 minutes decant and it’s open for business. Aromas of dark cherry, blackberry, sweet spices, cocoa, and lightly roasted nuts. The depth of flavors and elegant medium to full body show the pedigree. If blinded, I would not be able to tell this is a Sangiovese dominant blend. Would prefer a bit more acidity. But who am I to complain. — 3 days ago

Greg Anderson

9.0

Delicious soft tannins ruby red cherry and blackberry. — a month ago

Jess

9.1

Deep ruby color.
Aromas of blackberry/raspberry compote, spice.
Dry. Flavors of black cherry, leather, peppercorn,
Espresso, roasted red pepper, roasted herbs. Rich, chewy tannins.
Intensity: 3/5
Complexity: 4/5
Balance: 4/5
Finish: 4/5 — a month ago