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 — 3 years ago
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. — 6 years ago
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. — 10 days ago
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. — 4 years ago
Great fruit forward red, smooth — a year ago
Really enjoyed - balanced and good drinking — 2 years ago
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. — 5 years ago
Matt Waring
Plush, ripe, and approachable. Black fruit; graphite; vegetables. Splendid — 18 days ago