Scott E. Becker

9.1

[Tasted on April 26, 2024 at Tom’s House with Tom]

Wine is Jasper Freestone single vineyard from Sonoma Coast. Red plum, raspberry and pomegranate fruit, with vanilla, tea and mineral notes. Silky wine. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

First, the Gentaz and now, Verset?! Be still my beating heart! Noël Verset is a freaking legend. His first vintage was during the period of peace between the first and second world war which means, for most of his career, Cornas was a tough place to make a living making wine. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that things began to turn around and by that time, Noël was in his 70’s. Talk about perseverance. By the time he made this 1996 vintage, he had already started selling off some of his vineyards and by 2006, he was done making wine altogether. 

And this 1996? It is lighter in color than the other wines in the Cornas line-up; almost a pale garnet with a transparent core. The nose is just crazy. I just wanted to smell it for the rest of the night. Wild mixed berries, dried purple flowers, garrigue, tobacco, and coffee. This was a Cornas of elegance and thinner on the palate relative to the Allemand and Clape. Long finish. Divine with venison, umami bomb, potato and pearl onion. Drinking very well now and could hold for longer but why? — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

8.9

I was expecting more from this reputable producer of Chianti. The bottom line is that this is too young to be drinking now, especially for such a long living wine. The mid palate needs to fill out to catch up with the tannic finish which means the wine finishes with some astringency. Needs to rest in a cool cellar for 5 to 10 years at least. — 8 months ago

with Hugh and Georgina

Norman Gennaro

9.0

It’s still too young for me but I wanted to pull one. Medium nose where I get a bit of green-ness. The finish is light and there is a bit of green on the palate as well. Hoping the rest get better with age. — 23 days ago

UWS

9.3

20231125 Rest. Enoclub Alba with Wakano
Same wine as on 21.11.23.
EUR 75.00 — 5 months ago

Grant & Jullie

9.2

Quite surprising. Smelled of black currants, blackberries. Tasted of prunes with nice acid at the end and not much tannins. Really dark fruit. — 7 months ago

George Chen

9.4

Damn…perfect cork, high neck, in my cellar maybe 2 decades! Had to move over 1000 bottles due to leak …found some fun stuff…agree with rest of pro comments…all there! — 9 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

It’s early, likely very early, to be messing with the ‘21 Hayne Petite Syrah from Turley. Typically inky, this new vintage has a mineral driven nose that’s crisper than usual. It’s velvety smooth, loaded with plum, lead pencil, and other good dark things. The tannins are firm to steely at this point; the rest are going away for 5-15+ years. — a month ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

A blend of 80% Tempranillo with 15% Garnacha, rest Graciano and Mazuelo, aged 5 years in American oak, deep Ruby with aromas of ripe jammy fruits, spice and tobacco notes, resulting from a warm dry growing season. On the palate flavors of ripe plum, blueberry and ripe cherry with spice, tobacco and cedar notes. Fine big rustic tannins, long finish, savory ending with tobacco and leather notes. Nice! — 3 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.8

Opus One. Yes!! There is lot going on here. Perfumes of rosemary on the elegant side and that leather/cigar thing with blackberry hint on the firmer side. And they do not conflict. Going to let the last six of this vintage rest for another 5 years — 7 months ago