Rustic, farmer wine. Loved it. — 4 years ago
Excellent wine, the style is minimalist but very focussed. The sensation is that of a natural but elegant wine, some sort of a gentleman farmer style, I love it. The nose starts with some leathery hints and with some air it gets quite fruit forward with an accent on black currant and small red fruits. The mouth shows very youthful with firm tannins and a vibrant acidity. I'll buy again. — 5 years ago
1978 Chuck Hope left beverage job, moved to Paso Robles, became farmer, & top grape grower. Working with his father, Austin led family into winemaking in ‘95, creating his label in 2000. #7 on Top 100 list, Grapes from 5 small blocks of Paso Robles AVAs, aged in 75% new French oak, 18 mos. Dark deep Ruby, aromas of sweet ripe black fruits & dried smoky tobacco spices. Flavors of ripe blackberry, sweet cacao, espresso & vanilla oak. Big wine, fine tannins, long fruit finish, vanilla overwhelms fruit. The 15% ABV has slight burn. — 4 years ago
We recently pulled some cases out of storage, which haven't seen the light of day for nearly 15 years, so I'll have some fun posts in the next several months.
Nose has dried vanilla bean, dehydrated cherry, oak sawdust, mashed blackberry, used coffee grounds, dried strawberry and dried blueberry.
Palate has tanned leather, very dried cherry, over-ripe plum, plum skin, hardwood charcoal, dried raspberry with a mildly tannic grip remaining.
This bottle is in its sweet spot, likely will hold here (in proper storage) for another 5-8 years before decline. Don't ever count out Chilean wines for longevity!
Paired with a beautiful merlot steak from a local farmer in Columbia Co. NY (Kinderhook Farm), boiled then smashed red potatoes finished with a compound herb butter and fresh, local asparagus. I'm finally grilling, and it's barely May!
(Also a stellar pairing with dark chocolate peanut butter cups!) — 5 years ago
Quite nice with Farmer John baked ham ($20) — a year ago
Simply delicious Burg! Light colored. Intriguing and attractive nose of forest floor red berries and an interesting mysterious note of woodsy perfume of some kind carrying through to a liveliness and dancing texture. More pure pleasure than the complexity and depth folks chase after. Excellent finish to cap it off. Hard to find. Hopefully another bottle left. Yum. What a GL 29 buy back then! A traditionally made wine, 50 barrels with no sulfur. Gardener than farmer as DR says! — 4 years ago
Vintage 2016 | cardinal red with slight brown rim, true to type Bordeaux smell, cedar, plums, blackberries, very vibrant taste with lovely acidity, long aftertaste, I am fond of Fronsac, in between gentleman farmer and nobility. | Paired with a cabbage stew and deer meatballs — 4 years ago
Samuel Sabori
Drank with a farmer in Kenya, his eyes lit up. We are talking smallholder value. Perfect bottle for the moment. — 21 hours ago