Andrea Watt

9.1

Pear and lemon but light and fresh with mineral. Crisp and bright. — a month ago

Vanessa

9.3

We absolutely love exploring the world’s many expressions of Pinot Noir!  It’s a lifelong endeavor and we’re here for it. 😆

Tonight, we’re taking a sensory trip to South America and, more specifically, Río Negro, Patagonia 🇦🇷 – the most southerly wine-producing region of Argentina – where Antarctic currents, winds descending from the Andes, & high latitudes offer cooling influences, ideal for producing elegant Pinot Noir styles.

Bodega Chacra was established in 2003 by Tuscan Piero Incisa della Rocchetta (grandson of Sassicaia’s founding father) in search of purity and nuance in fruit expression from the terroir of Patagonia. 🍇
 
Piero now partners with esteemed Burgundian winemaker (and friend) Jean-Marc Roulot in the production process, each contributing their respective oenological “genes” to the final wine, which is first and foremost a child of the earth in Mainqué, Río Negro. 🌱
 
Paying utmost respect to the land, Bodega Chacra cares for its vineyards organically and biodynamically aided, in part, by the arid, windy conditions that naturally mitigate fungal pressure in the vineyard. Their fruit is harvested by hand, allowing for selectivity and the use of whole bunches during fermentation. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

This wine is called ‘Cincuenta Y Cinco’ (fifty five) because its fruit comes from vines first planted in 1955, carefully preserved by the team at Bodega Chacra, whose oldest vines actually date back to 1932!

This wine was fermented in cement vats using native yeast, adapted to the environment and matured 11 months (50% in concrete, 50% in French oak of various ages) before release. ⚖️

In a word this wine is ethereal.
 
We served it with a slight chill. Its pristine, berry and cherry fruit profile, complements the delicate cherry blossom, peony 🌺 and baking spice notes. It’s light on its feet w/ medium alcohol (12% ABV) and bright acidity.  It’s lovely & perfumed.

Cheers to Bodega Chacra and all of the beautiful Pinots of Patagonia! — 3 years ago

with Deked1

Michael Pfeiffer

9.6

Great dessert wine. Smoothly defying the high ABV — 6 years ago

Robert Henalt

9.1

Nicely oaked. Dark red fruit good finish. Delicious — 7 years ago

James Forsyth

9.1

Impromptu dinner at Harvard Club's Great Hall. Christmas is done very well with beautiful strings of lights, a huge gingerbread train set and the fifty foot Christmas tree. This Brunello was tasty for the delicious yet simple club food. Midweight, tons of vanilla and blueberries, this wine is fairly straightforward but appealing. I am reminded, however, why I prefer the straight Brunellos to their Riserva cousins: less is more when it comes to time in barrel. — 9 years ago

with Cara

Carl Fischer

9.4

Under fifty bucks?!?!? If you like new world chards: Find this. Buy this. Drink this. — 9 years ago

Ericsson

9.1

A Matute classic. Shows a great blend of power and elegance with a fifty-fifty blend of Cab and Merlot. — a year ago

Perry Atha

9.5

Purchased in Seaside Fl during the 2022 Red wine festival. 2018 vintage one of the best Pinot Noirs I’ve enjoyed. Smooth finish - will definitely search for more. — 4 years ago

Rob N

9.2

I quite enjoyed this wine, but difficult following up after an Opus One! — 5 years ago

Anthony Auger

9.3

Second year of the vertical tasting. Chocolate and raspberry on the nose. Cherry upfront and this interesting hint of watermelon rind in the background. Ends with more heat and tannins than the 2015. — 6 years ago

Pooneet K

8.9

A nice Niagara Chardonnay. Quite full, but not overly rich if that makes sense. You get a bit of sensation from the barrel fermentation but there is no apparent oak, just body. Good acid but one smidge less cohesive on the finish than I’d like. Still nice. — 7 years ago

Eric L.

9.5

A Napa Cabernet Franc tasting with the family today. The Detert and the Larkin were the favorites of the group; both had gorgeous black cherry and blueberry fruit with terrific aromatic intensity. The Gandona Meia and the Studio Seven-Fifty need more time. The Turnbull was slightly corked. — 8 years ago

Ben Jones

9.2

Fresh tobacco leaf and gentle spice box on the nose. Full bodied and full tanic ride to a nice deep red fruit and earth finish. I like this wine a lot. — 9 years ago

AEL

8.9

Granular, ripe and heavy. Syrupy berry and smokey notes. Quite smooth. Enjoyable? Yes. Whopping alcohol level? Yes. Worth fifty bucks? No. At mom's. — a year ago

Wulf Losee

9.7

Even in the Rhone Valley, Rhone blends don’t get any better than this. Heck, very few California wines get better than this! Sitting on a thousand foot deep (at least!) layer cake of limestone and Miocene sea sediments, the Law vineyards produce some of the most deliciously calcaire wines I’ve ever tasted. Absolute bliss to drink.

On the nose: oregano, mint, and 300-year-old books bound in old leather on the nose. Thick cassis fruit and a hint of eucalyptus on the front. Fruity but not jammy! After the foretaste, this wine is held together with soft limestone tannins. The mid-palate is full of mineral high notes underlaid by fifty-million years of plate tectonics. You’re drinking geologic history here as selectively interpreted by Syrah and Grenache grapes! It’s as if you’re tasting what the grape roots are tasting! Not a particularly long finish, but all the same it’s extremely satisfying. Again with the mineral high notes plus eucalyptus, but they’re all balanced by a cool minty soothingness at the back of the throat. Absolutely lovely! — 5 years ago

Richard Hylton

9.6

1970 La Chapelle was just amazing last night. Wonderful fruit and body with fully integrated acids. Fifty years old and it overshadowed a table of terrific wines. — 5 years ago

Kenny Baldridge

9.6

It’s amazing what fifty bucks can get ya. Leather and spice and very nice fruit. Special stuff. — 7 years ago

Matthew Cohen

8.9

Still some oak on the nose. Nice fruit on the palate but not too much. Mild pineapple. Good acidity. Some heat peeking out (14%) but not too much. Most people wouldn’t notice it. All in all not bad. You can do better in burgundy for fifty bucks but This is nice. ... more fruit after a few days open. — 7 years ago

JR Grillo

9.2

Mmmm... port-y! — 9 years ago

Mac Hofeditz

9.0

Delightful Pinot, amazing value Russell Bevan legend — 9 years ago