Douglas Braun

9.0

2019-Vintage a slight tawny edge , dried strawberry fruit roll up, earth, acetate, floral , very soft, my guess is that this won’t be getting better, but for the time being very complexing — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Pulled from my cellar, popped and poured and presented double-blind to the group. In the glass, the wine appears a deep garnet with a translucent core, a slightly orange rim and some signs of fine sediment on the glass. On the nose, the wine is mature with initial notes of Tootsie Roll and old leather bound books. However after about 40min in the glass, the nose brightens up and begins to show more varietal characteristics: cherries, desiccated flowers, fennel, damp earth, leather and espresso. On the palate, the wine is bone dry and the tannin’s are still quite firm. Acid is medium+ and the finish is long. Alcohol is medium. A very lovely mature wine! Guesses were all in Italy but further north in Piemonte (Barbaresco mostly) and much, much younger with most settling on late 90’s. I don’t drink a lot of modern wines from Antinori but this was quite the charmer with 41 years of age on it. If anyone has any well stored examples, drink now with about 40min of air. That being said, there is enough life for these to soldier on for another 5-10 but this is very clearly in the twilight of its life. Something else of note: the cork was extracted completely intact. It was one of those cute little stubby ones more typical of the time. — 3 years ago

Shay A

9.2

My experience with South African red wines is limited, but I’ve enjoyed some Meerlust reds and a few other random bottles. I have to say, while this wasn’t a revelation, it is the best South African wine I’ve had to date.

This was a bottle opened blind for a few people. Oddly enough, there were similarities to this and a 2013 Almaviva…a burnt rubber/tire note on the nose alongside a vegetal/herbal pronounced note on the nose. Tangy/sour black cherries, red currant and red licorice too. Mostly red and black underripe fruit dominant. Even a bit of tar. This drinks like a chinon mixed with a lean vintage Bordeaux…the spice and vegetal flair is there next to the lightweight mid palate from a cooler Bordeaux vintage. A blend of five “noble varietals” in honor of Bordeaux, this was a unique wine that had people guessing from all over the world. After 1-2hrs of air from
bottle, it was balanced/integrated and ready to roll. I’d enjoy these sooner rather than later. — 4 years ago

Ted

9.2

Same restaurant almost a year later. New vintage. Delicious. Ready to roll. — 2 years ago

with Jeni

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Liquid jelly aromas of grapefruit and nectarine. Spice and gorgeous aromas. Floral. So complex. Just an insane nose. 9.5. or 9.6 nose. Very harmonious and lovely sweet pink grapefruit. Great acids. So complete. Long. Amazing. So harmonious and soothing. Amazing fruit. The extra skin contact gives this another dimension of complexity. — 3 years ago

Daron Watson

9.5

dark fruit, tobacco, cigar box, pencil shavings,

gobs of juicy fruit, bay leaf and bell pepper finish

over time fruit leans to roll ups, as well as including dried prunes and dates — 3 years ago

Michael Drapkin

8.9

Fine bubbles. Medium Bodied. Pink Friut. Fermentation notes—toast, butter, tootsie roll. Mouth filling smoothly textured. Spicy. Smokey. — 2 years ago

MaJ CappS

9.0

Smells of dark things

Tastes of Dark things - tar, cigar, eucalyptus, old worn leather, blackberry roll up, more of that menthol, well integrated tannin, and slap happy High alcohol.
From the maker of the old 3 rings.. — 2 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Surprisingly delicious at 10 years of age. Wonderful ripe Napa jelly fruit. Surprisingly good acid, the tannins have receded but still provide some structure. Rarely drink Napa merlot but this is compelling. Certainly somewhat biased by the fact that I worked on this vineyard in 2011. Nice pairing with skirt steak on the grill. — 4 years ago

Lindsay Evans

9.4

Smells and tastes like a tootsie roll. Also tried the Chocolat Almond which was the same with an almond extract after taste. Preferred the regular — 4 years ago