Kurt Schuster

9.2

One of those times they can’t claim to be a professional and just describe what I’m saying. Unfiltered, the wine is cloudy intention because it definitely affects the taste. You just get a bit of Dusty greediness in the flavor and while the smell is pure and clean crisp. The taste has a bit of exposure you gonna have to chew what’s going on. Lemon curd, waxy, unripe peach, some greedy dust from you not washing your fruits before you eat them. The acidity is there, but with the unfiltered nitrate seems like it doesn’t fully express the structure but it’s interesting because I haven’t had a wine like this so I don’t really know what I’m talking about. It seems like it’s a tight wine at the same time. There’s something in there that just makes it linger and chew and coat your tongue. Really enjoyed it completely.  — a month ago

with Denise

Martin Bergo

9.3

With >200 yrs of family history in Rheingau, this producer naturally grows mostly Riesling, but this PN is stunning. Medium-deep ruby brick color; nose of red and blue small ripe fruits, pronounced spiciness, and new oak but in amounts best described by the Swedish word ”lagom” (just enough); low alcohol but with a respectable structure from acids and small tannins, mouthfilling and a long finish where violets, mint, strawberries, and herbs linger. — 5 years ago

John A

9.4

Berries up front that linger. Fabulous fruit, young but can drink alone or with food — 6 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.2

The nose is full of citrus - lemon, lime and bit of orange, a splash of grapefruit - with some excellent minerality and salinity on the other side of the scales. The palate follows suit, with an acidity level that is nice, but not quite as racy as I expected. Minerals linger on a finish that serves as a lovely reminder of a beautiful sip of white wine.
— 6 years ago

Justin Hart

9.5

Beautiful new vintage! The latest VR Special is true to all the vintages before it, smooth/reposed, easy to sip. Tobacco, cherry, vanilla and cola notes mingle divinely and linger sweetly... yum, just yum! — 7 years ago

with Cherish and Jen

Chris England

9.6

This is still my favourite Rioja & vintage at present, worth £80 😍 My 10th try & still a beauty I can’t resist 👍 I exemplifies the pure essence a high quality Rioja 👏

📍 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 890 2001

▶️ @lariojaaltasa 🤗

🏵 96 points

🍇 95% Tempranillo, 3% Graciano & 2% Mazuelo

🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge

👃 Smoked oak through mashed earthy cherries covered in vanilla coconut cream, balsamic jam & double caramel choc mocha w/ red liquorice, truffle, prune, date & light spiced herbs #nosetasia

👄 Med body of rich smooth silky creamy dark & red cherry bathed in balsamic goo w/ melted mocha & earthy liquorice

🎯 Long balsamic cherry mocha berry blast w/ a balsamic linger, touch of woody oak & red berry — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.5

Fab 05 top Rioja @ £70-100 in a great year & a fav of mine - will keep improving but great now 😉 Awesome 2020-30 👍

📍 Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 2005

🏵 95 points w/ 96-98 potential

🍇 89% Tempranillo & 11% Mazuelo

🍷 Deep ruby

👃 Soft oak through dark spiced berries, currants & cherry with creamy vanilla, light smoked tobacco, leather, mocha, coconut, mint & balsamic into choc cherry gateaux w/ a bit of date coming through

👄 Med+ body of deluxe silky smooth creamy stewed rich dark cherry driven fruits all perfectly balanced w/ thick cocoa cream, vanilla & balsamic touch

🎯 Long seductive oak, cocoa, balsamic & dark fruit cherry boom linger — 8 years ago

Stuart Dershaw

9.0

Started out shaky but rose to an eclectic dinner. Wine after decanting had the right tannins and a dried cherry linger that worked well on my palate. — a year ago

Ameilia Douglas

9.8

Solaia is still hitting the ball out of the park. Top three of the night, beautiful bouquet fills the mouth and that cheerful linger. — 4 years ago

with William

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.5

Color - burnt red with some bricking and a bit cloudy—a savory look indeed! Nose - dark deep cherry, smoked meat, pencil lead, gravel and notes of mint, cream cassis vanilla and with a subtle funky spice at the tail end giving much character to the wine. Taste definitely does not disappoint—an immediate creamy feel and dark cherry, savory, spice initially hits the pallet followed by cocoa, graphite and a smoke like aged vanilla long finish. Dusty tannins linger long after each taste. Loving it!! — 5 years ago

with Karin and Jill

Kevin

8.9

Rose buds and grapes, purple fruits; beaten against the rocks, suffocated at high altitude and fed a thin diet of air and cool sun. An up-front approach, not much to linger. Fleeting and delicious. — 6 years ago

Anne Carman

9.3

Notes of plum, cherry and spice as it opens up. Hint of burnt orange mid palate with soft enveloping tannins, elegant linger and finish. — 7 years ago

Charles Fetter

9.2

Very complex delicious wine. Citrus on the nose. Creamy mouth feel with zesty acid. Pineapple and grapefruit notes that linger. — 7 years ago

Chris England

9.4

A new upcoming Chilean icon blend @ £100-£120 that’s becoming a favourite of mine 😍 Did you know they play relaxing music to the wine in the barrel whilst it develops 💗 I reviewed the 2012 a few weeks back 😉 and can’t wait for 2013 to come out! I’ve still not tried their first 2010 release ... yet

📍 Vina VIK 2011

🏵 94 points w/ much more potential 👍

🍇 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Merlot & 4% Syrah 😍

🍷Opaque blackened ruby

👃 Chocolatey spicy rich blackcurrant & dark plum w/ soft oak, vanilla, blackberry, raspberry, dark cherry, wet leaves, herbs, a hint of purple flower, blueberry & minerals

👄 Full body of rich silky intense but balanced black fruits in oozy melted chocolate & creamy blueberry w/ a raspberry liquorice backbone in fine rock minerals

🎯 Long black fruit, raspberry, touch dry mineral & cocoa linger w/ a lasting purple teeth stain 😁 — 7 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

Burnt blood orange, autumnal spices, candied ginger, dried nectarines and a lifting hint of mint create a kaleidoscopic bouquet as the 2022 Ben Ryé blossoms in the glass. Weighty and velvety in feel yet remarkably fresh, it floods the palate with masses of tropical citrus, mango and papaya, all supported by a core of zesty acidity. The 2022 finishes with dramatic length and concentration. A peach nectar resonance and savory spices linger on and on. The 2022 is sure to join the ranks of the best vintages of Ben Ryé. It finished at 200 grams per liter of residual sugar. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2024)
— 2 years ago

Kristen Grimes

10

Ripe and tart red and black fruits with rich earthy aromas, light on the palate with the same flavors and big but gentle tannins that linger. — 4 years ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland

9.1

A treat to try this 2013 Caymus Special Selection compared to the 2002 one we tried a few nights ago. A completely different style. Dark purplish-black in color. Black plum-cherry fruits jump out of the glass and an aroma of smokey vanilla and floral notes float. Scents of toasty oak and cassis linger. Taste—bold dark berry and cherry fruits full of flavor hit the pallet with vanilla and mocha notes surfacing. Toasty oak licorice and cassis complete the medium plus finish. A big rich wine—nothing shy about it! Easy drinking on this holiday evening. — 5 years ago

with Karin, Jill and 1 other

Nicole Hanusek

9.4

Celebrated with this bottle

I’m not a fan of tart flavors that linger and make my mouth pucker, this has some tartness but it didn’t last long — 7 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Wonderful wine. Oak; straw, and vaguely barnyard aromas. Palate opens with stone fruit and oak then evolves into a full middle palate. Big and bold but not heavy. Toffee notes linger with oak and citrus notes on the finish. Super long. Changes with every sip. — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Chris England

9.7

The 2001 Clos Mogador was stunning aged drank in 2017 but this 2013 @ £65, now £80-£100 as a 98 Parker pointer, has massive potential 😁 Beautiful now but give this 10+yrs & you have a fab priced 98+ point wine in the making 😍 28k bottles so buy if you can 👍

📍 Clos Mogador 2013

🏵 97 points w/ 99+ potential I’d say

🍇 49% Grenache, 25% Carignan, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon & 16% Syrah 😍

🍷 Opaque deep ruby w/ purple hue

👃 Rich mocha infused spiced dark cherry/berry bang w/ minerals, pencil lead, herbs, soggy earth, raspberry coulis, hint of prune, soft smoked oak & crushed violets

👄 Med+ to Full bodied ripe creamy smooth dark berry/cherry oozy chocy mocha infused silky boom choc raspberry gateaux fest w/ a rock mineral stoney backbone

🎯 Long deep dark fruits & cocoa linger w/ a raspberry slap & mineral kiss - choc cherry gateaux in a glass 💥 😍

🧀 Paired w/ aged Manchego & Iberian ham 🐷 — 7 years ago