Anthony De Blasi

9.4

I went for an alternative Bordeaux than the classic ones for the 2016’s since prices were becoming too exaggerated (what changed in the meantime?🤔). Well, this Acte 8 is really great. Almost 50/50 Merlot and Cab Franc with a great balance between fruit and rustic touches — a month ago

Will Stanley

9.6

Truly benchmark Rioja, La Rioja Alta’s ‘904’ Gran Reserva from the 2010 vintage - as fabled in Rioja as it is in Bordeaux - is a disarmingly gorgeous wine with superb ageing potential. I first tried this wine over two years ago, and found it a little closed at the time and was underwhelmed by the palate. The nose was terrific though, and that holds true today - it’s simply breathtaking, the sort of wine you spend ten minutes sniffing before taking your first sip. Today’s palate, however, is well and truly open for business. What a veritable explosion of flavour; a kaleidoscopic array of the best of both traditional and modern Rioja, all of it fresh, none of it tired, with a pure and ethereal presence of black and blue fruits, flowers, vanilla bean, clove, clementine and macerated cherry. When wine folk talk of a long finish, this wine gets a nod - it leaves an imprint on one’s palate that lasts minutes. I’m quite amazed by the improvement that two years has afforded this wine, both bottles bought at the same time and stored side-by-side in my cellar. At last, this has begun to show its potential and I cannot wait to see how it develops in the coming 20, 30, 40 years.

In the meantime, do not sleep on the 2010 Viña Ardanza, a wine that I have enjoyed many a time in the last two years, and one that would be included in my all-time list of value fine wines, were anyone to ask!

96+ — a year ago

Ted Corvey

9.0

I really enjoyed this wine, but got the sense it will really improve with some bottle age. Plan on getting more to lay down if I can keep my hands off it in the meantime. — 5 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

Our relatively new good boi Bandol is wondering when he’ll get a little treat tonight. In the meantime, this is a nice value treat for me. Think of it as the Napa version of a top-flight Cru Bourgeois. Nose has a lot going on. Vanilla, cedar, plummy fruit, graphite, dry gravel, new leather. Nicely balanced and round in the mouth. Tannins are quite soft. Not great concentration but loads of flavor. Some alcoholic pepperiness pokes through on the back half of the palate. But can’t complain at all at under $30 (except about the unnecessarily heavy bottle). — 5 months ago

Romain Fitoussi

9.0

A crunchy Croze. The colour is superb with purple-grenat tones, brilliant and deep. Open and charming nose of red and black fruits. On the palate, the aromatic palette is wide: crunchy fresh fruits, accompanied by the typical floral and peppery notes of Syrah; mineral notes of graphite evoking Malbec (at blindly one could misunderstand), well-contained mentholed herbaceous notes. A bold and smoked side giving consistency to tasting. Digestial and easy to drink. It's drinked with two bottles! Curious to see how it would evolve over 3/5 years in the meantime, it's delicious.

Un Croze au fruité croquant. La robe est superbe avec des tons pourpres-grenat, brillante et profonde. Nez ouvert et charmeur sur des notes de fruits rouges et noirs, de la violettes. En bouche la palette aromatique est large : du fruit croquant et frais, accompagnés des notes florales et poivrées typique de la Syrah; des notes minérales de graphite évoquant le Malbec (à l’aveugle on pourrait s’y méprendre), des notes herbacées mentholées bien contenues. Un côté gras et fumé donnant de la consistance à la dégustation. Digeste et facile à boire. Ça se boit par deux bouteilles! Curieux de voir comment ça évoluerait sur 3/5 ans en attendant, c’est délicieux. — 3 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.2

More music coming soon. In the meantime, this will have to do. Power/elegance in pitch perfect balance. Great stuff on a summer night. — 5 years ago

Gregory Spock

8.9

In my next life I want to be a fado singer. In the meantime, this easy drinking, lemon forward, hints of herbs (tarragon, thyme) will completely suffice. Surprised by the low marks. — 7 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

I had to take a photo of the back label so Delectable could identify it. (The front label is black and kind of minimalist.) But in the meantime Delectable lost my notes from last night. I will update with notes from the rest of the bottle tonight.

Okay, so here’s night 2: The nose shows this is a relatively extracted Bojo. Lots of crumbly granite and very dark fruit. An almost animal note. Densely-flavored and dry in the mouth. Seems old fashioned, no carbonic maceration frivolity. But while extracted, there’s no bitterness or astringency on the palate. There are tannins, but they’re reined in nicely. I like the balance and the old school vibe here. — a year ago

AEL

9.0

This stuff is phenomenal, and has been, going back at least 20 years. Technically a barley wine. Strong notes of caramel and cake. Well worth the $10/bottle. — 4 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Quite fun. Refreshing and fruit forward with candied grapefruit and raspberry that are not sweet though. Sprightly. Someone was dancing with limes nearby. A limey backdrop of freshness that makes this good with spicy or savory. I want to re-try with Taco Bell fries when they resurface, in the meantime my veg-fiend self is gobbling my usual gallons of raw cauliflower dipped in Sriracha. Y’all, my food/wine writer life is so glam n lit.
Or not. But the drinks are good and the veggies are your friend. — 5 years ago