Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Located in the Toro region of Spain. Its four vineyards are located along the south bank of the Duero River, aged 18 mos in 60% new French oak. Bright Ruby, complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. On the palate blackberry fruit, powerful, elegant, with spice & smoky notes on full, very fine tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip!! Will age! — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened about two hours prior to service and allowed to breath. Two bottles were opened tonight from the same cellar and both corks showed some saturation but only through the first 1/3. No formal notes. A blend of Gaja’s 14 single-vineyards, 1997 “Barbaresco” pours a fairly youthful looking deep garnet color with moderate signs of sediment. The nose was initially shy but opened with air and revealed beautiful aromas of red and black fruits, tar, red and pink flowers, leather, dried earth and minerals. The structure is still going strong at 26 years young and I would still place the the tannins in the medium+ category. The finish is long and full of savory minerals. While I wouldn’t hesitate to pull the cork at this stage, these will be a joy to drink through 2037. This was a sublime paring with agnolotti stuffed with sweet corn, porcini and taleggio and a lot more of a classic representation of Barbaresco than I was expecting. Bravo! — 3 years ago

Keith Morris

9.0

Fantastic French Rosé. Not too sweet, very nice color. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Tried twice. Blend of 67% Cab Sauv and 33% Merlot, bigger Cab% in ‘17. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, oak and spice. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry, plum and currants with licorice and cigar box spice adding some cedar and slight floral notes. Fine ripe tannins, long finish ending with layers of fruit, cedar and spice. A joy to drink. Opening now but will last another decade+. Nice! — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Tried this about a year ago, tried again, aged nicely! HALL Wines is located in Napa Valley and employs organic small-vine viticulture and precision winemaking. ‘16 is a blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cab Sauv. Very deep Ruby with rich berry fruit aromas, complex but not overpowering adding a touch of floral and spice. On the palate rich fruit, raspberry and cherry flavors with sweet vanilla, cacao and some oak. Smooth tannins, great balance, long finish, a joy to drink. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Deep Ruby with aromas of juicy berry fruits and floral notes. On the palate flavors of ripe blackberry and cherry flavors, elegant, with spice & smoky notes on full tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip!! Tasting great, has more aging potential. — 6 years ago

Donald Williams

9.3

Another Sunday brunch with Joy Sterling. Virtual brunch, unfortunately. Really nice bubbly, lots of yeast. Worked perfectly with a salad and some mini pecan and veggie frittatas. — 6 years ago

with Bonnie

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

Château Canon-La-Gaffelière 2023 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Premier Grand Cru Classé

Overview
An immediately approachable yet confidently structured Saint-Émilion driven by Merlot 45% blend with Cabernet Franc 45% and Cabernet Sauvignon 10% as a support. Expressive dark fruit, polished tannins, and vibrant freshness combine to deliver a wine that feels energetic, juicy, and dangerously easy to drink while still carrying clear pedigree and depth.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, ripe raspberry, plum skin, violet, crushed limestone, sweet baking spice, cocoa nib, subtle graphite and fresh herbal lift.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with a silky, flowing entry, finely textured tannins, lively yet integrated acidity, supple mid-palate juiciness, and a clean, polished finish that glides effortlessly.

Food Pairings
Grilled duck breast, pork tenderloin, herb-crusted lamb, mushroom tagliatelle, aged Gouda, charcuterie boards.

Verdict
A beautifully tuned balance between accessibility and sophistication. The wine shows clarity of fruit, finesse of structure, and immediate pleasure without sacrificing complexity, a modern, confident Saint-Émilion expression.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is pure driving joy, confident lines through the corners but relaxed enough to enjoy the scenery. Slightly juicy, deliciously drinkable, and dangerously charming, it’s the kind of bottle that disappears faster than expected while still leaving a serious impression. — 6 months ago

Vino Joe

9.4

Smokey and resonant. This was a mature joy. Lots of complexity with the fruit. Color was a nice darker red. — 3 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.5

No surprise this was wine of the Christmas Europe trip. Initially quite high-tones and acid dominated (even after 90 mins’ decant). Nose of graphite and blackcurrant— and soaringly so. Eventually settled to darker fruit. Not fleshy in any way, just plumes of flavor incredibly well-knit. Always a joy for how seemingly *not* powerful it is— that is until the structure registers like a bass blast. — 4 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.3

Rich, lush red fruit with hints of flint and tobacco. Complex and well structured. It lingers on the mid pallet for an age. High quality and a joy to drink 🍷 — 5 years ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

And once in a while amongst still half a case of (too) old chateauneuf you find a bottle that has survived the time. Color clear, transparent at the edge going from yellow to deeper orange to scarlet. Nose complex and alive. Peppery, garigue, sweet. A joy to drink especially when you expect close to vinegar. What will the last 6 bottles bring ? — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

BV grapes were first planted back in 1900, by founder Georges de Latour. A blend of mostly Cab Sauv with a bit of Petit Verdot. Outstanding! Deep Ruby with complex berry fruit aromas adding in toasty floral spice. On the palate big full flavors of blackberry, cherry and sweet plum flavors with licorice and cacao, adding some cedar notes. Soft velvet tannins, young, long finish, well integrated and nicely balanced, a joy to drink. Will Benefit from long aging. — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Had the ‘16 about a year ago, tried again. For more than 4 decades, the Chappellet family has been crafting wines from fruit cultivated on steep, rocky slopes of Napa’s Pritchard Hill. Aged 8 months on French oak, (33% new) in its lees. Aromas of ripe stone fruits, citrus, honey & oaky scents. On the palate layers of fruit, apple, lemon & peach with balanced acidity & gentle toasty oak. Long smooth finish ending with fruit and oak tones, a bit creamy. Very well done. A joy to drink. Still tasting great! — 6 years ago

Chris Buggy

9.2

A traditional unlike any other…might not be the Masters, but the annual tasting of a portrait of Provençe brings joy to every summer! — a year ago

with Jennifer

Lyn Farmer

9.4

A blend of the five Bordeaux varietals, this is an exceptional wine. There’s a great balance of acidity, velvet tannins and black fruit. Cassis, black cherry, black plum, a light toast and vanilla oak component and developing tertiary character of leather, forest floor and cigar box. Terrifically harmonious the wine is full bodied with a sense of being heavy. A joy to consume. — a year ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.2

Last night we opened the 2018 Barbaresco Produttori del Barbaresco.

On the nose there is cherry, raspberry, plum, licorice, rose petal, herbs, truffle, pepper and earth.

On the palate are the distinctive notes of cherry, raspberry, plum, licorice, spice, herbs, leather, menthol and earth.

This wine is medium to full bodied medium + acidity with medium + firm rounded mouthcoating grippy tannins that moves easily into a long red fruit dry soil finish. This is a beautiful wine that will provide many years of enjoyment. Stay safe and healthy with a weekend full of love and joy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.2

Sayonara, 2021!! You brought periods of joy and excitement, apprehension and challenge, intense sorrow and grief; a panoply of emotions spanning the spectrum of the human experience…

So, we’re putting one foot in front of the other, crossing the threshold into 2022 with hearts full of gratitude and hope, while sipping delicious wine and savoring this quiet moment together.

We want to pause to say THANK YOU all for being a part of our wine journey and a constant source of inspiration, positivity, and learning for us. Cheers and Happy New Year! — 5 years ago

with Deked1

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

A Deep Ruby Ribera del Duero from vines mostly up to 80-years old, (blended with amount of younger vine fruit), aged for 18 months in predominately French oak (20% new), aromas of complex fragrant fruit, spice and oak. On the palate ripe cherry and blackberry fruits, powerful yet elegant, with herb spice & smoky oak notes on full soft tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with spice and mineral earthy tones, a joy to Sip this Fine Wine. Will age, but great now! Tasting Sample! — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Tried this 2x recently. Wow! Ruby with complex fruit aromas, spice and oak. Blend of 90% Tempranillo & 10% Graciano, 48 mos on American oak. On the palate ripe Berry fruits, powerful yet elegant, with spice & smoky earthy notes on full tannins. Long finish, nice mouthfeel, ending with mineral earthy tones and cigar box spice, a joy to Sip!! Tasting great, has more aging potential, try in 10+ years! Great Value! — 6 years ago