LM Segal

9.2

Fantastic and reasonably priced, rich and big-bodied Tuscan. Lots of wood and beef blood with a jammy component. Compelling nose of brambly dark red fruit. Leather all about, which shouldn’t surprise anyone in a wine made by Ferragamo... I’d give this a year or two to sort out, score likely to improve. Cipriani @ Wynn LV (which Foursquare couldn’t find, I hate that app) — a day ago

"Odedi"

9.2

Dark ruby in color with a short purple rim.

Fruity nose of blackberries, blueberries, cherries, licorice, oak, vanilla, chocolates, spices, peppercorn, light vegetables and pencil lead.

Full bodied with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with plums, cherries, currants, oak, vanilla, licorice, cloves, spices, chocolates, tobacco, coffee, peppercorn and pencil lead.

Medium plus on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy pomegranates.

This is a great, Petit Verdot based, red blend from Sonoma County. Nicely balanced and enjoyable by itself or with food.

Good right out of the bottle and better as it opens up, with nice complexity and a great mouthfeel.

Drinking nicely now, and will age nicely in the next 5 years. I had it a year ago and it is drinking better now.

A blend of 60% Petit Verdot, 30% Malbec and 10% Syrah. Kosher. Not Mevushal.

14.4% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$72. — 15 days ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

Nose has ripe plum, ripe blackberry, black currant, mashed black cherry, crunchy dry leaves, moist soil and mild cedar notes.

Palate has tart plum, blackberries from a heavily rainy grow season (not concentrated), dried cranberry, dried cherry, leather, touch of cocoa powder and (light) anise/licorice. Tannins are still making themselves known, but not obtrusive.

Young bottle, future bottles may be 2021-23 in hopes of more palate concentration. A lovely producer whose entire lineup is worthy of your attention. A solid wine for the vintage, embrace and be happy.

(Likely better scoring at an 8th or 10th year birthday.) — 4 hours ago

Severn Goodwin

9.1

Nose has ripe plum, raisins, slight peppery spice, cold cherry and distant oak notes.

Palate has tannic plum, cherry, ripe raspberry, dried green herbs (light) and trailing dried strawberry.

Decanted ~2 hours, tannins are light but linger. Medium finish. I believe the (field?) blend is 40% Tempranilo, 25% Syrah, 20% Blaufrankish, 10% Viogner and 5% Sauvignon Blanc. — 9 days ago

Tom Garland

9.4

Double decant (lots of fine sediment). A beguiling Deep Purple [Machine Head rules]. On the nose: black fruit, earthy, floral some slight barn yard funk which I luv. Taste: silky, nice balance with black cherry, pencil lead, spice and cedar with a long finish...drink em now or over the next 8 years!! — 10 days ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

Playing a little catch up.... I have some younger Archive, which I was going to open within a couple of years. However, this GSM blend crafted in a year arguably more difficult has really made me rethink my decision. This wine is doing just fine tonight. Took about 45 minutes for some of the oddities to blow off. Started with an orange rind kind of note which did resolve. The nose at first was brambleberry, ginger, tangerine, herbs, black cherry and flowers. The entry after 30-45 minutes was more on the black cherry and brambleberry side. Wildflowers. The nose never quite blew off that tangerine note, but the palate went solid red and herbal and even drew some green olive and tobacco to the middle. Good acidity from front to back. These wines are very well made. I do not believe that this one is on the way down, but it certainly isn't going to get any better so this is the time to start enjoying these if you have not done so already! — 5 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

For our wedding reception in Cortona, I packed a magnum of 1986 Haut-Bages Liberal. Since then, we have bought it in all good Bordeaux years and have one on our anniversary. Sadly, I have an 86 somewhere in my EuroCave cabinets. I just couldn’t find it. It has been a challenging afternoon. Next year! A excellent vintage of Haut-Bages Liberal will just have to fill in.

The nose reveals; dark currants, heavily extracted blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, mix of purple fruits, sweet tarriness, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, cinnamon, vanilla, light clove, some dark spices, lots of steeped, dark fruit tea, fresh Provenance herbs, anise, limestone minerals, dry clay, dry top soil, dry stones, a fair amount of graphite, fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood to cedar, leathery notes, dry underbrush, bright; dark, red, blue and violet florals.

Most of the 2000 Left Bank wines typically remain tight as a drum. This is just starting to open up and ascend.

The body is full, ripe, rich, lush and showing the beauty of the vintage. The tannins are rounded but, still show plenty of teeth and meaty, sticky, tarriness. The structure & tension are just starting to relax. The length and balance are really nice and will continue to better with many years in bottle. It’s still a hold for 7–10 years for its full beauty. Dark currants, heavily extracted blackberries, creamy black raspberries, black plum with skin, dark cherries, mix of purple fruits, strawberries, sweet tarriness, dark chocolate, caramel, mocha, cinnamon, vanilla, light clove, dark spices with palate heat, lots of steeped, dark fruit tea, fresh Provenance herbs, anise, expresso roast, limestone minerals, dry clay, dry, crushed rocks, dry top soil, dry stones, a fair amount of graphite, hints of black pepper, old & fresh tobacco leaf, saddle-wood to cedar, leathery notes, dry underbrush, bright; dark, red, blue and violet florals. The acidity is round and near perfect. The long finish is; ripe, well balanced with fruit and earth with penetrating earth/minerals and persists several minutes.

Happy Anniversary Sofia...would love to do it all over again as we did in 2012.

Photos of; the Piazza of the La Repubblica...the building we were married, us leaving for our reception and one of the better meals of our life, walking through town on the way to our reception and our wedding ceremony. — 10 days ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

The 2016 Almaviva Cabernet Sauvignon is a seductive, dense and chewy effort from this historic project in Chile. Aromatically a bit reticent and needing some time in the decanter to unwind, this beautiful Cabernet slowly unveils exotic spice aromas that parade with suggestions of creme de cassis, green bell pepper, and huckleberry pie. The silky mouthfeel really entices and captivates the senses. While obviously rich, this has a brightness and good sense of minerality that runs through the core of intense dark fruit, milk chocolate, pipe tobacco and dried herbal flavors that all push the envelope in intensity and decadence. While a delight to enjoy at this stage in its development, the 2016 Almaviva Cabernet Sauvignon will cellar well for the next two decades. Drink 2019-2038- 96 — 14 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

First night Oak City. 2nd night the ripe fruits of the unusual blend of Shiraz, Durif and Petit Verdot came to the fore. A full bodied rich sweet red showing ripe plum notes and ripe Tannins with low acid. Great for lovers of big reds. — 9 days ago

manyardo lovesall

9.0

specially made for kramim (vineyards in hebrew) boutique hotel.
my guess is that it was a welcome gift at the room for my not really drinking alcohol in-laws.

75% Cabernet sauvignon
15% petit verdot
both coming from the vineyards next to the hotel in Jerusalem surrounding mountains
10% merlot from golan heights

14 months in french oak.

a not too heavy balanced red fruit forward bordeaux blend.
rounded by right amount of oak treatment.
nice. — 15 days ago