Stop Banks

Cantina Ar.Pe.Pe.

Riserva Rocce Rosse Sassella Valtellina Superiore Nebbiolo 2016

Lyle Fass
10

This was perfection. Full stop. Ten points, 100, A plus, whatever scale you want to drag into the room, it all collapses under the same truth: it does not get better than this. The 2016 Ar.Pe.Pe. Sassella Rocce Rosse Riserva was so achingly beautiful, so complete, so internally right, that halfway through I stopped even trying to “evaluate” it and just gave in. What makes it unbearable, in the best way, is how nothing sticks out and yet everything glows. The wine has lift, detail, soul, delicacy, authority, all of it moving at once, all of it perfectly proportioned. It just stands there in complete command of itself, and the longer it sits in the glass the more it seems to reveal that perfection and grace are not opposites. They are partners. Words really do start to fail with a wine like this, because the whole point of the experience is that it reaches past language. — a month ago

Ray, Jakub and 7 others liked this

Tablas Creek Vineyard

Côtes de Tablas Paso Robles Grenache Blend 2020

Thanksgiving Paso Robles trip second day first stop. 2020 vintage. Pale bright ruby. Medium minus acidity. Juicy red fruits - fresh cranberry and plum. Some blackberry. Minerality. 43% Grenache, 33% Syrah, 19% Counoise, 5% Mourvèdre. — 3 years ago

Cantina del Signore

Riserva Borgofranco Gattinara Nebbiolo 2016

Man this is so young. 3-5 years at least from an early peak. But you can see the greatness. Man this is going to be a wine of a lifetime.

Nose is pungent cranberry flowers. An assault on the no trial. Nose petals peeking through. Some lilacs.

Palate is stunningly fresh. So delsignore. You get the amazing Nebbiolo fruit you’d expect from 16 but it’s as fresh as just picked grapes. Bright cherry. A bit of darker red cherry. A hint of licorice. Some cranberry fruit.

A beautiful wine.

On the swallow this is starting to show that “oh my god I can’t believe I’m drinking this” perfect balance of truly great wines.

As this opens piercingly intense. Pure pure pure. A hint of elegant brick like you get in old burgundy. Intense Dried rose petal extract.

Finish is so profound you leave it on the palate for like a minute sucking in air and mumbling “mmmph. Mmmph mmmph” it’s so good you do t want it to stop.

Bought from fass selections
— 5 years ago

Severn, Aravind and 4 others liked this

Dönnhoff

Hermannshöhle GG Riesling 2022

Dachshund. WotN. Would not stop barking, prancing on the table all night. — 6 months ago

Rob, Daniel and 13 others liked this

Newton Johnson Family Vineyards

Full Stop Rock Syrah Blend 2020

This is actually Syrah/ Grenache blend. Really liked this — 2 years ago

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave

Hermitage Syrah 1998

Every opportunity to open Chave Hermitage is a reminder of what masters of their terroir can achieve. Going in was fairly certain this would outclass the rest of the lineup and take home #wotn honors. It didnt do that but did stop us in our tracks so we could savor this. #summitiv — 4 years ago

Carson Tyler LambScott Petrus
with Carson, Tyler and 2 others
Carson, Tyler and 9 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2009

This has been on my bucket list for a while, and we just got a few bottles in my area. I went in to this with high expectations and it totally delivered. One of the most complex wines I’ve had - there is just so much going on here. The nose on this just doesn’t stop evolving. Beautiful oxidation and so many distinct aromas that I’m not going to rattle them off. Texture, flavor, this has everything to offer for my palate. Need to hunt down an older bottle next time. For me, this lived up to the hype. — 5 years ago

Eric, Ericsson and 11 others liked this
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Yeah, great young, epic 15-20 years from now!
Josh Morgenthau

Josh Morgenthau Influencer Badge

These are so good. This is the reserva no? Gran reserva current release somewhere in the 90s I think...
Adam Beasley

Adam Beasley

@Josh Morgenthau correct, it’s the Reserva. I did snag a bottle of the 2010 Grand Reserve Rose though, which I’m pretty pumped to try.

Château Pavie Macquin

Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 1997

Particularly approable little beauty that fights well above its weight. Full body with extra long finish with big black berries and and hints of Indian spice. Magic and great value. If in Toronto, stop by Alobar Yorkville. Great wine list and the owner is hands-on in the qood way. — 2 years ago

Ira liked this

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1967

67 mystery year but wow…low neckperfect cork…only good bottles not always good years! Simply delicious can’t stop drinking it :) — 3 years ago

Jae and Daniel liked this

Shafer Vineyards

One Point Five Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon 2018: Full-bodied. Balanced structure. Rich lush flavors. Black fruits. Vanilla. Tobacco. Oak. Smooth satisfying finish. No introduction needed. This was an amazing bottle of wine and the perfect complement to my bone-in filet mignon during my quick trip to Charlotte, NC. It was complex; it was powerful; it was outstanding and I cannot stop talking/thinking about it. Quintessential Napa, this is a remarkable wine on all fronts! Cheers🍷 — 4 years ago

Trixie liked this