Jason Keefer

8.9

For the Baixo Corgo version. Tastes like vacation in Portugal! Simple but delicious and affordable! A mix of fresh and stewed fruit with a slightly woodsy finish. — 8 months ago

with Natasha

Willie Carter

8.9

A really beautiful opaque crimson. Truly almost impenetrable. Definite signs of bricking but nothing to be concerned about. As expected, it’s more than a bit closed in upon opening and needs a few hours to express itself. Soft vanilla and violet aromas are coaxed from their shell. A little cherry rhubarb and burnt tobacco. Cinnamon and spice with dark chocolate. Leather and lace with an abundance of faded cherries. The earthy aromas are the star of the show here.

This obviously needs a lot of time decanting, as much time as you have to give it. Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle, but don’t let that stop you. There’s a lot of good to be had here. Some fruit remains on the palate but mostly delightful earth and spice. The acid remains and keeps things lively. The alcohol throws the balance out of whack a bit and there’s almost no tannic structure remaining but at the end of the day it’s still a fun, impressive wine. — 2 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.5

The 2016 Geremia is a total knock-out. An exotic mélange of sweet dark cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, spice and menthol races out of the glass. The 2016 is deep, dense and full of character. It is also easy to drink with minimal cellaring. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon work so well here in the way they express richness and structure, all with a real sense of Tuscan raw power. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, September 2020) — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

Initially reticent and needing 30 minutes of air to fully express itself aromatically, the 2006 Chateau Rieussec opens with a lighter bouquet of butterscotch, buttered popcorn, mango and ginger undertones. The palate shows really good freshness and intensity with a good sense of minerality. Pineapple creme brulee, poached pear, bananas foster and nutmeg flavors complete this beautiful wine. The exceedingly long, finish lingers and rounds out this complete wine. What this doesn’t possess on the nose, exceeds expectations on the palate and finish, as this elegant wine is one of the great wines of this vintage. Enjoy this wonderful wine over the next two decades. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 4 years ago

Vanessa

9.1

This wine has a medium lemon hue with refreshing and zesty notes of lemon peel, grapefruit pith, and kumquat, alongside juicy peach, nectarine, yellow apple, chamomile, white blossom, chervil, saline, and wet stone characteristics. 

It carries a relative richness lending balance to the fresh primary and mineral notes with a fuller mouthfeel.

This wine is made exclusively from the Godello variety hailing from northwest Spain’s Bierzo appellation in the Castilla Y Leon region.
 
It was produced by Raul Perez, an acclaimed, small-batch winemaker whose practices have built a beautiful platform upon which the fruit and terroir may express themselves to the fullest and purest extent.
 
A delightful pairing with pan-seared halibut with roasted broccolini. Cheers!

Bodegas Raul Perez Ultreia La Claudina Godello 2019. ABV 13.5%. — a year ago

with Deked1

Michael B

9.0

Opened up after 2.5-3hrs. It’s quite young. Tart blackberry, and blueberry, hints of black cherry. Medium leather, graphite pencil, cocoa notes. Very tight tannins. Requires further maturing within the bottle to unleash the dark fruit notes and express the leathery earth quality. Score of 9 for future potential. 8.6 now, due to the restrained notes and restrictively tight tannin. — 3 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.4

2006 was a challenge for most in Rioja but the 2006 Vina Tondonia ‘Reserva’ is truly one of the wines of the vintage. The wine is a highly compelling blend of Tempranillo (75%), Garnacho (15%), Graciano and Mazuelo (10%), which was sourced from their estate vineyards and aged for six years prior to bottling. Needing a two hour decant to fully express itself, the wine offers an aromatic profile of cranberry, orange, red currants, red cherry candy and toasty oak aromatics. The palate is plush once in the attack as the wine effortlessly dances across the mid-palate, producing a seamless effect. Red currants, blood orange zest, pipe tobacco flavors and shades of pomegranate seed all beautifully weave their way through the palate. Showing wonderful ageing potential, this is drinking marvelously right now and has another fifteen years to go. Drink 2020-2035- 94 — 4 years ago

Shay A

9.2

I debated giving this a NR for its rating as this tastes like a wine that is made to taste a certain way rather than a wine made to express its region, but there is a tasty factor in play. Bordeaux blend. Michel Rolland consulted on the winemaking. 2nd vintage.

This is real suave and sexy in style, but I could see this being from a multitude of places. Ripe and decadent fruit that seems to just now be calming down 13yrs later. Mostly red and black fruits (black cherry compote), and cherry vanilla pipe tobacco both aromatically and on the palate. Stops short of being hedonistic, but the mid palate is dense. Finish brings some currant and herbal flair to tie back to Italy. Tannic but not a monster.

Decanted an hour and finished the next day, it didn’t experience much change. I’d consume these in the next 3-5yrs. — 2 years ago

Andrea Wilson @farmforthesoul

9.4

No words can express how much we enjoyed this wine. Really something special! — 3 years ago

with Jeremy

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Nickel & Nickel exclusively produces 100% varietal, single-vineyard wines that express the distinctive personality of each vineyard. Established in 1997 by the partners of Far Niente. Aromas of tropical and stone fruit with citrus notes. On the palate apple, pear and peach flavors, with some lemon zest, vanilla and wet stone notes. Nice balance with tangy acidity on long finish ending with rich minerality. Classic, very nice! — 4 years ago