Vines At Vail

Mas Doix

Doix Costers de Vinyes Velles Priorat Carignan - Grenache Blend 2008

A lovely blend from Priorat of around 50/50 Garnacha and Carinena, sometimes with a little Merlot included in some years. A red and black fruited palate with ripe blackcurrant. Opulent. I have a previous Delectable note for this wine - 77? Weeks ago. Reinforces my love of Priorat and Garnacha in particular. From the producer’s oldest vines - approximately 110 years. The 14.5% Alcohol does not show at all. — 4 months ago

Dave, Somm and 19 others liked this

Henschke

Hill of Grace Vineyard Shiraz 2008

Voted WOTN for good reason. This has been a bucket list wine for me. Some sections of this famous vineyard were planted in 1860 but all of the vines are ridiculously old. It’s bombastic and really stands out from the crowd. Very expressive both on the nose and on the palate. Full bodied and multi layered. Creamy and rich texture. Dark berries, plums, coffee, cigar, orange peel, eucalyptus, soy, cigar box and an array of oriental spices. Probably at a peak right now, such a joy to drink. — 3 years ago

Ron, Ira and 2 others liked this

Tenuta San Guido

Guidalberto Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2016

If Sassicia is 💯 points for 2016 you had to figure their other wine was good as well, give it another 5-10 years without any issues. 2016 was a great year over-there. This at $45 or 2016 Sassicaia at $400.00 if you didn’t buy at $175.00 early
Wine Advocate 94+ review as follows,

This wine is showing exceptionally well in this classic vintage. The 2016 Guidalberto (Cabernet Sauvignon and a smaller percentage of Merlot) opens to a full and generous bouquet and a beautifully rich and velvety appearance. This edition of Tenuta San Guido's mid-level wine offers a bigger aromatic profile, more texture and more volume as well. Dark cherry and blackberry segue to spice, tar, leather and sweet fruit at the end. The mouthfeel is elegantly shaped, silky and nuanced. This may well be the best vintage of Guidalberto I have yet to taste—and you can get this wine at a great price too.
Just south of Livorno, Tuscany, lies the Bolgheri Sassicaia DOC, and the Tenuta San Guido estate, where Sassicia is produced. The estate was originally owned by Marchesi Incisa della Rocchetta, and has been managed since WWII by his son, Niccolo. A true pioneer in the Italian wine industry, his experimenting with the introduction of non-native varieties to Italy, resulted in the world-famous Sassicaia. In Italian, Sassicaia means "the place of many stones" and is used as the proprietary name for the estate's Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The vines of the Sassicaia vineyard were originally planted with cuttings from the prestigious Chateau Lafite-Rothschild. The wines of Sassicaia were so instrumental in creating the "Super-Tuscan" sensation that 1994, the Italian government granted Sassicaia its own DOC status in a sub-zone of the Bolgheri DOC. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats, and the wines are then aged in French oak barrique for 18 to 24 months prior to release. Sassicaia produces a second label called Guidalberto and recently released a third wine, Le Difese, that is virtually unavailable in the U.S.
— 4 years ago

Severn, Tom and 20 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

A great story. I didn’t know that Sassicaia was originally planted with cuttings from Lafite.

Bodegas Atalaya

Laya Old Vines Garnacha Blend

Very good. I really liked it. Happy Hour at the Keg. Bit of a spice. Dry. — 6 months ago

Bodegas Sierra Cantabria

Colección Privada Rioja Tempranillo 2018

Made in a small town at foot of Sierra Cantabria in the DO. A single variety Tempranillo from 50 year old vines has a deep Ruby red color and aged for 18 months in French and American oak. Aromas of red fruit and spice. On the palate ripe black fruit, fine tannins, well balanced with a medium+ finish ending with fruit, spice and some oak notes. Nice! — 2 years ago

Juan, Tom and 3 others liked this

Bodegas Volver

Tarima Hill Old Vines Alicante Monastrell

Trying a 100% Monastrell - quite good. Found at Wegmans of all places. Highly rated by wine spectator. — 4 years ago

The Eyrie Vineyards

Original Vines Pinot Gris 2015

Petrol nose at first. Great complexity and evolution. Glossy, slightly gluey texture that coated the entire mouth, front to back. Acidic with sweet undertones. Pickle juice! — 5 years ago

Josh Smith
with Josh

Dry Creek Vineyard

Heritage Vines Sonoma County Zinfandel 2021

another find, nice wine at a cheap price, it's a buy. — 7 months ago

Paul, Sharon and 3 others liked this

Clos De La Roilette

Clos de la Roilette Griffe du Marquis Fleurie Gamay 2018

As good as Beaujolais gets. From the oldest vines at Roilette. Have had numerous bottles of Griffe and it always delivers. Darker and heavier then typical Cru Beaujolais. More cherry and less berry flavor. Little tannic and ages well. Just getting harder to secure bottles. — 2 years ago

Ira liked this

Wendouree

Shiraz 1996

Initial impressions - Earthy, Herbal, Soy. Cherry complex and long. Much intestinal fortitude ie. guts. Thankfully not overly menthol/eucalyptus (just a trace) as you often get with all Wendouree Cuvées. Amazing the intensity provided by those old vines going back to the 1890’s. Could easily last another 5 to 10 years but pretty much at its peak right now. This is as good as Australian Shiraz gets - up there with Grange and Hill of Grace and recognised as such by Langtons. With time in the decanter, like all great wines, they develop and change. I was getting raspberry and mineral after a few hours. An exceptional wine and in the top 5 or so wines I have had this year. In good vintages I don’t think Wendouree Shiraz should be approached at under 20 years of age. — 3 years ago

Aaron, Jeroen and 27 others liked this
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

@Bob McDonald a bit jealous to start off, but i remind myself i still have a few mix bottles from the Wendouree hidden somewhere in a cave😁😁..there's no map for the cave🤣🤣
Still 96 shiraz what a wine🙏🙏🍷🍷
Cheers
Ps personally nowadays Hill of Grace and Wendouree are a touch above Grange, but i know you might disagree🧐
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

I guess the only comment about those iconic Shiraz would be that H of G and Wendouree are single vineyards and more subject to the vagaries of a bad vintage on their plot whereas Grange is multi regional and therefore more consistent year to year.
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

Perhaps you are right, but i will always prefer the style of Wendouree and HofG, but i guess that is very personal..though Grange would be a very close second😁