2/1/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Big and brawny. Needs a decanter and a strong wrist. Purple and black fruit, blackberry jam, dates. Super young and feisty.

1/12/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Really really great. Will develop for hours and hours. Even days. Loads of black fruit and dried fig. Apricot, orange peel and hazelnuts. Absolutely incredible with goats milk black mission fig ice cream and toasted almonds. Trust me, don't die before you try that.

8/12/2015 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Marcel (RIP)... come back. Last bottle the master touched and I wish I had bought a case. This is true Bojo and shows why it should be in everyone's cellars. Light, crunchy fruit with verve and truth. Pure, clean and chiseled. Mineral, red cherry and tart strawberry. Whew, this is an anytime wine.

9/16/2015 - TerroirHunter wrote:

This is one of the best 2001 Riojas made. What a wine. Vanilla bean, black cherry, hints of spice, loam, and super young right now. Won't open again (at least one of my bottles!) for another 10 years.

1/12/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

An interesting experiment. Will let sit around for 5-10 years and we'll see how natural yeast fermentation Bourgueil for sub $12 does with a little age. Super fresh while young. Even better with a little chill.

1/12/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Not really buying any of this to age very long. Offers complexity and depth now and it's pretty darn good, but lacks the tension I look for in the Vina Reals. Bing cherry, cherry bowl, fleshy, spicy, med-acid.

1/12/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Who can argue with a young Brunello that drinks now? Really great stuff here especially for the price! Dried herbs, cooking spices, black raspberry, cassis, and dry forest floor. Yum.

1/12/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Beronia is often overlooked, but it shouldn't be. They offer great drinking early on and age wonderfully (try the 78). The 05 is spiced and med-full weight. Black fruit, bramble and hints of dry earth.

9/4/2015 - TerroirHunter Likes this wine:

Big producer, but like Faustino you can find serious wines. This stuff is tight and in its infancy right now. Still shows classic signs of sensational rioja. Cherry pits, tea leaf, spice and sexy. Looking forward to these in 10+ years!

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Never disappoints. Will age, but drinks so well now. A bit more weight than the 05. Will drink this up before touching 05s. Ripe cherry, Indian spices, cedar, cigar tobacco, underbrush. awesome.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter Likes this wine:

Good weight, but maintains freshness. Brambly, mineral through mid palate, good round fruit. Fun stuff.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Medium-High oak, but great balance. Sweet pear, apple, tangerine and Irish butter.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

This wine rocks. Ready to go right now and reminds me of 10-15 year old $100 Barolo. Truffle, smooth black fruit, fig pudding, pipe tobacco. This deserves the right touch to stuffed ravioli.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Whew. Quite a ride. Opened while my soon-to-be wife and I were constructing our wedding cake at 10PM the night before the ceremony with parents and future in laws voraciously stuffing flowers into vases. Everyone stopped in the middle of their duties to roll their eyes back into their heads in delight. I did it on several occasions. Don't worry, the cake turned out fine.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Pretty darn good! Who knew you could get a Bordeaux with age for under $15? Ha! Tasting note below looks pretty accurate.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Fans of trad. Burgundy, get this. It's probably the best NYS pinot I've ever tasted. Tart cherry, cranberry, loam, clay, meaty, black cherry. Awesome stuff.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Super good trad. nebbiolo. Had the 1997 Sassella recently and it was unbelievable with Rabbit paella at Soccarat. Trying an experiment to see if these entry levels will age as nicely. I think they will as everything seems structured and intact.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Like my ratings of the 2001 Vina Real GR, this deserves perhaps more praise. Passing this to your great grandchildren isn't too far of a stretch. Blackberry, Black cherry, vanilla bean, red cherry, and quite a bit of oak right now. Certainly don't mind oak when it comes to Rioja, but this could stand 10+ more years of integration before it hits its groove.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

It delivers now, but those patient enough will see this explode in 5-10 years. Treat this like a Taurasi without the bench pressing power. Black fruit for days, dusty clay, loamy, dried herbs and a great minerality.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

So good with herb crusted lamb. This is a serious producer and a serious wine. Perhaps nothing outside of small apps in Piedmont, Loire Valley or Rioja offer this much bang for the buck. This is super traditional - tart black cherry, mushroom, damp ash, high acid, a little funk. Have this with anything with mushrooms and consider your life lit up.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

If you haven't tried 904s or 890s, get off the phone or computer and buy a bottle. Holy smokes. Orange cooking spices, tart cherry, cumin, fig skins, black olive. A wow wine. Will age for decades.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

This is in my top 20 desert island wines. One of the best Riojas from one of the best vintages ever, period. This is finally just opening up as my first 4 or 5 were super closed and quiet. Truffle and spice just coming through, but I have 30+ year plans for these babies. Last bottlings from CVNE's old winery!!

10/14/2015 - TerroirHunter Likes this wine:

Who says amazingness can't be found in sub $20 Burgs? Folks, this is the real deal. Cherry, black raspberry, earthy, loamy, black tea, cranberry core. Whew!

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Way too young. Decanted for 2 hours at Barbetta in NYC and still was backward and tight. Won't open others for at least 5 years. Still, structure and quality quite high as it was the winner of the night.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

I love this stuff although it's not as ready as the 09 brother. Sit on it for a bit to get all of it's floral, round black cherry, pipe tobacco goodness going. It needs to drop some baby fat and it may push to 92+. Drink the 09 if you can!

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Great nebbiolo and has the stuffing for 10-15+ years evolution. Tasted blind next to Roagna Paje 08 and Cappellano Rupetris 09. Think I preferred this!! Black cherry, clay mushroom, black bramble fruit, dust. Winner winner chicken..

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

You know what I love? Regular schmoes still don't know about this stuff. Not your mainstream producer and it's ridiculous QPR. I'm happy no one has this. Price stays where I want it! Rioja at it's best and saving a case for the long haul (20-30+ years).

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Another CRAZY value from Spain. The word (?) seamlessness comes to mind here. Dusty black cherries, black tea and Indian spice. Superb with suckling pig.

1/11/2016 - TerroirHunter wrote:

Probably the best Rioja under $20. It over delivers in a huge way. Spice, crunchy cherry and earth. Always love this stuff.