7/26/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clean, deep intensity, ruby colour. The nose is clean with medium + intensity, primary aromas of cranberry, ripe red plum, black currant, black cherry, preserved fruit, medicinal, lavendar, flint, liquorice. [and gingerbread!] Secondary aromas burnt toast, butter, charred wood, smoke. Tertiary aromas of tobacco, vegetal, forest floor, earth. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, medium - tannins. Alcohol is high, Body is medium. The flavour intensity is medium + with all the aromas above, plus chalk/earth on finish. The finish is medium. Quality is good. Can drink now but has potential for more aging.

From website:
Grape varieties: Fetească Neagra
Alcohol: 14 Vol%
750 ml
Temperature: 16° Celsius

The ruby color with purple accents indicates the elegance of this wine. Fruity nose with flavors of cherries, gingerbread and notes of black pepper. Due to the significant temperature difference between day and night, we discover a delicate, easy to drink wine, with notes of ripen plums and vanilla in the aftertaste.

Grape (Wikipedia):
Fetească Neagră (Romanian pronunciation: [feˈte̯askə ˈne̯aɡrə]); English: Black Maiden) is an old pre-phylloxeric variety of Romanian - Moldovan grape,[1] cultivated mainly in several areas in the Romanian regions of Moldavia, Muntenia, Oltenia, Banat, Northern Dobruja[2] and also in the Republic of Moldova.

These grapes produce dry, demi-dry or sweet wines, with an alcohol content of 12-14%,[3] a deep red colour with ruby shades, and a black currant flavour, which becomes richer and smoother with aging.

4/7/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium + intensity. Primary aromas of baked strawberries, cooked raspberry, lavender = perfumed musk, lavender, baking spices. Secondary aromas of pastry and biscuit from the lees, butter from MLF and butterscotch, cedar, and cloves, nutmeg from the oak. Hint of tertiary with leather and earth. The palate is dry, high acidity, medium tannins, high alcohol, medium + body. The flavour intensity is medium + with all flavours present plus hint of pepper on finish. The finish is medium +. The quality level is very good to outstanding, drink now, not suitable for further aging.

1/13/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Masterclass tasting

1/13/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Masterclass tasting

1/13/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Masterclass tasting

1/30/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Masterclass tasting

1/13/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Masterclass tasting

1/13/2023 - MargsVF wrote:

Masterclass tasting. Jammy

1/13/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Masterclass tasting

1/23/2023 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Aromas of red and black fruits, with hints of cassis and spices are followed by flavors of cherry, raspberry, mulberry and blackberry, leading to a slightly bitter, but very pleasant, finish. [wineparadigm.com]

Areni Noir is a dark-skinned grape variety used to make full-bodied red wines in the Transcaucasus (notably in Turkey and Armenia), the birthplace of viticulture. Notes. With its thick skin, Areni Noir is extremely disease-resistant and is particularly well adapted to strong diurnal temperature variation. [xtrawine.com]

12/18/2022 - MargsVF Does not like this wine:

Too fruity for me

12/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

80% pinot noir, 15% Chardonnay, 5% meunière. 40% reserve. 3 year bottle aging. 7 g/mL. Acidity layered fruit and toasty. Tasted as part of masterclass and absolutely delicious!!

12/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

70% pinot noir, 30% Chardonnay. Wild fermentation, neutral oak. 3 year age. 2 g/mL dosage. Tasted as part of masterclass, served at 10-12 degrees, aromas of strawberries, toast. Delicious!!

12/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

60% pinot noir, 40% Chardonnay. 8 Crus, 20% French oak. 8 years on lees. Tasted as part of masterclass, served at 10-12 degrees to allow full aromas to show through. Aromas of toast, finish of chalk and dusty. Dosage 4.5 g/mL. Delicious!

12/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Dry, racy acid, tangy. 75% pinot noir, 25% Chardonnay. Biodynamic, wild fermentation. 0 dosage. Onion Colour. Tasted as part of masterclass. Aromas of apple cider, banana chips, nuts, toasty. Natural Champagne. Compared to Krug. 40+ year old vines, no machinery allowed in vineyard. Amazing, delicious!!

12/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

84 months aging! 2015 was balanced year, longest growing season, dry, stressed the fruit. Biodynamic farming with 5g/mL dosage. Tasted as part of masterclass. Aromas of brioche, croissant, lemon, apple, pears, butter, pastry. Delicious!!!! Rich Champagne.

12/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

100% Pinot Noir, biodynamic farming, wild fermentation with 36 months aging. Pressed over 12 hours. Tasted as part of a masterclass. Aromas of biscuit, roasted nuts, toast and wild red berries. With the farming style adds aromas of sac du bon (dirty socks :). Absolutely delicious! Served at 10 degrees so we could really enjoy the aromas and taste. No dosage. Cote Des Bars. Limited released.

12/5/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour with brick red rim. The palate is clear, medium plus intensity with primary aromas of black cherry and spiced plum, white pepper. Secondary aromas of oak with smoke, charred wood, butterscotch, yeast with brioche, mlf with butter. Tertiary aromas of bottle age with game, mushroom, savoury, leather. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, medium plus tannins, high alcohol, full body. The favour intensity is medium plus with all characteristics present plus wet leaves, wet stones on palate. Finish is medium +. The quality level is very good, can drink now but has potential for further aging.

12/4/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, pale intensity and ruby in colour with a brick red rust rim. The nose is clean, medium intensity with primary aromas of tar and roses. Dried fruits, violets, herbs, dark chocolate and liquorice. Black cherry and black plum. Secondary aromas of oak with cedar and smoke, tobacco. Yeast with biscuit, MLF with cheese. Teritary with smoke and charred wood. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol and medium plus body. The flavour intensity is medium plus with all flavour characteristics present plus earth, wet stones. The finish is medium plus. The wine is very good, can drink now but has potential for aging further.

12/3/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium minus intensity with primary aromas of cherry, blueberry, black pepper, green pepper. Secondary aromas of toast, butter, and vanilla. Tertiary aromas of tobacco. The wine is fully developed. The palate is dry, low acidity, medium minus tannins that are soft and silky. Alcohol is high, body is medium with all flavour characteristics present plus a earth on palate. The finish is medium. The quality level is very good, drink now, unit suitable for further aging.

11/9/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

This is for the Bodegas Bianchi Shiraz 2021:
The wine is clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity with primary aromas of red fruit, raspberry, strawberry, red cherry. Herbaceous tomato leaf, hint asparagus. Secondary aromas of yeast with brioche, MLF with butter, oak with vanilla and butterscotch and cedar. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, medium + acidity, medium tannins and high alcohol. Body is medium with all flavour characteristics present plus spice and black pepper. Flavour intensity is medium + and finish is medium. The quality is good. Can drink now but has potential for aging. Excellent wine for CAD$12.99!

11/4/2022 - MargsVF wrote:

The wine is clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium + intensity with primary aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, red cherry. Hint of sultana and jamminess, green bell pepper and tomato leaf. The secondary aromas of MLF is cheese, yeast of cheese and oak with vanilla, cloves, toast, charred wood, smoke and chocolate. Tertiary of fruit development with prune, cooked red plum. Bottle age is leather and mushroom. The wine is dry, HIGH acidity, medium tannins, high alcohol, body is medium. The flavour intensity is medium + with all flavour characteristics present plus additional white pepper and spicy on palate. The finish is medium +. The wine is good, drink now and not suitable for aging any further.

10/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Delicious

10/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Very good

10/8/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Delicious!

10/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour with slight brix around edge. The nose is clean, medium - intensity with primary aromas of black fruit, blueberries and blackberries, cherry with brandy and kirsch. Herbaceous with tomatoe leaf, hint white pepper. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla and butterscotch, mlf butter, lees pastry. The wine is developing. The wine is dry with medium acidity, medium tannins and medium alcohol. The body is medium with all flavour characteristics present plus some earthy dirt. The finish is medium. The quality is very good and balanced, can drink now, but has potential for aging.

9/30/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

AC flight

9/28/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity with primary aromas of red fruit, strawberry, ripe plum, violets and coca powder. Hint of spice, cinnamond. The secondary aromas of oak are present with cinnamond. Other secondary aromas of custard and toast. There are no tertiary aromas. The wine is developing. The palate is dry with medium plus acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol and medium body. The finish is medium +. The wine is very good (for the price!) and can drink now but can also age.

9/25/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, pale and lemon in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity with primary aromas of grapefruit, preserved lemon, lime zest, white peach and passion fruit. Wet stones and white flowers. Secondary aromas hint of biscuit, no MLF from producer notes, old oak casks which shows with no strong oak indicators other than hint of vanilla. No tertiary aromas. The wine is fully developed. The wine is dry, high acidity, alcohol is medium at 13%, body is medium. The flavour intensity is medium with all flavour characteristics present, wet stones more prevalent on palate. The finish is medium. The quality level is good, drink now, not suitable for further aging. Its a 5 year old from release date now and not as fresh and crisp as other tasting notes state from earlier tastings.

9/24/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, deep purple in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity with primary aromas of black fruit, blackberry, dark cherry, white pepper, herbaceous with blackcurrant leaf and arugula. Secondary aromas of oak with cloves, cocoa. MLF butter, lees biscuit. Weathered leather is present as well although no tertiary aromas present. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, the tannin is medium, alcohol is high at 14%, the body is medium. The flavour intensity is medium with all flavour characteristics present, strong white pepper on the finish. The finish is medium plus. The quality level is good, can drink now but has potential for ageing. This is still a bit tight and young, try again in another year.

9/23/2022 - MargsVF wrote:

The wine is clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity, with primary aromas of cooked blueberries, plum and black cherry. There is a jamminess, white pepper and hint of graphite. Secondary aromas of oak with cloves, cedar. Butter and pastry for MLF and lees. There are no tertiary flavours. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, medium minus tannins. The alcohol is high, full body. The flavour intensity is medium + with all flavours present plus more pepper and little bit earthy. The finish is medium. The quality is good, can drink now but has potential for aging. This is a big syrah that is still unbalanced at age 6 years. Would be interesting to see where this is at 10 years of age.

9/18/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium + intensity with primary aromas of black cherry, black plum, wild raspberry, black pepper, floral wwith dried violets, herbaceous with leafiness and mineral salts. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla, cream and butter. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, medium plus tannins, medium alcohol at 12.7%, medium + body. The flavour intensity is medium plus with all flavours present. The finish is medium +. Quality is very good, can drink now, but has the potential for aging. Its a beautiful Syrah with smucking tannins, this will age for a long time.

9/11/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, deep intensity, ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium + intensity. Primary aromas of cherry, raspberry, blackcurrants, spice, and a earthy complexity. Secondary aromas of lees with biscuit, MLF with butter, very light hint of oak with smoke, cedar and vanilla. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The wine is dry, high acidity, medium tannins, and medium alcohol. The body is medium +. The flavour int sits is medium + with all flavour characteristics present plus some herbal, sage brush. The finish is medium. The wine is very good. Can drink now, but has potential for aging. This wine is getting better with age, we had it 2 years ago in 2020 and now in 2022 its even more delicious!

From website:
WINEMAKING: Harvested October 14, 2018 | 30% whole cluster 70% de-stemmed berry fermentation | 10 months in neutral barrels | Unfined/ Unfiltered | Minimal sulphites added prior to bottling

9/4/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium + intensity with primary aromas of redcurrant, strawberry, red cherry and red plum. Hint of grass and tomatoe leaf. Secondary aromas of yeast with biscuit, mlf with butter, oak with vanilla, nutmeg, coconut, butterscotch, cedar. No tertiary present. The wine is developing. The palate dry, medium + acidity, medium tannins, alcohol is medium, the body is medium. The flavour intensity is medium, the flavour characteristics are all there plus wet stones, gravel. The finish is medium +. The quality is very good, can drink now but has potential for ageing.

6/16/2022 - MargsVF wrote:

The wine is clear, deep intensity with ruby colour. The nose is clean with medium - intensity and primary aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, black cherry. Spicy with black pepper and hint of liquorice. Secondary aromas of oak with charred wood, smoke, chocolate. Lees and MLF with toast and butter. No tertiary aromas. The palate is dry, medium acidity and medium - tannins. The alcohol is medium. The body is medium -. The flavour intensity is medium with all characteristics present with additional dirt taste. The finish is medium. The quality is good. Drink now, this will not change with age.

6/16/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, pale intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium plus intensity with primary aromas of red fruit, strawberry, raspberry, red cherry. Hint herbaceous green bell peppers and tomato leaf. Hint gravel. Secondary aromas of vanilla, coconut, cedar indicating oak. Bread and cream for lees and mlf. No tertiary aromas. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, medium + acidity, low tannins, medium alcohol. The flavour intensity is medium + with all characteristics present + hint pepper. The finish is medium. The quality level is very good, can drink now but has potential for ageing.

4/14/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium plus intensity with primary aromas of floral, red and blue fruits. Blossom, rose, red plum, blueberries. Herbal tomato leaf, spice, hint of earth. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla, smoke, cedar. MLF and lees with butter and cream. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, medium plus tannins, high alcohol. Medium plus body. Flavour intensity is medium plus with all characteristics present and additional pepper and dirt on taste. The finish is medium plus. The wine is very good, can drink now but has ability to age. Lovely fuller body Italian red.

4/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, light intensity with lemon colour. Viognier only. honeycomb, beeswax, lemon, smell sweet, aromatic, apricot, stone fruit, nectarine, white peach, Bellini, herbal, lavender, sticky herbs, rosemary, Stoney, grass. The palate is dry, low acidity, lovely peaches start, Stoney finish. Wood. Oily. Fat.

Vineyard north rhone, very steep slopes.

4/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. Floral and herbs. Aromatic. Perfumed. Medium minus acidity and medium plus tannins. 97% Syrah 3% roussanne. Several lieux-dits contribute fruit. Blueberries, dark cherry, plum, fruit drenched, tannins slowly build in mouth. 60 year old vines. Aged 18 months in oak with 15% new. 4 hours breathing before we drank.

4/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. Nose dark fruit, black pepper, graphite, violets, meaty, floral. High acidity and very high tannins so delicious. Northern most extreme we can grow Syrah. Steepest slopes in Cote Rotie. Syrah with 1% voignier. Fruit from 6 special lieux-dits. Steep granite and schist hillside sites. Wild yeast. 60% whole cluster fermented. French oak aged for 18 months in 30% new barrels, always late picked.

4/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. Red fruit. (Grenache is late ripening grape, loves concrete). Red fruit Grenache, black fruit of sryah, raspberry, blackcurrant, iron, bacon, feral, cast iron pans, new oak, old oak, wild fermentation. Grippy tannins. Power and potency. Spicy from cinsault and acidity. Finish Stoney and dusty. 500 yr old estate. 1776 La Nerthe became first to ship wine in bottles not barrels. 20 yr potential for aging on this one.

4/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, medium intensity and lemon in colour. The nose is clean, with roasted chestnuts, floral, lemon oil, rose white, jasmine. Secondary exotic vanilla, buttery, peaches. Carmel. Exotic. Opulent. The palate is dry, high acidity, mouth filling, expansive. Lemon, peach skin, caramel. Spicy in mouth. Sticky herbs and camomile. Stoney and rocky at end. Finish is medium plus. This is exceptional. Drink now, has ability to age.

4/1/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium plus intensity and red berries fruit on primary nose. Further primary aromas of blossom and violet, red cherry, strawberry, raspberry and herbal pepper. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla, Cinnamond, cedar. Lees and MLF with butter and cream. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, medium minus acidity, medium tannins, the body is medium plus. Flavour intensity is medium plus and all flavour characteristics present with additional chalky taste, Stoney and dusty on finish. The finish is medium. The wine is very good at this price point, drink now, also potential for aging.

3/21/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity and primary aromas of red fruit with red cherry, red plum, hint herb with tomato leaf. Secondary aromas of oak with cedar and butterscotch, yeast and mlf with hint of cheese and cream. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry with medium acidity and medium plus tannins. Alcohol is high and medium plus body. Flavour intensity is medium with all flavour characteristics present. The finish is medium. The quality is good, can drink now but has potential for aging. Solid cahors.

3/21/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, light intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium plus intensity with primary aromas of very bright red fruit, dark cherry, juniper berry. Herbal fennel and earthy tones. Secondary aromas of oak with cedar and smoke. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, low acidity and medium tannins, medium alcohol and the body is medium. The favour intensity is medium plus with all flavour characteristics present. The wine is very savoury. The finish is medium plus. The wine is very good. Can drink now but has potential for bit more aging. It’s a very different PN very light very expressive and full of smoke.

From Producer: A bright fruited, expressive nose, with notes of dark cherry, juniper berry and an intriguing hint of fennel and manuka flower. There is a savoury taste with firm tannins and ripe fruit finishing with a lively mineral edge to balance. Unfined. Unfiltered. Enjoy, with friends, lamb and other fine grilled pieces.

Cellaring potential is five years from release.

Alc 12.5%

3/20/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity with primary aroma characteristics of floral and red fruit and herbal lavender. Elderflower and blossom, raspberry, red plum cooked. No secondary oak. Hint Cream and butter present from mlf and lees. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, low tannins, medium alcohol and medium plus body. Flavour intensity is medium +. All flavour characteristics present, finish is medium +. The quality is very good, can drink now, has potential for aging.

3/20/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium plus intensity with primary aromas of floral and red fruit. Strawberry jam, sweet raspberry jam, blossom, elderflower, acacia. Cooked jamminess. Hint herbal lavender. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla, butterscotch. MLF and lees with butter, cream, biscuit. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity, low tannins, medium alcohol, medium body. The flavour intensity is medium +, all charactertistics are present. The finish is medium +. The quality is very good, can drink now but has potential for aging. Lovely fragrant fleurie, very drinkable.

3/20/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, medium intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium intensity and primary aromas of floral and red fruit. Rose and blossom, red cherry, strawberry, raspberry. Hint spices with pepper and Cinnamond. Hint tomato leaf. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla and cedar, MLF and lees with butter and cream. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity and medium plus tannins. The body is medium plus with medium alcohol. The intensity is medium plus with all characteristics present and additional hint of pepper. The finish is medium plus. The quality is very good, can drink now but can also age a little longer.

From Producer: The grapes used to make this wine are grown in the stony, limestone and clay terroirs typical of the southern Rhône Valley. It is a blend of three emblematic varietals: Grenache noir, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. The destemmed grapes are vinified in concrete vats and then aged in concrete and stainless-steel vats for a year. The wine is a beautiful ruby-red colour with an intense nose of red berries and spices. It is supple and generous on the palate with a very fine and elegant tannic structure.

3/19/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

The wine is clear, deep intensity and ruby in colour. The nose is clean, medium minus intensity with primary aromas of floral and red fruit. Hint rose with strawberry and red cherry. Hint of tomato leaf. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla, lees and MLF with butter and cream and pastry. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, high acidity with medium tannins. Full body taste with medium intensity and all flavour characteristics present with addition of mint and hint of pepper on finish with is medium. The wine is good, can drink now and can age. The wine is out of balance though, looks and tastes like a cab sav but doesn’t have the intensity on the nose.

3/17/2022 - MargsVF Likes this wine:

Clear, deep intensity and ruby colour. The nose is clean, medium plus intensity with primary aromas of red and black fruit. Blackberry, red plum. Cassis. Herbal with tomato leaf. Hint earth and herbal mint. Secondary aromas of oak with vanilla and cedar, MLF and lees with butter and pastry. No tertiary. The wine is developing. The palate is dry, medium plus acidity and tannins. The wine is fully body with high alcohol. Medium plus intensity with all characteristics present with addition of grass on palate. The finish is medium. The wine is very good, can drink now but would do better with aging. The cab sav is stronger than Syrah.