Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanter for about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 RTW CCC pours a deep ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of mixed brambles, purple flowers, Fig Newtons, black pepper, dried green herbs, and silica rich, rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and comes across like laser cut steel. Drink now with patience through 2038. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about 30 minutes prior to service. The 2015 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of red currants, Morello Cherry, mixed brambles, red and purple flowers, tobacco, black tea, iron rich earth, subtle cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is phenomenal and has me asking myself, “why don’t I seek out more Grattamacco?” Wow. Obviously a winner with lasagna. Drink now with some patience and through 2045. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe plum, black cherry, ripe raspberry, black pepper and some warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Drink now through 2031. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core and a orangish rim; medium+ viscosity with amber staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated cherry, dried red flowers, mushroom, leather and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. The alcohol is high. This is a wine showing signs of age but there’s enough evidence to lead me to where this should be from.

Initial conclusions: this could be Grenache, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo or Sangiovese from Spain, France or Italy. For me, there’s too much expensive, small format oak for me to be in Piemonte. This could be Brunello…or Chateauneuf du Pape but for the similar reasons, I didn’t like that call even though there are certainly more producers in those areas making wine like this. I then vacillated between Chateauneuf and Priorat with 20+ years of age. Final conclusion: Grenache from Spain, Priorat, 2005. Oooof…I need to remember that people made/make wine’s like this in Piemonte. The signs were there, even though the oak use and extraction were super modern. This is why we practice! Drink now. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened about three hours prior to service. The 2020 pours a deep purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of funky brambles, purple flowers, black pepper, bacon fat, dried green herbs, exotic spices, and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the addition of olive brine. The finish is long, ferrous and savory. Really great stuff. Drink now through 2040+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2019 pours a dull ruby color with a slight brownish tinge; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, pomegranate, mushroom, and gravel. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This is fantastic and squarely in the zone. Drink now though, it’s not going to fall off a cliff on the next couple years. — 10 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 “Corcelette” pours a brilliant ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark cherry lozenges, purple flowers, licorice, fresh herbs, and ferrous, rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Utterly charming stuff with personality of the 2021 vintage I love. Drink now through 2036. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Splash decanted; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2001 pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining and loads of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with lovely notes of plums, Morello cherry, red and purple flowers, cocoa, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and subtle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and sanguine. After 25 years, I remain in adoration of the 2001 “Campoleone” and aside from navigating the monumental sediment, this should be a joy well past 2035. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 1981 pours an amber color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with notes of ripe apricots, orange peel, honeysuckle, marmalade, candied nuts and crushed rock. On the palate, the wine is sweet with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This bottle of the 1981 seems evergreen considering the way it showed today. Drink now through 2081?? — 9 days ago