Jay Kline

9.2

Brought to Tasting Group from my cellar and presented to the group double-blind. The wine presents a deep ruby color with moderate staining of the tears. Medium viscosity. On the nose, notes of strawberry, cherry candy, watermelon juice, menthol, green herbs oregano thyme, and cedar. On the palate, the wine is dry and structure is medium+ across the board. The finish is long, tart, mineral and woody but not in a new oak sort of way. Everyone was in the Old World with guesses ranging from Burgundy to Rioja. To be fair, not many in Napa makes Zinfandel like this anymore…if any at all. Lovely stuff. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Real talk: I’m a little embarrassed to admit that this is my first experience with the wines of Domaine Champet. When I consider that their approach to winemaking is philosophically aligned with my own preferences, how did this meeting not happen before now? Maybe it’s because they only make 1000 cases of wine a year? Maybe it’s because I live in Nebraska. Whatever the reason, it no longer matters because I have now experienced what cannot be undone. For a bit of reference, the family has a rather rich, (Romain and Maxime are 4th generation), history working with vines in the “La Viallière” lieu-dit in the Côte Brune. “La Viallière” was made famous thanks to Dervieux (yes, as in Gentaz-Dervieux). The land is…improbable to farm…with some slopes close to 60°. Everything is performed by hand. This bottling, “Les Fils à Jo” focuses on the old vines from their holdings in “La Viallière”.

Popped and poured; consumed over 5 days, best on days 3-5 and the following notes reflect such. The wine pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core and pretty significant staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity and every so slightly turbid. On the nose, blue and black fruits with bacon fat, lavender, kalamata olive, a whisper of baking spices…some white pepper, some tobacco…wild and beguiling. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium++ tannin and medium+ acid. Incredible texture. Confirming the fruit set and other aforementioned characteristics. There’s blueberry scone and an iron-ore kind of thing going "On and on and on, on and on and on; Checka checka it out, to the breaka breaka dawn". The finish is long…as in forever…and absolutely, positively divine. If tonight is any indication, this wine will drink well past 2040. Between the Levet’s and Champet’s, there are very few in Côte Rôtie making wines like this anymore. What is certain, is that this was one of those experiences where there was a time before, and a time after Champet. Certainly one of those I won’t ever forget. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented to me double-blind. The wine appears a deep burnished golden color with medium+ viscosity. Notes of baked apples, white flowers, chamomile minerals and a petrol thing. On the palate, medium+ acid. Confirming the fruit but the apples are spiced and there’s a slightly nutty, oxidized thing going. Alcohol seems elevated too. Loads of character. The color and oxidization suggested it was a combo of style and age; I figured 10-15 years. I vacillated between Alsatian Riesling GC or a Chenin from the Loire by a great producer. Ultimately, I called 2010 Savennières as it actually reminded me of Joly’s “Clos de la Bergerie”. LOL! Close!!! These Huet Sec’s age amazing 🥲. — 19 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deeper ruby color with a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity; slight staining of the tears. On the nose, dark cherry, dried herbs and baking spices…it smells Italian. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with monumental structure. The fruits and non-fruits are confirmed. I gotta say this is painfully primary. It took half a day of air to even budge. I vacillated between Sangio and Nebbiolo…the color didn’t quite seem right for Nebbiolo but the structure was beyond what I would expect for Sangiovese. So, I called Barolo from 2017, from a modern producer. Welp…I got the Italian part right! In hindsight, I should have trusted the color. If you have these, slow-ox for at least 12 hours before service. This will drink nicely, well past it’s fifteenth birthday. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. The 2014 Pegaü “Cuvée Réservé” appears a deep ruby in the glass with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity. The nose is funky cherry, bruised strawberry, barn yard, stone fruit, brambles, garrigue, spiced meat, and damp forest floor. There is a touch of VA but it’s on the charming side. On the palate the wine is dry, with significant structure still. In fact, I feel as though the structure is showing more than I recall from earlier experiences. The fruit is generous but more red fruited than usual. Fresh and juicy with a long finish. Awesome. Still another 10 years in this, easy. On the lighter side for Pegaü, thanks the 2014 vintage, but still a stunner. — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; no formal notes. Dark cherry, red flowers, dusty earth and dried herbs. A touch round but bone dry and the expected structure is there. Give these a little bit of time. Better after 2023. Pretty solid value. — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

My first experience with the 2013 Musar Blanc. I opened this bottle about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the next three hours. Served at cellar temperature. The wine pours a bright golden color with medium, almost medium+ viscosity. The nose is…fascinating. Notes of lemon, herbs, marigolds, honey, marmalade, cloves, bandaid, and something that reminded me of an old rail yard. No cap. On the palate, lemon curd, slightly underripe star fruit, green herbs, a bitterness that reminds of walnut skin…the wine is really wooly, with a long smokey and rather saline finish. Medium+ acid that builds with air. This is about as Musar as it gets. Rustic, wild and irresistible all the same. I’m sure this bottle isn’t without flaw but that’s sort of what you get with Musar. Anyway, we had no trouble finishing off the bottle. It should be noted that the wine improved with air. I’ll hold my remaining bottle until at least 2028. — 18 days ago

Jay Kline

8.7

Presented double-blind to Tasting Group. The wine appears a turbid and light straw color. On the nose, the wine is wild with notes of undigested hay, apple, and under-ripened tropical fruit. Somewhat volatile. On the palate, the wine is dry with what seems like bracing acidity. Tart apples, star fruit, citrus, minerals and a sort of metallic thing. I figured this was Chenin from Savennieres…someplace that would make high acid wine like this in a more natural style. New World Chardonnay? Whoa…didn’t see that coming. Super nerdy wine for sure. Only 1 barrel produced. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet with a translucent core and burnished orange rim. Some signs of sediment. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, cherry lozenges, Corinthian leather, rich mahogany, old books, espresso, baking spices, desiccated flowers…like something that reminds me of my great aunt’s potpourri, and bit of umami. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium (+?) tannin which is well integrated. Medium acid. The fruit and non-fruit characteristics are confirmed. The finish is laden with dried fruits leather and earth. I felt that the wine was old with 15+ years of age and leaned a little more towards its fruit character than its structure…so I called Barossa Valley Shiraz, 2005, from a quality producer. But then, someone said 2012 CdP and I was like…”ooooohhhh, I like that CdP call”. But if that was the case, it would have to be older…from a great vintage like 2001. Well…I was on the right track. Who cares, this was an awesome showing and the oldest Chateau de Saint Cosme I’ve ever had. Drink now and enjoy. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened about an hour prior to service. The 2011 Chateau Simone pours a slightly turbid garnet color. Right off the first pour, this certainly isn’t faking the funk on a nasty dunk. Redolent of tart cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, cow pasture, red flowers, earth, mushrooms and grilled spiced meats. On the palate, the fruit and non-fruits are confirmed accompanied by stiff tannins and acid. The finish is long and satisfying. A wild yet charming wine. This was a fabulous pairing with grilled lamb chops. Drink now or over the next 5-10 years. — 18 days ago