Lover of: all things light, minerally, & red; in search of the perfect Chenin blanc, cru Beaujolais, mountain Nebbiolo, & varietals unknown.
Old vine Glera produced in Argentina, in Mendoza.. Still wine using the Prosecco varietal. Medium plus acidity, an overall yellow waxy fruit palate, but quite dry & very much a food wine. I kept on wanting it to loosen up more, but it didn’t- or can’t. Still, interesting on many levels though my taste buds aren’t begging to go back. Closest analogy is to a more uni dimensional Aligote. — 16 days ago
Brought back from a recent trip & my first Patagonian merlot. I won’t say it’s my last but wasn’t jiggy with it, though it paired well with a very savory & flavor packed dinner of Italian sausage, broccoli rabe, & Hungarian potatoes w caraway. No edges & quite sleek, concentrated red fruits but found it bland. Canalé is a renowned Patagonian producer. Since I drink solo Merlot rarely May just be the varietal. — 17 days ago
Interesting that when I had this a few years ago, it was much drier and a bit more uni dimensional. Now it is quite fleshy with a wonderful, thick texture and the residual sugar is more pronounced. This is old school full-bodied, mineral driven Kabinett with a cork enclosure. Delicious. — 7 days ago
It’s been ages since dipping into Montalcino. What a beautiful reminder of how generous these can be: transparent Ruby red, deceptively light frame, & strong aromatics of fresh picked cherries & menthol. Air & time tame the chunkier & rougher qualities, so a decent decant could really make it sing. Also some serious grip, though not the most layered or complex finish- after all, it’s a rosso. — 13 days ago
Newest encounter with this Ribera Sacra red. Tasted like a Loire in blind tasting especially given its funkiness, but it’s more complex & layered if you take your time & let it settle down. Blackberries, a bit of fermented apple cider, & wild raspberries- the tiny ones. I can drink this all day. — 17 days ago
Tasted blind & thought hi end Chinon, or some Cab Franc given its funk & superb tension between its acid & fruit; all kinds of forest bark & pinecones, dark red fruits, & a slight menthol edge. Develops too in the glass, & feels like the palate & aftertaste can go on forever. Though the lesser priced of its Tondonia sibling (& very different), this for me is one of the 8 great wonders-& values-of the wine world. — 13 days ago
No notes, but delicious with a pretty broad palate. — 13 days ago
Much more subtle than I anticipated & compared to Chidaine, Huet,etc. Probably a bit closed & can use a decant at this stage. All kinds of pulverized shells & a low key minerality, long & lean in terms of texture. No wool or wax here. White flowers, Asian pear, & I want to say raw yellow zucchini ( though I may regret that). All kinds of complexity to taste. A ‘contemplative’ rather than a race horse wine-& hope my homeboy will hang onto his others so we can taste what age will do. Opened during an exhilarating Knicks win. — 17 days ago
Tasted a few times now & consistent. Trocken style. Raw Fennel, apple skin, white flowers- marigolds & apples on the nose. A bit frizzante? At 15$ another Crazy Eddie deal. — 20 days ago
Peter Sultan
My last bottle brought over from Argentina and what a bottle it is. My friend tasted blind and thought Pinot noir, or even an Austrian red because it is so fleshy and fresh. A paragon of the Zelig that Malbec can be in the right hands. Carmelo Patti is a godfather of Mendoza wines & is, as far I can tell, a one man Gang of Four so it’s all about natural winemaking here: opaque Ruby, fresh red raspberries & cherries, tree bark, & a subtle grip on the back end. Tannic structure leaves a light imprint. Some imported to the states, & so worth seeking out. — 7 days ago