Antonio Do Nicho
Sandhi Wines
Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018
The 2018 Pinot Noir (Sta. Rita Hills) is a glorious wine. A burst of sweet red/purplish fruit makes a strong opening statement that reverberates off layers of savory and floral intensity. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the 2018 packs a serious punch. Readers who want to get a sense of the year would do well to start here. This striking appellation-level Pinot is one of the overachievers of the year. Then again, vineyard sites are Domaine de La Côte and Sanford & Benedict, which was not bottled separately, but used for wine. The 30% whole clusters are perfectly judged. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, August 2020)
— 6 years ago
Antonio Barbadillo
Bambera de Barbadillo Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz Merlot
Deep dark red, delightful wine. Dry, full-bodied wine with a hint of sweetness one would expect from a wine produced in southern Spain. Pairs well with cheese, fruit, crusty bread and your favorite Italian or Spanish entree. Tasted as good a day later surprisingly, as most wine I have tried do not.
Purchased through WSJ wine club in a mixed case in Dec. 2019. — 6 years ago
Azores Wine Co.
António Maçanita Isabella a Proibida 2016
Very interesting wine from the Azores. I heard the producer Antonio Macanita on Levi Dalton’s podcast and have been wanting to try - amusing to have the chance to do so off the northern coast of Newfoundland. Tons of ripe strawberry on the nose, and lots of light red fruit on first sip. With a bit of air the deeper earthy / volcanic notes come through, all knitted together with exceptional acid. Versatile pairing wine and generally both interesting and delicious. — 7 years ago
Antonio Vallana e Figlio
Spanna Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2015
Excellent cheap Nebbiolo, and one of the best values I have had. Excellent cranberry fruitiness and perfect with pizza. Cherry flavor and nose. One cannot do better in red wine for under $15. — 8 years ago
Bevan Cellars
Ontogeny Oakville Red Wine 2015
There is no issue at all with tasting the 2015 Ontogeny, Bevan's entry-level wine, after all the big guns. If anything, the tasting order simply shows what a great wine this. Expansive aromatics lead into a core of rich, pliant fruit in this sweeping, dramatic wine. Readers who don't want to splurge on the higher-priced offerings will do just fine with the Ontogeny. This is a tremendous showing. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2018) — 8 years ago
Cruse Wine Co.
Charles Heintz Vineyard Syrah 2015
The 2015 Syrah Charles Heintz Vineyard is an outrageously beautiful, vivid wine. A rush of blue and purplish fruit, lavender, licorice and dark spice make a strong opening statement. Today, the tannins are a bit overpowering, but time in bottle will do the trick. The 2015 was fermented in concrete, with 10% whole clusters, and aged in a combination of concrete and oak. Readers who can find the wine should not hesitate. Heintz is one of the top vineyards in California. Getting a glimpse of the site through the lens of Syrah it makes for a deeply fascinating experience. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Mar 2017) — 9 years ago
Bodegas y Vinedos Ponce
P.F Manchuela Bobal 2016
Juan Antonio Ponce stands alone as the leader of the Manchuela DO and the master of the region’s indigenous Bobal grape. Deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, spice and earthy notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and plum with some floral spice, cacao and earthy accents. Medium+ finish, fine grainy tannins, ending with fruit and mineral tang. Nice value! — 5 years ago
Bodegas Muga
Gran Reserva Prado Enea Rioja Tempranillo 2011
90 minute decant. Very deep ruby. Earth, soil, licorice, white pepper, most primary fruit has passed. Some subtle root vegetable, and ash. Super hot alcoholic burn. Full bodied. Medium acidity. Smooth yet firm tannins. Medium plus finish.
Compared to the Crianza earlier, to me, this is only marginally better. I craved leather and tobacco, but couldn't find it. No meat or barnyard funk. Moreover, the alcohol.puts it a bit out of balance.
In short, the nose on this wine is better, but the palate of the Pesquera wins. I'll give the nod + to the Prado Enea--past vintages have offered much more (leather, coffee, meat)
92+ points
UPDATE: Listen, I can't do it. This wine is not better than the 2015 Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera Crianza. It's just not. I have both glasses in front of me. The former is hot and choppy, and latter is round and the secondary oak notes are balancing it perfectly.
Lesson learned: this is an example of how you can easily waste 30+ dollars.
Back down to 92 points. The other gets the bump to 92+. Thanks for listening!!!
Maybe @Antonio Galloni can chime in on this one?! — 6 years ago
Sloan
Rutherford Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
Concentrated cassis and twigs on the nose led a big, round and voluptuous layering of black fruit, pure espresso and toasted oak. Tannins have faded to blue, creating a long and soft finish that feels like this masterpiece has peaked. I’m told this is Sloan in a “bad” year. Fine by me....
So this is wine no. 1,000 for me on @delectable and I wanted to thank @Antonio Galloni for supporting and investing in this distinctive, global community of wine nerds, bon vivants, industry folks and general winos. It clearly holds a special place for its members. Yeah, I may gripe about the non-trending “Trending” section, but this is the best place there is on my iPhone to share and learn about the grape juice I love. So I joined Vinous, and am joining the paid Delectable, as this is the best I can do to support the Delectable team. I’ll also do my best to make it to the Barolo Rare Wine Dinner in NYC next week! Cheers. — 6 years ago
Le Piane
Boca Nebbiolo Blend 2010
It’s been two weeks since any activity on my end 🤷🏻♀️ I promise I’ve been drinking well! A thank you to @Antonio Galloni for letting @Samantha Potter and I join a mid-tasting lunch with a glass of this wonderful wine. I sadly didn’t take notes but I do remember it went down like silk, really delicious. — 8 years ago
Top Winery
I Block Paso Robles Red Rhone Blend
Top Winery new release “I Block” DO NOT MISS OUT. Order immediately. @Mike Smith @Warren Sapp @Warren Sapp @Neal Schaffer @Martin G Rivard @David L @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher @Carl Fischer @Antonio Galloni @Jim Trobaugh @James Forsyth @Shay A @TheSkip @Susan Sung @Jody Scharf @Vanessa D @leon egozi @leon egozi @Eric Shanks @Eric LaMasters @Vanessa D @Neal Schaffer @Peggy Hadley @Stanley Barrios @Kirk Feyereisen @Kimberly Anderson — 8 years ago
antonio machado
Quinta do Serrado Dão Reserva Red Blend 2014
Frrrrrresh! — 9 years ago
Vinicola Guaspari
Espirito Santo do Pinhal Pinot Noir 2016
A beautiful red brick color. Candied cherries, clove and cinnamon aromas and flavors. A California-style pinot noir made in Brazil. @Antonio Galloni , you should try the wines from this producer. They got nice ratings from Decanter Magazine. It is something new and different in the wine world. — 6 years ago
Casa Marin
Lo Abarca Hills Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Pinkish ruby red color. Just a tad hazy. Smells like flowers and tart berries. Hint of tar (or is it not earth?). Flavors are complex and classy. Bit of mineral water. Still. Rhubarb and smoke. It’s a lovely and gratifying Pinot. Classy, unique and flavorful. It guess they can do almost anything in Chile wine-wise. — 6 years ago
Cédric Bouchard
Roses de Jeanne Côte de Val Vilaine Brut Blanc de Noirs Champagne 2017
Bouchard’s Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine is especially strong in 2017 and also a fabulous introduction to this range of magnificent Champagnes. Beautifully resonant and inviting, the 2017 is so gorgeous. Pear, baked apple, dried flowers, mint and spice all build as the 2017 opens up in the glass. More than anything else, the 2017 impresses with its poise and raciness. The slightly reductive character found in some previous releases is not present in the 2017, and that really lets the purity of the fruit shine through. Bouchard does not push this site to the degree he does most of his other vineyards, so the Val Vilaine doesn’t quite offer the complexity of the top wines here, but words really can’t do justice to just how delicious the 2017 is. Don’t miss it. No dosage. Disgorged: April, 2019. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2019)
— 6 years ago
Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne 1990
The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2018) — 7 years ago
Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2006
The 2006 Comtes de Champagne is striking, especially in the way it brings together elements of ripeness and freshness in a hypothetical blend of the 2002 and 2004. Smooth and creamy on the palate, the 2006 is all about texture. There is a real feeling of density and weight in the 2006, qualities I expect to see grow with time in the bottle. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. The 2006 has been nothing short of magnificent both times I have tasted it. Comtes de Champagne remains the single best value (in relative terms) in tête de cuvée Champagne. I suggest buying a case and following it over the next 20-30 years, which is exactly what I intend to do. There is little doubt the 2006 Comtes de Champagne is a magical Champagne in the making. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Jul 2015) — 8 years ago
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The 2019 La Fleur-Pétrus is pure and total seduction. Trotanoy and perhaps also Hosanna have traditionally been viewed as more exclusive Pomerols in the Moueix portfolio. The more time passes, the less I share that view. Sure, La Fleur-Pétrus does not have the mystique associated from a small single vineyard - as many Pomerols do - and yet there is no denying the elegance and class here. Bright red fleshed fruit, blood orange and exotic spice race across the palate, framed by silky, plush tannins that wrap it all together. La Fleur-Pétrus is fabulous. That's all there is to it. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, February 2022)
— 4 years ago