Antonio Do Nicho
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
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
antonio machado
Quinta do Serrado Dão Reserva Red Blend 2014
Frrrrrresh! — 9 years ago
Lokoya
Diamond Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Top 2-3 Napa Cabs I've ever had. Magical nose, cassis, cocoa, red flowers. Rich but nicely aged mid-palate, spreading into a wide swathe of candied red and black fruit, soft but powerful. Secondary stuff in spades. Then - an explosion at the back-end of cedary fruit and fig, tobacco, dark chocolate that lasted for >60 seconds. Just a monumental wine, sadly a solo.
This is note #500 for me, grateful to so many Delectable contributors who take the time to educate and expand my wine perspectives (or, in the case of @Bill Bender...other stuff, too!). Thanks to @Anthony Lombardi @Kimberly Anderson @Jörgen Lindström Carlvik @Jeff Savigny@Ron R@Shawn R @Richard Steinberg @Martin G Rivard (who is living the dream), @Greg Gregory among so many others, not to mention @Roman Sukley with magical reach to inaccessible, iconic SQNs (and the will to pop them) and frank open perspectives from legendary winemakers like @Mike Smith and @Cathy Corison, you all make this a neat community of which I try to be a small contributor.
Finally - a renewed plea to @Antonio Galloni to return "trending" to this community, as it was stolen by the bean counters! I'm no social media expert (I do have 2 teenagers!) but I'm pretty sure that "trending" speaks to the integrity and will to contribute of an entire community...take a look! — 9 years ago
Antonio Vallana e Figlio
Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2011
A stoner Nebbiolo. Chill and laid back. Do I really keep a couple of these for 50 years, or am I confusing with a different Vallana Spanna? — 11 years ago
Herdade Da Bombeira
Vinho Regional Tinto 2010
casa do Antonio & Beta, na Foia — 13 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
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
Dirty & Rowdy
"Especial" Alder Springs Mourvèdre 2016
@delectable @Antonio Galloni this is the 2016 Especial Alder Springs Vineyard. @everyone else, this is delicious but still early days, even with a 3 hour decant. Just starting to show nerve, depth and complexity I would expect, and definitely comes across as more muscular then previous incarnations of Especial. Do I have to say it's lip smacking delicious, even as it's clearly not even out of second gear? I probably don't. As much as I wanted to follow this over a couple days, my will and palate were weak... but happy. 😁😁😁 — 9 years ago
Travaglini
Selezione Gattinara Nebbiolo 1993
Bottle no. 4260 (of 10300).
Italian wines generally take up a small space of my cellar but I really do enjoy them aged. This was no exemption.
Based on tonight's experience I have a few Travaglini's from the '80's that might see the corkscrew soon.
@Antonio Galloni - should I count you in next time you're in Napa? — 9 years ago
Quinta do Monte d'Oiro
Homenagem A Antonio Carqeijeiro Syrah 2001
Prontissimo, taninos abrandados, aroma complexo, Bom corpo apesar da evolucao, belo Vinho, grata surpresa — 10 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
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
Mark Herold Wines
Herold Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
Wednesday night and went to cellar and lately I have been digging into holes looking for wine I don't normally go to - why - well you bought it so you need to drink it - my wife is not happy with my judgement and craves her 9.4 and higher rated Napa cab - so that said as a qualifier I say this
Decanted 2 hours and first sip is not bad - actually I like it - but the normal posse (WNH) would never be served this in visiting for they would as I do not call this BiG BOLD BEAUTIFUL
What I call this -- color is nice and works with its dark reddish color - smell and taste is a little short of the goal but surprising in not trying to disguise with pepper - more black fruits and currants than you might expect - finish also surprised me and reminded me of the white label by Mark - it was at least a minute
I think all this is summed best by using @Antonio Galloni review which I restate as [91-93pts Vinous] The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Herold by Mark Herold is mostly about pure energy and tension at this stage. There is plenty of inner sweetness in the glass, so it will be interesting to see where the wine goes over the coming year. - [*Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2012*]
I know it is 2011 but suggest giving this a new try and I bet the rating might have improved
All said it is hump day according to a GEICO commercial with a camel which says "Mike Mike Mike' for it is Wednesday and this wine is leaving with a nice smile!!!! May the rest of your week be all smiles folks — 9 years ago
Bodega Antonio Cajide Gulín
Viña do Avó Ribeiro Red Blend 2011
Honeycrisp apple, lime oil and chalk. Incredibly clean but very full, silky mouthfeel. Unripe white peach with a long stone finish. — 10 years ago
Bodega Antonio Cajide Gulín
Sameirás Ribeiro Sousón Blend
This Sameiras from DO Ribeiro is a powerful red blend from native grapes, lot of wet leaves, earthy notes, red confited fruits, no doubt a complex red, still needs aging... — 10 years ago
Castello di Monsanto
Nemo Vigneto Il Mulino Toscana Cabernet Sauvignon
Antonio Galloni have given 95pnts for 2006 vintage. Absolutely truthfully, frankly saying. Firstly, great price for so strong structure which helps to hold this wine up to 2025 or even longer. Secondly, nice refining features - rich texture, all over the nose hints of chocolate, tobacco and dried herbs, but this wine is too young to judge about it. The best way you can do is to put it in your cellar if you prefer not overfruity Cabernet in classical Old World style. — 12 years ago
Pooneet K
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