As one can expect for a Dave Phinney wine, this is rich and ripe, but it has so much more to offer at year 14. Blueberry, fig, tobacco, cracked pepper, dried mushroom, and slight hint of barnyard. On the palate it’s juicy yet soft and ultra smooth. The finish is long, candied, and earthy.
My 2nd and last bottle. At its peak. — 2 years ago
Funky Cab Franc different compared to the traditional Loire Valley. Funky and different in all the best ways though. Refreshing and takes a slight chill well. — 4 years ago
a little acidic at first but it really opens up as you drink it. i like it more and more. — 5 years ago
Very enjoyable. Almost to the tee what I would expect for an elegant Zin. Macerated fruit, warm spice, solid tannic structure. Love those old vines. Not overly jammy either. Would love to try an older vintage just to see how it would mature. Had it with plain old cheese, wafer crisps and grapes. Lovely — 7 years ago
Such a beautifully expressive & high toned Langhe, if only other Langhe's could give back so much at a young age. — 9 years ago
Impressive. Enjoyed with a homemade tomato basil prosciutto pizza. — 10 years ago
Fresh and well balanced. The best of the lineup IMHO. — 10 years ago
Big, rich, maybe just a little too ripe (as @Tom Casagrande pointed out in a note about an earlier vintage), but still a nice, solid, old vine field blend, Contra Costa County history!! — 2 years ago
Very fruity. Black cherry and blackberry aromas and some notes of cinnamon, then balanced fruit and baking spices that tingle the tongue and linger on. What Goes with That: Fall Sweets Class, pairing: pumpkin pie. — 3 years ago
Natural Zinfandel recommended when I asked for something not as tart. Slightly mushroomy / peppery finish, very enjoyable. Purchased from Gemini Bottle Co — 5 years ago
Clear deep red-violet Boysenberry on sight
Clean sandy berry aroma
Dry, med+ acidity, fine tannin, lighter side of medium body, red fruit and dark berry in the finish. Delicious now, could age. Needs a nice decant, great to watch evolve in glass too (air wakes up the tannins and elevates the red fruit notes)
Hooray and Keep up the good work 140+ yr old vines!
— 6 years ago
Richly textured. Fresh. #delicious — 8 years ago
Analysis not yet completed — 9 years ago
Drinking tonight 12/30/15. 05a great year. — 10 years ago
Great balance between white pepper and minerality. A little too light for bbq but great for 2+ glasses with a full moon out tonight. 2012 Ribiera Sacra - Pena do Lobo. Nevermind the thirsty monkey #riberasacra #redwine #red #spain — 10 years ago
Excellent. In Butcher’s Cut on MSC — 8 months ago
Citrus forward with notable viscosity in a way so many skin contact wines could only dream of. — 9 months ago
ライチの香り。
さっぱりみずみずしい。 — 5 years ago
Nice Albariño. Citrus and florals present. Great summer supper. Purchased at Keif & Co in NOLA — 8 years ago
Barbaresco at it noblest expression- long live Nebbiolo — 9 years ago
Melon, white peach, grapefruit zest, white flowers, wet stone, med+ salinity, med+ body, med+ acid, high intensity, long finish. 13.5% — 10 years ago
NY Times top 20 under $20 — 10 years ago
$17 very bold, slightly earthy but smooths strong fruit but not aweet — 11 years ago
Jay Kline

The 2020 “del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba” is a traditional blend of three MGAs from Serralunga: mostly younger vines from Baudana, Cerretta and now, some fruit from Costabella. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2020 pours a beautiful garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of Morello cherry, pomegranate, talcum powder, red roses, dry earth and old wood. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. I took the opportunity to enjoy this alongside the “Baudana” and this didn’t have the same elegance but it’s a very complete and balanced Barolo. Drink now through 2040. — 7 months ago