Paul T HB

9.4

Nice bbq chicken 🐓 bottle Wine Advocate review & rating 92 points, be released in 2015, the 2008 San Leonardo is a wine in its infancy. The nose is immediately redolent of dark cherry, blackberry, leather, tobacco, mint and eucalyptus leaf. You will also appreciate the floral tones of pressed rose and almond blossom that lift from the glass. The harvest schedule played out on time with Carmenère coming in at the end of September and Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon towards the beginning of October. The 2008 vintage is especially marked by a duality of floral and menthol notes that rise from the glass with brilliant intensity. The 2008 vintage needs ten year or more to find its proper footing. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.5

The 2002 Billecart-Salmon ‘"Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart" Brut Champagne (WWB, 95) which has a massive mouthfeel and glorious texture right now. This vintage is just thrilling to enjoy right now, made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay and resting for ten years on the lees. A bright beam of salinity falls over the limestone driven terroir, as Pink Lady Apple, kumquat zest and cinnamon infused sourdough bread flavors collide with minerals and the unctuous texture on the mouth. Generous, showing glorious length now at nearly the twenty year mark, this gorgeous bottling will have a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 95 — 5 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.2

The 2004 Seavey Merlot is showing marvelously now at the fifteen year mark. Aged in 40% new French oak, the wine is a silky blend of 75% Merlot with the remainder Cabernet Sauvignon (15%) and Petit Verdot (10%). The earthy tones aromatically are really nice, as this shows dusty terroir that has settled with the black fruits and black tea aromas that all come together in the glass. The palate is soft, rich and downright elegant. Black fruits collide with shades of creme de cassis and mocha, with the lovely damp terroir terroir that round out this beautiful palate. This is absolutely singing at the fifteen year mark but has another ten years left. Drink 2019-2029- 92
— 6 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.0

Ten year-old imperial porter! Just slightly over the hill. Lacings of froth disappear quickly, but carbonation is at medium and still present. Opens up with notes of coffee, cream, vanilla. Not at all sweet. Nice work. — 7 years ago

with Alsu

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Another great vintage of this underrated NZ single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. Loads of citrus (primarily grapefruit) and herbaceous notes. Light bodied with Bracing acidity. Crisp and refreshing. Consistent from year to year. — 7 years ago

Roy Goble

9.0

Really liked this wine a few years ago. But it's fading now that it's hit the ten year old mark. — 8 years ago

Megan Gardner

9.5

2 year anniversary - from Fig Tree wine dinner a few years ago ❤️🍾 — 9 years ago

Paulo Gouvea

9.6

Drank the 2005. Great year as you all know. It will mature a bit more the next ten years. I still have two more bottles. Keeping them with a sturdy lock! — 9 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

My first time trying one of the wines from Cantina del Pino, an estate with greater ties to Barbaresco’s roots than most. The Vacca family were long a part of the Produttori but in 1997 branched out (yes, a pun: it was they who in the 1920s planted the now iconic pine tree on the highest point of the Ovello lieu-dit), and now produce two single vineyard Barbaresco bottlings (this, and an Albesani), as well as a generic Barbaresco and Langhe, Barbera and Dolcetto wines.

Tragically, winemaker Renato Vacca died in March last year after a yearlong battle with cancer. The 2016 vintage, just bottled, is supposed to be superb.

For now, though, the Ovello from the less lauded 2012 vintage. This is a knockout wine, still young, and with great promise. The nose is very exotic, quite heady & oaky even after a two hour decant, but opened up as the evening progressed, to give gorgeous aromas of macerated cherry, blackberry preserve, cinnamon, cedar and old leather. It screams Nebbiolo, and it’s the first Nebb I’ve had in a year or so.

The palate is very concentrated, with ripe and intense flavours of cranberry, dried cherry, cured meat and tobacco leaf. There is great tension and energy through the mouth, which only this village - or its neighbour - can achieve. The finish is long and impressive. A seductive, ageworthy wine.

94+ — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

I don’t hide the fact that I’m a massive fan of Brovia and their Freisa which they produce in a dry, still style is among my favorite values in all of Piedmont. The grapes for this wine come from the Villero cru and are aged exclusively in stainless steel. Production is extremely minuscule with under 1000 bottles made per year however, tracking some down is well worth the effort. The 2017 version has aromas of dark blackberries, roses, and tar while the palate is packed with strawberries, mulberries, blueberries and dried herbs. Impressive structure with mouth-drying tannins and snappy acidity leading to a long, tongue-smacking finish. Capable of aging? Yes, and probably would be an interesting one to follow over the next five to ten years. That being said, these are really meant to be consumed on the younger side while we wait for the Barolo’s to mature 😉. This bottle was paired with the “kamikaze” lasagna we got last night from Au Courant which, as it happens, was also my source for this bottle. — 5 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.5

There is richness and density here but plenty of vibrancy and acidity. Youthful for a ten year old, and drinking well but no hurry. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Updating notes from 29 weeks ago.

On the nose, macerated & baked; blackberries, dark cherries, blueberries, plum, strawberries with raspberries painting the background. Mocha, vanilla, dark chocolate, fruit liqueur notes, dark rich soil, limestone minerals, fresh & decayed red florals with bright fresh field of blue & red floral florals with violets.

The palate is elegant, rich and full. The tannins nicely softened & resolved. 60-65% resolved. There is nice; soften structure, very good balance with excellent length. The fruits are; ruby ripe blackberries, sweet & sour dark cherries, blue fruit mix, black raspberries, plum, creamy raspberries and hint of strawberries. The red florals & violets really shine through on the palate as well. Sweet tarry notes, dark fruit liqueur, dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, some black licorice, limestone minerals, iron, tarry notes, smoke, used leather, cigar with ash, touch of dry stems, pinch of herbaceousness, dark spices, dry clay, loamy dry top soil, dry crushed rock powder, just hint of white pepper, blue & dark red florals, lavender with violets, good round acidity and a long, elegant, balanced finish that lasts minutes.

Better with a good meat sauce pasta than pizza. Slightly overpowered our pizza tonight. But, still delicious.

Photos of; the backside of Valdicava, one of their vineyards and Valdicava winery owner Vincenzo Abbruzzese.

Brunello’s take years to come around and why Italians hold them extra year(s) over other varietals/regions in bottle. It’s ten years before good Brunello producers wines are truly enjoyable; which is why I still have so many in hibernation. Drink through 2025. — 7 years ago

with Christina and James

George Hesse

9.6

Delightful Pinot Noir from Lompoc CA! That's just up the road in Santa Barbara County. The CYC gets only six bottles of this a year and I was fortunate enough to get the last bottle. — 8 years ago

with Jennifer

Travis W

9.0

Very good value for money. In a little hole as it is heading into more developed tertiary characters. Hold for a year or two. — 9 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Been over a year since I’ve had this and really dug it last time. Glorious cooling spices. Lovely mineral and earthen scents. Oolong tea. Tree bark. Perfectly ripe cherries. Just gorgeous. So complex and layered. So delicate and pure. 9.5 nose. Palate is dynamite. Full of energy, power, concentration and depth. Very Red Riesling. So sappy. Ripe, sweet and velvety tannins. Superb structure and sap. Just brilliant. — 4 years ago

Brett Rogosin

8.9

This needs time. Plenty of time. I decanted 3 hours, then drank it over days and still quite tannic and lots of acidity. Closed at first, but the nose is opening with inky ripe blackberry, black currants, little bit of vanilla, and a touch of menthol. The palate is more tart currant and blackberry pits with menthol and tree bark. For the price I’d buy a few, start drinking in 3-5 years+, then have each year thereafter. — 4 years ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.7

Ethereal, silky and marvelously poised, the 2011 Le Pin (WWB, 97) is sourced from an extremely small estate is located in the commune of Pomerol. It is amongst the world's most expensive red wines, as this was very graciously shared by my colleague Dr. Hong. I was most impressed by the opulent, pillowy texture of the wine, which is still quite primary now at the eight year mark. Elegant tannins line the massive core of dark fruits, all leading the breathtaking, near minute-long finish. This true heavyhitter really needs another ten years of bottle age to hit its stride and will provide drinking enjoyment past my lifetime. Drink 2025-2055- 97 — 6 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Had another chance to try this wine. Family-owned and operated growing just over ten acres of grapes and producing around 1000 cases per year. Berry, spice and floral aromas explode on the nose. Fresh fruit flavors, raspberry and cherry, citrus notes and hints of vanilla, great balance with acidity. Firm tannins, lingering finish ending with earthy tones and a bit of pepper. An enjoyable Pinot at a reasonable price. Has short term aging benefits, but why wait. Tasting Sample. — 6 years ago

Thomas Brenner

8.9

The opposite of disappointment in a bottle. Neat to taste something so enjoyable that was just vinified exactly a year ago, stemming from a very difficult vintage.
2016 saw smaller and fewer berries in Monterey, resulting in a low yield bottling of beautifully colored and intensily cherry and strawberry-forward rosé to write home about. Makes me wanna follow all ten commandments today. — 8 years ago

Anthony Lombardi

9.0

Carignan from 40 year old vines. A 50/50 mix of barrel fermentation & carbonic. This is a brilliant means of handling Carignan. It has the powerful, brooding dark fruit, but also shows a youthful approachability as the structure is tamed somewhat. I frankly find it astonishing that this can be on shelves for ten bucks. It is a bit one note, but that note is a really good one. — 9 years ago