Austin Hohnke

9.2

Deep, young, tannic, and intense. Fruit is shy.
Alcohol is prominent with this one. Maybe age and air can assist with that, but definitely coming in hot. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Maybe slightly better on Day 2 under a muzzle. The “Le Pucelles” pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and tart fruit: green apple, wild strawberry, raspberry, Meyer lemon, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry and the acid is high. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back at my previous notes for this wine from the same disgorgement, the fruit set has shifted a little but I’m no less impressed. The quality of the fruit is tremendous and the minerals dazzle. A dense Champagne and yet it never feels heavy. The cut and precision is undeniable. Drink now through 2036. Disgorged in October of 2022. Thank you @Lyle Fass for the assist! — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

1994 vintage. Nice fill with a slightly shrunken and fully saturated cork. Durand helped plenty in the opening assist. Not decanted and tasted after 1.25 hours open. Hadn’t tasted since the early 2000’s. Definitely dropped all the baby fat. Toffee, coffee and chocolate covered cherries in the nose. Light medium body (thought it would be a touch bigger). Still plenty of focus but slightly less grip than desired. Can it match biggie shizz like Montelena, Dunn, Diamond Creek, BV GDL Reserve, Mondavi Reserve, Araujo, Peter Michael Les Pavots, Mayacamas, etc? No. Is it really really nice? Absolutely. Can hold another 5-6 years at this juncture before boarding the downhill bell curve train. 11.8.24. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course three days. The aromatics were most impressive on Day 1 but the palate found better balance on Day 3. Regardless, an impressive showing throughout. The 2018 “Oléa”, which I understand to be what’s basically a barrel-select of Patrick’s standard Côte-Rôtie, pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fascinating notes of brambles, lavender, blueberry pie, tarragon, grilled lamb, blood, and granitic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with a lovely, silky texture. Drink now with patience and through 2038. Thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2019 pours a deeper garnet (than the Barbaresco) but otherwise the same with a transparent core, medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, more power here too. A tar bomb early which settles in and takes a seat behind a basket full of black cherries, macerated blackberries, roses, orange rind, menthol, fresh sage and some dried basil and old wood. On the palate, bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Such a lovely body and don’t even get me started on the texture. I’m smitten. Drink now with patience through 2049. Thanks @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. Best on Day 3 but this was pretty awesome from the draw. Brisset’s humble Bourgogne Blanc sources fruit outside of the appellations of Chassange-Montrachet, Volnay and Meursault. I wouldn’t blame anyone for suspecting it to be 1er cru. The 2021 “Cuvée Cassanes” pours a straw color with medium viscosity. There is a gorgeous nose of green apples, underripe pineapple, kiwi, star fruit, and a mix of limestone and chalky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. The wine has lovely texture. The finish is long and has some super chalky minerals. A distinctive Bourgogne Blanc. I wish (and will) buy more of this in the future. An awesome pairing with pheasant pâté. Drink now through 2031. Thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.2

Pop & pour. Love the nose: Christmas baking spices, figs, raisins, mulled cider, plums, anise and clove. The palate is a bit flabby, the bodily structure needing more time to develop in the bottle. Even now a good decant is in order to assist in the opening process as it’s muted now. Not to mention it’s a complete bomb at 15.1% ABV.

Edit: 92+. After approximately 40 minutes in the decanter and 30 minutes in the glass this wine lost the flabby baggage that was readily apparent shortly after opening and slowly began to take shape, thus revealing a more collected & rounded out wine that everyone eventually enjoyed, even my wife, who has not enjoyed this selection in the past. — 7 years ago

with Krystal

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2019 “Primanebbia” pours garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with an insane nose of wild forest strawberries, raspberries, roses, curaçao, fresh sage, old wood and gentle mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Probably the greatest Langhe Nebbiolo I’ve had to-date. Drink now through 2039. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.5

The Fossati MGA is bifurcated administratively with the commune of Barolo (to the south) and La Morra (to the north). Cesare Bussolo’s holdings are in the latter. In fact, his vines run like a thin ribbon right through the middle of one of Roberto Voerzio’s plots.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 2020 pours a very pretty garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with soaring notes of ripe red fruit: Morello cherry, raspberry, strawberries, roses, curaçao, licorice, talcum powder, a touch of tar, some dried herbs, dry earth and gentle warm spices. 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 savory. This is a beautiful wine and I was really grateful to share one of my bottles with a good friend at Via Farina’s new location at Regency Landing. Drink now with patience and through 2060.

I would like to add that I have only become aware of Cesare Bussolo’s work over the last few years and believe it or not, it was his 2018 Fossati (from a tricky vintage no less) that caught my attention. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite producers in La Morra. He makes a very small amount of wine (relatively speaking) but I have really enjoyed the process of not only discovering Cesare’s wines (his Barbera’s are not to be overlooked!) but also sharing them with friends. Thanks @Lyle Fass for the assist! — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

The Godefroy lieu-dit sits below the Brouilly hill, to the east. The vines here are very old; some over a century!

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout. The 2022 “Godefroy” pours a deep ruby/purple color; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with perfumed notes of ripe strawberries, Rainier cherry, red plum, forest floor, and red flowers. There’s also a slight funky note, a sort of mushroom thing that I really liked. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; almost chewy. Compared to the “La Chapelle” from earlier in the week, Godefroy is rounder; a bit more fun, flirty and funky whereas “La Chapelle” is darker fruited, more chiseled; stony and sexy. Drinking well now and through 2037+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured, enjoyed over several days. Consistent throughout. The 2013 “Serracapelli” pours deep garnet with transparent core, medium+ viscosity no staining of the tears. Some sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with soaring aromatics; explosive notes of Rainier cherry, roses, pomegranate, Grape Nuts, star anise, talcum powder, old wood, new leather, alpine herbs. 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 grippy with almost waxy texture. Fresh, balanced, and super compelling. Lovely stuff. Drink now and through 2033 easy. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days and consistent throughout. The 2021 “La Dardouille” pours a bright purple color with a near transparent core. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, youthful with a bucket of fresh, darker fruits: blackberries, dark cherry, plum, and blue berries with purple flowers, black pepper, dried earth, minerals and some light baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the black pepper really showing more prominently. Long, mineral finish. All of that being said, the elegance of this wine is arguably its most distinctive characteristic. This is a very light-handed Saint-Joseph and its transparency is a gift. Very pretty stuff. Drink now to enjoy its youthful beauty but some patience will likely reward as I expect this will flesh out. Drink through 2036. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 years ago

Tiffany Li

9.0

Had the Cabernet not the blend - 2019 — 6 years ago

Ryan Vento

9.2

I encroached on this wine with low expectations, even with the knowledge of Daou’s reputation and the pedigree they employ. I’ve never been a fan of Paso Robles and my only run-in with Daou was unimpressive, to say the least. I digress. Tonight’s bottle was purchased to assist my wife & I with putting up Christmas decorations and I think we chose wisely. The deep, dark fruits in this juice are brooding and dense, reminding me of a thick slab of blackberry/blueberry cobbler. The notes of anise & clove offer a nice touch of spice and are even more welcome around the holiday season. The delicate notes of vanilla are pleasing and nuanced. The mouthfeel is plush and voluptuous and has enough complexity to justify the price-point. This is a well-made wine; one that makes me re-think my position on Paso Robles. — 6 years ago

with Krystal

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened about an hour before service and poured into a decanter; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2014 Sozet pours a deep garnet with a purple tinge and a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart, ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: mashed mixed brambles and blueberries, cherry compote, Tootsie Roll©️, mocha, lavender, black pepper, a whiff of beef jerky, dried green herbs, old wood and rocky granitic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An utterly fascinating Cornas; remarkable in its unique character. It’s feral but in a different way than I’m used to. One of those wines you don’t know what to think of in the moment and then days pass and you’re still thinking about it. Hard to say if the structure is adequate for long term cellaring. Drink now through 2034? Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 Ungsberg Spätburgunder pours a stunning, pale ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with the most extraordinary display of forest strawberries, red flowers and alpine herbs that burst from the glass like a fresh katabatic wind. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. This finish is long. This was the second bottle of four that I purchased. The first was flawed. This, was brilliant. The hype is real. Drink now through 2036. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Apropos, the vines for “La Chapelle” are adjacent to the chapel perched at the very top of the Mont Brouilly where it is quite dry and the soil is very poor. The vineyard is also remarkably steep making manual harvest essential.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Fairly consistent throughout but I felt it was most enjoyable on Day 2 and 3. The 2022 “La Chapelle” pours a deep ruby/purple color; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful and fresh with beautiful notes of tart blackberries, red plum, wet stone, a combination of red and purple flowers, licorice, dried green herbs, some wood varnish. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and has a stiff spine of minerals. This is a cerebral wine compared to “Godefroy” (which is almost quaffable in comparison). Drinking well now to enjoy its freshness but will undoubtedly drink well through 2037+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I’ve been wanting to try the wines of Cantina Tomaso Gianolio for years but finding them on this side of the Atlantic has been a challenge. As of now, I don’t know much about where Davide and Igor Gianolio source their fruit but the family has been making these wines in a traditional manner for over 90 years so I’m sure the source is exceptional. So traditional, even the cork is short and stubby, lol!

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Consistent throughout. The 2019 pours a light garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and tar forward early but it quickly transforms into a veritable beauty with notes of raspberries, rose water, tar, star anise, talcum powder, and dry, stony earth. On the palate, the with is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Elegant and lovely expression of the 2019 vintage. Drink now with patience and through 2044 (if the cork will keep that long). Huge thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 years ago

Andrew Schirmer

9.2

Rustic and delicious. 100% Otskhanuri Sapere. Inky purple, high acid, medium tannin. Blackberry/graphite accord. Well-structured. These wines deserve more exposure. Cool story linked below on the EU support these ladies received to assist in exporting their wine. http://www.eu4business.eu/success-stories/baia-and-gvantsa-winemakers-turning-family-tradition-successful-business — 6 years ago

with Alsu

Tim Eller

8.9

I love this casual spin on Cali chard. Apple and pear and an acidic assist from the Pinot Gris. Silky and fruity and mild complexity equals mindless drinking and enjoying. In a good way. — 7 years ago