@rhythmSOULdier
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 “Mes Sept Terroirs” pours a light straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, yellow flowers, Meyer lemon, and minerals. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Conforming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Really quite charming. Saint Aubin is quite the darling these days. Drink now through 2031. — 3 days ago
If this isn’t the first commercially released vintage for Whitehall Lane, it’s gotta be close to it. With the help of Durand, I was able to extract the cork intact and decanted about an hour prior to service. The 1981 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with some sediment. On the nose, the wine is surprisingly developing (still!) with a mix of ripe and desiccated fruit with brambles, tobacco, green bell peppers, leather, cocoa, earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and the structure is still firm but well integrated. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and a touch savory. What a lovely, surprising bottle! Well-stored examples can be enjoyed now and over the next 5-7 years. — 4 days ago
Unscrewed and poured; enjoyed over two days with consistent results. The 2022 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of yellow flowers, Cuties™️, hot steel and rocky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with sneaky medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. There’s a somewhat waxy texture. The finish is long and savory. A charming Soave Classico. Drink now. — 4 hours ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of one week. Consistently enjoyable throughout but it seemed to be at its very best around Day 3 through Day 7 (when I enjoyed the last pour). The 2010 pours, a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and showing some slight rim variation; medium+ viscosity and moderate staining of the tears with some sign of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with tart and ripe notes of cassis, plums, tobacco, Fresno chilis, purple flowers, dry leaves, organic earth and faint baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The fruit is a touch more tart on the palate and there is also a sort of dry leather note that I didn’t get on the nose. The finish is medium+. A mesmerizing, dense wine that certainly has a very long road ahead. Great stuff. Drink now with patience through 2050 (assuming good cellar conditions). — 4 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. No formal notes. The 2006 “Amber Knolls Vineyard” blows the mind. Yes, I know, it’s made by Schrader but this humble Lake County designation was meant to be enjoyed early while one allowed the more significant Schrader Cabernet Sauvignon’s mature. Yet here we are, thoroughly enjoying this 18 years from vintage. Fruit not only hanging on; dare I say this is still developing? Structure is sound. Drink now through 2030. Very impressive. — 5 days ago
Decanted about two hours before service which, remarkably, ended up still not being enough time. Day 1 was more of an educational experience; a showcase of the 2000 vintage if you will. The fruit was stewed and tertiary and while the structure was there, it seemed out of balance and sort of a mess. Only half of the bottle was remaining and nearly just dumped. However, I decided to hold the remaining half bottle for the next day. Day 2 was different as the fruit actually brightened up and everything came into better balance. All I can say is, Nebbiolo is truly a fascinating grape. Notes are from Day 2. The 2000 Classico pours a garnet color with a slightly cloudy core moving to an orange rim. Medium+ viscosity with some sediment and no staining. On the nose, the wine is vinous with stewed red and black fruits, dried roses, tar, espresso, earth, cigar paper, leather, and brown caramel crumble. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory. The time is now. Drink now with a lengthy decant. — 8 hours ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2021 pours a bright ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, red flowers, and rocky minerals. There some ethanol too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Better with food. Drink now. — 3 days ago
Unscrewed and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 Western Cape pours a deep straw color with medium viscosity; no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of white flowers, peach cup, lanolin, lemon, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and wooly. Drink now through 2033. — 4 days ago
Jay Kline
Popped and poured; enjoyed over a couple of hours. The 2022 pours a garnet color with a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry compote, red flowers, and gravely minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and just a touch hot. Not the most memorable Langhe Nebbiolo from Produttori in the last decade or so but it’s totally authentic and still a great value. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years. — 3 hours ago