@rhythmSOULdier
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! — 4 days ago
While the majority of Joseph Perrier's holding are planted to Pinot Noir, the Cuvée Royale Brut Nature is mostly Chardonnay, making over half of the blend, while the remaining is made with a traditional assemblage of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir (the latter representing just over 10%).
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The “Cuvée Royale” Brut Nature pours a straw color with medium viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, crisp Granny Smith apple, lemon, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry and high acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is long, zippy, and refreshing. This is a super versatile Brut Zero Champagne that’s a perfect compliment to a light lunch. No disgorgement data. — 10 days ago
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2008 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly fresh, tart, vibrant red fruits: red brambles, red currants and tart cherries with some pyrazines, tobacco, some cool herbs, dry earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and bordering high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the body is perceptibly leaner than both the 1988 and the 2018. That being said, I love its transparency because it is clearly telling part of the story of the vintage. The frost was merciless in Dry Creek in the spring of 2008. So far, the evolution seems slow to me. Drink now with a decant but considering the structure, this has a long life ahead. If I had another bottle, I would open my next after 2028. — 2 hours ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Best on Day 2 after it brightened up. The 2008 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of blackberry compote, coffee, Werther’s Chocolate, tobacco leaf, leather, teriyaki, demi-glace, and dry earth. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This is delicious and has to be one of the great values in Ribera del Duero. Drink now through 2032+. — 4 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The wine pours a deep straw, bordering yellow color with medium+ viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberries, lemon, brioche, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose though the fruit seem rounder on the palate than on the nose. The finish is medium+. A fairly agreeable Champagne. Disgorged in October 2022. — 10 days ago
Happy belated Zwanze Day! Celebrating with this 2017 bottling of Cantillon’s Classic Gueuze. Over the years, I have drifted to be a little more fond of 3 Fonteinen but I’m really splitting hairs. This is world class.
Popped and poured; crushed in 30min after doing the first yard work of 2024 and getting the hops trained to the trellis. The gueuze pours a brilliant golden color with a persistent head. On the nose, mostly tasty stone fruits: apricots, peach, kumquat, horse blanket, stony minerals. On the palate, the gueuze is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and refreshing. Drink now. — 11 days ago
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. After removing the capsule, cork was revealed to be completely saturated and moldy at the top. It was positively nasty. After wiping it down, I was able to extract the cork intact, with the use of a Durand. The 1988 pours a deep garnet with near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment even after decanting. On the nose, the wine is a vinous mix of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles and currants, with tobacco, bell pepper, leather, organic earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and so delicious. Brilliant. The ’88 is ready to drink now with a short decant but has plenty of stuffing to drink well for at least another 10+ years and well-stored examples will be alive for much longer. — 2 days ago
Popped and poured a small glass for myself and used the rest for my Bolognese. The 2020 pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart, dark cherry, some dried herbs and dried earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with a sweet tart cherry thing. Seems a touch hotter than the 13.5% indicated. Drink now through 2030+ or cook with it if you can swoop at Costco for under $15 USD. — 4 days ago
Foillard’s “Cuvée Corcelette” comes from the eponymous climate in Morgan where Jean’s holdings include vines over 80 years of age. This is a stunning wine that is so Foillard in style: fresh and deep.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Consistent over both days but seemed to round out a little more on Day 2. The wine pours a deep, hazy ruby with a near opaque core and an almost fuchsia rim; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with sensational notes of macerated raspberries, red flowers, carrot juice, celery root, chanterelles, granitic earth and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and so easy to love. Super balanced. Drink now and over the next 10+ years. — 5 days ago
Jay Kline
Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over period that lasted a few hours. The 2018 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. One the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of ripe, tart black and red fruits: blackberries, black currants, tobacco, some bell pepper, herbs and rich baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich but has some great zip thanks to the acid. Easily the most rounded of the three and, in true Rafanelli fashion, I don’t find the oak to be fully integrated at this point in its evolution. But it will. Better after 2028 through 2048+. — 2 hours ago