Darren Dittrich

8.2

A little funkiness in this Morgon... blood orange grapefruit bite, rhubarb, and big-time Brett. If you like this style, this one has an amount of wet wool that doesn’t completely overpower the fruit. And after 90 minutes, some notes have blown off, but we are left with a little wet cardboard... so, corked. YMMV. — 7 hours ago

Darren Dittrich

9.2

Perfectly fresh Langhe Nebbiolo, one of favorites. Balanced, nice sour cherry fruit... easy to drink, but pairs with anything that needs acid. — 22 days ago

Darren Dittrich

8.7

The ultimate cannot-be-recognized wine label: all white with raised lettering. Uber tart and crunchy, with hints of lavender, honeysuckle, and green apricot. Just 12%. ABV. Best with food. — a month ago

Darren Dittrich

8.5

Oak influence, less cherry brightness, slightly atypical. Could come around after a few years, but this one is for the brooding Barolo fans. — a month ago

Darren Dittrich

8.0

Wish I had read the Viticole release notes before opening this 2018. A complete funk bottle, stemmy, anise, red currant, barnyard, rose hips. Right now the funkiness prevented some from even taking a sip... but I’ve encountered these notes before, generally in hyper-natural low-sulphur wines. I’d love to try this bottle later with some age, but I have my doubts on whether the green-bean acerbic Grenache will change for the better. Would love to be wrong on this wine, since this is close to the wine I’d love to make myself. — 3 days ago

Darren Dittrich

9.3

Wow. Crisp and pure expression of a Langhe red. Reminiscent of a Piedmontese Grignolino but apparently all Nebbiolo. Love this. — a month ago

Darren Dittrich

9.5

For those who like more aromatic and floral Barolo's, this one's for you. And yet, this is not a shy Barolo: very big violet, menthol, sage, and tobacco, coupled with cherry-almond fruit. But, nothing over-extracted here. This may be the perfect expression of fruit from the beautiful commune of La Morra. Wonderful. Could hold for 10+ years, but delicious now with air. SommSelect — a month ago

Darren Dittrich

9.5

Another blockbuster Tavel from Morderée. The 2018 is as delicious as it gets and this is tasting better in 2020 than it did on arrival last year. I’d always attributed the unique zesty and pungent flavors in this wine with the tiny amounts of uniquely Tavel blending grapes... perhaps that remains true, but this wine is mostly Grenache 60%, with Cinsault/Syrah/Mourvèdre at 10% each, and Clairette/Bourboulenc at 5% each. Whatever the blend, they’ve nailed this one. Sadly, it’s quite pricey at over $30. Now if I could locate some LaFond in my area, we could crown a Tavel champion, but this one will be hard to beat. — 8 days ago

Darren Dittrich

8.4

I’m a big fan of Langhe Nebbiolo as an everyday drinker. This one should be perfect, but misses the mark with an overripe cherry note and an overall composition that seems watered down. especially when compared to similarly priced Langhe wines (Vajra, Vietti, etc.). SommSelect — a month ago

Darren Dittrich

8.7

Compared to its big sister Tavel Rosé, this Rhône blend is less expensive, and now, closer in color to its Provence cousins... albeit a bit darker salmon hue. Compared to the 2017, this vintage is richer, lower in acidity, and slightly sweeter... perhaps a result of another hot summer. But, the slightly different tasting notes could also be a result of a different blend: the 2018 has more Grenache (50%) and no Mourvèdre. For those looking for a brighter, more nuanced 2018, spring for the Tavel, but if you prefer warm-vintage southern Rhône’s, this could be right up your alley. — a month ago