Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Beautiful cool climate Syrah, poised and with finesse.
Black fruit on the nose with some leather accents, an uplifting flower note and a pinch of black pepper. Fresh, enticing, witht nice purity.
Quite light on the palate, poised, almost delicate. Nice flow & definition here with purity and a bit of depth. The typical Syrah notes come forward more towards the back.
More in the Pinot camp than Chateauneuf & is drinking beautifully right now. — 4 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.8

Decent white Chardonnay, leaning much more towards the Maconnais rather than Côte d’Or. Ripe apples, a touch of exotic fruits (banana) and apple pie.
Not bad but def not worth the 27€ price tag — 18 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

So fresh & clean, with white peach & ripe lemons and chalky minerality underneath. Shows a hint of roundness which works brilliantly well with the zippy acidity.
Super fresh on the palate, juicy, with nice electric tension - fresh lemons, a hint of herbiness, zingy acidity. Nice depth here and great flow. Delightful. — a month ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

Unreal lightness with poise & surprising finesse. In an entry level wine!
Look at the colour!!
Wild strawberries, raspberries, a touch of orange peel, with a flowery whiff and a hint of spice. There’s a touch of undergrowth, too - which I’m sure will develop over time.
So fresh & enticing.
Light on the palate, silky, with juicy acidity. Def on the fruitier side and perhaps a touch too sweet on the fruit. Lacks a bit of depth but the precision & purity are wow.
I always loved their Rieslings, but this Pinot really kicks ass!
Wow, for this price point, just wow. — 5 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.4

2020 vintage, only 375 bottles (!)
Darker & more brooding & more closed than 2019, a bit more brambly.
Needs quite a bit to open up.
Very northern Syrah in style, St Joseph or Hermitage. The purity is still absolutely stunning - both on the nose & palate. Black fruit & black cherries with a mineral backbone underneath. Great depth and such character. Wow! This is absolutely brilliant!
My fav non-traditionalist Rioja. — a month ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.2

Muted nose with dusty lemons, green hazelnut, a touch of underripe pineapple, and a fresh, uplifting minty note. Great purity & freshness here.
On the palate this shows great concentration- there’s depth & weight and yet this isn’t heavy, on the contrary - poised, elegant, superbly balanced.
Beautiful tension and purity.
Clearly not Burgundy, nor Germany and def not New World. Surprising acidity & freshness for Tuscany.
This really sings! — 2 months ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Highly enjoyable, on the fruitier side (cherries, raspberries) with some nice undergrowth and a hint of mushroom.
On the palate nicely balanced with the fruit a touch too sweet. Not too much depth but a perfectly fine everyday Burgundy at a very reasonable price. — 11 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.0

Everything you wish for in a very-day Bordeaux.
Black currants, a touch of cedar wood, a bit of gravel and a pinch of spice.
And this ‘16 is singing right now with perfectly mellow tannins, still quite a bit of fruit but the depth of flavors is already shifting. Precise, juicy, on the lighter vs fuller side. So drinkable. Delish! — 18 days ago

Jakub Kalinowski

9.1

A beautiful example of the ‘humble’ Aligoté shining.
Juicy lemony acidity pared with brilliant minerality. This has tension, depth & character. And yet, at the same time, is so lovely, approachable and drinkable.
Puts a lot of Burgundy Chardonnays in the shade. — a month ago

Jakub Kalinowski

8.9

Upon opening I was totally skeptical & unconvinced. Blind I guessed Pinotage (for which I have a strong dislike).
Came across disjointed, with a rubbery whiff, a tad funky.
Fast forward24h, this is a completely different wine.
Lovely red fruit purity, with green bell pepper and some herby, peppery notes. Fresh, pure, juicy.
Mid weight on the palate with beautifully polished tannins and nice poise. This wine is subtle, resting in itself, with nice purity and good depth. The long finish is clean, fresh, and immediately invites for another sip.
A surprising & humbling bottle. — 2 months ago