Jay Kline

8.8

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few days. The 2023 pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with textbook notes of grapefruit, passion fruit, lemon grass, banana pepper and steely minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Drink now through 2030. — 9 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Splash decanted and enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2019 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, black tea, dried green herbs and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and has that Ciacci Piccolomini silkiness. I felt the 2019 was a little reticent for the first 30min (not at all surprised) but opened beautifully after that and continued to build steam until the last glass. Very easy to enjoy and fabulous with bolognese. Drink now with a 30min decant and through 2044 — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Excellent on both days but for different reasons. The 2023 VV pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and on Day 1, showed more crunchy, tart fruit like pomegranate and cranberry. On Day 2, the profile shifted to more of a ripe and tart raspberry and Bing cherry, with freshly cut red flowers, sous bois and assorted Eastern spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Quite a lovely Fixin that worked really well with food and on its own. Drink now through 2038. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

I sort of forgot that today marked the 50th anniversary of the Judgement of Paris and this was the best I could do to celebrate in the moment; a wine from a participating producer but in the red category, instead of white. From magnum, the 2010 “Elivette” pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, Fresno chili, dried purple flowers, purple SweeTarts, tobacco, some dried herbs and fine spices with minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ viscosity and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is long with ferrous minerals. Tasty stuff. Drink now with some patience and through 2040. Bottle No. 095/900 magnums. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2017 Caravina pours a deep garnet/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black currants, blackberries, black cherry, Poblano pepper, tobacco, some red and purple flowers, cocoa, dried green herbs and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. One of my favorite vintages of Caravina in the last 20 years. Delicious with rib roast. Drink now through 2037. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.1

From half bottle. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of brambles, Bing cherry, garrigue, red and purple flowers, anise, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A “straight release” in the game of Pétanque. Drink now through 2036. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened with the assistance of a Durand and decanted about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1981 Rubicon pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a combination of dried, ripe and tart, red and black fruits: mixed brambles, red and black currants, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, old leather, dried flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth, minerals and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ and sanguine. A rather remarkable ‘81 that seems almost evergreen when considering the color and condition of the fruit. In fact, it seemed to gain energy with air. Impressive. Drink now with a short decant and through 2041. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. Clément Perseval’s 1er Cru Rosé pours a light rose gold color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with fresh notes of raspberry and strawberry with lemon curd, white flowers, a whiff of fresh brioche and laden with minerals. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with minerals for dayzzz. This is far and away the most un-Rosé, Rosé I have ever had. Usually, I find them to be rounder than their non-Rosé counterparts and this is not that. The acid and minerals are insane. Almost like a particle beam in a wide spray across the palate. Fantastic. Drink now through 2034/35. Based on the 2019/2020 vintage. Disgorged in November of 2025. Thanks @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 pours a bright garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberries, pomegranate, rose bushes in bloom, licorice, gravelly 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. This was a perfect red for duck confit outside on a warm day. Drink now through 2033. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Terres de Sables is a cuvée assembled from vines planted in predominantly sandy soils, unusual in Champagne but found sporadically in a few areas. La Petite Montagne de Reims and especially, Chamery is one of those areas. It is a blend of half Chardonnay with the balance made up by Pinot Noir and a little bit of Meunier. It is delicious.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min. The wine pours a bright straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with tropical notes of pineapple, mango, passion fruit and lemons with a hint of brioche, white flowers and laden with minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ with a touch of salinity. This is a really fine NV that I could see myself enjoying often. It should be noted that this bottle opened considerably after about 30min and continued to build up in energy. Drink now with some air. Disgorged October 2024. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 7 days ago