Jay Kline

9.0

This is the “Les Monts Damés”. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 “Les Monts Damés” pours a light straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine shows citrus and stone fruit with relatively subdued pyrazines and slightly more baking spice. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and texture soft and creamy. Drink now through 2033.
— an hour ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2017 “Two Blondes Vineyard” pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with cassis, black cherry, cocoa, flowers, herbs, soil, Band Aid, and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A lighter, more elegant expression of this wine than I have been used to in the past. Drink now through 2032. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Opened just prior to dinner. The 2007 pours a dark ruby/garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining and loads of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of BBQ Lay’s potato chips (fight me), prunes, dried brambles, leather, organic earth and mixed spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. It doesn’t taste like BBQ Lay’s but the fruit is definitely more of the dried/desiccated side. The finish is medium. Drink now. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The wines of Paolo and Giampiero Bea are very special to me and I am grateful to have enjoyed so many of them, over the years. However, the Passito is extremely rare and this is my first encounter. The 2011 pours a garnet color with a most interesting and attractive nose of Castelvetrano olives, dark cherry, salmiakki, and palo santo. I would categorize this as off-dry; certainly not sweet. There’s excellent structure too so that may play a role in my perception of sugar. Perhaps the profile varies from vintage to vintage however, if this is representative, I could see myself going well out of my way to drink this. Brilliant. Drink now through 2036. Bottle No. 1716/3699 — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Both days outstanding but slightly different experiences. Day 1 was about power. Day 2 was about balance. The 2020 “Cuvée Réservée” pours a brilliant garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady, slightly funky notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, red & purple flowers, bacon fat, licorice, and dry rocky earth. On Day 2, everything was more open nit and the fruit showed more bruised with a slightly stewed profile. Lavender was the predominate floral profile too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is textbook Pégau and I love it. Drink now through 2045+ — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2012 Riserva pours a pale garnet with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, black tea, dried orange peel, dried herbs and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Delicious, crushable and a smart pairing with simple pasta with red sauce. Drink now through 2032+ — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. Black plastic cork; the standard for Dard et Ribo. The 2015 “Les Rouges des Baties” pours a deep, dull ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of wild black brambles, oil cured olive, roasted meat, purple flowers, black pepper, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. An utterly beautiful expression of Crozes-Hermitage and this worked really well with goose from South Dakota. I’m smitten. Drink now through 2035. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2020 “Aux Lieux-Dits” pours a deep garnet with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of fresh, ripe brambles, garrigue, red flowers, and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. There is a solid sense of place from this expression. Drink now through 2035. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2017 Caravina pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, blackberries, plum, tobacco, violets, cocoa, well-oiled leather baseball glove, Poblano pepper, 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 long and ashy. It’s been almost 5 years since my last 2017 and I’m just as excited about it today as I was back then. Drink now with some patience through 2037. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened earlier in the day. The 2019 Riserva (complete with new label design!) pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe Morello cherry, red flowers, dried orange, black tea, dry earth and some cool herbs and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and herbal. This is young and needs time but it’s already very, very good. Drink now with patience and through 2044+. — 3 days ago