Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a two days. Better on Day 2. On the pop and pour, this bottle was backward and really seemed resistant to show much. I didn’t detect any real flaws or faults…just sort of, “meh”. On Day 2, it had opened considerably. The 2017 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe blackberries, currants, mixed flowers, black tea, ferrous earth and a mix of cool and 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+. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 13 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This is the third vintage of Tormenta (which Delectable recognizes as “Anfora & Barrica”); a wine made from an old clone of Godello sourced from a tiny vineyard in north Bierzo. Veronica ages this wine in a combination of oak vessels and amphora.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2023 “Tormenta” pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of green apple, Comice pear, white flowers, lemons, gravelly earth and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and saline. Reminds me a bit of Raúl but it certainly has its own personality too. Drink now through 2035. Bottle No. 2889/4245 — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented to me, double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours, a slightly hazy garnet color with a near opaque core and significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried and desiccated fruit: dried brambles, dried cherry fruit leather, coffee, dried flowers, licorice, 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+. Initial conclusions: this could be a GSM blend, a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or is Zinfandel from France or the United States. For me, there aren’t any signs of pyrazines so I like this as a GSM blend with a good amount of Syrah. Due to the color, rim, variation, and sediment I believe this has 25 to 30 years of age. Final conclusion, this is Chateauneuf-du-Pape from 2001. Whoa! I haven’t had one of these in a long, long time. OG Kalimna Bin 28! This was showing really well. Drink now but still has life left. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2005 pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and dried fruits: blackberry, black cherry, plum, pipe tobacco, purple flowers, cocoa, leather, organic earth and 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. If you ever had an itch for some Right Bank Bordeaux, this will scratch that itch. Drink now through 2035. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.1

@Delectable needs to correct the description for this wine as it’s actually a blend of Obaideh, Merwah and Cinsault. Poured into a decanter about three hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2020 Rosé pours a pale pink color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of golden apple, verbena, a kiss of raspberry, alfalfa, lanolin, dry gravelly earth and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a waxy/oily texture. As usual, these need a pile of air to show their best. Drink now with a decant; better after 2030 and through 2045. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2023 pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, cocoa, 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+. Tremendous balance. These will surely enjoy a long life. Drink now with patience through 2053. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 Riserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, old wood, 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+. A young, taught Monsanto CCR and I believe this will open with some more time on its side. Drink now if you must but better after 2031 and through 2046. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Poured into a decanter about two hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of several days. Yes…you read that right. This benefitted greatly from air. The 2019 Syrah SLH pours a purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of blackberries, fig, plum, purple flowers, black pepper, animale, black olive brine, dried green herbs, earth and gentle 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+ and loaded with minerals. Initially, this was quite pretty on the nose but backward on the palate. After all of the air, it swung into balance and it was beautiful. Drink now with a lot of air and some patience, through 2039+. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. 2022 Upland pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright notes of green apple, passionfruit, white flowers, raw nuts and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is really quite tasty stuff! Drink now through 2037. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core and some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and some dried red and black fruits: Luxardo cherry, plum, cocoa, purple, dried flowers, vanilla, 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+ and alcohol seems elevated. Initial conclusions: this could be a super Tuscan with a good amount of Merlot; a Merlot-based blend from Saint Emilion or a Tempranillo from Italy, France or Spain. I didn’t think this gave me enough Italian vibes to make me comfortable with Italy conclusion and I thought this had too much pretty French oak on it to be likely from Spain so I went with my gut and called this a Merlot based blend from France, Bordeaux, Saint Emilion, 2006. Ahhhhh…dang it, Remelluri likes to use French Oak barrique and it threw me off. Gotta remember there are some more modern producers making wine like that. Good stuff though! Drink now through 2040. — 7 days ago