Jay Kline

9.2

My first time trying Dalmau; arguably the most modern expression from Marqués Murrieta. The fruit for Dalmau comes from 70+ year old vines planted in the Canajas vineyard.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2019 pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe, black cherry, plum, tobacco, cedar, 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. A polished wine that’s still very much and infant. Drink now with patience and through 2044. Bottle No. 14135/15526 — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2017 Rio Sordo pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and loads of chunky sediment towards the bottom. On the nose, the wine is developing with solar notes of Morello cherry, pomegranate, tar, roses, dried green herbs, old wood and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. These 2017 Riserva’s are already showing really well…sneaky good. Drink now with some patience and through 2047+. Bottle No. 00952/10000 — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Nonlosò is a southwestern facing vineyard at 500 meters altitude and pure Sangiovese di Lamole. Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2020 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with faint staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Bing cherry, raspberry, iris, Earl Grey, dried green herbs and stony 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 delicious, nuanced expression of Lamole. Drink now through 2040. Bottle No. 436/546 — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

First pour of this and I was like, “uh-oh”. It was clearly full of flaws (Brettanomyces, VA and maaaaybe some slight TCA) but would they be too much to appreciate the wine? Only time would tell so into the decanter it went. After a lot of air, it became clear this was Brett and VA. The wine 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 (still) with notes of blackberries, umeboshi, animale, purple flowers, black pepper, red Flintstone vitamin, horse blanket, wood varnish, and sous bois. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An elegant, complicated bottle. This is my second time with the 1997 vintage and due to the flaws, a different adventure than previous. That being said, this decidedly grumpy, Burgundian expression of Clape’s Cornas paired really well with the dry-aged steaks. Drink now, with a lot of patience, through 2037? — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2023 pours a deep straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of hay, ocean spray, underripe tropical fruit, citrus flower, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium and slightly bitter. Great texture. A lovely and distinctive Falanghina. Drink now. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened and poured into a decanter about five hours prior to dinner. Once poured, this was enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2018 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fantastic, winsome notes of black currants, blackberries, Serrano peppers, tobacco, purple Flintstones vitamins, dried herbs, rocky 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 long and sanguine; laden with ferrous minerals.

The nose alone is sensational but it needs a pile of air to fully appreciate and the monumental structure almost demands it. A wine with a very long life yet ahead. Drink now with an extended decant and through 2058+. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

The Grande Cuvée 172ème is based on the 2016 vintage (58%) with reserve wines going back to 1998. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The wine pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. The nose, which was a little reticent at first, came alive after about 30min of air. At that point, it became redolent of ripe and dried tropical fruit, lemon curd, white flowers, freshly baked brioche, marzipan, and torrone. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and texture is positively divine. Every time I have Krug, I fell like the splurge is worth it. This was an outstanding pairing with the spider crab arroz cremoso. Drink now (perhaps even with a short decent!) and through 2046. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of ripe and tart, mixed brambles, blueberries, figs, lavender, a touch of animale, black pepper, rocky earth 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 long. This seemed to get younger the longer it was exposed to air. The Benjamin Button of wine, lol. Might even rate it higher down the road. Lovely with kofta on a Thursday. Drink now through 2045+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanter about four hours prior to service, covered and placed in the fridge; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2024 pours a pale pink, almost peach color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of Rainier cherry, watermelon, red plum, dried herbs and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium- tannin. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and slightly savory. Delicious after a lot of air on a warm, Spring evening. Drink now through 2034. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1999 Chianti Classico pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with lovely notes of ripe and some dried red fruits: Bing cherry, raspberry, red flowers, Pu-erh tea, porchini, dried green herbs, a whiff of varnish (letting you know it’s Italian), old leather and wood and gravelly, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This 27 year old CC is sensational and further proof that Sangiovese rewards the patient. Drink now through 2039. — 8 days ago