Jay Kline

9.3

Another year for the marriage, another lovely bottle of Bérêche, Brut Réserve. Still a benchmark NV for me. Previous notes apply. This bottle was disgorged November 2024 — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about an hour prior to service. The 2021 “Altair” pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, ripe blackberries, plum, leaf tobacco, Poblano pepper, purple flowers, cocoa, dried herbs 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+. Certainly a strong example of a Chilean expression of Bordeaux varieties. Drink now through 2041 — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

From magnum. Partially poured into a decanter and enjoyed over the course of a couple days. Best on Day 2. The 2015 Pritchard Hill pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and richly fruited with powerful, heady notes of cassis, blackberries, plum, purple flowers, tobacco, cocoa, some star anise 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 and the texture is luxurious. Classic Pritchard Hill character and surely a candidate for top vineyard status if the US were to ever adopt a classification status. There’s a long future here, especially in this larger format. Drink now with patience through 2055. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple Days; consistent throughout. The 2019 “Caravina” pours a deep garnet/purple 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, tobacco, Poblano pepper, a touch of vanilla 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+ with a nice bit of minerals. Really tasty. Drink now through 2039. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2025 Heringer Chenin Blanc pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright notes of green apple, lemon, apricot, white tree flowers, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is a touch waxy. Perfect on a warm day. Drink now through 2035. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

I started to write a note for the 2014 and then, when I was nearly finished, I recalled that I had previously enjoyed this vintage a few years back. I went back to my notes on May 24, 2023 and I gotta say, my notes still nailed it. Liquid stars. Drink now until your last breath. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about two hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1985 pours a deep garnet color with an orange rim and a slightly hazy, near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dried, desiccated blackberries, pipe tobacco, 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+. A lovely, mature wine that should be enjoyed over the next several years. Drink now through 2030. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2020 “Salero” is a delightful, old school blend of mostly Nebbiolo with a bit of Croatina and Vespolina for good measure. It 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, cranberry, red flowers, licorice, alpine herbs 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+ with nice minerality. A very tasty example from Alto Piemonte. Drink now through 2040+. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Georges Lignier’s holdings in this jewel of a 1er Cru account for nearly half of the entire vineyard.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2021 “Clos des Ormes” pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with beautiful notes of fresh forest berries: strawberry, raspberry, freshly cut red flowers, some finely ground black pepper, dried green herbs and a kiss of 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+. What a lovely, rustic expression of Burgundy! This is the most soulful Georges Lignier I’ve had so far. The 2021 vintage may have played a part (I’m a fan of these cooler, harder vintages). Whatever, this is awesome and killer with rabbit sausage and lentils. Drink now (and take your time with it) or enjoy through 2046. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

I’ve long been a fan of DeForville. To my palate, their Barbaresco Classico represents one of the great values in Piemonte. It’s no surprise when their primary fruit source is the Rabajà MGA. However, they rarely bottle a stand alone expression, though, there were some examples in the 1980’s. This is one such example.

Poured into a decanter about three hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of two days; best on Day 1 but the little that remained in the bottle held together quite well. The 1981 “Vigneto Rabajá” pours a hazy, pale garnet with a transparent core and an orange rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated Morello cherry, raspberry, dried roses, tar, leather, old wood, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (still!) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This has certainly lost some energy but it’s charming and still very much alive. Drink now. — 3 days ago