Jay Kline

9.6

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. I’m just going to cut to the chase: the 2021 Serraboella is absolutely stunning. The wine pours a beautiful ruby color with a brilliant, transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous, concentrated notes of ripe red and dark fruit: Morello cherry, roses, talcum powder, dry earth and exotic Eastern spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. This is a sapid Barbaresco with a finish that lasts FOR-EV-ER. There is so much power and grace. So much balance. In such a special vintage, the Cigliuti sisters allowed their fruit from Serraboella to become a wine that is sure to become legendary. Drink now through 2061. — 43 minutes ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the morning. The 1982 pours a slightly more orange/garnet color. On the nose, the wine is vinous with rather heady notes of cherry lozenges, coffee, herbal, Jack’s Supreme Pizza, menthol, purple flowers and leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with solid structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and on the richer side. To me, this was one of the huge surprises of the evening, more than keeping up with the thoroughbreds. Drink now. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several days and consistent throughout. The 2022 Sauvignon pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing and bursting with electricity! Powerful notes of stone fruits, grapefruit, fresh sliced jalapeño, verbena, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+, substantial and refreshing. Lovely with northern Italian soft rind cheese. Drink now. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2021 “Ottantadue” pours a deep, ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity, with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe red fruits: raspberries, Bing cherry, red rope licorice, red flowers, dried green herbs, gravity earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; so fresh and easy to enjoy. This is a juicy, fresh and pure expression of Sangiovese. Drink now and enjoy this beautiful, pure expression of Sangiovese. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1999 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and predominately red fruited with notes of Morello cherry, tomato leaf, some olive…a touch of well oiled leather. On the palate, the wine is dry and has all the “Power of Grayskull” and the relative structure to match. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and more bitter than the other great Bordeaux in the line-up. Drink now with a long decant and through 2049. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1998 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with beautiful, ripe red cherries and a total smoke show in the earth department, giving me an impression of iron-rich earth from an Alpine forest floor. Wonderful stuff. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the ferrous earth notes doubling down. The finish is long. I would like to have more Figeac in my life. Drink now after a whole heap of air or through 2068. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened earlier in the day and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1982 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) and slightly green compared to the ’82 Mouton that was poured alongside. Cassis, purple Chewy SweeTarts, green bell pepper, old wood, some earth and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry and has massive structure still. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly bitter. Drink now with a long decant but there are decades of life left. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2014 Reserva pours a deep ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe red fruits, Morello cherry, dill, green olives, horse blanket, old wood and dry organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. A super honest and traditional Rioja; a wine of character. It’s good on its own and even better with a variety of food. Drink now through 2034. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened and double-decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core. On the nose, the wine is developing and loaded with currants, pencil lead, earth and soft 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 super grippy; slightly bitter and earthy. A lovely, classic expression of Bordeaux and drinking well in its prime. Drink now through 2046. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.8

Forty-plus years on, people still talk about the greatness of the 1982 vintage in Bordeaux. There are multiple factors that contribute to this and it’s fair to say that Robert Parker’s reaction played a major role in the early popularity; certainly in the States. While some may say that 1982 was merely a “good” vintage by today’s standards, I think history has proven it to be empirically special; there was just so much quality from top to bottom. And yet, even with the high praise of the vintage, the tone shifts to hushed whispers when the 1982 Mouton gets mentioned. Up until that point, the Chateau had sort of underachieved after receiving its unprecedented promotion in 1973. But in 1982, a year full of great wine, they created a legend and firmly cemented their First Growth status. Today, I’m pleased to report the plaudits for the ’82 are all warranted.

Opened and double-decanted earlier in the day. The ’82 Mouton pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core with some sediment; almost youthful when compared to many of the other older wines poured on the night. On the nose, the wine is developing still; loaded with cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, leather, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with fabulous structure. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and full of power. A stunning wine and well in its prime…a window I expect will remain open for a longtime to come. Drink now with bacchanalian abandon and through 2082. — 12 days ago