Jay Kline

8.9

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core and a orangish rim; medium+ viscosity with amber staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated cherry, dried red flowers, mushroom, leather and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. The alcohol is high. This is a wine showing signs of age but there’s enough evidence to lead me to where this should be from.

Initial conclusions: this could be Grenache, Tempranillo, Nebbiolo or Sangiovese from Spain, France or Italy. For me, there’s too much expensive, small format oak for me to be in Piemonte. This could be Brunello…or Chateauneuf du Pape but for the similar reasons, I didn’t like that call even though there are certainly more producers in those areas making wine like this. I then vacillated between Chateauneuf and Priorat with 20+ years of age. Final conclusion: Grenache from Spain, Priorat, 2005. Oooof…I need to remember that people made/make wine’s like this in Piemonte. The signs were there, even though the oak use and extraction were super modern. This is why we practice! Drink now. — 11 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2013 pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and a rusty brown rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with desiccated dark fruit, salmiakki, leather, espresso, and a Maillard reaction thing. On the palate, the wine is dry it’s high tannin and medium acid at best…probably medium-. The finish is medium. Drink now. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of plum, dark cherry, licorice, coffee, dry earth, 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 medium+. The alcohol is high. Hmmm…

Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache based blend, Tempranillo based blend, Merlot based blend or Malbec from France, Spain, the United States or Argentina. This didn’t stain as much as I would like for Malbec or Merlot and I don’t detect any pyrazines. Yet, it stained more than I would like for Grenache and the florals were all wrong besides. I kinda like this being Tempranillo but the oak seems French; neutral or larger format so I don’t like this from Rioja. I’m calling this Tempranillo from Spain, Toro, 2020. Lol, wow. Even a blind squirrel can find a nut sometimes. Drink now through 2035. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2021 “Côte d’Or” pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is developing with notes of strawberry, raspberry, cranberry, forest floor, roses, mushroom, and 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 slightly savory. Baller stuff. Drink now through 2041. Thanks for the delicious assist @Lyle Fass — 11 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.1

IIRC, this is made by Ployez-Jacquemart. The wine pours a light straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, mostly orchard fruits, apple, some lemon curd, brioche and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Easy to like. Drink now. Disgorged March 2025 — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2021 “Dionysos” pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, violets, horse blanket, poblano pepper, graphite and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Fresh, funky, delicious Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2031. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min. The 2024 “Benedic” pours a bright ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with pretty notes of bright wild cherry, mixed flowers, some dried herbs and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry it’s medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage shows freshness and approachability. Super easy to love. Drink now. — 12 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

From 375mL. The “Rosé de Saignée” pours almost a fuchsia color with a transparent core and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, red apple and chalky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Round and rustic in style. Lovely. Drink now. Disgorged February of 2023 — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened sometime prior to service. The 2022 pours a brilliant ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, red flowers, dried herbs, red rope licorice and exotic 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 the texture is like silk. The alcohol is remarkably well hidden. Elegant, hedonistic stuff. Drink now through 2037. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep purple/garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, mixed brambles, tobacco, purple flowers, graphite, dry organic earth 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 medium+.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), Merlot (or based blend) or Tempranillo (or based blend) from France, the United States or Spain. But the oak is French so unlikely to be from Spain and I think this leans more towards its structure so I’m taking this to France. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet-Sauvignon-based blend from France, from Bordeaux, from the Haut-Medoc, 2015. I’ll take it. Tasty stuff. Drink now through 2049. — 3 days ago