Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2008 pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of passion fruit, green apple, marzipan, light brioche, lemon curd, and chalk for dayzzzz. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and textural; leezy. I’m smitten. Lovely stuff. Drink now through 2048. Disgorged April 2022. — 13 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2023 Lodi pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lifted notes of fresh brambles, licorice, mixed floral bouquet, exotic spices 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+ and has a really spicy quality to it. Really solid stuff but super fresh and patience will be required to enjoy the best from this vintage. Better after 2028 and through 2038. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. No formal notes due to the setting but yeah, this was pretty special from the beginning. I have long been a fan of Renato Ratti’s “Marscenasco” however Conca, the MGA for which they are most proud of, has been more modern in recent history, spending some time in French barrique (for the record, I lean traditionalist). On top of that, many 2009 Barolo’s have come across overblown to my palate. Yet this was sublime. Proving, once again that there is always something to learn. The fruit was 2009 powerful but balanced with acid and freshness. There was plenty tar and roses and all the tannin one should expect from Conca. Fabulous stuff. Drink now through 2044. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanter right before service. The 2020 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity, with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Montmorency cherry, red flowers, black tea, fresh sage, some dried green herbs and dry, dusty earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is a classic, rustic Chianti Classico without the DOCG designation. Better after 2030 and will drink well through 2045. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed alongside the 2020 “Le Geynale” by Vincent Paris, over the course of a couple hours. The 2020 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 blackberries, black plum, fig, lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, Gaeta olive, dried green herbs and rocky 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 sanguine. Compared to the Vincent Paris, this was slightly less perfumed, missing some of the high notes from “Le Geynale”. However, this had the base and blood of Chaillot, from which 100% of the fruit is sourced. Outstanding. Drink now through 2050. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.4

These were still the early years for Joe Swan. Andre Tchelistcheff was consulting and a young Joel Peterson was under Swan’s proverbial wing before he launched Ravenswood. It’s getting harder and harder find these gems so this was a real treat.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1975 pours, a dull ruby color with a translucent core and rust colored rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of bruised and desiccated strawberry, smoked meat, mushrooms, forest floor, and an intriguing mix of spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. At 55+, this is stunning and proof that California Pinot Noir does have the capacity to age gracefully when in the hands of a master. Drink now. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened and decanted about two hours prior to service. No formal notes due to the setting but this was phenomenal; showing much younger than its age would suggest. The color was still ruddy and while it was vinous, it had lovely fruit and structure. Still identifiable as Merlot despite its age. Dreamy stuff by one of the true icons of California wine counter-culture. Drink now. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed alongside the 2020 Cuchet-Beliando, over the course of a couple hours. The vines for Vincent Paris’s “Le Geynale” are none other than the 100+ year old vines that he inherited from his uncle, Michel Robert. The 2020 “Le Geynale” pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. The nose is incredible, a bit like a pile of ripe black and blue fruits were placed inside an old world deli case and garnished with purple flowers. The wine is developing with blackberries, black plum, fig, lavender, black pepper, cured meats, oil cured olives, dried green herbs and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Outstanding stuff. Drink now through 2050. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Muled back from the winery. Popped and poured, enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. No formal notes due to the setting. As far as I can recall, this is my first experience with the Schioppettino variety and wow, what an impression! The amount of rotundone could rival great Syrah from the Rhône. So much finely ground black pepper, fresh dark brambles and purple flowers. Yet, the body was lighter than Syrah and showed more Italian sensibilities. Fabulous with food. Drink now through 2033+. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2006 pours a deep straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of slightly bruised apple, white flowers, lemon curd, brioche, slivered almond and a mix of chalk and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. I wish I could drink this all night long. Alas, only a single 750mL and not a Methuselah. Drinking well now and will only be taking on more secondary and tertiary character. But if that’s your thing (and I can get down), this will deliver well past 2036. — 4 days ago