Joel Lara

9.2

This is so good. Great QPR. The nose has intense aromas of cloves and bay leaf with dark cherry in the background. There’s vibrant acidity on the palate with saturated flavors mirroring the nose, with some dried herbs (like oregano) emerging as well. The finish is decent but not great length. It’s hard to complain when it’s a $20 bottle. Overall, the spice/herbs/and cherry flavors go together beautifully. The tannins are there and provide good structure, providing a slight bitter dryness at the end to contrast with the other flavors. Med/full bodied. The flavor profile reminds me a bit of some Willamette Valley pinots but with the structure of a Langhe Nebbiolo. PS - the finish seems better than I initially thought. Has decent length with spice and cherry notes lingering. — 3 days ago

Joel Lara

9.0

This is a really tasty Roero Arneis that has green apple and floral notes on the nose. The flavors come through to the palate where lemon notes and a crunchy minerality emerge. The finish has a bitter saline quality with apple notes that linger on the palate. Really tasty. Med/full bodied with med/high acidity. — 24 days ago

Joel Lara

9.2

This is really tasty. Primarily cherry, autumn spice, and orange zest, with hints of balsamic, mint, dried fruits coming through. Unfortunately the finish was a bit hot and very tangy. I enjoyed it overall though. This is the 2018 vintage. — a month ago

Joel Lara

8.8

This is the 2018 vintage. Tasty but a bit rough around the edges. High acidity and med/full bodied. Has notes of mint, anise, cloves, and cherries, and as it opens up, white pepper and floral notes develop. Tannins are drying but manageable. The finish though is rough, leaving an aftertaste that echos the smell of dried-up wine still in the bottom of an old bottle thought to be emptied many moons ago. It was so yummy on the palate though. — 9 days ago

Joel Lara

9.4

This is a beautifully elegant nebbiolo with generous aromatics, a silky smooth mouthfeel, and refined tannins providing just a touch of grip on the finish. Notes of cherry, mint, and white pepper come through on the nose, and on the palate additional flavors of cloves, orange zest, and violet add complexity. Finish Is moderately long, with lingering notes of spice, cherry, and bitter orange. This paired well with pan-seared duck breast and a port wine blueberry reduction sauce. Light/medium bodied with high acidity. — 23 days ago

Joel Lara

8.5

Light/medium bodied, low tannin, high acidity, and elevated alcohol level. Nice strawberry, rose, orange zest, and mineral flavors. Unfortunately the alcohol flavor is really strong towards the back of the palate and on the finish, making the wine out of balance. I’ve had past vintages that made for tasty, chillable reds. They also had 13% ABV. The 14.5 ABV is too much. Also, based on the write-up this was probably bottled recently, so maybe it needs some time in the bottle to come together? — a month ago

Joel Lara

9.5

Dust, tar, dark cherry, white pepper, and anise on the nose. The same flavors come through on the palate with balsamic and fresh mushrooms emerging as well. Smooth and lush on the palate, and the tannins and acidity are beautifully balanced. Persistent finish but a little drying on the palate. Overall a pleasure to drink. I bet this will be great after a few years when those tertiary flavors are more developed. — a month ago

Joel Lara

9.5

This is a powerful, full bodied wine with an intensely complex, savory flavor profile. Eucalyptus, pine, sage, cloves, and allspice are all present with some slight hints of leather, smoke, and bitter cocoa in the background. The fruit veers more towards dark fruit and dried fruit, with black currants, dark cherry, prunes, and dried figs coming through, but to me this wine is more about the non-fruit flavors. Over time the tannins become more noticeable and provide grip along with a dry finish, but the high acidity and saturated flavor profile help balance out the tannins. I loved this wine. Such interesting flavors and paired beautifully with both rack of lamb and dry aged ribeye. — 11 days ago

Joel Lara

8.6

This is a disappointing Barbera unfortunately. It’s full bodied with med/high acidity. The fruit is overripe, verging on cooked flavors of blueberries, dark cherry, and plums. Heavy spice flavors are coming though as well. The alcohol level is elevated, and it’s very noticeable on the palate and finish. I had the last glass on Day 4, and the alcohol seemed to be more integrated, but the fruit seemed even more cooked. I’d prefer fresh and vibrant flavors in a Barbera, and I’d prefer a lighter touch on the oak aging. — a month ago

Joel Lara

9.2

This is a medium/full bodied barbera with a velvety mouthfeel and nice acidity. Dark cherry, blueberries, cloves, and anise all come through beautifully on the palate. Finish is persistent with spice lingering on the palate. Paired well with herb-roasted chicken and a side of roasted potatoes with dill and feta. — 2 months ago