Cantine Garrone
Munaloss Nebbiolo Blend
Nothing like a mountain Nebbiolo to get close to the weekend. True northern Italy. This is more than just tart, it has some soul: a little bit of roundness to the mouthfeel, medium- ish body; it’s delicious and completely worth finding. Nebbiolo, Croatina, & Barbera blend. Polaner importer. — 10 days ago
Gianfranco Alessandria
Barolo Nebbiolo 2015
4-5 hour decant at first thought barely opened this quality Barolo but in glass we got some preview of its future majestic state. Initially utterly sealed on the nose. Very strong tannins still need integration & the perfumed rose & Black fruits were coaxed out by much glass swirling. So not complete infanticide but kinda close. Still fascinating though to glimpse the inner power of a developing Barolo — a day ago
Valdespino
Contrabandista Medium Dry Amontillado Blend Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palomino Fino Pedro Ximénez
Has a lushness & deep, amber glow to a host of tertiary flavors including butterscotch & mushrooms. In contrast to Valdespino s standard Amontillado, which is a fresh young thing. Think this is the middle aged brother, a bit wiser $ snappy. For less than 25$, yowza. — 3 days ago
Viuva José Gomes da Silva & Filhos
Collares Genuino Premiado 2011
A unicorn wine presents a unicorn experience. First, all hail the Ramisco varietal, explained to me as singular to this area of Portugal and soon to be extinct given the level of building development there. From the label: “the Colares wine región was defined in 1908. The vineyards are planted in the dunes between the hills of sintra and the Atlantic Ocean “. The nose alone is worth the price of admission: vibrates with intensity, red fruits, cut flowers. And this was after drinking an intensely vibrant Syrah by Herve Souhaut!
Taste is somewhere between a medium bodied Rioja and a deep Mercia from Ribera Sacra, minus any traces of barrel aging. Utterly seductive mouthfeel, not unctuous or cloying, almost chewy. An intense pitch of acidity higher up on the register ( hence the Ribera analogy). 38$ for a 500ml bottle. A reminder why sharing wines like these with your homeboys is the only way to live. — 2 days ago
Castello di Volpaia
Chianti Classico Sangiovese Blend 2016
I think it deserves the higher score (at least on Delectable) because with air it really stretches out into a medium bodied, gracious beauty. Black fruited, rose petals, some wet leaves, & just overall lovely, smooth mouthfeel. Oh, and about 17$. That’s cray cray. — 8 days ago
Peter Sultan
A Portuguese blend that was strong enough to ward off the snow storm in upstate NY but also supple enough to be a good foil to a special meal. Black fruits, some smokiness. Spicy carrots with Harissa sauce, smoked chicken, it all danced that night, with the one man kitchen/whirling dervish as conductor — 19 hours ago