Bob McDonald

9.4

Hopefully Delectable will allow me to write a complete note. Here we go ….
Dark Ruby with a crimson rim. Closed on the nose initially. Straight from the bottle - should have decanted it. Rich on the palate. Latent power with much to give. Dark cherry with dried herbs still to come with further cellaring. This is the first of 5 bottles. In the early days Block 3 was the undisputed best Pinot in NZ but now Block 5 is considered along with other contenders from around NZ. Have the next one in a year. Many good judges think this is the best ever Block 3 up to this point. — 6 months ago

Jan de Weerd

9.1

If a wine does not meet your (high) expectations, is it a disappointment?? 🤔. Yeah, everything is relative. This six year old Gran Malbec was still super tight. Sharp, spicy oak tannins (lots of new French oak?) kept anything possibly underneath totally hidden. Although some greener notes came through early on and again later after about 2-3 hours of opening. So, yeah. Not balanced, very intense, limited lingering and single note. Agung will help for sure but not confident if this wine will ever fully shine. But don’t be down on Pulenta. Fantastic winery. We will visit this fall (their Spring) as Spoken Wines. Talking about Spoken Wines, have you seen our latest video story of Hartenberg?? And their incredible commitment to regenerative viticulture, lead by… cows!! Beautifully explained and demonstrated right in front of you by Wilhelm Joubert, the viticulturist. Check it out. And don’t miss the surprise at the end 😁. www.spokenwines.com — 2 years ago

with Tammy

Bob McDonald

9.5

The first of 4 from the 2018 vintage. One of the best new World Pinot Gris, if not the best. Over the last few days on the weekend I had a bad chest cold and lost much of my sense of taste but I could taste the palate intensity in this wine - brilliant concentration. Low acid. Pear, apricot and spice but mainly pear. Difficult to see this improving from the stellar level it is at now. I’ll probably drink the remaining 3 bottles in the next year or so. Had a 2nd bottle on 25th October 2024 with similar notes - becoming even more unctuous with notes of guava evident. Low acid. A lovely experience. Next in a year or less.? Had the last bottle on 8th March 2026 with consistent notes. Probably my favourite new World Pinot Gris. Luscious and unctuous and finishing dry. Should get more. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

As far as I’m concerned, these School House Mescolanzas are like, the anti-Napa Zinfandel. They are just so different from anything else out there. Until they get close to 10 years from vintage, they are backward; lean, green and mean. But if one has the patience, they eventually become quite charming. For this bottle, I did not follow my own advice.

Popped and poured, consumed over four days. On Day 1, this was completely coiled and the oak seemed a bit out of balance. I finished my glass and placed the cork back in the neck of the bottle. I checked in for a small taste on Day 2 and 3. By Day 4, it had opened enough to really enjoy. The 2016 School House “Mescolanza” Zinfandel Blend pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core. Medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. There appears too be some very faint signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing. Expressive of dark bramble fruits, stone minerals, and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium(+?) tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is medium(+). This has all of the trappings for very nice expression of this wine but it’s a little young to my taste. Best after 2025 and these will drink well through 2037…and possibly longer. — 3 years ago

ESF

9.2

Really started to shine 2-3 hrs in, very tight out of the chute, eventually showed gorgeous cherry, rose hips & crushed flowers, some asphalt, slight lift, minerals & sweet spice - big rigid tannins - blind I might have mistaken for Barolo... recall this being a pretty good vintage w/long life ahead (purchased in Montalcino) — 5 years ago

DunkinH

9.0

Cherry, spices on nose. Great finish. Was still tight in 2021 but opened up over the course of 3 days in bottle. — 6 years ago

JKT

9.1

Well still quite the surprise for a 13 year old second wine. Medium garnet color very fragrant floral earthy nose with good acidity and weight on palate carrying through to finish with a hint of smokiness. Almost overpowered the plain roast duck but got along nicely with the Momofulu Chili paste that had just that touch of spicy note. Bodes well for the CDPs resting nicely. Did fade in Cali bothers after 3+ days. — 6 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

Bottle variation oh yes. Lyle Fass’s version is a tad better upon opening (more tomorrow stay tuned). Did he import these in 2009/10? I am on a mission now. And will taste the E&M‘s up to 2014 over the next months. Tasting these older vintages is always let’s say a “pan” on the Ass. Because I am so worried I will get it wrong. So I try over days. And often pop additional bottles to be sure. And while the 2009‘s E&M are super interesting wines and challenge me like no others - I am holding firm after tasting (a total) of 6 bottles of both the Muschelkalk and the often richer Bundsanstein - these should be consumed in the next 3-6 months. Some bottles might surprise on the upside based on your taste buds but for me <. — 7 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.0

Plenty of tannins left. 25bucks. Those were the days! 14%| Quite classic. Browne tinge. Needs at least 2-3 hours of air. Quite harsh and astringent. Roses, earthy and dusty, very dry. Hint of truffles. - Not super exciting at first (15min) so wait. Will last another 10 years - but i do worry about the fruit component if you need space in your cellar - i would suggest drink up. I will. Some folks tend to hype these wines i don’t - after all this is their most basic version with a large production volume. Total volume is 500,000 bottles a year at this cooperative. My guess they to make a lot of this one. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best of Day 3. The 2015 “Ma Belle-Fille” pours a light gold color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, developing with notes of fruit cups (the ones with pineapples and peaches), lemon bars, honeysuckle, and cashews. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and buttery but integrates better by Day 3. Leesy. The alcohol is medium+. For my palate, this was tough to love the first couple days as it lacked balance. By Day 3 however, it was quite becoming. Still a baby at 9 years. Drink with immense patience or better yet, after 2028 and through 2035 easy. — 2 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Nice evolution and well integrated. 92 that pushes 93.

The other wine from the great Napa producer, Philip Togni.

The mouthfeel is supple, round, soft, yet meaty and tarry tannins. Ripe, juicy, rich; blackberries, baked plum for days, dark cherries, black raspberries, hues of raspberries & boysenberries. Black licorice, berry cola, muddy, volcanic clay, herbaceous notes, soft baking spices, slightly, melted chocolate, dark spice with a touch of heat, coffee, dry crushed, rocks, dry stem, dry tobacco, new leather, oak to cedar shavings, volcanic ash, dark, slightly withering, red, blue flowers framed in a field of endless violets, rainfall acidity, great balance, nice tension/structure and a smartly polished finish that last a full minute.

If you own, I would drink over the next 3-4 years before it starts to slide.

Photos of; Philip Togni vineyard, barrel room, vineyard soil & Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa. — 3 years ago

Tom Kobylarz

9.2

92+, loads of potential here too for a tick or 2 up. Open 2-3 hours before to give it some air. Consumed over 4 days. Some whole cluster adds a nice lift to the nose of mixed berries, cherries, and garrigue...very FRENCH, plenty of je ne sais quoi! — 3 years ago

S.S. Mandani

9.5

Celebrating another publication this year, for a total of 13 pieces: 10 short stories and 3 installments of the beverage column, Liquid Carriage at No Contact.

Described to me by the owner and resident vino at Frankly in TriBeCa as an electric Chenin that changes over a few days from slightly bready to fresh and zippy to Burgundian-like.

I had to experience this chameleon of flavors.

Fresh Focaccia on the nose. Bready and boozy in the bouquet. Aromas of tropical fruit, papaya and lemongrass.

Super well balanced, fresh acid, nice RS, beautiful softness like rose petal mouthfeel.

Love this. So much. — 5 years ago

Brett Rogosin

8.9

This needs time. Plenty of time. I decanted 3 hours, then drank it over days and still quite tannic and lots of acidity. Closed at first, but the nose is opening with inky ripe blackberry, black currants, little bit of vanilla, and a touch of menthol. The palate is more tart currant and blackberry pits with menthol and tree bark. For the price I’d buy a few, start drinking in 3-5 years+, then have each year thereafter. — 5 years ago

Shay A

9.2

I’m in the 92+ range here. Didn’t know how a 12yr Paso Tempranillo would show, but I was pleasantly surprised.

87 temp/ 10 Grenache/ 3 Zinfandel

Everything about this was Paso but I appreciated the slight Tempranillo vibe it pulled off. As I’ve mentioned before, well made Paso wines have this weightless richness to them and while this wasn’t as nimble as others, it smells like Paso through and through. Big, rich, baked dark fruits aromatically with baking spices and some oak presence but a floral note appears with time. Where the fruit presents dark aromatically, it takes a slightly red-fruited turn on the palate with some herbal spice, cherry-vanilla pipe tobacco and plenty of tannin to show its Tempranillo profile.

Followed over two days and stayed strong. Pop and enjoy. — a year ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

I am re-coravining this 07. The 2007 vintage is generally compared to 97. I would say 07 is slightly better than 97.

I am honest, sometimes to a fault. This is absolutely the most underrated Cabernet producer in Napa Valley, bar none. A TRB made wine since 97.

The nose reveals ripe & lush; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries, just a whiff of boysenberries with strawberries & creamy raspberries on the edges of the glass. Melted dark chocolate to frosting, plum pudding, mocha powder, salted caramel notes, cinnamon, clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, touch of butterscotch, understated herb blend, some grey clay, dry top soil, light graphite, very used leather, light fresh tobacco, undertones of anise to black licorice, withering-candied; dark, red flowers-roses with candied violets.

The palate is heavily magical. The tannins round, velvety & still meaty. Ruby & lush nicely evolved fruits that are; dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, dark cherries hints of boysenberries, cherries, strawberries, pomegranate extract & hovering, creamy raspberries. Melted dark chocolate to frosting, plum pudding, mocha powder, salted caramel notes, tarriness, dark roasted expresso, anise to black licorice, cinnamon stick, clove, some nutmeg & vanillin, dark spice w/ some palate heat, touch of toffee w/ nuts, understated fresh herb blend, lightly grilled meats, some grey clay/volcanics, dark, rich, sweet earth, dry top soil, nice graphite tones, very used leather, fresh tobacco, undertones of anise to black licorice, withering-candied; dark, red flowers-roses with candied violets, excellent round acidity with an incredibly; balanced, well knitted, structured, tensioned, elegant finish that glides from beautiful fruits to spice & gentle earth and last nearly two-minutes. Glorious & stunning the character & depth of this wine!

Jones Family wines only shine this bright with 15 years plus in bottle.

This one has another 3-5 yrs before it starts its slow decent. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; consumed over three days. Best on Day 3. The 2019 Cavallotto Barolo “Bricco Boschis” pours a deep garnet with a translucent core. Medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with super expressive of fresh red and dark fruits: Montmorency cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, blackberries and lingonberries. There is also some balsamic notes, cedar box, roses, tar, green herbs and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with monumental tannins that seemed to build each day. Acid is medium++. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever long. Alcohol is medium+. This is a beautiful wine with a very, very long life ahead. The fruit is so gorgeous, so fresh at this stage. Drink now with the patience of a saint otherwise best after 2029 and enjoy through 2069+. Bottle No. 05586 — 3 years ago

Ruud Verhagen

9.1

(94-96 RP, 93 Vinous)
Tasted over 3 days and changed a lot, but what a massive wine this is. New style Bordeaux(?), if it is i liked it. Full bodied and velvet on the last day. First fresh with some good acidity, on the second day more austere with tannic structure. On the nose it has graphite, tobacco, some smoke, fresh flowers (violets, lavendel). Palate of cherries, plums and blackcurrant, chocolate, mocha and licorice. Give it 5 years or a long decant. Superb p/q (91++…) — 5 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.4

Outstanding! A befitting wine to break a somewhat self-imposed 3 months dry spell.
Open for business from day one, yet it constantly evolved over the next three days. Red cherries, apples, and brioche dominated the bouquet at the start, which eventually progressed to one lead by smoke and salinity. The palate explodes with a "sweet" core of red cherries and raspberries, finishing with heaps of spice (cinammon in particular) and dried flowers, all wrapped up in an incredibly salty package. Like the nose, day two and three saw salinity take centre stage, along with some apparent wood characters and bitter citrus in the finish. Olivier's wines have always brought a multi-dimensional complexity that's undeniable to any wine lover, but it's that balance of power-without-weight that makes him such a great winemaker. Safe to say, Ulysse Collin is fast becoming one of my favourite champagne estates. — 5 years ago

Brett Rogosin

8.9

I’ve had older vintages that were incredibly tasty. This was flat the first 2 days. Day 3 it’s started to show some quality and open up with fruit and a bit of white pepper coming through and lush mouthfeel. The quality is there, but I’d hold for another 5 years min. — 6 years ago