Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2021 Classico pours a bright garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is developing with beautiful notes of ripe Morello cherry, raspberry, tart forest strawberry’s, a whole bouquet of roses, hibiscus, saltwater taffy, tar, assorted green herbs, old wood and dry dusty earth. After about an hour or so, pomegranate enters the chat. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. These are early days but I’m really excited to track how these evolve with time. Drink now through 2051. — 2 days ago

Joel Lara

9.4

This is an intense, full-bodied wine. A striking minerality with scents of cherry on the nose. On the palette, the rich cherry flavor comes through with beautiful violet tones melding together harmoniously with a ferrous-driven minerality. The finish is long with the violet and cherry flavors making way for iron notes and strong tannins, which are almost too strident on the finish. I see the tasting window starting in 2017 or 2018. I decanted most of the bottle for two hours while leaving a serving in bottle for the second day. These notes are based on second day. Tannins were smoother second day, although still quite strong. I had the 2016 in the fall, and it had more complexity with softer tannins on the finish. — 23 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Beautiful drinking Barbaresco with its red cherry, berry fruit, spice, licorice, dried herbs, rose petal & tobacco. — 20 days ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.0

Clear, pale ruby in color with a hint of garnet; on the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary aromas of cherries, hibiscus, leather, and cured meat; on the palate, dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced primary flavors of raspberries, strawberries, black tea, and clay pots with a long finish. This wine is complex and intense. There's a bitter flavor that is a little out of balance. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. Definitely needs to breath. — 11 days ago

with Nellie

Mo

9.0

More in alignment with WS review: “Cherry, raspberry, violet and mineral aromas and flavors mark this perfumed red. Racy and elegant, with defining acidity. Persistent finish. Drink now through 2028. 3,300 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.” — Bruce Sanderson… Versus WE: “Like a garden at twilight, this Barbera lifts with violets and lavender before diving into a pool of plums and boysenberries, kissed by fresh herbs. The palate mirrors this purple-fruited dance with juicy precision. Give it a slight chill and watch it become the life of the party.” — Jeff Porter. — 21 hours ago

Vino Joe

9.5

Expressive. Deep. Tannins reverberated. Just outstanding. — 14 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened a couple of hours before service. The 2001 “Rabaja” pours a garnet color with a translucent core and fairly significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated, red fruit: Morello cherry, dried red flowers, truffle, old leather bound books, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and a pleasant blend of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where there’s a bit of a Maillard reaction with the fruit showing a touch more stewed. The finish is medium+. Drink now after a couple hours in the decanter but should drink well through 2031. — 14 days ago

Ericsson

9.3

Jéroboam for wedding. Fresh, fun, with notes of violet, licorice, and tart red cherry. — 14 days ago

Chris MacLean

9.2

Gorgeous in 2024. So floral. — a month ago

with Sarah

Chip Habegger

9.0

Pretty good but surprisingly seemed like it was starting to go past its peak. Cherry, layers, long, silky tannins. — 12 days ago