Tom Barras

9.3

The elegantly textured 2006 Costanti Brunello is Gorgeous in all aspects, leading off with a leggy, dark garnet appearance, seductive tertiary aromatics and flavors, a solid medium/full structure backed up by an abundance of fruit, succulent acidity, light dusty tannins and a very long and satisfying finish. WOW! (Also, it was ideal with tonight’s Pâté de Campagne.)
— 10 months ago

Tom Elliot

Founder Northwest Wines

9.4

A real beauty at 14+ years with a good 10 more to go. Resolved acid-tannin structure reveals an abundance of ripe, luscious fruit with perhaps a little overly generous percentage of new oak. — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A pale gold hue leads to some nice effervescence and tons of small bubbles initially. A fine mousse and highly aromatic on the nose with an abundance of wet stone minerality and fresh pears. The fruit is ripe and expressive with citrus aromas being dominant with the more autolytic notes serving as backup. After some time and air, that nice yeast and floral aspects come to the fore in the form of delicate little white flowers.

100% Chardonnay with 7 g/l that only adds a little softness to the acidity of the champagne. With 30% of the blend coming from reserve wines there is a distinct elegance and refinement happening here. The fruit comes from Grand and Premier Crus from Avize and Cramant.

This is most certainly a pop and pour champagne, it’s ready to go. A silky mouthfeel with crisp acidity which leads to crisp fruit on the palate. Baked apple pie, brioche buns, and mandarin oranges shine. Decidedly lush and fun. Fruity, elegant, and versatile. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Recent reviews by some on CT had me curious about how these were evolving so I had to check in myself and personally assess, you know, for science. Popped and poured; consumed over three days. The first day was OTT with red fruit and spices...but mostly the fruit. The spices, really sort of a one-note black pepper bomb, pricking the tongue, perhaps giving a glimpse of something more interesting if patience was exercised. Super clean with no signs of brett. I was almost taken aback because this was coming across rather ham fisted and definitely an outlier for Pegaü. I say almost. Two days later, I revisited the remaining half of the bottle and that’s when things really started to show off. Chewy red and black fruits were still very much in abundance but they were now more delineated and showing somewhat grainy tannins which seems much more pronounced now than they were on the first night. Think the texture of eating a mouthful of brambles. The spices that were teasing on the first night were stepping up to play a more pronounced role taking on more of a black licorice character with some lovely garrigue. Sound structure...though perhaps not as impressive as the 2016 Cuvée Réservée. Long, lip smacking finish though...and really delivering the goods! Based off this experience, I would imagine the best is yet to come for the 2015 Pegaü. If you’re drinking on the pop and pour, prepare for disappointment. These could use some time. I look forward to revisiting in 2025 and beyond. — 6 years ago

Dawn E.

9.0

Wonderful abundance of fine bubbles!! Pear..apple cider...apricot..yeast rolls...honey and nutmeg! A little age on this bubbly enhanced these flavors amazingly! I have had this
Wedding Cuvee frequently over the years..75% Pinot Noir & 25% Chardonnay..always delicious!
BUT....I will never forget the bottle I LOST!! I kept a bottle of this...Special...for after running a Marathon...excited..worn out...forgot it in the freezer! My son 14 at the time actually feel on the floor laughing!! Yep....that bottle exploded all over the kitchen and dining room ceiling when I pulled the cork!! 😢 I did not even get half of a glass.... — 7 years ago

Julius Rifkin

9.3

I don’t know of any other producers who make a single-varietal wine from this obscure grape, but this wine is still fairly easy to find, an observation that is not difficult to understand. This wine is just plain delicious. Year after year it is in my top two or three white wines. Very aromatic, it boasts an abundance of fruity and floral aromas. On the palate, flavors of lychee and dried apricot reveal a subtle sweetness that is hard to resist. 100% Bukettraube. 4/13/25. — a year ago

Sydney Palmer

9.2

Abundance of fruit flavors. Very enjoyable to drink — 5 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.1

2021/1/8-9 with leftover cotechino, etc. I adore Il Colle’a Brunello, and the Rosso is just as good for its appellation. There’s an abundance of cherries with woodsy and spicy elements on top. It’s open and generous, with hints of complexity too. — 5 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Terrific nose. Floral, tar, roses, mint, tweed jacket, serious cherry, complex, so many different aromas, crazy spice. So good. Licorice. Amazing cherry flower with air. Sick. Palate had an abundance of fruit. Concentrated, sweet and so dense. Pure, clean and so textured. Amazing balance and so well made. Elegant, delicate and so so deep. This is a very good wine with terrific harmony. Shows off why 2016 is as good as it is. Long. Juicy. So so pure.

Update - after 4.5 hours this got that supernal balance very few wines get. 9.4 to 9.5. — 6 years ago

Steve Biondi

9.3

Between my wife's fresh tomato sauce and veal meatballs with Incredible spinach the wine just brought in in abundance of complexity intones unequaled in the sphere of my influence — 7 years ago

Anthony Pro

9.0

It’s going to be good... It’s a Caymus. But man, for the price, there’s so much better out there. An abundance of fruit. Perhaps too much. The birthday boy isn’t even drinking wine...

Update: just realized this was my 100th California wine. — 7 years ago

Jeff Hasmann

9.4

Bold, powerful, and concentrated old style Chateauneuf. Abundance of ripe red fruit, raspberry, currants, garrigue, and licorice with subtle notes of tobacco on the lingering finish. Fruit was aged in tank and concrete for 18 months (although the Syrah sees a bit of neutral oak). The ABV is 15% but is well balanced with the concentrated fruit and soft tannins and great structure. This is a big, powerful wine that will last for 2 decades, but is approachable now with a 2 - 3 hour decant. Gorgeous! 2016 vintage on Dec 7, 2018 — 8 years ago

Ira Schwartz

9.5

From a magnum purchased in Paris on release. When viewed in the decanter no signs of age. This is a wine that has a little bit of everything both on the nose and the palate . Earth, funk, red fruit, plums, spice,leather, and cigar box. All of these elements are showcased and supported by an abundance of tannin and acid. Powerful but silky. Hands down the best 1998 CDP I have tasted . — 8 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.3

A truly representation of an Old Vine Zin (Mohr Fry) from Acampo, Lodiis all about. Made out of 90+ year-old vines which provides a great amount of concentrated ripe cherry and abundance rich ripen red fruit flavors. Persistent and lingering to perfection point on the finish. Although is 15.8% abv, is warm with enough balance and structure. Oaky can be perceived medium-low as well. One of the top dogs of Macchia wines. — 2 years ago

Willie Carter

8.9

A really beautiful opaque crimson. Truly almost impenetrable. Definite signs of bricking but nothing to be concerned about. As expected, it’s more than a bit closed in upon opening and needs a few hours to express itself. Soft vanilla and violet aromas are coaxed from their shell. A little cherry rhubarb and burnt tobacco. Cinnamon and spice with dark chocolate. Leather and lace with an abundance of faded cherries. The earthy aromas are the star of the show here.

This obviously needs a lot of time decanting, as much time as you have to give it. Quite a bit of sediment in the bottle, but don’t let that stop you. There’s a lot of good to be had here. Some fruit remains on the palate but mostly delightful earth and spice. The acid remains and keeps things lively. The alcohol throws the balance out of whack a bit and there’s almost no tannic structure remaining but at the end of the day it’s still a fun, impressive wine. — 4 years ago

Lars Fasel

9.0

Muted plum, blackberry, and an abundance of black olives. Nice herbal note on palate and little spice. Should bang with grilled lamb — 6 years ago

Chip Delsener

9.6

The 2015 while still quite youthful delivers an abundance of rich and ripe fruit, balanced, elegant and long. It was a perfect accompaniment to the scallops for our third anniversary. — 6 years ago

Josh Raynolds

9.6

1995 just hitting it's stride - smoky earth, pipe tobacco, cherry and cassis in abundance, velvety texture and amazing length. Probably even more interesting in another five to ten years but why wait if you've got a couple or more? — 7 years ago

Mark Flesher

9.2

A very nice SB. Pours a light to medium straw color in the glass. Viscous. The nose is peach and honeysuckle and a hint of lemon. Full bodied SB from the start with a soft, rich mouthfeel. Peach, pear and lemon cheesecake. Sharp acidity still from front to back with great finish and went well with Calamari, Salmon and a spicy fish dish. Probably would have paired well with lemon cheesecake since this note is in abundance on the front.... but it was GONE before it got to that. If this isn't current vintage, it's only one vintage off...these are typically held back a few years and I think that does these WELL. Bravo Jones Family. — 8 years ago

Katie

9.0

Fresh, vanilla from the oak, tasty. I bought a bottle — 8 years ago