Philip Patston

9.2

Superb with Lamb at Easter. — a month ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.1

I love this wine. Whole cluster fermentation and 8 months in concrete. Clean, balanced, pairs beautifully with anything grilled or red sauces. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve sort of avoided the wines from Priorat. Not for any ideological reasons, more so I simply found the wines too often over the top for my palate. However, after years of skipping offers, I bit the bullet a couple years ago and swooped up a couple bottles of Laurel which is a wine made by Clos i Terrasses (most famously known for Clos Erasmus). I’m so glad I did. What I discovered was a wine of tremendous character and beauty.

The 2019 version of this wine is no different. It pours an almost magenta red ruby with a translucent core and moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, raspberries, plums, purple flowers, dried herbs, organic soil, limestone. There’s abundant fruit but it comes across super fresh, not jammy. There is also the faintest whiff of pyrazines. On the palate, the wine is dry, medium bodied and confirming the complex fruit set and non-fruit characteristics. Medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Such a fresh, youthful and gorgeous wine. For those that are wondering, Laurel is aged in a combination of neutral oak, concrete egg and amphora. — 2 years ago

Garen Staglin

9.3

Elegant and lighter style. All concrete fermentation. — 2 months ago

Paul J

9.4

PnP. Dark red color. Classic Tempier Bandol! Cow shut, earth, smoke, and wood. Medium depth and full of character. Medium plus finish. Always a fav! — a year ago

with Brooke

Eric Urbani

9.0

Natural style, nice funk, reasonable 14% ABV, Alice Feiring club selection. FYI the côt varietal is Malbec … name comes from Cahors in SW France where it originated — 2 years ago

Ron R

9.6

Not even surprised. Rick went to his cellar and slapped his you know what on the table. This is a beautiful example of Bdx.
Cow dung nose gives way to a sweet, textured palate. Tannins are close to be resolved, but zero tertiary notes. Great acid structure completes an excellent presentation from a lack luster vintage - boys w/end in Pittsburgh. — 3 years ago

with Andrew, Rick and 1 other

Erik Longabardi

9.3

Always so good! Electric! — 4 months ago

Michelle Berryman

9.1

Robust and fruity. This is a bold Malbec. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

I’ve enjoyed the wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape for almost 20 years and, along with a few DOCG’s in Italy, it’s one of the regions I have the most experience with. That being said, I’ve become very judicious with my buying over the last 5 years or so, concentrating on a small handful of producers that I’ve naturally gravitated towards. Domaine Charvin is one of those. No destemming, aged in concrete, no luxury cuvée, modest pricing. They’re just so old school and I just love it. The 2017 Charvin Rouge pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, it’s initially a bit reticent but changes dramatically with about 15min of air at which point it begins to really strut. First with bruised strawberries and whole fields of garrigue. With a little more coaxing, ripe brambles, spiced meat, and lavender join the party. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins (which seem to build with air), medium acid and fairly high alcohol though it never felt like a hot mess. In fact, the wine is beautifully balanced with ample structure providing a foundation for the abundance of fruit: red and black brambly fruit, with Herb de Provence, espresso and a touch of leather and dark olive. The finish is long and satisfying. A lovely Charvin that should deliver in style well past 2030 — 2 years ago