Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Sergio Zenato & wife Carla produced quality wines from indigenous varietal, Trebbiano di Lugana, and passed down through generations. Blend of 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 10% Oseleta & Croatina. Medium Ruby color with aromas of dried berry fruits, sweet & smoky notes with pleasant herb spice. On the palate flavors of ripe currants and blackberries with cacao, spice, oak & nutty tones. Fine tannins, long finish ending slightly creamy with cedar notes. Drinking well now, enjoy over next 4-5 years. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

This was a random, lonely bottle in my cellar and it was a Napa Cab sort of night so figured it was as good a time as any to give this a whirl. Besides, a few of my friends had recently made some comments about how well the 2015’s were showing so it was only more incentive to open this.

We pulled the cork a couple of hours prior and consumed over a several hour period. No formal notes. The first impression is “holy smokes this is absolutely packed with sweet, ripe fruits”. It was shocking. The quality of the fruit is seriously high…a black and red fruit combo with some baking spices…but it’s so jammy and primary that I couldn’t pull much more from it. Tannins were medium. Acid was medium/medium-. The texture is silky smooth. Finish is long-ish due to the mouth-coating fruit. Ultimately however, I struggled to fully enjoy this due to wonderful fruit being let down by the lack of structure which left it coming across a bit flabby. That being said, this style is intentional and arguably very popular. Drink now. — a year ago

Shay A

9.4

This is definitely the most tropical expression of Kongsgaard’s Chardonnay I’ve ever had. Without getting in to all the nuances of vintages, I thought the 2016 had more lemon cream and the 2015 had a more bright profile. Lots of opulence here at an early stage.

Light golden hue in the decanter and so much tropical influence. The aromatics are really pretty...caramelized pineapple, marzipan (something I associate with Aubert), only a hint of lemon cream (something I ALWAYS get with Aubert), and powdered lemon bar. The complexity of Kongsgaard’s palate is always so intriguing to me...the depth and richness (14.1ABV) while still being able to flex a nervy and vibrant wine is hard to come across elsewhere. This is a full throttle chard up front before it turns quite elegant. The palate is loaded with lemon...grilled lemon, lemon cream, lemon scone, but has an orange marmalade and stony vibe down the middle. Obviously young, it’a delicious now with an hour or so in the decanter. — 3 years ago

Skip Smyser

9.7

Visiting an old friend. Now I'm down to 2 bottles in my cellar . I bought a case 25 years ago and every once in awhile I enjoy this ageless wine. It still has a soft mid pallet lingering red berry and tannic flavor. The richness of this Cabernet has done nothing but improve over the years. I dare say it will not further improve but hopefully it will linger at this quality level.the mouth feel is an experience in and of its self. What a wonderful treat🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 7 months ago

Devin Bray

9.1

Still absolutely gigantic and wound up, taking a whole day to give dried flowers and blackberry jam in addition to its massive, tongue-stripping, tannic backbone. Structure to lay down for another 25 years, easy. A bit hard to approach and intense now. — a year ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.3

Have not had since 2019. Nose is brambly with a cherry melange. Very earthy. Some wood shavings. A bit aromatically closed for now. Palate is juicy, very concentrated and sappy with great purity. Really long but also seems backwards. But terrific fruit and intensity. Very very sappy. Needs a few more years but you can the low yields of 16 gave this wine density and tons of material.

After an hour this has softened up and is super juicy and the tannins have calmed down. 9.2 to 9.3. Lavieres is such good terroir. — 2 years ago

Matti Jokelainen

9.1

Had 2 of these right after release and now first one after about a year in between. This is still young, primary and tight just as you expect but the density of fruit, pedigree and power is more evident. Nice nose full of cherry, raspberry and strawberry complemented by wiff of smoke. On palate the tannins and acidity is prominent but in line with the fruit. This is enjoyable with food (had this with osso buco) and best as pop and pour. On 2nd day it is more turned itself. Remains to be seen if this closes down completely in near fjture or not. But definitely worth all the praise from the press. I need to add few mafs to my stash for the long haul — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. No formal notes. The fill was top-shoulder. Underneath the capsule, the top of the cork looked nasty which I wiped down as best I could. About four hours before service, using a Durand (which is almost essential with old bottles) I was able to pull the cork completely intact and decant for sediment. The cork was completely saturated but appeared to have done its job! At this stage in its life, the 1990 Chateau Mouton Rothschild pours a garnet color but it doesn’t appear particularly tired and the nose supports that. While it’s certainly a vinous wine, there is a lot to like: a mix of red and black cassis, rip and desiccated cherries, tobacco leaf, cedar box, old leather, damp earth, some mushrooms and baking spices. The structure is still sound and while the tannins have integrated and the acid is keeping this very much alive. In fact, this seemed to brighten with air and almost get a second wind! As I find with all great Bordeaux wines once they enter this stage, they seem to live forever. This was a lovely pairing with a Prime, Niman Ranch porterhouse served with corn, squash and porcini. This is squarely in the “drink now” window, not that it will be falling off a cliff anytime soon. Decant for sediment and enjoy through 2030+ — 10 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

Albeit young, 2008 Cristal is drinking very well at this point in time, even if unsurprisingly not yet showing all that it can be. Drank solo over the course of 3 hours in a Burgundy glass, it had plenty of time to evolve and express. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 08 Cristal flaunts a gorgeous bouquet of fresh white flowers, yellow orchard fruit, baking spice, vanilla bean and crushed seashells. The palate is searingly intense with ripping citrusy acids, incredible elegance and pin point precision in its delivery before giving way to a saline and mineral infused finish that just keeps going. Again, very young, no doubt, and while already terrific, it’s easy to see what the fuss is about and how special the vintage will be down the road. But in my opinion there’s no harm in drinking now if you accept and enjoy the stage it will be in. — 2 years ago

Ian Hamel

9.4

2021/3-4. Really lovely - at 20, it is indeed Burgundian in its open, red fruit character, but it still has that hot-stone Chateauneuf character. I’m so glad I kept a few of these - I now have just one more left. Considering the price has doubled, I don’t know how many more I’ll get to lay down, so I’ll look forward to that last bottle of 2001 with a mix of excitement and sadness. — 3 years ago