This freak show of a wine I have a soft spot for. Pure Tintillia from Molise. The nose is just crazy. Nuts, anise, blackberry syrup and fresh blackberries. So much to the aromas. They are so present. Not wispy. Mean, evil aromas. But you cannot look away. Pasolini liquified. Rich but fresh and has so much energy. Velvety tannins that gain substance with air. Chewy and dense but also somewhat light on its feet. Long finish and very fresh. Really intense. But also elegant. A wine of contrasts. Let’s see what air does. But a great wine despite my meandering review. — 10 months ago
From a great old looking bottle with a mid shoulder fill. Cork is fully saturated and the crud under the capsule had formed a strong seal. Slow-ox’d for a few hours, then decanted for an hour or two before taken to L’Escargot in Carmel. Amber tawny rims with a reddish tawny core. Crazy nose right from the start. Notes of sweet black cherries, tobacco leaf, plums, black pepper, ash and crusty wood, pencil shavings, some just unwrapped cigar and some menthol. Silky in the mouth with firm structure and soft but present acidity. Long and memorable finish. Outstanding performance over several hours. — 4 years ago
Funky, sour, reminds of a spontaneous cider — 4 months ago
Disg. 2/14…Always my favorite of the Lieux-Dits and without question one of the very best Blanc de Blancs Champagnes on the planet, it’s particularly special to have with some bottle age. It’s stunning today, rich and powerful with crazy depth to its layers with a deep, complex core of caramelized orchard fruit, roasted nuts, old rum barrels and candied white flowers, all seamlessly integrated. The palate is generous and detailed, with racy acids, waves of saline laced, chalky Le Mesnil minerals and a finish that stays with you. A BdB benchmark for my tastes. — 5 months ago
Tasted this about 2 years ago, a new batch, some lots underwent malolactic conversion enhancing flavor & weight. 40/40/20 blend, Pinot Meunier-20%. Founded in 1776, Reims France, rare family owned company, still managed by Roederer family. In 1833, Louis Roederer inherited company his uncle & renamed company under his namesake. Pale lemon, Fresh fruit aromas, nice mousse, rapid bubbles, citrus & toasty apple flavors, crisp & refreshing, long finish ending with lemon, smoke & yeasty mineral notes. Nice! — 4 years ago
Lemons and crisp minerality on the nose, lemon heavy on the front flavor, with a crisp minerality on the mid-palate. Heavy citrus, it's delicious. — 4 years ago
Carolin sent me cask samples of the 19 GG’s and wow. This is insane. A nose so pretty and so pure one needs new words to describe it but I will try with my mere old words. A beautiful perfume that is transcendent. In every way. An amazing caramel nougat. Airy, gorgeous, perfumed and insanely clear minerality. Just sick. Some smoke. Wood shavings. Not oak, but woodshop. Some clearly defined citrus. Wet stones and earth. It reeks and I mean reeks of terroir. The palate has a very serious and very major core. Insane citrus that is driving me crazy. So pure. So ephemeral. So clean. The nose or the palate. What is better? I can’t stop asking myself. It’s even. The core of fruit, minerals and saltiness is unreal. This has elite elegance to it. It’s backwards but beautiful. Not many wines are like that. It has PERFECT balance. I’m between 9.8 and 9.9 now. The level of complexity and texture might push it over the edge. But then the salt kicks in. And the lingering of the finish. Fuuuuuuuuuuckkkkkkkk. — 4 years ago
Neca C. Smith
Best Cab of the Wine Festival — 12 days ago