Cathy Levy

9.3

Lovely Barbaresco from the Piedmonte region. — 24 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2008 pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of passion fruit, green apple, marzipan, light brioche, lemon curd, and chalk for dayzzzz. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and textural; leezy. I’m smitten. Lovely stuff. Drink now through 2048. Disgorged April 2022. — 4 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Consistency is their middle name.

This has just started to shift from fresh to aging.

Bruised red apple/pear, lemon, lime zest, tropical melons, drier stone fruits, whipped cream, ginger, brioche, graham cracker, very light caramel/butterscotch notes, grey volcanics, limestone marl, sea fossils, gritty chalk, white & yellow flowers with greens, excellent lively acidity and a well balanced-knitted, elegant & smartly polished finish that lasts near two-minutes. — 6 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Hébrart Special Club 2021 is exactly why hard Champagne vintages can be so compelling. Frost, hail, all the usual misery, and yet this wine came out nervy, precise and alive. No big ripe-year swagger here. — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

The 2012 J. Lassalle Special Club is made from 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay. The vines average 50 yrs old. Hails from Chigny-Les-Roses. Winemakers Chantal Decelle-Lassalle and Angéline Templier farm using the practice of Lutte Raisonnée, which means they fall just short of organic. Sustainable but use minimal chemicals. Rain during and at the end of the season when Mother Nature doesn’t dry the grape clusters, chemicals are often necessary to prevent mold. This isn’t Sauternes!

Texturally, it is quite nice. Beautiful fine mousse and micro oxygenation. Lively but not aggressive acidity.

Green & golden apples, pear, pineapple, lime/lemon with zest, orange citrus blend, green melon & kiwi. White spice, bread dough, nougat, limestone bits, thick chalky powder, graham cracker crust, melted caramel, vanillin, saline, sea fossils, understated herbaceous notes, fruit blossoms, spring flowers with an elegant, smartly polished, well balanced, nicely structured-crafted finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on volcanics & spice on the long set.

You could make case for 94 here. Perhaps fully with a few more yrs of bottle age.

Pairs well with the Jasper Hill Farms Limited Edition of their Champagne washed Harbison soft white. — 5 months ago

Yoly Sardinas

9.0

Anniversary ! — 9 months ago

Brandon Boesch

9.6

This was insanely good. So well balanced. Had with Thai food. — 2 months ago

Chris Zitzman

9.2

The color of the Cantina del Pino “Gallina” Barbaresco, swear it, is “ruby squared”. While initially the nose was surprisingly muted, a quick decant seemed to turn the key to much greater depth. Stewed red fruits lead to a ‘growingly’ remarkable palate of bot power as well as finesse. While the tannins are obvious, evident, and young- it seems with every minute that goes by it relaxes. While doing so, revealing layer after layer of evolution and new experience. Like a lot of other Barbarescos: please be patient. Doing so will only reward you. — 5 months ago

Dave Hoffman

9.0

40% Pinot Noir; 40% Gamay; 10% Chardonnay — 6 months ago

JKT

9.0

Again a surprisingly well aged and very lively and fancy texture. — 9 months ago