Pooneet K

9.3

Last had 4 years ago and was excited to check in - this didn’t disappoint. That perfect ridge mix of old world sensibility and composition with new world fruit and character. 13.8%. Finish is long with nice acid. Great pairing with steaks. Nice wine.

Happy New Year! — 20 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of black cherry, espresso, black tea, dried herbs and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Drink now with patience but, to my palate, I think this will be better with a few more years in the cellar so the oak can better integrate. This is built to last well past 2041. — 16 days ago

Irina Georgieva

9.2

Nice wine, well rounded and fruity, good taste — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and no obvious signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some dried fruits: bramble berries, slightly stewed black cherry, dried herbs, stony earth, baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The alcohol is high.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Grenache-based blend, Corvina-based blend or Sangiovese-based blend from France or Italy. I felt the combination of slightly stewed cherry and spices ruled out what I would want from a Sangiovese blend. Which, left me to decide between Southern Rhône or Valpolicella. I liked this wine…the oak treatment was interesting. I was getting a French barrique. Hmmm…

So, for my final conclusion: I’m calling this a Grenache-based blend, from France, from Southern Rhône, from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2017, from a more modern leaning producer using a good portion of barrique. I’ll be damned! I don’t hate my call but I gotta get better at distinguishing these wines from Southern Rhône. I probably just need to drink more of both, lol. Tasty stuff! Drink now through 2039. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened a few hours prior to service and enjoyed with dinner over the course of a couple hours. The 2001 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with notes of Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, oolong tea, leather, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. The Il Marroneto only gained power with time. Looking back on my notes, the last time I had the 2001 Classico was nearly ten years ago (and I had enjoyed it a few times before that). Since then, I’ve learned a lot about the aging arc of Sangiovese and those experiences were just entering the early drinking window for the 2001 Il Marroneto. This is where I really like them. Drink now with patience and plenty of air and through 2036. Bottle No. 6064 — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

This bottled was purchased at the estate last year; double-decanted earlier in the day and enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 1982 “Il Poggio” Riserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried Morello cherry, red rope licorice, my grandmother’s attic, old leather bound books and dry, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with ferrous minerals. What a lovely, mature Riserva and killer with mushroom risotto. I wouldn’t worry about this dropping off a cliff anytime soon but this is ready to drink now through 2037+ — a month ago

David Peifer

9.4

Delicious cab. Aged nicely. Paired well with our slow cooked beef. — a month ago

Will Stanley

9.2

Second time trying this from the 2015 vintage, first enjoyed five years ago. This was my Christmas Day wine, when it’s always hard to really appreciate or concentrate on a wine what with everything else going on! I ordinarily go for familiar favourites from the Rhône, or aged Bordeaux. Anyway, this Brunello was still super macho, austere and in need of either more time in bottle or some very rustic, Tuscan food. Or both! — 20 days ago

Ericsson

9.7

Yes—exactly that kind of wine: timeless, composed, and quietly authoritative.

It smells so good on first pour. Damp pine forest floor and clean mountain air register immediately. Everything else unravels from there; but that initial pop-and-pour sniff is pure magic.

On the palate, blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and dried herbs unfold with control, carried by freshness and finely etched tannins in a medium body.

So classic, so intellectual, and deeply mesmerizing. Drink now or age. — 25 days ago

Iwan

9.5

An icon for a reason. Exactly what you want from a California Cab. Balanced yet bold, powerful yet refined. Amazing. — a month ago