Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Another solid vintage of this Teroldego (90%) Syrah (10%) blend. Purple/ruby color with a dark core. Fragrant aromas of jammy black and blue fruit, dark cocoa and black pepper. Flavors of black berry/plum/raspberry fruit, blueberries, black licorice and fresh herbs. Long lasting and very earthy finish. Medium bodied and bright acidity. Slightly chewy (well integrated) tannins and relatively low (12.5%) alcohol. Nicely complex and well structured. Much riper tasting (probably warmer) vintage than in prior years. Such excellent quality for the price. Thanks for the taste, Chris B! — 2 days ago

Tom Garland

9.0

Pop and pour a glass (decanted remaining for sediment). An arresting medium tawny color. On the nose: delicate perfumed nose of red fruit, funky barnyard, herbaceous, wet soil, worn leather. Taste: a smooth, slightly creamy, silky wine with dried red plum/prunes, earth, baking spice, old leather, cigar ash, and dried herbs with a quick medium finish. What a treat to try this 75 year old 5th growth that is still just hanging on for dear life! WOW! — 2 years ago

with Brenda

Mike Saviage

9.2

Night two at Bern’s. We’re going for some incremental age tonight. Chosen for its good color, despite a low fill. Reddish tawny color, a bit cloudy, and has a high pitched nose at first. Notes of red fruit, cedar and cranberries initially. With more air, the nose settles down to show more Bordeaux character including dusty earth, wood desk and gravel stone. This blossomed after 30 or so minutes, then began to decline. At peak it had a 95 point nose. Overall it was a great experience. — 3 years ago

Bill Mowry

9.1

Leather, tobacco, black and red fruit. Low alcohol and easy drinking. — 4 years ago

with Amelia and Lou

Willie Carter

9.1

A really attractive medium ruby in the glass with thin, purple edges. Right out of the gate, you can smell the stemmy character of the wine. Plenty of herbs and characteristic Pinot underbrush happening here. Really pretty floral notes come in and really take things to a new level. Red cherries, raspberries, and muted wild strawberries. A nice bit of spice and smoke wafts from the glass after a little air. On day 2, this holds up quite well with a little light chocolate and more expressive fruit.

100% whole cluster fruit and tiny production. Medium bodied and all natural in every way. Purity of fruit is high here and this is a very terroir driven Pinot. Blessedly low alcohol at 13.5 and showing nice balance at this age, even though this is definitely one to cellar. The palate follows the nose with fresh red fruit and spice up front. More savory notes come through as it grows in the glass. One of my favorite Pinots of this year, easily.
— 5 years ago

Blake Walker

9.1

From Envinate. Juicy red fruit, bright acidity, medium bodied, herbal notes, with mild pepper finish. Garnacha tintorera (Alicante bouchette), 70%. Moravia Agria (high acid, low alcohol blending grape), 30%. Near Castilla-La Mancha . — 7 years ago

Spencer Dodd

9.1

4th bottle of this year. Once again don’t know why it’s rated so low. This Beaujolais has a fantastic combination of being an approachable Beaujolais but also having artisanal elements that will make true wine aficionados enjoy it. Sometimes when you get a great funky Beaujolais people who aren’t big into wine don’t “get it”. With this wine you get the joy of Beaujolais and enough structure to keep you happy. Moderately large for a Beaujolais but with some drier fruit notes at the end. I have rated this before if you want specific notes — 7 years ago

with Daniel, Jen and 1 other

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Another solid vintage. Beautiful golden color. Aromas of stone fruit, honey and white flowers. Fruit salad flavors of peach, pear, apricot, nectarine and a bit of tropical fruit. A rich honey/beeswax note on the long finish. Silky/oily texture with low acidity. (Wine is still nicely balanced.) Quite vibrant and succulent with a lovely creamy structure. Solid value for Condrieu. Aged quite well. — 3 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.3

Delicious and drinking beautifully right now. Nose is a beautiful amalgam of dark red fruit and classic Mourvèdre tree bark, along with dry loamy scents. Deep and rich in the mouth, but the balance is impeccable. Loads of very soft tannin cling the flavors to the mouth. Acids are medium low but enough to balance. Very nice. — a year ago

Clay Atwood

9.0

Definitely a cab with good tannins. Nose of plum and leather. Dry forward flavors with a little tartness. Middle flavors are tart cherries with nice tannins. A bit lacking in the after flavors leaving me hanging a bit. Overall a good wine but could have a little fruit in the front/ middle flavors and more lingering flavor in the end. — 2 years ago

Douglas Braun

8.9

2019 Vintage -surprisingly good for a $16 /wine earthy berry fruit , holiday spice (nutmeg, clove) medium low tannins — 4 years ago

Frank Soldano

9.9

WOW, what a pleasant surprise! We received this wine as a gift, so we did not expect much. We were wrong, wonderful wine. Thick long lasting legs. Deep dense color. Wonderful nose, rich with plum, prune oaks and very fruit forward. Lots of flavor. The plum/prune notes were wonderful. Very smooth with lite oak notes on the finish. Very low tannins. Loved it! — 5 years ago

Michelle M

9.0

Clear, deep purple wine with thin legs, cooked red fruit (cherry and plum) and notes of vanilla, mushroom, leather on the nose. Medium-light bodied mouthfeel, medium-low acidity with stewed red fruit and hints of vanilla with a light but medium-long finish. Not super complex but well balanced, fresh and fruity. Probably would go well with oily fish, sautéed mushrooms, creamy tomato sauces. — 5 years ago

Tom Garland

9.2

Double decant (lots of fine sediment). Taking the time machine back to 1990! Still a glorious dark red with some slight bricking on the edge. On the nose: red fruit, earthy, plum, and slight barn yard funk (which I luv). Taste: red fruit, plum, smokey, floral, currants, sweet still there tannins...low acidity and medium finish....took a chance buying a few bottles and drinking really well! Glad I did. — 7 years ago

with Brenda

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Barba – i Vasari “Old Vines” Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC – 2022
Abruzzo, Italy 🇮🇹

Overview
From one of Abruzzo’s most respected family producers, the Barba i Vasari Old Vines embodies the soulful depth of mature Montepulciano vineyards. Crafted from low-yielding old vines rooted in clay-limestone soils, this DOC wine bridges intensity and elegance, a fine showcase of what Abruzzo can achieve when tradition meets restraint.

Aromas & Flavors
Dark cherries, black plum, and crushed violets lead the way, followed by nuances of black pepper, cocoa, and a touch of sweet tobacco. Hints of dried herbs and vanilla complete the aromatic frame.

Mouthfeel
Medium to full-bodied, silky in texture yet structured with supple tannins. There’s a satisfying balance between ripe dark fruit and savory spice, culminating in a long, refined finish.

Food Pairings
Perfect with lasagna alla bolognese, grilled lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, or aged pecorino.

Verdict
A beautiful expression of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, intense yet approachable, generous but never overbearing. Old vines deliver concentration and charm in equal measure. Cheers!

Did You Know?
The “i Vasari” vineyards trace their origins to the 1700s and sit near Pescara, between the Adriatic Sea and the Apennines. This position brings cool coastal breezes that preserve acidity even in warmer years.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
A deliciously balanced Montepulciano that delivers both depth and drinkability. A genuine Italian gem I’d pour confidently for any gathering of Italian wine lovers. — 8 months ago

Paul J

9.0

Short decant. Amazed at the quality after seeing an almost black cork and a very low fill level. Wouldn’t be craving a glass, but for a wine this old it was consumable with a few in the party really enjoying it. Garnet, almost brown in color. Leather and stewed fruit dominate. — 2 years ago

with Steve and Brooke

Jayna Fontenot

9.8

Orange-pink color and has a delicate scent of flowers and red fruit. Soft, floral, low acid, minerals, and a nice finish. Love love love. Possibly my favorite rosé this year. — 4 years ago

Colin Cahoon

9.3

Very floral nose of rose, lavender, and honeysuckle. The palate features more floral notes (rose water and lavender), honey, lemon, pear nectar, Asian pear, quince, gunpowder, minerals, and star fruit. Medium low alcohol and high acid. So much going on. — 4 years ago

with Susan

Tom Garland

9.2

3 hour decant(decent chunky/cloudy sediment). Checking in on the hyped 05 vintage! A phenomenal dark ruby garnet color with little signs of aging. On the nose: Nice nose of red fruit, graphite, floral, crushed rocks, cedar, menthol, and toasty vanilla. Taste: smooth, dry full body wine with black fruit, leather, cassis, anise, earth, and a bitter chocolate dry long finish. Still a little austere with some firm tannnis hanging on wanting a few more years to soften. A better score to come???Hopefully!! — 5 years ago

with Brenda

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

It has been a little while since we have had Olivier’s 2014. It’s our last bottle of three and the honey notes have definitely deepened.

The nose shows; sweet & sour lemons, green & golden apple, lime zest-candy, ripe pineapple, green melon, apricots, white peach, gentle, warm, white spice, beautiful chalkiness, caramel, vanillin, honey, candle wax notes, sea spray-fossils, understated limestone & volcanic minerals, fruit blossoms, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers, jasmine with mixed flower greens.

The body is full, thick & slightly waxy. Nice viscosity. sweet & sour lemons, green & golden apple, lime zest-candy, overripe pineapple, green melon, apricots, white peach, grapefruit w/ a touch of sugar, gentle, warm, white spice, beautiful, powdery, chalkiness, caramel, vanillin, honey, candle wax notes, light butter & cream quality, fresh herbaceousiness, sea spray-fossils, understated limestone & grainy, grey, volcanic minerals, light sulphur/flintiness, fruit blossoms, yellow flowers/lilies, spring flowers, jasmine with mixed flower greens. The acidity is round/phat...really well done. The nice finish glides gently with elegance, good balance, just hits the low end of rich & lush and depositing soft, powdery minerals as it long sets.

Photos of; Domaine Hubert Lamy, the road sign that lets you know your in St. Aubin, Winemaker-Olivier Lamy and their Domaine branding. — 6 years ago