Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of wild raspberries, Morello cherry, freshly cut roses, cedar chest, orange zest, alpine herbs and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is really beautiful stuff. The nose alone positively slays. Drink now through 2041. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.4

It’s been a couple years since I last enjoyed the 1996 and based off this experience, it’s continuing to age gracefully.

Double decanted the night before. The wine pours a garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, kirsch, purple flowers, tobacco, dried herbs, green pepper, old wood and gravelly earthy. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and sanguine. So much soul, it could make Marvin Gaye blush. Drink now with patience (and a long decant) through 2041. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 5 months ago

Zach D

9.7

Quite simply one of the best Nebbiolo’s I have ever had. The nose is explosive; super fragrant rose petal, dried strawberry, some cranberry, various crunchy red fruits. Tar, leather, forest floor, porcini mushroom, leather. Palate with concentrated dried strawberry, cranberry, soft tannins, dried fruit, integrated acidity, no alcoholic heat, lengthy finish. Complex. Most ratings I have seen are in the 89-93 range; for me this is much higher, and in the perfect place for consumption as it has a great balance of primary fruit and tertiary aged character.
@Lyle Fass — a year ago

ESF

9.2

@Lyle Fass is spot on w/this wine — just fantastic and approachable price point. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I’ve been wanting to try the wines of Cantina Tomaso Gianolio for years but finding them on this side of the Atlantic has been a challenge. As of now, I don’t know much about where Davide and Igor Gianolio source their fruit but the family has been making these wines in a traditional manner for over 90 years so I’m sure the source is exceptional. So traditional, even the cork is short and stubby, lol!

Popped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Consistent throughout. The 2019 pours a light garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and tar forward early but it quickly transforms into a veritable beauty with notes of raspberries, rose water, tar, star anise, talcum powder, and dry, stony earth. On the palate, the with is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Elegant and lovely expression of the 2019 vintage. Drink now with patience and through 2044 (if the cork will keep that long). Huge thanks to @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 2 years ago

ESF

9.2

Really impressed with this stuff - reminded me of Chouet’s Femelottes a bit, but this was rounder, much more lush mouthfeel. Golden apples & crunchy minerals, some orchard fruit, bit of paraffin, leesy, but for me it was the absolutely gorgeous mid-palate, opulent and impressive length on finish. This over delivers - bravo @Lyle Fass — 4 years ago

boyd

9.4

Super good. @Lyle Fass description is pretty spot on. — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of ripe and tart, mixed brambles, blueberries, figs, lavender, a touch of animale, black pepper, rocky earth and fine, warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium(?) tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This seemed to get younger the longer it was exposed to air. The Benjamin Button of wine, lol. Might even rate it higher down the road. Lovely with kofta on a Thursday. Drink now through 2045+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 months ago

Zach D

9.5

My first of the 2023’s. Really spectacular. Pours a medium yellow with some viscosity. On the nose such purity. Lemon pith, white flowers, mixed citrus, high toned and pure, the palate is silky like crème brûlée but with a lightness; beautiful oak framing. I think I’m a Brissett junky. The winemaking highlights everything I love about Chardonnay. @Lyle Fass — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened about an hour before service and poured into a decanter; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2014 Sozet pours a deep garnet with a purple tinge and a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart, ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: mashed mixed brambles and blueberries, cherry compote, Tootsie Roll©️, mocha, lavender, black pepper, a whiff of beef jerky, dried green herbs, old wood and rocky granitic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An utterly fascinating Cornas; remarkable in its unique character. It’s feral but in a different way than I’m used to. One of those wines you don’t know what to think of in the moment and then days pass and you’re still thinking about it. Hard to say if the structure is adequate for long term cellaring. Drink now through 2034? Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a year ago

ESF

9.0

Great value, in a great drinking window - see all other comments. A @Lyle Fass find — 2 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

Someone beat me to taste this from the bottle. Had 2021 from barrel and predicted it would be a stellar vintage. Well this estate wine is delicious. Cherries galore, lime, plenty of acidity but not over the top. Well balanced. Very burgundian. Yet it retains this slope of the black forest terroir. Strikes me as a drink now wine. Arrived today at 11am. Lyle will kill me for not allowing the wine to rest. I might try the big boys in the next couple of weeks. Can’t wait. Great wines in my book can withstand the shipping journey with ease. It’s a badge of honor. 11.5%. With air 9.4. — 3 years ago

Josh Morgenthau

9.6

This is simply an intense, masterful, delicious bottle. High tone, with an intricate and developing nose of rose water, amaretto, fresh sawdust, rock dust, and white pepper. Palate is intense with long deep juicy red cherry feel, and powerfully grippy but finessed tannins. Rounds out with tar and crushed granite, and a long building finish. Sheesh @Lyle Fass — 4 years ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.5

German Syrah? Global warming at its finest - Ziereisen is just a genius. Second and last bottle. Cote Rotie like. Could go for another 6 years or so. 13%. Dark and brooding. Hint cherry, touch blueberry, lime - very astringent. I can’t really top Lyle Fass’s notes. Needs about 6-12 hours of air. Grown on limestone close to the swiss and french borders „dreiländereck“ in Baden one of the most interesting wine regions out there. No funk here - clean! — 3 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

Lyle was a little winded on this one - but I agree a stunning wine. 13.5%. Pretty dark for a Pinot. Cherry and hint 🫆 of blackberry. More in a sec. ——- perhaps touch of blueberry. Well balanced with good acidity. Very fresh and bright…not earthy at this point. Could go for another 5?years or so. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2020 pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red roses, talcum powder, strawberry and raspberry cream, wood varnish, green herbs and dried gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and savory. Drink now through 2040.

These gotta be some of the best values left in Barolo. It’s probably worth noting that I had been wanting to try the wines from Tomaso Gianolio for many years however, distribution was almost non-existent. Thanks for changing all that @Lyle Fass — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Apropos, the vines for “La Chapelle” are adjacent to the chapel perched at the very top of the Mont Brouilly where it is quite dry and the soil is very poor. The vineyard is also remarkably steep making manual harvest essential.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Fairly consistent throughout but I felt it was most enjoyable on Day 2 and 3. The 2022 “La Chapelle” pours a deep ruby/purple color; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful and fresh with beautiful notes of tart blackberries, red plum, wet stone, a combination of red and purple flowers, licorice, dried green herbs, some wood varnish. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and has a stiff spine of minerals. This is a cerebral wine compared to “Godefroy” (which is almost quaffable in comparison). Drinking well now to enjoy its freshness but will undoubtedly drink well through 2037+. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 years ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.1

Super funky but not annoyingly so. Smoky on nose. I’ll leave the rest of the descriptors to Lyle. I don’t know that many words. :) I like it v much. PS info see the taurasi and crozes references here. — 3 years ago

Steve Anderson

9.2

At Galopin in Annecy, a few days after tasting/buying the 2022 at the Domaine in the Isère subregion of Savoie. Rare grape, only about 12 hectares planted worldwide. Nice lemon profile with a bit of mineral and saline, and good acidity. Enjoyed it quite a bit! Also have a few bottles of the ‘21 via @Lyle Fass that I have not tried yet. — 3 years ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

9.1

What Lyle said. I so very much like this wine. — 5 years ago