Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

vintage 2022 | dark with cardinal-red rim, plum compote, bountiful, morello cherries, enchantingly beautiful, elegance, the lightfooted power of a ballet dancer — 8 minutes ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 1 and 2. The 2012 Riserva pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, Pu-er tea, porchini, leather, cigar box, old wood, dried green herbs and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and delicious. A brilliant example of 2012 BdM Riserva. Drink now through 2037.. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened sometime before service; enjoyed in the company of Natalie Oliveros. The 2008 Brunello pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and showing some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and beautifully perfumed with notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, dried red flowers, Pu-erh tea, cigar box, porcini mushrooms, dried green herbs and dry gravelly 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 in a fabulous spot and another example proving that the 2008 vintage from Brunello is squarely in its glow up phase. Drink now. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2016 Villero 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 powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, fresh roses, tar, orange curaçao, talcum powder, dried green herbs, and 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 long and slightly savory. Villero is one of those MGA‘s that will show well young and this was no exception. While other 2016’s might still be locked down, this was full of pleasure. With this much balance, there’s a long life yet ahead. Drink now through 2066+. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened a few hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of an hour alongside the 1999 Bartolo. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, dried roses, tar, truffle, old wood, dried green herbs, and dry 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 long and savory. Lovely stuff. Compared to the ‘99, this leans a touch more on the elegant side. Delicious with controfiletto di wagyu Drink now with patience through 2048. — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2019 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 ripe and tart red fruits: strawberry, raspberry, Morello cherry, roses, dried green herbs, and gravely earth. On the palate the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. From one of the lesser known Conterno’s…but still quite lovely. Drink now through 2039 — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2017 “Lazzarito” 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 ripe notes of mostly red fruit; Morello cherry, raspberry’s and absolutely loaded with alpine herbs, almost like Campari and roses. There is truffle, talcum powder, and some tar for good measure. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Among one of the better 2017 Barolo’s I’ve had. Drink now through 2042+. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 Uvaggio pours a deep ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with charming notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, Alpine herbs, a kiss of warm spices and inorganic minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Another very attractive vintage of Uvaggio. Great with lamb shank and polenta. Drink now through 2036. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2009 Cerretta pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and a significant amount of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried fruits: Morello cherry, desiccated strawberry, tar, truffles, espresso, well oiled leather, cedar and organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is an intense representation of a solar vintage that probably would appreciate more air than I gave it. In the future, I would decant for sediment and allow more time to track the wine’s development throughout the evening. A lovely expression of 2009 Barolo entering into its fully mature window. Drink now through 2039. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 Riserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, red flowers, old wood, dried green herbs and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. A young, taught Monsanto CCR and I believe this will open with some more time on its side. Drink now if you must but better after 2031 and through 2046. — 5 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2015 | morello cherries in smell, for me always a hint to Syrah. Juicy, good balance. The swallow factor while tasting… Very good. — 9 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened a couple of hours before service. The 2001 “Rabaja” pours a garnet color with a translucent core and fairly significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated, red fruit: Morello cherry, dried red flowers, truffle, old leather bound books, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and a pleasant blend of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where there’s a bit of a Maillard reaction with the fruit showing a touch more stewed. The finish is medium+. Drink now after a couple hours in the decanter but should drink well through 2031. — 10 months ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Day 1 took a couple of hours to really start showing its best (though the quality was obvious). Day 2, it was much more open. The 2021 Margheria pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of fresh raspberries, tiny forest strawberries, Morello cherry (especially on Day 2), tar, rosebushes, fresh sage, talcum powder and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose; the fruit showed more ripeness on Day 2. The finish is long, loaded with minerals and very savory! Considering the amount of air this enjoyed, I expect a long life of enjoyment. You can drink now with patience but this will be better after 2031 and through 2061+ — a year ago

Barny

9.4

Morello Cherries, spice, mouth filling — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, red flowers, orange zest, some tar, talcum powder, dried herbs and dry, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is about as sapid of a young Classico I’ve had from Produttori. It’s a bold wine right now but some time on its side will bring more into balance. Drink now with some patience through 2051. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened sometime before service; enjoyed in the company of Natalie Oliveros. The 2015 Brunello Riserva pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, red flowers, black tea, tobacco, some varnished wood, dried green herbs and dry gravelly 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 was a lovely pairing with venison. Drink now through 2045. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2017 Rio Sordo pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and loads of chunky sediment towards the bottom. On the nose, the wine is developing with solar notes of Morello cherry, pomegranate, tar, roses, dried green herbs, old wood and dry 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 long. These 2017 Riserva’s are already showing really well…sneaky good. Drink now with some patience and through 2047+. Bottle No. 00952/10000 — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2021 Classico 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 beautiful notes of ripe Morello cherry, raspberry, tart forest strawberry’s, a whole bouquet of roses, hibiscus, saltwater taffy, tar, assorted green herbs, old wood and dry dusty earth. After about an hour or so, pomegranate enters the chat. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. These are early days but I’m really excited to track how these evolve with time. Drink now through 2051. — 9 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2019 | opaque morello cherries warm smell and roundness in taste, a very good effort — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.4

This is Renato Molino’s classico/annata which sources fruit from Rocche dell’Annunziata and prime holdings in Villero.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Lovely on Day 1; better on Day 2. The 2018 annata pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of Morello cherry, kirsch liqueur, red roses, talcum powder, dried green herbs, red rope licorice, a mix of exotic spices, a whiff of old varnished wood (yes, there’s a touch of VA), and dried gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose and there’s also a Dr. Pepper Cherry thing that’s really intriguing. The finish is long, juicy and delicious and there’s beautiful texture too! This is up there with the best 2018 annata/classico I’ve had to-date. Impressive stuff. Drink now through 2053. — a year ago