Matthew Cohen

9.4

Old Nebbiolo will make you cry. Either because it’s no good or because it’s so amazing it’s life changing. Fortunately tonight is category two. This has the texture of very good burgundy. Sweet sweet cherry fruit. A hint of spice. Nicely dense. Nose has cherry flowers and pine. Has at least another ten years ahead of it.

As this opens more dense cherry liquor. Crazy palate coat. Just a cherry Nuke bomb. Internal aromatics are sweet rose juice. Some rose on the nose.

Bought from fass selections. — 5 days ago

Mark Flesher

9.1

Not bad for a budget Barbaresco. Dark pour. Nose of rose petal and a hint of iodine and Italian herbs with dark dusty red fruits. Entry of this wine is a bit more acidic than I thought it would be. Black cherry, hint of cola, hint of anise. Middle is more terroir-driven. Finishes with black cherry fruit, green olive, tobacco leaf, black tea, truffle. Round character but honestly quite a bit of stiff oak tannin still present that dried the tongue. Impressed. I was honestly expecting this wine to be much lighter, more raspberry and cherry notes. At the price paid, this is honestly quite a steal. You can hold this, but I don't think anymore time in bottle is going to help all that much. — 2 days ago

Aaron Tan

9.3

I had eschewed buying Roagna's for a long time due to brett problems but clearly I made a mistake, because the two bottles I had recently were phenomenal! This 11' Paje was incredibly elegant, especially when you factor in the vintage. The nose is so enticing, with red cherries, plum, licorice, earth, dried roses, and menthol. The palate just oozes sexiness. The clarity is stellar, with a real generosity that just pulls you in, and wild state that adds a little intrigue. Plush red and black fruits, orange oil, herbs, spices, minerals, and some animale hints. The acidity is excellent, driving a long finish. Very fine-grained tannin and even discrete when compared to the 96' Pira Riserva I had a couple of weeks ago. This is really young, but I think the vintage does give it a sort of mellowed approachability at the moment (at least versus the 96' again, although certainly showing less density). Really starting to fall in love with this producer ♥️ — 8 days ago

Meredith Hu

9.2

Leather, tobacco, tar, clove, sanguine characters, balsamic oil. Sour cherry, salinity, and sanguine overflows the palate. Elevated acidity. Diminished tannins. — 6 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

This is a little past our 4 year anniversary of our visit there. Now, even if you are a professional, to visit, you need to make a $200 per person donation to their charity to visit.

Tonight, our pizza wine. One might want a more special occasion! For us, it’s an Italian Anniversary and close to the end of our outdoor season. So, it is a celebration! This is the last weekend of 80 plus degree daytime weather. We have 3-4 weeks before it starts raining.

The nose reveals, candied, ruby, stewed fruits of; blackberries, dark, sweet & sour, dark cherries, slightly roasted strawberries, dark currants & dark raisins. Limestone minerals, dark, rich, turned, black earth, dry crushed rocks, soft, sweet tarriness, some black licorice, leather, soft woodiness, chewy, salted, caramel, mocha, vanilla, dry brush with candied, floral, red, purple and blue florals.

The body is; full, ruby, ripe & juicy. The tension & structure are firm the length & balance are nearing its peak. Candied, ruby, stewed fruits of; blackberries, dark, sweet & sour, dark cherries, slightly roasted strawberries, dar currants, dates & dark raisins. Sucking on limestone minerals, sandstone, anise, dark, rich, turned, black earth, dry crushed rocks, soft, sweet dark, tarriness, some black licorice, leather, soft woodiness, chewy, salted, caramel, mocha, vanilla, dry brush with candied, floral, red, purple and blue florals. The acidity is round and near perfect. The long, ruby, slightly, tarry, ruby, rich, well balanced finish persists endlessly.

The 01 still has another 15-20 years plus of good drinking ahead.

Photos of; pizza night in the D&S Lounge. — 8 days ago

Aaron Tan

9.7

The 96' Riserva Pira had my nose stuck in the glass the whole time. I just couldn't get enough of the incredible bouquet. Even the tail ends were intoxicating. Ahhh!!! Full-on rose petals, violet, plums, dried cherries, blueberries, tar, spices (cinnamon and clove especially), undergrowth, tabacco leaf, and balsamic tones. So complex and lifted. It's just ahhh and ahhhhhhhh again and again as this wine bombarded the olfacotry system. On the other hand, the palate was quite stubborn at the start, but eventually gave way to some sweet fruit notes of fresh cherries and plums, plus hints of stoney minerality at the end. It's thick and dense, with firm but well-honed tannins and ample acidity. So fresh and young that it just begs for time, but how can one resist the beautiful smells right now. Probably the best nebbiolo I've had in a while. — 9 days ago

Tom Casagrande

8.9

This Nebbiolo emphasizes terroir rather than fruit. The nose is showing secondary notes that lead with intense crushed-rock laden gravel and old mahogany furniture scents, with only a wee bit of cherry fruit peeking through. Intense and very minerally in the mouth, this still has some tannin to burn. The finish is remarkably long and a tad bitter. Quite unique and atypical but still very good. Needs rich, rustic food. — 5 days ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

The nose reveals; sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, dark chocolate, limestone minerals, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

The body is still firm, thick, grainy and full. The structure, tension are still tight. The length and balance are working their way into adolescence. Sweet & sour dark cherries, deeply, ripe & juicy strawberries, black raspberries, juicy, black plum, rhubarb & cranberry crossing, plum liqueur, blackberries, blueberries, candied raspberries, caramel, clove, touch of nutmeg, vanilla, dark chocolate, semi-sweet tarriness, understated herbaceousiness, limestone minerals, powdery sandstone leather, dry tobacco, saddle-wood to cedar plank, dark spice, sandstone, anise to black licorice, dry, crushed rocks with blue, red, dark, fresh & withering florals with fields of violets.

It’s still a youthful wine with another 10-15 years ahead.

Photos of; the hilltop town of Barbaresco with the Produttori tasting room underneath and right of the tower, the Produttori tasting room and the co-op of Produttori. Third largest in Europe. — 2 days ago

Willie Carter

9.0

A medium garnet color with a wide rim. Classic Barbaresco nose of dried roses, cherries, and dark chocolate. Absolutely gorgeous on the nose. This is one of those producers where you just know that it’s going to be good. A fuller bodied Nebbiolo that’s dancing gracefully at the moment. Ripe tannins that do need a bit of air before the fruit can be fully uncovered. Silky smooth on the tongue and just plain delectable. Touches of leather and dried herbs to go along with the oak, stewed plums, and more cherries on the palate. Chocolate mousse and tobacco follow on the long finish. This can definitely hold up a for several more years but I wouldn’t blame you for opening now. — 15 hours ago

Willie Carter

9.2

A pretty light purple color with a wide ruby rim. Vintage after vintage, this is about as consistent of a wine as I’ve found. It’s an odd blend, Nebbiolo doesn’t really need help but the Merlot and Cab do add body. On the nose, the fragrant red fruit is supplemented by sagebrush, cigar smoke, and dried roses. Well integrated tannins and very pleasant acidity. Beautifully structured and a very nice level of complexity. It takes time for all of the secondary characteristics to show but it’s more than worth the wait. The palate follows the nose with more smoke and roses. Lively cherries, tobacco, and exotic spices round things out. Not nearly as austere as the Italians that I usually love but this is still a fantastic Nebbiolo. — 8 days ago