Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2009 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core and a burnished rim; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and plenty of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe black fruits: black plum, salmiakki, mixed flowers, some nail polish, blood, wild herbs, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. It’s been several years since my last 2009 Pagliaro and it certainly hasn’t lost any of its potency. A special wine from a special vineyard cared for by a special producer. Drink now with a decant through 2039-ish. Bottle No. 3815/9570 — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2017 Pipparello pours a garnet color with funky Montmorency cherry, red carnations, and balsamic notes. Wonderful structure and delicious with the quail. Drink now with patience through 2037. Bottle No. 642/9930 — 3 days ago

David White

9.3

Mid bright garnet colour with all sorts of aromas on nose and palate, cherry strawberry rosehip and very well balanced with long lingering finish — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2018 Rosso de Véo pours a deep garnet with wild dark fruit, high end dark dark chocolate cherry cordial, some VA giving it some balsamic notes. Sanguine with high tannin. Loving it with the pork ragu lasagnette made with semolina flour from the Bea farm. Drink now with patience, through 2038. Bottle No. 77/4626 — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2020 Lapideus pours a hazy straw color with notes of undigested hay, black lemon, Brachs butterscotch, white and yellow flowers, and some tarragon. The palate shows low+ tannin and acid works well with the halibut crudo. Drink now through 2035. Bottle No. 800/2610 — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The wines of Paolo and Giampiero Bea are very special to me and I am grateful to have enjoyed so many of them, over the years. However, the Passito is extremely rare and this is my first encounter. The 2011 pours a garnet color with a most interesting and attractive nose of Castelvetrano olives, dark cherry, salmiakki, and palo santo. I would categorize this as off-dry; certainly not sweet. There’s excellent structure too so that may play a role in my perception of sugar. Perhaps the profile varies from vintage to vintage however, if this is representative, I could see myself going well out of my way to drink this. Brilliant. Drink now through 2036. Bottle No. 1716/3699 — 19 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2015 Arboreus pours the color and cloudiness of urine after a 3 day bender with little hydration. Notes of bruised and battered Apple, dried stone fruit, white and yellow flowers, mushroom, damp hay, and nuts. Low tannin on the palate and good acid. Drink now through 2030+. Bottle No. 3505/11970 — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The The 2020 Santa Chiara appears a deep orange color with notes of marmalade, apricot, flowers, and varnish (VA). The palate shows low+ tannin and decent acid. Tasty, complex stuff as usual. A lovely pairing with gougère of prosciutto, green olive and honey. Drink now through 2030-ish. Bottle No. 2814/5940 — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2019 Cerrete is a veritable abyss: deep, dark, dense and mysterious. Dark cherry, licorice, blood and sneaky high tannin. So young. I thought this worked well with the venison. Almost impossible to believe this is 15.5%; everything is so balanced. Drink now through 2049. Bottle No. 161/9639 — 2 days ago

Zach D

9.3

moderately complex with sweet Nebbiolo fruit; still somewhat primary; last vintage of this site that was farmed by them since 1985; 14 percent abv. Kland’s bday — 25 days ago