Jay Kline

9.5

First, the Gentaz and now, Verset?! Be still my beating heart! Noël Verset is a freaking legend. His first vintage was during the period of peace between the first and second world war which means, for most of his career, Cornas was a tough place to make a living making wine. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that things began to turn around and by that time, Noël was in his 70’s. Talk about perseverance. By the time he made this 1996 vintage, he had already started selling off some of his vineyards and by 2006, he was done making wine altogether. 

And this 1996? It is lighter in color than the other wines in the Cornas line-up; almost a pale garnet with a transparent core. The nose is just crazy. I just wanted to smell it for the rest of the night. Wild mixed berries, dried purple flowers, garrigue, tobacco, and coffee. This was a Cornas of elegance and thinner on the palate relative to the Allemand and Clape. Long finish. Divine with venison, umami bomb, potato and pearl onion. Drinking very well now and could hold for longer but why? — 8 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.3

A difficult vintage. Made by a master. Rest In Peace Lionel.

Nose is swirling cherry and cherry licorice.

Palate is red and bLack cherries. Cherry cough syrup some bitterness

This peaked 7 years ago but still a lovely drink. — 2 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.3

Vintage 2012 | Xarel-lo, Macabeu. 91 months sur lie. Pinnacle of purity. Finesse. I drink this Cava to memorize my youngest uncle Frans who passed away last week in Spain. My parents went on holiday to Spain in the seventies; where I got caught with passion for wine. Rest In Peace. — 3 years ago

Julia Craig

8.9

Surprising nice. Easy drinking and goes down really well — 4 years ago

Will Stanley

9.4

My second time with one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from the 2019 vintage, this time Les Cruzelles from Lalande-de-Pomerol. This is absolutely stunning from the get-go, open for business and leaping from the glass with dense, polished black fruit, plum, fig, liquorice and pencil shavings. I’m sniffing this for ages, and it reminds me of Glenelly’s Lady May, one of South Africa’s finest Bordeaux blends - such is its utter purity, glossy fruit and dense aromatics. The palate is saturated, large but balanced, with immaculate tannins and great length, and a wonderful medley of savoury cherry fruit with sweet tinges of toffee.This is astoundingly good, complex stuff, especially for the region and price point. I can’t wait to see how this ages. My best experience to date with Durantou, may he rest in peace.

94+ — a year ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.5

This 2012 is delicious it has a lot of dark red fruit and dark black fruit that’s with cherries so silky tannins and it’s just lovely to drink once it opens up there’s a little bit more tar and a little more mushrooms so I’d recommend if you have a 2012 vintage and your seller drink now or forever hold your peace — 2 years ago

Duane Mason

9.5

To Nick. Love you. Rest In Peace — 3 years ago

with Nick

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2021 | Peace is the greatest work of Art — 2 years ago

Rebekah Hobbs

10

2015 with peace employees after a crazy shift, well-worth it. Subtle spice and plum, super smooth with velvet tannins. — 2 years ago

Daniel P. Drake

9.8

Over the Easter weekend I opened for friends the 2015 Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Valley St. Helena, California a blend of 89%Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Other.

I let decant for at least an hour on the nose there was black cherry, blackberry, plum, black currant, cedar, spice, roses, crushed gravel and earth.

On the palate there was black cherry, blackberry, blueberry, black currant, licorice, mint, sandalwood, crushed gravel and earth.

This wine was rated 100 by both Jeb Dunnick and Wine Advocate whom I respect highly and can totally understand their exuberance for this wine but I couldn't make it quite there. I found that this is full bodied with a freshness and smooth mouthfeel medium + to high acidity and medium + high grainy crunchy tannins that gives a beautiful long dark fruit gravelly earthy finish. An eceptional wine by any means and I am glad to have a few more at rest in my cellar for this wine has many years to continue to develop. Our Easter weekend was one of excitement and exuberance where we had a baby shower on Saturday for our daughter who is expecting the last week of May first week of June which will be our second grandchild. Easter day we spent with family and friends which the day was spectacular. I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend and I wish everyone a wonderful week ahead. Please stay safe and healthy with peace to all. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 — 3 years ago