Alex Mutch

9.0

juicy red fruit, a little funk, dry earthy finish — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Poured into a decanter about 30 minutes prior to service. The 2015 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of red currants, Morello Cherry, mixed brambles, red and purple flowers, tobacco, black tea, iron rich earth, subtle cool and 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 is phenomenal and has me asking myself, “why don’t I seek out more Grattamacco?” Wow. Obviously a winner with lasagna. Drink now with some patience and through 2045. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Both days outstanding but slightly different experiences. Day 1 was about power. Day 2 was about balance. The 2020 “Cuvée Réservée” pours a brilliant garnet with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady, slightly funky notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, red & purple flowers, bacon fat, licorice, and dry rocky earth. On Day 2, everything was more open nit and the fruit showed more bruised with a slightly stewed profile. Lavender was the predominate floral profile too. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is textbook Pégau and I love it. Drink now through 2045+ — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed alongside the 2020 “Le Geynale” by Vincent Paris, over the course of a couple hours. The 2020 pours a deep ruby/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is developing with blackberries, black plum, fig, lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, Gaeta olive, dried green 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 long and sanguine. Compared to the Vincent Paris, this was slightly less perfumed, missing some of the high notes from “Le Geynale”. However, this had the base and blood of Chaillot, from which 100% of the fruit is sourced. Outstanding. Drink now through 2050. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured into a decanter for about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 RTW CCC pours a deep ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of mixed brambles, purple flowers, Fig Newtons, black pepper, dried green herbs, and silica rich, 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+ and comes across like laser cut steel. Drink now with patience through 2038. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2013 pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and a rusty brown rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with desiccated dark fruit, salmiakki, leather, espresso, and a Maillard reaction thing. On the palate, the wine is dry it’s high tannin and medium acid at best…probably medium-. The finish is medium. Drink now. — 17 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2017 Caravina pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of cassis, blackberries, plum, tobacco, violets, cocoa, well-oiled leather baseball glove, Poblano pepper, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long and ashy. It’s been almost 5 years since my last 2017 and I’m just as excited about it today as I was back then. Drink now with some patience through 2037. — 25 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 (S) pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, Bing cherry, red and purple flowers, red rope licorice, rocky earth and cool spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This vintage of Lapierre shows the warmth of the vintage and oozes generosity. In some ways, this reminds me of the 2015 vintage. Drink now through 2033+. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2019 pours a dull ruby color with a slight brownish tinge; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe strawberry, raspberry, watermelon, pomegranate, mushroom, and gravel. 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 fantastic and squarely in the zone. Drink now though, it’s not going to fall off a cliff on the next couple years. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2023 Lodi pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lifted notes of fresh brambles, licorice, mixed floral bouquet, exotic spices and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and has a really spicy quality to it. Really solid stuff but super fresh and patience will be required to enjoy the best from this vintage. Better after 2028 and through 2038. — a month ago