Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. Although this is Godello from Bierzo, this was meant to be a fun counter example to Sketch which is arguably a bit unique when it comes to Raul Pérez’s typical style. The 2020 “La Claudina” pours a deeper straw color with notes of lemons, grapefruit, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts (yeah, it’s definitely more in the oxidative style) and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and saline with a slightly sherried, creamy texture. Charming stuff and definitely something I would like to track over time. Enjoy now through 2035. — 6 months ago

Jim McCusker

9.4

John Alban’s flagship wine in my opinion, the 2009 Seymour’s is on a much faster evolutionary track than is typical of this cuvee. Usually with the Seymour’s you can expect it to start getting approachable around 8-10 years out, but this one is clearly in the middle-late part of its life. Still has a lot of development ahead of it, but much of the tannic backbone has faded away, so the wine is drinking well immediately upon opening. The nose is more on the elegant side for a Seymour’s that’s this young. Definitely evolved in the glass over the course of an hour or two, and was beautifully balanced throughout. Still, if you have this vintage I’d be careful about forgetting about it on a time scale you typically would for Seymour’s. Enjoy it now or over the next few years. — 4 years ago

with Vanessa

Jay Kline

9.0

Tasted double-blind. The wine presented as dark ruby but one could see through it (this should have been my clue; but I ignored that). On the nose, bright red fruits, some baking spices, some vanilla...tasted like it had seen French barrique. On the palate, there was a sweet attack with candied cherries and baking spices. Medium, long finish. Good balance. Firm but not punishing tannins. Good acid. I thought this was a 2015 Merlot-based, right bank Bordeaux from a good producer. I was completely out of sorts with this wine and to be honest, I can’t really blame myself since I rarely drink modern Barolo. I should have eliminated Bordeaux varietals based off the color alone which would have probably put me on a better track. Anyway, this bottle lacked a lot of the characteristics I crave in more traditional Barolo but was a good enough wine in its own right...just not to my tastes. — 4 years ago

Rob Brobst III

9.5

This one is on the right track!!! — a year ago

Ron R

9.5

Back on track.
Paid $40 in NYC, and it’s worth every cent. Simple white wine stems cos we enjoy using them. Honeysuckle and citrus fruits on the nose and palate. Glorious way to mark the weekend with wifey. — 3 years ago

with Anne-marie

Severn Goodwin

9.5

Nose has ripe plum, mashed blackberries, dark chocolate powder, strawberry jam on leather, molasses, molasses cookies, wet soil, nutmeg and vanilla bean.

Palate has blackberry compote, black cherry reduction, partially dried plum, wet baking spice, wet+dry leather, dark chocolate shavings, (light) oak/vanilla influence remains. Extended finish, really starting to pick up incredibly at 3-4H in the decanter.

Paired with Allen Bros. ribcap (USDA Prime version) tonight, unfortunately our grill has a 4ft. snow drift in front presently so the best I can muster was a super hot cast iron pan from the oven, then onto stove with lots of butter and in 7m total we had beef to die for...Which I had some competition for dining this evening.

This bottle was a very generous gift from my West Coast brother @David T from earlier in the year. My work travel schedule was hectic and never found a good time to settle in on a weekend with the wine or pairing, until now. (I've lost track of the amount of COVID tests I've done in the past 5M, but all have been negative 🙏 to date.) A fabulous gift to enjoy now that I'm hopefully relaxing for the next 2w...
Happy Holidays to everyone.🎄 — 4 years ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Johann’s sister and a very very rare wine. Nose has huge granite, red and black berry fruit but it’s more on the redder side. But granitic minerals dominate. Very different than Johann. Palate is wonderful. Granite driven and has great freshness as a result of that and tons of red berry fruit and luscious tannjns. So juicy and just shimmering. Especially for a a Cornas. Long. Really long. Superb. The structure is classic Cornas but the bright granitic minerality is unique to this wine. I’ll track this with air. As this airs it gets so much silkier. Wow. This is so good. Mid now is getting more opulent. Really silky, sexy wine. Almost a 9.6. — a year ago

Paul T HB

9.4

Still plenty of life left, but use the Durand
K&L notes as follows, it is better than their 2000! We have been following the property for the last five years and we think it is on a great track with their new releases, but try this 20+ yr old beauty. It is elegant and has a long, lingering finish. Smokey, toasty aromas, tons of cassis fruit on the palate. In a blind tasting at K&L (January 2019), one of our top Bordeaux staff thought it was a first growth Pauillac from the 80s. A steal at this price.
Drink from 2019 to 2022 — 3 years ago

Delectable Wine

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9.1

Bright, light yellow. Gingery Granny Smith apple, lime and minerals on the nose, plus a whiff of orange blossom. Round on entry, then sappy, supple and intense in the middle palate, showing enticing mineral and spicy lift to its very pure citrus fruit and apple flavors. There's substantial residual sugar (16.9 grams per liter) here but brisk balancing acidity (8.6 g/l). The element of saline minerality carries through on the long aftertaste, titillating the taste buds. This, too, is a steal for the price and pretty irresistible right now. And that's almost a shame, as this Riesling has a track record of gaining in interest with cellaring. (Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, December 2020) — 4 years ago

Jeff Orlowski

9.2

Purple. Oak nose. Full body, dry, prominent but not overpowering tannins. Plums, currants, and cassis on palate. Should age well. — 4 years ago

with Michael and Joe