Delectable Wine

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9.2

Medium in body, fresh and driven, the 2022 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is pretty forward in its red-fruited profile, but it also possesses a core of stern, rocky minerality. An enticing air of highlands herbs and sweet lavender adds further intrigue. Juicy, sweet raspberry, clove and a kick of toasty French oak sweetness make the 2022 an inviting choice for drinking over the next several years. (Billy Norris, Vinous, August 2024)
— 3 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.1

Nose is very 15. Ripe and bright cherry fruit, dusty earth and some spice. The clarity is ok not great. Palate is juicy and bright but very 15. Not hot at all but the fruit lacks focus. Very fresh. Not awful but as it ages the “15” comes more into focus. Tannins are stern and hard and it finishes very mineral. — 2 years ago

Byron Fuller

9.0

Stern and classic. Less fat than I expect from pinot rosés. Served young could be a Bandol. — 4 years ago

Ryan Vento

8.9

Sampling this new addition to my collection, which is also my very first Kavalan. On the nose it closely resembles bourbon, with notes of caramel, holiday spices, dark chocolate, and creme brûlée. On the palate, however, it’s a bit more stern and less suave than I anticipated with notes of worn saddle leather, toasted nuts, clove, espresso, and bananas foster. The finish is quite warm. — 4 years ago

Austin Hohnke

8.9

Medium bodied and aromatic with lots of spiced pear and stern acidity. Paired with broccolini and fried garlic chips, red pepper flakes, and charred lemon. Founded in the 12th century by the Augustinian Order of Canons Regular. Organically farmed by Monks. The Dolomites hold a very special place in my heart. — 6 months ago

Austin Hohnke

9.2

So consistently good. Pineapple, baked apricot and golden raisin. Medium to full with stern acidity. I’ve found this wine is best at 3-5 years with a decant. So unique and original. Love the packaging. — a year ago

Byron C Mayes

9.1

Star bright vibrant pink. A bit paler than I’m used to with Tavel. Medium full palate or ripe strawberry, earthy cherry, and stern mineral. Medium plus acidity. No tannins but a decidedly tannin-esque mouthfeel. Medium finish. 2020 was a superb growing season in southern France and this Tavel is a spectacular example of the effects of that vintage. Pale as it is, it still delivers that distinctly Tavel punch on the nose and palate that makes it an excellent wine for a wide range of foods. Take it to your Thanksgiving table for a stellar T-Day pairing. Drink now or hold through 2030 for a classic Tavel experience. — 3 years ago

Mats Rytther

8.9

Starts quite drinkable, mellow but firm tanninic, some what developed stern wine. No oak discernable and a good wine to fenomenal orice. . After breathing a bit burned rubber comes out. Makes The wine drinkable but dissapointing. Leaving to next day and The rubber goes away and The wine is almost perfect again. — 8 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.2

These are pop ‘n pour notes. Will update tomorrow. For now, the color is dense and youthful. Nose reluctantly gives up deep ripe cassis and berry notes, moist clay, cedar, and pretty red florals. Dense in the mouth, and still pretty tannic, but there is very nice depth of fruit behind the stern texture and dry profile. Still several years to go before peak. For now, 9.2. Could be significantly higher later.

DAY 2: It’s opened and softened some, but the tannins, while settling, are still there. This suggests to me that at least 3 or more years are needed before the peak plateau is reached. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Dark crimson in colour. Red florals with earthy beetroot notes on a medium bodied palate with medium plus intensity. Still quite stern tannins but overall starting to break the confines of over extraction finally at 12 years of age. This is my last bottle and the best of 6 originally bought. Previous notes have said that this is a Shiraz drinkers Pinot and I still stick with that assessment. I believe Dry River are now making their Pinots less extracted and more approachable at a younger age. In summary this is excellent, it just needed time. — 4 years ago