Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed from red Solo cups over the course of a few hours. This bottle of the 1966 came to party! The wine pours a garnet color with a near translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and loads sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of black and red currants, Montmorency cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, old leather bound books, espresso, loads of organic and inorganic earth, and a pleasant mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. What a fantastic performance by the ‘66. Drink now though similarly stored examples won’t be falling off a cliff anytime soon. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured into red Solo cups. The 1995 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some decent sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly ripe and some desiccated black and red fruits: black, currants, blackberries, black cherry, plum, cocoa, tobacco, old leather bound books, dried purple flowers, a mix of organic and inorganic earth and gentle 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. I sometimes feel like Cardinale is an overlooked label in the Jackson Family lineup. It’s been around for decades and these wines always impressed me, especially with age. Drink now through 2035. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best of Day 3. The 2015 “Ma Belle-Fille” pours a light gold color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, developing with notes of fruit cups (the ones with pineapples and peaches), lemon bars, honeysuckle, and cashews. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and buttery but integrates better by Day 3. Leesy. The alcohol is medium+. For my palate, this was tough to love the first couple days as it lacked balance. By Day 3 however, it was quite becoming. Still a baby at 9 years. Drink with immense patience or better yet, after 2028 and through 2035 easy. — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Double-decanted the night before; enjoyed over several hours out of red Solo cups. It’s been several years since my last experience with the 2005 Blanc. The extended air treatment ahead of service is now customary for me with the Blanc and Rosé in particular. The entire bouquet has a chance to unfurl. The wine pours a deep golden color. On the nose, the wine is vinous and recalls my previous experience with the 2005 Blanc: redolent of ripe stone fruits, some dried citrus, wild flower honey, echinacea, marzipan and butterscotch. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with slightly bitter, testa/skin coat sort of flavor. Fabulous texture. At this rate, I expect well stored cellared examples to drink well beyond my original assessment several years ago. Drink now through 2045+ — a month ago

Bob Boyle

9.1

Very good wine, mineral nose, good body and clean finish. For those tasters who stated the vintage of their wine as 1681 I think you may have “ been in your cups”, either a truly age-worthy wine, or you noted the founding year of the winery, on the front of the bottle, instead of the vintage on the back label. Given there were multiple ratings of the 1681 vintage, it appears to indicate the joy of a good wine over careful reading of the label. — 8 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

8.9

Parking Lot - Trader Joe’s 30$ Barolo. 14.5%. Tasted on the spot! With the mini snack cups from T.G. Brownish tinge, tealeaves and quite tart. Lacks classic Barolo flavors - will pass up on this one. Sad 😞 - Great vintage how can anyone screw this up? Might this needs hours of air and or a proper glass? Will add to these notes - in 3 hours. May be i am wrong? — a year ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured into red Solo cups. The 1995 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and some desiccated, black and red fruits: cassis, brambles, tobacco, leather, organic earth, minerals and gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This was a fantastic showing for the Napa and there’s quite a lot of life left. Drink now through 2035+. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Before I get into the notes, Flora Springs “Trilogy” is one of those wines from my formative years in this wine journey. Subsequently, it holds a special place in my heart. You can probably imagine how excited I was to enjoy the 1994 a vintage I likely drank long ago, out of a double-magnum no less! Giddy.

Popped and poured from double-magnum into red Solo cups and enjoyed her the course of an hour. The 1994 “Trilogy” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated dark and red fruits: brambles, currants, plums, tobacco, old leather, dusty earth and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is silky. The large format has no doubt had an effect on this wine’s nearly evergreen properties but what a treat! Drink now regardless of format and enjoy this in its full maturity. — 2 months ago

jesus g

Hospitality Schramsberg Vineyards

9.4

Yeah, red solo cups. Just one of those days — a year ago

Steph Anie

9.2

Closest to traditional at good price — 2 years ago