The Setting
Cantine Lanzavecchia
Cren dell' Ape Piemonte Cortese 2022
Cren Dell’Ape Cortese Blanc 2023
Piemonte, Italy 🇮🇹
Overview
A crisp, approachable white made from 100% Cortese, an indigenous Piedmontese grape best known for Gavi wines. Cren Dell’Ape highlights Cortese’s refreshing, fruit-driven personality while keeping a casual and fun-drinking style.
Aromas & Flavors
Fresh aromas of white flowers, yellow peach, and stone fruits lead into a lively palate. Flavors of tropical fruit, peach, and citrus zest carry through with balance, offering a vibrant and fruity medley that feels like a “cornucopia of yellow fruit.”
Mouthfeel
Light-bodied and refreshing, with bright acidity that makes it crisp but not sharp. Clean and smooth finish that invites another sip.
Winemaking Notes
Fermented in stainless steel to emphasize fruit purity and freshness. Made to be enjoyed young for maximum vibrancy.
Food Pairing
Perfect alongside seafood, pasta with vegetables, light cheeses, or as an aperitif. A versatile, crowd-pleasing white that works in almost any casual setting.
Verdict
A fun, fruity, and highly drinkable Cortese. Hard to stop at just one glass—this wine is pure Piedmontese charm in a bottle. — 9 months ago
Peay Vineyards
Savoy Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
There’s something to be said for nursing a bottle slowly over several days. I’ve been loving how this wine from my friends at @peay_vineyards blossoms with some time and some air. What was boisterous herbal and berry fruit has mellowed with the addition some serious umami character and a hint of incense. The one constant is the satin-sheets sexy texture that marks most of Vanessa Peay’s best work as a winemaker. While I think Peay’s best wines are from their unique estate on the Sonoma Coast, I’m glad they’ve kept making this Anderson Valley wine, if only to continue setting a standard for what Savoy can do. — 4 years ago
Paolo Bea
Arboreus Umbria IGT Trebbiano 2015
Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2015 Arboreus pours the color and cloudiness of urine after a 3 day bender with little hydration. Notes of bruised and battered Apple, dried stone fruit, white and yellow flowers, mushroom, damp hay, and nuts. Low tannin on the palate and good acid. Drink now through 2030+. Bottle No. 3505/11970 — 2 months ago
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin
La Grande Dame Brut Champagne Blend 2008
Popped and poured; no formal notes as it was enjoyed quickly due to the setting and our celebratory mood. What I do recall is that this is a very fine Champagne however, it comes across a touch rounder than most 2008's at this level. The acid is sneaky however and I suspect time will reward those with patience. — 3 years ago
Noon Winery
Eclipse Grenache Blend 2013
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. No formal notes but this left a similar impression to my previous experience with this wine earlier in the year. The 2013 Eclipse remains a wine of large proportions and deftly manages its high ABV. No way I could drink these often but they are fun in the right mood/setting! Drink now through 2028. — 9 months ago
Mas de Boislauzon
Tintot Special Cuvée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2015
We pulled this from our cellar and brought it to V. Mertz for dinner. We enjoyed a couple of other wines as aperitifs and then ultimately did what anyone given the opportunity should do: pair it with lamb chops. We poured it into a decanter while we enjoyed the conversation and opening courses. Given the setting, there were no formal notes however, I can confidently report that the 2015 “Tintot” absolutely slaps. From the first sip to the last, it was all balance, power and class. It was also a spectacular showcase for Mourvèdre. It was hard to fully judge color because the lighting was so low but it appeared to be nearly opaque. A touch feral with a slightly gamey element to it but there’s a great big ol’ basket of black and blue fruits with red and purple flowers, garrigue, some black pepper and cedar chest. Structure is still quite firm but totally enjoyable. While this is an unusual assemblage for the region, it still comes across as a wine from Chateauneuf-du-Pape. This was my first “Tintot” and it has left quite the impression. Drink now with an hour decant or over the next 7-10 years. P.S. it probably goes without saying, but the pairing with lamb chops was sublime. — 4 years ago
Jay Kline
Paolo Bea dinner at Semo. All wines were prepared by opening and slow-ox, prior to service. Abbreviated notes due to the setting. The 2017 Pipparello pours a garnet color with funky Montmorency cherry, red carnations, and balsamic notes. Wonderful structure and delicious with the quail. Drink now with patience through 2037. Bottle No. 642/9930 — 2 months ago