Jay Kline

9.3

Served to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appears a deep garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe bramble fruits: a mix of blackberries and raspberries with Morello cherry, roses, tar, talcum powder, dried herbs, and gravelly soil. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and delicious. Alcohol is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir or Grenache from Italy or France. Because of the high tannin and talcum powder/tar/roses combo (and the utter lack of staining), my final conclusion is: Nebbiolo; from Italy; from Piemonte; Barolo…from Monforte d’Alba. I chose 2016 because it shows good great balance of structure and fruit. Ooooof…that was too close.

“La Villa” is Fratelli Seghesio’s most precious wine and until now, I can only ever recall drinking their Barolo “classico” and Barbera d’Alba and only on a few occasions. Believe it or not, “La Villa” is the oldest, single MGA bottling from any producer in Castelletto. The name “La Villa” is an old name for an area within Castelletto when it was once a commune all to itself. The distinguishing feature of “La Villa” is the eponymous ridge that runs perpendicular with Collaretto and Vigna Rionda to the east, across the stream of Talloria di Castiglione. The vines facing south are dedicated to their Nebbiolo while the vines facing north are predominately Barbera and Dolcetto. A very tasty Barolo. Drink now through 2035. — 5 months ago

Lyle Fass

Founder Fass Selections

9.5

Another 2017 Arpepe winner. Stunning nose. Classic Nebbiolo. Stunning. Aromas of rose petals, tar, some earth, but dried earth, leather and just so deep and so good. Classic. Like MGM classic. Wow. Palate is a dream. Succulent and supple with just insane juiciness and balance. Pure. All red fruit and just perfect balance and sweetness. Sappy and long. And my goodness is this elegant. Maybe the most elegant non riserva I’ve had from ar pe pe. Genius wine. Utter beauty. — 2 years ago

Rob Brobst III

10

Utter perfection after 3 hour double decant. — 3 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.9

2020 Disgorgment is utter perfection, a particular favorite, exploding with infinite depth of red berry fruit and chalky minerality with a vibrant, chiseled palate with singular texture and a finish that keeps on going. VO base with a touch of still Pinot from Francis Egly. Nothin’ like it. — 5 months ago

Rob Brobst III

10

Utter perfection on a 2 hour decant — 2 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.6

Utter bliss. Vibrant, clean, mellow and intense at the same time somehow. Just brilliant — 3 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.7

There are few wines that so consistently deliver utter pleasure and deliciousness as this utterly perfect rendition of Trousseau Gris from @jolielaidewines. Pick you hipster wine adjective - smashable, crushable, glou glou - it fits them all. Goes down in a sunbeam of peach and citrus kissed berries with gorgeous floral tones with just a whisper of salinity. Mouthwatering and joyous. Even though I buy this by the case, I never, ever have enough. — 4 years ago

Matt

9.4

Lusciously fruited, deeply textured, loaded with fresh and liquor-like fruit, smokey, olive, dark earth. Utter pleasure but balanced form of hedonism — a year ago

Will Stanley

9.4

My second time with one of the late Denis Durantou’s wines from the 2019 vintage, this time Les Cruzelles from Lalande-de-Pomerol. This is absolutely stunning from the get-go, open for business and leaping from the glass with dense, polished black fruit, plum, fig, liquorice and pencil shavings. I’m sniffing this for ages, and it reminds me of Glenelly’s Lady May, one of South Africa’s finest Bordeaux blends - such is its utter purity, glossy fruit and dense aromatics. The palate is saturated, large but balanced, with immaculate tannins and great length, and a wonderful medley of savoury cherry fruit with sweet tinges of toffee.This is astoundingly good, complex stuff, especially for the region and price point. I can’t wait to see how this ages. My best experience to date with Durantou, may he rest in peace.

94+ — 2 years ago

Scot Ryder

9.3

Mineral, acidity... An utter delight — 3 years ago