Jay Kline

9.4

Sperss is arguably Gaja’s most famous wine from Barolo. All of the fruit comes from Serralunga d’Alba, predominately the Marenca MGA with a little bit of Rivette. The 1996 Sperss was somewhat controversial as it became the first vintage (in a string of 17 vintages) that Gaja decided to blend in a small amount of co-fermented Barbera. This move required them to label the wine “Langhe Nebbiolo” instead of Barolo.

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service, enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1996 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with notes of Morello cherry, tar, truffle, licorice, dried flowers, gravelly earth and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is long. This came across remarkably young. Drink now with patience through 2066. — a day ago

Steven Heydemann

9.4

96 really is quite a vintage. Double decanted yesterday, showed well at first. But with the extra time it was just stunning. — 9 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2000 vintage. Sweet fill. Exquisite cork extracted via the Durand but likely could have used a standard wine key. Darker color than expected. Decanted with expected sed. Medium/medium heavy body. Tannic, dark-fruited nose. Frontal chunkiness. Mid-palate resolution. Finishing solution, smoothing out after 5-6 seconds and gliding into conversation. Still a ton of youthful fruit and passion. Phenomenal (and, unfortunately, last) specimen. Need to acquire if still possible. Absolutely no rush to crush. 7.31.26. — 24 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Open showing red cherry, strawberry with floral & tobacco notes — a month ago

Samuel Thomas

9.0

Fun dinner wine (w/ MT CT and AL) — 23 days ago

romo

9.1

Super forward. Needs air to bring out the earth. - at Bar Cantinetta — a month ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium ruby garnet , with medium thin garnet ruby rim. This is quite closed at first , needs some time in the glass . Quite somber and dark fruited , with anis , dry spice and porcini , black tea. Quite meaty and deep . On the palate this is more generous , with quite rich saline edged dark fruits , currants , black tea and porcini . Quite fresh acidity and quite noticeable grippy tannins . Long and really quite intense on the palate , spiced saline finish . Even though there are lots of tertiary notes, there is great freshness and grip on the palate , it’s long and saline. Certainly improved with time in the glass and overall this shows pretty well at the moment. From now and over the next 5-10 years . — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

From back when their fruit from the Le Coste MGA was blended with Brunate. These days, the Le Coste fruit goes in to “Tre Tine” along with Ravera and Cannubi San Lorenzo.

Opened about two hours prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2001 Brunate-Le Coste pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Bing cherry, tar, roses, some varnish, cedar chest, some cool spices and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and quite round. This bottle shows the generosity of the vintage and yet, it seems to want even more time in the cellar. One can certainly drink now through 2061. — a day ago

Charlie Tapp

9.3

Cherries, leather and menthol. Lovely. — 15 days ago

Brandon Thiessen

9.3

Wow! Beautiful tertiary notes developing, bramble, asphalt, rose, softened but present tannins; still vibrant black cherry, blackberry… lovely now, could go longer — a month ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

9.1

2021 vintage. Outstanding Nebbiolo. Leather, smoke, and a hint of fruit on the nose; continued to open up nicely over the course of the first hour. Cherry and complex tannins on the palette with a fine finish. Paired exceptionally well with filet mignon. — a month ago

Adam Baker

9.1

Drank at Summit with Cyan. Started young, but opened up very well. Drank with red snapper. — a month ago

romo

9.3

Inconsistent notes. Bright and firm, the ride is comfortable and familiar. - at Laurelhurst — a month ago

Steven Heydemann

9.3

Opened the 97 Monprivato back in spring and it wasn’t showing that well. This one seems fresher, more balanced. Not just fully mature but beginning a very slow decline. Nonetheless the depth of fruit, richness of the tar, smoke, herb, and sous bois is terrific. — 7 days ago

Conrad Green

9.4

stinky and pure. Deep plum fruit. Sour cherry, . I can’t believe how fresh and intense this is given the age. May have been helped along the way with some rogue grapes back in teh day? Either way, really memorable — 5 days ago

with BOT and Matt

Dave

9.3

This is always a treat.
Listening to Weezer — 3 days ago

Sara

9.5

$30 at Lynn's very delicious shared it with Laila — 10 days ago

D W

9.3

mint, red berry, licorice, lavender, coffee and leather; bricking ready to drink now — 22 days ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Ruby with notes of red fruits and floral scents. On the palate elegant red fruits with notes of blueberry and earthy dried lavender. Good balance, soft fine tannins, medium finish ending with fruit and earthy character. Nice value. Consistent quality. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with very faint staining of the tears and no signs of sediment or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe and some tart and dried red fruits: Morello cherry, dried orange peel, roses, tar, dried green herbs, talcum powder, dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and so is the alcohol. Powerful and delicious.

Initial conclusions: this could be Nebbiolo, Sangiovese or possibly a Grenache blend from Italy or France. But if I’m trusting me notes here, this has gotta be Nebbiolo so that’s what I’m calling. Final conclusion: this is Nebbiolo from Italy, Piemonte, Barolo, and for the hell of it, I’m going to call Serralunga d’Alba…from a producer like Massolino, 2021. Ha! Vietti!! And I don’t hate my call because Castiglione Falletto is right next door. Tasty stuff, of course. Drink now with patience and through 2051. — 2 months ago