Bob McDonald

9.2

I had a previous bottle earlier this year with similar notes. A lovely perfume, typically Vosne Romanee - red florals, earthy, mushroom - forest floor. Sweet fruited reflecting the warmer vintage. Lacked a little complexity. I was following Jancis’s drinking window (Julia Harding MW) of 2019 - 2025 which I feel is too early. This could easily go on for 3 or 4 more years. As a point of comparison I have another 2015 Les Chaumes made by Domaine Francois Lamarche where the drinking window from Jancis is 2026 - 2042 which is a big difference. Drinking Windows are an inexact science. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Mid to deep Crimson in colour. Fairly contained nose - hints of raspberry, violets and a peppery note reflecting some whole bunch in the ferment. Palate is also latent showing much promise - still with raspberry notes, red fruits and plum. I have had this “latent “ experience with Dry River Pinot Noirs before which is at odds with the pros drinking Windows. This is my first of six and will have the next in 2023. Tempted to say a Shiraz drinkers Pinot but it’s better than that. — 3 years ago

Sarah Milsow-Guenther

9.4

Oh mama is this good right now. Love that Jeff posted a chart on their site about drinking windows. Would have happily drink this whole bottle by myself. — 4 years ago

Ely Cohn

8.9

Wine for sucking on cherry pits and making fresh pasta sauce at 4pm. Goes quite well with open windows, the smell of roasting garlic, and Nona stories. For the pre-meal, rustic and fruity, not to be dissected, not to interrupt. Fluffy strawberry taffy, cherry cooler, and tomato acid. — 4 years ago

Diane Heyboer

8.9

Enjoyed this one with a classic French meal of steak and béarnaise with roasted carrots and dauphinois potatoes. Hints of oak and cherry and red currants. Lots of merlot keeps it soft and supple. One guys comment was “tart cherries peel through the windows in the rain-slicked cobblestone alley.” Quite poetic and really accurate. There is a wet stone quality to this wine that appeals to me. Enjoyed and would drink again. — 4 months ago

with Matthew, Ethan and 2 others

William Paley

9.5

like sucking candy coated stones thru a straw……so-called salamander sassafras, you’ve heard of it. car crushes. weed windows. blanket statements. torch songs. — 2 years ago

with Jess

Brendan Devine

9.6

Just incredibly smooth and balanced. Blueberries, blackberries, cinnamon, and some notes of cedar. Probably would be better with time but babies don’t care about drinking windows. Welcome Rhys. — 3 years ago

with Briana

Bob McDonald

9.0

Lanolin, citrus and citric acid. Only 11.5% ABV. From the excellent 2014 vintage in the Hunter Valley. A good Hunter Semillon without the intensity of their premium Semillon Cuvée, Lovedale. Very clean and fresh. I think its best days are in front of it when it should develop more complexity - toast and honey. Many recommended drinking windows are too short now that I’ve tasted it. — a year ago

Ely Cohn

9.1

Smells like your kitchen on a Saturday morning.

Warming blueberry pancake syrup, splattering bacon grease, chicory steeped coffee, baked cinnamon and nutmeg, and fresh air passing through open windows directly through a bouquet of violets.

Charismatic and vibrant, it's also chewy with a rich, sweet concentrated core of raisins, dates, and compote.

Not as complex and distinct, and multilayered as I was expecting, but hard to complain in a weekend state of mind. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Normal Barolo descriptors but in this case a little detuned. Notes of earth, red savoury fruits and a touch of orange peel. Persistent tannins need to be resolved. In hindsight this is my first of three bottles and may have been drunk a little too young but drinking Windows from the Pros are widely divergent here. Ornato is only produced in outstanding years. James Suckling liked it with a 98 point score. I must be missing something. — 3 years ago