Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2024 Lodi pours a ruby/purple color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of ripe Bing cherry, raspberries, Marionberries, purple flowers, and wet rocks. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. The fruit is less jammy and the tannins seem more fierce on Day 2. Sooooo primary. A wine that demands some air at this stage but there’s a lot of fun in its youth. Drink now with patience but better after 2027 and through 2039. — 17 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet/orange color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of significant sediment and rim variation. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of mostly dried and desiccated black and fruit: brambles, cherry, tobacco, dried flowers, old leather bound books, organic earth, and old wood. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where there is a bit of a green streak that may be telling. The finish is medium+. Alcohol is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon or blend thereof, a Tempranillo (or blend) or Sangiovese (or blend) from the United States, Spain or Italy. However, I think the fruit (though dried) is too forward facing to be from either Spain or Italy so I’m taking this to the United States. And because of the color, rim variation and sediment, I believe this has over 40 years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine from the United States, California, Napa from 1981. Whoa!!! It’s a Cary Gott-made Zinfandel from the bicentennial year! Dammit, I keep forgetting about Zinfandel. Proof once again, of this variety’s staying power. The tannin’s are wildly intense, still! So impressive. Drink now. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From magnum. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2016 Geisberg pours a straw color with medium viscosity and some tartaric acid crystals. On the nose, the wine is developing with lifted notes of tropical fruit, lemon/lime citrus, petrol, bees wax and steely minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with racy minerality. There is so much energy in this bottle, wow! Really delicious stuff that just got better the longer the bottle was open. Drink now with patience through 2046. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of very fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe with some tart and drying fruits: cassis, blackberries, pipe tobacco, Serrano pepper, purple flowers, leather, and a pleasant mix of cool and 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 and the alcohol is medium+. FWIW, this is an impressive wine on the nose and the palate.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend there of) or Sangiovese-blend, or Tempranillo (or blend) from the United States, France, Italy or Spain. However, the shear generosity of fruit and lavish oak treatment leads me to Napa. Additionally, there’s a structure that gives me mountain fruit vibes. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain, 2015. Perhaps I was trying to be a bit too clever but scoring lots of points nonetheless. Probably one of the more memorable, contemporary Freemark Abbey’s I’ve had. Really impressive. Drink now through 2050. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.4

I’ve had a lot of grappa over the years and they’ve been fun, in a rustic way, but few have ever really impressed me. This one did. It was more complex, layered and about as smooth as any I have tried. Drink now or whenever. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 pours a bright garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of wild raspberries, Morello cherry, freshly cut roses, cedar chest, orange zest, alpine herbs and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is really beautiful stuff. The nose alone positively slays. Drink now through 2041. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

8.8

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2024 pours a bright fuchsia, almost ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of confected cherry, candied apple, red flowers, lemon and wet rocks. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Quaffable stuff on a sunny day. Drink now. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and dried, mixed fruits: brambles, plum, blueberry, purple flowers, leather, earth and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and rich. Alcohol is medium+. Pretty tasty stuff.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Merlot (or blend thereof), Cabernet Franc (or blend), Cabernet Sauvignon (or blend), Shiraz (or blend) Tempranillo or Syrah from the United States, France, Australia or Spain. The fruit is the star here so I’m taking this to the “new world”. Plus, there is a generosity and elevated alcohol that gives me Aussie vibes (though I find the wine balanced). I also think this has 15-20 years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Shiraz blend from Australia, Barossa, 2005. Daaaaaang. Andrew Will! I don’t hate my call but I should have probably done better with this one since I’m very familiar with these wines. Still much to learn. Drink now through 2037. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 Volnay pours a deep ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of forest strawberry, raspberry, Bing cherry, red flowers, sous bois and mixed spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is almost chewy. This is a very pretty, but also quite powerful and certainly fleshy Volnay that I expect this will show a lot more with some time in the cellar. Drink now to enjoy its youth and through 2038. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2023 Boushey Vineyard pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of melon, lemon, white flowers and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with a waxy texture and mineral laden. Drink now. — 5 days ago