Jay Kline

9.1

Presented double-blind. The wine pours a slightly translucent garnet with an orange rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of dried and ripe, red and black fruits: brambles, Bing cherry, old wood and old leather bound books, baking chocolate, grated nutmeg, organic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ (resolved) tannins and medium+ acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Called Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from France, Bordeaux, Left Bank, Medoc, 1990. LOL…that’s pretty close! For those wondering, the bottle was opened and decanted for sediment several hours prior. For my palate, Duhart-Milon needs decades to become interesting. Fully mature now though, this has at least a decade of enjoyable life left. — an hour ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented double-blind. The wine appears a straw color; medium viscosity with no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of orchard fruit: apples, lemon curd, nuts and lees. Lavishly oaked. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and lovely. I called Chardonnay from the United States, California, Napa Valley 2019. So close! Drink now through 2029. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of four days. Best on Day 1 and Day 2 though, still enjoyable on Day 4. Personally, I just think the freshness in day one and two was more redeeming. The 2020 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe bramble fruit, black cherry, new leather, carnations, dried thyme and subtle baking spices. On the palate, the white is dry, medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with the addition of a coffee character, more like espresso. The finish his medium+. This is a notable, modern take on Chianti Classico without the DOCG. Drink now through 2030+. Solid with pizza. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. The 2019 pours a deep garnet with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart red and black fruits, green pepper, tobacco, dried herbs, chocolate, purple flowers, cedar box, and baking spice. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ viscosity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While Cardinale may not be the “sexiest” label in Napa, it’s got nearly 40 years of history as a consistently exceptional example of Napa, Mountain fruit, Cabernet Sauvignon. If I had this vintage in my cellar, I would decant for an hour+ before service but it shows well on the pop and pour. Drink now with air and through 2049. — an hour ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course an hour. The 2022 Loibenberg pours a pale straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, bright tropical fruit with lemon citrus and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose but on the comes across richer. The finish is long. A lovely, textbook example of Smaragd. Drink now through 2038. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

Presented double blind. The wine appears a turbid, light straw color color; medium viscosity with some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing and quite floral with bruised apple, mushy tropical fruit but little else. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is short and vanishes on the mid-palate. Elevated alcohol. To me, there are either wine making choices happening or this is flawed. I called Pinot Gris from a hippy producer in the Pacific Northwest because it’s the only variety and seemed to fit what I was presented. Wow…Sancerre from Francois Cotat? Nah…I had the previous vintage a year ago and it was nothing like this. I was clear, bright and varietally correct. This has got to have some sort of flaw. No score and marking flawed. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured. The 2018 pours a deep ruby/purple with near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with ripe blue fruits like ripping open a fresh pack of Fig Newtons. Herbal with some vanilla and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Drink now through 2028. — 19 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured. The 2019 “Skycrest” pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of yellow apples, lemons, butter, nuts, toasted marshmallow, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Drink now through 2029. — 19 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind. The wine appears a light straw color; medium viscosity with no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of orchard fruit: apples, lemon curd, hot metal and a buttermilk thing. I think there is some oak? On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose and there is a leesy textural element. The finish is long and intensely mineral driven. I called Chardonnay from France, from Burgundy, from the Côte de Beaune, Chassagne- Montrachet, 2018. Well, well…I was close but it was the Chardonnay from the north and with some age!! And awesome showing. Drink now but this has years to go. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2003 “Villero” pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange/watery rim. Medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears with significant signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of black and red fruit: black plum, Morello cherry, red roses, green herbs, leather, old wood and dried gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, however there seems to be more dried herbs on the palate, including a fresh mint. The finish is long, lasting for minutes. A beautiful expression from a very solar vintage. Drink now and through 2040. — 4 days ago