@rhythmSOULdier
“Four” is a single-vintage blend of the most exciting barrels of Chardonnay from Liquid Farm’s vineyards. Popped and poured; enjoyed with friends over the course of an hour or so. The 2017 pours a striking, intensely bright golden color. I’m not sure I have seen anything quite like it before. It’s nearly neon. On the nose, the wine is redolent ripe and tart tropical fruits: starfruit and pineapple along with lemons, green apple, butter, gentle baking spices (this does see extended time in a small percentage of new oak). On the palate, the wine is dry with what I perceive to be high acid. It’s awesome. Confirming the notes form the nose, the finish is long with good minerality. This is titillating wine that hooks you from sight to nose to palate and it’s the latter that drives it home with the remarkable acid to match the fruit. About as good as any New World Chardonnay I’ve ever had. Drink now through 2039. — a day ago
Popped and poured; served slightly chilled and enjoyed with rabbit sausage and spätzle. The 2020 Poulsard pours, a pale limpid garnet with a translucent core. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing. Maraschino cherry, some horse blank blanket, dried Alpine herbs. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium- tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium length with a fun, juicy texture. You could probably hold but why? This is fun and delicious right now. — 5 days ago
Ginestra is arguably one of the most important MGA’s in Monforte d’Alba. It was called out by Renato Ratti back in the early days of Barolo vineyard classification and its home to Gavarini, Chiniera, Rüncot, Pajana and Grassi. As you might imagine, Cascina Chicco’s Ginestra Riserva is more than a Riserva from Ginestra. In fact, the fruit comes from the heart of the single-vineyard known as Grassi which enjoys the best exposure (straight south). However, instead of calling out “Grassi” on the label (which they are entitled to do), Cascina Chicco simply refers to “Ginestra”. Perhaps it’s tradition since Ginestra is so well known. Whatever the case may be, what really matters is that it’s delicious.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over a several hour period. The 2012 Ginestra Riserva pours a deep garnet 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 powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry, compote, tar, roses, dried green herbs, limestone earth, and faint warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is fit and the texture is silky, refined. The finish is long and grippy. As one who doesn’t drink a lot of Riservas (they are expensive and sometimes a bit overdone, particularly when the Classico is just brilliant enough) this is a wonderful example that shows a lot of energy and guts for such a solar vintage. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 9 hours ago
From a lesser known “produttori” in Piemonte. Cantina Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema (what a mouthful) is a tiny cooperative in, you guessed it, Carema.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout but I think I preferred the energy on Day 1. The 2016 Riserva pours a pale garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of pomegranate, slightly bruised strawberry, toe jam (yeah, well…I’m not wrong), alpine herbs, roses some balsamico and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and saline with a silky texture. Until now, my only experience with the Carema DOC has been with Ferrando’s Etichetta Bianca and Etichetta Nera. While this bottle didn’t have the same drama as those wines from Ferrando, this was a very good example of Carema. Drink now and through 2031. — 4 days ago
Unscrewed and poured; enjoyed over a couple hour period. The 2023 “Mimi’s Rosé” pours the cutest pink color with medium viscosity. I should note that this is the lightest color I can recall since the first vintage in On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of soft strawberry, raspberry, red plum, kiwi and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with lovely minerals and acid. I’ve tried every vintage of Mimi’s Rosé since 2019 and I’ve got to say this is, by far, my favorite to-date. I’d love more of this. Drink now, outside, during a sunset. — 5 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple days. Best on Day 2 as the fruit gained a lot of power. The 2021 Royer Vineyard pours a straw color with medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with medium+ intensity. Notes of matchstick, starfruit, passionfruit, lime, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; zippy with intriguing minerals. Drink now with patience but better after 2025 and through 2036 — 21 hours ago
Enjoyed two glasses of this 2020 Rosé, which had been opened by a friend two days prior. In the glass, the wine is a deep salmon color with more pale, pinkish rim. On the nose, ripe strawberry, Trader Joe’s Thai lime and chili almonds, watermelon, dried green herbs, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and there was a very nice, silky texture. This was quite charming and the Thai lime component I found to be especially interesting. This drinks well now and should continue to do so through 2030. — a day ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Significantly better on Day 2 as the wine completely opened up. The 2021 Amador County pours a pale yellow color with medium+ viscosity and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is clean; developing with notes of golden apples, quince, lemon verbena, white tree flower, lanolin, and wet stone. On the palate, the wine is dry with super sneaky, high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a woolly texture. Lovely stuff. Drink now with patience and a lot of air otherwise better after 2026 and should be great through 2035. — 5 days ago
Poured into a Boa decanter several hours prior to dinner. The 2022 Zinfandel pours a ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of bright brambles: blackberries and raspberries, cherry (some candied, think Cherry Blow Pop), pipe tobacco, black pepper, dry organic earth and gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some notes of mocha added to the mix. The finish is long and delightful. Fun to try in its youth however I expect these will show even better after a few years in the cellar. Best after 2027 and through 2042. — 6 days ago
Jay Kline
Popped and poured, enjoyed with friends over the course of an hour or so. The 2021 “Zenith” pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and holy whole-cluster Batman! Notes of funky strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, and forest floor. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is medium+ and certainly has some Burgundian sensibilities. Wow, I really dig this and love the soft mitts that Vincent and his team are using. Lovely, compelling stuff and a producer to keep an eye on. Drink now and through 2036+. — 3 hours ago