Tasting Notes 28 found

Holy smokes. It’s been a couple of years since I last drank this traditional producer’s wine and while the winemaking style is consistent (non-interventionalist), the 2015 vintage was particularly flattering. From the pop and pour, this was bursting with character. Loads of pure, crunchy red fruit, cracked black pepper, spices, garrigue...intensely spicy actually which I’m sure comes from the fact they don’t ever de-stem. What a lovely wine and it was positively smashing with our meal. Definitely the best I’ve tried from Gour de Chaulé. Bravo!! (2044 views)

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This falls squarely into the category of rando bottles in the cellar that just need to be opened and shared. Particularly since I have no history with this label (though I am quite familiar with Goldschmidt’s wine making). Popped and poured. It smells quite fresh and rather inviting for being 14 years young. On the palate, it was very enjoyable and obviously Cabernet Sauvignon with loads of cassis, tobacco and some very distinctive green bell pepper. The tannins have mostly resolved themselves and there’s a really nice texture to this. The finish is long and satisfying. Quite good! But I’m not so sure it’s very a distinctive wine with all that being said. Upon some research, I guess this is the top label from his portfolio of wines and frankly, I think it tastes like it certainly has the care to warrant that title. However, for the price these bottles retail for these days, not a very compelling QPR. (1054 views)

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I don’t drink Eiswein often but this bottle was a treat that was muled back from the old country. Very floral on the nose; honey sweet on the attack but there was fantastic acidity to give it the lift necessary to keep the balance. (392 views)

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Popped and poured out of a 1.5L and this was lights out good. I love the 2005 vintage in Barbaresco and this was a beautiful example and seemed to have so much left in the tank! The fruit was still bright and full of life. Tannins are still firm. Great acid for food and paired beautifully with frutta di mare fra diavolo. Secondary characteristics are just barely creeping into the fore. Wish I had another mag to drink in 2029. (2338 views)

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We opened a 2014 Paolo Bea “Santa Chiara” that was horribly corked and we were so gutted by the experience that we decided an immediate and measured response was necessary to make up fo the tragedy. So we opened a 2016 Granato. Aaaaaand, this was an absolute show-stopper for everyone who got to try it. Bright red fruit, minerals, and sex. Drink now with patience (last glass was best) or hold out for more. (2305 views)

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Quite possibly one of the most singular expressions of Zinfandel I have ever tasted and unquestionably going to be misunderstood by most who drink it. This is not a Zinfandel drinker’s Zinfandel. It’s too acidic; too mineral driven; too light on its feet. And yet, I was absolutely charmed by it! Particularly when I paired it with pomegranate marinated rack of lamb. At 7 years old, it’s just now entering its drinking window. I would expect this to be enjoyable for at least another 7 years and perhaps longer. (2010 views)

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Loads of dark fruit, tar, gravel, dried herbs and espresso with massive tannins still! This bottle, despite being 15 years old, seems like it was born yesterday. I wish I had more because this would be a treat to try again in 2034. Decades of life left, obviously. This is what I love about Cru Barolo. (1451 views)

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One of those crazy finds you come across from time to time; this bottle was fantastic and one of the best QPR’s I’ve had in a long, long time. All of the best attributes of a cru-Beaujolais and yet it’s a blend of Cru and Villages fruit that is just delicious. Highly recommended! (375 views)

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Needed two days to really stretch its legs but by that time the tannin monster had also arrived. This bad boy is all kinds of crunchy red and dark fruits. Tannins on Day 1 were stiff but doable. Day 2 and they were positively punishing...but there was also more fruit on display along with a fantastic spine of minerals and acid that makes the finish seem to hang in there forever. And what incredible texture! There’s a phenolic thing that gives it a red rope licorice vibe to it. What a fun wine but these really need a weather balloon full of air if you’re thinking of drinking now. (2085 views)

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Typically a producer from Saint-Émilion that ages well, this is either one of those wines that is now headed down the slow path to oblivion or perhaps it’s just in a weird spot. This started off with a touch of overripe fruit mixed with some secondary characteristics of soggy decomposing forest floor. The tannins were still pretty strong and this drank similarly for three days. Yet...there was something there in the final glass on Day 3 that made me think this may yet have years to go. The problem is, I don’t see this all of a sudden turning into anything stunning in 2025. (1852 views)

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Waaaaaaaay too young but I'm hear to report that it's already very tasty and showing great potential. There seems to be a touch of french oak but it's very pleasantly integrated. There's a lot of power in this fruit and yet there's structure and acid providing balance. A touch of VA. FWIW, I won't be touching my next bottle for 5-10 years. (1109 views)

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What an absolute pity. Corked beyond belief. (767 views)

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Pulled this one out to drink on our 14th wedding anniversary and wouldn't you know it, the bugger was ever so slightly corked. It was one of those that you sort of get a whiff of right when you pull the cork and then ask yourself, "is this corked?" and then smell again and it's so faint (plus the aged Paulliac smell of pencil shavings; and you could tell there was quality fruit there too) that you begin to doubt yourself. But when you step away and some back to it, the TCA is most certainly there. Anyway, Holly and I looked at each other with a bit of a frown before I declared, "you know what, it's slightly flawed, just like our marriage". Then we smiled and proceeded to drink our glasses. Such is life. (3532 views)

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A really strong vintage for this fantastic and rather consistent producer. Delicious, ripe brambles and garrigue. The tannic monster comes out after about an hour of air. Very young still but very easy to drink now. (1353 views)

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The whole damned rose bush. That’s what this smelled like. I’ve never smelled roses so prominently in a Barolo before. Of course, there were dark and red fruit, dried herbs and tar and other wonderful things but the roses played the starring role for sure. This is in a gorgeous place right now but it certainly has the structure for many, many years to come. (1703 views)

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