Stood up for weeks, decanted off a small amount of fine sediment. Light ruby, slight age-appropriate bricking; more black cherry than red cherry, high intensity aromatics, some stony minerality, almost a bit of plum; palate is medium bodied, a smoothness/richness which is appealing, red to purple fruited, youthful tannin, high acidity; finish is medium length and very balanced. Really exceptional, seems well put together and with a huge amount of potential. 94++
Stood up for weeks, decanted off a small amount of fine sediment. Light ruby, slight age-appropriate bricking; high intensity aromatics, red cherry, floral, roses; palate is medium bodied, red fruited, high but approachable tannin, medium alcohol (14%); medium-long finish. Youthful, approachable, but this has so much further to go in the next 2 decades. Hard to judge now, but 94++? Definitely has the elegant/red fruited Bricco character which is hard to find elsewhere. 6 hours later: fabulous nose and palate, approachable, but tighter than the 2008 and 2012. This will be great one day.
Brioche, lemon peel, excellent complexity; palate is balanced, lemon-lime, balanced dosage, lovely complex flavors; medium-long finish. This is excellent at its level, with plenty of refreshing character and some richness too. 93
Aromatic, herbal, mint, tarragon; medium full bodied, richly textured, medium acidity, balanced, more textural than fruity; finish is medium length. The aromatics are fascinating. 90-91
Complex with lemon-lime, brioche, classic profile but very complex; palate is medium bodied, impeccably balanced; long finish. I like this better than Cuvee rare. 93-95
Fully mature nose, leafy, Bretty, soy; palate is light bodied, high alcohol, well balanced, mature soy and tamari; medium finish. Classic mature Barolo, slightly dirty but not too much. 91
Aromatic, oxidative in a good way, complex tamari, forest floor and wet rain, bretty; palate is light bodied, high acidity, alcohol is well balanced, still very alive; finish is medium length. Well aged Barolo, lovely. 92
Intense aromatics, menthol, violets, fantastic complexity; palate is light-medium bodied, floral, red fruited; finish is medium length. Really lovely. 94
Fabulous aromatics, roses, floral, red fruited; impeccable balance, richly textured, while also maintaining lightness, red fruited, floral, fabulous; long finish. This is exceptional. 96
Fabulous nose with roses, floral, red fruited, slightly more closed than 2008; palate is balanced, tannins still present but approachable, red fruited, lovely; finish is long. 94++
Red fruited, cherry, a bit of spice, aromatic; palate has balanced tannin, lovely red fruit, underlying depth but not clear yet; medium length finish. Comes across as a bit more modern than Vajra but still quite traditional. 93
Aromatic, coffee, burnt caramel, complex aromatics; palate has some significant sweetness still, complex caramel, burnt coffee notes; finish is medium-long. This has improved since my last taste, lovely Climens. 92
2013 G.D. Vajra Barolo Ravera 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Stood up for weeks, decanted off a small amount of fine sediment. Light ruby, slight age-appropriate bricking; more black cherry than red cherry, high intensity aromatics, some stony minerality, almost a bit of plum; palate is medium bodied, a smoothness/richness which is appealing, red to purple fruited, youthful tannin, high acidity; finish is medium length and very balanced. Really exceptional, seems well put together and with a huge amount of potential. 94++
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2013 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Stood up for weeks, decanted off a small amount of fine sediment. Light ruby, slight age-appropriate bricking; high intensity aromatics, red cherry, floral, roses; palate is medium bodied, red fruited, high but approachable tannin, medium alcohol (14%); medium-long finish. Youthful, approachable, but this has so much further to go in the next 2 decades. Hard to judge now, but 94++? Definitely has the elegant/red fruited Bricco character which is hard to find elsewhere.
6 hours later: fabulous nose and palate, approachable, but tighter than the 2008 and 2012. This will be great one day.
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2014 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Brioche, lemon peel, excellent complexity; palate is balanced, lemon-lime, balanced dosage, lovely complex flavors; medium-long finish. This is excellent at its level, with plenty of refreshing character and some richness too. 93
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2019 Castello di Perno Langhe Nascetta Gregorio Gitti 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Aromatic, herbal, mint, tarragon; medium full bodied, richly textured, medium acidity, balanced, more textural than fruity; finish is medium length. The aromatics are fascinating. 90-91
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2018 Oudiette x Filles Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Uni Terre 90 Points
France, Champagne
Low dosage. Blanc de blancs. Balanced, but lacking a bit of excitement and depth compared to the Vilmart. Lovely though.
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NV Pierre Péters Champagne Brut Rosé for Albane 91 Points
France, Champagne
Aromatic, strawberry; cold but limited nose; palate is medium bodied, well balanced, some dosage; medium finish. Good, expensive though.
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NV Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Cuvée Granite 90eme Anniversaire 93 Points
France, Champagne
Complex with lemon-lime, brioche, classic profile but very complex; palate is medium bodied, impeccably balanced; long finish. I like this better than Cuvee rare. 93-95
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1996 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo Storico Liste 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Fully mature nose, leafy, Bretty, soy; palate is light bodied, high alcohol, well balanced, mature soy and tamari; medium finish. Classic mature Barolo, slightly dirty but not too much. 91
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1958 Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Barolo 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Aromatic, oxidative in a good way, complex tamari, forest floor and wet rain, bretty; palate is light bodied, high acidity, alcohol is well balanced, still very alive; finish is medium length. Well aged Barolo, lovely. 92
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1999 Comm. G.B. Burlotto Barolo Cannubi 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Intense aromatics, menthol, violets, fantastic complexity; palate is light-medium bodied, floral, red fruited; finish is medium length. Really lovely. 94
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2008 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 96 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Fabulous aromatics, roses, floral, red fruited; impeccable balance, richly textured, while also maintaining lightness, red fruited, floral, fabulous; long finish. This is exceptional. 96
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2012 G.D. Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole 94 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Fabulous nose with roses, floral, red fruited, slightly more closed than 2008; palate is balanced, tannins still present but approachable, red fruited, lovely; finish is long. 94++
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2013 Elvio Cogno Barolo Riserva Vigna Elena 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Red fruited, cherry, a bit of spice, aromatic; palate has balanced tannin, lovely red fruit, underlying depth but not clear yet; medium length finish. Comes across as a bit more modern than Vajra but still quite traditional. 93
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2013 Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice Ravera 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Red fruited, floral; light bodied, high tannin, youthful, a bit less depth than the Vajra Ravera; medium length finish. 91
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2015 Marcarini Barolo Brunate 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Youthful, still a bit of oak, fruity; palate is light bodied, fruity, high acid; medium finish. Lacks a bit of depth but well balanced. 89
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1983 Château Climens 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
Aromatic, coffee, burnt caramel, complex aromatics; palate has some significant sweetness still, complex caramel, burnt coffee notes; finish is medium-long. This has improved since my last taste, lovely Climens. 92
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2021 Fest Wine Co. Pinot Noir Van der Kamp Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Lovely red fruit, high acid, lovely balance, low alcohol, red fruited; medium finish. Nice California Pinot! 88
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