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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More...
White

2015 Maison Valette Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes

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5/1/2021 - JohanPe wrote: 96 points

M-C has been a favourite label from Valette for me since the first bottle, the '15 performs up there with the '12 and in a similar style. The balance stands out, nothing out of place and that world class interpretation of everything a lemon can be. Crushed stones, elegant sense of minerality with a smoky twist to it. Unsalted almonds and a tiny pinch of herbs.
Top class.
The palate brings superb acidity, in perfect harmony with the power of the lemon notes. Long and crisp aftertaste.
My guess is you will have to wait 3-5 years for some kind of development but I'm hesitant that will even be of benefit for the overall experience.
An absolute favourite of mine and highly recommended.

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Red

2013 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Tre Tine

 Nebbiolo more
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12/2/2017 - JohanPe wrote: 96 points

Wide open right from decant, super aromatic and vibrant. Classic in every sense of the word. Clear cherries, roses, rosehip, new leather, fresh forest, menthol, violets and a lingering touch of pepper. Gorgeous and pretty much perfect for a Barolo at this stage, everything is there. Sandy tannins, marked but of exceptional quality. Bright acidity that will last a long time. Amazing how good this is already. Long aftertaste. The best young Barolo I've had, no question.

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White

2010 Maison Valette Pouilly-Fuissé Tradition

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8/10/2019 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

Starting to shine. Deep yellow. Oily look. Majestic notes of lemon, honey, old oak, flowers and tropical fruits. Still solid structure with high acidity and very long aftertaste. Such power and grace. Drinking window starts now imo. Different class.

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White

2013 Domaine Labet Chardonnay Les Champs Rouges

 Côtes du Jura more
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2/14/2020 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

This bottle was something else. Perfectly matured and for my taste this is it, I can't imagine it getting significantly better than this. I'm officially calling this at peak level, now and a few years onward. Wonderful lemon notes, waxy mouthfeel and appearance, smoky minerality, almonds, rocks. The acidity is superbly balanced, still lots of energy and drive but also with smoothness and depth. Long aftertaste. Last bottle, pretty much a masterpiece in my book.

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White

2015 Maison Valette Mâcon-Chaintré Vieilles Vignes

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7/14/2023 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

No development compared to the last bottle. Amazing.

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Red

2013 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo

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1/3/2020 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

Early days but very happy I got to taste the '13 when it's only a baby. Lovely nose of dark fruit between red and purple; deep mature cherries with plenty of freshness left in them. Tar, dried roses and very distinctive paint box aromas. Rosehip and worn leather. Overall it's pretty dark for such a young Barolo, both on the nose and in appearance. Dark tea and some dried salvia and liquorice. Was served this blind and to be honest I was thinking of a slightly developed, superb Sangiovese when I was nervously trying to "bring in the suspects" in my mind. In any case the nose is sublime.
The palate is surprisingly approachable with amazing tannins, really really high quality. During the evening I kept coming back to the tannins and for me that's what separates this '13 from many other high level Barolos. Structure wise the acidity is youthful but not much above medium imo. The dark fruit profile continues where the nose left off but the palate is more about secondary notes such as tar, roses, leather and paint box. Long aftertaste, very elegant. Already in balance.
No surprises and unnecessary to recommend, everyone knows this is among the very best Barolo in any vintage.

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Red

2010 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Rocks

 Walla Walla Valley more
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4/24/2015 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

Another insanely good performance from this wine, best bottle to date. Dark red, on the brink of being transparent but, no. Dark fruit, blackcurrant, blackberry and blueberry. Sweet and creamy. Charcuterie, raw meat, vanilla, chocolate, blood, liquorice and gravel road. Cool and very mineral, stunning.
Love the weight on the palate, dark tones of dark berries, liquorice, salt, meat and the characteristic notes of spice, not heat, just a perfect amount of spice. Sensing some development in the aftertaste, not so harsch now, more of a creamy and fat feeling. Could be bottlevariation. Will of course develop for a long time although I'm beginning to question the purpose of that, like it just as it is. Brilliant.

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White

2013 Domaine Labet Chardonnay Lias

 Côtes du Jura more
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7/22/2020 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

Graded from memory. Just a superb bottle of wine, not far from complete. Citrus heaven and perfectly balanced acidity. Probably the last time I taste this wine. Labet at his best.

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White

2010 Emrich-Schönleber Monzinger Frühlingsplätzchen Riesling Großes Gewächs

 Nahe more
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3/18/2017 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

Consistent with previous notes. On day 2 this delivers one of my best experiences with Riesling ever. Everything in place, just wish I'd opened it the day before. A few more years and it will peak imo but who cares when it delivers like this today. Beautiful.

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White

2015 Weingut Keller Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs

 Rheinhessen more
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7/19/2017 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

After one hour in the decanter the '15 Kirchspiel sings on all cylinders. Super aromatic, wide open. Yellow and white fruit of highest quality. Tons of rocks. Passion fruit, pineapple, lemon and grass. So concentrated and focused its almost overwhelming. Beautiful acidity, powerful yet in balance. Surprisingly approachable at this early stage, smooth and mineral. This is my first Kirchspiel from Keller and its definitely a level up from every Riesling I've ever had before. A masterpiece and much more to be expected.

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White

2015 Weingut Keller Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs

 Rheinhessen more
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10/3/2020 - JohanPe wrote: 95 points

Consistent with previous note. Impeccable lime in various shapes, packed with rocks. Overall pretty much flawless.

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Red

2014 Olek Bondonio Barbaresco Roncagliette

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4/14/2018 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Been longing to try some of Olek Bondonios wines. The Roncagliette '14 is very open and aromatic right from the start. Full and lush in style, the fruit is definitely on the darker side and of exceptional quality. Pretty classic overall with rosehip, leather, herbs, menthol and a beautiful sweet strawberry twist. The nose holds firm for the whole evening and feels steady as a rock. Of course a very youthful palate with acidity and tannins in the front seat. Incredibly charming and direct, pretty much all you can ask for from a Barbaresco at this stage imo. Perhaps it's too early for the extra depth and complexity but boy there's massive amounts of drinkability instead. Strikingly pure and transparent. This will if course hold and perform good over a long period of time but I think this vintage of the Roncagliette really needs to be tried in its youth as well. Impressive.

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Red

2012 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Paiagallo

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8/26/2017 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Deep nose of cherries, rosehip, new leather, roses, paint box, liquorice, tar and herbs. Floral and expressive. Just as close to perfect young nebbiolo nose imo. Old school style. The worn out expression 'an iron fist in a velvet glove' comes to mind. Chewy tannins of highest quality. Energetic acidity, orange like. Long aftertaste. Drinks incredibly well already and I have to agree with previous notes about the drinking window. In line with most 2012's from the region. I would say this will be significantly better in 5-10 but it will be a test to cellar the remaining bottles that long. Outstanding and highly recommended.

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White

2013 Château de Brézé Saumur Clos de la Rue

 Chenin Blanc more
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4/28/2018 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

No formal notes. Citrus, dried apricots, sun kissed lemons and various citrus fruits, hint of spice and a breeze of light smoke. Stunning nose with multiple layers and lots of complexity despite its relative youth. Acidity is well preserved and with lots of energy and bite. Long aftertaste with an almost oily finish. Lovely wine that will continue to develop the coming decade (s).

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Red

2007 Lorenzo Accomasso Barolo Riserva Vigneto Rocchette

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4/4/2016 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Abyssal nose, stunning old school notes all over the place. Deep mature red fruit, roses, mature rosehip, dark leather, tar, truffle, chocolate, undergrowth and much more. Mostly driven by the perfectly balanced fruit. Dark cherries on the palate together with the same notes as on the nose. A wine that makes you totally forget about your notebook. Surprisingly approachable, for me this drinks extremely well already. Power and elegance.

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Red

2013 Serafino Rivella Barbaresco Montestefano

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5/18/2018 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Traditional nebbiolo marks, everything in a dark, earthy, structured style. Understand that Teobaldo Rivella makes his Barbaresco more like a Barolo with longer maceration time (3-4 weeks) and longer aging in botti than usual (30-40 months). That definitely has a part in the firmer tannins and overall more powerful structure in this beautiful '13 Montestefano. Dark cherries and cherry core, sheer presence but oh so powerful. New leather, rosehip, menthol, dried roses, violets and tobacco. Wonderful nose, quite elegant with a sense of underlying power. The palate is tense with juicy chewable tannins of very high quality and equally energetic acidity, this is built to go a long way. The acidity is orange like with great lift. The wine needs half an hour in the glass to really speak and if you have the opportunity, I didn't as i tasted this bottle on different occasions via Coravin, a proper long decant. Slightly dry finish, very long. Happy to have a few bottles left, this will be hard to beat in 10-20 years.

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Red

2004 Roagna Barbaresco Pajè

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6/24/2017 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Clear red with a slight rusty edge. Beautiful in the glass.
Grows with air and really sings after 30 minutes or so with gorgeous cherries, roses, rosehip, paint box, leather, tar, spice and herbs. Deep and refined nose, complex and long. Traditional, classic.
Same notes on the palate. Great acidity and fine tannins of highest quality. Still young and kicking, got lots of time left and huge potential. Still it drinks great already, I'd say it has reached an early maturity phase and when to pick is simply down to your preference and taste. Long aftertaste with roses and cherries. Develops and grows during the night and to no ones surprise the last glass is the best.

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Red

2014 Serafino Rivella Barbaresco Montestefano

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5/2/2023 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Consistent with previous note. Dark cherries, menthol, gravel, minerals and some fresh herbs. Slightly more polished after 5 years. Brilliant.

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Red

2011 Elio Sandri Barolo Riserva Perno

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1/12/2024 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

No notes, just a few thoughts from memory. 2 hours in the decanter. Fabulous nose, traditional and rustic. Dark fruit, rosehip, tar, leather, dried roses. Lots of complexity, and finesse too.
The palate is in perfect balance, in a very good spot right now. Some menthol. Structure for further cellaring but I’m not disappointed at all at opening this today.
Perhaps bulls eye lies somewhere 5-10 years on but the advantage of cellaring isn’t huge imo. Brilliant Barolo.

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White

1996 Maison Valette Pouilly-Fuissé Le Clos de Monsieur Noly

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12/25/2018 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Must have been a perfect bottle. Consistent with previous note except from being more energetic and lively. Not as much oxidation notes on the nose, pure with a lot of mushrooms, mature apples, fine Calavados, nougat and so on. Creamy mouthfeel. Still a lot of acidity left. For me personally this is at its peak.

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White

2014 Sandhi Wines Chardonnay Rita's Crown

 Sta. Rita Hills more
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12/2/2019 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Sun kissed citrus fruits, mostly lemon. White and yellow tropical fruits such as melon and physalis. Butter, baked lemon and crushed stones, crunchy and highly mineral. Beautifully integrated oak that works in the background.
The palate continues on the same path, incredibly well made with smooth power and depth. Citrus like acidity in perfect balance. Long aftertaste. A subtle note of oak creates a well polished beast with lots of power and elegance. Still young with a great future ahead but my oh my it's stunning already. Highly recommend to buy at first sight.

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Red

2016 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Paiagallo

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1/16/2021 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Opened and ready to go straight at pour. Full profile, big bodied nose in a very generous and traditional style. Mature fruit, dark cherries and strawberries, borderline jammy and a bit sweet. Dried dark roses, liquorice, tar, balsamico, dried carnations, black tea. A lot going on and perhaps the alcohol is there in the background if you're really looking for it. At 15,5% I consider that an achievement on its own.
The palate is, as one could imagine, a real powerhouse. Big and broad, full profile. Superb tannins, really high quality with proper grip and seriously juicy without being overly dry or harsh. Good acidity, balanced in that regard. Dark fruit, balsamico, roses and tar. More about tertiary notes on the palate. The palate strikes me as slightly waxy, or oily even, some kind of balsamic smoothness. Could be the alcohol that contributed to that. A bit of heat on the aftertaste but overall surprisingly balanced considering the high alcohol. With that being said it certainly is a powerful Barolo that surely will benefit from cellar time. Haven't a lot of experience with Canonicas Paiagallo but have tasted most of recent vintages and this feels a lot like '12 and '13 in its youth, both stunning at release but for me with different aging curves; '12 inconsistent and sometimes premature and '13 pretty much brilliant since release and with no signs of folding or even blinking on its way towards future greatness.
Anyway. The '16's only flaw imo is the sense of heat in the aftertaste, otherwise a superb wine at this young stage. Would love to try in 10-15 years again when perhaps the alcohol is even more integrated and the wine has settled down some and become more elegant and harmonious.
Recommended. (especially if you like your Barolo firing on all cylinders...)

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Red

2012 Elio Sandri Barolo Riserva Perno

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10/26/2019 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Couldn't resist trying this out as we tried it from tank at the winery summer 2018. Of all the wines tasted at that visit the Perno Riserva '12 stood out.
Perfumed and ready to go right from the start. The characteristic big, bold and powerful house style is there, but also tons of elegance. Mature dark cherries, cherrie core, leather, rosehip, dried roses, tar, liquorice, balsamico, menthol, salvia. Extraordinary lifted nose of mostly tertiary notes. Unsurprisingly tough on the palate. The tannins are finely tuned and takes a powerful, solid grip of the mouth. What strikes me most is how juicy and chewy they manage to stay despite its powerful presence, very well crafted. Long aftertaste. Good orange-like acidity. Only a baby at this point and got decades of life left but as I have found other 2012's this also drinks well right after release. For me this ticks all the boxes for a young Barolo, highly recommended.

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White

2011 Tissot (Bénédicte et Stéphane / André et Mireille) Savagnin Arbois

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11/17/2018 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

Breathtakingly aromatic and focused right at pnp. Deep aromatics such as mellow citrus fruits, walnuts, cashew nuts, fine sherry, mature yellow apples, lime juice, bread, honey and much more. Majestic on the nose, if you like this style of oxidative wines this is right up there with serious Vin Jaunes, only lighter and not so oily in its texture. There's also a smoky, mineral component that lingers and grows with time and air. The palate is smooth without being at all tired, just provocatively balanced and precise. Same notes is found on the palate, beautiful acidity that I believe have settled down a few steps since last bottle a couple of years ago. Not really much resistance drinking this, I think it is in a beautiful spot right now, if not THE spot. I guess it will gain more weight with further cellaring but also loose the energy that still drives the wine. Equally brilliant on day 2, if not better. Then with more pronounced tropical fruit and crushed rocks, actually felt fresher the next day which surprised me a little. Many times described as "a poor man's Vin Jaune" but personally I prefer this slightly lighter style every day of the week. Pair this with proper comté or gruère and magic will happen. Somewhat an acquired taste of course but if you like the "sous voile" style you are going to love this.

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White

2014 Maison Valette Viré-Clessé

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3/14/2020 - JohanPe wrote: 94 points

No in depth notes, from memory. Seems to be on a endless streak of amazing bottles from Valette. This Viré Clessé was no different. Very much true to the house style and superbly balanced already. Good energy, very long aftertaste.

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  • Tasting notes: 1,396 notes on 946 wines

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