5/1/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

A lot of what some people call ”minerality”. Almost like liquid stone. Green apples, nuts. Delayed onset of acidity. Some development. Not what I would pick to match seafood, but very good on its own.

4/28/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

The trick this evening was to keep it warm enough to let all flavors out, but cool enough to keep it distinct and refreshing. A balance act!

4/27/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Abundant cool dark fruit, salmiac candy, stone. Any hard edges that may have been there once are now polished off. Very clean for a Clape. Super good!

4/20/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Short decant. Dark fruit, licorice, leather, barnyard. Starts off relatively funky, cleaner with air. Good length! I am sure this will survive many more years of cellaring, but not sure it would improve.

4/13/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Cherries, touch of mango, tea, earth. Fruit is extremely pretty on the nose but does not follow through on the palate, where it feels a little disjointed. For me, slightly behind the Tre Tine this year. Uncertain how it will, or will not, evolve from here on.

4/13/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Dark cherries, stone, a very clear iron/blood component. Harmonious on the palate. For me, slightly ahead of the Brunate this year. Good now, but no rush.

4/7/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Wow, this is exceptionally good. The fruit is just so pure and fresh. There is almost a little tart note of grapefruit or lemon which makes it really interesting. Smoked meat and a well-balanced dose of oak, adding some toast and vanilla. Still tannins left, but at the same time so silky. Finish is looong.

Drinking very well at the moment after an hour of air. Depending on your taste, perhaps there is even further positive development to come.

I am impressed!

4/6/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Red fruit, blood orange, hard candy, new oak. Tannic, some sweetness from the oak. Good, if you don’t mind the modern style. Recommend giving it a couple of hours of air. Now and for many years ahead.

4/6/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

A little reductive and in need of some air. Cherries, black currant, some banana cake, chocolate, whiff of hartshorn. Youthful, but good to go after a short decant!

4/6/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Shy dark fruit, salty licorice, coffee, a touch of smoke. Concentrated, very “dark” impression. Would have liked more fruit and less oak. Hard to tell where this is going. Below expectations.

3/30/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Red fruit, hard candy, mint, vanilla. Sweet sensation at the end, presumably from the new oak. Still very tannic. Very good if you like a modern-style Barolo.

3/30/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Cool blue fruit, violets, smoked meats, licorice pastille, barnyard, herbs. Good amount of soft and rich fruit. Tannins are toned down, but still some left. I wouldn’t hold onto this much longer because I want some structure and resistance. Very good!

3/29/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Lingonberry, watermelon, tea, earth. Some development, but fruit is a bit thin. Still a nice tannic grip on the end. Not sure this is for me.

3/23/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

What an amazing wine! Dusty earthy notes, leather, very clean fruit including cherry, orange, and peach. After two hours of air it opens up and feels balanced and integrated, and a slight trace of alcohol disappears. If I you prefer some tannins left, I would drink now, but with this much fruit there is still room for more development if that is what you prefer.

3/17/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Dark and red fruit, licorice, bay leaf, smoke. Some development, but still youthful. Fresh and extremely drinkable after some air! This is good stuff!

3/16/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Ripe strawberries, animal character, faint oak. Good development but too thin in the middle, and lacks that special thing about good PN.

3/16/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Developed and creamy with a discrete array of yeast notes, such as pastries and rye bread, supporting the fruity elements.

3/16/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Very rich, fruity, with ripe lemon, pineapple, elderberry. Lots of stone! Even the empty glass smells strongly of stone. A tiny bit of petrol, but not disturbing at all. Drinking well.

3/9/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Textbook Cabernet profile. Still very youthful, fruity. Lacks some structure, a little weak in the middle. May improve but I would drink now on the lovely fruit.

3/9/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Ripe fruits, raisin, herbal notes. Good length. Best days behind, drink now.

3/9/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Plenty of sweet dried fruit, cherries, orange, notes of spices. Good acidity and almost fully resolved tannins. A bit too mature for my taste but very good! I see no further upside from here on. Went great with risotto.

2/24/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Ripe strawberries, cherries, flowers, tea, paint. A hint of something green which balances the fruity and sweet notes. Very fresh, but not much tannins. Slight heat actually (14%), but not a big issue. Very open for business after a couple of hours in the decanter. Drink or hold.

2/17/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Big, fruity, with raspberry pie, black currant, peppermint. Needs an hour of air or so. Excellent!

2/4/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Red fruit, peaches, licorice, wet asphalt. Very big, concentrated, still tannins left. A bit of heat but no big issue. Light and heavy at the same time. This is not my style, at least not any longer, but it is kind of cool I have to admit. :)

2/3/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Apples, toasted bread, a little English cider. Quite nice creamy finish. Have had better experiences with this wine and vintage, but still good value.

2/3/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Lots of structure, smoked meat, juniper, smoke, a tiny bit of dark fruit, more smoke. No change on second day. There is no obvious defect, just an underperforming wine. Hoping for more luck with my remaining bottles.

2/3/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Cherries, blood orange, peppermint, violets, tea. Fresh, oak is staying in the background. Above expectations. This was the last bottle and it was the best by far. I should have been more patient!

1/27/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Organic, with notes of earth, mushroom, truffles. Cherries, red currant, cakes baking in the oven. The more air this gets, the more creamy the wine becomes. Good for many more years. An outstanding Brunello!

1/20/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Cool blue and black fruit, olives, very juicy. A funky animalistic touch that settles in at a pleasant level after some air. So authentic, so delicious! Drink now with air or hold for a year or two.

1/20/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Flat, lacks fruit, a strange note of perfume. Nothing on my TCA radar, just very odd. Not sure exactly in what way it is flawed, but surely not supposed to be like this.

1/13/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Black currant, blueberry ice cream, herbs, tomato leaves, organic notes of earth and truffle. Good acidity keeping things fresh. This would have been very difficult to pinpoint blind. But knowing what it is, you can identify both Cab and Tuscany components. Logical! It is not bad at all, but I sometimes find the Sammarco a bit too greenish for my liking.

1/6/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Dark fruit, licorice, smokey BBQ sauce. Very concentrated, a bit hot but it works. Massive!

1/5/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Ripe fruits, ananas, peach. A lot of stone! Touch of spices. Very good or even better a week later in a topped up smaller bottle in the fridge.

1/3/2024 - KimHartman wrote:

Nuts, brown sugar, cacao powder, leather, banana cake, celery. Fresh, not too heavy, but some alcohol comes through. Fascinating stuff!

12/16/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Dark fruits, green pepper, bitter chocolate, bonfire. Still has enough fruit to balance the other components, but I wouldn’t wait too long.

12/9/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Blue and black fruit, olives, grapefruit, stone. Rich and intense, maybe a little funk on the nose. Still quite a lot of tannins left but starting to soften. Great wine! Drink or hold.

12/2/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Gave it an hour in the decanter. For my taste this is ready now, but I am sure it will last for many years.

11/18/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Apple, lemon, some sugar at the end. Very good, but was expecting a bit more tension and energy. Unsure how this will develop.

11/11/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Red fruit, bright, a little vanilla. Oak is not too dominant, but I could live without the 14.5%. Accessible with a short decant.

11/11/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Dark fruit, licorice, cigar. Powerful and concentrated, lots of tannins. Needs a bit of air to come around. Will last many years I believe.

11/10/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Nuts, butter, soft fruit, and some stone on the finish. Ready to go but no hurry. Very good!

11/5/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Dark cherries, leather, a touch of chocolate cake. Noticeable alcohol and a little bit clumsy. This was better at release, where it felt more balanced in its young phase. It may become balanced again with more age, but I am not sure.

11/4/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Very good. Wish I had more!

10/28/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Great Dolcetto that is ready to go with a little air. A bit pricey though.

10/21/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Not the best bottle/occasion of the 2015 for me, but still very good.

10/21/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

This bottle was horribly off. Too bad. Standard Barral hit-or-miss.

9/2/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

In a good place. Above expectations!

8/19/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Very good! I think it has many years left, at least based on this sample, and could even improve further.

8/5/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Good now, but could improve with another year or two.

7/29/2023 - KimHartman wrote:

Don't be afraid to enjoy this a little warmer than most whites. It will just reveal how great it is. Drinking well at the moment!