4/13/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Agree with others, PNP and ready to go. Very nice for $32.

4/10/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

PnP at the Terrace Room in New Buffalo. Not suprisingly, young and tight, but it was probably the best value on the list. Red fruited (cherries, currants), violets, a bit of spiciness, dried herbs. Just not showing much at this point without a good decanting.

4/6/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Lovely... Translucent ruby. Tart cherries, pomegranate, cranberries, orange peel, minerals, thyme, violets. My last of four and there did seem to be some bottle variation, some were good, but not this good.

3/31/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

My first Drew. Never see them locally, but picked this up from Garagiste a couple of years ago.

Nice cooler climate, medium weight pinot. Raspberries, red cherries, minerals, earth, forest floor, mushrooms. A decent value. One left, thinking I may hold another couple of years.

3/10/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Haven't had this in several vintages. I really enjoyed this at $17. Black cherries, black berries, black currants, smokey meats/bacon, violets/floral, garrigue, dried thyme. Some tannins, but not unpleasant.

3/2/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Very nice and our guests loved it. A tad big for me, but very enjoyable. Dark cherries, dark berries, evergreen, dried herbs.

3/2/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Beautiful nose. Black cherries, dark plums, leather, mushrooms, spices. Not sure it will improve any further and drinking very well right now.

3/2/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

No formal notes, third bottle of a dinner party, but it was very nice. Will have more formal notes on one of my remaining two bottles.

2/18/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

This was the last bottle at the end of a dinner party last night and I never tried it. There was about a third left for me today. This was awesome for $23. The Mourvèdre is prominent. Dark plums, raspberries, minerals/stones, anise, garrigue, pepper, spice, not really any secondary characteristics yet, still young. Glad to have another bottle, but I wish I bought a few more. More like a CdP than a CdR.

2/17/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Anise, tar, violets, cloves, cherries, plums, leather, tobacco, soy sauce. Very youthful, decanted for an hour and it wasn't enough. Deep and dark, maybe a touch ambering at the edges? Would never know this is a 25 year old wine. Cork was spongy in the middle and broke off half way. Once more bottle and I'll hold it a few years. A beautiful bottle.

1/31/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Not sure RM Bearswallow's are my style. Just had a 2018 Dupuis Abel three days earlier. The Abel was well balanced with nice acidity. The Bearswallow was big and awkward. 2018 was a great vintage, with balanced wines with good acidity and low sugars. Not what I experienced here. It seems RM's style has shifted to a bigger, riper style, based on this and other more recent vintages of other bottlings I've had recently.

1/28/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Very pretty wine that really opened up over a couple of hours. Red cherries, strawberries, red currants, dried herbs, minerals, earth. Well Balanced. At this point I prefer it to the 2018 Wendling, even though I thought it would be the opposite based on the notes I've red.

1/20/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Consistent with my previous two bottles. This was the last one. Not sure it's going to get much better, so no reason to not drink soon and drink at it's prime.

1/19/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Followed Bob H's lead. Perfect for a snowy night in the woods of SW Michigan. Stayed in, started a fire, cooked and enjoyed this fine Barolo. Unfortunately my last 98. Still young and tight. Almost no bricking and deep ruby. After a small glass, I decanted and swirled a lot. Dark cherries, violets, tar, leather, dried thyme, porcini, balsamico. Just a different beast from most of the entry level or moderately priced cru Barolo's. Wonderful.

1/15/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Very similar to the bottle I had on 5/26/23. May be a bit too fruit forward.

1/12/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Blackberries, dark currants, black cherries, plums, tobacco, leather, cedar. Had some left two days after opening and it was even better. Still young. Friend opened this and I knew it would be early.

1/5/2024 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Pretty translucent ruby. Luscious raspberry, strawberry, kirsch, fresh thyme, stone/minerals. Nice restraint, not big/over-extracted. Really nice, unfortunately can't buy more locally, it was a Garagiste purchase.

12/30/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Like a very fruit forward southern rhone. Raspberry, red cherry, red plums, violets, garrigue.

12/27/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Second of two bottles. The first one in April seemed off, unfortunately kind of like ACYSO bottle in May. This bottle was excellent. Deep and dark, dark cherries, dark red plums, balsamico, mushroom. Very smooth and silky.

12/27/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Trying to find a decent value on a restaurant wine list that was short, not much I would drink, and did not many values. It was a 2x retail. Haven't had a La Spinetta wine in a few years. Not a heavy hand with oak, apparently old barrels and no new oak. Black cheery, blackberry, dark Italian plums. It was very enjoyable.

12/23/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Been buying this on and off for over a decade. Had this with friends at a BYO. I think this was one of the best vintages for me.

12/9/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Last bottle of a case. Really in a great spot. Strawberries, raspberries, black tea, floral notes, thyme, minerals. Pretty translucent ruby.

11/22/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

FMIII hit it on the head for me with this quote, "I typically love Summa and I do like some age on the vineyard but I simply think that the 2019 its just a bit rich and too much for me." Frank, glad to see that it wasn't just me. Unfortunately, this was the first of four.

11/8/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Great nose, but it seemed a bit tight. Hopefully some additional time may open it up a bit. An OK buy at $28 from Garagiste, but wouldn't be happy if I paid $60 from the winery.

10/14/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Brought to a dinner party, but unfortunately it was corked.

9/30/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Full bodied, but not overly extracted or overrripe. Dark fruited, blackberries, black cherries, black plums, earth, dried herbs. Not very complex, but very enjoyable for $17.

8/15/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Very similar to my last note from a couple years ago. Still drinking great. Not sure there is any need to hold longer.

8/17/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

I've been wanting to try Giulia's wines for a few years, but hadn't found any. This was the only offering a local shop had, no Barolos. I prefer Langhe nebbiolos that are made in a more serious style, rather than a quaffable drink it super young style. It seems this is made in the former style. Decanted and gave it a lot a lot of swirling over an hour or so. As I expected, but I couldn't wait to try it, still very young and tight. Should improve with time. Very nice cherry, tar, fennel/licorice, violets/roses. Will try to grab a couple more of these to hold and continue to look for some of her Barolos. Not that it matters, but great design for her label.

8/16/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Candied cherry, pretty ripe fruit. As expected for $17, not very complex, but a decent drink for the price.

7/16/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Plums, cherries, currants, spice. Not much complexity. Took a flyer for $14 at closeout. OK, but wouldn't seek it out.

7/9/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Red cherries, raspberries, roses, violets, a bit of smoke. A nice wine, decent price at $14.

7/8/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Pale rose color, almost a heavy roasto. Don't let the color fool you, plenty here. Tart red cherries, straberries, raspberries, roses, violets. Nice for $18.

6/27/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

The inaugural vintage for Lonesome Rock! Great vineyard site for pinot and chard. Decanted, still very young. Cherry, cranberry, strawberry, mint, violets, pine needles. Can't wait to follow its development with time. Glad to have purchased a case.

6/14/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

My previous bottles were better. If you have any left, you may want to check in on them..May be better to drink rather than hold.

6/16/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Dark purple. Blackberries, black cherries, cassis, minerals, garrigue. It's in a great place. It envelopes you like a big, soft, cozy sweater. We loved it. Only one left, which we'll drink fairly soon. Wish I bought more than three when they were released.

6/18/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Still very tight, really shy nose. Hasn't changed much from my previous notes.

6/11/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Decent for $14. Darker red fruits, spice, dried herbs.

5/31/2023 - Al Ehrhardt Likes this wine:

Pretty medium ruby. Bright tart red cherries, pomegranate, red currant, orange peel, violets, black tea, mint, pine. Nice acidity. Very enjoyable, I’m a nerrelo fan. I grab a bottle occasionally when shopping in my local grocery. A good value at $14.

5/26/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Black cherry, pomegranate, orange peel, spice, black tea, pepper. Abundant fruit, very nice nose. Should improve some in the next couple of years. Very enjoyable.

5/12/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

My last 07 and it was clumsy and awkward. Big, black fruited (black plums, black cherries), leather, mushrooms, earth, pine/forest. My wife called it and said this doesn't even look or taste like chianti.

5/14/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Just OK, liked the bottle we opened in 2021 better, and that wasn't really my cup of tea. Not sure what bothered me about this, something wasn't quite right and still didn't seem like Barolo. Opened it for Mother's Day and my wife had one glass and asked if I was opening anything else:(.

5/9/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Bought this ten years ago and wish I bought more. Big and dark, earthy/soil/dirt, minerals, blackberries, black currants, dried herbs, olives. We really enjoyed this, my franc loving buddy said it was the best wine he's had in awhile.

5/6/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Another good, not great bottle of traditional barolo. Tar, black cherries, truffle, earthy, pine/forest. Difficult for me to even write a review since this vintage has just been disappointing for a wine of this caliber. Had four of these. One was horribly corked, one wasn't very good, and two were good, but didn't live up to this wines potential. We did visit the winery 10 years ago and after seeing the winery, not surprised by the wines seeming a bit off. Have three 21's left...

4/8/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

A good value wine list pick for $32 at Bread + Bar in Benton Harbor, MI. Blackberry, black currants, spice, black pepper, dried herbs.

4/7/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

A bit too bretty for me.

4/4/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

A really enjoyable bottle. Very similar to my notes from 2018. Awesome funky nose. Bought four for $19 on sale at Binny's years ago, but should have grabbed a few more. Glad to have two left.

3/31/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Damn, corked...

2/25/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

A very good bottle. Decanted and really opened up with air. Still youthful. No rush if you care to hold, but really good now.

1/14/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

I buy at least one bottle of this most years. A nice value and we are big Vajra fans, always were but we loved our visit and tour with the Vajra's several years ago. I was disappointed the first night, dark purple, really bright/lively, but very primary. I'm usually not a dolcetto fan for this reason, and this reminded me of a dolcetto. This calmed down quite a bit on day two. Got a great deal on this and bought 5. Will hold them a bit and hope they settle down. If you open one now, I strongly recommend giving it a lot of air, double decant and swirl a lot while in the decanter.

1/7/2023 - Al Ehrhardt wrote:

Consistent with my notes on 6/1/22. Very nice bottle.