5/4/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

gave the glass air for over an hour. wine softened up considerably showing rose and tar on the nose. beautiful cherry fruit with just a hint of bitter almond on the finish. a great langhe nebbiolo but not quite as wonderful as the 2021. great depth of fruit from not necessarily all younger vines. love the line-up of wines from cavallotto. this is top of class as far as langhe nebbiolo goes!

5/4/2024 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

somewhat sketchy balance and muted fruit with a slightly bitter finish. disappointing for a 1st cru. enough said.

5/4/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

very dense and dark. robust nose of tar, underbrush, and cherry. on the palate, i get dark fruit, mainly blackberry, dark cherry, and cassis. underlying tar, earth, and tobacco. moderate acidity and tannins. fairly good balance overall. will be interesting to see how this ages.

4/23/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

a very serious wine in structure. robust tannins and acidity along with 18 months in large botte means this wine will need some aging. a barolo in disguise? notes of cherry, red berry, tar, mint, wet earth, and leather. it's all here, it's just gonna take some time. put it down for at least 6 or 7 years. great qpr and a great producer. bodes well for the 2021 baroli!

4/16/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

a beautiful kabinett. white peach, citrus, and a hint of minerality. just a tad bit more residual sugar than i would like but hey, it's a Kabinett! drank slightly chilled after an hour decant. paired well with thai food.

4/16/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

great classic Barbaresco. aging quite well and perhaps a bit shutdown at this point. classic notes of cherry and rose with an impressive depth of fruit. not a long ager IMHO. if you have a case, break out the first bottle as this wine in now at the beginning of its drinking window. the phenolic ripeness of the fruit just blows me away with this wine in the 2016 vintage. it's what makes the 2016 vintage perhaps the best of all time. sorry '71 fans.

4/16/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

In a word, "Delicious." dark garnet in color. the nose is somewhat muted but classic: rose and cherries. medium bodied with tannins that are surprisingly very approachable at this young age. i get that beautiful 2016 cherry fruit, some mint and a hint of earth. impeccably balanced and still quite primary. fabulous depth of fruit leads to a long finish. give it at least an hour of breathing before you attempt this bottle. an incredible bottle of wine that is drinking great today and will only get better. i think i like the Roncaglie better than the Barolo Dardi le Rose.....time will tell.........this is a classic in every way. what an effort. could easily up-rate this in the future. it's the stuff that dreams are made of........

3/25/2024 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

sublime oak juice, only i was looking for a sublime wine. it represents everything that is wrong with napa valley wines. i bet 99% of those who drink this have no idea what they are tasting. shameful

3/23/2024 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

a very modern barolo with all of the characteristics that new oak brings.......this wine is not made from grapes that were ripe, nor over extracted. the wine is dark, oaky (both on the nose and palate), and wreaks of dark cherry. the new oak modifies the varietal characteristics of the nebbiolo, and destroys the fingerprints of terroir as well. all of these modern baroli more or less taste the same. do a blind tasting of 4 and see for yourself. what a shame to take grapes from such a prestigious vineyard and ruin them. is this oak juice or wine? hmmmm? not saying that it is not ok to like this, it's just that you should know what you are drinking and why it tastes the way it does......Nebbiolo is one of the most finessed, delicate, and beautiful varietals. traditional wines made from this grape can be complex and unforgettable. more and more modernists are moving away from new oak albeit slowly and i am all for that. these modern wines came into being so that the wines could be drunk earlier without the necessity of long aging. there is a big trade-off for that..........

3/10/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

beautiful example of a midweight classico that has aged perfectly. a nose of dried rose, sweet cherry, tar and worn saddle leather. on the palate, you get an amalgam of complexity all tied together by mostly resolved tannins and still bright acidity. there's the sweet cherry, the sous bois, some balsamic notes, and a nice long finish. the first taste of this, just put a big smile on my face. this was a great bottle of barolo even though it was from a classico. magic in a bottle!

day 2 - had the 2nd half of this bottle with a steak. perfection!

2/20/2024 - vinus_operandi wrote:

opens with tar and roses on the nose. on the palate, the wine shows sour dark cherry fruit that is somewhat muted, some tar, and mostly resolved tannins. the wine sort of fades into the finish which yields the low score here for me. a bit disappointing overall

2/18/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

really nice entry level burgundy. notes of cherry, spice, and forest floor. not particularly distinctive or deep but rather linear throughout the drinking window. showed good balance and a nice fruit profile. an easy drinker.

2/6/2024 - vinus_operandi wrote:

a lighter style bourgogne that leaves the drinker wanting more...........non-distinctive.

2/8/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

a nice entry level village wine. medium garnet in color. nose of spice, red berry and some earth. on the palate the wine is soft and quite enjoyable. sweet cherry, blueberry, and pomegranate predominates. there's good balance between the acidity and the medium tannins. i like the depth of fruit on this wine. would open the next bottle in 5 years.

2/8/2024 - vinus_operandi wrote:

a typical modern wine ( read new oak) that has had its varietal characteristics modified such that you are left with nothing but dark cherry oak juice. it will taste just like it tastes now for another 20 years or so. the juice is dark and brooding with no hint that the underlying varietal is sangiovese. that said, it is relatively smooth and the new oak is not overtly obvious like for instance in a Rocche dei Manzoni barolo. important to know exactly what you are drinking and how it was made.

2/8/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

decanted for 4 hours. dark garnet in color. a fairly muted nose of cherry and rose. on the palate, the wine shows sweet cherry, raspberry and strawberry. the tannins are somewhat resolved and the acidity is still quite high. linear across the palate with a long finish. wonderful mouthfeel and phenolic ripeness. drinking beautifully but surprisingly still primary. not a lot of secondary characteristics at this point which was somewhat disappointing. if you have any of this, give it another 5 to 10 years before you open the bottle.

1/27/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

what a wonderful syrah that is drinking great right now! cherry, dark berry, pepper, earth, and savory notes. soft tannins with ample acidity. no new oak to ruin the varietal characteristics. super enjoyable!

1/23/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

another good bottle of this very modern barolo. dark cherry, rose, and wet earth on the nose. palate is similar. the tannins are now fully integrated and the wine shows good overall balance. takes about 2 hours to open up fully, but the wait is worth it. while heavily influenced by the new oak, the oak is not in your face like a rocche dei manzoni. I have moved on from this modern style where the varietal characteristics of the Nebbiolo are destroyed by the new oak influence but this wine was enjoyable nonetheless if not truly representative of what a barolo can be.

1/21/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

cherry, earth and red berries dominate the sublime fruit. medium tannins with good acidity. this wine is all about balance. needs an hour to open up but when it does, the complexity rises to the top. not over oaked, not too ripe. just beautiful fruit with a strong up front earthiness that is hard to put your hands around. i don't think it's a wet earth but more of an dirt/soil type of earthiness. the wine ends with a wonderful long finish. great qpr!

1/19/2024 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

nose of pomegranate, raspberry, and cherry. on the palate there's cherry and some earthiness. unfortunately, the finish falls out on this wine and it just seems out of balance. something's not right here............

1/18/2024 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

white flower and citrus on the nose. lemon/lime and some green apple combine with good acidity and a slightly bitter almond finish. sort of one dimensional for me. gave it plenty of air so that's not the problem. just not very interesting.

1/11/2024 - vinus_operandi wrote:

it's been a few years since my last bottle and this bottle seems to have gone over the top of the curve and is on its way down. notes of strawberry, pomegranate, and cherry, with earthy undertones. this is a light delicate wine that now seems a bit washed out to me (if barely so). there's good acidity but not enough tannins and fruit to give this wine real aging potential. the 9 to 12 day maceration/fermentation and gentle treatment of the cap may be a bit too short/gentle for this vintage or it just may be the house style here. in any event, don't hold these bottles for much longer. i love these wines when they are young. they are not over oaked and are simply lovely. not all wines are made to age well. 4 to 6 years seems to be the sweet spot on these white rose pinots. nothing wrong with that.

1/1/2024 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

white flower and tropical notes on the nose. apricot, honey, ripe peach, and a touch of minerality on the palate. sweeter than i expected for a Spatlese but impeccably balanced nonetheless. a seering streak of Mosel acidity runs through this wine from start to finish. a wine of great precision and finesse. it delights as it dances across the tongue. this is why you drink Riesling from the Mosel. another great effort by Fritz Haag!

12/31/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

aged to perfection and drinking right now at the top of its aging curve. hands down the best Pouilly Fuisse that i have had. medium yellow in color. beautiful aromatics of white flowers and citrus. fresh cream and lemon curd on the palate. nice balance of fruit and acidity. not ruined by new oak. a super satisfying finish that keeps you coming back for more. what a wonderful wine! paired perfectly with dungeness crab!

12/31/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

"the stuff that dreams are made of" please see note of 6/23. can't wait to try the next bottle in 10 years.

12/30/2023 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

hopefully the last bottle in this case of 2010's. either the case was off or they did not do a good job once the grapes got into the winery. similar to other bottles. the wine lacks balance and has a fading finish. the fruit seemed muted to me as well. you get the classic rose and cherry and some menthol and pipe tobacco. but when a wine lacks balance it shows.

12/24/2023 - vinus_operandi wrote:

typical modern style barolo where the varietal characteristics have all but vanished leaving a darker wine with black cherry notes and the unmistakable fingerprints of new oak. you have some of the best land in the world and a wonderful varietal in Nebbiolo and what do you do? you go and destroy what could have been something special. people are onto new oak barriques and how it changes the varietal characteristics of the wine. sorry i bought this wine years ago when i did not know better.

12/19/2023 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

very disappointed in this wine. tastes unbalanced, disjointed, and overall slightly bitter. gave it plenty of air but that did not help. light in color with a somewhat closed nose. on the palate, there's red berry, strawberry, and an underlying bitterness. something went wrong when this fruit made its way into the cantina. these are great vineyards and i expected a much better showing. do not expect that this wine will age mcuh better. highly recommended by flatiron wines. perhaps the worst pinot that i have had from oregon in some time. sorry, calling it like i taste/smell it.

12/11/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted at the cantina with Paola. their second bottling of this wine. the juice used to go into the classico. one of the few traditionally made Baroli from Rocche dell Annunziata. nice aromatics on the nose combine with primary cherry fruit and spice to yield a very pretty wine in the early going. needs time in the cellar to come together but it's all here. great mouthfeel and a nice long finish. extremely curious to see how this comes together with time in the cellar........

12/11/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted at the cantina with Paola. classic Brunate that's best described as brooding. this is a more concentrated and complex wine than the Cannubi at the early going. the nose shows rose, mint, balsamic, and cherry while on the palate, there is primary cherry fruit, some wet earth and the trademark Brunate balsamic notes. i think this wine develops a little earlier than the Cannubi and will try the first bottle here maybe in 10 years. it's a lovely barolo that just needs time in the cellar. the 2019 collection of baroli from Francesco Rinaldi all have wonderful balance and depth of fruit while retaining enough acidity and tannins to age gracefully for years to come

12/11/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted at the cantina with Paola. tasted from barrel sample. absolutely wonderful floral nose even at this early stage. super nice fruit here that hits the phenolic high notes. great balance and a lengthy finish. another in a line of great traditionally made Cannubi's from Rinaldi. There's a lot to like at this primary stage and it will only get better from here.

12/11/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted at the cantina with Paola. effusive nose of dried rose, cherry and red berry. on the palate, there's beautiful primary cherry fruit that is perfectly ripened along with some spice notes. winemaker does a nice job here with a wonderful balance of tannins, fruit, and acidity. This is a traditional barolo from one of the best plots in one of the worlds best vineyards. flying under the radar, this is a standout bottle of wine that i think shows as good or slightly better than the epic 2016 vintage, in any event i think you get the picture. come back in 12 years to try the first bottle, it's gonna be spectacular

12/12/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted at the winery with Enzo. medium to darker garnet with a nose of dried rose, cherry and just a hint of mint. on the palate there is unmistakable Cannubi fruit. Bright cherry and red berry along with menthol, and tobacco. wonderful balance of acids and fine grained tannins. a wine that comes across as being made with great precision and purity. Elegant. Will be drinkable in 10 years but will age effortlessly. Should sell for twice this price point. Hard to believe this traditional producer is still flying under the radar. This is what great Barolo is all about...............

11/26/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

medium garnet in color with no bricking. lovely secondary earthtone aromatics.
beautiful cherry fruit and a heavy dose of sous bois, earthiness and some old saddle leather on the palate. mature and past its prime but still quite outstanding. tannins are completely resolved but there is ample acidity to carry the day. one of the better saumurs that i have had.

11/23/2023 - vinus_operandi wrote:

had a friend's for dinner. wine was kept too long but still drinkable. oh what could have been...................

11/23/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

medium yellow in color. aromatics of grapefruit and tangerine blossom. wine was decanted and drank over 3 hours. opened up beautifully to show high toned citrus and almond paste. not grassy at all. fabulous mouthfeel. in a good drinking window right now. paired nicely with scallops and potatoes dauphinois.

11/23/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

my first thought was, "this can't be 23 years old". opens with aromatics of white flowers and a touch of petrol (petrol blew off quickly). light straw yellow in color with little to no oxidation. ripe apple, white peach, a touch of minerality, and adequate acidity. super enjoyable to drink. hard to believe this was a difficult year.

11/19/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

medium ruby in color. cranberry and pomegranate dominate along with some cherry. modest use of oak. well balanced with structure that would allow this to age for another 10 years of so. overall a very nice wine

11/19/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

double decanted and consumed two hours later. straw yellow in color with some nice white flower aromatics along with a whiff of petrol. ripe apple, stone fruit, a hint of lemon/lime on the palate. this wine was drinking wonderfully after 24 years in the bottle. what good mosel riesling is all about. paired nicely with smoked salmon on toast

11/19/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

light to medium ruby in color. beautiful aromatics of rose, cherry, and strawberry. clean and precise on the palate with cherry, red berry, and notes of wet earth. superb balance. the fruit is not over-ripe and shows good phenolic ripeness overall. the use of oak here is understated allowing the varietal characteristics to shine through. an absolutely silly qpr. drank this next to an $80 Felton Road pinot and virtually everyone liked this wine more.

11/16/2023 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

a Flatiron Wines selection and a big disappointment. reticent nose, green tannins, and high acidity combined to yield a disjointed wine that never seemed to find it a good drinking window. enough said

11/12/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

medium garnet in color. dried rose and little menthol on the nose. beautiful and abundant cherry fruit with some spice and earth tones. wonderful balance of acidity and medium grained tannins. all of the varietal characteristics of Nebbiolo are captured in this wine. the wine opened up beautifully after about an hour in the glass and was surprisingly great to drink. nice complexity even at this young age. traditional barolo with a fantastic future. see you in 12 years..........from a producer that somehow manages to still fly under the radar. met with him last year for a wonderful tasting. this is how barolo should be made.........

11/12/2023 - vinus_operandi wrote:

classic expression of a modern barolo. very dark in color with dark cherry and muted rose on the nose. the beautiful nebbiolo characteristics from this great great vineyard have been bastardized by the use of new oak and most people who drink this wine will never have a clue.........it's very drinkable and many will enjoy this wine but this juice could have been turned into something special. traditional baroli are not this dark in color and that linear dark cherry flavor is another hallmark of the new oak treatment.

11/12/2023 - vinus_operandi Does not like this wine:

easily the worst chardonnay that i have ever tasted. flabby with no balance or anything redeeming for that matter. what were they thinking when they put this juice in a bottle. we did the honorable thing and poured it down the drain.

11/12/2023 - vinus_operandi wrote:

very nice fruit typical of the great '21 vintage but it seems to fade on the finish in a slightly bitter finale. i was a bit disappointed and perhaps this just need more time in bottle.

11/9/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

upside surprise! beautiful nose of violet, damp earth, and tobacco. medium bodied with ample acidity. black cherry, raspberry, old saddle leather, black pepper, and sous bois combined to give this wine a great showing. the secondary characteristics had developed nicely in a relatively short period of time. great qpr!

11/7/2023 - vinus_operandi wrote:

clearly anthony galloni and the rest of us were drinking two different wines. this wine is medium garnet in color with rose, violet, and balsamic notes on the nose. the palate is somewhat light and feminine and it is not clear that there is enough fruit to go the distance with aging. seriously? what the hell was Galloni tasting? in the best case, this will develop into something elegant in maybe 8 years. not betting on it though.

11/7/2023 - vinus_operandi wrote:

wet forest floor, old leather, and dried roses on the nose. same on the palate along with dark cherry. believe this saw some new oak. tannins are now fully integrated and the wine is drinking quite well. a soft texture is followed by a finish that falls out a bit at the end. wine did not wow me..........little to no bricking and a very dark color further indicate the use of new oak.

11/7/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

brought by a friend to a white truffle dinner. it was tasted blind alongside several baroli and a barbaresco. the wine was identified accurately and quickly by the group as a cote rotie. dark purplish in color with lovely aromatics of cherry and earth. on the palate, there was a distinct softness along with a very feminine pastile character (due to the viognier). medium bodied with soft tannins and ample acidity, the wine showed cherry, blackberry, black pepper, and a little spice. the highlight of the wine was the super long finish. a beautiful effort all around.

11/7/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted blind at a white truffle dinner with several friends. wine was opened 5 hours prior to drinking and double decanted by Oldwines. wine showed aromatics of rose and mint with a hint of sous bois. on the palate, the wine was medium bodied with a lovely soft mouthfeel. coming from a very ripe vintage, the wine managed to show excellent varietal characteristics despite the heat of the year. many producers failed in that respect with their baroli but this wine had to be one of the wines of the vintage. the wine showed beautiful cherry fruit, raspberries, wet earth, and menthol along with some old leather. this was a classic barolo that i found to be simply wonderful in virtually every respect hence the high score. oldwines is a big believer in a long decant and he certainly captured the drinking window on this one. the wine paired well with the truffle dishes but was particularly excellent with the venison carpaccio and white truffle appetizer