3/13/2024 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 60 minutes. Pale ruby and semi- translucent.
Medium body, medium plus acidity, medium age appropriate tannins
Lifted, precise and pretty. Medium red sweet and tart cherries, red berries, pretty florals, playdough, some baking spice, and granite minerality. Long cherry and stoney finish. Should continue to improve, but 17 and decant drinks well. Wish I had a case!

1/24/2024 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

PNP
Deep Ruby with maroon- purple hues.
Medium + tannins, medium acid, medium plus body and still mostly primary.
Dark cherries, florals, anise, limestone minerals, bitter dark chocolate, baking spices, road tar, and faint smoke on the reasonably long finish. Just shy of too ripe. 90

1/15/2024 - Venice Al wrote:

Football game called for domestic. Decided to try something unusual. No vintage on label or bottle. From perfect known provenance and guessing 1973-75. Labeled as blend- seems like cab with maybe some cab franc and/ or zin added. From Mendocino and labeled as 12% alcohol. Look at that perfect cork! Surprisingly deep color - still in the dark ruby range with some browning towards dark garnet. Tannins resolved. Medium acidity. Medium full bodied and the fruit is still there.

Smoke, tobacco, leather, dark currant, black raspberry, fig, chocolate, earth and sea minerals.

While not the most elegant, this wine is quite good and remarkable given its humble origins. California wines from this period are fascinating, generally well made, heavily leaning on the old world and when the less than stellar cellar practices don’t impart an intolerable amount of funk or flaw, a very pleasurable drinking experience.

1/14/2024 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Medium Ruby, Medium tannins, medium acidity.
Floral, lifted, anise, mint, baking spice, black cherries, medicinal red cherry, mixed berries, nice minerality, forest floor, and tree bark. Nice few days of affordable solid premier cru and grand cru burgundies!

1/13/2024 - Venice Al wrote:

Decanted 30 minutes.
Dark garnet fading at the rim. Medium Acid, Medium tannins. Dark berry, and dark cherry liqueur, florals, stone, earth, some trea bark, camphor, and chocolate. Long finish and smooth. Full bodied, not astringent and properly ripe. Good effort for the vintage, and over performed guarded expectations. 92

1/11/2024 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decant 20 minutes. Medium Ruby
Medium plus body
Medium acidity Medium plus tannin.
Sweet dark cherries, and some dark berry, cherry florals, slate minerals, wood spice, orange peel and a super long finish. Surprisingly accessible and a very nice showing.

1/10/2024 - Venice Al wrote:

Decanted 1 hour (should have been 3-6)
Medium ruby, and just the slightest fade at the rim. High Tannin, Medium plus acidity. Clearly still primary, and a big bold expression of Nebbiolo. Classic profile of roses, tar, anise, baking spice, slightly dusty earth, and cherry in a modern wrapper. Cherry coated chocolate palate that is tannic, but sweet. The high alcohol is noticeable, but if you like big Cabs, Grenache and Syrah, etc- this is of average alcohol, weight and intensity. Enjoyable for me - even if not my personal style. This is my first of a six-pack, and I would expect that it will age just fine, but not sure that it will ever become mellow. I will save at least one for 10-15 years to see what happens. It appears that Aldo got exactly what he was looking for in this wine- nice fruit, a nod to California, and a Nebbiolo that is accessible in the medium term.

9/20/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

So different from my last bottle. (That was VA flawed- vinegar/nail polish remover. Decanted 45 minutes. Pale ruby fading to garnet. Semi- translucent. Medium body, medium plus acidity, medium tannins. High toned nose of dark and bright cherries, cranberry, florals, vosne spice, cinnamon, tea, and a hint of anise. Nice long finish. Pretty and elegant. Great village wine!

9/11/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 50 minutes.
Medium ruby- perhaps fading a touch on the rim, medium ++ tannins, medium + acidity, medium + body.
Spicy sauvage, anise, candle wax, earth, mushroom, thyme, dark berry fruit, cocoa, with good minerality-complex whole cluster stuff going on and with the decant, drinking really well for those not tannin averse. A lovely Gevrey Village to start the week!

9/2/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour. Pale ruby, with pale garnet tinges on the edges. Pretty clarity. Medium bodied, medium acidity. Medium- tannins
Cherry florals, mixed cherries, red plum, caramel, orange peel, slight earth and rocky minerality. Prettier, more balanced, and tastier than I was expecting from this producer at this level. With the decant- in a nice place, much better than a few earlier bottles. Clearly not the most age-able or complex Volnay, and mid-palate is somewhat lacking, but I wish there were more of these wines at my original sale price of $35, including tax. Fortunately I bought a case! Drink in the next 3-5 years.

8/30/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 90 minutes.
Deep Garnet -and somewhat cloudy especially on first tasting pour. medium+ acid, medium + tannin. Full bodied. Pinebark, forest floor, gamey, warm spices- cinnamon plus?, black fruits, tar, subtle minerality, old school and enjoyable.

Adding that 4 hours in decanter the wine became a little more figgy- so perhaps 5 years to drop off and drink from decanter within 3 and 1/2 hours.

8/30/2023 - Venice Al wrote:

Decanted 90 minutes. Medium ruby. Quite tart, medium bodied. garrigue, spicy, cinnamon, dark fruit- dark plums, black berry. Young and Hot -alcohol 15? (Upon looking 15.5).
Not my style and too alcoholic for me, but okay with Langer’s Pastrami and sick rye bread from the Underground Bakery.

8/29/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note PNP Beautiful raspberry wafting at the pour. Dark cherry, raspberry , earth, sandlewood, and mineral on high acid, medium bodied, and racy palate. Well integrated and at a perfect age.

8/29/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Pnp and 1 hour slow ox. Medium plus body, medium plus tannin, medium acidity. Brooding deep earth and sauvage, baking spice, dark cherry and dark wild berries, with rocky mineral peeking out of this young Boudots. As it sits in the glass the black cherry flower fragrance becomes more prominent. This wine has plenty of stuffing and has no lack of fruit to hold and improve for several years. If opening- decant. Best to hold for next bottle for 3-4 years.

8/26/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. PNP as back-up for my corked Clos de la Roche. Sweet rose flowers, darker fruits, smoke, earth, sous bois, anise, salty minerals, and bitter chocolate. Drinking really nicely but if you own them I would say drink within 2-3 years.

8/26/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Whole cluster complexity- needed the one hour slow ox and improving dark fruit, spicy oak, deep minerality, dark chocolate, and a little green pepper. With more time- cloves, and cinnamon- can still get better. Very nice!

8/25/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Nice nose of sauvage, spice and black cherry. High acid, mediocre vintage with great producer. Called semi- blind (Pinot) as Gevrey but on reveal not surprised. With a little time- black tea, earth, mushroom- very nice for the vintage. Kept filling out and improving - smokier and sweeter black and red fruit. Last sip was the best! Warrants 30-60+ minute decant.

8/26/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Medium Straw, medium acid. It showed it’s age as it is 15 years from vintage, but was not premox. Pretty white peaches, dried white flowers, honey, and sea minerality. Very good at a fair prices.

8/24/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

PNP. Medium garnet -pale on the rim. Medium body, medium plus acid, medium minus age appropriate tannins. Clearly a mediocre vintage, and probably at or just past peak. A little thin on the mid- palate and slightly more acidic than ideal but good body and lingering finish. Nose is red cherry and strawberry fruit, earth, sous bois, ocean minerals, pleasantly spicy wood, and anise. If you have them I would drink them. Over performed my expectations and thoroughly enjoyable, but I would not buy at current inflated retail.

8/23/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Good fill, from perfect known provenance, and decanted 60 minutes. Surprisingly deep garnet with slight bricking on the edges. Medium bodied. High acid given the fading fruit -so slightly imbalanced. Cedar, smoke, tobacco leaf, cassis, black currant, rocky minerals, saddle leather, menthol and a slight green herbal note. Clearly not a great vintage, nor a great Lynch- but over performed and still showing as a very good aged claret. Good match with Flannery Zabuton slow cooked and reverse seared. And it’s Wednesday!

8/20/2023 - Venice Al wrote:

Medium garnet. Medium body, medium plus acidity, medium tannins.
Anise, smoke, dark plums, black cherry, blackberry, sous bois, carob, rye bread, light tomato stem, sea mineral and baking spice. I do not get the red fruit that others have noted- unfortunately.
Reasonably complex and a nice drink. However, I am disappointed given the $125 tariff in late 2022.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Short decant - could have used substantially more. Typical flavors but young, dried mint, flowers, and dark red fruit. Will the balance be there when it reaches maturity? Not sure. Still a nice wine.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Decanted 3 hours and then another 2 at dinner. Pale tawny, wood shavings,
Youthful. Sweet red cherry, pine, menthol, animale, and floral. Nice showing!

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. 3 hour decant, returned to bottle and then 90 minute more decant before dinner course.
Pale tawny, but surprisingly clear
Heady spices, tar and smoke, soy, wood spice, floral, roses, cherry, mushroom, Indian spices, clove, dried herbs. Complex wine. Best taste was last taste at dinner’s end after total of 6+ hour decant. Old school Barolo, and Giacosa in particular, once again needs more time than you would think and in the case of older vintages, may be willing to risk in fear of missing the sweet spot.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Not sure, but I believe 1 hour decant. Spicy oak, algae, bright young red fruit, vanilla, very young. After 3+ hours red rasberry and black tea. While clearly a really good wine- it needs several more years to approach potential and will last a long time.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. 45-60 minute decant. Pulverized rock, roses, florals, earth, smoke, dark cherry, bing cherry finish. Enjoyable wine, but not where I would hope for this great producer and great climat in a great vintage. Unlike some other 99s, I do not believe it was due to youth.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

PNP as it was an extra add at group restaurant dinner. Medium ruby with bricking rim, nice long legs, floral and asian spice nose, cinnamon, clove, dark berries, sea and stone minerals,sous bois. Would be better with decant or a few more years.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. Medium plus body, medium minus acidity. Cranberry, darker berries, brooding, smoky, wood spice, and earth. A little ripe and fat due to the vintage- but still enjoyable.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Medium body, medium tanin, medium plus acidity. Stem complexity apparent- minty, spicy clove, menthol, iron, forest floor, white pepper, floral notes, dark cherry, and plum. Nice showing.

8/18/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note. 2 bottles with very consistent notes. Medium plus body, medium plus acidity and fresh. Great balance. Tropical - pineapple, guava, cream, lemon, seabeeeze, anise herbal component
Drinking excellently now and seemingly no rush but…..why take a chance? A great showing!

8/17/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 30 minutes. Young but very enjoyable. Medium gold, full bodied, medium plus acid. Ski wax, honey, almond, macadamia, pineapple, white orchard fruit, lemon rind, minerals, and flint. Nice mouthfeel. Perfect with Scallops tonight. St. Aubin is on fire generally and this was a very good example of why.

8/16/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 2+ hours and needed it. Deep garnet. Medium plus tannins, medium acid. Clearly Bordeaux, not clearly Margaux as the floral element is missing- it’s tobacco, deep currant, dark cherry, a slight confectionery note, earth, pepper- black and mild green, and a touch of menthol. Blind, I would have guessed more north left bank. With time will the florals arise? I doubt it. The wine is a a very nice claret that has nice ripeness and moutfeel with Flannery NY.

8/13/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Pale ruby with clear rim, medium body, medium plus acidity, medium plus tannins. Nose is cranberry, dark berries tart plum, sour cherry wood spice, earth, road tar, and faint sea minerals. Definitely still young on the palate and I would expect it will round out more with a few years. Good for it’s level and original price under $50

8/6/2023 - Venice Al wrote:

90 minute slow ox.
Medium garnet with bricking on edges. Medium acidity, medium tannins. Brooding and deep rather than bright, dark berries, forest floor, wood spice, tobacco leaf, and subtle smoke. This is definitively old school style.

8/5/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant note- PNP
Barnyard that mostly blew off with air, sweet sous bois, wood spice, good minerality, blackberry, beef blood, black pepper. Very fresh and not flabby.

8/5/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Restaurant dinner note.
Decanted 3 hours. Deep garnet with some bricking on the rim. Perfectly balanced with integrated tannins. Chocolate covered morello cherries, truffle, mint, spice, game, and nice mix of red and black fruit. Great showing!

8/3/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Pnp. Translucent medium straw and extremely clear with nice legs. Visually the wine looks like it could be a simple drink—wrong! Medium bodied, medium plus acidity. Nose is blooming jasmine, lemon creme, white orchard fruit, hazelnut, touch of cookie dough and with air, pineapple and honey. Wine is still young and fresh. Palate consistent with good mouthfeel, added lime, minerals, and some burnt sugar. Really nice Bourgogne blanc which is delicious now but I expect will age at least 3-5 years effortlessly.

7/29/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Had in dark and lively restaurant.
Wow- a revelation of a rose- Never had this before and had no idea what to expect. Not a rose all day rose! Certainly not for everyone and certainly benefited from earthy food.

Animale, roses, cherry, petrol, sea minerals, bacon fat, smoke. Stayed consistent through 3 hours.

7/28/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

PNP from decanter. Medium garnet with some fading and a touch of browning at the rim. Medium plus acid, medium present but age subdued tannins.
Autumn fallen leaves with a wild streak, dark plums, dark berries, briny minerals, earthy mushroom, pleasant wood spice and finishing with dusty cocoa. Old school NSG-drinking great, but no hurry.

7/27/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Dark and lively restaurant- so limited vision and precision. Decanted 1 hour and slow ox 1 hour- young but lovely and in early drinking window. Watermelon jolly rancher, tar, roses, dark red cherry, dark berries, mint, clove spice. Yes…I do really enjoy Nebbiolo!

7/26/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

15 minute decant. Medium garnet- with a wide pale garnet rim. Medium+ acidity, high tannins. Piercing blackberry, black plum sauvage, earth, coffee, wood spice, and some minerality. Long mouth coating tannic finish. Still youthful. Still shy of entering drinking window -so if you plan to enjoy this full bodied 2005- make sure to give it air.
Edited to plum rather than currant.

7/22/2023 - Venice Al Does not like this wine:

Pale ruby with dark pink hues, medium minus body, medium plus tannins, highly acidic. Cinnamon and wood spice. Sour plums, dark berries, saline, green herbs/pine, black licorice, and overall too tart.

7/22/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Medium garnet colored, semi- translucent but very clear. Floral violet, Sour cherry, cranberry, medicinal cherry, pretty spices, anise and some minerality. Medium body, medium acidity, sweet tannins. Good balance. Just starting to be accessible with 20 minute decant.

7/21/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Decanted 40 minutes. Red brick, mostly translucent with slight cloudiness, medium minus body and reasonably integrated tannins. wet leaves, tobacco leaf, dark plum, dark berries, musky wood spice, forest floor, next day lipstick. A complex wine for sure, but whole cluster influence is clear, and not for new world lovers.
Just slightly lacking the ripeness of fruit which is characteristic of the vintage.

Update: Another bottle with 3 hour decant- similar notes but the deep cherry fruit emerged nicely- and with lots of air - I would no longer say that it is underripe.

7/19/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Drop 🎤
See James Kim’s excellent spot-on note!

7/19/2023 - Venice Al wrote:

Plum, blackberry and some earth. Decent enough for the price I guess. Not good enough for the aging liver!

7/17/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Lemon flowers, lemon cream, just ripe white peach, almonds, lime, iodine, sea breeze, candle wax and a touch of butter. Medium plus body with nice sharp but round mouthfeel, decent mid-palate and long finish. Still gives a mouth puckering jolt- so a long future ahead but great drinking and a beautiful match for Monday at home with Caprese app, thyme/ fennel frond lemon halibut and a simple salad with vinaigrette.
Just giddy at what I stole this for when everyone was seeking any remaining 17s and newly released 19s- vintages (along with 10 & 14) I adore!

7/16/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Early evaluation. PNP, decanted and followed—but not long enough as it was accessible, delicious, and…..gone! Mahogany Red but somewhat translucent in light with a wide meniscus. Nose is cherry and cranberry fruit, floral, pretty baking spice, baked apple, soft black tea, salty minerals, and some dried herbs. Palette is medium bodied with solid mid and long finish, but without the hard edges I expected. Tannins medium minus and sweet - surprising for a young Chevillon NSG.
Is there a slight move toward modernism and accessibility- perhaps, but not in any negative way. Glad I have many more- and while I thought this would be it for a while- I can’t say that anymore… as it was very enjoyable. I would expect it to gain complexity, but Cailles is definitely the way to go as you wait for the Les St. and Vaucrains.

7/16/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Double decanted 1 hour prior to returning to bottle. No sediment. Drank alongside PNP Pousse Caillerets 05.

Deep dark purple color, brooding nose- a big wine. Boy was the decant appropriate if short still. Dark red currant, dark red cherry, anise, humus, background minerality, and a whiff of mint. Good wine, but, as one would expect with the vintage, certainly not an elegant burgundy!

Shout out to the excellent wine service and best menu I have had at Kali restaurant in Hollywood. On top of their game!

7/11/2023 - Venice Al Likes this wine:

Nose of Lemon candy, lemon cream, white orchard fruit, golden apples, honey and sea shells. Palate consistent. Medium+ acidity and viscous full mouthfeel. The wine has a nice nose, good mid-palate, and lingering pucker on the finish. Quite tasty and should improve over the medium term. Compared to the best premiers, it is missing a - je ne sais quoi wow factor. Still very enjoyable and from a value perspective- a no brainer.