5/12/2024 - ploher wrote:

Caramel, roasted nuts, lots of substance on the palate; thick, creamy texture, ripe fruit, low acidity but never loses freshness even at room temperature. Some white pepper on the finish. Lovely wine. 17.5/20

5/11/2024 - ploher wrote:

Aromas of petrol and lime dominating the nose; the palate has a lovely zip on the entrance, it's less sweet and more herbal / lean than your average Spätlese. But the balance is impeccable for my taste. Not too complex and ends slightly short. 17/20

5/5/2024 - ploher wrote:

Very advanced, seems oxidized, no fun. Disappointing.

5/11/2024 - ploher wrote:

Yellow fruit, coconuts, roasted sesame and almonds; supple textured palate, buttery but remaining beautiful freshness and acidity; really savory / peppery finish lasting very, very long. Textbook Chardonnay, for me the best of Switzerland. Great vintage as well showing clearly more nuance than the surrounding vintages at least at the moment. 18/20

5/5/2024 - ploher wrote:

Raspberry lollipop on the nose with lots of bright freshness; crunchy palate, super fresh, transparent, light to medium bodied, quite some structure on which to age. Lovely minerality on the finish. Really nice and better balanced / more interesting than the Godefroy in this vintage for me. 17/20

5/5/2024 - ploher wrote:

Oak and blue fruits, very drying on the palate, soulless. 14/20

4/28/2024 - ploher wrote:

Iron, old books, fresh cherries, hints of coconut flakes, oregano, especially in the empty glass. Incredibly youthful palate, still vibrant acidity and intense cherry fruit, you'd never guess this is a 20 year old wine; lovely transparency and a light, somewhat airy texture with still lots of very fine tannins. Top vintage of Bosconia. 18/20

4/27/2024 - ploher wrote:

Dark cherries, toasty oak, roasted meat and tomatos, balsamico; archetypical Pinot on the palate, meaty, savory, aromatic, serious and dark yet charming; super structure and length. This is great and has a bright future. 17.5+/20

4/21/2024 - ploher wrote:

Very shy on the nose even after serious air and time; some dried fruit, tomatos and something "burned". The palate offers young, fresh and crunchy Sangio fruit to chew on but with little flavors. Not offensive and ok with food, but not expressive, and I doubt this will gain a lot with more time. 15.5/20

4/20/2024 - ploher wrote:

Fresh, crunchy and mineral and totally ready to drink. Don't wait on this, go for it while the fruit is so bright and the tannins this crisp. Simple, yet individual, characterful style here. 16/20

4/20/2024 - ploher wrote:

This is like the definition of a finesse-driven, elegant, finely-balanced Riesling. Flowers and hints of petrol on the nose. The palate is pure silk with beautiful balance and so weightless. Super length and just pure Riesling joy. Drinking so great. Incredible QPR. 18/20

4/18/2024 - ploher wrote:

At first glimpse this seemed quite advanced for a young Chardonnay with dark color and mature nose. Interestingly the wine gets more youthful the longer it sits in the decanter. After some hours the development is really surprising. Still mature, honeyed, rich fruit, but with substantial minerality and cutting acidity towards the very long finsish. Pure, almost no sensation of oak, with substance and cut. Quite spectacular. So far Lamy has been my benchmark for St. Aubin. Now I'm not so sure anymore. Have to try other bottlings from this producer. 18/20

4/18/2024 - ploher wrote:

Roasted red fruits, chalky minerality, sweet, fresh raspberries after some time in the glass; a finesse driven style, fresh but with good substance and very "Chinon". Already drinking beautifully. Lovely wine. 17.5/20

4/14/2024 - ploher wrote:

Restaurant purchase. Deep golden color. Honey, saffron, ripe yellow fruit; definitely mature. Good weight on the palate, not too sweet. Drinking really lovely right now. 17.5/20

4/12/2024 - ploher wrote:

Cranberries, black currants and especially cardamom on the nose, really expressive. Crunchy fruit on the fresh palate, nothing overdone, nothing overripe. Not a bordeaux copy like so many other Blaufränkisch. Just a great, characterful wine, and still so young. 17.5/20

4/7/2024 - ploher wrote:

So I wanted to try another one of these to confirm my last impressions, and yes, this is amazing wine. Decanted for some hours this time which helped to bring out the beautiful aromas of green olives, blood, pepper, juniper and crunchy red fruit, really reminding me of a N.Rh. Syrah. Very aromatic on the nose and lovely fresh, medium bodied palate with fine tannins and a long, savory finish. Great stuff. 17.5+/20

4/6/2024 - ploher wrote:

Sweet melon, herbs and a fresh sea breeze on the nose. Exceptional, outstanding harmony and elegance on the beautifully velvet palate, slowly building up some savoriness on the mid palate towards the long finish where some very fine tannins glue itself to the palate. This has gained even more substance over the last year and is now a better wine still. Everytime I drink Tempier rosé I realize anew that this is one of those few signature wines of this world that are not comparable with anything else out there. 19/20

4/5/2024 - ploher wrote:

So this is like a school book example of classic, proper claret. No additions to my last notes, continues to show what old school Bordeaux tastes like on a solid level. 17/20

3/30/2024 - ploher wrote:

Smells more like a Brunello or even Barolo than a Zinfandel. On the nose I'd never guess this is Zinfandel. Lots of earth, smoke, iron and cacao. Similar impression on the palate: dark, rustic, structured, full bodied and tannic and really serious. Nothing sweet or remotely jammy that could maybe lead to Zinfandel, brooding and strict. Terroir driven. Super interesting, authentic stuff. Very young still. Great development in the decanter and glass over hours. This will have a long life. 17.5+/20

3/24/2024 - ploher wrote:

Weighless, airy, almost Prüm-like texture, a bit tingly too, and with that signature minerality and lovely salty, tart finish that comes together with the sweetness so nicely. Good length. Not the most complex Spätlese but harmonious and just so easy to drink. 17/20

3/23/2024 - ploher wrote:

Tobacco, gravel, bell pepper, black berries, pepper; open and giving with not a lot of structure left which makes it seductive and supple; but quite sweet and lacking freshness and bite for me, almost too pleasing. But aromatically this is classic Graves. I would drink this over the next couple of years before it looses even more "grip". 16.5/20

3/22/2024 - ploher wrote:

Super beautiful apples and classic brioche butter nose. Lovely dark breadcrumbs especially in the empty glass. Full bodied generous palate, caramelized apples and creamy mousse. Lip smacking acidity and salt on the finish. Much too young but great already. Always love this producer. More than most this needs air and acually room temperature. 18/20

3/14/2024 - ploher wrote:

Impressive intensity on the nose with cedar, black currants, vegetables and toasty oak. Harmonious, balanced palate, delicious fruit, fleshy and with good freshness, supple texture; for me just a bit too "made" with too much oak, but it's a very delicious wine for sure. 17/20

3/10/2024 - ploher wrote:

Signature Barbaresco notes with bright strawberries, tar and roses; the palate is fresh and offers lovely sweet fruit, but the tannins are still a bit a challenge and drying. After 3 consecutive flawed bottles I'm very happy that this was fine and delicious. 17/20

3/9/2024 - ploher wrote:

Cassis and black berries, green bell pepper, cigar leafs, lots of blood / iron; on the palate gravel, earth, "dusty" texture, slightly drying, clearly old school bordeaux. Again lovely and a really successful 2003; no heat, nothing overdone, proper claret. 17.5/20

3/9/2024 - ploher wrote:

Beautiful sweet cassis, bell pepper, American oak, but subtle, super fragrant; incredibly sensual on the palate, this has flesh and depth but is so easy drinking because of the outstanding harmony and the perfectly sweet, ripe, fine tannins. Will only get better over the next maybe 30 years. 19+/20

3/8/2024 - ploher wrote:

Bbq, bacon, toasty, smoky oak, coffee, lovely pinot fruit, dark cherries, meat; true harmony on the palate, fresh, deep, fruity, so young but already with complexity and depth and excellent length. Just breathtaking. Will age for decades. 18.5+/20

3/3/2024 - ploher wrote:

Oranges/tangerines, honey, something savory like fennel; beautiful soft, satiny texture on the palate, almost thick, but really transparent and fresh with elegant acidity rather than stinging one. Lovely Riesling. 17.5/20

3/2/2024 - ploher wrote:

Super interesting, captivating nose: fresh cherries, herbal, cinnamon, dried orange peel, something like rosehip tea but not really happy with the descriptor. The palate has lovely dark cherry fruit, very high acidity and minerality. Really pure, no toasty oak, focused, with huge energy. So young still. Just a stunning Pinot. 18/20

3/1/2024 - ploher wrote:

While I am still more or less happy with the description in my last note a year ago, this showed clearly better this time around. First hints of maturity in terms of fruit which gives it an extra dimension of complexity, and finer, more integrated structure wise, with still racy acidity. As often with Palari Faro this is archetypical Italian wine: rustic, earthy, characterful. Firing on all cylinders. Drink one now! 17.5/20

2/25/2024 - ploher wrote:

Extremely reductive at first pour; needs hours in the decanter to open up and show some fruit, but the strong struck match remains. Really reminded me of Dog Point at least in this regard. The palate is quite nice with a soft texture and good freshness. Not too much oak. Solid finish. 16/20

2/24/2024 - ploher wrote:

Absolutely beautiful, fragrant nose here, black fruit, licorice, floral, changing; the palate is full bodied with lots of sweet, black fruit, definitely ripe but not jammy, there is good substance and crunchy tannins on the long, spicy finish. For the power and extraction there is excellent freshness. Modern for sure, but I think no one can deny the quality on display. 17.5+/20 (to be conservative for the moment). Long future.

2/17/2024 - ploher wrote:

Coravin glass. Bright, transparent red. A bit shy on the nose, not expressive. But nice aromatics of fresh, bright red fruit, pomegranate and walnuts. The palate is fresh and elegant for Brunello and quite approachable for this structured vintage. This has solid potential but I would hold for some more years. 16.5/20

2/11/2024 - ploher wrote:

Mmm, classic Ravera on the fragrant nose with its signature mint and / or menthol note along balsamic strawberries, tar and meat broth. Beautiful freshness in this hot vintage, nothing overripe, very clean. The palate is full bodied with a soft texture, tannins showing more on the mid palate towards the finish but are fully coated with fruit. High acidity as usual and also some spicy note on the finish. A very complete package. Will age for decades. As usual: first rate, traditional Barolo from Cogno. 18.5+/20.

2/10/2024 - ploher wrote:

Laid in chalk 2017, dg in 2020. Toast, brioche, intense savoriness; full bodied palate, flavorful, chalky minerality, powerful, mature fruit but lovely lemon freshness on the finish. Very good intensity from start to finish and just perfect balance between toast and freshness. You really can feel the high proportion of old reserve wines. A great, rich Champagne. Can't expect more from a NV in my opinion. 18/20

2/9/2024 - ploher wrote:

Restaurant purchase. This is hot and alcoholic and completely overdone with toasty oak flavors. 15.5 abv. I'm shocked, especially because I often liked this wine in the past and would have put it in the more classic brunello category. This is the complete opposite of that. Style shift here of just a really unsuccesful take on this hot vintage? In any case: one to avoid. And I will have a close look on future vintages... 14/20

2/4/2024 - ploher wrote:

Intense struck match, lemon, savory, smells almost exactly like the younger versions (2018, 2019) of this wine, just a tad less aggressive. But crazy freshness still. Only on the palate it shows some maturity, the texture is rounder, softer, everything is more integrated and smoother. But so fresh and intense still with bright lemon on the finish. It's as always a great wine and this vintage is drinking just beautiful now. But truth be told I think there is even more to be seen in 5+ years. 17.5+/20

2/3/2024 - ploher wrote:

Clean nose of apples and pears. Creamy, soft texture on the palate, fine, reserved perlage, more a creamy mousse than actual bubbles, a bit toast and brioche but more about the fresh fruit. Lemon joins the fruit on the long finish. A balanced, integrated effort. A lot to like here. 17+/20

2/2/2024 - ploher wrote:

Fleshy, substantial nose with dark cherries, meat and old oak, brooding, serious, changing. Quite full bodied on the palate, meaty, iron, lovely acidity along the fleshy, cool fruit on the balanced finish, great freshness. Still so young and still a bit tight. Years away from full maturity I think. 17.5+/20

1/28/2024 - ploher wrote:

Ripe yellow apples on the nose, pure, no oak impression; creamy texture on the palate, ripe but with a fine streak of acidity. Nice length and just really clean. Not a lot of depth or complexity but a nice drink. I often struggle with Italian Chardonnay but this is a solid example. 16/20

1/26/2024 - ploher wrote:

Sweet, seductive red fruit, hibiscus or maybe rose hip, a common theme with the wines of this producer. No new or toasty oak distracting, this is pure and fruity on the palate with a fine, transparent texture. Simple but good. 16/20

1/21/2024 - ploher wrote:

Out of magnum. Still heavy on the oak, full bodied, ripe style, buttery and broad and quite heavy om the fruit lacking freshness. I would drink this sooner than later. 15.5/20

1/21/2024 - ploher wrote:

Still tight and too young, but the crunchy, fresh fruit on the palate along the rock solid structure promises great things to come and a long life. Needs 5+ years at least. At the moment this is (still) all about potential. 17+/20

1/21/2024 - ploher wrote:

Beautiful nose of coffee, bell pepper and blackberries. You can tell that there is lots of freshness despite the obvious power. On the palate this is incredibly well built. It's powerful and fruity for sure, but there is ample amount of fresh acidity and a really perfect tannic structure. No question, this is a remarkable wine full of energy and persistance and without anything overripe or heavy. Drinking really well now. 18/20

1/21/2024 - ploher wrote:

Open from the first second this is perfect to drink now I think. Lovely sweet Grenache fruit, full bodied but not overdone; not too complex but solid length. Lacking some freshness. Drink this now. 16.5/20

1/21/2024 - ploher wrote:

Recent dg. out of magnum. Quite a shy nose presenting sweet lemon. On the palate the dosage is too high for me at least this young, it's really quite sweet; not a lot in terms of depth or complexity. But a creamy, soft mousse that is attractive. Ok, but not a rebuy. 16/20

1/12/2024 - ploher wrote:

Off the beaten track: Darker, sweeter than the Petterino next to it, riper on the fruit, more balsamic. But unfortunately the same story on the palate. Hard, austere and completely blocked by a wall of tannins. This tasting serves as another strong reminder that you should never decant (especially young) Nebbiolo … No rating.

1/12/2024 - ploher wrote:

Off the beaten track: Roses, tar and rubber on the nose, some sweet spices like cinnamon along the sweet red fruit. Very tannic and austere on the palate. As I know this wine quite well, I’m sure that’s entirely my and not the wines fault. Shouldn’t have decanted this. Last showing of this wine / vintage was much better. No rating.

1/12/2024 - ploher wrote:

Off the beaten track: Some natural vibes here on the nose, slightly oxidative, hints of malt beer, red fruit, spicy mineral character. Lovely sweet fruit on the palate, mineral. Super freshness here despite the powerful build. Great wine with an even greater future. 17.5+/20

1/12/2024 - ploher wrote:

Off the beaten track: The nose here is completely stunning grabbing your attention immediately and really doesn’t let it go. Lots of umami, soy sauce, cured meat, crushed, fragrant red berries ; the palate holds everyting the nose promises. Lovely juicy, fleshy fruit, mineral and savory, complex. Really powerful but not heavy at all. Fantastic wine. 18.5+/20