| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2019 Cantina Tomaso Gianolio BarbarescoNebbiolo more |
4/28/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsI’ve been wanting to try the wines of Cantina Tomaso Gianolio for years but finding them on this side of the Atlantic has been a challenge. As of now, I don’t know much about where Davide and Igor Gianolio source their fruit but the family has been making these wines in a traditional manner for over 90 years so I’m sure the source is exceptional. So traditional, even the cork is short and stubby, lol! |
| Red |
2020 Tenuta Perano Chianti ClassicoChianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more |
4/28/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 88 pointsPopped and poured a small glass for myself and used the rest for my Bolognese. The 2020 pours a deep ruby with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart, dark cherry, some dried herbs and dried earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with a sweet tart cherry thing. Seems a touch hotter than the 13.5% indicated. Drink now and through 2030+ or you can cook with it if you swoop at Costco for under $15 USD. |
| Red |
2008 Psi Ribera del DueroTempranillo more |
4/28/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPopped and poured; enjoyed over two days. Best on Day 2 after it brightened up. The 2008 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of blackberry compote, coffee, Werther’s Chocolate, tobacco leaf, leather, teriyaki, demi-glace, and dry earth. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This is delicious and has to be one of the great values in Ribera del Duero. Drink now through 2032+. |
| Red |
2021 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée CorceletteGamay more |
4/27/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 93 pointsFoillard’s “Cuvée Corcelette” comes from the eponymous climate in Morgan where Jean’s holdings include vines over 80 years of age. This is a stunning wine that is so Foillard in style: fresh and deep. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| White - Sparkling |
NV Pehu Simonet Champagne Grand Cru Face Nord Extra BrutChampagne Blend more |
4/19/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 90 pointsPopped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The wine pours a deep straw, bordering yellow color with medium+ viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of raspberries, lemon, brioche, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose though the fruit seem rounder on the palate than on the nose. The finish is medium+. A fairly agreeable Champagne. Disgorged in October 2022. |
| White - Sparkling |
NV Joseph Perrier Champagne Cuvée Royale Brut NatureChampagne Blend more |
4/19/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 91 pointsWhile the majority of Joseph Perrier's holding are planted to Pinot Noir, the Cuvée Royale Brut Nature is mostly Chardonnay, making over half of the blend, while the remaining is made with a traditional assemblage of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir (the latter representing just over 10%). |
| Red |
2018 Domaine Dujac Morey St. DenisPinot Noir more |
4/16/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsSplash decanted directly prior to service, the 2018 M-S-D pours a deep ruby with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is youthful with powerful notes of ripe and tart red fruits: red cherries, red brambles, red flowers, some herbs and a healthy dollop of warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and luxurious. A fairly flashy wine and, to my palate, the oak is showing prominently right now. Not out of balance, but close. The alcohol is up there…but it is pretty well disguised. Not wimpy, that’s for sure. While this is certainly full of energy and character right now, I think this wine would enjoy some time in the cellar to show even better. Drink from 2028 through 2043. |
| Red |
2013 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo VilleroNebbiolo more |
4/16/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 94 pointsPoured into a Swan decanter immediately prior to service and enjoyed over a several hour period. The 2013 “Villero” pours a deep garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with a gorgeous, powerful bouquet of dark and red fruits: black cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, tar, roses, talcum powder, and dry stony earth. On the palate the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, grippy a freaking delicious. This is showing really well but there is no end in sight. Drink now with patience but this should reward an even great bounty done the road and turn heads through 2045+. |
| White - Sparkling |
NV Henri Giraud Champagne Hommage au Pinot Noir Aÿmore |
4/16/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 93 pointsThe Henri Giraud “Hommage au Pinot Noir” is a love note of sorts to, you guessed it, Pinot Noir. And true to the house style, this Blanc de Noirs from Aÿ sees no stainless steel in the process. Instead, this wine is aged on its lees for 54 months in a combination of small oak barrels and amphora before resting in the bottle. The results are quite remarkable. |
| Red |
2009 Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Rioja Señorío de P. Peciña Gran ReservaTempranillo more |
4/20/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 94 pointsPopped and poured; enjoyed over three days; consistent throughout with very little evolution. The cork basically disintegrated when trying to open. The 2009 Gran Reserva pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core, moving gradually towards a rust colored rim. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruits: Bing cherry, mulberries, spiced plum, cumin, dill, Balsamico, chocolate chip banana bread, toasted coconut, leather, cigar box, dry earth and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and savory and super delicious. What a drop dead gorgeous Gran Reserva from Hermanos Pecina. This drinks well from the pop and pour opens up considerably with air so decanting 30min before would be advisable. Enjoy through 2039+. The cork was doing its job as it was only partially saturated, it just came apart in little pieces. I have several remaining bottles and I’ll plan on using an Ah-So or Durand with the next bottle. A stunning, ultra-traditional Rioja Tinto. |
| Red |
2021 Vincent Pinot Noir Temperance HillEola - Amity Hills more |
4/17/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPopped and poured, enjoyed over the course of three days. Consistent throughout but it seems a little more showy the first two days. The 2021 Temperance Hill pours a bright ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of strawberry, Luden’s “Wild Cherry” Throat Drops, red flowers, and hot rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Drink now with some patience or through 2036. |
| Red |
2021 Vincent Pinot Noir Zenith VineyardEola - Amity Hills more |
4/12/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPopped and poured, enjoyed with friends over the course of an hour or so. The 2021 “Zenith” pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and holy whole-cluster Batman! Notes of funky strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, and forest floor. On the palate the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes form the nose. The finish is medium+ and certainly has some Burgundian sensibilities. Wow, I really dig this and love the soft mitts that Vincent and his team are using. Lovely, compelling stuff and a producer to keep an eye on. Drink now and through 2036+. |
| Red |
2012 Cascina Chicco Barolo Riserva GinestraNebbiolo more |
3/31/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 93 pointsGinestra is arguably one of the most important MGA’s in Monforte d’Alba. It was called out by Renato Ratti back in the early days of Barolo vineyard classification and its home to Gavarini, Chiniera, Rüncot, Pajana and Grassi. As you might imagine, Cascina Chicco’s Ginestra Riserva is more than a Riserva from Ginestra. In fact, the fruit comes from the heart of the single-vineyard known as Grassi which enjoys the best exposure (straight south). However, instead of calling out “Grassi” on the label (which they are entitled to do), Cascina Chicco simply refers to “Ginestra”. Perhaps it’s tradition since Ginestra is so well known. Whatever the case may be, what really matters is that it’s delicious. |
| Rosé |
2020 Château Simone Palette RoséRosé Blend more |
4/16/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsEnjoyed two glasses of this 2020 Rosé, which had been opened by a friend two days prior. In the glass, the wine is a deep salmon color with more pale, pinkish rim. On the nose, ripe strawberry, Trader Joe’s Thai lime and chili almonds, watermelon, dried green herbs, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and there was a very nice, silky texture. This was quite charming and the Thai lime component I found to be especially interesting. This drinks well now and should continue to do so through 2030. |
| White |
2021 Vincent Chardonnay Royer VineyardEola - Amity Hills more |
4/10/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPopped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple days. Best on Day 2 as the fruit gained a lot of power. The 2021 Royer Vineyard pours a straw color with medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with medium+ intensity. Notes of matchstick, starfruit, passionfruit, lime, and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; zippy with intriguing minerals. Drink now with patience but better after 2025 and through 2036. |
| White |
2017 Liquid Farm Chardonnay FourSta. Rita Hills more |
4/2/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 94 points“Four” is a single-vintage blend of the most exciting barrels of Chardonnay from Liquid Farm’s vineyards. Popped and poured; enjoyed with friends over the course of an hour or so. The 2017 pours a striking, intensely bright golden color. I’m not sure I have seen anything quite like it before. It’s nearly neon. On the nose, the wine is redolent ripe and tart tropical fruits: starfruit and pineapple along with lemons, green apple, butter, gentle baking spices (this does see extended time in a small percentage of new oak). On the palate, the wine is dry with what I perceive to be high acid. It’s awesome. Confirming the notes form the nose, the finish is long with good minerality. This is titillating wine that hooks you from sight to nose to palate and it’s the latter that drives it home with the remarkable acid to match the fruit. About as good as any New World Chardonnay I’ve ever had. Drink now through 2039. |
| Red |
2016 Cantina dei Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema Carema Riservamore |
4/14/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 90 pointsFrom a lesser known “produttori” in Piemonte. Cantina Produttori Nebbiolo di Carema (what a mouthful) is a tiny cooperative in, you guessed it, Carema. |
| White |
2021 Sandlands Chenin Blanc Amador Countymore |
4/10/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPopped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Significantly better on Day 2 as the wine completely opened up. The 2021 Amador County pours a pale yellow color with medium+ viscosity and no signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is clean; developing with notes of golden apples, quince, lemon verbena, white tree flower, lanolin, and wet stone. On the palate, the wine is dry with super sneaky, high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a woolly texture. Lovely stuff. After looking back at my previous note, I realize that a lot of air helped this wine show more of its character. Drink now with patience and a lot of air otherwise better after 2026 and should be great through 2035. |
| Red |
2020 Les Mathény Poulsard Arboismore |
4/11/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 91 pointsPopped and poured; served slightly chilled and enjoyed with rabbit sausage and spätzle. The 2020 Poulsard pours, a pale limpid garnet with a translucent core. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing. Maraschino cherry, some horse blank blanket, dried Alpine herbs. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium- tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium length with a fun, juicy texture. You could probably hold but why? This is fun and delicious right now. |
| Rosé |
2023 Seavey Vineyard Mimi's RoséNapa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon more |
4/13/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 90 pointsUnscrewed and poured; enjoyed over a couple hour period. The 2023 “Mimi’s Rosé” pours the cutest pink color with medium viscosity. I should note that this is the lightest color I can recall since the first vintage in On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of soft strawberry, raspberry, red plum, kiwi and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with lovely minerals and acid. I’ve tried every vintage of Mimi’s Rosé since 2019 and I’ve got to say this is, by far, my favorite to-date. I’d love more of this. Drink now, outside, during a sunset. |
| Red |
2021 Sandlands ZinfandelLodi more |
4/12/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 91 pointsPopped and poured; enjoyed while playing Cards Against Humanity and therefore, no formal notes. This bottle was a bit different from previous bottles of the 2021 Zinfandel in that it had some noticeable Brett. And while this is clearly not intended, we all found it to be quite charming and a fun outlier. Otherwise, my previous notes from 10/24/2023 still apply. |
| Red |
2022 A. Rafanelli ZinfandelDry Creek Valley more |
3/25/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPoured into a Boa decanter several hours prior to dinner. The 2022 Zinfandel pours a ruby color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of bright brambles: blackberries and raspberries, cherry (some candied, think Cherry Blow Pop), pipe tobacco, black pepper, dry organic earth and gentle baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose with some notes of mocha added to the mix. The finish is long and delightful. Fun to try in its youth however I expect these will show even better after a few years in the cellar. Best after 2027 and through 2042. |
| Red |
2010 Castell'in Villa Chianti Classico Riserva Poggio delle RoseChianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more |
3/30/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 92 pointsPoured into a decanter about 90min before service; enjoyed over a several hour period. The 2010 “Poggio delle Rose” pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Bing cherries compote, red flowers, balsamic, oiled leather. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. This is a flashier expression of Chianti Classico Riserva by Castell’in Villa, with a modern touch. However, the sense of place is not even a question. This is Castelnuovo Berardenga through and through. Drinking well now with an extended decant and will continue to drink well through 2030, easy. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| White |
2022 Sandlands Assyrtiko Lodimore |
4/12/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 91 pointsHaving spent some time in Greece last year, I had access to all the Assyrtiko my heart could desire and it turned out, my heart was nearly insatiable. So when I learned that Sandlands was going to be releasing an Assyrtiko from Lodi, I perked up. |
| Red |
2017 Cuchet Beliando CornasSyrah more |
4/7/2024 - thesternowl wrote: 95 pointsWrapping up a wild weekend, I finished this bottle of Cuchet-Beliando Cornas that I opened Friday evening. It was awesome on the pop and pour and continued to develop in a lovely arc through Sunday evening when I enjoyed my last glass. The 2017 pours a deep ruby/purple with a magenta rim and what’s basically an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity and moderate staining, with some signs of sediment. ón the nose the wine is developing with notes of the most pure black and red brambles, some blueberries, a bit of animale, deli case, pimento loaf, lavender, a whole Pensey’s bag of Tellicherry pepper corns, black olives, cedar and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the palate although the brambles are a bit more red. The finish is long and with loads of meat and black pepper. This is a stunning Cornas that has some real class behind the feral Cornas curtain. I really love this…but I’m an absolute sucker for the Rhône. Drink now with some patience but this will be brilliant for decades. 2024-2057. 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
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