| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| White |
2022 Domaine Vacheron SancerreSauvignon Blanc more |
2/19/2024 - Matt Neel wrote: NRStraw, green meniscus. Grassy, SB nose, some cat piss though not dominant. Palate has moderate weight and intensity; zero Sancerre character: no smoke, no minerals, no salinity; nothing to tell you "Sancerre." Short. This is a hard no. This is a bottle of SB from anywhere with agreeable soil, not worth $.01 for the pedigree, There are many, many better Sancerres available for this money. |
| White |
2021 de Ladoucette Sancerre Comte LafondSauvignon Blanc more |
11/20/2023 - Matt Neel wrote: NRGolden straw. Lovely, pure nose of yellow peach, saline oyster shells, and slate; no smoke. Very round on the palate, decent/good acidity, but not at all a steely, mineral, structured Sancerre in any way; much more yellow peach, apricot fresh and dried; very generous fruit. Nice finish, but lacking verve and lift; this is more of a rich, plush cocktail wine than a bracing, vigorous counterpoint for food. Overall, I'd label this: lacking focus and Sancerre identity; disappointing. |
| Red |
2021 Daniel Gomez Jimenez Landi Méntrida Las Uvas de la Ira Vina de PuebloGarnacha, Grenache more |
11/19/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRPerfect blood. Nose is deep and mineral, lots of blood and viscera; turned soil; above that is kirsch and creosote, and higher yet is a wispy, constantly vanishing but haunting rose floral note. Gorgeous, but there is certainly a touch of heat; oy, Garnacha. Round and moderately dense on the palate; celery and celery seed, cherry meat and pit. Quite good balance on the finish with a defining edge of bitterness; less heat than on the nose, but plenty of ripe, ripe liqueur character and overall a very richly textured wine. Delicious wine, but it demands duck or fatty lamb; it's not a daily house wine. (Listed as 14.5% abv, but I'd guess it's more like 15%.) |
| White |
2017 Alphonse Mellot Sancerre La MoussièreSauvignon Blanc more |
11/9/2023 - Matt Neel wrote: NRPale straw. Generic Sauv Blanc nose; some cat piss, salinity, cut grass. Without real presence on the palate, same as the nose plus a pleasing note of smoke. Flat, short finish. A pleasant enough NO. |
| White |
2018 Domaine Serge Laporte SancerreSauvignon Blanc more |
11/9/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRPalest straw. This pops with the most captivating, smoky, herbal, and saline nose one could hope for, just gorgeous. The palate is calm, balanced, and lying crisply in wait for morels, cream, or tarragon in any combination with proteins; food wine. Lovely, lifted balance on the finish. Yes, please to this beautiful little Sancerre. |
| White |
2014 Jean-Claude Ramonet Bienvenues-Bâtard-MontrachetBienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru Chardonnay more |
11/8/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRGreen gold. Focused but reticent, primary nose; smoky flint and steel; an almost delicate florality is encased in ultra-expensive, tight-grained oak that is beginning to merge with the fruit. Very (very) rich on the palate, flinty, primary, and beautiful; peaches and apricots from Jesus' own orchards are awaiting delivery in the next life of this beauty. Absolutely, and literally, mouthwatering and comically long finish. The scent from the empty glass is just mesmerizing. Wowzers and holy shit is this thing SINGING. (Open 24-36 hours) 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| White |
2021 Xavier Monnot Meursault Le LimozinChardonnay more |
10/16/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRGold straw. Blocky, primary nose of Chard; medium grip of new oak/honeyed butter; Meursault hazelnuts for sure; steel shavings, foundry smoke; rustic, with no pretty florality in there at all; it's stern on the nose. The fruit is there, but the winemaking is strong. The palate is unlike the nose: round, generous, primary yet (so young), a bit blocky with oak and winemaking but that will definitely integrate. Decent length, but without nuance or seduction. My only caveat is the wine evinces no charm, no joy — it's all structure and form, at least for now. It's a sound, muscular Meursault that is not my style but certainly will be for others (my preference runs to finesse and beauty, and this is a bigger, tougher wine than that). Its pedigree shows. |
| White - Sparkling |
2012 Nathalie Falmet Champagne Cuvée Le Val CornetChampagne Blend more |
10/15/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NR2012 Nathalie Falmet Champagne Cuvée Le Val Cornet |
| Red |
2020 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre NuoveBolgheri Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/9/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRSaturated blood. Fascinating, deep nose of creosote, singed herbs (thyme for sure, oregano?), raw meat, and almost overwhelming salinity, like seawater; crazy complexity. On the tongue, it's similarly complex: saline, raw oysters (!), steak tartare with full egg yolk richness and funk, + capers, and then plum and pure, sweet, high-note blackberry, while also slightly bitter, bringing focus to the sweetness. Most intriguing. Exceptionally finely knit and long; perfectly balanced as an artifact of couture: art, realized. This is not a wheelhouse wine for me, being a little dense and rich for my palate, but damn -- it's really, really good. Drink nowish, I think. I don't know where this has to go that's any better than where it is now. Splendid. |
| Red |
2022 G.D. Vajra Langhe NebbioloLanghe DOC more |
10/9/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRBlood ruby. Gorgeous creosote and cherry nose; smoked meats; amazingly savory. Palate is sweet, rich, and boldly tannic; strawberry jam, charcuterie, and fireplace embers; positively bursting with fruit. Gorgeous and perfect. Heavenly young Nebbiolo. You could forget it in the cellar for a couple of years, but why wouldn't you just drink it? Perfection in its class. Oh, how I do love Vajra's touch... |
| Red |
2018 Cascina Fontana BaroloNebbiolo more |
8/17/2023 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRUnbalanced is the overwhelming read, here. But not the wine -- me. |
| Red |
2008 Elio Grasso Barolo Riserva RüncotNebbiolo more |
6/10/2022 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRSaturated Nebbiolo red with an opaque blood core. Primary, textbook (lol) nose of licorice, cherry jam, sandalwood, expensive leather, and a little creosote; quite generous, actually. The palate is dense and tannic but with plenty of young fruit, very firm but absolutely beautifully balanced. Fantastic tannic length; clean as a whistle with no distinguishable oak — it’s in there but deftly integrated. I don’t see this taking forever to open, though its impeccable balance will underwrite a long, long evolution. A splendid wine, full stop. (Popped and poured. Thanks, Tim!) |
| Red |
2005 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru ChampansPinot Noir more |
6/10/2022 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRThoroughly saturated blood/ruby still with a violet meniscus, but you can see the earliest makings of brick being hinted. A big, bountiful nose just inhabits the glass, a grizzly in its den, primary yet and powerful with violets, red and black cherry, stiff minerality, and a hint of thyme. The palate is intense, tannic, and dense, even a bit dusty, but it is definitely beginning to round out, and the fruit is so copious it requires every last bit of that frame of tannin and acid. Exceedingly long, though that element is still stoutly tannic and primary, strict even. A heroic, patrician wine, every bit a 2005, but beginning to show a little leg. There isn’t much in the way of charm, and it remains to be seen if there ever will be, but I’m optimistic. It was certainly enjoyable — which not many 2005s are, in my opinion. (Popped and poured and then given lots of time (ultimately overnight) to oxygenate. My wine.) |
| White |
2002 Jean Boillot & Fils Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la MouchèreChardonnay more |
6/10/2022 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRRich, golden straw with a hint of green on the meniscus (still!). The nose is like a very large thing crammed down into the glass, swelling with butter toffee, cream(sicle), lemon confit, a subtle herbal note, and a powerful, almost smokey steel-foundry minerality — heady stuff, just this side of hot. The palate is dense with the glycerin of the vintage, of crystalline purity etched in filigree acidity, and fills every bit of one’s mouth with sumptuous balance, restating the flavor profile of the nose. Briefly, I even called this “hard,” as it was so youthful, but that mellowed. The wine is exactly à point, youthful and fresh yet mellowed, suave, and expansive. The finish lingers like a new lover. There is certainly oak present but it has integrated with effortless finesse. Spectacular wine, of grand cru quality if anything short of Chevalier-Montrachet can be. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a white Burgundy this good. (Thanks, Seth!) |
| White |
2018 Cà dei Frati Lugana BrolettinoTurbiana, Verdicchio more |
5/3/2020 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRV pale straw. Aggressive, initially stern nose of creosote, fireplace embers, melting metal, and then, miraculously, an interweaving of lacy elderflower, honeysuckle, and peachskin ethereality with a lemonoil singularity providing gravity. Mouthwatering. As good as the nose is, the palate is nothing short of stunning: dense and broad, yet crisp; luscious white tree-pitfruits drench the palate, demanding attention; and yet, other than a wispy lychee note, this is as far from tropical as the Alps could imply… It is stern, steely, mineral, and boldly acidic; a Matterhorn — covered foot to crest with wildflowers. This is not a light wine but it doesn’t tire, either — quite the opposite: it has effortlessly persistent, and delicious, length. Honestly, a stunning wine. Preposterously good for the money. Wow! |
| Red |
1983 Château Lynch-BagesPauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more |
4/11/2020 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRWell bricked but still with a pretty stunningly dark, opaque core of blood fading red through brick. Iron and steel, graphite — immediately all minerals on nose, but mmm very deep, stick your nose in! Blood iron and castle gates behind murky moats of thyme; a little Louis Vuitton leather, pencils in a rich kid's case; then, with coaxing (and gifted insight from Sam) deeep plum: the last remainder of the big basket of fruit this once carried. The palate tends Napoleonic; Pauillac austerity and authoritarianism: couture cotton cases on military pillows. At first luxurious in its resolved calm, so very regal with elitist balance. But in truth: we’re fully on the back edge of a very good wine. Nice length, iron, graphite, minerals, black plum skins are here, but some cherry charm, any charm, would be nice. It’s all discipline now. Delicious with lamb steaks on Easter. Drink up. |
| Red |
2004 Azienda Bricco Asili (Ceretto) Barbaresco Bricco AsiliNebbiolo more |
3/29/2018 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRRuby, dense but transparent and pretty. Lovely, though moderately reserved, nose of classic Nebbiolo fruit: red roses, strawberry, pie cherry, baking spices, and, down below those, a rich, tarry substrate. No apparent oak, much to my surprise and delight. The palate was beautifully balanced and just perfectly expresses Nebbiolo elegance. Though the wine is showing signs of softening, it is structually fairly primary, still, with crisp acidity and firm tannins, but that structure supports a wealth of lifted and bright fresh, sweet, red berry fruit. Broadly textured and fullish bodied, this is not a "big" wine by any means. Again, no oak apparent. Good length though not especially long at this youthful stage. This will improve for many more years but is utterly delicious now (at least with food). Quite a surprise tonight, this "modernist" Ceretto, and I couldn't have been more pleased. (Double decanted about 6 hours before consumption.) |
| Red |
1996 Fratelli Brovia Barolo Rocche dei BroviaNebbiolo more |
3/10/2011 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRFirst day: Very deep lava red, the only bricking is from being Nebbiolo. Clenched and surly, fvck you!, on opening. 1/2 a glass, soily, dirty bench at the bus stop; no tickets pal. Wait for day two. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| White - Sparkling |
2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs BrutChardonnay more |
4/12/2015 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NRPretty deep straw. Deeeep and earthy nose; creamy lemon curd; and a distinct herbal note of tarragon, which I love (both the herb and in this wine)... Just a gorgeous nose. The palate is impossibly well-balanced, creamy and more of that mouth-watering lemon curd; and then Chicago iron, steel; mineral. An haute-couture mousse: sex on the tongue. Nice sweetness (be aware, this has a noticeable dosage, which I personally love). Excellent length. My observation on this bottle is it has very mellow acidity, so I don't think this will make old bones (or should, or is intended to), but boy almighty -- it's exquisite now! I'd actually say drink now, and make your own decisions about longevity. |
| Red |
1989 Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Riserva BrunateNebbiolo more |
10/27/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NR1989 Produttori del Barbaresco with Chambers Street Wines (Maialino, NYC): (Mystery wine at the end of a lot of wines...) Blood, some brick. Nose immediately breathed bubblegum on me, like a cute waitress on roller-skates, with her clove and vanilla; subtle menthol. Palate is firmly tannic but also soft(ening) and definitely approachable; good, deep cherry, sweet and long; a radar-ping of saline soy. Delicious! Years to go, but certainly good now -- don't hesitate to enjoy this. (My guess was an Aldo Conterno '89; classic but refined and approachable.) Great wine. |
| Red |
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva MontestefanoNebbiolo more |
10/27/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NR1989 Produttori del Barbaresco with Chambers Street Wines (Maialino, NYC): Beautiful ruby, lightest bricking. The nose reminds me of the '89 Ovello in its reserve and breed; red apple skins; ripe bing cherries; nascent baking spices; concentrated rose perfume and red cherry liqueur. Lovely, and, frankly, perfect. The palate has gorgeous, tongue-enveloping sweetness; exceedingly refined and well textured... wow! classic, pure cherry velvet. Incredible balance, incredible length. Will run forever, roughly, but is certainly more than enjoyable now. Great wine. |
| Red |
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva MonteficoNebbiolo more |
10/27/2014 - Matt Neel wrote: NR1989 Produttori del Barbaresco with Chambers Street Wines (Maialino, NYC): Ruby, bricking. Nose shows baking spices, oxidation, petrichor. Palate is much the same, sweet, soft; spices and caramel. OK-ish length. A little tired, this poor bottle. Tasty, but: drink up. |
| Red |
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva RabajàNebbiolo more |
10/27/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NR1989 Produttori del Barbaresco with Chambers Street Wines (Maialino, NYC): Blood ruby, bricking. This has a big, billowing nose, albeit a little oxidized; red apple skins, café latte, and stony-dusty petrichor. Palate has a big hit of leather, quite tannic leather, recently tanned; bitter chocolate, Christmas spices (lots of those, everything you can think of); balsamic, adding a little volatility to the oxidation on the nose. Good+ length. Ready to go, at least from this bottle. Delicious, but good to go. |
| Red |
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva MoccagattaNebbiolo more |
10/27/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NR1989 Produttori del Barbaresco with Chambers Street Wines (Maialino, NYC): Deep ruby, barely bricking. Nose shows an immediate whiff of oxidation; then cherry, cola, horse piss. The palate is sweet and ready, more of the oxidation. Delicious, but underwhelming in the context of this lineup. Decent length, not better. Go ahead and drink (if this bottle if typical). |
| Red |
1989 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva OvelloNebbiolo more |
10/27/2014 - Matt Neel Likes this wine: NR1989 Produttori del Barbaresco with Chambers Street Wines (Maialino, NYC): Blood ruby, bricking. Classic cherry nose, licorice; unevolved. Palate, again, is classic and unevolved: cherry and licorice. Needs a whole lot more time for my palate. Good balance and fine tannic, primary length -- but that's about all you get right now. Hold for a bare minimum of 5 years. A final note: super well balanced. Great wine. |
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- Tasting notes: 470 notes on 448 wines
