4/22/2024 - lkilpio wrote:

The color is somewhat blueish. The wine is not overly fruity, and it is having quite a pungently and tightly acidic character. However, the aroma and flavor palette is intensive and stylish, providing nice notes of cranberry, lingonberry, crowberry and earth. It is hard to say, how this wine would evolve in the coming years.

3/29/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This full-bodied wine was still fruity, but it was also having a nicely tannic structure. The wine was providing very pleasant notes of ripe dark fruits and herbs, but even the funky barnyard notes were present. In my opinion, this wine is now very enjoyable and probably on its peak.

3/29/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This full-bodied and massive wine is in a great and balanced phase at the moment: the lush fruitiness is still there, but the tannins have softened and integrated. The taste is very rich, deep and captivating, providing alluring notes of ripe blackberries, blueberries, plums, tar and herbs. As a whole, the wine is really enjoyable now. I am not sure, if it will still get better; the answer likely depends on how mature Rhône wines you just prefer to drink.

3/29/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is a fruity, structured, acidic and weighty Champagne, with pleasant notes of apple, pear, lemon and toast. For its moderate price (45 euros), this was a good buy.

3/9/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This beatutiful, traditional style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape is in a great phase at the moment. The mouthfeel is round, and the tannins have already fully resolved and integrated, but there is still plenty of fresh fruit left. The wine is providing lovely aromas and flavors ripe raspberries, strawberries, cherries, herbs and pine needles. This will still keep, but there is no real reason to wait!

3/9/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is a superbly charming wine that is in a lovely condition at the moment. There is still lots of fruit left, but the tannins have properly softened and integrated. The wine provides a beautiful aroma and flavor palette of ripe red and dark fruits, herbs, garrigue and spices.

3/9/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This was in a lovely condition at the moment! The tannins had integrated and softened, but the wine was still fruity. There were lots of aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits. As typical for Pegau, there was some funk, but not too much.

3/9/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This was an impressive, structured Champagne with a big, fruity, mouth-filling and majestic taste. In my opinion, this was in a perfect condition now.

3/24/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This medium/full-bodied Haut-Médoc wine is in a very approachable, balanced and lovely phase even at this age. The wine is very fruity and supple, presenting appealing notes of plum, blackberry, blackcurrant and mocha. It may still improve with time, but it is hard to resist it now!

3/17/2024 - lkilpio wrote:

This medium-bodied Haut-Médoc wine is not very fruity, but it is still fairly tight and tannic. However, the wine is displaying nice notes of e.g. blackberry, blackcurrant, plum and tobacco, leaving a refined, delicate and tasty impression. I think that the wine is now on its peak, and I don't expect it to improve with any additional ageing.

3/8/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Drank with my family on my 50th birthday dinner.

The wine still gave a powerful, intensive and even tight impression: the tannins and acids were still biting and strong, but the fruitiness had already started to fade. However, the aroma and flavor palette was very refined and majestic, providing captivating notes of e.g. bacon, meat, olives, dark berries and coal.

All in all, this is very enjoyable now, but I would like to try this again after 5 years, when the tannins have fully resolved and softened.

3/8/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is definitely a great wine, and it is clearly the best sweet white wine that I have ever had.

The color is already brown, and there is already some taste of sherry, but otherwise the wine still feels young. However, I am not sure, if any additional maturing would anymore improve the quality of the wine at all.

The wine is dense, thick, intensive, sweet and very fruity on the palate, presenting stunning notes of noble rot, honey and apricot. However, in spite of the sweet and overwhelmingly rich character, the wine was surprisingly fresh on the palate. All in all, this was my first experience of Château d'Yquem, and the experience was great. I fully understand the legendary and special reputation of the wine.

2/20/2024 - lkilpio Does not like this wine:

This wine leaves an unclean, unbalanced and unpleasant impression. There is some decent fruitiness, but the aroma and flavor palette is dominated by notes of dirty earth and overcooked dark fruit. For 14 euros in Tallinn, Estonia, this has been the absolutely worst buy of the year until now.

2/11/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This great, traditional-style Châteauneuf-du-Pape is at a lovely phase at the moment, restoring my faith in the more matured wines of the region in general. In fact, this wine was outstanding for 3 years ago, but it is clearly even better now.

The wine is displaying stunning aromas and flavors of ripe blackberries and plums, herbs, tar, iron, minerals and earth. Contrary to many other Southern Rhône wines at this age, the wine gives a fresh impression, and it is not having any burnt taste at all. The wine is still richly, sweetly and intensively fruity. The tannins have already softened and integrated, but the tannic structure is still firm. Consequently, this wine is very enjoyable now, but it is still having many years of life ahead.

2/5/2024 - lkilpio wrote:

Presenting some nice notes of blackcurrant, blackberry and pencil, this wine is somewhat closed, tight, roughly tannic and lean at the moment. However, there should be sufficiently fruit for longer cellaring, and I also think that the wine will put on weight with time. All in all, not quite filling the expectations now, but probably better in a few years.

2/5/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This Merlot-based Right Bank Bordeaux wine is in a very good phase and ready to drink even at this age, although it will surely evolve in the coming years. The wine is fruity, full-bodied, nicely tannic, yet balanced, providing delicious notes of plum, blackberry, menthol and tobacco. You will hardly notice that the wine contains 15 % alcohol. I will open my next bottle after a couple of years.

1/28/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying delicious notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, ink and pencil, this Merlot-based, medium-bodied and balanced Bordeaux is in a lovely phase at the moment. The wine is still fruity, but the tannins have softened and integrated. You can still store this wine for tertiary flavors, but it is hard to resist it now.

1/27/2024 - lkilpio wrote:

This is a pleasant, light-bodied, fresh and balanced Champagne. While somewhat lean and lacking intensity, this wine is nuanced and charming in its own way. The wine is providing lively acidity and nice notes of apple, citrus, minerals and hay.

1/22/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying delicious notes of plums, blackberries, pine-needles and herbs, this full-bodied and fruity Châteauneuf-du-Pape is both traditional and modern at the same time. The wine is in a balanced and lovely phase at the moment. The tannins have softened and integrated, so the wine is very supple and pleasant to drink now, but the fresh and rich fruit is still fully there. This may still evolve and gain some new nuances, but you certainly don't make a mistake, if you open this now.

1/20/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is a very good Gigondas. The wine is fruity, intensive, full-bodied and nicely tannic, yet supple on the palate. The wine is presenting pleasant notes of dark fruits, coal and herbs. For 19 euros, this was a really good buy!

1/6/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This wine was surprisingly light in color, surprisingly acidic and surprisingly light-bodied, especially soon after opening. The wine changed into more intensive and fruity, though, after some time of decanting. The notes of dark fruits, dark berries and herbs were quite nice indeed. Not a bad Châteauneuf-du-Pape as a whole.

1/9/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Providing nice notes of dark berries and black pepper, this wine is a stylish and pure Chianti Classico. It is still somewhat tight on the palate, and I had expected it to be more fruity and intensive on the mid-palate, but the wine is still quite pleasant to drink even at this age. I think that this wine has a considerable aging potential. For the price of 14 euros in Tallinn, Estonia, this wine certainly provided great value.

1/1/2024 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This wine has aged and evolved in a very graceful way, and the wine seems to be in a perfect phase at the moment. The tannins have fully resolved and integrated, so the wine feels soft on the palate. However, there is still plenty of fruit left as well, and the wine leaves both a delicate, rich and intensive impression. The wine is displaying lovely notes of plum, dark cherry, other dark berries, blueberry, herbs and tobacco. All the components are wonderfully balanced and integrated with each other. Unlike with some other aged Châteauneuf-du-Papes, or also the recently tasted vintage 2011 of this wine, there is not any burnt or cooked taste at all, but the wine and its fruit still feels and tastes fresh.

12/24/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying green notes of grass, hay, green apples, citrus and minerals, this Chablis is intensive, structured, fresh and acidic on the palate. The wine is sufficiently, but not abundantly fruity. It went really well as an aperitif and as an accompaniment with lobster salad.

12/24/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying very fine notes of dark berries, bacon, meat, smoke and tobacco, this regionally typical wine is in a nice phase at the moment. The wine is having a good acidic structure, but I had maybe expected it to be more fruity at this stage of the evolving process. However, there is certainly enough fruit so that the wine can still evolve for many years from now.

12/18/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying pleasant notes of plum, blackberry, clove and earth, this fruity and juicy wine is intensive and dark-toned on the palate. The wine is in a nice, integrated and balanced phase now, although you probably can still store it for a couple of years.

12/17/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Consistent with my previous notes. This wine is lovely now: it is fruity, nicely round, but still structured, providing alluring notes of plum, blackberry, blackcurrant, pencil and wet earth.

12/17/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This structured, intensive, still fairly tight and now somewhat closed wine is having a considerable ageing potential. The wine is also fruity, however, making it fully drinkable at the moment, especially after decanting. The wine is displaying beautiful, classic notes of blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, cedar, pencil and wet earth. All in all, this is very good now, and it will be even better in the future. (Unfortunately enough, this was my one and only bottle.)

12/12/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This medium/full-bodied red from a less known wine region, Vino de la Tierra Extremadura, is providing both quality, pleasure and character. The wine is fruity, clean and technically very well-made, with appealing notes of dark berries, dark fruits and spices. The blend of Syrah, Tempranillo and Cabernet Sauvignon is interesting; for this wine, the most obvious reference among the traditional wine regions is perhaps the Southern or Northern Rhône.

As a whole, this wine is a strong proof of what a modern, open-minded and ambitious producer can do, even in a less-known region.

12/6/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This medium/full-bodied red Burgundy provides both crispness, freshness and depth. The wine is in an excellent phase at the moment: it is still fruity, acidic and intensive on the palate, but the tannins have softened and integrated. The wine is displaying very nice notes of red berries, but also deeper aromas and flavors, such as plums and wet forest-floor.

12/3/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying beautiful notes of black cherry, cranberry, wet stone, wet earth, iron and other minerals, this medium-bodied red is in a wonderful phase at the moment. It is still fruity, intensive and delicious on the palate, and the wine has not lost its structure or acids. However, the tannins have softened, and there is not any tightness or roughness anymore at all. In my opinion, this is an extraordinarily good village-level Burgundy that is in the just right drinking-window right now.

11/26/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Displaying nice notes of cherry, crowberry, blackberry, iron and blood, this medium-bodied Brunello is still fairly tight and tannic. The wine is rather dry, and its fruitiness is not exactly rich. However, there is sufficiently fruit, and the wine gives a noble and intensive impression on the palate. I think that this wine will be even more convincing after a few years of cellaring and further integration of the tannins. The fruit is sufficient for the ageing as well.

11/19/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This medium/full-bodied wine is balanced, pleasant, fruity and intensive on the palate. With its fresh acids and grippy tannins, the wine is structured, but by no means in a harsh way. The wine is displaying nice notes of dark and red berries, ink and wet forest floor. This wine is tasty now, especially after decanting, but it is also suitable for mid-term ageing.

11/12/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is a really good and tasty wine that is also very characteristic for the region. It is full-bodied and richly fruity, providing alluring notes of dark cherries, blackberries, licorice, tar and herbs. Moreover, the wine is also structured and fresh, due to the lively acidity and crisp tannins. This wine is really delicious now, but it is also suitable for mid-term ageing. It was an excellent companion for home-made beef bourguignon. For 15 euros, this has been one of my best buys this year.

10/21/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This was a truly fine Condrieu. It was very richly fruity and opulent, with magnificent notes of tropical fruits. However, it was also fresh and acidic enough, without being overly sweet at all. I wish that I had bought more than 1 bottle of this!

10/28/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is certainly one of the better NV Champagnes. It is very acidic, fresh, mineral and even tight, but also very intensive and sufficiently fruity, with nice notes of e.g. apples and lemon. This serves excellently as an aperitif, but also e.g. with many kinds of seafood.

10/15/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is a marvelous wine that is in a great condition at the moment. The wine is full-bodied, but very balanced, delicate and refined. The tannins have already softened and integrated, but the rich fruitiness is still fully present. The wine is displaying appealing notes of raspberry, blackberry, plum, herbs, wet undergrowth, needles and medicine. Unfortunately this was my lats and only bottle.

10/7/2023 - lkilpio wrote:

Not really bad, but quite generic, not very special or interesting.

10/4/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This was a wonderful rosé Champagne. The color was fairly deeply red. The taste was full-bodied and very fruity, providing appealing notes of strawberries and raspberries. At the same time the wine was also structured and freshly acidic. Unfortunately this was my last and only bottle, but only for now.

9/17/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Enjoyed after decanting for 3 hours. What a lovely wine at a refined and optimal phase! The tannins are silky, and there is still plenty of fruit left. The wine gives a balanced and a rather medium-bodied impression, but in a very good sense of the word. The aroma and flavor palette is complex. The notes of ripe dark berries and fruits, herbs, coal and meat are charming and appealing. This is obviously an excellent vintage of the wine, and I just wish that I had bought it more than 2 bottles (unfortunately both of my bottles are consumed now).

9/4/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This is a fresh, structured, pleasant and fruity white wine. I can recommend.

8/27/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This was surprisingly Burgundian in character. The color was fairly light, and the body was relatively light as well. However, there was sufficiently fruit, acidity and tannins to make the wine serious, delicious, structured and fresh. The notes of ripe red berries, jam and spices were nice and appealing. All in all, not bad at all.

8/21/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Very convincing. This wine is full-bodied, very nicely fruity and lively acidic. It is presenting lovely, regionally typical notes of blackberries, dark fruits and herbs.

This wine really shows, what an ambitious producer in Vacqueyras can do. For 18 euros, the wine was providing the qualities of a good Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but for less than a half price of it. I definitely will try to buy this more.

The wine is young at the moment, but it can be enjoyed now, if properly decanted. However, it will certainly keep and evolve for years.

8/20/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This full-bodied, classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape is in an excellent phase at the moment. The wine is still fruity, acidic and tannic, but the tannins have already softened and integrated. The wine is displaying layers of marvelous notes of ripe dark fruits, pine needles, herbs and wet stone. The overall impression is deep, solemn and balanced. However, there is some feel of a burnt taste in the wine. But as a whole, the wine now seems to be on its peak.

8/10/2023 - lkilpio wrote:

The color is very dark. Displaying nice notes of black fruits and berries, smoke, scorched earth, vanilla and rose leave, this full-bodied wine is fruity, thick, dense and very intensive on the palate. It is a bit unbalanced and lacking freshness, though, due to the too prominent presence of oak. For 10 euros in Tallinn, Estonia, this was a very good buy anyway.

8/9/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

Featuring lovely notes of white flowers, white fruits, honey, dry sherry and hay, this wine is having a very appealing and pleasant character. The wine is moderately fruity and acidic, but anyway intensive on the palate. While maybe not reaching the depth, complexity or multidimensionality of a truly "great" wine, this was an absolutely great buy for 9 euros in Tallinn, Estonia.

8/6/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

The color is very dark. The nose is appealing, providing lovely aromas of black cherries and herbs. The wine is massive, full-bodied, acidic, very fruity and multilayered on the palate, displaying alluring notes of cherry, blackberry, raspberry, herbs and wet undergrowth. Overall, this wine is gorgeous and very enjoyable now, but it is only at the beginning of its evolving process. Consequently, the wine is having many years ahead, and it is going to be even better in the future.

7/27/2023 - lkilpio Does not like this wine:

This was a disappointment, even considering the affordable price (9 euros in Tallinn, Estonia). The wine is dry and not fruity; it is not fresh but flabby due to the lack of acidity. There are some nice notes of pear, honey and white flowers, but there is an unclean side flavor and aroma as well. I cannot recommend this wine, since you can get better Alsatian Pinot Blancs even in this price class.

7/27/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This was a well-made and very nice Sauvignon Blanc from Palatia, Germany. The offer price (6 euros in Tallinn, Estonia) was cheap considering the quality. The wine was fruity, pleasant and very fresh, providing all the essential varietal characteristics.

7/16/2023 - lkilpio Likes this wine:

This full-bodied red Burgundy is much more balanced now than for 5 years ago, and it is actually in quite a nice phase at the moment. The tannins are still somewhat tight, but not harsh anymore, the acids are still lively, and there is still fairly much fruitiness to make the mouthfeel pleasant. The aromas and flavors of black cherry, raspberry, smoke, tobacco, forest floor and wet stone are inviting and alluring. In spite of being formally a village level wine, there is an impression of "nobility" here. The wine has still ageing potential, since it probably has not yet even reached its peak.