3/16/2024 - zbsussman wrote:

Corked. Bummer.

1/12/2024 - zbsussman wrote:

Lovely and floral expression of the vineyard. I’d wait a few years to open remaining bottles, though, as this was a bit tight—definitely at its best after a couple hours in the decanter.

11/5/2022 - zbsussman wrote:

Simply put, this is bringing Gonon levels of satisfaction. Wonderful and alluring now, but I’d love try it in 5-8 years.

1/9/2022 - zbsussman wrote:

Lovely, fresh, vibrant, easy-drinking sangiovese, with all the classic sour cherries and herbs. This is positively delightful, a perfect pizza night wine.

9/23/2021 - zbsussman wrote:

So good. Juicy ruby red fruit with all the freshness you’d hope for from Gredos grenache, and lots of rose petal, pink peppercorn aromatics.

8/27/2021 - zbsussman wrote:

Is this the best Barbera money can buy? Maybe! Hard not to swoon.

8/4/2021 - zbsussman wrote:

Agree with the previous taster. Though not without charm, this is drinking a little tart and lean compared to previous vintages, which is surprising, given the general warmth and ripeness of 2018. I bought lots of the 2017, but would probably not re-buy, even if this is unquestionably a well-made wine. Nothing wrong here, just lacking that “wow” factor that made me want to horde other vintages of this.

6/28/2021 - zbsussman wrote:

This will be a stellar bottle of wine, but based on my most recent bottle it really needs a few more years to unwind. Having no experience with the grape as a single varietal wine, I was expecting something light and floral, but this has plenty of grippy, tarry tannins. Recommend decanting for a few hours if opening soon.

12/19/2020 - zbsussman wrote:

Simply put, this is one of the great values in CA wine. You can't ask for more for the money. It's like the Chave "Mon Coeur" of California zinfandel.

10/16/2019 - zbsussman wrote:

Very charming in a crunchy, chuggable “vin de soif” style. Perfumed, floral, elegant, guessing semi-carbonic, as it telegraphs that “I am a natural wine” bojo-esque signature. No complaints at all.

9/14/2019 - zbsussman wrote:

Just perfect. Fully integrated, a little autumn leaf, but so much gorgeous ripe fruit, yet in a mature, refined way—like a slightly faded Polaroid of California sunshine from the early 90’s. Raspberry, sweet fresh strawberry, oolong tea, and a kind of mellow acidity where there must have once been tannins. I’m so happy I got these.

8/28/2019 - zbsussman wrote:

Corked, alas.

5/17/2019 - zbsussman wrote:

A little heavy-handed on the oak for my palate, sadly. Shame since the underlying materials seemed lovely.

2/14/2019 - zbsussman wrote:

Gorgeous traditionally-styled Rioja. The oak doesn't intrude in the least.

8/15/2016 - zbsussman wrote:

So glad I held onto this.

5/23/2016 - zbsussman wrote:

This was drinking just gorgeously. All I can says

5/8/2016 - zbsussman wrote:

Gorgeous classic Lopez, but took a few hours in the decanter to really open up. Give it a few more years.

8/10/2015 - zbsussman wrote:

She is just one of the best winemakers in Portugal, and so young. A meaty, floral, and fresh expression of he Douro that I could drink all night. Still, this is pretty robust stuff, and will benefit from a swirl in the decanter. Certainly a candidate for a few years of cellaring.

3/14/2015 - zbsussman wrote:

Nothing not to like here. A lovely fleshy cherry-infused Cab Franc Bourgeuil rosé. I suspect that this is bled off from one of his reds, which are also quite stellar. For $12, what more could you want?

12/21/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

I am so glad I held onto this. At its apex. Drink now if you have it, or over the next 2-3 years. 04 can be so darn good.

12/20/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Extraordinary balanced Pinot Gris. Among the best I've tried.

12/14/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Yes please, may I have another? This is just sensational. Hold for 5-7 more years if you want a more mature version, but this is singing right now on a fresher side of the spectrum.

12/14/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Pretty delicious. No rush.

12/5/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Yes, this has surely become a bit volatile. Somewhat raspy, but there's still an underlying eucalyptus herbaceous quality? It's really a bit farty though. Huge fan of this producer, not really a fan of this wine (or at least, this specific bottle).

11/24/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Everyone's right about how gorgeous and wonderful this wine is (tart cherries, earth, smoke, loam, such aromatic floral lift, and a bit of mushroomy soil), but what's up with the suggested drinking window? Drank this over dinner tonight and it showed gorgeously, but truly needed at least a few hours to flesh out and unfurl. This is Nebbiolo after all, you guys! I'm holding my last remaining bottle until 2018 at least.

10/1/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

This wine is just supremely awesome. I agree with everyone else.

9/13/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

This kicks all kinds of ass. A wonderful expression of this vineyard.

6/20/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Super stuff. Floral and exotic on the nose but tart, dry and bracing on the palate. Lemons skins and celery stalk and white flowers, with a touch of apricot freshness.

5/25/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Best 2011 Loire Chenin. This is stellar waxy mineral Chenin.

3/24/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

This is quite lovely indeed, steely and dry, with nice weight and definition: a classic example of its regional style. Extrapolating based on my experience of this quasi-problematic vintage, I found this to be remarkably well-handled, and I'd wager that this would be a spectacular wine in a more generous year. Too bad I missed the 2010. That said, this is definitely one of the better entry-level 2011's I've encountered, which bodes very well for this young estate. Montlouis is where its at, these days, no?

3/17/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Eric's note nailed it. This was a very pleasant surprise.

3/2/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

A bit too cherry cola and medicinal. I am not that enamored of this, perhaps partially because I just drank some entry-level Calabretta, which blew this away, making it seem far too modern in the process.

2/21/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Lovely. A perfectly fresh and country wine, best served with a light chill. Love that herbal, earthy, Chinon-like bell-pepper note, backed by juicy blackberry fruit. Give me a sunny day, a baguette, and some duck rillettes and call me a happy man.

2/17/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Corked.

2/5/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

A light and fresh expression of the Douro, still packed with all the ripe blackberry fruit. What is missing is the schist and minerality, but this bottle is not striving for those things. That manages to be quite juicy, with fruit that is bordering on the jammy side of the spectrum, yet not overbearingly so, and the acidity keeps notion check. Better with a slight chill, I can imagine this pairing nicely with burgers on the grill in the summer. That said, for the 20 bucks I spent, I feel like I would want something with more complexity.

2/2/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

I adore this vintage of this wine. Bright, crunchy, and fresh, Beaujolais-like acidity and cherries. Sign me up for more.

1/25/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Needs time. Pretty good CdP, if a bit too much magic marker alcoholic heat pokes through. That might change with age; this is still quite primary, just starting to fleshed out but expect some tannic grip if you intend to drink soon. Decanting was a good idea.

1/18/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Good, but I'm just not feeling this bottle as much as the first one I tried; the heat comes through too much (14.5%) and there's definitely a caramel-like Bourbon oxidative character that I often enjoy in some Savennieres (as sometimes occurs in the Joly wines), but which feels unbalanced here. Not bad, but not my best experience with this bottle.

1/17/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

This is good, mature Alto Piemonte, which, if you like these kinds of wines, you won't regret drinking. I bought this bottle for $25. It is true high-altitude Nebbiolo, with a touch of age and secondary/ perhaps tertiary qualities. If you can't appreciate what this wine is delivering for the price, then you should just put a bullet in your head and stop drinking fermented grapes, because you're useless and your opinion simply doesn't matter.

1/17/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

From magnum. Goodbye, old friend. You were such a thing of beauty while you lasted. I will always remember you.

1/11/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Holy Mosel. This is the whole package. Slate to the tenth degree, creamy peaches, searing acidity, and just starting to develop a touch of petrol secondary qualities and integrate into a cohesive statement. I wish I had a ton of this, so sad to see it go.

1/11/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Nice and sappy, not the most complex or profound expression if Cornas, but fruit-driven and tasty. Wish it had more of the meaty leathery earthy aspect one loves in classic examples of the appellation (they were present but just as little footnotes), but this bottle is enjoyable now for its youthful succulent fruit. All in all a truly enjoyable Syra, even if it didn't scream out "Cornas" to me.

1/4/2014 - zbsussman wrote:

Crunchy, bright, granitic Fleurie. I just adore this producer. Probably the best Fleurie on the market right now, so true to the appellation.

12/27/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

Lovely, elegant, off ? vintage Bordeaux. Drink within the next three years. I would have guessed a ripe/ vintage Chinon. Perfect for what it is, beautiful transparent claret, with salinity and freshness, herbs, and a dark cassis core.

12/11/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

Veering a little toward the modern side of the spectrum, with its darker concentration and little whiff of oak, but the firm tannins and earthiness of the fruit keep things in balance. This is very fine and serious indeed, and needs more time (or a few hours in the decanter). Even if my own palate favors a slightly brighter, less dense style of Xinomavro, I think this would appeal to a lot of people, and cannot deny the quality.

12/7/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

This is lovely stuff. Meaty blackberry and herbs, with a mouthful of thyme. This is not at all a light and chirpy Barbera, but full of stuffing. Feels mature on the palate, as you would expect with a twelve year old Barbera, with a little bit of (balanced) volatile acidity that gives the wine a lifting balsamic note that works in its favor. I am really into this. A great steak wine, far too complex and substantial for the veggie pizza I ordered. This needs red meat.

11/19/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

What's not to love? Bright, clean, juicy, lovely Frappato. If you don't like this wine, you have no soul.

11/14/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

Very nice, with plums and licorice and snappy acidity, but this is still a bit tightly wound. Decant a few hours, or, better yet, give it a couple more years.

11/10/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

This is fine, but a bit superficial and lacking minerality to be truly satisfying. You get a whiff of oak, and some fleshy yellow fruit (which will definitely appeal to some), but this wine just doesn't have much depth behind the flashy New World surface. I can't conceive of shelling out for this bottle, when you could buy some exquisite, mineral-driven, terroir-expressive Chenin from the Loire for half the price. Not bad wine by any means, but not for me.

11/4/2013 - zbsussman wrote:

Corked. Bummer. Can tell this would be great.