3/30/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

With two hours of air – wow!

3/28/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Classic claret. Secondary notes of cigar box and forest. Might need more time to show its full potential. Only concern is the slightly greenish notes on the palate. Still, a great wine. 94?

3/8/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Amazing stuff. Stuffed with lemon curd and citrus zest, refreshing acidity and a gentle touch of oak. Long and compelling finish. 96+

3/2/2024 - Larre wrote:

Disappointing performance considering previous bottles tasted of this vintage. Nice bouquet though, but disjointed on the palate with dried and slightly greenish fruit, light body, and a surprisingly short finish. An odd bottle?
90?

2/24/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Enjoyable mature La Poja. Like a mini-Amarone with less sweetness and secondary notes of truffles, tobacco and forest ground.

2/16/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Considering the price and reputation of this wine, the performance was a bit disappointing. Nice riesling bouquet on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is a bit austere and the finish is a bit short. Overall, it lacks the complexity and nerve to be a great riesling. That said, it is still an enjoyable wine.

2/17/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Nice evolvement since the last bottle two years ago. Still young, but a great performance with delicate cherrie fruit, well-balanced oak, and a nice tannic structure. Very stylish and promising. 95+

2/9/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Has evolved into a very balanced and elegant claret. Dark fruit with a tad of sweetness, secondary notes of cigar box. Still a bit angular, and needs more time in my opinion. Needs to be accompanied by food. 93+

2/3/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Great bouquet with apples, pineapple, saffron and citrus. Great body and elegant fruit in the mouth, refreshing acidity and a long finish. There is an underlying sweetness though that I find i tad disturbing. But a great vintage of this wine.

1/19/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

This bottle was absolutely amazing. Hallmark notes of cassis, tobacco, and scorched earth and with the nerve and complexity you wish from a mature claret. In a perfect stage right now, and no reason to keep.

1/13/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Early phase, but starting to open up. This has a lot of potential! Excellent fruit material. I think this will evolve nicely – but patient is required. Very elegant and classy!

1/1/2024 - Larre Likes this wine:

Amazing C9P drinking very well at this stage. Layers of dark fruit, depth and complexity. Nice overall balance and a long finish. Great stuff!

12/24/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Old school, mature claret. Wonderful on the nose with evolved cassis, cigar box and forest ground. Nice mouthfeel and refreshing acidity. Long finish.

12/15/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

See previous notes, this beautiful Sangiovese-fruit-driven wine still has plenty of life ahead. Elegant fruit layers, great backbone, and a refreshing acidity. The beautiful tannins are still not resolved, so patient is required before this astonishing wine will fully shine. I would give it at least another 5 years before opening the next bottle. That said, it is really enjoyable at this stage too. 95+

12/9/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Decent wine, but not impressive. OK overall balance, but lacks complexity.

10/13/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Muted, and not very charming. Still quite elegant and refreshing. Perhaps this was an odd bottle. 91?

8/11/2023 - Larre wrote:

OK upon opening, but evolved negatively in the glass. Rather harsh and austere, and not charming at all. Fruit and body level was OK, but the greenish notes disturbed the overall balance. A disappointment (again).

8/3/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Needs more time, a bit muted at this stage.

6/17/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Well-made wine, dark fruit, integrated oak, great symmetry and balance. Lacks a bit of personality at this stage, but will most like evolve and gain complexity over the next 10–15 years. 94+

6/2/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

This might be one of the best Chablis I have ever tasted. Elegant lime and lemon fruit, oyster, seashell, minerals and a vivid acidity. A long refreshing and compelling finish. With potential to evolve. Memorable wine! 97+

5/19/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Loads of dark cherrie fruit, nice symmetry, hints of forest ground, and nicely integrated oak. Delicious tannins in the long finish. Give this beauty 5-15 years to evolve, and you will be highly rewarded. For now 94+, but this have the potential for 95–97.

5/17/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Focused with citrus fruit, and a tight body. Will probably flesh out with cellaring.Classy, but young and not ready for business. 92+

4/30/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Nice and fresh dark Syrah fruit, backbone and symmetry for this 20 year old Hermitage. Secondary notes of forest ground and mushroom. Lacks a bit of complexity and personality for a higher rating. 92

4/29/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

As always, Hubacker is a very well-made and extraordinary riesling GG. Needs more time to show off, but everything is there. Layers of delicious fruit, laser-focused acidity and a compelling finish. However, at this stage I only give it 93 in rating, but I expect this to be in the >95 range with 5–10 years of further cellaring. 93+

4/21/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Still going strong, but slightly over the top. Mature fruit, integrated oak, and resolved tannins. But not as vibrant as it was 10 years ago.

3/31/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Classic claret at its peak. Dark cassis fruit, pipe tobacco, forest ground and a long compelling finish.

3/11/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

See previous tasting note

3/3/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Crisp and elegant. Will improve. 92+

2/25/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

An amazing effort, but far from ready for business. Dense, elegant dark fruit notes. Luxury oak in the background, however not yet integrated. Impressive tannic structure that will need time to resolve. Tastes almost like a barrel sample at this stage. Compared to the much more open and charming 15´version, this will require much more time. Decanted for 4 h, but did not open up at all. For now, 95+++, but I imagine this could be rewarded 98-100 points with 10–20 years of further cellaring.

2/18/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

Not the most impressive GG but certainly OK. A bit anonymous.

1/21/2023 - Larre Likes this wine:

This bottle was amazingly good! Seamless and elegant in character, dark mature fruit, loads of liquorice, dried herbs and well integrated alcohol and wood. Much better than expected!

1/13/2023 - Larre wrote:

Decent standard Barbaresco, but a bit boring. Might show better with additional cellaring, but this was my last bottle.

12/31/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully now. Rich, complex and mature riesling fruit on the nose. Layers of green apples, mango and lemon in the mouth. Refreshing acidity and a long compelling finish.

12/28/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

A very good bottle, hallmark Pégau brett, layers of dark fruit and an extraordinary overall balance. Long finish. With potential to improve over the next 5-15 years, this wine might develop into a classic! 95+

12/25/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Very nice indeed, layers of complex mature riesling fruit, nice overall balance and a compelling finish. I consider Dönnhoff as the most reliable producer of top quality GG riesling wines, and Hermannshöhle is always brilliant! Bravo 94+

12/26/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Very round and smooth character, no hard edges, a lot of dark fruit left, and nice acidity. Impressive delivery considering the age, however, lacking some personality and complexity to be rewarded with a higher score. 92

12/26/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

On opening, worrying signs of second fermentation with some sparkling features. However, after decanting and resting for 2 h this faded away. Hallmark Pégau brett, layers of sophisticated dark fruit and a long, compelling finish. Very nice indeed, and I hope this was an off bottle (considering the initial impression), that still delivered pleasure. 95?

12/23/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Not as impressive as the last bottle, but still enjoyable.

12/23/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Very nice Barolo that could keep for another 10 years.

12/24/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Very nice with lively dark, sweet cherrie fruit and secondary notes of pipe tobacco. Lacking a bit charm though, and this bottle did not reach the levels of the 2000 vintage tasted a few weeks ago. Still a very good wine!

12/24/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Decent mature La Poja with some quality marks and complexity, however, also suffering somewhat from the heat of the vintage. Below the excellent 2000 and 2004 versions. 91

12/17/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Classic Musar on the nose. Great in the mouth, layers of mature fruit, pipe tobacco, cigar box and hallmark acetone notes. Nice symmetry, and a long, complex finish. All you can ask for from a mature Musar! 96+

11/26/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Dense layers of sweet dark cherrie fruit, great symmetry, and refreshing acidity. Remarkably youthful, with only hints of secondary notes. This beauty will last for at least another 10 years. Great effort indeed, and very enjoyable at this stage. 95+

11/25/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Very classy, young and delicious! Dense layered dark fruit, balanced, and complex. Unlike the 2009 vintage, it does not feature any overripeness or raisin character, and the 15% of alcohol is well hidden. Long and intriguing finish! Enjoy over the next 20+ years.

11/19/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

See previous tasting note

11/26/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Classic, seamless, with a lot of life still. A beauty to enjoy over the next 10 years. 96+

11/11/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

A bit shy at this stage, but lots of potential! Slim body with delicious lemon and grapefruit notes, lively acidity and a refreshing finish. Give it at least 5 more years, and I think this will flesh out to a 95p wine. For now, 92+

11/4/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Excellent bottle, and I think this wine is now entering its prime drinking window. Great mouth feeling with semi-mature fruit layers of cherries and plums. There is an overall elegance that is very appealing. Backed up with soft tannins and a refreshing acidity, this vibrant effort really rocks. Not to forget the sophisticated and long finish. 95+

10/14/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Drinking really well right now. Generous fruit with sweet dark cherries and plums. Secondary notes of pipe tobacco, forest ground and balsamic vinegar. Satisfactory overall balance and a long compelling finish. 94.

10/7/2022 - Larre Likes this wine:

Tasted along with Montefico ´04. The fruit in the Asili was more dense and showed also a bit higher freshness. On the other hand, it seemed less evolved. Liked it a lot! 94