10/16/2023 - cellardrinker Likes this wine:

Tasted at the Ridge Lytton Springs winery in September 2023 next to the 2019 MB. Both were exceptional wines with the 2020 showing slightly higher concentration from the very low yield of the vintage. It felt like an essence of pure fruit. The finish was very long, and although still a baby the tannins did not overwhelm the fruit. At 84%, it has some the highest cabernet sauvignon content in the past decade. (The typical cab content is around 76 %)

Picked 3 weeks earlier than usual, the entire harvest of the MB was essentially completed by the time the Glass fire started in Napa on the 27th of September, especially the later ripening cabernet. So there no smoke taint whatsoever which can easily be detected on many Napa cabs of the vintage.
The 2020 MB could eventually beat the 2019 which has been widely lauded in the press and on these boards. Too bad the quantity is extremely limited as the low yield made the wine mostly unavailable at retail. With my MB allocation just from magnums it will probably outlive me.

8/19/2022 - jonanator wrote:

Approaching maturity, this drank really well but still needs a few more years before it peaks. One of the more ready 2005's I have tasted in the last few years. If you have a bunch, doesn't hurt to give one a try.

5/31/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:

Aerated to decanter 1 hour. Classic, top-shelf Brunello that should never have been opened this young, but friends, erm, implored. I get to taste Stella's wines each year, my friends had never had any. So. Med/Med+ body, did not evolve much during the 2 hours it was open. Excellent typicity of grape. Cool, graceful. highly recommended

https://www.ItalianWine.blog

9/20/2020 - M.Batard wrote:

Again, paired with grilled lamb, and again luscious but not terribly complex.

12/15/2019 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:

Such a great young Barolo. There’s loads of floral spice that works beautifully with the perfectly ripe cherry fruit. It is silky and layered, with a sensual feel and latent power. Balance is perfect and each sniff and sip teases out another ethereal smell or taste. Length is fantastic.

11/24/2019 - jonanator wrote:

Really early maturity right now, probably best to wait another 5 years if you can. With that said, this wine is really starting to live up to its potential. It is drinking better and better every time I try it. This bottle was showing much better than the bottle from 6mths ago, and noticeably better than the bottle from a year ago. Proper Bordeaux.

11/9/2019 - jonanator wrote:

Showing really well right now. Young but so much charm. Beautiful wine.

9/26/2019 - angelcyn Likes this wine:

First wine from Eva Fricke for me, has a reputation for searing acidity, but not in this bottle, the fruit peach etc comes through despite being dry, that part I liked but overall not leaping up and down over this, will it improve ? to be honest as with all wines age can produce different results, this wine was not I am sure made for the long haul unless I have misjudged it, not one I would rush to buy again.

4/11/2019 - Neecies wrote:

Another Erik bottle, and another disappointment. Dry, crumbly cork, taupe-y color, thin body, old Rioja-ish. Not undrinkable but not at all what we know this wine can be.

3/23/2019 - jonanator wrote:

Nose is reserved but with some swirls, it is absolutely captivating. Really needs more time though, as on the palate, the wine just didn't have that oomph that the nose would suggest.

11/27/2018 - WineGuyX Likes this wine:

Absolutely beautiful nose of pressed flowers, baked black cherries, pouch tobacco, pine resin as well as a dark, brooding presence like tar. Medium-full bodied and round on the palate, this is now mature and beautiful. Plenty of sweet red fruits, pine needle compost, sous bois and spice. Delightful example of Barolo. This should be drunk from 2018-2026+ 95

12/25/2018 - jonanator wrote:

Shared this bottle on Christmas day while we prepped dinner. Couldn't believe how delicious this bottle was. So delicious in its youth that I don't think I see a whole lot of upside in holding this for the long term. It will likely improve, but it is just so good that I will probably have a hard time resisting drinking them all within the next 5 years.

2/13/2019 - dagij wrote:

From a vertical of Mugnier's Marechal 2004 to 2016. The greatest disappointment of the tasting. Deep ruby colour with an almost black core. Seems quite closed on the nose, hard to detect any clear fruit, some black pepper may be detected. Not very typical of a NSG. Quite full bodied, high acidity, rustic tannins and almost no fruit. What happened here? Is the wine going through some sort of "phase", being very closed up? I doubt it, there is just not enough fruit here, but I will not bet my pension on it. Try again in five years.

1/26/2019 - jonanator wrote:

This felt very young to me. It came off a little modern, ripe, and forward for a Cos d'Estournel - maybe just needs a little more time. There is good structure here and the fruit is not in danger of fading anytime soon. The wine is just starting to develop some tertiary notes at this point. Everything does seem to be coming together and ageing nicely, albeit slowly. This wine will definitely benefit from some more cellaring. Revisit in 3 years.

12/31/2018 - SlimShaney Likes this wine:

A lovely cab. Big body, smooth, plush. Not super expressive. No massive standout just all good.

1/5/2019 - rossi.wine wrote:

Consistent with previous tasting notes. 90-92

10/18/2018 - grapenomad wrote:

Marcel Lapierre is one of the pillars of natural winemaking in Beaujolais. No, we're not talking about this era of hipsters publishing magazines and having sex only on Fruit Day. These were hardcore rebels, who risked everything for a revolution, a legacy fueled not by capital, but by odic ideals. Sadly, Mr. Lapierre passed away after the 2010 harvest, but his son Mathieu and daughter Camille carry on what he pioneered. Grapes for this Morgon (the most precious of Bojo crus) are manually harvested, as late as possible to achieve maximum ripeness. The wine is aged on fine lees in old Burgundy barrels for at least 9 months and is bottled unfiltered.

Stunning nose of cherry pie, sour cherry, cooked cherry, cherry juice. Basically, cherry all around in the first pour. Remarkable purity and finesse, silky on the entry, but progresses towards a focused and perpetual mid-palate. Perfectly integrated alcohol and acidity, with such a sexy texture. Persistent all the way through.

4/2/2018 - Cabernetking Likes this wine:

Purchased six bottles recently. Very, very good from the writer of the Karate Kid movies, Robert Kamen. This vintage is his biggest hit to date for the estate cabernet. I also enjoyed the 2012 considerably but this is likely a step up. Would need to taste side by side.

3/26/2018 - chatters wrote:

From half bottle. Strawberry, cherry, rose, cream, slight vanilla, sweet spice and earth backed by a little leather farmyard aromas. In the mouth more of the same but more ripe than the nose implies and with a little more richness. Very good.

1/25/2018 - jonanator wrote:

Beautiful wine that is just too hard to rate at this young stage. You can tell there is plenty to love here, but I am not sure I taste "100 points". With that said, the wine is something really special though - as it is in every vintage. The nose is just full of roses and olive tapenade. This will need some time to unfurl, but it will surely blossom to be a beauty. One thing I noticed was how much more reserved this wine was in comparison to previous vintages as this same stage.

9/16/2017 - Plusvini Likes this wine:

Decanting over 6 hours.

Straight out of the bottle, the wine is closed tight but hints at blackberry and semi-sweet chocolate. Lots of acid. Very fine tannins.

1 Hour: Juicier and even more acid. Crushed berries. Hint of bitterness on the finish.

3 Hours. Still very juicy. Brilliant. Hot finish.

4 Hours: Cherry, coconut and milk chocolate on the nose. A little caramel on the finish. Even better.

6 Hours. Bordeaux! Spice (wife says allspice) and earth over dark berry with a hint of tobacco.

8.5 Hours with Prime Rib: Starting to integrate. Pure Cabernet. (With 12% Merlot...)

I think this wine will go thru a big bad dumb phase. Decant and drink now or wait at least a decade.

6/13/2017 - danielbleier Likes this wine:

A major step up from their standard cab release, this may end up standing next to $200+ California cabs, this has currant and plum, herb and savory notes.

4/10/2017 - jonanator wrote:

This particular bottle seemed very closed even after an hour of decanting. It felt a little thinner than previous bottles. The nose wasn't really giving up much, and the oak and alcohol really poked through in an obtrusive way. Im not sure if it is in a sleepy phase cause I tried one last month that was much better. Possibly just an off bottle?

2/20/2017 - tp096255 Likes this wine:

Drink it if you have it. This is at maximum maturity, but still keeps bringing you back for another sip. Definitely a food wine. It has an elegance to it, albeit with very little fruit. It is a lithe one, like Sofia Loren at age 70.

1/28/2017 - rodneylbrownjr Likes this wine:

At Olympia Provisions in Portland. Good red fruit and cherry, maybe with some plum or even prune. Leather too. Pretty acidic for an aged wine. Will keep getting better.

1/15/2017 - tdelorme wrote:

I agree with Jonanator after my first bottle. Obviously needs time and certainly has the makings of a special wine, but think the Kabinetts from Prum go to 11 in 2015 -- I'll put a few of these down, revisit in 5-7 years.

12/26/2016 - jonanator wrote:

Absolutely delicious. Big juicy ripe fruit. Great vintage for this wine. You will not find a better wine at this price point. 2015 is as good as the 2010. Buying cases of this.

12/21/2016 - wwbrower wrote:

Think this must not be one of their better vintages.
Tried once and noticed funky smell and taste.
Tried it the following evening and compared to 2 other Chateau Nufs. Others were much better. My best guess is this vintage won't keep as long as most, and it's past it's prime and won't be good much longer.

10/26/2016 - futronic wrote:

In a really nice spot right now. Way more "Brunello-like" than the 2001. Drink now-2021.

12/10/2016 - CADomer Likes this wine:

Slow O'd for 8 hours before enjoying. But honestly the taste that I had upon opening may have been better than after the 8 hours of prep. Initially quite perfumed and seemed open for business. At dinner, the wine was slightly more closed down - which I am starting to see if a current characteristic of the 2004 vintage in Barolo/Barbaresco. The wine still showed some very nice notes of strawberries, chocolate, and black licorice. The palate was smooth and polished. The new oak is well integrated and I am sure contributed to the smooth texture of the wine.

11/18/2016 - rmalloy Likes this wine:

Although young and fruit forward, this Beaucastel is in a wonderful place. The fruit is scrumptious. Notes of raspberry preserves, black cherry, lavender, thyme, black tea, and oak. With ten years of age it will become more savory than fruity, delicious in a completely different way.

It is a joy to drink every vintage of Beaucastel. Never cheap, but always a good value.

7/22/2016 - peternelson wrote:

At the winery with Elena: Wild soft strawberry, red/black licorice, clove; super silky,, refined, elegant, pure all the way through the palate; good power while having super fine chalky, powdery tannins; intense fruit, floral, lovely, long. Like an intense and wild Burgundy. Kinda like that perfect wine. I need to get some of this

11/28/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote:

Young and tight at the moment, time, or a few hours of air is going to kick this wine into high gear. Clearly the abundance of fruit is high class, the wine is dense, concentrated and powerful, but in balance. The wine was produced from a blend 84% Syrah, 8% Grenache, 4% Petite Sirah, 2% Roussanne and 2% Petite Manseng.

11/11/2015 - greidy Likes this wine:

Color is of a bit muted (not super clear) dark garnet . On the opening - very "corky" nose (TCA) and I was afraid that the wine is just undrinkable. Behind the cork I could still get some amount of black fruits, but cork was dominant.
The palate, despite my expectations, was just great - medium body, super balanced, fresh with right amount of acidity and fully integrated tannin. Old world Rioja, great taste, period!
Hour and half later (now) - still corky nose, but not as strong and more fruits started to appear. If we will not finish it today, will see what will happen to it tomorrow...
Overall I think this nice wine is definitely post its peak time and has to be consumed ASAP.

6/23/2015 - Cartesc Likes this wine:

This wine is Burgundian in style with a wonderful nose of the teroir. Didn't need to decant. In fact it got a little more of that big fruit feel after a few hours.

Someone commented it is oaky. Not a trace of oak here and I am very sensitive to oak.

1/12/2015 - Loren Sonkin wrote:

Pop and pour, this was very disappointing. Drank a glass and found it simple and candied. No mid palate, yada yada. Recorked and put in cellar over night and hoped. Stunning transformation. This was complex. Full bodied. Everything filled out over night. The fruit lowered in depth. Great wine. If you open now, give it lots of air.

1/14/2015 - Dbrane wrote:

Interesting that there's just one instance that this wine was tasted/reviewed here. Citrus dominated flavors. More cool fruit than tropical. Round with acidity kept in check. Fine and classy with a monumental presence. Befuddled how a Champagne (or wine) can taste so regal.

1/18/2015 - Traxx wrote:

Sadly slightly corked. Wine underneath was incredibly tannic, leave this one alone for several more years.

6/29/2014 - jonanator wrote:

Drinking great now, may improve with age but I see no reason to wait

3/16/2014 - Bob in NC wrote:

Smooth drinking, balanced yet somewhat austere. Possibly in dumb phase???

3/11/2014 - beej Likes this wine:

Called super Tuscan for a reason. Super experience w arrabbiata. Super tight meaty palate. Super long finish. Did I mention super?