1/20/2024 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Another excellent bottle of this and very showing to my last bottle about 4 years ago. This is slowly getting there. I absolutely love the finesse here, the freshness and elegance. Maybe not the depth of the last few very best vintages (like 2010, 2016, 2019, etc.) but it‘s making up for it with a certain lightness and incredibly classicism and finesse. Beautiful.

1/3/2024 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This seemed perfectly mature. Nevertheless, there were some of these slightly „unclean“ Monprivato notes I sometimes struggle with, first I thought it might have some TCA or Brett. Besides that, the wine was showing very nicely though. Notes of darker red fruit, some cellar notes too, there is also some animalic notes, tobacco, tar. It‘s medium+ bodied, with good persistence, some medium-high acidity and medium tannin that is very silky. Good length. Maybe I just don‘t get these wines completely.

11/4/2023 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This has a cork with No. A7511 and base 2002 (according to the internet). Golden color, perfect maturity, notes of honey, nuts, autolytic, also layers of mild spices, white flowers and many more aromatics. This is super complex and layered with pretty full body and pretty high acidity. There is a touch of creaminess, but also so much freshness and tension, amazing. Long finish. A superb Krug and one of the best I have ever had. Perfect bottle.

6/8/2023 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

First slightly primary, but opening up really nicely, with notes of sweet spices, red berries, some underwood, a touch of oak too, minerality. It's medium-bodied, with medium- tannin, some medium+ acidity and really good length too. Overall a very nice wine from this cultish producer. Very good QPR.

6/18/2022 - NostraBacchus wrote:

Unfurtunately oxidized bottle. Already the color gave away that there was something wrong.

11/2/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Tasted in a arrivage tasting of all DRC 2019. Overall, the 2019s DRC are beautifully perfumed, very ripe wines, but they also carry a nice vein of acidity that is making them brighter and fresh. The bottles show incredible class, but also a certain ripeness that might be something that needs getting used to for purists. I thought that the terroir was showing beautifully, despite the ripeness of the year. The wines seemeed very different and true to their cru, especially at the beginning of the tasting and again with quite some air. In between the differences were just a tiny bit muddled.
If I remember correctly the first vintage of this wine at DRC from 4 plots that are owned by Bonneau de Martray. Slightly reductive notes of matchstick, but also lemon oil, citrus, flintstone, white flowers, wet stone, beautiful minerality. It‘s medium-full bodied, with medium-high acidity adding precision and tension, very good persistence too. Very long finish with building complexity. A superbly fresh, complex and layered Corton-Charlemagne and a fantastic premier. I personally liked this better than the Montrachet next to it (which was a clear step up in body, richness and probably also complexity).

10/15/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Superb notes of spices, dried flowers, some tobacco, orange zest, violets, deep and layered. Its medium-full bodied, a little bigger than San Lorenzo, has excellent freshness of medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is excellent quality. Long finish. This will need quite a few years to be really open but the potential is really great. Also fascinating to drink a purely „Rosé“-clone Barolo.

10/15/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Deep, but fresh, notes of sweet and savory herbs, cool minty, there is also a ferrous note adding minerality, some red and darker cherries, also some graphite. It‘s medium+ with excellent persistence, it has high acidity and medium-high tannin that is very good quality. Long finish. A fascinating wine that is a touch rustic, but it wears it really well, lots of tension and energy here. One of my best bottles of this so far.

10/15/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

One of the stars of this line-up. So beautifully pure, but also deep, layered and complex, with notes of leather, smoke, tobacco leaf, dark and red berries, some violets, tar and smoke. Medium-full bodied, slightly austere, with medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is excellent quality. Superb wine that is a great representation of the winery. Drinking like silk and as usual the first bottle that was empty.

9/25/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Medium ruby/garnet with some orange towards the rim. Aromatic and open, with notes of cinnamon, tar, plum, pine, darker fruit, tobacco leaf, some licorice and menthol.. It’s full-bodied, with medium-high tannin that is very good quality and medium-high acidity adding nice freshness to the bigger frame. Long finish. This is a aromatic, seductive and riper rendition of Casa Mate and very good.

8/21/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Another beautiful bottle of this big time overachiever in 2009. Perfumed, layered and complex, with notes of black cherries, some cassis, elderberries, barnyard/horsesaddle, also some crushed violets, cedar wood, cigar, also just a touch of greenish bell pepper. It‘s medium-full bodied, has excellent mid-palate persistence, it has medium+ tannin that has melted away a little bit since my last bottle, and medium+ acidity adding nice freshness. Very good length. A very complete, beautifully classic Pauillac that is not breaking the bank. Lovely. (94+)

6/12/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

I was extremely impressed by Calor-Ségur 2014 both at the „en primeur“ as well as at the „arrivage“ tasting and this is the first time checking in on it since then.

Deep purple color. First slightly holding back, but opening up beautifully with about an hour in the decanter. Beautifully layered, deep and complex, but with that undeniable 2014 classicism and freshness, it‘s showing notes of black cherries, cassis, but also some red fruit with pomegranate, violets, some orange zest, leather, tobacco leaf, crushed stone minerality, also some black olive. Very complex even at this early stage. It‘s medium-full bodied, with superb mid-palate persistence and weight, it has pretty high acidity and medium-high tannin that is extremely silky and ripe. Super long finish. I can‘t wait to see how this will age… for me probably the best Calon-Ségur to date (2014)… (96+)

6/27/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This was (unfortunately :-) tasted next to the epic 2008. Jumps right out of the glass, with explosive notes of super perfumed red cherries, ripe red berries in general, rose petals, some violets also just a touch of tar and tobacco leaf. It‘s medium-full bodied, but lacks the persistence of the 2008, has high acidity and medium-high tannin that is there but seems a touch rougher than 2008, this is splitting hair though. Good finish.
This would probably be an excellent wine for any occasion but it was just suffering a little bit from being served next to the incredible 2008. Still a very good Brunate that is just short of being truly great. It makes up for it with being super seductive and is welcoming you with open arms.

5/13/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Excellent showing again. This needs a little while to open up in the glass aromatically. Deep and layered, with notes of sweet and sour red berries, graphite, smoke, volcanic minerality, savory herbs, ash, some spices, also some cedar wood and cigar box. It‘s pretty full-bodied, dense and powerful, but with amazing freshness, high acidity and medium-high tannin that is very good quality and adding structure and grip. Long finish with plenty of complexity. A superb Terra di Lavoro that has been stunning since my very first bottle. This has still another 10 - 15 years ahead at least.

2/24/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Pretty deep golden color. Beautifully open, radiant and layered, this is showing notes of some ripe fruit, yellow fruit, flowery notes, some pepper, also some minerality, some vegetal note, alkaline, honey, also some seaweed kind of notes too. It is medium-full bodied, with excellent persistence, it has medium acidity and excellent length. With more air, the complexity is building up. What a beautiful GrüVe and a spectacular value in high end white wine with still many years ahead.

2/19/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This has become a little more „mature“ in aromatics than my last bottle, while there are still many years ahead. There is still that signature purity of fruit (strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, also some red currant) Fourrier is famous for, but there Is also the Gevrey typical animalic notes of hung meat, leather, as well as some sweet spices and plenty of flowery notes like rose petals and violets. It‘s medium+ bodied, with excellent persistence, it has medium-high acidity and medium+ tannin adding the structure that this can easily age for another 5 - 10 yeaars. Excellent length. A superb Gevrey-Chambertin from this fantastic producer and pretty much as good as Gevrey Villages gets….. This might still get better with some more age and was getting more complex with a few more hours of air. Love it!

2/6/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Deep purple color with just a tiny bit of lightening up towards the rim. Beautifully open and pure, this is textbook cold vintage traditional claret. Notes of black cherries, some cassis, graphite, crushed dark flowers, also some cedar wood, cigar box, tobacco leaf, leather, also some sweet spices. It‘s medium-full bodied, lacks a little bit in mid-palate compared to the best vintages, has medium-high acidity and medium+ tannin that is good quality, especially in the context of the vintage. None of the greenness that is quite typical for the vintage. Pretty long finish with building up creaminess. A totally beautiful, old-school St-Julien from this great Châteaux. It makes up for the slight lack of depth by being extra fresh and classic.

1/29/2022 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Lighter-medium golden color. First slightly reserved and not surprisingly a little austere, how this often shows. But with some air also showing some beautifully ripe pear, lime, spices, some licorice, there are also herbal notes and more than anything else a piquant streak of minerality leaving an impression of smoke, chalk and licking wet stone. It's medium+ bodied, but with excellent mid-palate persistence and depth without weight.... there is high acidity cutting through everything and just a hint of RS buffering and balancing everything. Long finish with again a deep mineral streak. As always a very unique expression of dry Mosel Riesling from this excellent producer. If you like bigger, rounder, riper expressions of Riesling, stay away from this. This is something for purists. I can't wait to see how this will show in a few years. (93+)

12/3/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This is still young but surprisingly open at this early stage.
Super bright, red fruited and lifted, there are notes of bright red cherries, some cranberries, raspberries, mint, also some minerality of graphite and a touch of tar, some crushed rose petals and violets. It‘s medium+ bodied, with excellent mid-palate persistence, it has high acidity and medium-high tannin that is incredibly silky. Very long finish with excellent tension, beautiful freshness and superb red fruit…
One of the great classics of Barolo in one of the most classic (cold) vintages and the result is absolutely stunning. This is not a fruitbomb or a „competition wine“ by any means. It‘s authentic, cool, old-school but with an extra level of silkiness from the just brilliant wine-making of Maria-Teresa Mascarello. I love this wine.

9/30/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Tasted twice over the course of 2 days (on different occasions). This is really one of the standouts of the vintage, showing very little of the heat/warmth of the vintage and just as always silky, perfumed and elegant. Notes of sweet red berries, strawberries, red cherries, mint, some flowery notes, also some minerality. It‘s medium-full bodied, with excellent balance, it has medium-high acidity and medium-high tannin that is exceptionally silky. Long finish with plenty of aromatic depth.
This does not of thave the perfect finesse or the depth of the very best vintages, but is definitely one of the wines of the vintage in Barolo. Bright, lifted and elegant. Love it.

12/27/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Not surprisingly, this is still a little closed and tense at this early stage. But it‘s more than just an academic exercise, it‘s opening up a little with some air and providing ample pleasure if you are into cool vintage traditional Barolo.
Super bright and lifted, with notes of bright red cherries, some cranberries, raspberries, some mint, graphite, a touch of tar, some crushed rose petals and violets. It‘s medium+ bodied, with high acidity and incredibly silky medium-high tannin. Long finish with excellent tension an brightness. This seems like the cool-vintage Burgundy version of Bartolo Mascarello. It‘s bright, lifted, super silky and maybe not as structured and layered as the very best vintages but makes up for it with purity, precision and freshness. Love it.
The longer this wine is open, the more I love it. I absolutely adore the house style here... deeply moving wines.

7/18/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

My second bottle of this and this is a little more complicated at this stage. It was a little closed after opening, so I gave it a 2 hour decant. It‘s kind of in between at the moment, with the upfront fruit disappearing and the tertiary notes not coming in yet. I would give this a few more years in bottle, the matière is there, the structure is great, I think this just needs some more time. (94+)

7/11/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Another great bottle of this excellent wine. Virtually identical tasting note to the one earlier this year. Wow, what a beautifully complex wine full of energy and class.

3/21/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This has evolved beautifully since my last bottle about 2 years ago.

Straw color. Some notes of smokey minerality, also some black tea, slate, grapefruit and some citrus, there are also some white blossoms. It‘s medium-full bodied, has very good mid-palate density without any heaviness, has pretty high acidity and barely any perceivable sweetness. Excellent length. This is already drinking pretty well, has quite some years ahead but it‘s no shame to open one now or soon. Lovely.

5/29/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Tasted during winery visit with Lorenzo. While I am not very fond of the 2009 Barolo vintage in general, this is exceptionally beautiful. Super perfumed notes of dried flowers, cranberries, licorice, some leather, sweet red fruit, spices and also some mint. It‘s medium-full bodied, with excellent balance of structure and fruit, medium acidity and medium tannin adding to the roundness. Good length. It‘s super perfumed, seductive and open for business and will drink well right out of the gate. The next vintage will be 2014, which will be very fascinating.

3/20/2021 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Medium ruby/garnet color with some lightening up towards the rim. High viscosity. Beautiful notes of pure red fruit, strawberries, red cherries, some kirsch, but also some saline minerality, a touch of spices (white pepper), also some flowery notes, there are also some savory herbs and some graphite. It‘s medium+ bodied, with excellent mid-palate persistence (but without weight), it has medium tannin that is present but excellent quality and some medium+ acidity providing beautiful freshness. Long finish with very nice complexity. A fascinating CdP from this top-notch Cru (Pignan), from super low yields but gentle extraction and elevage in amphorae. Wow this is interesting and very complex.

5/31/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Tasted during winery visit with Marco. This had a 28-30 months maceration and spent 20 months in large barrels. From calcareous and limestone soil in the famous Montefico Cru. Young and tense, but complex notes of red and dark red berries, violets, salty minerality, tar. It‘s medium-full bodied, with high acidity providing tension and pretty high but very good tannin adding grip. Very good length. A superb Montefico that is a few years away from prime drinking but will bring joy for many years to come. One of the best ageworthy, serious, top-notch QPR wines I know in the world.

12/11/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Mount Veeder. Wow, this is really good, the sheer class and sophistication is really amazing. Deep dark red berries, black cherries, notes of new leather, some tobacco, graphite, a touch of scorched minerality, some espresso roast. It's medium-full bodied, but seems lighter on its feet, while at the same time has incredible mid-palate persistence. There is high tannin that is excellent quality and high acidity providing tons of freshness and brightens up the overall appearance. Long finish with excellent complexion building up. There is an almost creamy mouthfeel to it which is really intriguing, as other people have commented. This has depth without weight, something only the best wines in the world achieve. Wow.
This is built for the long term...

12/12/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

One of the best bottles of this I have had. It’s totally open and ready to drink, with slightly bretty notes of horsesaddle, barnyard, there is some sweet and sour dark fruit, also some red berries, leather, cassis and some spices. It’s medium+ bodied, with medium+ acidity and also medium+ tannin that is not perfect and still a little rustic. Good length. This is old-school in the best sense of the word, with slightly rustic tannin, some brett, but also nice drinkability and mid-weight character. Sometimes I miss this style of wine a little. While everything is cleaner today, from lower yields, more concentrated, but sometimes also a little heavier, but unquestionably often better in quality, it‘s refreshing to drink something like this once in a while.

3/9/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Tasted @ bigger Bordeaux 2016 arrivage tasting.

They really hit it out of the park at Pontet Canet in 2016. Super ripe, slightly flamboyant, but everything is balanced and pure, with notes of sweet dark plum, freshly cut fig, cedar wood, leather, some spiciness, cigarbox, also plenty of dark and red fruit as well as some mineral vein cutting through it. It‘s full-bodied, imposing and powerful, but with exceptional balance of high acidity and high but superb tannin adding grip. Very long finish. A big, ripe but classic Pontet-Canet, structured and authoritative. Fascinating. (97+)

12/11/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

85% CABERNET SAUVIGNON, 10% PETIT VERDOT, 5% MALBEC from Pritchard Hill. Explosive, rich and deep with ripe notes of black cherries, cassis, but also some bitter dark chocolate, some savory herbs, graphite, sweet spices and some leather. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, with medium-high tannin and medium acidity. Very good length. A very nice, deep and pretty complex Cab especially in the context of the vintage.

9/14/2020 - NostraBacchus wrote:

Medium ruby color, slightly lightening up towards the rim. High viscosity. First slightly muted, but opened up after about 2 hours. Notes of cedar wood, plum, some red and dark berries, new leather, cigar, also some spicy notes too (anise, fennel seeds). Everything still very primary. It‘s medium-full bodied, has medium+ acidity and medium-high tannin that is good quality. There is a touch of warmth/alcohol recognizable, not disturbing but muddling the aromatics a little bit. Good length. This is still a baby in terms of evolution... so patience might be required. I am still a little worried about the warmth and the relatively lowish acidity (for Cru Barolo at this early stage).
On day 2 it shows a little more in terms of aromatic, but still the alcohol is a little recognizable to my taste.
On day 3 it‘s opening up even more. Still this could use a touch more freshness to be truly great.

7/17/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Similar tasting note to my last one. This is really great. It combines the certain richness of the vintage with incredible freshness and mineral tension. Wow. And this was $26...

6/21/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Absolutely perfect bottle of this. Fresh, crisp and mineral-driven, with notes of grass, herb, citrus, a touch of petrol, stones. Medium+ bodied, with medium+ acidity and very good length. Beautiful. Full of tension and freshness. Really stunning for a wine of this age.

11/7/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Wow.... super perfumed and aromatic, this is open for business with just a little bit of swirling in the glass. Sexy notes of dark cherries, but also sweet red fruit, smoke, crushed violets, menthol, pine tree, tar, some truffle, as well as some christmas spices too and tobacco. It‘s pretty full-bodied, dense and powerful, but with excellent harmony and medium-high super ripe tannin, as well as medium+ acidity providing nice freshness. Excellent length. A superb, complex, elegant and complete Barolo from Luciano Sandrone. Very impressive.

11/2/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This seems a little closed at the moment and will probably need another few years to open up. Still there is that signature Lytton Springs combination of richness, structure and fruit/spices, that is so appealing, but a little muted for now. Notes of plum, dark cherries, sweet spices, licorice, cloves, also some leathery notes, espresso roast and lavender.
It‘s medium-full bodied, with medium-high tannin that is almost hidden under the wealth of fruit and super silky in quality, there is also some medium+ acidity providing nice freshness. Good length. Another winner by Ridge and probably my single favorite Zinfandel (blend) of California. While I generally drink very different things, this always puts a smile on my face and is just absolutely delicious, while being serious and structured enough to age and develop effortlessly for many years. (93+)

4/25/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Medium garnet/ruby color with a touch of bricking towards the rim. Needs a few minutes to open up in the glass. Super pretty, with brighter notes of sweet raspberries, strawberries, mint, some tobacco leaf, crushed rose petals, also some dark chocolate, leather and some almost saline minerality. With some more air, a whiff of truffle is sneaking in, too. It's medium-full bodied, with excellent mid-palate persistence, pretty high acidity and medium-high tannin that is great quality and silky. Long finish with great complexity. Another bottle of this stunning Barolo and from my perspective one of the best Barolos of the vintage. I have had it several times and every single bottle was stunning.

3/8/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Medium ruby, slightly purple color. First a little reticent, but opens up with some more air. Very pretty notes of red currant, but also dark fruit, cassis and also some sweet spices, as well as pepper, some earthy notes too and a mineral undertone as well as some mint. It‘s medium-full bodied, has medium+ acidity and some medium+ tannin adding structure and grip. Good length. This is a great effort from La Maison Carrée and an amazing QPR in Pinot Noir. This resembles very good village Burgundy. (91+) Somehow I think this will be even better in another 2-3 years.

1/6/2020 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Not what I ususally drink in terms of Riesling but this was deeply impessive. Pretty deep golden color, high viscosity. Explosive aromatics of candied lemon, sweet lemon curd, ripe apricot, but also some spices, some exotic fruit, white flowers, chamomile, honey and some steely minerality. It‘s full-bodied, creamy, rich and powerful, but doesn‘t feel heavy, has good medium+ acidity cutting through the richness and a touch of RS adding roundness. Excellent length.
A rich, oily, but super complex and layered Riesling of the highest level and full of character. Perfectly aged and ready to drink now.

12/21/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Another excellent showing of this great overachiever in this vintage. Super fresh, classic, dark and full of minerality. Love this. The tannin might still need a few more years to fully integrate, but it‘s very good quality.

11/4/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

I haven‘t tasted this in about 4 years and was kind of slightly nervous, as I thought „can this wine possibly be as good as I remembered it“? The second my nose is in the glass, all doubts are gone. While this is undeniably still very young, slightly closed and austere, the sheer class, complexity and incredible silkiness are hard to put into words.
Notes of ripe red fruit, strawberries, red cherries, cranberries, crushed candied violets, tar, some anise seeds, black tea, a touch of truffle and plenty more. It‘s medium-full bodied, at the same time deep and structured, but also weightless, it has medium-high tannin that was building up over the course of the evening, but the tannin is of incredible quality, like pure silk. High acidity provides lift and tension. Superb length. An epic wine in the making... this only needs a few more years and will be one of the all-time-classic Barolos from my perspective. (98+)

3/23/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Deep dark fruit of blackberries, black currant/cassis and black cherries, also notes of tobacco, cedar wood, some graphite, also some violets and licorice. Full-bodied and dense, with medium acidity and still medium-high tannin. Long and complex finish. This is still young but showing so much promise and is super accessible for young Vintage Port... lovely.

7/26/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

This needed some serious time in the decanter to open up aromatically, which is not surprising for Vaucrains. Pure and with beautiful sweet red fruit of raspberries, some strawberries, sweet spices and a touch of oak, some ferrous notes, flowers and some earthy notes too. It‘s medium+ bodied, has the tension and freshness of the vintage (and the climat), with medium-high acidity and medium+ tannin that is present but very silky. Very good length with plenty of freshness. This probably still needs another 2-3 years and will provide the classic „Vaucrains“ experience for quite a while. Excellent QPR too. (92+)

7/6/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Superb notes of sweet lemon, also matchstick, white flowers, sweet spices, also some steel. It‘s medium-full bodied, has excellent depth and tension, good medium-high acidity and excellent length. Superb wine full of character and identity. This is really great.

7/4/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Wow.... deep dark fruit of black cherries, black plum, also sweet and savory spices, pepper, some herbal notes, chocolate, smoke leather, some flowery notes. It‘s full-bodied, rich and deep, but not over the top with nice medium+ acidity and medium-high tannin. Excellent length A superb, deep and complex wine, it‘s still very young but needs to shed some of its baby fat. I am pretty sure it will be great in a few years.... actually it already is.

6/1/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Wow, what a beautiful bottle. Needs some air to open up, but very complex aromatics of red berries, crushed rose petals and violets, some mint, also some fennel seeds/anise, also some mineral notes. It's medium-full bodied, has pretty high acidity and medium-high tannin that is superb quality. Excellent length. A fantastic Bussia that offers great QPR. Wow, so beautiful.

5/29/2019 - NostraBacchus wrote:

Tasted for lunch and then finished the bottle for dinner later. The first 2 bottles in the restaurant were corked, only the third bottle was good. I am glad that I didn‘t have to call that, the restaurant did. This bottle is initially a little closed, but opens up with about an hour of air. Notes of black cherries, plums, sweet Asian spices, licorice, some smoke, also some menthol with some air. It‘s medium-full bodied, pretty dense, with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannin that is good quality. Good length. Nothing wrong with this, but somehow it feels a little clumsy at this stage. Not very expensive, but still a slight disappointment for this great cru and very good year.

4/22/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Has been 3 years since I tasted it last and wanted to check in on it. Decanted for 3 hours. Aromatically a little closed, looks like this still needs a few years in bottle. Gains momentum with more air. Notes of dark red cherries, plum, lavendar, smoke, dark chocolate, some flowery notes, also some graphite, leather and tobacco. It‘s pretty full-bodied, with medium-high tannin that is excellent quality and pretty high acidity adding tension and cutting through the creaminess. Long finish. A superb Vigna del Sorbo... it combines elegance with richness. All this needs is time. (96+)

10/13/2018 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

I thought this might be the last occasion to check in on the 2015 before they go into hibernation… tasted next to the Les Cailles. Super fascinating how different they are. While the Les Cailles is as always the more accessible, radiant, perfumed and "feminine" (for lack of a better word), this vintage of Vaucrains is surprisingly open, but still more clenched than the Cailles. And of course also very different in aromatics.

Notes of sweet red and dark red fruit, cranberries, red currant but also cassis, there is this pungent ferrous minerality only Vaucrains is able to achieve, but also lifted notes of crushed violets, and some smoke and spices. It's medium-full bodied, dense and powerful, note surprisingly more structured than the Cailles, with high acidity cutting through the richness and high but incredibly classy tannin. Superb length with a touch of bitterness on the finish. A superb, structued, age-worthy but at this stage surprisingly delicious Vaucrains of the highest level. This will of course need a few years longer... Wow! (95-97)

2/8/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine:

Vertical of 16 vintages of Gantenbein Pinot Noir.

A hedonistic pleasure… Sweet deep dark red cherries, sous-bois, licorice, notes of graphite and sweet spices, as well as some mocca notes. It's medium-full bodied, dense and pretty powerful, but with excellent freshness of medium-high acidity and very good medium+ tannin. Very good length. A beautiful balance of freshness, richness and structure will make sure that this is gonna age beautifully for quite a while. The extra level of fruit does make if very accessible already though.