3/13/2023 - forceberry wrote:

100% Montepulciano from organically farmed vineyards, all fruit fully destemmed. Fermented spontaneously and aged for two years in concrete tanks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 13% alcohol. Bottle no. 23052.

Slightly translucent blackish-red color that doesn't really look that youthful nor particularly aged. The nose feels heavily bretty with pronounced, almost lambic-like notes of saddle leather and phenolic spice along with lighter notes of bilberries, some lifted notes of nail polish VA, a little bit of crisp and greasy bacon, light chokeberry tones, a flinty hint of smoke and a rustic touch of barnyard. The wine feels ripe, dense and juicy on the palate with a medium-to-moderately full body and intense flavors of black cherries, some bretty notes of saddle leather and barnyard, light phenolic lambic tones, a little bit of peppery spice, light crunchy notes of chokeberries and blueberries and a hint of sour cherry. The overall feel is balanced and pretty firmly structured with the rather high acidity and somewhat grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is The finish is spicy, quite funky and moderately grippy with a long, ripe aftertaste of juicy bilberries and fresh cherries, some bretty notes of leather and phenolic spice, light sweeter nuances of chokeberry jam, a hint of barnyard and a touch of forest floor.

A firm, vibrant and still quite youthful Montepulciano that is quite heavily dominated by bretty notes. While Pepe wines can be quite rustic, this 2000 was on a completely different level in our tasting of ten Pepe Montepulcianos and I feel this level of brett isn't that typical of the usual Pepe style anymore. This was a lovely wine in all other aspects, but even for a fan of rustic, funky wines like me, this wine started to get a bit too bretty - at times it was pretty hard to discern any finer nuances due to the quite pronounced bretty notes. Seeing how the wine was still relatively youthful, I can see this vintage not just keeping but evolving for many, many years more. However, I doubt no amount of aging will change the fact that this vintage of Pepe Montepulciano can be - and if it is, it will also remain - just super bretty.

5/28/2023 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Joe knows Pinot. First time on this one for me. After dozens and dozens, somehow this one never crossed my path. Youthful. Ripe cherry fruit. Tart acids. Some black cherry/sweet cinnamon notes. Seems primary. This feels a bit more new world than some of Joe's Sleepy or Pisoni, but it's still good, and sort of scratches that Burg itch. I'd be inclined to leave bottles for a few more years if I was holding.

2/21/2023 - decaturwinedude wrote:

A Good Monday: Dirty & Rowdy & EDWC YEAH! Tasting in ATL: Like so many of Hardy's wines- there's a lightness - in color and body- that belie the complexities of his wines. Lighter color- but heartier than 17. Cranberry. Crunchy. Fresh. Floral.

11/29/2022 - chablis28 wrote:

David's btl at Chez Jimmy! A great feast of Lamb & Prime rib in the hands of one of our favorite local Greeks! This flight was to die for tonight. David's btl was paired alongside Dave's '95 Tondonia Gran Rerserva. Perfect scenario for a wine flight! Both wines were weightlessly ethereal & classics! The Bosconia was just a tic more layered & tertiary while Dave's Tondonia offered up a bit more vibrant fruit. Degrees of greatness from both btls. Both mesmerizing!!! Dam it, I wish I had grabbed more of these aged Lopez Gran Reservas 10yrs ago! Thank you David & Dave for sharing these rare birds!

12/4/2022 - decaturwinedude wrote:

See Keith Akers note right before mine. He nails it and my sentiments. Like exactly.

9/29/2022 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Another terrific showing. Perhaps best bottle yet. Very subtle hints of petrol, but more floral. Graceful and elegant yet girded with extract that is balanced with acidity that belies the wines age. Doesn't read like today's Auslese. On the way up throughout the night. Stellar.

6/19/2022 - decaturwinedude Does not like this wine:

A Lost Weekend In NH; 6/16/2022-6/20/2022 (Lake Wentworth): Not a representative bottle Or not ready. Just rather closed up and not as complex and interesting as the wines are. Dry, dry. and it Never really popped, even after a lot of air

1/27/2022 - decaturwinedude wrote:

I guess I should read my own notes as I said I wasn't going to open another for a couple years. Oh well, terrific wine. Even better down the road. Be patient.

1/23/2022 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Stunning wine. A clear intense, mineral and smoky quality to the nose. More citrus (grapefruit) and florals come on with air. Just a lot going on. So compacted on the palate. You can sense the power and density, yet has finesse and a soft touch on the palate. Dry, but showing a deft balance of sweet fruit wrapped in minerals and intense concentration. Long umami-spiked finish that draws you back for more. This wine will outlive me, but I am glad I have more to follow for many years.

12/25/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Still showing that waxy white fruit and youthful, brisk acidity. A little less sherry this time. With grilled oysters, the saline note really shines and brings out an umami character. Again, the wine takes on various tones, flavors and scents as it morphs in the glass. Singular.

10/10/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Guess I should read my own notes. Be patient. So much in reserve here. The warmth and power on the finish just sails on. It's Terrasenmosel in that it is a big wine. Big bones. 13.5%. Yet it's dry, dry with hints of white fruit wrapped in slate and chalk and tart/salty nut. Probably fantastic in 10 years.

9/15/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

A Good Tuesday, Vol. VI: Italians (Benanti, Calafe, Produttori, Cornelissen, D&R, Quintarelli...: 2nd not great bottle of this in the last 2 years. I don't think these bottles were sound before they got to me. Muted. Tired. Non-desript, not showing Nebbiolo at all.

6/17/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

These LdH whites are such brilliant and beguiling wines. Complex and confounding nose that just pours from the glass: mechanical oil, honey, almond, lemon, waxy polish. The palate is slightly oxidative and waxy, then you are hit with waves of white fruit, nuts, mushroom, oak and honey. It's also wiry, rich, sweet and strong salinity - a lot of umami character that keeps drawing you in for more. Just kept coming on and was still morphing at the the three hour mark and showing no signs of tiring. Terrific.

4/22/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Blind. Next to the Boillot Mouchere and most assumed this was white Burgundy. Almost impossible to distinguish from the Mouchere. Flint, lemon, peach, and a saline quality. Laser-like- crisp minerality. Lively, fresh, youthful and so freaking good.

3/22/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

A Super Sunday (Atlanta): Best Champagne I've had in some time. Deep Gold color. Really pretty outside on a sunny afternoon. Complex palate that is Slightly oxidative, with brioche notes, touches of sweet fruit and vibrant energy. Wonderful palate texture. Sails on and on. Just Delicious in every way.

3/17/2021 - kkleg wrote:

This was completely underwhelming. I normally enjoy aged Rioja, but this is muted and one dimensional. If I had more, I would hold to see if maybe this is just in a dumb phase. Sadly, I doubt it.

11/4/2020 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Really exciting young Chardonnay. Can't remember the last time I was this smitten by a California Chardonnay. Very Chablis- like with bright, energetic edges and a background of salinity. Still a bit wound up, but terrific balance and edge with some rounder white fruit. And it smells great. Excellent and should be even better with a little time. And what a value! Glad to have more.

3/11/2021 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Straight to the top of my list of 2019 Kabinetts tried recently. Expressive nose of citrus and cream and trop fruit. Slightly flinty. More tropical fruit and a smacking-lively, be happy you are alive energy on the palate. Absolutely crushable. Malange of sweet fruits and bright acidity that is vibrant, but balanced. Yes!

2/9/2021 - Martin Amis wrote:

Agree with DECATURWINEDUDE. Way too much structure, tannins, whatever, to get through to access a great nose and the hint of a tasty wine beyond the barrier. It’s a struggle and not much fun. Maybe in ten years, but who knows, drinkers may still be fighting this wine in a decade.

9/13/2020 - decaturwinedude wrote:

This is a well-made wine that just pushed my comfort level a bit in terms ripe and forward fruit. There's a dark cherry, almost kirsch liquor nose, very ripe. Palate is integrated and easy drinking. I could see this being a crowd pleaser. I agree with the comment below about round, ripe, fruit, but falling a bit flat. Felt very new world to me.

8/31/2020 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Bottom line: this stuff is delicious. It has a slight oxidative note, nuttiness, and layers of white fruit. It has a savory/saline note and hints of butterscotch on the finish that makes it so crushable. It just tastes good, hard to not pound the whole bottle in an a half hour. Uncanny. Silky and sophisticated, but crushable, too. Well done.

8/4/2019 - decaturwinedude wrote:

I buy Roulot's BB and Aligote fairly regularly in recent vintages as they've become the only Roulot a normal guy can "afford." lol. This '16 is showing some of the challenges of the vintage as Roulot lost much to frost. It's rather simple, straight forward, low acidity, upfront sappy white fruit. Borders on being cloying due to lacking structure/spine. It's tasty in an- open- for business way, and crowds might enjoy it on a hot day, but it lacks the complexity Roulot usually gets at this level. And when not super-successful, in hindsight the price seems outrageous. Drink up.

12/18/2018 - MikeATL Likes this wine:

Delicious apricots and stones with a touch of sweetness and good finishing acidity.

12/15/2018 - decaturwinedude wrote:

This stuff is smoCking right now! Green apples, citrus zest, and notes of candied fruit. Yeasty flavors weave in and out. Full bodied, it is more pinot as it warms and opens. Great acidity and a nice rich texture. Great match with my leftover Detroit style pizza.

11/24/2018 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Metras. So inconsistent. Smells of Burnt rubber, axle grease. Reductive. Just never blew off. Cleaner on the palate, floral and delicate red fruit, but that nose is too much and hard to get around. 2nd bottle better.

10/29/2018 - decaturwinedude wrote:

The only other note on this in CT is a score of 82. LOL
This is one of my WOTY and the best CA Pinot I've had since the 1990 Morgan (Joe Davis wine) last year. Healthy, deep red color. Opens with aged pinot fragrance: wisps of decaying leaves, autumn, tea, dark fruit. Slow to emerge, every 10 minutes it opens a bit more to reveal lively cranberry/autumnal fruit with lively wisps of acid. We get some asian spice, mushroom and a cool mint note in the background. At 30 minutes it becomes the full package with a silky texture and a lively, round fruit that is persistent but weightless. I might think 25 year old Vosne blinded. Really special. Kudos Tom Dehlinger.

5/19/2018 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Nose shows a very present tropical fruit, flinty-reductive aroma thing. Very deep, exotic nose. Palate is laser-focused with green apple and lime zings. Light on its feet and a backbone that is flinty-minerals and hints of sulfur, Acid is here with a rich penetrating finish. Very fine.

8/8/2017 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Big Arcadian Tasting in ATL (1997-2008) (Antico Posta): My favorite of the three Syrahs. For drinking now. Terrific Northern Rhone-ish nose that is peppery and meaty. Smells great. The palate is marked with secondary fruit and a iron and saline finish. In the groove.

8/16/2014 - decaturwinedude wrote:

Opened with serious funk. Like burnt nuts and rubber. Almost dumped it. Decanted and left alone, it blossomed to reveal sherry notes, nuts and viscous palate with lemon and honey. Vibrant acidity. In some ways, tastes like it was recently bottled. These things go on and on...