1/28/2024 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Recent-ish notes from other tasters are accurate; this wine is still drinking very well, and indeed feels relatively youthful. It needs plenty of air - 6 hours of slow ox didn’t do it, but 90 minutes in a decanter after that was beneficial. There is some sediment. The wine is an icon, even if a mass-produced one, and other tasting notes can provide the descriptions that might be necessary. I think it’s edged outside of the value range since perhaps 2019, but if you can find a mature bottle at €150 or under, it’s a worthy experience.

9/17/2023 - sbhall Likes this wine:

I enjoyed this more than expected, and it’s in a good spot. Opened 3 hours prior to drinking. At the beginning of a mature Barolo. Saved 1/4 for next day where it further benefited from the air.

2/18/2023 - sbhall Likes this wine:

I bought a bottle almost by accident, without realising it’s rarity. I had tasted the wines only at expositions; this was my first full bottle. If you’re lucky enough to find one, you’ll enjoy an oxidative experience akin to Bereche’s Reflet d’Antan, the light smoke and earth of a cool climate trout, and the honey of my uncle Franchino. Drink it now or keep it forever to bring out some rich mellow tarte tatin. I hope for another.

12/5/2022 - sbhall Likes this wine:

A year or so ago it seemed closed, now it’s in a good spot - but will improve with more time, or perhaps a decant. Liquorice notable on the palate, tannins have softened but still present. Have definitely had better but still enjoyable.

10/7/2022 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Very good with a decant, will be great in 5 years

10/1/2022 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Drinking well, fruit forward; certainly ready but in no way mature. It’s a well-made wine, silky, good value for anyone not too proud to expect a Bordeaux.

9/12/2022 - sbhall Likes this wine:

It's very nice - starting to move away from fruit-forward and into the leathery animal stage - which is a shame for me as I was still hoping to catch it on the fruit. If I had another, I would now wait quite a few years before coming back to it, or somehow reverse time to drink it 2 years ago!

2/15/2021 - sbhall wrote:

Seems past its best. Flat, not much life. Improved a bit after several hours but not very much.

1/31/2021 - sbhall Likes this wine:

A wine of exceptional value. Although 20 years old, feels as if it has much more life in it, even if the fruit flavours have subsided it is still fresh and lively. Perfect!

1/30/2021 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Lovely wine, drank to celebrate Orla’s arrival. Crisp and balanced.

11/21/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Exceptional wine - lovely now but with lots of years ahead. So well integrated

11/8/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Very nice - but value wise, the regular frappato is much better.

10/25/2020 - sbhall wrote:

Very interesting - drank over two nights. First a seafood risotto; second roasted quail. The wine really has the aromas of sherry, but it tastes unlike any dry white I’ve had before. Honey, apricot, slightly floral. I paid 57 CHF, which seems a little high for the value. Not sure I would buy again.

10/16/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Drank October 2020. Agree it could wait longer, but the acid has its place with the right dish. Nice savoury flavours.

10/2/2020 - sbhall wrote:

Very nice for a glass, but at 17% it’s hard to drink more than that, even with friends as I was.

5/12/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Exceptional, many years left, outstanding example of a Langhe Nebbiolo

5/3/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Bought in SF October 2017 and held in the cellar until now. Lovely! Lots of fruit, benefitted from some air after which other aromas and flavours came out, including some nice cigar box smells. Enjoyed it a lot, but as always with the American wines, is it worth the $50-60 paid for?

3/7/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Fantastic wine! So light and fresh.

2/2/2020 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Wine was gifted to me in 2015/2016, bought in San Francisco and cellared since then. Upon opening, tasted a sip and didn’t much like it: all fruit and alcohol. But, I left it for 3 hours and it improved significantly, the fruit was still there but the nose and mouth were both more leathery and complex. It became much more of a classic cab sav that I was expecting. I drink most wine over two days unless entertaining, and on the second day this was just as good. The finish is very long and a nice pleasure. CT drinking window seems accurate.

11/23/2019 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Purchased for around 20 USD at Chambers St Wines in 2017. Kept in cellar for 26 months. Very good wine - wish I had more. Nice balance, hallmark riesling flavours, feels like it could last much longer. Really nice.

8/18/2019 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Simply a delicious wine. Doesn’t take too long to open up. All the best notes of butter, toast, popcorn. I wish I had more.

8/18/2019 - sbhall Likes this wine:

A very good wine that is in it’s best drinking window. Needs food as very astringent and tannic alone, but paired properly will give a lot of enjoyment.

8/11/2019 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Excellent wine: balance and freshness. Evolving nicely, would do well for another few years.

11/10/2018 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Brioche and marzipan

11/10/2018 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Cigar smell with cinnamon. Drunk over 5 hours. Resiny flavours, probably cedar. Stronger red fruits on the mouth. Excellent wine, very good right now, but still with a lot left.

11/10/2018 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Distinctive smell of blackberry crumble and red berries. Sharpness of cranberry juice, very good acidity, slightly astringent that softened with food. Drinking very well, good finish.

1/1/2018 - sbhall Likes this wine:

One of the best champagnes I’ve tasted. Honey, fresh apple and a delicate soft stone fruit (perhaps white peach) with a delicious savouriness and creaminess. Fine bottle.

9/21/2017 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Delicious - honey, apricot, perfectly sweet!

6/6/2017 - sbhall Likes this wine:

7 years on, this could be an old Barolo. The colour has lightened and is more brick-red. The fruit is mostly gone from the nose, replaced by fragrant leather. Tastes great.

5/20/2017 - sbhall wrote:

Very interesting and pleasant. The moscato grape comes out strongly on the nose. Nice savoury finish. Colour of cloudy apple juice.

3/13/2017 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Unbelievable value at €8. Drank with an apero and also with a fish pie, complemented both well. Fresh, slightly grassy/herbal and exotic on the nose. Similar tastes, with a nice fIrish of almonds. Good for all occasions.

12/10/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Delicious champagne.

11/6/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Delicious, drunk over two days and much better on the second day (when it was also likely a degree or so cooler). No tannin, silly smooth. The predominant aromas were of chocolate, cloves, cinnamon and very dark, almost bitter, blackberry. She miler tastes but significant smoke too. Received as a gift in 2010, kept in cellar until now. A fair amount of sediment, overall a tasty wine!

10/2/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

A very pleasant Barolo that has aged well. All the hallmarks of the grap, with much subtlety. I expected more fruit, overall the smells and tastes are delicate and refined. It needs a more delicate meal to accompany, I think. Could probably age a bit more given some tannin and acid remain. It was drunk over two days and showed well on both. The finish is long, and the aromas were very enjoyable.

9/26/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Took a while to open up, which is consistent with my experience of old vine burgundy so far. Pale colour, light cherry red. Vanilla and strawberry were the predominant smells for me. Similar tastes. Had a fair amount of tannin. Nice but probably would not buy (received as a gift).

7/23/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Fantastic, one of the best barberas I have drunk.

7/2/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Nice and crisp. Floral and citrus smells. Same on the mouth with a bit more white peach.

4/17/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

I called the winery to ask their recommendation before serving; their advice was to open the bottle shortly before drinking and then let the wine evolve. So I opened it 30 minutes before dinner - no decanting.

It was good from the start, light red with little tannin. It was peppery and woody to start and there was a distinct port-like smell to it. After 30 more minutes it was still lovely and woody, but you could start to smell and taste sweet tobacco and cloves, as well as some rich raisin flavours. It took an hour before any tar smell or taste came out, while the smoke, Earth and sweetness remained. The tannins were leathery and fine, very refined. After 90 minutes some fruit emerged, mostly dark like blackberry compote and perhaps some cassis. After 2 hours it was truly delicious. The cigar smell was prominent and pleasant.

After about 3 hours the port smell had gone, still dark fruits but now with some vanilla. We drank the bottle over about 4.5 hours and by the end there was a hint of chocolate though it could have been from the sediment which introduced some bitterness. There was not a lot of sediment.

Overall, it was outstanding - such a smooth, refined wine which changed in marvellous ways over the night. A worthy extravagance.

2/18/2016 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Great! Passion fruit and citrus, a light and delicious wine.

12/26/2015 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Amber in colour. Lovely richness, smooth and delicious. Smells and tastes of apple and orange. Perfect sweetness with a hint of acidity.

12/6/2015 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Simple and enjoyable. Smells spicy - cloves and pepper. Tastes mostly fruity with medium acidity. Certainly best drunk young.

11/14/2015 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Smells of freshly cut green apple, orange blossom, honey and nectarine. Tastes of peach, honey, lychee, very slight citrus. Lovely. Probably caught this at just the right time, would not leave it much longer.

10/20/2015 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Nice but I prefer a slightly less sparkling wine. This had particular dryness to it, with mostly yeast and hazelnut flavours coming out.

10/20/2015 - sbhall Likes this wine:

It did not have a strong nose but the taste was nice. After a few years the acidity has balanced out and this was very smooth to drink. The tannins were gentle and silky with a predominant first taste of dark fruits and a second taste of light tobacco.

10/14/2015 - sbhall Likes this wine:

Lovely dark colour with a great smell predominantly of apricots and peaches. A nice, moreish sweetness with the right amount of acidity to balance. It had a lasting finish that was smooth and fruity.

10/10/2015 - sbhall wrote:

I enjoyed this wine. Full bodied, on the nose there is some toast and smokiness, full in the mouth with dark fruits of cherry and cherry and blackberry. It could benefit from some air after opening.