5/12/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

An Aligoté that could be mistaken for a nice Meursault, this is fantastic stuff.

Aromas of sweet yellow fruits, pineapple and crunchy peach, spicy oak, a little smoky reduction, delicate herbal and floral tones too... almost full, nice creamy notes, zippy acidity, fresh ripe fruit through the finish, which is quite tart and it's here that it becomes more apparent that this is Aligoté, as the as the acidity is quite prominent. Everything is in balance, however, this is so well made, and will be worth following at least a few more years.

5/11/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

High toned and savory, some VA for sure, but all in good measure...

Aromas of red cherry, blood, white pepper, orange juice, bee pollen, and roses, a delicate touch of smoked meat too... On the palate it's sanguine and tangy, nice tart cherry notes combine with notes of herbs, flowers, and raw meat, tannins are fine and grip lightly, acids are easy, though the wine feels so distinctly tangy. Long and complex finish, refreshing, at once juicy and sanguine, fine tannins grip, acids reverberate in tune, fruit skin notes are pleasantly bitter. Should be worth following at least a few years.

5/11/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

gorgeous berries and flowers, a little spice... fresh and lively, fabulous purity, sneaky complexity, surprising length and depth

5/11/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

very pretty, this is always so nice... peach, raspberry, citrus, a little minty herbs, spice and roses... great acid cut, juicy fruit, integrated salty minerality, long on fresh tart fruit, a beautiful raspberry note pops as everything fades

5/11/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

citrus, green apple, white peach, a little sweet almond and smoky minerals... medium-bodied, sneaky depth and texture, this is so lively and fresh, zippy acidity and a strong undercurrent of salinity, long and tart

5/11/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

grassy and vaguely floral, a little citrus and melon, crisp and juicy, subtly pithy and herbal, gentle bubbles, more vivace than frizzante, nice stuff, easy and fresh

5/10/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

open-knit and lifted from the start, but it does have a yeasty gassy vibe that takes its sweet time blowing off...

eventually this is gorgeous on the nose: sweet red and blue fruit, violets, roses, white pepper, purple vitamins, subtle herbaceous notes too, there's VA but it's brilliantly integrated, serving to amplify everything...

tart acidity, powdery tannins, but a fair amount of them, this has serious grip for an elegant Grenache

raw and wild, intense inner perfume, raw cacao and nutty lees provide a backdrop to beautiful fresh crunchy fruits and sweet lifted flowers

the feeling here is a bit loose, not sure it has the tension to develop over the long term, I would check up on it regularly if planning to save more than a few years

Love it, wish it didn't become so expensive, I don't think I'd want to pay much more than $50 for this...

5/10/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

opened yesterday

sweet dark cherry, something rather liqueur-like, a little violets and leather, and green herbs...

grippy tannins are not shy, but they're fine enough, sour cherry notes are nice, earthy and stony finish

tasted blind, guessed 2016 Sangiovese, probably Chianti

5/10/2024 - viniferatu wrote:

Weird and I think probably past its prime...

Dirt, stewed meat, stewed veggies, iodine, a little dried red fruit

Better on the palate, bloody and earthy, tart and a little green, fine tannins...

tasted blind, guessed 1995 Chianti, lol

5/10/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

Corked, too bad... but it was barely corked and amazing spice and flowers really came through

tasted blind, I was thinking elegant Garnacha, but Mencia was on my radar... too bad this was corked, it's clearly a gorgeous wine

5/10/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

lifted, airy and sweet on the nose, crazy dry and tart on the palate

cotton candy, pineapple, green apple, white peach, iris, a little sourdough and stone dust

super zippy and tart, pithy and grippy, very mineral, luscious fruitiness darts out between the stones, but this is going to be austere for some palates

loved it, makes me want oysters

should be worth following at least a few years

5/10/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

AP14

honeysuckle, sweet lemon and lime, sweet peach, delicate spice and black tea

luscious sweetness, then stony and bright, acid pops, then luscious and light as everything fades, fruit is pristine, refreshing and mouthwatering through the finish

in a great spot, won't fade soon

tasted blind guessed 2004 Ruwer Spatlese

5/10/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

creamy bouquet, sweet almond and buttercream, plus beautiful delicate lemon

soft and creamy up front, then beautiful mineral grip, this has a high class Macon vibe

tasted blind guessed Pouilly Fuisse

5/10/2024 - viniferatu wrote:

disgorged spring 2022

stone fruits, ginger, root veggies, dried flowers, a little mushrooms and toast

beautiful texture, fine bubbles, gorgeous combo of fresh and cidery fruit, nice spice, toast and nuttiness, very blanc de moira

tasted blind, guessed 2015 Champagne blanc de noirs

5/9/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

This is still quite tense upon opening, it is better with 24 hours of air... gorgeous red and black fruit, dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry, roses, thyme, rosemary plus hints of baking spice, fennel, leather, citrus... so elegant on the palate, the tannins are very fine for Sangiovese with this much presence and depth. Beautiful length and intensity through the finish, it remains lively and fresh, fruit and delicate herbal tones reverberate beautifully, tannins build but never grip hard, acid is gentle and supportive, for me this has it all. I would sit on bottles for another few years if I had more, this might be worth following 15+. Serve with food.

5/4/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

awesome stuff, a little smoky reduction at first, but beautiful peach and flowers emerge, citrus too, this is so well balanced, the acidity is strong and buried, sweetness so integrated, long and complex finish, this is so young and will be worth following at least 15 years...

5/4/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

gorgeous red roses, plus spruce tips, sweet orange, red cherry candy, airy spice... this is just wailing on the nose, put this in the right glass and you will be in heaven... still a little tight on the palate, but this still gives so much pleasure, medium-bodied, fine tannins, beautiful floral and earthy inner perfume, long and classic, gorgeous tart red fruit and delicate spice linger long, this is superb and will improve for many years.... last vintage with Monvigliero in the blend, future legend?

5/4/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

toasted spice, tar, roses, dried cherries, really pretty roses here... elegant, bright, gorgeous red fruit, beautiful tobacco and roses inner perfume, fine tannins, super classic structure, really easy-going for young Barolo, surely worth following 10 years, maybe 15+

5/4/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

cherry, plum, a little roses, balsam, tar and dried mushrooms... robust and tannic, serious structure here, this is very Barolo-like, long and grippy, assertive tannins linger long, this will be worth following many more years

5/4/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

red and blue fruit, flowers and peppery herbs... juicy and straightforward, lovely purity and freshness, white pepper and flowers accent the inner perfume and finish, a little orange oil pops up too, fine tannins grip nicely as bright fruits linger, drink in the next couple of years

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

fantastic wine, but what do you expect from d'Yquem... apricot preserves, spring flowers, marmalade, mushrooms, petrichor, long and complex finish, Sauternes is not always my cup of tea, but this is fabulous, and not too cloying and sweet, loved it

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

fabulous! mushrooms, tamari, meat and roses, dried and candied cherry, sanguine finish, this is probably past its prime, but still lovely

5/3/2024 - viniferatu wrote:

corked, oof! but there's hints of cherry and roses underneath the tca

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

balsam fir, cured meat, truffle, soaring savory and herbal bouquet, dried cherry and roses, gorgeous stuff, lean and fresh on the palate, earthy and mineral and very savory, definitely mature, probably past its prime, but I still love it

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

suspiciously opaque core, how can this be pure Nebbiolo.... tobacco, prune, spice, port like, weird, not so interesting

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

gorgeous bright red cherry, leather, tobacco, a little mint, mushroom powder and tar... elegant and old school, bright cherry is incisive and pure, myriad spicy, earthy and roasted notes linger long, lovely Barolo

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

pure cherry, roses, leather, deep spice, roses ... feels like it still has many years left, there's beautiful sweetness and purity to the fruit

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

dark cherry jam, meat, truffle, leather, roses, mint, a little ketchup, this has VA but it is something quite nice about it, feels ripe and deep and not so tannic for a young Barolo, loosely knit and open, this is wild and feels ready, feels like it's probably in its plateau already, a very memorable wine, this is old school, full of character, and very easy to drink

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

this was poured next to a 2016 Clos la Neore, so it kinda suffered from the comparison, but it really held its own, and I could see how some might prefer it...

opulent and billowing bouquet, elderflower, peach, citrus, a little honey and herbs... full and textured, beautiful display of minerality and ripeness, the combo of acid cut and deep plush fruit is wonderful, long on herbs and flowers, complex and dynamic finish, this is great Sauvignon and like the Neore it somehow really transcends the variety yet remains perfectly typical, it seems to be in its plateau, but should be worth following for at least a few more years

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

so good, this just kept opening up steadily, and it felt like something quite young, most Sauvignon is pretty dull at 8 years old, while this is maybe not close to its plateau...

resplendent and lifted on the nose: piercing citrus, perfect apricot, mango, myriad green herbs, a little sweet almond and elderflower... full but super fresh, brilliant acidity, deep texture, great length, this has it all, and while it has beautiful Sauvignon character it somehow also totally transcends the Sauvignon variety, it is just amazing distinctive white wine...

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

rich roasty toasty bouquet, citrus and pear as well... full and toasty, deep acid line, long and refreshing, feels way younger than 24, yum and wow

5/3/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

sweet butter, green flowers, lemon, vague stone fruits... incisive acid, so mineral and cutting, buried richness, great length... this is super young, it will develop positively for years, but still a delight right now

5/1/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

Dark fruit, airy spice, a little violet

5/1/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

Lotsa ripe berry, a little baking spice and pine, a little cola, cured meat, mushrooms, and red roses. Great intensity on the palate, staining and long, tart fruit and subtle earthy and piney nuances. Probably best to drink on the sooner side, but

5/1/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

Peppery flowers, melon, pear, a little banana cream pie... full and primary, lots of fruit, a little tannic grip, fresh and tactile, quite interesting.

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

Ripe and dark, this has a lot of baby fat, and will probably take forever to come around to reveal all its powers, but it is clearly a very special Montepulciano.

Aromas of sweet syrupy dark fruit, chocolate, dusty gravel road, violet liqueur, a little game and peppery herbs... full and tangy, ripe and spicy, tannins are fine and grip long, fruit is a little pruney and cooked, but the acid structure keeps it fresh, violets, herbs and dark fruit pop on the inner perfume. Long on blue and black fruit, quite ripe, but there's a tart and bright core to this finish, and beautiful herbal subtleties pop up as everything fades. This probably needs 10+ years to come together.

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

lol, previous taster is correct, this is quaffable, it is so easy to drink, nay gulp...

It really leans into oxidative notes, but it's also bright and lively. It soars and struts, the balance here is awesome, and it just slips down so easy. Somehow both languid and energetic, it is a marvel.

Big billowing nose of citrus candy, stone fruit preserves, praline, pastry, white flowers, mushrooms... dense and full, immensely deep but not heavy, richness is at once intense and fleeting as the acid line cuts so neatly and precisely, keeping the significant nutty spicy oxidative complex in its place... very long, very smooth, very complex finish. This should develop positively for many years, and who knows how long it will be worth following...

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

lifted and spicy, definitely has some fancy oak in the mix, but it is supportive and works so well, sweet citrus and apple, toasty pastry and sweet white flowers... lively and robust on the palate, spicy and layered, fruit is intense, subtle fruit skin and mineral grip lingers as everything fades, this is excellent, can't wait to try it again

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

big billowing nose of cherry, strawberry, blood orange, roses, myriad herbs and spices... dense and full, but somehow elegant and easy at the same time, gorgeous cherry pops on the palate... finish is quite tannic, it firms up and spreads out, and the length is very serious. Obviously not ready, but the great quality of the vintage makes it quite a pleasure already. This is their best Monvigliero since 2013?

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

Oddero rules, and their wines seem to get better and better every year. This Barbaresco is classically austere, yet at the same time finessed and elegant with gorgeous pure cherry fruit. Accents of licorice, roses and alpine breeze, a little baking spice and tobacco too. Long and tense finish, this is not quite ready, it needs a few years, and a nice meal.

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

high toned, red and black fruits, but mostly red, some citrus, flowers and herbs, lifted and piercing on the nose, there's definitely some VA here... elegant and refined, gorgeous bright fruit and herbs inform the inner perfume, tense and tart on the finish, this could probably use a year or two to calm down... should be worth following at least a decade

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

amazing stuff, perfectly representative of the elegant and serious style that the Castellani family is going for, but yet it's so easy and fruity...

aromas of sweet cherry and wild berries, a little cocoa powder, pepper and curry, a little rose and violet... juicy and succulent, lush and textured for a second, then just easy and light, tannins fleeting and acidity brightening, fresh fruit flourishing, this is so good, and an incredible value

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

tight and tense, vague notions of red and black fruits, meat and pine forest... structured and layered on the palate, clearly needs time to flesh out, this has nice purity and intensity, but it is brooding and tough at the moment. Give it a few years, at least...

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

beautiful Pinot, unmistakable varietal character here... airy aromas of beets and beef broth, peppery herbs and pine forest, wild berries and tart cherry... lifted and elegant through the finish, no easy juiciness, but the fruit never falters, love it, definitely in a good spot already, but should do well for many years

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

super primary, but there's complexity here, nice fennel pollen, white flowers and herbs to accent the melon, citrus and crunchy green pear... fresh and lively on the palate, a little grip, beautiful length, pretty serious for such a fun label

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

peppery, herbal, brothy... petrichor and scallops, lifted flowers, peach and apple, underripe melon... this coats and grips, shimmering minerality and mouthwatering salinity are so engaging... bracing, dense and mineral finish, this is so distinctive. Not for everyone, that's for sure, this is very trocken. Should be worth following at least another 5 years.

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

iris, stone dust, crunchy apricot, apple, peppery herbs... gorgeous fruit attack, this is probably the most fruity Mutter Anna I've ever tried, but it quickly turns to intense acidity and stones, this is classic Falkenstein trocken, which means maybe too trocken for some. I love it. Should be worth following at least 5 more years. Get some oysters?

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

yellow peach, citrus, herbs, a little smoky sponti, lovely pure fruit here, dry and crisp, incredible value

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

buttercup, cereal, nougat, sweet pear and citrus, silky and mineral, beautiful tension and length, quite mineral on the finish, tight and maybe it needs a year or two to flesh out, love the mineral vibe now though

4/30/2024 - viniferatu Likes this wine:

delicate oak spice, pretty lemon and peach, fresh alpine air... soft and plush for a second, then fresh and mineral, beautiful tension and texture here, succulent and ripe, juicy and round, but eminently refreshing. I get an elegant Meursault vibe here, this drinks like something much more expensive... should be worth following at least a few more years.