4/4/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Tasted initially after an hour in a decanter. Smooth, savory and juicy. Full flavored but not big, Blackberry, blueberry and spice. More mellow and elegant than I expected. A touch of sweet and licorice. A very satisfying wine.

3/26/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Complex. Citrus, saline and floral-at first. Stone fruit and even a touch of toffee as it warms. Got better with time in glass and as it approached room temperature. First bottle of the 2016 that we have opened. No rush on the rest.

2/27/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted and poured. Soft and sweet. Ripe cherry, cedar and tobacco. Pleasant but not compelling at this point.

2/14/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted and poured immediately. Great aromatics. The Viognier and Roussanne have to be contributors there. Dark cherry, spice, pepper and savory with a kick of saline minerality on the finish. Intense and full without overpowering. Superb tonight but plenty of time left for this one.

2/8/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

This is a big wine. If you like the style you will find this rich, vibrant and delicious. We loved it with a grilled ribeye.

1/30/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted and poured. Concentrated black and red fruit. Soft, smooth and elegant. Savory and sweetness on a long finish. Tannins are in the background. Worth the wait and I wish we had more.

1/16/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted to help it open. Too cold at first and blossomed as it warmed. Medium weight and viscosity. Lemon, tangerine peel, green (touch of bitter) pecan and peach on the palate. Long, luscious and tart finish. Excellent bottle. We took our time on this one. It kept getting better.

1/9/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted and poured immediately. Sweetly scented nose with a whisper of oak. Rich cherry and raspberry, spice and garigue. Modest tannins on the finish. Superb tonight but no need to rush the next.

1/3/2024 - tantotinto wrote:

This bottle is noticeably better than our last two years go. Dark cherry and spice. Quiet tannins and a smooth finish.

12/3/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Much better than the last bottle. Not as plush. Crisp citrus and hazelnut are more prominent. Bottle variation or did my palate have a night off last bottle? This is what I expect from Kistler.

11/27/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

No detailed notes but this was superb.

11/21/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

A comfortable, easy drinking wine. Soft, rich black and ripe red fruit. Gentle pucker and pepper on the finish.

11/20/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

This is on the full, soft and round side. First impression is butter, vanilla and banana with a touch of hazelnut. Honeysuckle and stone fruit also. Tart after taste. Like it but don’t love it.

11/1/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

This bottle has moved on nicely from our last three years go. Softer and more mellow. The fruit is less primary and more complex. Still plenty of life left.

10/31/2023 - tantotinto Likes this wine:

Fruit forward. Ripe cherry and crisp acidity initially. Mature red stone fruit at the back of the palate. Very good and a steal at this price point.

10/21/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

It has been awhile since our last and this is better than I remembered. We had it with cheesy chicken enchiladas for a change of pace and it was a surprisingly good match.

10/16/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Decant and tasted soon after. Cedar and spice nose. Quiet tannins. Fruit has mellowed. Silky, smooth palate and a long finish.

10/4/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Delicious.

10/2/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Last bottle seemed a bit past its best. Not so here. Black cherry, anise and garigue. Chewy texture.

9/20/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

First taste immediately after decanting. Note from four years ago still applies. "Black fruit, soy, anise, mocha and a little pepper on the finish. Modest tannin and bracing acidity. Vibrant, elegant, refined and delicious." It may be even better now. No rush to drink the next.

9/17/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

From a 375ml. A pleasant surprise. Full, rich fruit and savory. Good value. Would definitely buy again.

9/12/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Better than the last bottle. Fruit is more prominent, garigue and spice. Elegant.

9/7/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Jeff Leve's recent note expresses my sentiments better than could I. The fruit is becoming more withdrawn. It is still smooth and tasty, but I enjoyed it more a few years ago. We have two left and it is time to drink up.

8/31/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Still tastes young. Red and blue fruit and a lively, juicy and slightly sweet finish for which the Viognier, with which I believe this is co-fermented, may deserve some credit.

8/28/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Same as last bottle. With Bolognese again. Superb.

8/23/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

First bottle of the 2012 Le Poste that we have opened. Tasted after a couple of hours in a decanter. Red fruit, spice and a touch of licorice. Soft and feminine. Very good although less complex than most previous bottles from this producer. Would be surprised to see much upside from here.

8/16/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Not your usual Pinot Grigio. It is pale copper colored and relatively viscous. The palate offers a touch of apple, stone fruit, spice and citric crispness on the finish. Smooth and juicy.

8/8/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Recommended by a favorite wine merchant and he did not steer me wrong. Herbal nose. Complex palate that makes it hard to narrow the description. Stone fruit, lemon and herbs but much more. Chewy texture. Great value.

8/5/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Relatively full. Brioche and stone fruit with lemon zest on the finish. Good value.

8/1/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

“Olive, brine and umami upfront with a moderately sweet fruit backdrop and a tart acidic finish.” That was our last note and it still fits. Tastes young and fresh even after a decade.

7/12/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Never disappoints.

7/10/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

We like to hold this wine for a while as prior bottles have seemed to gain weight and richness with time. This bottle was an exception. It seems to have thinned a bit since the last. It is still very good but not where we expected it to be. We have several left so hopefully this is a one off. Need to try another soon.

5/22/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

First bottle of this vintage that we have opened and it is sensational. Decanted and immediately poured. Plush but in a soft and elegant way. Red and black fruit, spice and a dash of pepper. It may have better days ahead but it is hard to imagine it being better than it is tonight. We always have high expectations for Alban wines but they were massively exceeded here.

4/17/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

A touch more mellow than I recall from a couple of years ago but still concentrated and graceful. Rich fruit and spice. Long, smooth finish. Superb.

4/11/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Gave it an hour in a decanter. It's in great form. Delicious.

4/8/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Tasted right after opening paired at table with Moussaka. Both are superb and helped no doubt by a vibrant synergy. But we love the wine on its own too. Subdued nose but soft, generous fruit and spice on the palate. Crisp, smooth finish.

3/30/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Last note still applies. Full, sensuous and delicious. Superb vintage after vintage.

3/27/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Too cold at first. Needed to warm a bit to open. Seemed light but added body as it warmed. Medium weight and texture. Primary impression is crisp lemon and chalk with a nutty backdrop. Faded a bit on the finish.

3/16/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Last note still applies except grilled ribeye with it tonight. Superb wine and pairing.

3/4/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted. Not giving up much at first but opened up after about 1 1/2 hours. Cherry, earth and a touch of garigue and smoke. Based on this bottle it is time to drink up on the rest of our 2011’s from St. Cosme.

3/3/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Softer on the palate than I expected. Tart apple and lemon on the finish but the high point is the creamy texture, stone fruit and touch of honey on the palate.

2/25/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Juicy and fruit forward. Black and red fruit that is almost candied on the palate. Touch of anise. Light texture and tannins are de minimis. My wife likes it more than I. The score is hers.

2/20/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Floral nose. On the full side but not unpleasantly so. Creamy texture. Stone fruit, hazelnut, lemon on the finish.

2/18/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Not sure I have ever had a poor Ridge Zinfandel and this one is no exception. Rich, spicy and smooth. It has also been a superb pairing tonight for a spicy Cioppino.

2/14/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Broken cork. Ah-so on the next bottle. Decanted and poured immediately. The last bottle was a bit off best. This one is immediately graceful, generous and delicious. Soft, complex and savory. Perfect pairing with tonight's rack of lamb.

2/8/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Beautiful aroma. Rich and full on the palate with an attractive balanced sweetness and crisp acidity. Raspberry, mineral and a touch of spice on a long finish. Excellent.

2/5/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Our last bottle of this vintage and it shows no sign of slowing down. Still vibrant and delicious but with a touch of burnt toffee now on the finish. As always it seems to improve as it warms in the glass.

2/4/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Decanted and no wait. Soft cherry and a touch of spice. Modest tannins, lean texture and less aromatic than our last bottle. Not sure I see a reason to wait on this one. Tasty now and do not sense significant upside.

1/31/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

An hour and a half in a decanter and took that much again to open up. Black and blue fruit that was under generous. Subdued tannins. Nice acidity. Good yet disappointing versus expectation. Definitely not up to prior bottles. Bottle variation?

1/24/2023 - tantotinto wrote:

Tasted immediately after decanting. Soft, smooth black fruit and a touch of spice. Lacked the complexity and depth that I expected based on previous Reynvaan bottles and the price point.