Bruce Dunbar

9.3

More a show jumper than a thoroughbred, the 2015 Pajè Barbaresco from Roagna is light on its feet and well-balanced, but reaches great heights. High-toned red fruit (strawberry at the top), baking spice, and florals jump from the glass one-after-another and land softly on a a base of minerality. Drinking beautifully. — 5 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.5

The 2005 Les Lys, after +/-10 years in Defaix’s cellar and another 10 or so since release has a nose of apricot and straw and is bone dry on the palate with touches of pear, vanilla and honey. Its golden, lager-like color belies its age and perhaps the slightest touch of oxidation. — 23 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.7

Lovely, dry sparkler made from an atypical mix of whites that produced nice floral notes, minerality and buttery toast. — a month ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.0

This is a substantial wine with lots of depth and complexity. A field blend, the 2013 Pagani Heritage is nearly black in the glass with a musty nose of dark berries and dried fruit. It’s still rich with drying and framing tannins, berry, mocha and earth. Ten years on it is still a heavyweight. — a month ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.6

The ‘22 Winds of Change has a quiet nose with just hints of plum and earth emanating from the glass. It’s medium-bodied and subtle in these early days with mellow tannins wrapped around berry pie and underbrush. All in, a very drinkable syrah with potential for more complexity. — 12 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.2

Beautiful: dark, quiet, powerful. Nothing extraneous. Lead with minerals, graphite, tobacco on top of a layer of dry black and red fruit. Tannins were mild. Fit the room (The Grill, NYC) and the meal (Thanksgiving) perfectly. — 22 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.7

This is a very well composed wine with plenty of fruit and florals hanging off a backbone of acidity. It’s pale gold with a nose of lychee, grapefruit rind and grass with more grapefruit, passion fruit, and floral notes on the palate. The ‘22 Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc is a strong entry in the Bedrock lineup at the lower end of their price points. — a month ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.5

This young cab from the cool Petaluma Gap is an easy drinking, food friendly wine in its youth. Very dry, low tannins, hints of blackberry, tea, graphite and cocoa. It will be interesting to see how much more color time will bring out. — 20 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.1

A beautiful wine full of classic Barolo flavors: dark cherry, tobacco, rose petal, cedar and more. Reserved yet deeply satisfying. — 21 days ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.6

At first blush, this comes off as an older wine rather than a relatively recent release (as of 10/24). The nose is musty, loaded with dark red fruit and oak. At first taste, the firm tannins mix with earthy mineral and garrigue notes. With time is the glass some of the brightness and freshness begins to come out — plum and raspberry and maybe even a whiff of grapefruit peel. A powerful wine from high on Howell Mountain. — a month ago