Garret Nagle

8.9

This is a decent wine that could have been so much more but in an excessively hot year, the wine is out of balance lacking acid, trademark dried floral aromatics, and has overripe fruit that is cloying on the palate with alcohol flabbiness. Archetypal Nebbiolo usually has a floral and dried red fruit component, not baked/preserved red fruit. Needs some angularity and finesse. A shame the sun over baked this fruit I payed $50 for. Still some nice leather, eucalyptus and star anise notes coming through but it's more like a Brunello due to its hot and juicy lusciousness. — 6 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.0

Racy, indulgent red cherries, black berries, violets, Bret funk, VA, medium plus body, tannin, acid. — 7 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.2

Great balance between traditional and modern winemaking with the use of barique and shorter maceration time to create an approachable wine in its youth, while also incorporating the use of large traditional botti.
While there is a presence of new oak, it doesn't dominate and the purity of the Nebbiolo fruit still comes through well. Luscious brandied sour cherry, stewed raspberry, dried violets, rhubarb, cedar, baking spice, black truffle, tar, animal. Delicious. Good acidity and smooth yet structured tannins. Well balanced. Would have rated higher if there was less reliance on new French oak to add structure. Would have been interesting to see how this wine would have tasted with more fine grained tannin from the fruit instead of from wood. Excellent value alternative to barbaresco or Barolo. Rich yet elegant and finessed. — 7 years ago

Garret Nagle

8.9

Classic Delas. Bone dry, lots of gamey character, olive tapenade, black and red fruit, black pepper, and a touch of white flowers. I love Northern Rhone but for me 13% alcohol leaves body and mouthfeel to be desired. A touch more alcohol and fruit would make me love this but Delas is classic and they make their wines super super dry and savory. Definitely a food wine. — 6 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.2

Potpourri, fresh black cherry, rhubarb, raspberry, forest floor, mushrooms, baking spices. Great new world Pinot that is balanced, retains ripe character while also exhibiting some earth and terroir character. Great buy!! — 6 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.1

Medium to full bodied. Brandied black and red cherry, black truffle, raspberry, violet, pipe tobacco, rosemary, mint, black licorice. Although I have a lot of descriptors here, the wine lacks finesse and integration of fruit and alcohol with the tannin which results in awkwardness and isn't quite balanced. Tannins are still abrasive and need a few more years to soften and integrate. A very dry food wine that needs food with salt and fat to counteract tannin. Bolognese, roasts, or braised meat would work well. — 7 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.2

Nice biodynamic Claret style Bordeaux with savory notes of animal leather, green pepper, dried cherry, red currants, graphite, and baking spices. Medium bodied, finessed, good acidity but not intended for someone looking for a full-throttled modern style extraction bomb with high alcohol. Very well made by an over-performing natural producer in Cote du Francs outside Pomerol and St Emillion on the right bank. — 6 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.0

The only bottled in bond, single barrel Bourbon with a 10 yr age statement. A terrific value at a time when fancy schmansy bourbons are being sold for exorbitant prices. A no nonsense sipper that is my top choice for mixing cocktails. — 7 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.0

Black currants, black cherry, cedar box, pencil shavings, and a ton of green bell pepper. Typical Paulliac. But I would expect more body and weight on the palate considering the quality of the '05 vintage. Fruit was on the lighter side and lacked the richness and power I would expect from a Paulliac wine situated directly next to Mouton. — 7 years ago

Garret Nagle

9.3

Garret had this 7 years ago