Jay Kline

9.5

It’s been a couple of years since I last encountered the 2001 vintage of Chave’s Hermitage. That bottle was a library release from the domaine and so is this example. Splash decanted directly before service. The 2001 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous and a total umami bomb: Koji beef broth, dried and baked brambles, dried purple flowers, black pepper, Kalamata olive, organic and inorganic earth along with fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Looking back on my notes from 2024, there’s a common theme: the 2001 is all about dat bass. Drink now with some patience and through 2041. — 10 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2020 pours, a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity, with light staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing and a touch volatile. There are notes of being cherry, wild brambles, red and purple flowers, varnish, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose the finish is medium+. This is a soulful if not brilliant wine that gives me Paolo Bella vibes. Drink now through 2030. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2023 San Benito County pours a deep ruby/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of blackberries, black plum, black pepper, purple flowers, licorice, gravelly earth and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Delicious stuff and a perennial favorite of mine. Drink now through 2043. — a day ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Splash decanted prior to service and presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core, moving towards a light orange garnet rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous, with notes of ripe and slightly dried red and black fruits: plum, blackberry, raspberry, dried flowers, leather, cocoa, earth and some warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend or a Merlot-based blend from the United States or France. Due to the appearance and secondary characteristics, I think this has 15+ years of age. And, because this was leaning heavily towards its fruit, rather than its structure, I’m calling this being from the United States. Final conclusion, this is a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend from Napa, valley floor, from a warm vintage like 2009. Dammit, I should have clued into the softer tannins from Alexander Valley. Scoring significant points though. Drink now through 2029. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened some time prior to service; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2013 Vosne-Romanée pours a deep ruby with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with its notes of strawberry, raspberry, black cherry, rosemary, coniferous forest floor, minerals and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is a profoundly sensual wine that is showing really well now and I would expect it to be thrilling for years to come. Drink now through 2048. — 11 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Fairly consistent throughout. The 2004 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and slightly desiccated, black and red fruits: black currants, blackberries, black cherry, tobacco, Poblano pepper, pencil shavings, purple flowers, dry rocky earth, a touch of leather, and a combination of cool and fine warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (that is well integrated), and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. Showing really well and squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2034. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2018 Brandlin Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a classic mountain fruit profile: a mix of tart and ripe currants, blackberries, purple flowers, tobacco, inorganic earth and a mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Well balanced and charming. Drink now through 2038. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Presented to me double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet with an opaque core and some rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of sediment. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of cassis, blackberry, black plum, tobacco, menthol, leather, and mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is really delicious.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend or other Bordeaux-styled blend or a Tempranillo based blend from the United States, France or Spain. This saw French oak so I eliminated Spain. I thought the fruit was outshining the structure…so I liked the USA over France. And, based off the appearance, I thought this probably had 30+ years of age. Final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from the United States, from California, Napa, Rutherford; 1994. Ugh…the 1990 vintage in Bordeaux has bit me twice now recently. Really awesome stuff! Drink now through 2040+. — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Gorgeous on both days. The 2019 Grumello “Rocco de Piro”pours a brilliant, ruby color with a transparent core and a slightly watery rim; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of cool, fresh raspberries, roses with babies breath, Alpine herbs, cedar chest, and rocky earth. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and the texture is silky. Such a beautiful and elegant expression of Chiavennasca. Drink now through 2034. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — a day ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured a small glass for myself to check on how it was showing. I thought it was super grumpy and backward, so I splash decanted; made a world of difference. The 2021 Riserva pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe, red fruits: raspberries, rose water, pastilles and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Charming stuff after air. Drink now through 2036…if you can keep your hands off it. — a day ago