Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour with raw oysters on the half shell. The 2024 pours a bright straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with fresh notes of grapefruit, star fruit, lemon grass, alfalfa and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Quite compelling. I could drink a lot of this. Drink now through 2034. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: mixed brambles, Flintstone vitamins, spiced meat, olives, purple flowers, black pepper, dried herbs, rocky earth, 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 long. Similar to the 1997 we tasted alongside, with all of the same notes except this brought back the familiar Flintstone vitamins that I have encountered in La Mouline from the past. The structure was also more substantial. I preferred this to the 1997 tonight…but I’m splitting hairs! — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

From a single acre of Pinot Noir planted in 2007. As far as I know, this is the first commercial vintage made of Memorious.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours, the 2013 pours a slightly dull, ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with beautiful notes of bruised strawberry, raspberries, dried roses, mushrooms, sous bois, dried herbs, and 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. Really compelling stuff that is, to my palate, squarely in the zone. Drink now through 2033. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened prior to dinner and was the pièce de résistance to another epic night of Rhône wine. The 1995 Hermitage Vin de Paille pours an amber color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of honey, dried stone fruits, marmalade, and nuts. On the palate, the wine is sweet and the finish is long. Not for everyone but this was unquestionably the proper sign off for the night! Drink now through 2055? Hard to tell considering the amount of sugar! — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1997 La Mouline pours a deep ruby/purple color with a slightly hazy, near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: mixed brambles, black cherry, spiced meat, olives, purple flowers, black pepper, dried herbs, rocky earth, 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 long. Powerful and modern. Lots of energy left. Drink now through 2042. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Opened some time prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2024 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 raspberries, red flowers, orange rind, herbs 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. Mostly Pinot Noir with a splash of Gamay. Drink now through 2034. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2020 Estate pours a bright, yellow/green color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of bright tropical fruit: pineapple, passion fruit, star fruit, lemon curd, almonds, toasted marshmallow, warm spices and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Lovely stuff. Drink now through 2035+. Bottle No. 9032/12960 — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

I have dreamed of the 1981 Grange for many, many years. Why? Well, it’s quite simple: I’m an ‘81 baby and that year doesn’t have the strongest reputation for producing great wines. Spain and Italy faired better and of course, there were always exceptions. However, most have long been drank or forgotten as it was a tough year in many of the classic wine growing regions. All of that being said, Australia didn’t suffer the same conditions and Penfold’s managed to make a very good expression of Grange in 1981…if only one could find it and then of course, afford it. But, sometimes you just have to put it out into the universe and she answers. Tonight, a dear brother in wine who also happens to share 1981 as a birth year, provided this bottle from his cellar to share. And while my 45th remains a couple months off, we were celebrating life and friendship tonight!

Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1981 pours a deep purple color moving towards a garnet rim and a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and desiccated tart black, red and blue fruits and rotundone: blackberries, raspberries, plum, tobacco, purple flowers, black olive, cocoa, coffee, eucalyptus, leather, toasted coconut, earth and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is looooong. What a stellar showing and this bottle certainly lived up to hype. Drink now through 2041+. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

And then this happened. Oh my days! Opened prior to dinner and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1990 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of powerful ripe and desiccated brambles, dried purple flowers, beef blood, leather and mushrooms and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry and structure is still going strong with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, to quote “Squints”, the finish goes on, FOR-EV-ER. A monument. Drink now through 2040. — 5 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

From the master, Raul Perez with fruit sourced from his family estate, the Joven (rabbit label) is predominately Mencia from 40-60 year old vines and aged in INOX.

Splash decanted directly before service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2023 pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of blackberries, Montmorency cherry, horse blanket, purple flowers, licorice, and crushed rock. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Charming, rustic stuff. Drink now through 2030. — 6 days ago