Jay Kline

8.8

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of ripe and tart red and black fruits: mixed brambles, herbs, some black pepper, some red flowers, earth, warm spices. Definitely signs of new French oak. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the fruit came across a touch riper. The finish is medium+. The alcohol is medium+.

Initial conclusions: this could be Syrah, a Grenache-based blend, a blend of Bordeaux varieties, Tempranillo or Zinfandel from the United States, France, or Spain. I didn’t get any pyrazines so I eliminated Bordeaux varieties. The oak treatment lead me away from Tempranillo and Spain although there are certainly some producers making modern wines that could look and taste like this. So I vacillated between Syrah and Zinfandel and while the staining was pretty significant, it wasn’t as purple as I would have wanted. And then considering the profile of the fruit, I had to go Zinfandel from the New World from a more restrained vintage and a producer that blends a little Petite Sirah for color. Final conclusion: Zinfandel, from the United States, from California, Sonoma County, 2023. Wooooooooow! What in the world is happening at Lucien Boillot where they feel it’s necessary to extract to this level?! Did they consult with the Wagner family? lol. Nobody in our Tasting Group called Pinot Noir though we had a couple call Gamay. Even knowing what it is, I’m asking myself how I could get to Pinot Noir and I guess this is a learning experience. Isn’t blind tasting always? This needs a lot of time in the cellar. Better after 2030. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a straw color with medium viscosity and no signs of sediment or particles. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of green apple, passion fruit, nuts, brioche, nuts and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Alcohol seemed a touch elevated. Initial conclusions: this could be Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Albariño or maybe even Riesling from the United States, France, Spain, Germany or even Australia. This was tricky because the fruit was pretty forward and yet, there was really good acid and the oak use seemed deft. I was pretty confident in Chardonnay ended up vacillating between United States and France, ultimately calling Chardonnay, United States, California, Sonoma County, 2022 as my final conclusion. I don’t hate my call. I often forget Pouilly-Fiussé. I should sharpen up a bit. Tasty stuff. Drink now through 2033. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 1 and 2. The 2017 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black and blue fruits; blackberries, black cherry, fig, purple flowers, black pepper, dried herbs, a touch of licorice and mix of organic and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. FWIW, I opened this after a 2010 Rostaing “Ampodium” and the School House showed pretty well. Drink now through 2032. — 12 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2017 pours a straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing white peach, yellow apple, passion fruit, marzipan, lightly toasted brioche and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and creamy. What a beauty. So fresh and so pretty. Drink now through 2037. Disgorged on a Fruit Day in November 2022. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and showing some rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red fruits: lightly stewed Bing cherry, strawberry, some funky horse blanket, red flowers, leather, green herbs, dry rocky earth and old wood. There was also a little bit of VA. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and freaking delicious. The alcohol seems a little elevated.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Sangiovese, Grenache (or based blend), Nebbiolo or Pinot Noir from Italy, France, or Spain. Because there was some light staining, I eliminated Nebbiolo and because the structure was so stout, I also eliminated Pinot Noir. I just felt like this reminded me of a Chianti Classico Riserva with a lot of age…from a producer like Felsina. So, that’s where I’m at for my final: Sangiovese, from Italy, Toscano, Chianti Classico, Riserva with 25+ years of age; call it 1995 since I have some reference there. Daaaaaymn!!!! 2014 Cuvée Laurence?! This tastes more mature (not too old or anything) than a recent 2014 Cuvée Réservée but maybe that’s due to the extra year in foudre? I got caught in the “triangle of death” but should have clued into the elevated alcohol a little better. Regardless…this is delicious. The structure is incredible! Drink now with patience and through 2039. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

This is the Gran Reserva “Edición Limitada”.

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a transparent core and some significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruits: cherries and raspberries with some red plum, old leather, old cedar chest, 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 and savory.

Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Aglianico, or Cabernet Sauvignon (and based blends) from Italy, France or the United States. With the fruits and non-fruits presenting the way they were, the use of some new small format oak, throupled with the significant structure despite what was obvious age (I was thinking 40+ years), I went with Sangiovese from Italy, from Tuscany, from Chianti Classico, Riserva level from a modern leaning producer like Antinori, 1985. Damn…Tempranillo didn’t even cross my mind. I didn’t think the color was dark enough and I didn’t really get American oak the way I would expect with Rioja…but here we are. Now that I think about it, Antinori may not have using barrique back then. Perhaps I was trying to be too be too clever; I’ll learn from this. Regardless, I thought this was freaking delicious and showing really well! Fully mature but should enjoy this stage for the next ten years. Drink now through 2033. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 3 though, this was pretty tasty throughout. The 2023 Mataro CCC pours a pretty ruby/purple color with a magenta rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of tart and ripe, black and red fruit: blackberries, raspberries, black pepper, dried thyme, gentle warm spices and wet gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Fresh and full of life. An awesome pairing with lamb/beef kofta and tabouli. Drink now through 2038. — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine appears a garnet color with a near opaque core with significant rim variation; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and significant signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated and ripe dark and red fruits: currants, plums, brambles, old leather, cigar box, and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), Tempranillo, Grenache-based blend from the United States, Spain, France or Italy. I felt like this leaned more towards the fruit than the non-fruit character and/or structure. Additionally, the color and desiccated nature of the fruit leads me to believe this bottle has significant age. So, my final conclusion: this is a Cabernet Sauvignon (or based blend), from the United States, California, Napa Valley with 30+ years of age. We’ll call it 1985. Awfully close! Drink now. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened with the help of a Durand; cork was 4/5 saturated but did its job! Color looked fantastic so I poured slowly into a wide bottom decanter and enjoyed over the course of three hours. The 1989 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and a slightly orange rim; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated red and black fruit: black cherry, fig, brambles, leather, mushrooms, cedar box, earth, cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and slightly savory. This was a lovely showing by a perfectly cellared bottle. Drink now through 2029.
— 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Equally enjoyable on both nights however, the nose was most powerful on Day 1. “Ampodium” (formerly Classique) is 100% Syrah sourced from a dozen or so vineyards and made in a largely traditional style; plenty of whole cluster and a very judicious use of new French oak. The 2010 “Ampodium”pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe, some desiccated and some tart, black and blue fruits: blackberries, blueberry pie, fields of lavender, black pepper, bacon fat, iodine, and granite earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and laden with rocky minerals. Totally in balance and at peak. Lovely. Drink now through 2035. — 15 days ago