Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2010 “Virginie de Valandraud” pours a deep purple/garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful notes of cassis, dark brambles, black cherries, cocoa, purple flowers, leather, tobacco, a mix cool and gentle warm spices and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is showing really well. Drink now through 2035. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2020 pours a deep garnet color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart fruits: Morello cherry, raspberry, cranberry, roses, tar, cool spices and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I found this bottle to be a little shy for the first 30min or so but opened up nicely by the end of our meal. Drink now through 2040. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

A continuation of sharing my early impressions of the 2021 vintage in Barolo; Cavallotto is one of those benchmark producers for me, inextricably connected to Bricco Boschis, which they have farmed for nearly 100 years. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2021 Bricco Boschis pours a brilliant garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, dehydrated orange, cumin, tar, roses, talcum powder, fresh sage and fresh mint, and dried gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with structure like that of Helm’s Deep; the tannins are absolutely rippin’ and acid at medium+. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is extremely long, savory and drying, to the point that you feel it in your gums several minutes. A brilliant Barolo that has a very long life ahead. Drink now with plenty of air and patience through 2071. Pairs well with hearty lasagna and baseball. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2022 pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with perfumed notes of dark bramble berries, purple flowers, black pepper, olive tapenade, a mix cool and gentle warm spices and a healthy dose ferrous minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I love getting to check in on Levet’s “house cuvée” Côte Rôtie in its youth and while this could easily age alongside Journaries and Chavaroche, it’s approachable young and provides a glimpse into the futures of the aforementioned. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of strawberry, raspberry, sous bois, red flowers, horse blanket, mushroom 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+. This is a fairly textbook example of the 2014 vintage with its rustic green streak coupled with Lignier’s charm. Drink now through 2029. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2021 pours a deep ruby color with a translucent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous, bright notes of Bing cherry, strawberry, star anis, red flowers, black pepper, cool spices, and stoney 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 beautiful example from one of the more Burgundian producers in CdP, making wine in a very Burgundian vintage. Lovely stuff. Drink now through 2036. Bottle No. 28340 — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2013 Gaisberg pours a brilliant yellow color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with fabulous notes of stone fruits, ripe tropical fruit, lemon, petrol, and a mix of sedimentary minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and powerful. At this point in its evolution, the 2013 Gaisberg is a bit of a showstopper. After a full day of really amazing wine, it got everyone’s attention in the right way. All of its pieces are in the proper place. Drink now through 2037+ — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2020 “Les Enseignères” pours a luminous, light straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright notes of apple, starfruit, lemon, a touch of almond, and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium plus. Quite tasty in its relative youth. Drink now through 2035.  — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The Harmonie pours a bright straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely notes of yellow apple, white flowers, star fruit, lemon curd, limestone and chalky minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. This is a delicious BdB from the Côte de Bar that gives Chablis vibes (if Chablis had bubbles of course). Drink now through 2035. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass

Date of Tirage: 07/17/2023
Disgorged 01/22/2025
Dosage: 1g/L

P.S. this is likely the last of the clear glass bottles for Harmonie as they will be moving to dark glass in the future. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and a decent amount of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with heady notes of cassis, black cherry, plums, Kalamata olive, purple flowers, pipe tobacco, leather, earth, 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 with savory minerals. Absolutely delicious. Drink now, though well-stored examples should drink well through 2036 — a month ago