Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent both days but this needed at least 3 to 4 hours to really start to strut. Day 2 this kept pulling like a freight train with no stop in sight. The 2019 Classico pours a garnet color with a slightly orange tinge and a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe Morello cherry, roses, tar, new leather, dried sage, old wood and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. I will say again, this really benefits from serious patience and air, but this is a beautiful Classico that has a very long life ahead. Drink now through 2059+. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Popped and poured (not particularly recommended at this young age); enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2019 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 developing with fabulous notes of wild, dark brambles, purple flowers, bacon fat, spiced cured meats, purple Flintstones vitamins, a touch of the animale, a balanced combo of cool and warm spices and granitic minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the texture is like a mink glove. Baller Cornas. Drink now through 2054. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over he course of a few of hours The 2017 Riserva “Pora” pours a deep garnet color with medium+ viscosity and no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Bing cherry, rhubarb, dried orange peel, tomato leaf, espresso, some tar, a bit of leather and dried earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Of all the vineyards that get selected for Produttori’s Riservas, Pora is the MGA for which I have the least experience. Lack of experience with Pora aside, this is empirically an attractive Barbaresco Riserva. Still early days. Drink now through 2042. Bottle No. 5118/13333. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2023 Cuvée Réservé Blanc pours a deep yellow color with medium+ viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of melons, a mix of white and yellow flowers, marmalade, tarragon, and wet stones. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with an oily texture. Lovely stuff and better with air. Drink now through 2033. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Poured by the glass; no formal notes. The 2018 Caparone Cabernet Sauvignon is a surprise. A very pleasant surprise! This was not some phooey, overblown Cab from Paso Robles. The fruit was fresh, bright, varietally correct and not overly done. In fact, dare I say this is rather restrained? It doesn’t smell or taste manufactured. It’s obvious that this saw a light hand. Almost old school. I thought this was really compelling. Drink now through 2033. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.6

Popped and poured; due to the setting, this was enjoyed over the course of an hour but I would have really preferred to have taken my time with this. I had my first experience with the 2021 Barbaresco’s from Cigliuti last December when I enjoyed the Serraboella. I found that wine to be stunning. As one could probably imagine, I was therefore, really excited to try “Vie Erte” which is sourced from the family’s modest (only a few acres) holdings in the Bricco di Neive MGA. To my palate, this takes things to another level.

The 2021 “Vie Erte” pours a beautiful ruby color with a brilliant, transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with sensational notes Morello cherry, strawberry, stone fruits, pink roses, talcum powder, camphor, sub-Alpine herbs, exotic Eastern spices, dry gravelly earth and minerals. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for minutes. This is a drop dead gorgeous Barbaresco. The nose alone is enough to send me to Elysium. There’s impeccable balance. Possibly the best Barbaresco I’ve ever had. Drink now through 2061+. — 7 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2015 “Caravina”pours a deep garnet with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of mostly ripe, dark fruits: cassis, blackberries, tobacco, poblano pepper, a mix of red and purple flowers 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 medium+.

At ten years young, the 2015 is showing brilliantly; squarely in its prime. Drink now through 2035. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

My previous bottle of the 2014 Montecillo was enjoyed back in January of 2021. That bottle, as my previous notes indicated, exhibited quite a bit of volatile acidity. This bottle did not seem to have much VA at all. In fact, this showed well right from the moment the cork was pulled.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a game of 10 point pitch. The 2014 Montecillo pours a garnet/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous, lifted notes of cassis, black berries, leaf tobacco, Anaheim peppers, Herbs de Provence, eucalyptus and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long a with spices and minerals. Really tasty and distinctive stuff. I’m in no rush to openly third and final bottle. Drink now with patience, through 2039. — 4 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 “N” (Sans Soufre) is identical to the standard Morgon except it’s bottled without the addition of, you guessed it, sulfur. It pours a slightly dull ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of fresh and funky dark cherry, strawberry, raspberry, licorice, red flowers, some horse blanket, green herbs and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with lovely minerality. In a year that is often maligned (not by me), this was absolutely gorgeous. You just kept wanting to go back to the glass and smell it. Drink now through 2036, probably. — 8 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over he course of a couple of hours The 2024 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of peaches and cream, Comice pear, passionfruit, Key Lime pie, white flowers, dehydrated orange, banana Runts, ghee and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and has a creamy texture. Seavey’s Chardonnay is always one of my favorite expressions from Napa Valley but every so often, they make a special Chardonnay. 2024 was one of those years. This is best I’ve had since the 2017/2018 vintages. Drink now through 2034. — 9 days ago