Tom Farnan

9.6

This is exceptional wine, the best example of Barbera I have had. Savoury, slightly bitter, aromatic, slightly tannic, some acid. Perfect with a puttanesca sauce. — a year ago

Tom Farnan

9.3

Tom had this 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

9.5

Chianti Classico *Riserva* (not Toscano)
To me this has the perfect balance of aged fruit and dry structure. There are dried fruits, spice and tabbaco on the nose but good acid balance on the palate stops it from being overdone. — 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

9.1

On holiday in Italy in 2016 I got smashed on Barbera D’Asti made from unbalanced overripe fruit. This wine has cured me of my aversion to the variety: it is well balanced, medium bodied with some berries and chocolate balanced out by a gentle minerality and some herbal notes. Bio and lovely 👍 — 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

9.1

Tom had this 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

8.5

Tom had this 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

9.0

2020 vintage, cepage is 100% Mondeuse. This is a particular grape variety to the Haute Savoie around Annecy. Bio et biodynamique. Alcohol 12% - ~€17 at bottle shop.
This is also typical of the new wave of wines in France, organic (often also natural) small batch wines made from relatively unknown grapes, or, known grapes in atypical regions. This is the French Revolution revisited in the wine world. Good wine from traditional French regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy are priced out of reach of every day drinkers, and most likely, winemaking opportunities in these regions are similarly inaccessible to all but the most privileged in the winemaking community.
Wines like this are a harbinger of change in the French wine community, as are the Parisian wine bars who serve them.
A textured spicy and punchy red, with good acid and medium body. Excellent with game, pate de compagne and funky Savoie cheeses. Merci! — 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

9.1

2020 - This is really good, a funky cheesiness to it, that is a bit like the unami of percorino with a minerality that one finds more often in white wine. — 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

8.5

2020 vintage, Nero D’Avola, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon & Merlot blend.
Really successful blend, the other grape varieties fill in the mid palate that cheaper Nero lacks. Peppery - al Arrabbiata (angry) as the Sicilians describe their food, some vanilla on the nose and green herbal notes on the slightly dry palate. Balanced, medium body but punchy. Highly recommended with good pizza. — 3 years ago

Tom Farnan

9.3

An excellent fresh Loire Cabernet Franc bought from the magnificent La Bouchonnerie in Annecy, France.
After opening at lunch this was excellent and more open with a dinner of girolles and ravioli, with ripe savoury blackcurrant (leaves included) some pepper and a lick of mouth-puckering tannin. Makes you go back for more. — 3 years ago