Dave

9.2

Today's installment of "Great Value Wines" needs no introduction. $19 at Binny's.
Listening to Arctic Monkeys — 15 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented to me double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a garnet color with a translucent core and some rather significant rim variation; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose the wine is vinous with notes of tart, ripe, and some desiccated red fruits: Morello cherry, red flowers, leather, cedar chest, dried green herbs and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+. Initial conclusions: this could be Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, or Granache from Italy or France. I felt the tannin was too high to be Grenache so I vacillated between Sangiovese and Nebbiolo. And due to the color and profile, 25+ years age from a good vintage. Ultimately, the light staining, and the perceived new oak made me feel as though this was probably Sangiovese from Brunello di Montalcino. So that’s my call: Sangiovese, from Italy, from Tuscany, from Brunello di Montalcino, 2001. Welp!! This was one of the first vintages after Antinori took over ownership of the property. The modern touch apparently threw me off a bit. Still quite tasty. Drink now. — 2 months ago

Ed Chin

9.1

Strawberries!!! Less candied than the ‘22 with a bit more length. Remember to chill it for your backyard consumption — 9 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90 minutes. The 2020 Classico 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 Morello cherry, pomegranate, red flowers, old wood, and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. My first time trying the 2020 vintage of Produttori’s Classico and it’s another really lovely, benchmark example of Barbaresco. Drink now through 2040. — 15 days ago

David D

9.2

A favorite mid-range Barolo, great value for the price. Good tar, dried roses, rounded tannins and acids, damp earth, some graphite, black pepper. From Flatiron Wines. 08/30/2025 — 3 days ago

Raul Puga

9.4

Really good. Pleasant surprise — 8 days ago

Pooneet K

9.3

Really a lovely Barolo. Last had 2 years ago. Opened 4 hours in advance, no decant. Don’t think it needed it either - this is quite seamless. Lighter color in the glass, but with a clarity that is obvious. Aromatically a lot of lighter red fruit and some earth. Palate has real depth with good acid and medium tannins with a very long finish. Quite delicious and a perfect pairing with some grilled campo grande pork marinated with garlic and rosemary. — 8 days ago

Dave

9.3

This wine is polarizing because of the merlot and cab sauvignon added. I call BS. It's delicious.
I've been drinking 2015 all this year, and found a 2014 today at my local shop. It is so nice. Maybe a little more leather and tar than the 2015. I appreciate that. It's rustic and juicy, and that's what I want from Langhe. Great wine!
Listening to Duke Ellington and John Coltrane. — 8 days ago

John W

9.1

Maroon coloration. On the nose, cherry, florals, leather, minerals, and vanilla. On the palate, cherry, red berry, earth, minerals, stronger acidity and tannins present but not overpowering. A Barolo with more finesse than power. — 9 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped in poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2019 Bricco delle Viole pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with lovely ripe notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, roses, tar, talcum powder, dried herbs 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. Typically, I feel as though Vaira’s wines need significant time in the cellar however, this is one of the finer examples of a young Vajra that I have had in a long time. Drink now with patience through 2049. — a month ago