Irish MASMS

9.4

Nice viscosity
Sweetness — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened and poured into a decanter about four hours prior to service. The 2005 pours a deep garnet with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some sediment. One the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of ripe brambles, garrigue, cool spices, leather, licorice, and espresso. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, tart and sapid. A wine of pedigree and yet, has a rusticity that gives a nod to its origin. Drink now through 2035+? — 10 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a couple of hours. The 2022 pours a garnet color with a transparent core. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry compote, red flowers, and gravely minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and just a touch hot. Not the most memorable Langhe Nebbiolo from Produttori in the last decade or so but it’s totally authentic and still a great value. Drink now and over the next 5-10 years. — a month ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days and showed very well throughout. The 2012 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some browning towards the rim; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with secondary characteristics just starting to show themselves. Also, the solar nature of 2012 is showing through with loads of truffles and overripe and desiccated red and black fruits: tartufo bianco d’Alba, dried cherry, bruised raspberries, red roses, leather, Fig Newtons, dried herbs, and some dusty and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, drying and savory. I’ve been a vocal fan of the 2012 vintage of Produttori since release and this might be the best showing yet. This is my last 750mL. My remaining bottles are magnums and I’ll look forward to enjoying those over the next 10-15 years. No rush, but this is a fun time to drink these as the truffle character is starting to peak through. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course two hours. The 2019 “Uvaggio”pours, a bright garnet color with a transparent core, moving to a rose colored rim. Medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, strawberry, raspberry, pink roses, talcum powder, a smell that reminds me of the produce section in a grocery store of a developing country (yeah, it’s specific but, fight me), dried green herbs, and stony 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, juicy and a touch spicy with a bit of black pepper that I find quite intriguing. A delicious pairing with lamb/beef kofta. All in all, another brilliant vintage of “Uvaggio” and further proof that the work of Luca DeMarchi at Proprieta Sperino is worthy of serious attention. Drink now through 2034. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

I pulled this from the cellar on Father’s Day; toasting the year I became a dad. Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2006 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core and a magenta rim; medium+ viscosity with faint staining of the tears and lots of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of tart dark fruits: brambles, montmornecy cherries, tobacco, dry earth, and 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 and zippy with tongue smacking acid. The 2006 Rafanelli Zinfandel is in a seriously great spot right now and well stored examples should hold in this position easily through the rest of this decade. Great with pizza. Drink now through 2031+. — 17 days ago

Andrea Watt

9.2

Earthy plum, chocolate, oak and vanilla. Bold and rich needs a little time to open. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Opened about 8 hours prior to service and Audouze’d. The 1989 pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core and a slightly watery rim; medium viscosity and light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated black and red fruits: brambles, poblano pepper, smoked and candied pork belly, leather, mint, damp decomposing earth, gentle spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and still pretty grippy. What’s wild is how relatively “modern” this wine comes across; especially considering the more humble Côtes de Bourg appellation. Drink now. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened about 8 hours prior to service and Audouze’d. The 1995 pours a pale garnet with a transparent core and a watery rim. There significant variation of the rim too. The viscosity is medium and there is no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with notes of bright red cherries, anise, garrigue, cedar forest, leather, dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is quite light and thin…but healthy. The finish is medium. Very pretty; very Burgundian. This bottle belies its age. Drink now and through 2030. — 12 days ago

Jesse Bookout

9.1

Love it! Refreshing with a little funk. You can nearly taste the clay pots. — 2 months ago