James Gourley

9.6

This wine is aging gracefully. Secondary and tertiary notes coming to the fore. Floral/spicy nose that is so fragrant. The cherry has turned dark, supported by more spice, clove, cinnamon. Truly an excellent wine. — 2 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

A continuation of some 1981’s that I’ve been opening to celebrate my 40th and this might be one of the biggest revelations yet. Over the last 20 years of my education, I’ve had the honor of being humbled countless times by wines, both good and not so good. However, every now and again, a wine comes along that challenges basic conventions and broadens my perspective. This was such a wine. Popped and poured; served alongside an assortment of grilled fare. The cork was about as healthy I’ve seen from a wine at 40 years. It came out mostly intact save for a small piece that was easy to remove but it served as a reminder that I ought to spend the money on a Durand. The color is deep garnet with some ever so slight browning at the edge of the rim. There is some fine sediment towards the bottom of the bottle but it’s otherwise quite clear. The nose was immediately engaging and full of interest. Predominate notes of old leather, dark cherry, mushrooms, black pepper, tobacco, and sweet baking spices. On the palate, the wine was rich, redolent. A mix of dark, mostly desiccated fruit, pipe tobacco, and baking spices. The real star however was the structure. Everything was still in its right place. Tannins were noticeable though clearly softened with age and very well integrated at this point. The acid provided all the necessary lift and a perfect zip to the finish. A wine of supreme balance. The four of us who shared this bottle looked at each other in wonder and amazement. A truly special wine that has years of life ahead. I have little doubt that it will still be handsome at 50. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Perfect pizza wine four hours decanted. Vicolo Corn Meal Goat Cheese Pizza with our fresh ingredients.

The body is round, rich & lush. The structure, tension, balance & finish still need 3-5 years plus years to truly shine. Slightly sweet & sour & floral, dark cherries, ripe blueberries, dark plum, black raspberries, dark, slightly, sweet tarriness, anise, lead pencil, dry stone, dry clay, dark spice, limestone, crushed, dry rocks, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanillin, fresh & dry tobacco, dry twigs, tree sap, dry herbs, savory meats, touch of pepper with candied & withering; dark, red, purple & some blue flowers framed in lavender & violets. Very good cool stream river acidity. The finish is still youthful (even decanted 4 plus hours) well balanced fruit & earth, ripe, juicy, elegant & it persists endlessly.

Even better in 3-5 years.

Produttori at the time we were there in the fall of 2015 was the 3rd largest European Co-op. It is located at the top of the town of Barbaresco, right under the church. We tasted there before going into Gaja down the street. Then, onto one of the best Michelin starred restaurants that is adjacent to Gaja we’ve had. 70 Euros lunch for two. The food was outstanding & rarely had that level of service. — 4 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

2010 a strong vintage & still accending. Costco Ribcap vs Allen Brothers.

Sofia & I stayed in downtown Alba in 2015. Arrived early evening & sadly after their big wine festival. Pio Cesare was around the corner and down two blocks from our hotel. Historic as hell.

I bought this at Costco for around $49.

Nebbiolo young is a huge tarry grape. The Italian’s ferment this with a lot of new wood. They actually hold Nebbiolo/Barolo in bottle and extra year or more before release. Also, longer than most other world regions based largely on the grape & even more their wood use.

This is drinking nicely after a four hour decant, but it is still ascending and another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead…properly stored.

Even with this age, its tarriness is the first descriptor. Followed by heated dark spices, slightly, dry b lackberries, dry, slight tart, dark cherries, black raspberries, black plum, some strawberries, tea leaves, black licorice to anise, sandstone, limestone, dry crushed rocks, dry top soil & brush, dry herbs, dry tobacco, light; clove, nutmeg & hints of vanillin, forest floor w/ dry leaves, some mint, dry, withering, dark, red flowers framed in violets, excellent acidity with a nicely evolved, well; structured, tensioned, balanced, smartly polished finished that goes on & on! — 5 months ago

David Kaplan

9.1

This isn’t a Malbec. But if you’ve ever tasted a blockbuster Fabre-Montmayou Malbec, another great review and 95 points from Decanter, lobbed onto such a modestly priced wine shouldn’t be a big surprise.

And for everyone who hasn’t yet tasted an Hervé Fabre wine, let this dark purple, sun-warmed sweet raspberries and black cherries-infused Cabernet Franc be your introduction to one of the greatest winegrowers in Argentina.

Praised by the judges at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards for its “ripe nose with fresh red fruits and lively notes of green vegetables and capsicum,” this is the Fabre wine that walked off with a Gold Medal, and was recently featured by Eric Asimov of the New York Times as one of “20 Wines under $20 That Revive and Restore.” — Moore Brothers Wine Co.
— 4 years ago

David Kaplan

9.4

“This is one old Burgundy that won’t fade in a carafe, so don’t hesitate to decant it, and be sure to use a good large glass. The wine has a youthful, saturated, deep ruby color, with flashes of bright mahogany at the edge. And the nose is a moving target; endlessly complex and exotic, with aromas of dried cranberries, strawberry preserves, chiodini mushrooms, and freshly turned earth, all moving in and out of the foreground as the wine evolves in the glass. On the palate, the flavors echo the nose: sweet and pure on entry, with a warm, concentrated core that grows more and more voluminous with time, yet remains wonderfully firm, fresh and vibrant. And the long fine-grained finish leaves you wishing it would never end. This is not like drinking a young wine. The bottle seems ageless, as if in suspended animation, and much too small. Drink now – 2025. But no need to wait longer; this one is fully mature.” — Moore Brothers Wine Co., Brooklyn — 4 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; no formal notes. A mix of dark and red fruits with tobacco, earth and spices. The wine is finally matured and drinking very well now. It has lost all of the green tones that were more apparent in its youth. Everything is now fully fleshed out and should continue to drink well for another 5+ years. Really, these are some lovely (and age-able) wines from the Four Corners area of CO.
— 2 years ago

David Kaplan

8.9

The Château Brûlesécaille 2016 is comprised of 55% Merlot and a little under 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Cabernet Franc and Malbec making up the balance. In the glass, the wine has a glistening dark royal purple color, almost opaque at the center, with flashes of magenta just at the edge. The classic Right Bank nose unfurls gradually with aromas of sun-warmed black raspberries, griotte cherries, and sweet white tobacco, along with fleeting suggestions of eucalyptus and exotic spices as the wine evolves in the glass. On entry, the wine is meaty and succulent, building to a burly, lingering, rich mid-palate, loaded with a cornucopia of black and red fruit flavors that echo the nose; lightly seasoned with pine needles, toasted coconut, and baker’s chocolate – all framed in sinuous, assertive, ripe fine-grained tannins. Almost California-like in concentration and texture, with dusty minerality and fresh Right Bank acidity that carries the flavors through a long, elegant finish. Drink now – 2030. — Moore Brothers Wine Co. — 4 years ago

David Kaplan

9.4

The Château Reverdi 2016 is comprised of 60% Merlot, 30% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 12 months in small French oak barrels, 10% of which are new. First, use a good large glass. This is a classic Listrac-Médoc in a very great vintage, and it needs room to stretch out. Complex, exotic aromas unfurl gradually, and then erupt from the glass, with sun warmed wild blackberries, ripe cassis, griotte cherries, and eucalyptus moving in and out of the foreground, adding Perigord truffles, crushed violets, and freshly sanded cedar, as the nose evolves in the glass. On entry, the wine is concentrated, structured, and palate coating, with a solid core of wild blackberries, fresh fennel, and sweet black currants that echoes the nose —the Petit Verdot showing through with its muscular, fresh raciness, and the flavors are wrapped in plush, luxuriant, fine grained tannins. Drink now, for its incredible primary black fruit, or lay away in a cool dark cellar for at least a decade.— Moore Brothers Wine Co., Brooklyn — 4 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.0

A food-loving Grenache from CA—yay! Plenty of cran-ripe acid. Lighter on the spice, higher on the acid. Grilled veggies, charred tomatoes and bell peppers, and a nice Italian Beyond sausage: just what this glass calls for! — 4 years ago