Langa Style

Opus One

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2012

+1 hour decant(decent chunky/fine sediment). A splendid dark ruby red color. On the nose: Intoxicating/intense nose of black fruit, dark currants, worn leather, forest floor, coffee grounds, minty dark chocolate. Taste: smooth, satiny, structured, balanced wine with chocolate covered brambly blackberry, tobacco, earth, cedar, black pepper, and a herbal licorice long finish. A medium body old world style wine that shows well right now and should continue to provide more years of enjoyable sipping. — 8 days ago

Brenda Terzich-Garland
with Brenda
Brenda, Tom and 19 others liked this

Comm. G.B. Burlotto

Vigneto Monvigliero Barolo Nebbiolo 2010

Quite light garnet , wide terracotta rim , more delicate and lighter than expected . High toned sweet , confected spiced strawberry nose, with a slightly smoky hint. On the palate sweet red strawberry , raspberry and red cherry notes , touches of spice and anis , but elegant and silky in texture , with very fine , rounded tannins and fresh acidity . This has good length , detailed and precise finish with anis , fruit pastels and almost chalky hints . Elegant and refined. Very distinctive, really quite unique in style , but very well made and enjoyable at the moment . Drink from now for the next 5-10 years. — 2 months ago

Tom, Jan and 8 others liked this

Jacques Selosse

Substance Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Champagne Chardonnay

The Selosse flagship that uses a solera style blend with vintages dating back to 1986. May 2016 disgorgement is just superb, explosively aromatic and infinitely layered with magical depth of Selossien flavors and such a singular texture that you just can’t forget. It wraps around the palate with incredible volume and concentration before giving way to a salty mineral laced finale with stunning length and persistence. — 4 months ago

Tom, Paul and 5 others liked this

Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello

Monprivato di Castiglione Falletto Barolo Nebbiolo 2019

Relatively light in color and structure. Very fruitfwd. Modern style barollo. — 25 days ago

Rob, Andrew and 6 others liked this
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Not modern. This is about as traditional as they come. Long macerations and aged in Slavonian botti grandi.
Gilbert Van Hassel

Gilbert Van Hassel Influencer Badge

That is how it is made but not how it tastes. Very light modern barollo not one that needs 10 to 15 years to be appreciated.
Jay Kline

Jay Kline Influencer Badge Premium Badge

I’m not sure what you mean by that. The “light” aspect you describe is the style of G. Mascarello and they need forever to flesh out. In a year like 2019, they will need forever, forever. Again, nothing modern about it. Not the winemaking. Not the style.

La Rioja Alta

Reserva Viña Ardanza Rioja Tempranillo Garnacha 2016

2024/8. Still very young and rather dense for the style, but the spicy strawberry could and vanilla cheesecake are textbook for classical Rioja — 3 months ago

R. López de Heredia

Viña Bosconia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2012

Very good Rioja. Classic in style. Red fruits, dried cherry, herbal and a little earthy. With mushroom and tomato pasta. Let’s see how it holds up on day 2. Honestly too hot and humid for this kind of meal, but it’s what I have on hand!

Day 2: Still great, but became a little pruney. I prefer the freshness on day 1.
— 4 months ago

Brian, Severn and 7 others liked this

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2001

I had this a week ago but didn’t take any notes at all at a friends tasting last Sunday afternoon. Have always been a huge fan of Dominus and this was from an exceptional vintage. I recall an excellent left bank Cabernet dominant style but presented as a Napa style - rich and plush but not overly so. Thoroughly enjoyable. — a month ago

Jan, Tom and 27 others liked this

Château Margaux

Premier Grand Cru Classé Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Medium Ruby with quite wide garnet rim. More truffle , tobacco , violet , cassis and earthy notes. Takes a bit of time to get going and certainly shows a bit more age than the 2009. On the palate, more austere with dryer tannin than the 2009 , but very well balanced and classic in style . Cassis, blackcurrant , tobacco graphite notes . Some dry spices too . Quite fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannin. Long , saline, graphite tinged finish. This is showing some development , but will improve further over the next 5 possibly 10 years and hold well a further 5-10 — 2 months ago

Tom, Shay and 13 others liked this

Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe

La Crau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2007

The 2007 Vieux Telegraphe, enjoyed here from half bottle, encapsulates everything so wonderful about Chateauneuf-du-Pape, coming from very old vines on the fabled plateau of La Crau. Pungent aromatics; an ethereal cacophony of sweet cranberry, blackcurrant, strawberry, liquorice, blood orange, white pepper and garrigue (in spades), with airy elegance and poise. The palate follows in much the same style, graceful and welcoming, adding flecks of sweet vanilla. There is, however, a core of iron and solid structure that ties everything together. This is accomplished stuff, even in such a brilliant vintage as 2007, and this elegant, complex CNdP warrants a high score – and further ageing. — 4 months ago

Ira, Peter and 2 others liked this

Château Pontet-Canet

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

SPEC TA CU LAR! Here you feel the absolute majesty of a wine who can be promoted to at least 2nd growth. Cedar, camphor, eucalyptus, butterscotch/4 spices, yellow curry. I’ve always loved ‘00 in Pauillac has I think it’s the last great of the classic style. Definitely this bottling is a keeper. — 5 months ago

Bob, Andrew and 11 others liked this