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Nino Costa

Nino Negri

Inferno Valtellina Superiore Nebbiolo 2020

Tom Casagrande
9.2

This is a large-auditorium college intro class in Valtellina Nebbiolo. (In contrast to a graduate seminar led by Professor Marsetti or Professor Ar.Pe.Pe.) Loads of dried cherry fruit and winey old barrel scents on the nose. A bit of faded rose petals and stone. The light color looks fairly advanced. The palate is openly fruited initially, but has a bit of a tannic clench at the end. So the balance to be struck is drinking while the fruit is so nice but waiting to see if the tannins drop and soften. Not a long term project. Enjoy over the next few years would be my take, but I tend to favor things on the younger side. — 9 days ago

Paul, Austin and 20 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Dave @Doug Powers - I may stop posting here just as an exercise of my rights under the 5th Amendment.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, c’mon man, we’re just having fun, I LOVE reading your tasting notes and comments. Now that I’m retired, I’d be the first to admit that maybe I have WAY TOO MUCH free time for my smart ass comments to come out!! With that said, I AM (mildly? barely? not at all?) concerned about why you’re already invoking the 5th Amendment??!!?? 🤔😎😇
Kland Aida

Kland Aida

Inferno… my favorite.

Nino Negri

Ca' Brione Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio White Blend 2022

Kland Aida
9.3

Another Valtellinese but a white blend. It even has a bit of Chiavennasca in it.
Light peach and melon but also a bit of oak. Dry and clean finish. July 2025 — a month ago

Dave, Zach and 1 other liked this

Cline Cellars

Ancient Vines Contra Costa County Carignane 2023

Katie Pierce
9.5

Good fruit flavor but still super dry! Very enjoyable! — 3 months ago

Janet Pierce
with Janet

Three Wine Company

Spinelli Vineyard Mataro 2015

Doug Powers
9.2

128-year-old Mataro vines from the Spinelli Vineyard in Contra Costa County, the dark black fruit aromas and flavors seem unmistakably Californian, quite ripe, still shows lots of structure and old vine intensity, long, lingering finish, last bottle but this is another outstanding wine from Matt Cline!! — 4 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Vin and 6 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

I used to order these wines through Wine Access years ago. I enjoyed them initially but then over time grew a bit weary of them because none of them weighed in at less than 15%. The fruit was impeccable. I love those old CC vineyards. But I prefer it when people like Ridge, Bedrock, and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sandlands, bring in and vinify those gorgeous old vine grapes at a slightly lower level of ripeness.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, I can’t disagree with anything you’ve said, I wish these 3 Wines were more 14% than 15%, but I’ve way worse from some “name” southern Rhône wines (my favorite region in the wine world) — I guess it’s “climate change”??
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

If other wineries can source the fruit from the same CC old vineyards and come in under 15, that suggests that the difference is a conscious choice. But in the Southern Rhone, I think your point is more applicable. They’re primarily working with Grenache there, and, particularly in CDP and Lirac, it’s a real challenge to get phenolic ripeness without sugar levels that take you to 15 and beyond. I feel for those folks. Climate change is an existential challenge for them.

Sandlands

Contra Costa County Red Table Wine 2022

Tom Casagrande
9.1

This really does live into the moniker “Red Table Wine.” 100 year old vines. Pure sand vineyards. 75% Carignane 35% Mataro. No one varietal stands out. It’s just gutsy and deep and balanced and good. Little bit of everything: ripe fruit, earth, spice, acids, tannin. — 2 months ago

Pooneet, Ray and 15 others liked this
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, OK, your math is “good enough for government work”!! 🤔🤷🍷
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

@Doug Powers - Makes sense since that’s my employer.
Doug Powers

Doug Powers

@Tom Casagrande, same for me (formerly), but since I was a tax lawyer, no way they woulda cut me that slack!! 🤷

Three Wine Company

Old Vines Field Blend 2019

Doug Powers
9.0

Spivey, brambley, red fruits, definitely ripe (15.2% ABV), but nicely balanced and with a long, lingering finish, very enjoyable Contra Costa County field blend!! — 4 days ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Tom, Brian and 5 others liked this

Gaja

Costa Russi Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2016

leon egozi
9.3

NY wine spectator event — 10 days ago

Juan, Bob and 13 others liked this

Nino Negri

Sfursat Valtellina Nebbiolo 2021

Rob van Kalmthout
9.2

Still young but very promissing. Rose petals, forrest, cherry and black fruit. Together with rib eye at ‘new’ Michelin bib gourmand @Sjiek in Maastricht. Fine pricing @ €75 a bottle — 19 days ago

Martijn and Willem liked this

Gaja

Costa Russi Langhe Nebbiolo 1998

Pooneet K
9.3

So good. Definitely has relaxed a bit - the tannins are pretty smooth, but the quality and depth of the fruit both on the nose and palate remains. Excellent with steaks off the grill. I think our last bottle. Opened for 3 hours and decanted for 30 mins. Very nice. — 2 months ago

Dave, Tom and 4 others liked this

Marisa Cuomo

Furore Bianco Fiorduva Costa d'Amalfi White Blend

Tyler Felous
9.5

Perfect pool day wine. Just delicious — 4 months ago

Tom, Andrew and 3 others liked this