Etna: Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with Bing cherry, Asian five spice, porchini, oregano, crushed gravel and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another stunner from this incredible, own-rooted parcel in the Calderara Sottana contrada featuring vines over 140 years old. Insane. Drink now with some air and through 2041. — 3 months ago
After tasting next to other organic/low intervention wines, the structure and finesse of this wine becomes more evident. Smooth red and dark fruit on the palate with good but no overwhelming acidity. Drinks like a wine from a colder climate. — 7 months ago
Nice soft mousse body, yellow peach, tropical melons, pineapple, some lemon meringue, lime zest, slightly bitter apple cider, whipped cream, hard chalkiness, alluvial limestone, saline, sea fossils, bread crust, yeastiness, yellow florals, racey acidity, nicely balanced & structured with a finish that lasts 90 seconds.
Needs a few more years in bottle. — 2 years ago
A real treat of a wine, deliciousness in a bottle. An intense copper, pink color with small bubbles. An intoxicating nose of black cherries, wild strawberries, and smoke. There’s a very nice mix of fresh herbs and spices here, as well. Shrubbery and floral accents.
Mostly Pinot Noir from Vertus along with 10% Pinot Gris, made in the Saignée style. Thrilling and quite vinous with enough of that customary Larmandier-Bernier raciness and tension. Such a beautiful mouthfeel and so incredibly fresh. A fine attack with zippy acidity and impressive length.
Plenty of fruit on the palate but never descending into a fruit bomb. Just a touch of biscuits with more smoke and more pronounced earthiness. Truly, a splendid wine. One I could drink everyday but it’s so much better shared.
— 4 years ago
Terres de Sables is a cuvée assembled from vines planted in predominantly sandy soils, unusual in Champagne but found sporadically in a few areas. La Petite Montagne de Reims and especially, Chamery is one of those areas. It is a blend of half Chardonnay with the balance made up by Pinot Noir and a little bit of Meunier. It is delicious.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min. The wine pours a bright straw color with a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with tropical notes of pineapple, mango, passion fruit and lemons with a hint of brioche, white flowers and laden with minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, the finish is medium+ with a touch of salinity. This is a really fine NV that I could see myself enjoying often. It should be noted that this bottle opened considerably after about 30min and continued to build up in energy. Drink now with some air. Disgorged October 2024. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass — 5 months ago
Such a good pre dinner bottle. Light and refreshing. — 7 months ago
Opened about an hour before service. The 2016 Terre Nere (Campigli Vallone) Brunello di Montalcino pours a deep garnet with a slightly brownish rim. No signs of sediment. On the nose, this is very expressive and unabashedly Italian with funky red and dark fruits, black tea, dried green herbs, licorice. On the palate, oh yes…the wine is bone dry with medium++ tannin and medium+ acid. The structure is stunning. There’s loads on character on the palate too with ripe and wisened cherries, orange curaçao, dry earth, and dried herbs. The finish is long and immensely satisfying. A killer wine with a long life ahead. Drink now with some patience and through 2036 — 4 years ago
20 years old, and still wonderful. A very well-made wine. — 5 years ago
Great to have an Etna wine from time to time. I have read in the past that this is like an Italian Burgundy and I agree in many respects. Medium weight, earthy with bags of minerality, ultra savoury with a lovely red fruited perfume. 100% Nerello Mascalese. We have fond memories of visiting Sicily (including Etna) approx 7 or 8 years ago with Peter Scudamore-Smith MW. — 2 months ago



Best red if the trip, a Franchetti from Pascopissciaro, a round bodied nerello mascalese from the cellar at Cave Ox in Solicchiata on the north slope of Etna. Would be even better with a few years — 6 months ago
Got ahold of three of these allocated babies that get sold out every year by spring.
Volcanic must, spicy berries on the nose.
Wohooo what a mouth punch. Prickly on the tongue. Bracing acidity balanced with an earthy, breezy cherry and berry medley. An herbaceous, mint-adjacent undercurrent as well.
Both stunning, subtle in its way, and stunning in fruit quality and minerality — 6 months ago
Had the 2016 in 2025 and holy crap this was good! Had it with a.cheese platter that included many robust flavors and a couple of blues, the wine was phenomenal! It even left my husband in a pucker. — 2 years ago
Very funky on the nose. It seems to open in the glass but I left it overnight and still has funk from the bottle. I wonder if it got too warm in the store. Anyway it still has a great game, herbal, floral, and bright cherry fruit. Best with food. I didn’t like as much as last year though. — 4 years ago
Pablo
Very nice and juicy but not a ton there — 2 days ago