Jay Kline

9.3

Ginestra is arguably one of the most important MGA’s in Monforte d’Alba. It was called out by Renato Ratti back in the early days of Barolo vineyard classification and its home to Gavarini, Chiniera, Rüncot, Pajana and Grassi. As you might imagine, Cascina Chicco’s Ginestra Riserva is more than a Riserva from Ginestra. In fact, the fruit comes from the heart of the single-vineyard known as Grassi which enjoys the best exposure (straight south). However, instead of calling out “Grassi” on the label (which they are entitled to do), Cascina Chicco simply refers to “Ginestra”. Perhaps it’s tradition since Ginestra is so well known. Whatever the case may be, what really matters is that it’s delicious.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a several hour period. The 2012 Ginestra Riserva pours a deep garnet with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, cranberry, strawberry, compote, tar, roses, dried green herbs, limestone earth, and faint warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The body is fit and the texture is silky, refined. The finish is long and grippy. As one who doesn’t drink a lot of Riservas (they are expensive and sometimes a bit overdone, particularly when the Classico is just brilliant enough) this is a wonderful example that shows a lot of energy and guts for such a solar vintage. Drink now with patience and through 2042. — 7 months ago

Diane M. Napolitano

9.2

Apple juice, limes, maybe some salt? It’s nice, I just can’t make much out of it lol 🤔 — 3 years ago

Carrie Denning

10

Drank at Prado in Portugal — 5 years ago

Toni Beguer

9.2

44 eur a restaurant Prado, Lisbon. Degustat amb Superbarri — 6 years ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured. The 2015 Lessona from Proprieta Sperino is absolutely singing right now; pretty much right out of the gate. The solar nature of the vintage is on full display but the elegance of Lessona is still there. Bright garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and no signs of sediment. On the nose, bright, ripe red fruits: cherries, strawberries and raspberries with red flowers, dried herbs and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with silky medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. Lovely texture! The finish is long and delicious. Drinking well now and should do so for at least another 7+ years. — a year ago

Renato Albuquerque

8.9

Com vermelha intensa, tem um corpo denso e espumoso. Aroma se destaca o álcool e uma composição florada, com aspectos de jovem. Na boa tem uma acidez destacada, com a florada na boca, deixa um bom rastro. É um vinho bom entre os brasileiros. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Champagne is for celebrating, not that I need a celebratory reason to open a bottle as I am hooked on champagne. 💉

However, after installing 27 solar panels and waiting an additional seven weeks for my Tesla, I/we have almost erased our carbon footprint. Finally picked it up today. I believe we all need to do our part to save the glorious vines that bring so much happiness to our lives. 🍷🥂👍

As for the Baron Fuentes, the is a very good Champange and is perhaps the best QPR out of Champagne at $24.99.

Bright lemon, lime, grapefruit w/ sugar, bruised red apple & pear, touch of ginger & cider, bread dough, baguette crust, sea spray, white spice with some palate heat, sea fossils, grey volcanic minerals, spring flowers, lilacs and yellow lilies. The acidity is bright, crisp and lively. The finish is smartly polished, well balanced and persistent for minutes.

Whoo hoo! So close to carbon free! 🍾🥂 — 5 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. In the glass, the wine is a garnet color with some significant rim variation, moving towards a burnt sienna rim. The core is hazy, translucent. Viscosity is medium with some slight staining and there appears to be some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. Lovely notes of desiccated brambles and purple flowers accompanied by tobacco, old leather-bound books, damp earth, gentle warm spices and something that was reminding me a bit of pyrazines but more on that later. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose however, on the finish (which was long) there was a strong impression of fine ground black pepper. Alcohol was medium.

Initial conclusions: this could be Cabernet Sauvignon (or a blend with associated Bordeaux varieties), Tempranillo or Syrah from France, Spain or USA. But there wasn’t enough focus on the fruit for me to be in the USA and the oak came across more French than American so I ruled Spain out. Then there was that black pepper on the finish. Bordeaux doesn’t traditionally have that character so it had me thinking those pyrazines I perceived on the nose was actually rotundone and this was whole-cluster Syrah. And, because the wine was showing so much maturity, I felt this had around 30 years of age.

Final conclusion: this is Syrah, from France, from the Northern Rhône, from Côte Rôtie, 1989 vintage. Wow…2007! This is advanced for its age. That likely has something to do with with the solar vintage but having recently enjoyed a 2007 Côte Rôtie from another producer, this was showing a lots more tertiary character than I would expect. This is a new (to me) producer. Enjoyable! Drink now. — a year ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

90 minute decant. Very deep ruby. Earth, soil, licorice, white pepper, most primary fruit has passed. Some subtle root vegetable, and ash. Super hot alcoholic burn. Full bodied. Medium acidity. Smooth yet firm tannins. Medium plus finish.

Compared to the Crianza earlier, to me, this is only marginally better. I craved leather and tobacco, but couldn't find it. No meat or barnyard funk. Moreover, the alcohol.puts it a bit out of balance.

In short, the nose on this wine is better, but the palate of the Pesquera wins. I'll give the nod + to the Prado Enea--past vintages have offered much more (leather, coffee, meat)

92+ points

UPDATE: Listen, I can't do it. This wine is not better than the 2015 Alejandro Fernandez Tinto Pesquera Crianza. It's just not. I have both glasses in front of me. The former is hot and choppy, and latter is round and the secondary oak notes are balancing it perfectly.

Lesson learned: this is an example of how you can easily waste 30+ dollars.

Back down to 92 points. The other gets the bump to 92+. Thanks for listening!!!

Maybe @Antonio Galloni can chime in on this one?! — 4 years ago

Noel Lourdes

9.0

Full bodied and lingering complexity. A great blend that comes from the Baga grape unique to the region of Bairrada. If this was from Châteauneuf-du-Pape expect to pay 3x more. — 5 years ago