Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; Enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2019 “Les Caillerets” 1er Cru, Cuvée Amphore pours a brilliant, ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with beautiful notes of black cherry, strawberry, red flowers, porchini, sous bois and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. This is a very pretty wine. Drink now through 2039. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Opened sometime prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2010 pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of dark, bramble fruit, black pepper, purple flowers, anise, cocoa, mixed herbs and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Currently in the zone. Delicious stuff. Drink now through 2035.  — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened several hours prior to service, the 2007 pours a deep, ruby/purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of ripe and desiccated bramble berries, strawberry, dried red flowers, garrigue, anise, leather, dried herbs and stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. This is anything but tired and far from overblown. I’ve been surprised by a number of 2007 CdP’s lately. They have showed better balance than I expected and this one is wonderfully balanced. Drink now through 2037. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of black cherry, espresso, black tea, dried herbs and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Drink now with patience but, to my palate, I think this will be better with a few more years in the cellar so the oak can better integrate. This is built to last well past 2041. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2016 pours a deep purple color with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly dark fruit: black cherry, plum, purple flowers, animale and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Tasty stuff. Drink now through 2041. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

8.9

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2019 pours a garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart Morello cherry, red flowers, bergamot, and a bit of black tea along with some dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium with zippy acid and the texture is a bit thin. Drink now through 2039.  — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2021 “Del Comune de La Morra” pours a brilliant garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing and redolent with bright, fresh red fruits: framboise, Morello cherry, freshly paved asphalt, trampled rose petals, a kiss of VA, and dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. A wine you just want to smell for an eternity. Brilliant. This enjoys a lot of air and I expect will have a very long life. Drink now with patience through 2061. Thanks @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of Morello cherry, raspberries, red flowers, tar, dried green herbs and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. One of the better bargains in the world of wine. Drink now through 2041. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

8.7

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2021 pours a garnet color with a translucent core; medium viscosity, with light staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of funky cherry, red rope licorice, carnations, espresso, mixed green herbs, and dry earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. Drink now through 2031.  — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Presented to me, double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears, and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of ripe and desiccated, mostly dark fruits: cassis, black cherry, plum, mixed brambles, old leather, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (that is mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long.

Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend, Tempranillo (or based blend) or Grenache-based blend from France, Spain or the United States. I feel like this leans more towards its fruit than its structure, even though it is a fairly well balanced wine in both regards. As a result, I am calling this a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain from a producer like Dunn, 2006. Shiiiiiit. To be honest, I’m not terribly surprised since this is Cos and from a warm vintage no less. Drinking well now and should through 2050+. — 3 days ago