Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2018 “Brézé” pours a light straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing…maybe even youthful with notes of mostly tart orchard fruit: apple, pear, white flowers, lemon curd and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with saline minerals that dazzle. Technically brilliant, I get the sense this needs time before it has more to share. Better after 2028 and drink through 2040+?
— 7 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Of all the American red wines that participated in the Judgement of Paris, it could be argued that Monte Bello has shown the greatest propensity to age. In fact, I would go as far as it requires lengthy cellaring to extract its best. I’ve had the good fortune to drink a number of tremendous vintages of Monte Bello over the last several years and this one has got to be at or near the top of the lot.

Opened and poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1991 Monte Bello pours a deep ruby/purple color with an opaque core moving out towards a light ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing (still!) with gorgeous notes of ripe and tart black currants, mixed bramble fruit, tobacco, some purple flowers, dill, mint, leather, earth, vanilla and associated baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. The structure remains tremendous which again, seems to indicate youth. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is super long and immensely satisfying. This is one of those wines that will outlive most humans. Drinking well now with a short decant but this has the gas to see 2061 with ease. — 14 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 1967 Abbazia SS Annunziata Barolo pours a pale, slightly hazy garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated Morello cherry, dried red flowers, leather, and earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. This bottle of the ‘67 has lost most of its power at this point but it still has a story to be told. Drink now. — 6 days ago

Jay Kline

8.6

Mezza: Popped and poured; enjoyed with oysters on the half shell in celebration of one of our favorite restaurants, 1-year anniversary. The NV Mezza di Mezzacorona pours a light straw color with a decent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with subtle notes of orchard fruit and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. In a world full of inexpensive bubbles, this bottle from Trentino Alto Adige more than hits the spot as a quaffer alongside Duxbury Bay oysters from Island Creek Farms. Drink now. — 11 days ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1997 Grange pours a deep purple color with an opaque core moving towards a ruby rim; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart black, red and some blue fruits: blackberries, raspberries, Fig Newtons, tobacco, purple flowers, cocoa, coffee, some mint and other green herbs as well as earth and baking spices. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is so long and there is remarkable density. I would say this is entering its early drinking window, but just barely. I find these wines need decades to shed their fat and really start to strut. Regardless, this is delicious now with a healthy decant and should drink well through 2057 without breaking a sweat. — 7 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.4

Opened just prior to service and poured into a decanter. This is the second time I have had the opportunity to enjoy the 1967 Riserva although, the previous bottle was a more recent library release from the Borgogno cellars. This was a period release and yet, the experience was similar.

The 1967 Riserva pours a deep garnet color with a transparent core moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and some slight signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous but showing much more power than the ‘67 Abbazia SS Annunziata we drank on the same evening. Again, there is a lovely mix of ripe and desiccated red and dark fruits with forest floor, porcini, dried roses, tar, some tobacco, dried herbs, dusty earth and exotic spices. On the palate, the wine is dry; medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long a savory. My previous notes suggested to drink now and while I still hold fast to that statement, twice in the span of 18mos with two separate bottlings encourages me to be a bit more bullish and suggest this has many years, perhaps decades left in the tank. — 3 days ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Presented double-blind. The wine appears straw in color with medium viscosity and, apparently, there lots of tiny bubbles so there are signs of gas, LOL. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe orchard fruit, red forest berries, marzipan, lemon curd, fresh brioche. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acidity. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for an eternity. The texture is ever so creamy. Wow…well, I was drinking something special. Had to be Champagne. Maybe vintage? Maybe a tête de cuvée? The style was similar to Krug. Called Champagne from a producer like Krug. OMG…the 1996 Vintage Brut?! Sheesh…someone was feeling generous! Admitted, I don’t often get to drink vintage Krug (for many hundreds of reasons!) so my experience is obviously limited. However, there’s clearly no question in this being true to house style and, now that I know the vintage, this is showing why 1996 is so special. As others have noted, this is fresher than the 1995 I had some months ago (though, that was very special too) and had greater acid. I would like to think this provides a crystal ball for the 2008 vintage that is sure to follow a similar trajectory. Drinking very fine indeed, right now and should continue to do so through 2046…depending on how you like to drink your Champagne. — 10 days ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Opened and double decanted several hours prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1996 pours a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a lovely combination of ripe and desiccated fruit: cassis, brambles, horse blanket, cigar box, old leather, earth and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another lovely and immensely charming Poyferré. Drink now with a decant and through 2046. — 14 hours ago

Jay Kline

9.4

As far as I know, 1988 was the first commercial release of the “Les Hautes Maizières” and frankly, first from the Domaine itself. This bottle was opened just prior to service and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1988 Vosne-Romanée “Les Hautes Maizières” pours a hazy ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of desiccated red and dark fruit: strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, dried red flowers, mushrooms, sous bois and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and there’s a lovely, silky texture. There can’t be too many of these bottles still lying around in cellars so this is a rare treat! Drinking so very well right now so I’d suggest doing just that. — 2 days ago

Jay Kline

9.7

Poured into a decanter maybe an hour prior to service. The 1970 Tondonia Gran Reserva pours a garnet color with a transparent core, moving towards a slightly orange rim. Medium viscosity with light staining of the tears and some signs of fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous and absolutely brilliant with a mix of desiccated and ripe fruits: dried Morello and Montmorency cherry, cocoa powder, mushrooms, old leather bound books, an entire cabinet full of dried herbs and spices, a memory of barnyard and a deciduous forest floor. On the palate, the wine is dry with good structure still: medium tannin (fully integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and makes me believe there is something bigger than us in this life. This bottle, on this afternoon, gives the confidence to embrace the mystery. Drink now with an hour of air but I get the sense this is one of those Energizer Bunny wines… — 5 days ago