David T 
Produttori del Barbaresco
Riserva Muncagota Barbaresco Nebbiolo 2019
G.D. Vajra
Claré J.C. Langhe Nebbiolo 2023
Nose shows; roses, baseball card bubble gum, maraschino cherries, strawberries, raspberries, light river stone & top soil.
On the palate, very light, dry, micro tannin presence, crushed limestone powder, cherries, strawberries, raspberries, black tea, some bubble gum, some barrel shavings, dry tobacco hues, understated light spice, red & pink roses, rainfall acidity with a juicy, pleasant finish that lingers for a full minute.
Pleasant and easy to drink. — 19 days ago
A. Rafanelli
Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
If you haven’t had a well aged bottle of this producer, you owe to yourself to acquire a bottle or more.
I had the 06 Sunday and it had much bigger tannins…it was still youthful…more so than this 08 tonight.
Tonight this was leaner than the 06, but had beautiful fruits, nice evolution and violets for days. The nose & the palate blossomed with florals, ripe fruits & also had excellent acidity/finish.
It was a nose that the group engaged in for quite awhile before sipping. Truly special. — a month ago
Le Piane
Boca Nebbiolo Blend 2017
Interesting wine. This one is a blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina grapes. Not every surrounding region allow Vespolina, but Boca does.
The nose is muted. Not showing much. Macerated dark fruits, sandstone & black turned earth.
The body is mucher thicker from the extraction & Vespolina. Medium plus, fine, dark, polished tannins. It shows grapy, dark cherries, blackberries, a plum/raspberry blend, poached strawberries with lift of blueberries hues as it sets. Dark spice w/ some heat, dry soils, dark, muddy earth with clay, dry stones, dry tobacco, leather, dry wood plank, dry herbs, with red flowers with red & pink roses, round acidy with a well made, structured, nicely tensioned, polish finish that land on dry, fine tannins and stones.
This will require 8-10 plus years to flush out. — 19 days ago
Cantina Ar.Pe.Pe.
Rosso di Valtellina Nebbiolo 2020
Beautiful, engaging nose. Full bloom, pink & red roses, cherry hard candy, layered, soft spice, dark cherries, strawberries, raspberries, light herbal notes, hint of bubble gum.
Pretty, ripe, juicy palate. Fruits are light; raspberries, cherries, strawberries and blackberries & black raspberry hues. Wet river stone, dry limestone powder, more pronounced dark, dry tannins, dry herbs, dark spice with some heat, light, dry tobacco notes, barrel dust, bright red & pink roses, magnificent acidity with a very pleasant elegant, polished finish that lands on spice and lasts 90 seconds.
Really good value and one to pick up. — 19 days ago
Jean Foillard
Côte du Py Morgon Gamay 2020
What a pair w/ Crostini, Chervil Sheep Cheese & Duck Confit. 👌
Dark, juicy, lush to mid fruit core, dark cherries, strawberries, hues of blueberries, raspberries, limestone, softened granitic earth, deeper red cola, black & red licorice, baseball card bubble gum, understated fresh herbs, dark, rich, sweet earth, hints of maple syrup, tree bark w/ sap, dark & red florals for days, excellent, round acidity and a well made, balanced, relaxed tension, polished, lush finish that lasts 90 seconds. Delicious.
This is better than some premier cru red burgundies for far less $.
Absolutely one of the top three producers of Grand Cru Gamay. — a month ago
Yvon embodies the humble and proud vigneron, a man who would rather tend his vines than host appointments, and sell to close friends than foreign markets.He has long farmed what are sure to be among the oldest vines in the entirety of the region, predominantly centered in Fleurie. Undoubtedly, these are some of the most pure, fresh yet unctuous wines that have ever come from the Beaujolais region. Never sulfured, they are the pinnacle of freshness and drinkability upon release, yet benefit from long cellar aging as well.
Gian Luca Colombo
Sable Barolo Nebbiolo 2019
A modern style Barolo from Gian Luca Colombo who is becoming famous in Barolo with his innovative approach and dedication to quality.
I am sure this will benefit from some aging but is certainly approachable now.
Nose has; ripe cherries, strawberries blackberries, raspberries, bubble gum hues, blood orange, rhubarb notes, some tea to black tea, hard cherry candy, sweet spice, moist tobacco notes, sandstone, mid black fruit licorice & cola.
The tannin profile is soft, dry & fine with spice & dry herbs. Ripe, juicy; cherries, strawberries blackberries & raspberries. Bubble gum hues, blood orange, charred rhubarb notes, some tea to black tea, hard cherry candy, sweet, dark spice, dry tobacco notes, sandstone, mid black fruit licorice & cola. Red and pink roses with greens, excellent acidity, well made, balanced, nicely tensioned finish that lasts two-minutes and falls on spice and dry barrel shavings.
From the very good 2019 vintage and will require aging. 5-8 years before seeing more integration & further benefits. — 19 days ago
Fratelli Alessandria
Prinsiot Langhe Nebbiolo 2022
The nose shows; poached strawberries, cooked cherries, some blackberries, just a hint of bubble gum, some sandy, wet, black earth, red & pink roses.
The palate is ripe and juicy & light bodied. Black cherries, strawberries raspberries, pomegranate, some blackberries & black raspberries, hints of blood orange, loamy sandy, limestone, dark spice with a touch heat, hints of licorice & cola, very fine, dry, soft tannins, red and pink roses, red flowers, beautiful acidity and a pleasant, elegant, easy finish that lasts a full minute. — 19 days ago
Guy de Forez
Les Riceys-Cote des Bars Brut Tradition Champagne Blend
Nice by the glass n/v champagne. Sides more reductive.
White stone fruit, apricots, lemon, lime, red apple w/o skin, pineapple juice hues, brioche, saline, chunky chalkiness, alluvial limestone, yeasty bread dough, understated white spice, nougat, yellow flowers with greens, delicate, but lively crisp acidity, nice polish and elegant finish that lasts 70 seconds. — a month ago
David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
From one of my favorite co-ops. I believe they are still the third largest co-op in Europe. Their tasting room sits on the top of the hill in the center of Barbaresco under & to the side of the church with an easy downhill short walk to Gaja.
2019 was a very good vintage in Piedmont.
The nose shows some light smokiness and lightly grilled meats. Dullish fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, raspberries with notes of black raspberries. Sandstone, dark earth and dark withering flowers with red roses.
The palate is ripe, juicy and lush. Quite pleasant for a youthful Barbaresco. Blackberries, dark cherries, poached strawberries, black raspberries, raspberries & blueberry hues. Crushed sandstone & limestone, nice mid spice, dry tobacco, tough leatheriness, barrel shavings, soft presence mix of dry & fresh herbs, dry river stone, red cola, brilliant red florals, red & pink roses, excellent acidity with a nicely tensioned, structured, balanced, elegant finish that lasts minutes landing on wood & dry earth.
Another one to cellar 8-10 plus years. — 19 days ago