5/21/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Consistent excellence from this bottling. Any edges smoothed out now. Ideal food wine

5/5/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This is excellent Albariño with unusually fine structure length and drinking pleasure

5/1/2024 - 2caveman wrote:

This bottle had an odd somewhat iodine quality that detracted from drinking pleasure. Unlike previous bottkes much enjoyed

4/25/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This has improved over time. Lip smacking good barbers. Grapes goodness at excellent qpr

4/23/2024 - 2caveman wrote:

This is exceptional and unusual juice. Rare mono cépage of Mourvèdre this is well balanced medium body wine with noted cnp qualities of pepper but lighter on its feet. Great drinking with or without food. Never would have pegged this as a corbiere

4/21/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Very nice nebbiolo with light-medium weight and lovely red fruit on palate. Very solid and drinking well now

4/19/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This second tasting in a mere 3 weeks illustrates the mystery of wine. What I first experienced as a good but unexceptional wine became a quite exhilarating tasting experience. On the nose and palate emerged most unusual and primal aromas and flavors. No idea what lanolin smells and tastes like but somehow that fits the bill. Loved this bottle and agree it has potential for major longevity. Will order more and track over coming decade

4/14/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This is not up to brunello standards but is a decent rosso level wine

4/10/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Certainly not up to initial expectations. This drinks more like a tasty cotes de Rhône than a cnp. But pkeasant all the same. Drink up

4/6/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

A bit heavy and full as is typical with this grape. But still pkeasing notes on palate and well balanced

4/6/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Perhaps lost a step since last tasted. Color fading at 12 yo and benefited from some air. Bones are still there and this improved over the night

3/29/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

In nice drinking window. Soft and balanced on palate. Good qpr. Not sure it will evolve much further

3/29/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Pleasant expression of non Oakes northern burg chard. No fireworks but well made and fairly priced wine that shows no sign of fatigue. Drink over coming 1-2 years

3/20/2024 - 2caveman wrote:

I can’t find the wine other tasters describe in kast nights bottle. Stored for 19 years in perfect cellar conditions. Stripped of fruit. While the structure is there the flavor profile is neutered and dull. Not much to really appreciate here. Big disappointment as this was my very last bottle from the initial 2005 seeding of the cellar

3/20/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Haaard to explain…. But last weeks bottle was sublime and this weeks was lacking in finesse and class. All richness and heaviness that left all tasters reaching for other bottles. Bottle variation?

3/17/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Decanted 90 minutes. Gorgeous dark color and big powerful nose. Forceful on the palate and gained some nuance as it opened in glass over the evening. Very nice and I see further positive evolution. Will hold remaining bottles

3/17/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This is truly outstanding stuff. All the fine qualities of their first wine without the excesses that often take those over the top and out of reach of easy food friendly drinking. This has lemon curd and beeswax in spades. Drawn in by the nose and lovely balance and structure to the palate. Will only improve over coming years I’d guess

3/17/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This is still surprisingly vibrant and alive at 15. I worried I’d held these too long. Enticing classic reisling nose. Good acidity and length on palate. A bit heavy in body and lacking the finesse to take it to greater heights

3/12/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This was a complete and superb CNP blanc experience. Lemon curd on a stunning nose and then good weight and acidity with balance and zing to the palate. Long enduring and utterly pleasing finish -- this is drinking so nicely now and I think it will continue to do so for some time

3/12/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

THe last bottle of a case. A sad day indeed, as this wine is drinking supremely well now. An intoxicating nose of leather and prune leads into an elegant and complex, perfectly balanced and utterly pleasing palate. The structure fades out a bit in the back palate with a good but not stellar finish, perhaps the only weakness of this otherwise outstanding bottle. Enjoyed these over 15 years - what a majestic vintage that for many of these middle range bottlings only reached their pinnacle in the past few. I'd agree that it's time to dink these up for those of you lucky enough to still have any

3/2/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This is classic burgundy chard with good dose of oak. Very nice drinking and elements all in balance now. Drink or hold

2/29/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Boy is this ever a fine example of great value gigondas. It possesses that wonderful quality of this appelation that often leaves me more fulfilled than more costly cnp neighbor. Enough power to impress but with restraint balance and o ok unity to make u want to reach for more. So pleasant to drink without being demanding or complex. What a price and what a vintage.

2/29/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This has surprising finesse and elegance and a clean vibrant finish that lingers on back palate. Great QPR and much improved since last tasting

1/14/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

this wine is in such a good place now-- complete and delightful. In this lighter vintage I doubt this wine has the potential for many years ahead and I encourage all of you lucky enough to hold bottles to enjoy them in the near term. 45 minute decant was ample to bring out the glory with a classic if subtle nose of garrigue and a well balanced, restrained and complex mouthful of CNP goodness.

1/1/2024 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Seemed a bit closed down and one dimensional on this night. Lacking any fruit. Hope that time will add luster

12/31/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Loved these. Superior expressions of the varietal

12/30/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Clearly atypical for northern burgundy red. Hot summer yielded rich dark fruity wine in a style that I really enjoy. 2015 Irancy quite vegetal for me. 2016 rounder with perhaps more compkexity than 18 but still this was much enjoyed at our dinner table. Surprised by 15%. Wears it well

12/30/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Superb qpr and lovely example of well made SB. Not much complexity but great typicity

12/30/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Very easy drinking, light bodied, food friendly and well balanced wine. Excellent with couscous and very pleased with this purchase

12/26/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This seems to be moving in the wrong direction. Tanins still very pronounced and fruit fading. Disappointing after 2 hours in carafe but softened a bit day 2

12/14/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Deep dark color with good structure and medium weight. Excellent qpr

12/14/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

this was lovely from the get go. Enticing nose with hints of grapefruit. Very balanced palate with classic Chablis qualities. IN great place now but can hold if your lucky enough to have more

12/14/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

this has an odd bitter taste that does not please my palate. It lacks the complexity that I'd expected from this producer but still offers some agrumes and classic gewurtz qualities. Drink up

11/24/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

The bitter feature noted on first tasting in 21 has faded. Improved overall. Pleasant if unexceptional drinking still overpriced

11/24/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Nothing extraordinary but very solid Sancerre with cut and acidity and long clean finish. Good qpr

11/24/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Best gamay I’ve had drinking superbly now

11/21/2023 - 2caveman wrote:

This time around- admittedly pnp at cellar temps- this wine was flat and unexpressive

11/4/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Consistently complex and excellent. Dances on the palate with herbal notes

11/4/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Solid cnp blanc but lacking the magic that great cnp possesses. I don’t see much upside to holding these

11/4/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This was delicious- lush with integrated tanins but still possessing real backbone. Suspect it gags a few years of excellent drinking ahead. Real classic features of well aged cnp. Just lovely

11/1/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Delicious entry level barolo in a great place now. Nicely balanced with lots of typicity- sure wish I had more given great p
Qpr

10/29/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Lacking a bit in freshness and purity but nice drinking.

10/16/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Nothing remotely flashy about this wine. It’s simply good. Honest, pure, balanced and with enough extraction to give it power in back palate. Excellent QPR here

10/16/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

A pleasant but unexceptional wine that underscores risk of high spending on burgundy reds

10/11/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Consistent notes with prior bottles

10/11/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Generally regarded as a weak vintage and this is reflected in a less concentrated, extracted and atypical cnp. Some elegance here with medium weight and complexity. Will not hood remaining bottles much longer

10/9/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

This was my last bottle and it was time to enjoy it. Fruit fading but nice tertiary notes emerging after 90 minutes of air. Not a complex or contemplative wine but very satisfying

9/27/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

elegant and excellent. delicate bubbles, gorgeous faded blood orange color, and long complex finish that leaves a delightful legacy en bouche.

9/24/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Very tasty budget barolo that’s in good drinking wivv no Dow Nothing complex here but everything in right place for full enjoyment, esp with truffled pasta. Drink or hold

9/20/2023 - 2caveman Likes this wine:

Given the tasting notes and glowing reviews this disappointed somewhat. Good body and years keft. Maybe needs more time but after 1 hour decant was one dimensional with slight iodine effect