@rhythmSOULdier
Popped and poured; enjoyed over three days and showed very well throughout. The 2012 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core and some browning towards the rim; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with secondary characteristics just starting to show themselves. Also, the solar nature of 2012 is showing through with loads of truffles and overripe and desiccated red and black fruits: tartufo bianco d’Alba, dried cherry, bruised raspberries, red roses, leather, Fig Newtons, dried herbs, and some dusty and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is bone dry with high tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long, drying and savory. I’ve been a vocal fan of the 2012 vintage of Produttori since release and this might be the best showing yet. This is my last 750mL. My remaining bottles are magnums and I’ll look forward to enjoying those over the next 10-15 years. No rush, but this is a fun time to drink these as the truffle character is starting to peak through. — 11 days ago
The 2022 “Kirschenmann” (Lodi) sources its fruit from, you guessed it, Sandlands home vineyard, Kirschenmann which, only recently, had Cinsault grafted to 1 single acre of 140r rootstock (rootstock was planted in 2019 and Cinsault was grafted in 2020).
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The wine pours a slightly hazy ruby color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of raspberries, freshly ground black pepper, Peony’s, and dried herbs. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium, fine gritty tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and sweet-tart. Drink now through 2032. — 14 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. Although this is Godello from Bierzo, this was meant to be a fun counter example to Sketch which is arguably a bit unique when it comes to Raul Pérez’s typical style. The 2020 “La Claudina” pours a deeper straw color with notes of lemons, grapefruit, Brazil nuts, hazel nuts (yeah, it’s definitely more in the oxidative style) and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and saline with a slightly sherried, creamy texture. Charming stuff and definitely something I would like to track over time. Enjoy now through 2035. — 3 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed as a preamble to my birthday dinner. The “La Pucelle” pours a straw color with medium viscosity and a persistent mousse. On the nose, the wine is developing with powerful notes of yellow apple, Bosc pear, raspberry, white peach, brioche some chanterelle mushrooms and a mix of chalky and limestone minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is forever. Zippy. Divine. A “wow” Champagne that seems to straddle the freshness of the reductive approach and the complexity of the oxidative approach.
Always 100% Pinot Noir, this release of “La Pucelle” is a deft blend of the 2014 and 2012 vintages; 32/68 respectively. Disgorged 2015. Though this is NV, expect a long life. My only regret is drinking this so quickly because this has a bigger story to tell. But I was sharing with 9 other people and holy smokes, it’s already the belle of the ball. Thank you @Lyle Fass for the assist! — 4 days ago
Popped and poured; something I don’t recommend. This was super lean on Day 1 and hard to even identify as Syrah. However, by Day 3 it’s a different story. The 2021 pours a deep ruby with near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with notes of red, black and blue fruits, bacon fat, lavender pastilles, and gentle warm spices. On the palate, medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is also medium. This is definitely on the leaner side and having had enough of the 2021’s from both the Northern and Southern Rhone, the vintage certainly reminds me a touch of 2014. This needs some time and I suspect patience will be rewarded down the road, just like the 2014’s have proven. Regardless, this is a lighter and more classic vintage. Best after 2028 and through 2040. — 14 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2022 Sketch pours a bright straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is youthful with fascination notes of white and yellow flowers, nettles, lemon, strawberry, orange pith, hot steel, wet stone, and oh the minerals! On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is so long and ever so saline. This was my first bottle of Sketch (finally!) which has been a bit of a unicorn wine for me. I’ve long had a deep respect for Raul Pérez but this wine has confirmed a special place reserved in my heart for him. They say once bitten… Drink now through 2039. — 3 days ago
Popped and poured into a porron. The ultimate baller birthday move. The 2010 Rosado pours a rose gold color; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. Some slight signs of sediment in the bottle. On the nose the wine is developing with notes of red cherry, blood orange, grapefruit, apricot, nuts, dried flowers and just a hint of lightly toasted coconut. On the palate, the wine is dry with low tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with remarkable, creamy texture and substantial (but not overbearing) weight. To my palate, this has hardly aged since my last experience in 2021. If anything, it has only gained in character and significance. World class is every sense of the term. Drink now through 2035. Thank you for the birthday bottle Matt! — 5 days ago
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2022 Clarksburg sources fruit from the Baranek/Herzog vineyard which was one of the seminal vineyards of the Clarksburg AVA.
The wine pours a straw color with medium viscosity. No signs of particles or gas. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of white flowers (chamomile?), yellow pear, lemon cream, lanolin, minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and wooly with that unmistakable Chenin texture. Might be one of my favorite young Sandlands Chenin’s to-date! Drink now through 2037. One single 2000L foudre was made. — 11 days ago
Jay Kline
Poured into a decanter immediately prior to service. Not only was this 43 year old willing, it was positively singing right out of the gates! The 1981 Fontanafredda Barolo (classico) shows good color: a deep garnet with a transparent core and significant rim variation; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. There is some light sediment but most was decanted off. On the nose, the wine is vinous with gorgeous notes of ripe and desiccated dark cherries, pomegranate, old leather-bound books, truffle, earth and exotic spices. On the palate the wine is dry. The tannins are integrated but still pretty firm and acid is medium+. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is long and savory. Wow, what a remarkable bottle of Fontanafredda; arguably the best I’ve had. Perhaps I’ve aged as well? One would certainly hope. If you are also 43 years old or holding onto any of these 81’s from Fontanafredda, drink now. However, if this bottle is representative of well cellared examples, it could easily drink well through 2031. — 21 hours ago