It was a pretty good month with lots of bottles showing really well.
2019 Azienda Vinicola Dacapo Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza Vigna Dacapo - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza (9/30/2025)
This was deep, resonant Barbera. Plush without being overbearing. There was a little touch of oakiness the last time I had it 2 years ago, but that is long gone and the wine has really come together. Deeply fruited but with a nice mineral and leather underbelly. Well shaped with good acidity. Good to go now but I imagine it will age for a while. (92 points)
2023 Cantina Dacapo Barbera d'Asti Sanbastiàn - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti (9/30/2025)
Lighter and juicier than the Nizza with the fruit more towards the berry end of the spectrum. A perfect quaffing Barbera as I don't see the depth for aging, but that doesn't always have to be the point. This should drink well for a few years. (88 points)
2014 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru (9/29/2025)
Fresher and less spice notes than the 2015, but also crunchier and a bit more structured. I think this could use 2-3 more years and I'll probably finish the 2015 first. This may end up as the better wine. (90 points)
2022 Bartolo Mascarello Barbera d'Alba - Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba (9/28/2025)
This was quite good. Great shape and texture. Velvety richness of fruit delineated by bright acidity in the form of citrus notes like orange peel. Plum type fruits and spice dominate the flavors with a nice leathery note underneath. Went down very quickly. It's been a while since I've had a Mascarello Barbera since I don't get allocated any and I won't chase it in the open market due to inflated prices, but this was great. I'll take an allocation if it comes to me. Ready to go now but should hold and change for years. (92 points)
These next six wines were opened with one of my best friends with his wife, brother and spouse. It was a quasi-celebration of their anniversary, they were married in 1989 so we started there and went forward in decade chunks to 1999, 2009, and 2019. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had such a great wine night, where everything at or near its platonic ideal.
2019 Domaine Comtesse de Chérisey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/27/2025)
Opened with friends along with Collier 2019 and Cherisey Puligny 1er Chalumeaux 2019 for context. This was texturally somewhere between the Boudignon and the Collier. There was a little candied lemon peel in addition to stone fruits. I really like the linear focus and minerality of these wines and this is no exception. Drinking well now, but not going anywhere. (93 points)
2019 Thibaud Boudignon Savennières Clos de la Hutte - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (9/27/2025)
Opened with friends along with Collier 2019 and Cherisey Puligny 1er Chalumeaux 2019 for context. First bottle of this vintage and it was more open and developed that I thought it would be. Still has a fine line of acidity, but the flavors are more relaxed yellow fruit than the mineral/citrus bath I was expecting. I consider Boudignon the bastion of "new Anjou" and from this showing it seems like the wines should develop well. I'm still not sure of the long term aging potential, but I suppose there is only one way to find out. I still prefer the Collier, but just slightly. (93 points)
2019 Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (9/27/2025)
Opened with friends along with Collier 2019 and Cherisey Puligny 1er Chalumeaux 2019 for context. This was an absolutely killer wine night, everything showed well. The Collier didn't disappoint or veer off course from previous bottles. This seems to have knitted together some from my bottle last year. It's doing that trick where it gets a little lighter and more airy. The floral meadow and honeysuckle with some mineral accents with excellent depth of yellow fruits. This wine is so delicious now that I'll probably open a bottle every 6 months or so until it shuts down. Definitely improved with air, so this isn't the apex. (94 points)
1989 Ch“teau Rausan-Ségla - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (9/27/2025)
Man, Bordeaux is a crazy old thing. This is the 9th bottle from an OWC I grabbed at auction a few years back and of the 8 that weren't corked, this was by far the best bottle and I could tell the minute I opened it. There was a freshness to the fruit that the other bottles didn't reach. There is a nice tartness to the deep red fruits and nice floral top notes. The texture on the palate is pure silk with some savory notes. The way it glides across the palate is the magic here. This is the kind of magic that keeps us hooked! (95 points)
1999 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (9/27/2025)
Everything our last bottle was, so the notes are pretty much the same. Black cherry, leather, mineral, graphite notes on the nose and on the palate. Really great energy on the palate with some structure framing everything perfectly. The balance and drive are remarkable. (95 points)
2009 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/27/2025)
Double decanted a few hours prior to consumption. This seems to be in a spot where it was resolved and expressive. Tart, pure red fruits over chalk. Acidity frames the fruit and carries it over a slightly darker palate with savory notes. These is nice finishing grip of fine tannin. Really everything I had hoped it would be. (95 points)
2015 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru (9/26/2025)
Pale ruby color, but not washed out, this was always a lightly colored wine. It's taken on a bit of sous bois and lovely spice notes on top of the red currant and lightly berryish fruit. Very balanced on the palate with just a framework of tannic structure. This is what people mean by a digestible wine. Everything in place and refined, lovely at the table. This is in a great spot so I'll probably drink my remaining bottles over the next 5-7 years. (91 points)
2019 Ch“teau Grand Corbin-Despagne - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (9/24/2025)
This isn't heavy, despite the label reading 15% abv, but it is dense and chewy. I do get a mocha dust edge to the fruit, as if it were Pomerol but what stands out is the savory-ness underlying the blackberries smashed on chalk. IMO, this need another 3-5 years but will end up being quite a good wine. I want to retry the 2020 to see if it is a little more svelte and 2016 in style. (91 points)
2016 Marcel Lapierre Morgon - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (9/23/2025)
From magnum. Has started to go sous bois a little bit. The berry fruit has mellowed and there are some nice Autumnal notes. Structure fully resolved and it's very digestible. I think I probably would have liked it more 2-3 years ago as one of the great joys of Lapierre is the bright fruit. (90 points)
2018 Brendan Stater-West Saumur Brézé - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (9/20/2025)
This has evolved in the 5 years since I last had a bottle, but I'm not sure how much it has improved. It is a fine effort and clearly well made in the "New Anjou" style. The fruit has become more burnished and the tensile quality has relaxed a bit. There is no real issue here, it's just that compared with peers like Collier it lacks comparable character and complexity and lacks the drive and verve of Boudignon. Still worth checking in on this operation every now and then and I'll look for older wines on lists. (90 points)
2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Pagani Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (9/19/2025)
This was big and well fruited but did not give all the distinct Pagani dark earth, blackstrap and the tannins were slightly coarse. Still quite deeply colored and with excellent length but I'm not sure that coarseness will completely subside. I have one more bottle but I will wait a year or two to open. (91 points)
2022 Garofoli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Podium - Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore (9/19/2025)
This was nice enough, but I'm not sure it is worth the premium over the more "basic" cuvées. There is a nice herbal edge to the yellow fruits and plenty of zip but it ends up being slight bit boring. Perhaps I approached it with the wrong mindset, expecting the same zip as the basic wines but with more depth and complexity when a more "select" wine has to sacrifice some of the simple pleasures for the roundness. Not sure. I'd be happy to drink this at a restaurant but not something I need to have in the cellar. (89 points)
2022 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (9/14/2025)
From half bottle, this didn't make much an impression, certainly not like the 2021, and struck me as somewhat generic. I really need some half-bottles of Sangiovese but I'm not sure that this is it. (87 points)
2022 COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico - Italy, Sicily, Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico (9/14/2025)
The last wine of my journey through the currently available COS reds in my market. I liked this about in the middle, less than the Nero di Lupo or Frappato but more than the Pithos about on par (in a different style) withthe Nero di Lupo Contrada. Medium bodied with lots of savory notes around some bright, structured red fruit. Good to go now, but this may actually benefit from some bottle age. These COS reds are delightful. (91 points)
2016 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet - France, Burgundy, M“connais, Viré-Clessé (9/12/2025)
As I've witnessed many times with this wine, it can sometimes lighten up with age. It is definitely more in the stone pit fruit spectrum with any tropical notes in the background. Excellent length and that nip of ginger on the finish. Drinking well now but will surely continue for a long time. (93 points)
2018 Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (9/12/2025)
Corked. Bleh (NR/flawed)
2016 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru (9/11/2025)
Didn't get a great read on this, but it has definitely shifted from primary fruit with more spice and sandalwood accents to the bright red fruit. Nice mineral underpinnings as well. Structured, but not forbidding. If you have multiple bottles, it's worth a check-in now, but should continue to improve. (92 points)
2019 Domaine Comtesse de Chérisey Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru La Genelotte - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru (9/11/2025)
Not really much different from previous bottles. Bright citrus and mineral notes but with the yellow fruits of Meursault, albeit in a higher register than normal. Just the bit of almond skin around the juicy mineral finish. I'm drinking these, but have a fair amount so some bottles will make it to 10 or 15 years. (92 points)
2010 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (9/10/2025)
Wow, this is the best bottle of this I've had. Decanted about an hour prior to dinner this has absorbed its oak, which was distracting in the last bottle back in 2022. Deeply pitched black currant with some other dark fruits and a dark graphite laced earthiness. Some iris top notes and a bit of herb and spice from the oak. The acid structure keeps it well shaped and the tannins are unobtrusive but sufficient to hold the fruit. Really lovely now with the potential for a bit of upside in the next few years. (94 points)
2010 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (9/10/2025)
This is obviously very classy wine, but the red fruit profile and slightly lean herbal nuance did not make for as enjoyable a wine as the Mount Eden it was juxtaposed with. This will certainly make old bones, it has all the elements but I do wonder whether it will be about tertiary nuance at that point. I generally am a big Mayacamas fan but I really preferred the Mount Eden this evening. (90 points)
2022 Monte Rio Cellars Zinfandel Old Vines - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (9/9/2025)
I absolutely dig this wine! It's got good acid structure, ripe, but not at all jammy, berry fruits and a really cool savory, earthy/leathery substrate. If I was poured this blind, I might start with Italy and move from there. Fantastic value as well. I've been drinking this for a year and it has been really consistent and I think it will drink well for 5-7 years. (91 points)
2024 COS Frappato - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane (9/9/2025)
Sappy, juicy deliciousness. Like other COS reds I've had lately, this has some aromas and a similar texture to a white wine, which makes it really flexible at the table. While light in body, this has more fruit and persistence than the Pithos. I don't think these are made to be aged, so I won't. (91 points)
2021 COS Terre Siciliane Pithos Rosso - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane (9/8/2025)
I've been working my way through the COS wines available locally and while I've really been enjoying the style (red wines almost feeling like white wines) this one left me ambivalent. I'd certainly be happy with this at cellar temperature at a wine bar or restaurant but it's a bit thin and lacks the resonance of the other wines. (88 points)
2022 La Sibilla Piedirosso Campi Flegrei - Italy, Campania, Campi Flegrei (9/8/2025)
Honestly, I've been a bit disappointed in this vintage of a wine that's generally a stalwart for us. It's a little light and soft without the purity of fruit previous vintages have shown. (87 points)
2018 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Blanc La Croix Boissée - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/7/2025)
Continuing the 2018 Loire Chenin theme, this was large scaled and a bit brassy but not wooly. Ripe orchard fruits but not the chalky, chewy minerality that this wine can show. I'd drink remaining bottles in the next two years. (88 points)
2018 Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli) La Lune - France, Loire Valley, Vin de France (9/7/2025)
Seductive and succulent. Manages to keep itself together despite some size from the warm vintage. I imagine a little bit of RS as well which worked well with the Ma Po tofu and Szechuan eggplant. I would drink this within the next few years. (91 points)
2015 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru (9/6/2025)
A little better than my last bottle and seemingly a little more mineral nuance. I'm not sure there is anything to be gained by aging this further, so I won't. (90 points)
2020 Jean-Philippe Fichet Bourgogne Blanc Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc (9/6/2025)
Corked. Bleh. (NR/flawed)
2015 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/4/2025)
Nicely resolved. Tart red and blue fruits with a nice bead of acidity and fine tannins. Some herbal and chalky nuance and a bit of Brett, but not overwhelming. I was really impressed by the snappiness of this wine in a warm vintage. (90 points)
2023 COS Nero di Lupo - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane (9/3/2025)
Darker and juicier than the Contrada. Like a trad Beaujolais made from Nero D'Avola. Fresh berries smashed on rocks, then more berries and some florals. So digestible and easy. Delicious. (92 points)
2019 Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône L'Emouvante - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (9/2/2025)
Really similar to a bottle last Spring but with the briny black olive note and fruit more pronounced than the garrigue herbs. Still has some tannic bite, but is well proportioned and medium bodied. Quite good now but might be even better if the tannins soften some more, but I don't really have experience aging these very long. (90 points)
2020 COS Nero d'Avola Contrada - Italy, Sicily, Sicilia (9/1/2025)
Juicy cherries with citrus hints. A bit of savory herbs and a salty edge take the wine through the palate. Bright, medium bodied and refreshing. Great at the table and goes down fast. (91 points)
2019 Azienda Vinicola Dacapo Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza Vigna Dacapo - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza (9/30/2025)
This was deep, resonant Barbera. Plush without being overbearing. There was a little touch of oakiness the last time I had it 2 years ago, but that is long gone and the wine has really come together. Deeply fruited but with a nice mineral and leather underbelly. Well shaped with good acidity. Good to go now but I imagine it will age for a while. (92 points)
2023 Cantina Dacapo Barbera d'Asti Sanbastiàn - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti (9/30/2025)
Lighter and juicier than the Nizza with the fruit more towards the berry end of the spectrum. A perfect quaffing Barbera as I don't see the depth for aging, but that doesn't always have to be the point. This should drink well for a few years. (88 points)
2014 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru (9/29/2025)
Fresher and less spice notes than the 2015, but also crunchier and a bit more structured. I think this could use 2-3 more years and I'll probably finish the 2015 first. This may end up as the better wine. (90 points)
2022 Bartolo Mascarello Barbera d'Alba - Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Barbera d'Alba (9/28/2025)
This was quite good. Great shape and texture. Velvety richness of fruit delineated by bright acidity in the form of citrus notes like orange peel. Plum type fruits and spice dominate the flavors with a nice leathery note underneath. Went down very quickly. It's been a while since I've had a Mascarello Barbera since I don't get allocated any and I won't chase it in the open market due to inflated prices, but this was great. I'll take an allocation if it comes to me. Ready to go now but should hold and change for years. (92 points)
These next six wines were opened with one of my best friends with his wife, brother and spouse. It was a quasi-celebration of their anniversary, they were married in 1989 so we started there and went forward in decade chunks to 1999, 2009, and 2019. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had such a great wine night, where everything at or near its platonic ideal.
2019 Domaine Comtesse de Chérisey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru (9/27/2025)
Opened with friends along with Collier 2019 and Cherisey Puligny 1er Chalumeaux 2019 for context. This was texturally somewhere between the Boudignon and the Collier. There was a little candied lemon peel in addition to stone fruits. I really like the linear focus and minerality of these wines and this is no exception. Drinking well now, but not going anywhere. (93 points)
2019 Thibaud Boudignon Savennières Clos de la Hutte - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (9/27/2025)
Opened with friends along with Collier 2019 and Cherisey Puligny 1er Chalumeaux 2019 for context. First bottle of this vintage and it was more open and developed that I thought it would be. Still has a fine line of acidity, but the flavors are more relaxed yellow fruit than the mineral/citrus bath I was expecting. I consider Boudignon the bastion of "new Anjou" and from this showing it seems like the wines should develop well. I'm still not sure of the long term aging potential, but I suppose there is only one way to find out. I still prefer the Collier, but just slightly. (93 points)
2019 Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (9/27/2025)
Opened with friends along with Collier 2019 and Cherisey Puligny 1er Chalumeaux 2019 for context. This was an absolutely killer wine night, everything showed well. The Collier didn't disappoint or veer off course from previous bottles. This seems to have knitted together some from my bottle last year. It's doing that trick where it gets a little lighter and more airy. The floral meadow and honeysuckle with some mineral accents with excellent depth of yellow fruits. This wine is so delicious now that I'll probably open a bottle every 6 months or so until it shuts down. Definitely improved with air, so this isn't the apex. (94 points)
1989 Ch“teau Rausan-Ségla - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (9/27/2025)
Man, Bordeaux is a crazy old thing. This is the 9th bottle from an OWC I grabbed at auction a few years back and of the 8 that weren't corked, this was by far the best bottle and I could tell the minute I opened it. There was a freshness to the fruit that the other bottles didn't reach. There is a nice tartness to the deep red fruits and nice floral top notes. The texture on the palate is pure silk with some savory notes. The way it glides across the palate is the magic here. This is the kind of magic that keeps us hooked! (95 points)
1999 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (9/27/2025)
Everything our last bottle was, so the notes are pretty much the same. Black cherry, leather, mineral, graphite notes on the nose and on the palate. Really great energy on the palate with some structure framing everything perfectly. The balance and drive are remarkable. (95 points)
2009 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/27/2025)
Double decanted a few hours prior to consumption. This seems to be in a spot where it was resolved and expressive. Tart, pure red fruits over chalk. Acidity frames the fruit and carries it over a slightly darker palate with savory notes. These is nice finishing grip of fine tannin. Really everything I had hoped it would be. (95 points)
2015 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Ile des Vergelesses - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru (9/26/2025)
Pale ruby color, but not washed out, this was always a lightly colored wine. It's taken on a bit of sous bois and lovely spice notes on top of the red currant and lightly berryish fruit. Very balanced on the palate with just a framework of tannic structure. This is what people mean by a digestible wine. Everything in place and refined, lovely at the table. This is in a great spot so I'll probably drink my remaining bottles over the next 5-7 years. (91 points)
2019 Ch“teau Grand Corbin-Despagne - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (9/24/2025)
This isn't heavy, despite the label reading 15% abv, but it is dense and chewy. I do get a mocha dust edge to the fruit, as if it were Pomerol but what stands out is the savory-ness underlying the blackberries smashed on chalk. IMO, this need another 3-5 years but will end up being quite a good wine. I want to retry the 2020 to see if it is a little more svelte and 2016 in style. (91 points)
2016 Marcel Lapierre Morgon - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon (9/23/2025)
From magnum. Has started to go sous bois a little bit. The berry fruit has mellowed and there are some nice Autumnal notes. Structure fully resolved and it's very digestible. I think I probably would have liked it more 2-3 years ago as one of the great joys of Lapierre is the bright fruit. (90 points)
2018 Brendan Stater-West Saumur Brézé - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (9/20/2025)
This has evolved in the 5 years since I last had a bottle, but I'm not sure how much it has improved. It is a fine effort and clearly well made in the "New Anjou" style. The fruit has become more burnished and the tensile quality has relaxed a bit. There is no real issue here, it's just that compared with peers like Collier it lacks comparable character and complexity and lacks the drive and verve of Boudignon. Still worth checking in on this operation every now and then and I'll look for older wines on lists. (90 points)
2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Pagani Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (9/19/2025)
This was big and well fruited but did not give all the distinct Pagani dark earth, blackstrap and the tannins were slightly coarse. Still quite deeply colored and with excellent length but I'm not sure that coarseness will completely subside. I have one more bottle but I will wait a year or two to open. (91 points)
2022 Garofoli Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Podium - Italy, Marche, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore (9/19/2025)
This was nice enough, but I'm not sure it is worth the premium over the more "basic" cuvées. There is a nice herbal edge to the yellow fruits and plenty of zip but it ends up being slight bit boring. Perhaps I approached it with the wrong mindset, expecting the same zip as the basic wines but with more depth and complexity when a more "select" wine has to sacrifice some of the simple pleasures for the roundness. Not sure. I'd be happy to drink this at a restaurant but not something I need to have in the cellar. (89 points)
2022 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (9/14/2025)
From half bottle, this didn't make much an impression, certainly not like the 2021, and struck me as somewhat generic. I really need some half-bottles of Sangiovese but I'm not sure that this is it. (87 points)
2022 COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico - Italy, Sicily, Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico (9/14/2025)
The last wine of my journey through the currently available COS reds in my market. I liked this about in the middle, less than the Nero di Lupo or Frappato but more than the Pithos about on par (in a different style) withthe Nero di Lupo Contrada. Medium bodied with lots of savory notes around some bright, structured red fruit. Good to go now, but this may actually benefit from some bottle age. These COS reds are delightful. (91 points)
2016 Domaine de la Bongran (Thevenet) Viré-Clessé Cuvée E. J. Thevenet - France, Burgundy, M“connais, Viré-Clessé (9/12/2025)
As I've witnessed many times with this wine, it can sometimes lighten up with age. It is definitely more in the stone pit fruit spectrum with any tropical notes in the background. Excellent length and that nip of ginger on the finish. Drinking well now but will surely continue for a long time. (93 points)
2018 Domaine du Collier Saumur Blanc - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (9/12/2025)
Corked. Bleh (NR/flawed)
2016 Domaine Marquis d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru (9/11/2025)
Didn't get a great read on this, but it has definitely shifted from primary fruit with more spice and sandalwood accents to the bright red fruit. Nice mineral underpinnings as well. Structured, but not forbidding. If you have multiple bottles, it's worth a check-in now, but should continue to improve. (92 points)
2019 Domaine Comtesse de Chérisey Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru La Genelotte - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru (9/11/2025)
Not really much different from previous bottles. Bright citrus and mineral notes but with the yellow fruits of Meursault, albeit in a higher register than normal. Just the bit of almond skin around the juicy mineral finish. I'm drinking these, but have a fair amount so some bottles will make it to 10 or 15 years. (92 points)
2010 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (9/10/2025)
Wow, this is the best bottle of this I've had. Decanted about an hour prior to dinner this has absorbed its oak, which was distracting in the last bottle back in 2022. Deeply pitched black currant with some other dark fruits and a dark graphite laced earthiness. Some iris top notes and a bit of herb and spice from the oak. The acid structure keeps it well shaped and the tannins are unobtrusive but sufficient to hold the fruit. Really lovely now with the potential for a bit of upside in the next few years. (94 points)
2010 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (9/10/2025)
This is obviously very classy wine, but the red fruit profile and slightly lean herbal nuance did not make for as enjoyable a wine as the Mount Eden it was juxtaposed with. This will certainly make old bones, it has all the elements but I do wonder whether it will be about tertiary nuance at that point. I generally am a big Mayacamas fan but I really preferred the Mount Eden this evening. (90 points)
2022 Monte Rio Cellars Zinfandel Old Vines - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (9/9/2025)
I absolutely dig this wine! It's got good acid structure, ripe, but not at all jammy, berry fruits and a really cool savory, earthy/leathery substrate. If I was poured this blind, I might start with Italy and move from there. Fantastic value as well. I've been drinking this for a year and it has been really consistent and I think it will drink well for 5-7 years. (91 points)
2024 COS Frappato - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane (9/9/2025)
Sappy, juicy deliciousness. Like other COS reds I've had lately, this has some aromas and a similar texture to a white wine, which makes it really flexible at the table. While light in body, this has more fruit and persistence than the Pithos. I don't think these are made to be aged, so I won't. (91 points)
2021 COS Terre Siciliane Pithos Rosso - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane (9/8/2025)
I've been working my way through the COS wines available locally and while I've really been enjoying the style (red wines almost feeling like white wines) this one left me ambivalent. I'd certainly be happy with this at cellar temperature at a wine bar or restaurant but it's a bit thin and lacks the resonance of the other wines. (88 points)
2022 La Sibilla Piedirosso Campi Flegrei - Italy, Campania, Campi Flegrei (9/8/2025)
Honestly, I've been a bit disappointed in this vintage of a wine that's generally a stalwart for us. It's a little light and soft without the purity of fruit previous vintages have shown. (87 points)
2018 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Blanc La Croix Boissée - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/7/2025)
Continuing the 2018 Loire Chenin theme, this was large scaled and a bit brassy but not wooly. Ripe orchard fruits but not the chalky, chewy minerality that this wine can show. I'd drink remaining bottles in the next two years. (88 points)
2018 Ferme de la Sansonnière (Mark Angeli) La Lune - France, Loire Valley, Vin de France (9/7/2025)
Seductive and succulent. Manages to keep itself together despite some size from the warm vintage. I imagine a little bit of RS as well which worked well with the Ma Po tofu and Szechuan eggplant. I would drink this within the next few years. (91 points)
2015 Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Sous Frétille Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru (9/6/2025)
A little better than my last bottle and seemingly a little more mineral nuance. I'm not sure there is anything to be gained by aging this further, so I won't. (90 points)
2020 Jean-Philippe Fichet Bourgogne Blanc Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Blanc (9/6/2025)
Corked. Bleh. (NR/flawed)
2015 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (9/4/2025)
Nicely resolved. Tart red and blue fruits with a nice bead of acidity and fine tannins. Some herbal and chalky nuance and a bit of Brett, but not overwhelming. I was really impressed by the snappiness of this wine in a warm vintage. (90 points)
2023 COS Nero di Lupo - Italy, Sicily, Terre Siciliane (9/3/2025)
Darker and juicier than the Contrada. Like a trad Beaujolais made from Nero D'Avola. Fresh berries smashed on rocks, then more berries and some florals. So digestible and easy. Delicious. (92 points)
2019 Domaine Gramenon Côtes du Rhône L'Emouvante - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (9/2/2025)
Really similar to a bottle last Spring but with the briny black olive note and fruit more pronounced than the garrigue herbs. Still has some tannic bite, but is well proportioned and medium bodied. Quite good now but might be even better if the tannins soften some more, but I don't really have experience aging these very long. (90 points)
2020 COS Nero d'Avola Contrada - Italy, Sicily, Sicilia (9/1/2025)
Juicy cherries with citrus hints. A bit of savory herbs and a salty edge take the wine through the palate. Bright, medium bodied and refreshing. Great at the table and goes down fast. (91 points)