2005 Produttori del Barbaresco Asili Riserva

 Such an elegantly structured example from the famed vineyard, showing high-toned fruit and acidity across a long finish. This should age nicely for many years to come.... it's in an early drinking window now. A very pretty wine. 

2007 Azelia Barolo Margheria (Serralunga d'Alba)

 Oh man, this bottle was in the zone! Such elegant tannic structure and mouthwatering acidity supporting perfectly evolved red fruit.  The generosity of the 2007 vintage is on full display. Drink now or hold for many more years to enjoy tertiary development. Robust chunky sediment upon decanting. 

2005 Bodegas Elias Mora Gran Elias Mora (Toro) and 2004 Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua

 

2005 Gran Elias Mora

Wow! Showing beautifully! 100% Tempranillo. Tannins have melted into fully showcasing the pristinely aged , savory , dark cherry fruit with hints of leather and mellow cedar. Delicious with spicy queso and chips. 

2004 Tempier Bandol La Migoua
A mouthful of beautiful aged fruit supported by mellowed tannins. 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault, 15% Grenache, 5% Syrah. A reference point for Bandol reds. Yummy stuff. 

2005 Virgile Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnieres

 

Double decanted back into bottle and enjoyed with blackened catfish served over grits and smothered with shrimp étouffée. 

Modest amount of fine-grained sediment. Knock out perfume when uncorked. 

This bottle took a couple of hours to fully open up. Excellent showing for a 2005. Well rounded fruit, acidity and tannins. This could easily go another decade with cellaring and still be in its prime. 

Les Faconnières located adjunct downslope of Clos de la Roche. 

2009 Domaine Vincent Girardin Santenay 1er Cru Les Gravières"

 One of the most delightful 2009 Cote de Beaune red burgs I can recall having. This will hold up in peak drinking phase for a while, I would surmise. Everything in balance with fruit, filigreed tannins and acidity... not tart, just so damn tasty. A real sleeper. Bravo! I don't have much experience with this Cru. 

2012 Ornellaia and 2012 MacDonald

 Both opened for slow oxygenation in btl for around 5 hours. 

Tasted these single blind side by side and actually mixed them up trying to guess which was which.

I'd never had a MacDonald that was ready, but this one is. It's a blockbuster of a wine.... very much in the zone for enjoyment.  100% Cabernet Sauvignon. 

The Ornellaia was more reserved and not showing as readily. Cabernet Sauvignon (56%), Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Petit Verdot (7%).

2024 Clos Cibonne Rosé Cuvée Tradition

Importer notes...
"...Tibouren (a local Provençal rosé variety) spends a year in 100 year old barrels covered by flor to protect it from oxidizing.  As a result, the wine drinks more like a fine white wine than a typical fresh, light and lively rosé.  The color is different, too, a light copper hue.  About 10% of this wine is Grenache which I suspect adds a hint of freshness to it.  The result is an original work that is absolutely delicious to drink..."

Billy Norris, Vinous , June 2026 notes...
“The 2024 Rosé Cuvée Tradition is a wild, exotic wine. Aged sous-voile in foudre for one year, this blend of 90% Tibouren and 10% Grenache unleashes a heady array of beeswax, stewed peach, chamomile, toasted bread and wild herbs. It’s a waxy, enveloping, utterly distinctive Rosé that is very much on the cerebral side, and also pushing the limits of VA. Quite honestly, the Tradition is unlike anything else I’ve ever tasted. Readers who haven’t tasted these wines before owe it to themselves to do so.”

Showing very well right now. This is a very dry and balanced wine at a young age. Paired nicely with spicy grilled shrimp. 

I'm picking up some of the 2023 Spécial des Vignettes and 2024 Prestige Caroline to compare... 

2008 Mastroberadino Taurasi Naturalis Historia & 2010 Pavelot Savigny-Les-Beaune Aux Guettes

 Pre-show dinner for North Mississippi Allstars.. 

The Mastroberadino was decanted for several hours and is open for business....100% Aglianico, sourced from vines around 60 years old in Mirabella Eclano. Tannins have aged beautifully, supporting a glorious mouthful of blackberry fruit. 

The Pavelot was decanted and aerated for a couple of hours. Ideally, it needs more time in the cellar like most 2010 burgundy does. Tart morello cherry with mouthwatering acidity. Delicious even though it's still at least five years away from peak drinking, I would guess. 

Both wines paired well with kimchi shrimp and filet mignon "surf and turf"...

The Mastroberadino gets the nod as favorite since it was in the zone for enjoyment! 

https://youtu.be/j0n458Y6vQI?is=UTpS0xmaELGYZ1ay

https://youtu.be/cGSt34hrmK8?is=to3tH3KIYu6jAqu7

2016 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano Riserva

 This bottle confirms the @"Philippe Richer" rule of thumb that outstanding PdB crus are often best enjoyed 20 years after vintage date. Save a few of these for 2036 and beyond👍🍷

Paired with some garlic-ky fingerling potatoes and kona peaberry cappuccino.  
I have some of this bottle left over for tomorrow's dinner plans. 

2018 Keller von der Fels

 

An underwhelming vintage sums it up.

2006 Mastroberadino Taurasi Radici Riserva

 Sadly, I bought a half case years ago that was quite possibly exposed to non-standard temps of some sort for wine transport. 

For many years, this 2006 Riserva was the essence of a Burgundian style Taurasi Aglianico .... I hope to find some again... 



The evening is not a total loss with Pharoah from 1975 in Paris playing..

Pharoah Sanders – tenor saxophone, vocals

Danny Mixon – piano and organ

Calvin Hill – bass

Greg Bandy – drums