Tom Barras

8.9

Rack of Lamb is on the menu tonight and this delicious, easy drinking blend of Grenache and Syrah (80/20), from a unique vineyard footprint that lies in both CNDP and CDR, comes this 2020 Les Quartz from the h in igh quality southern Rhone, Les Clos du Caillou producer.

It displays a gorgeous, leggy, red berry appearance that is backed up by perfumed red and black berry aromas and flavors.

Overall, it is full bodied, lightly structured with a good balance of crisp acidity and light, dusty tannins, which together, deliver a delicious, mouth coating finish. (BTW, It worked beautifully with a sashimi grade tuna appetizer!)
— 20 days ago

Tom Barras

8.5

Engaging red berry appearance, with matching perfumed aromatics and flavors. Solidly structured with an abundance of fruit, acidity and dusty tannins that yields a chewy, mouth coating , long finish.
— 2 months ago

Tom Barras

9.1

Well structured and balanced, it displays an iconic ruby/garnet appearance, followed by secondary and tertiary aromas and flavors of woodland herbs, dried fruits and nuts, plus flavorsome balsamic nuances, and interesting red fruit undertones.

Overall, quite elegant and refined; medium bodied, with ample acidity, dusty tannins and a long, satisfying finish. If you’ve got it, now is the time. — 4 months ago

Tom Barras

9.2

A World Class single vineyard Sangiovese from the elevated Chianti appellation east of Florence and Chianti Classico.

With a gorgeous, deep garnet appearance, teasing tertiary aromatics and flavors, the earthy 2009 is medium/full, deep, robust, still solidly structured and balanced with ample acidity and light, dusty tannins. — a month ago

Tom Barras

8.7

Earmarked for tonight’s garlicky, sautéed shrimp, this one from Georges Lignier is sourced from three Morey-Saint-Denis plots, it is 2/3 Pinot Noir and 1/3.

It shows a gorgeous medium ruby appearance followed by perfumed red berry aromatics and flavors. It’s quite dry, light >medium bodied, well structured and balanced with ample red fruit, crisp acidity and mouth coating tannins at the long finish. — a month ago

Tom Barras

8.8

Still balanced and structurally sound, both acidity and tannins are low, with the tannins doing the heavy lifting at the short finish.

Overall, it is somewhat muted both in aromatics and flavors. There is a smidgen of red and black primary fruit peeking through, but the wine is well into its plateau of drinkability. I might have waited a few years too long. — 4 months ago

Tom Barras

9.0

Sleek and smoothly textured, it displays an engaging, deep garnet appearance, with subtle aromatics and flavors of woodland herbs, dried fruit and nuts, and balsamic nuances. It has good structure and is well balanced with light acidity and gentle tannins at the long, mouth coating, tasty finish. Overall, an excellent wine from an excellent vintage. 2012 vintage.
— a month ago

Tom Barras

8.9

2021 Vintage. Youthful, ruby/purple appearance, followed by persistent red and black fruit aromatics and flavors. Full bodied, Balanced with gentle acidity and dusty tannins at the softly textured finish. 80% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, & 7% Cabernet Franc.
— 2 months ago

Tom Barras

8.8

From the back of my vault comes this well aged and earthy, but still very vibrant, 2012 Alessandria Barolo.

The very engaging ruby/garnet Appearance is supported by perfumed, dried red fruit and woodland herb aromatics, plus a smidgen of fragrant baking spice nuances.

On the slightly lean palate it is medium bodied, balanced, with medium+ acidity and soft, mouth coating tannins that are bound up with flavors of coffee bean and spice. — 4 months ago

Tom Barras

9.0

Far more than a basic Beaujolais. Seriously structured 2023 with good helpings of fruit, and acidity plus a tad of dusty, mouth coating tannins at the finish. Helluva buy at under $20. — 4 months ago