Jay Kline

9.5

Oh. My. Goodness. I recently made a comment on another tasting note for a 2018 Barolo; pointing out that great producers made killer, classic wines in 2018. This is an even more remarkable example. Popped and poured; consumed over two days. Day 1 had the most beautiful aromatics; Day 2 brought the power. Both brought illumination. This was my first experience with Olek Bondionio. The wine pours a gorgeous, pale garnet color with a transparent core. No obvious staining of the tears. Medium+ viscosity and no signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is intense. A mix of red and dark fruit: Morello cherry, blackberries and positively redolent of roses. There is more, however. Perfumed scents of cedar, dried green herbs and dry earth can be smelled from across the table as the wine sits in the glass. Seriously, my 16 year-old son asked what smelled so good from across the dinner table. I asked him to smell the glass and he said, “yep…that’s it!”. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. On Day 1, the wine came across lighter and more Burgundian. On Day 2 it filled out; becoming darker…and bigger with an almost chewy texture. It finishes with a flourish and in a way that only Piemonte can do. It makes an impression. In this case, I’m now a fiend for it. This is a fabulous expression of the Roncagliette MGA. Drink now with patience or enjoy over the next 20 years. — 3 years ago

Kyle Harvey

9.0

Malvasia delle lipari dolce vino fiend..."passito" — 10 years ago

Rachael Doob

9.3

Omg I'm going to be a port fiend! So sweet and silky and delicious. Dark fruity and rich. — 10 years ago

Broseph Janderson

9.5

papa gonna drink this dank shit tonight, son.

I came I drank I fiend for it. — 12 years ago

Sharona

9.1

Pizza party — 3 years ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

Quite fun. Refreshing and fruit forward with candied grapefruit and raspberry that are not sweet though. Sprightly. Someone was dancing with limes nearby. A limey backdrop of freshness that makes this good with spicy or savory. I want to re-try with Taco Bell fries when they resurface, in the meantime my veg-fiend self is gobbling my usual gallons of raw cauliflower dipped in Sriracha. Y’all, my food/wine writer life is so glam n lit.
Or not. But the drinks are good and the veggies are your friend. — 7 years ago

Richard Haynes

9.2

A pure & wild expression of #albarino - reminiscent of 1er Cru Chablis or a fine Muscadet. Very cool, if a little wine-nerdy. Admittedly I am a fiend for Albariño... — 10 years ago

Emma Criswell

PR Manager, Maisons Marques & Domaines / Louis Roederer

9.1

Sauvignin from Switzerland. The Jura fiend in me is very excited. Not as oxidized as a typical Jura, but certainly has notes of hazelnut and orange blossom. — 11 years ago

charles glanders

8.9

very flowery and a bit sour with a syrupy nutty aftertaste. plenty funky. good for summer porch hangs — 6 years ago

Mason Balistreri

Sommelier, International Wine Guild; Balistreri Vineyard; Sales, Joy Wine and Spirits

9.5

Next up from the 2009 line up is Jean Paul Brun. Wow, what a serious wine! Power, fruit, body and totally luscious. The fruit is balanced by loads of spice. Slick, smooth mouth feel. I don't have much experience with this producer's older vintages, but this is a home run. Total cross over appeal for everyone from the hardened burgundy fiend to people looking for something simply delicious. — 8 years ago

Greg Ballington

Co-Founder of Millennial Drinkers Wine Blog

9.2

Seventh wine and second one from Stags Leap District. Moderate intensity in the red shade with slight brownish edges. Sort of a fiend for this kind of nose. Started of with a slight vegetal/bell peppers on the nose and opened to a more dirty cellar and some lighter dark fruits. Moderate plus tannins (7.5/10) with moderate plus body. Slightly dry in the month finish but the body was coated in solid dark fruits and balanced acidity. Nice bit of spices too. Drink till 2030. — 10 years ago

Janell Dusi

9.6

So lean and crisp! Made by my Bugarian fiend Desi, thanks for sharing! — 11 years ago