John Micklethwaite

9.5

2019 vintage was excellant — a month ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Nicely made, good body, smooth w/ no hard oak edges. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

The oak has integrated from my previous note in February 2017 where the influence of oak Barriques was overly present. Sangiovese is not enhanced by too much oak in my opinion and is best matured in large Botti like I said in my previous note like Biondi Santi. Red cherry and earth notes finishing with powdery tannins. Coming together. — 5 months ago

Shay A

9.4

My contribution for a guys night of rosé sparklers and Brunello. Alongside a few bottles of Biondi Santi, Il Poggione, Mastro Janni, and others.

Zero experience with this producer, and while I struggle to find my preferred “style” in Italy (Italian merlot?, old Barolo?, Brunello of all ages?), this brunello was lights out good and right up my alley. I slow-oxed this for almost an hour. Layers! Deep red. So floral and sweet-spice forward aromatically with faint oak. Dense and powerful core of roasted black cherry, tar, sweet tobacco, light balsamic and herbal pop with a juicy and massive finish…big structure (but the acidity keeps this hard to resist another sip). Obviously in a slightly bigger style thanks to the vintage, this is incredibly well put together and complex. I think I have one more, thankfully.

Day two showed an even more integrated wine that was firing on all cylinders. Decant 2-3hrs or hold a few more years for this window. 94-95+

Served with lobster ravioli, prime beef tenderloin carpaccio, lamb rack…about as good as it gets with rosé sparkling wines and Brunello! — a year ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.0

Declassified brunello for the 14 vintage. Tasty wine, but they were smart to declassify this year as the quality difference is stark. — 3 years ago

Jeff Miller

9.2

Elegant and delicious Brunello for my 43rd birthday. I’m a sucker for the Brunellos coming from North of town of Montalcino like La Gerla, Il Marroneto and Biondi Santi. This offering from La Gerla was shy at the start but opened up beautifully after 4 hours. Notes are from two nights. Morello cherry, wild strawberry, dusty earth, old cedar, dried potpourri, dried rose petal, spice, licorice, dried Tuscan herbs, tobacco and worn leather Medium plus body, medium plus tannin, medium plus acidity and medium plus length of finish.

— 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Pleasant 100% Italian Cabernet that will take another 5 yr to flush out and develop more character. But smooth and elegant now. Add a point or two in 5-8 yrs. — 2 months ago

Ed Chin

9.4

This sample was given to me. Tannins are resolved to the point of almost nonexistent. A fair amount of acid with what little fruit was dark and baked. Cherries leather and tobacco leaf. Darn yummy but I wish I had some food with it. — 3 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.1

2021 vintage. Lean, sleek and back-end tannic presence. 12.10.25. — 6 months ago

Bruce Leboff

9.7

Brilliant. Elegant and well balanced. Superb. Outshone the Biondi Santi - albeit completely different character. Love the smooth caressing finish. Beautifully balanced — a year ago

with Michael and David

Jack Krawczyk

9.9

freshly ripe plum with a cherry-bourbon light finish — a year ago

Brian S

9.4

Great new super Tuscan from Biondi Santi. Great fruit and beautifully rustic. — 2 years ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.5

This was so much further along than the Biondi santi and was a very impressive showing. Already developing deeper notes and just felt more complete. Would immediately recommend and buy again! — 4 years ago

Karen Lowenstein

9.7

Absolutely delicious, a full bodied yet light brunello. Another great wine shared from Jesse. Went perfectly with a dinner of roasted salmon. — 6 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

First time having this producer. Rose was good and not on the sweet end of scale. — 2 months ago

GaryWEdwards

9.4

Beautiful juice that is just hitting it’s stride! — 3 months ago

Inseon Hwang

9.0

Solid. Drinkable. Nice clarity. Good basic Bru. Mid tannins, clear and fresh. — 6 months ago

Marta Jackowska

9.7

Back at Le Cap where we discovered our wine of the year 2024 (Biondi Santi). This year going with a sommelier recommended Vosne Romanee (our go to red burgundy). Initial impression was “wow it’s another wine of the year contender” with notes of white truffle, strawberry ice cream and strawberry jam. Softer and more delicate than other Vosne’s we’ve tasted but after 3 hours of being open the taste dropped off at the end, so only a 9.7. — 9 months ago

with Neville

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.3

Tremendous Brunello. As good as Biondi Santi for a third of the price. — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

10

Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Southern Rhone and the other wine, Sangiovese from Toscano (it ended up being a 2012 Biondi Santi Riserva). This presented a bright ruby color in the glass with a transparent core. This wine…had an OMG nose. The kind of aromatics that could end all wars and bring a century of peace to all mankind. It’s both powerful and elegant. Both ripe and fresh. An androgynous wine that represents both masculine and feminine with a grace that would make Prince or David Bowie envious. Gorgeously layered red and dark fruits, exotic spices, licorice and garrigue wrapped in the most beautifully textured package imaginable. It reminded me of something similar a previous experience; like Fonsalette…but this was different, there was more here. When you taste this, everything becomes clear. You look at everyone at the table differently; for what you have more in common instead of what makes us different. An experience akin to an Odesza show on MDMA. It’s that profound and then you are forever changed. You wake up the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that and weeks go by and your worldview is different. You see love in everything. And then it was revealed to be a 2010 Chateau Rayas. *Insert expletive*. A magnificent wine. An epiphany and, as far as I’m concerned, perfect. This is not merely a great Chateauneuf du Pape. This transcends the appellation. It should be its own AOC. Drink now or whenever you’re reading this note. — 3 years ago