Marmalade, subtle hone, daffodil flowers. Palate is so smooth. Soft peach fuzz. Great texture. Love Bea's wines. Such a unique esoteric orange bottling.
One of my wines of the day. Super Bordeaux styling. Funkier aromatics. Dog poo and damp earth. Anise, green olive and white pepper. Minty, menthol tones. Still youthful showing some nice tannic qualities.
Only moderate complexity in this bottle. Was lacking a bit of umph compared to last two tastings. Anise, menthol. Light sweet spice. Palate a little austere. Nice length. Just a little let down. Tannins showing some green edges.
I enjoyed this wine. Again, it's not for everyone, but my palate was in the mood for a big blockbuster. I do believe it had nice acidity and wasn't too much. Spicy and a little hot on the nose, yes, but it came into harmony on the palate. Big and juicy. Blue fruit. Delicious quality.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Funky, dirty nose. Cinnamon and red hot candies. Unique and exotic blood orange accents. Rusty. Showing some nice age on the palate. Soft milk chocolate essence. Great supple finish. Showing really well now. One of my favorites of the day.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Heady nose. Really awesome and different from everything else on the table. Plump creamy and rich. Big mouth feel. Hearty and meaty. Super green olive city. Very very young. Yes, the acidity could be a bit higher, but this had a deliciousness play that is in my wheel house with Washington reds these days.
Really nice. And a great change up from the rest of the younger wines of the day. Funky Bordeaux styling. Nice blood orange, cinnamon, baking spices. Palate is soft and completely resolved. Really nice length with underbrush and potpourri accents.
Nice unique nose. Stinky with great fruit support. Big but still nice finesse. Palate a bit tart and surprisingly thin on the mouth feel. Still really enjoyable.
Very clean. Funky and earth driven. Minerals and iron ore nose as well. Great palate. So much green apple but round with maple and some toasty oak. Loved this Chardonnay.
Big and bold. Smoky, meaty but so much dark fruit in your face. Dark plummy raisinated. Palate is dark black fruit with chocolate and dusty tannins. Dark coffee grounds dominate too. Pretty delicious but not for everyone.
Gorgeous bubbly sporting brioche, fresh minerals, pear with yellow and white peach fuzziness Very stinky yet so fresh and lively. Great sparkling showing finesse and force at the same time.
Very impressed with this white from Washington. A little stinky with a cat pee play that was awesome. Honey dew and cantaloupe with a nice finish. Touch of wax on the mouth feel but really elegant.
Touch of anise and leather with black olive at the core. Tobacco and raspberry bramble. Palate is decent. A bit austere and muted as a whole. Still really nice - young.
So big and rich. Absolutely not for everyone or the faint of heart. Dark black blueberries and plums. Brown sugar, smoke, tar. Really really meaty. Super savory notes, black olive and super exotic baking spices. Balanced finish and if you like massive fruit and in your face wine with personality and still some nice restraint, this bottle is for you. I'd still wait at least five to seven more years to open another though.
Maybe I just wasn't feeling it on this day or my palate was fatigued. Just wasn't showing the way I had previously tasted. Big red and black charcoal with tannic structured currants. Okay but really really massive on this showing.
2008 Paolo Bea Santa Chiara 92 Points
Italy, Umbria
Marmalade, subtle hone, daffodil flowers. Palate is so smooth. Soft peach fuzz. Great texture. Love Bea's wines. Such a unique esoteric orange bottling.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1999 Château Léoville Poyferré 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Black olive. Funky, earthy big and juicy. Really youthful.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Cloud View Pritchard Hill 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Cherries, light spice. Lighter palate. Shorter acid driven finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard 90 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
Light rustic dark cherry. Moderate complexity.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1995 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
One of my wines of the day. Super Bordeaux styling. Funkier aromatics. Dog poo and damp earth. Anise, green olive and white pepper.
Minty, menthol tones. Still youthful showing some nice tannic qualities.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1994 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Finca Dofí 92 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Subtle aromas. Some light green herbs, softer palate. Some structure left. Very nice and elegant.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Château Cos d'Estournel 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Only moderate complexity in this bottle. Was lacking a bit of umph compared to last two tastings.
Anise, menthol. Light sweet spice. Palate a little austere. Nice length. Just a little let down. Tannins showing some green edges.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Modus Operandi Cellars Antithesis 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
I enjoyed this wine. Again, it's not for everyone, but my palate was in the mood for a big blockbuster. I do believe it had nice acidity and wasn't too much.
Spicy and a little hot on the nose, yes, but it came into harmony on the palate. Big and juicy. Blue fruit. Delicious quality.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2001 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin 93 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Funky, dirty nose. Cinnamon and red hot candies. Unique and exotic blood orange accents. Rusty.
Showing some nice age on the palate. Soft milk chocolate essence. Great supple finish. Showing really well now. One of my favorites of the day.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heirloom 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Nice juicy bright and fruity. Candied as you'd imagine. Creamy rich palate. Really easy going and tasty.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Leonetti Cellar Reserve Walla Walla Valley 94 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Heady nose. Really awesome and different from everything else on the table. Plump creamy and rich. Big mouth feel. Hearty and meaty. Super green olive city. Very very young. Yes, the acidity could be a bit higher, but this had a deliciousness play that is in my wheel house with Washington reds these days.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1979 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Really nice. And a great change up from the rest of the younger wines of the day.
Funky Bordeaux styling. Nice blood orange, cinnamon, baking spices.
Palate is soft and completely resolved. Really nice length with underbrush and potpourri accents.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Agharta Wines Black Label 92 Points
USA, California, North Coast
Nice unique nose. Stinky with great fruit support. Big but still nice finesse. Palate a bit tart and surprisingly thin on the mouth feel. Still really enjoyable.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1995 Sterling Vineyards SVR Reserve 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Little pepper and green stemmy notes. Plum with a touch of green flowers and spice.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2003 Château Troplong Mondot 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Musty nose. Touches of ripe red fruit. Barnyard. Palate dark showing brown sugar play. Molasses.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Johan Vineyards Pinot Noir Vin Gris Estate 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Orange tint. Peach, fresh orange. Subtle and caressing on the palate. Very smooth.
Moderate complexity. Real fun and unique.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Johan Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Light pink cotton candy. Blood orange, strawberry. Soft finish.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2009 Johan Vineyards Pinot Noir Nils Reserve 92 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Really nice. Lots of spice and ripe fruit. Still showing some restraint. Great core. Brown sugar and tomato soup actually. Loved it.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Johan Vineyards Pinot Noir Nils Reserve 90 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
A little more green stem showing than the '09. Bigger and thicker styling. A little tart on the finish.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2010 Johan Vineyards Chardonnay Reserve 92 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Very clean. Funky and earth driven. Minerals and iron ore nose as well.
Great palate. So much green apple but round with maple and some toasty oak. Loved this Chardonnay.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Ovid Experiment M9.36 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Big and bold. Smoky, meaty but so much dark fruit in your face. Dark plummy raisinated. Palate is dark black fruit with chocolate and dusty tannins.
Dark coffee grounds dominate too. Pretty delicious but not for everyone.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2000 Château Grand Mayne 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
ANISE ANISE ANISE.
Tar, pepper and dark cherries. Leather. Showing nice styling in a great vintage. Still so young.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
Big and ripe. Woody nose. Stinky but showing nice restrained cool climate fruit. Not too flashy or ripe. Really high on the tasty factor.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Henri Goutorbe Champagne Grand Cru Special Club 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Gorgeous bubbly sporting brioche, fresh minerals, pear with yellow and white peach fuzziness
Very stinky yet so fresh and lively. Great sparkling showing finesse and force at the same time.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri
Dark berries, dark mocha and coffee grounds. Big palate. Dark fruit all day.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc 91 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Very impressed with this white from Washington. A little stinky with a cat pee play that was awesome.
Honey dew and cantaloupe with a nice finish. Touch of wax on the mouth feel but really elegant.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2008 Château Brane-Cantenac 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Touch of anise and leather with black olive at the core. Tobacco and raspberry bramble. Palate is decent. A bit austere and muted as a whole. Still really nice - young.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1979 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Reserva 93 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
From magnum. Awesome. Spicy peppery meaty. Almost smells like a fast food french fry. Really exotic spice box drive. So nice.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Saxum Broken Stones 93 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
So big and rich. Absolutely not for everyone or the faint of heart. Dark black blueberries and plums. Brown sugar, smoke, tar.
Really really meaty. Super savory notes, black olive and super exotic baking spices. Balanced finish and if you like massive fruit and in your face wine with personality and still some nice restraint, this bottle is for you. I'd still wait at least five to seven more years to open another though.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
One dimensional. Still nice qualities but nothing to set it apart.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2000 Gaston Chiquet Champagne Special Club Brut 93 Points
France, Champagne
Another killer bubbly. Gorgeous nose. brioche and earth. Some nice funk.
Great light lemon, grassy and not too rich or ripe.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva 90 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
Maybe I just wasn't feeling it on this day or my palate was fatigued. Just wasn't showing the way I had previously tasted.
Big red and black charcoal with tannic structured currants. Okay but really really massive on this showing.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2007 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Ripe purple plums and some forest floor. Spice driven with a big full throttle finish. A little molasses. Candied qualities.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue