France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Clear medium ruby with slight-moderate bricking; nose shows some mild heat, some red cherry fruit, some limited gamey notes, subtle overall for CnDP; palate is light-medium bodied, initially some cherry fruit, has light structure, midpalate is thin, hollow, comes across as acidic as the fruit drops out; finish is short-med, too acidic, slight bitterness. Disappointing showing given the region and price. Don't hold onto these for very long. 83-84
Dense purple color without bricking; dense black fruit on the nose, blackcurrant, blackberry, very modern and dense but doesn't quite tip over into synthetic, has pretty decent complexity with just faint hints of mint; palate has full body, blackberry fruit that is juicy in the midpalate, integrated structure; finish is short-medium length. This is certainly a modern-styled bordeaux but still recognizable as Bordeaux and surprisingly very enjoyable to drink. Good complexity and balance on the nose and palate. Though not necessarily my favorite style of Bordeaux, this one is well done in this style. Drinking well now but has time left. 90-91
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Disappointing. Nose is very subtle with some red fruits and slight spice, but nothing complex, interesting, or unique; palate is balanced but lacking fruit and complexity or density of fruit. A poor value overall and a disappointing wine. 85
Ruby-purple with little bricking; intense nose with red fruit, pomegranate, a little spice but not nearly as much spice or smokiness as I remember; palate shows full body, a bit of heat but not unbalanced, big red cherry fruit, juicy; finish is medium length. A good classic Turley zin, but not even close to my last bottle of this. Bottle variation, or perhaps this dropped off in the last 2 years. 90
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Spicy red fruit, subtle nose; palate has red fruit, approachable structure, good acidity. Nice balanced food wine. Decent finish with good fruit, medium length. Very enjoyable, but nothing that makes it unique. Drink now or in the short term (1-2 years). 88
From a half. Coravin 11/8/13: I think my last half was corked, so I wanted to taste another half soon to confirm. Same light yellow-golden color; nose shows great fresh white fruit, minerals, some baking spice that comes out with swirling, has good complexity; palate is medium bodied, moderate sweetness but great freshness, has a light feeling on the palate, incredible upfront spiciness that carries through the palate up until the finish, great white peach fruit, some very slight midpalate heat, some midpalate mineral complexity and also slight lack of density, complexity tapers off just before the finish; finish is medium length, finishes clean. This is very different from my last half (which had a palate almost devoid of any fruit) and confirms that it was likely corked. This one is drinking well, has classic Barsac freshness, minerality, and a surprising amount of spiciness and botrytis, and is lacking only the continued flavors through the finish to make it even better. Excellent now though young with a long life ahead, great to pair with food, and a wine to stock up on at its current price ($20-30/half). Though never at the top of its class, the Doisy Daene continues to be my favorite sauternes/barsac QPR. 92-93 11/15/13: When chilled, more balanced, pineapple, tropical fruit, good acidity, still quite ripe and with high alcohol (likely the character of the 2005 vintage). Either way, will let the rest of my halves rest 3-5 years before trying again.
1998 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 84 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Clear medium ruby with slight-moderate bricking; nose shows some mild heat, some red cherry fruit, some limited gamey notes, subtle overall for CnDP; palate is light-medium bodied, initially some cherry fruit, has light structure, midpalate is thin, hollow, comes across as acidic as the fruit drops out; finish is short-med, too acidic, slight bitterness. Disappointing showing given the region and price. Don't hold onto these for very long. 83-84
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2000 Château Fougas Maldoror 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Côtes de Bourg
Dense purple color without bricking; dense black fruit on the nose, blackcurrant, blackberry, very modern and dense but doesn't quite tip over into synthetic, has pretty decent complexity with just faint hints of mint; palate has full body, blackberry fruit that is juicy in the midpalate, integrated structure; finish is short-medium length. This is certainly a modern-styled bordeaux but still recognizable as Bordeaux and surprisingly very enjoyable to drink. Good complexity and balance on the nose and palate. Though not necessarily my favorite style of Bordeaux, this one is well done in this style. Drinking well now but has time left. 90-91
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2009 O'Connor Pinot Noir 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Disappointing. Nose is very subtle with some red fruits and slight spice, but nothing complex, interesting, or unique; palate is balanced but lacking fruit and complexity or density of fruit. A poor value overall and a disappointing wine. 85
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2003 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak
Ruby-purple with little bricking; intense nose with red fruit, pomegranate, a little spice but not nearly as much spice or smokiness as I remember; palate shows full body, a bit of heat but not unbalanced, big red cherry fruit, juicy; finish is medium length. A good classic Turley zin, but not even close to my last bottle of this. Bottle variation, or perhaps this dropped off in the last 2 years. 90
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1997 Fattoria dei Barbi Brunello di Montalcino 88 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Spicy red fruit, subtle nose; palate has red fruit, approachable structure, good acidity. Nice balanced food wine. Decent finish with good fruit, medium length. Very enjoyable, but nothing that makes it unique. Drink now or in the short term (1-2 years). 88
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2005 Château Doisy-Daëne 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
From a half. Coravin 11/8/13: I think my last half was corked, so I wanted to taste another half soon to confirm. Same light yellow-golden color; nose shows great fresh white fruit, minerals, some baking spice that comes out with swirling, has good complexity; palate is medium bodied, moderate sweetness but great freshness, has a light feeling on the palate, incredible upfront spiciness that carries through the palate up until the finish, great white peach fruit, some very slight midpalate heat, some midpalate mineral complexity and also slight lack of density, complexity tapers off just before the finish; finish is medium length, finishes clean. This is very different from my last half (which had a palate almost devoid of any fruit) and confirms that it was likely corked. This one is drinking well, has classic Barsac freshness, minerality, and a surprising amount of spiciness and botrytis, and is lacking only the continued flavors through the finish to make it even better. Excellent now though young with a long life ahead, great to pair with food, and a wine to stock up on at its current price ($20-30/half). Though never at the top of its class, the Doisy Daene continues to be my favorite sauternes/barsac QPR. 92-93
11/15/13: When chilled, more balanced, pineapple, tropical fruit, good acidity, still quite ripe and with high alcohol (likely the character of the 2005 vintage). Either way, will let the rest of my halves rest 3-5 years before trying again.
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