TASTE: oak bomb! buttery; weak rear palate; somewhat fat and uninspiring ... boooring, but not really offensive, except the oak treatment is too much for me.
NOSE: smells a lot like the outside of a fresh pineapple ... acidic, fruity, a bit green; similar to a very light sauternes.
BODY: medium bodied; pale yellow color
TASTE: very nice minerality front and center, with some tropical sweetness sitting in back; definitely some r.s. going on, but the minerality and bright fruits lift the sweetness off the palate in a very pleasing way. Full palate; long finish; Gorgeous wine!
NOSE: caramel and butterscotch notes; hint of spearmint; moderately expressive and very interesting.
BODY: medium-light bodied; amber colored.
TASTE: slightly oxidated palate of pure apple cider; lightly sweet; medium-length finish; a bit hot on the finish; this is past it's peak, but still provides pleasurable drinking. Drink now.
NOSE: a tad reductive; smoke; BBQ sauce; soy sauce.
BODY: mahogany-garnet color of incredible depth; sediment present; medium-full bodied
TASTE: a bit reductive on the palate; the fruit used to make this was clearly very ripe; flavors of black licorice, brown sugar, and bell pepper round-out this Aussie blend; finish is of medium length; too tannic to be well-balanced.
NOSE: slightly reductive at first ... blew away after 30 - 45 min.; baked cherries; sandalwood spice emerged after an hour or so.
BODY: superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine; ruby core, turning to burnt sienna at edges (this appears too brown for its age); medium bodied.
TASTE: a bit hot and tannic; cherry; spices emerged as it opened up ... also smoothed-out some with some air time. A little better than the '05 bottling.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: oxidated bouquet of mulled raspberries
BODY: lots of superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine
TASTE: notes of bell pepper and sugary cherry licorice didn't save this bottle ... clearly heat damaged and/or premoxed. Too bad, b/c I really like St. Emilions, and would have liked to taste a representative bottle.
NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noirs 88 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: light bouquet with strawberry front and center; a bit yeasty
BODY: pale salmon colored; large bubbles; loose bead; medium bodied.
TASTE: strawberry; strawberry leaves; full palate; medium-long finish; not complex, but quite tasty in its simplicity.
B: 50, 4, 11, 16, 7 = 88]
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2007 Ravenswood Chardonnay Vintners Blend 84 Points
USA, California
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: banana-oak; rich; hint of pear; simple
BODY: pale yellow color; medium-full bodied
TASTE: oak bomb! buttery; weak rear palate; somewhat fat and uninspiring ... boooring, but not really offensive, except the oak treatment is too much for me.
B: 50, 5, 10, 14, 5 = 84
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2005 de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé 92 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: smells a lot like the outside of a fresh pineapple ... acidic, fruity, a bit green; similar to a very light sauternes.
BODY: medium bodied; pale yellow color
TASTE: very nice minerality front and center, with some tropical sweetness sitting in back; definitely some r.s. going on, but the minerality and bright fruits lift the sweetness off the palate in a very pleasing way. Full palate; long finish; Gorgeous wine!
B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 8 = 92
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2007 Campanile Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio 83 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Grave
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: acidic-smelling bouquet of apple and pears; moderately expressive.
BODY: pale white-yellow color; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: flat: light flowery fruits are dominated by minerals; a bit alcoholic.
B: 50, 5, 10, 13, 5 = 83
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2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 90 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
-- cracked and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: acidic; grapefruit and minerals with a slight green element to it ... very nice-smelling Sauv. Blanc
BODY: nearly clear-colored; medium bodied
TASTE: lush mouthfeel for a Sauv. Blanc: nice citrus and pear notes; medium-long finish. Solid bottling year-in, year-out ... this is no exception.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90
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1995 Franz Reh Piesporter Goldtröpfchen Riesling Kabinett 89 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: caramel and butterscotch notes; hint of spearmint; moderately expressive and very interesting.
BODY: medium-light bodied; amber colored.
TASTE: slightly oxidated palate of pure apple cider; lightly sweet; medium-length finish; a bit hot on the finish; this is past it's peak, but still provides pleasurable drinking. Drink now.
B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = 89
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2006 Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon Vintners Blend 83 Points
USA, California
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: leather; BBQ sauce; hint of coffee ... very dark and roasted bouquet, overall. I wish there was more fruits.
BODY: clear; garnet color of moderate depth; medium-full bodied.
TASTE: very tannic and oaky -- American oak; smoky cassis flavor. Meh ... not my thing.
B: 50, 5, 10, 13, 5 = 83
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2003 Penfolds Rawson's Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 87 Points
Australia, South Eastern
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
-- 58% Shiraz, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon --
NOSE: a tad reductive; smoke; BBQ sauce; soy sauce.
BODY: mahogany-garnet color of incredible depth; sediment present; medium-full bodied
TASTE: a bit reductive on the palate; the fruit used to make this was clearly very ripe; flavors of black licorice, brown sugar, and bell pepper round-out this Aussie blend; finish is of medium length; too tannic to be well-balanced.
B: 50, 5, 11, 15, 6 = 87
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2006 Ferrari-Carano Merlot Flawed
USA, California, Sonoma County
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: poopy blackberries ... this doesn't smell right.
BODY: medium bodied; dark purplish color
TASTE: tannic; mulled raspberries ... tastes off ... way too advanced for an '06. I'm calling this flawed ... likely heat-damaged or premoxed.
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2004 Gloria Ferrer Pinot Noir 87 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: slightly reductive at first ... blew away after 30 - 45 min.; baked cherries; sandalwood spice emerged after an hour or so.
BODY: superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine; ruby core, turning to burnt sienna at edges (this appears too brown for its age); medium bodied.
TASTE: a bit hot and tannic; cherry; spices emerged as it opened up ... also smoothed-out some with some air time. A little better than the '05 bottling.
B: 50, 4, 12, 15, 6 = 87
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2004 Château Magdelaine Flawed
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: oxidated bouquet of mulled raspberries
BODY: lots of superfine particulate matter suspended in the wine
TASTE: notes of bell pepper and sugary cherry licorice didn't save this bottle ... clearly heat damaged and/or premoxed. Too bad, b/c I really like St. Emilions, and would have liked to taste a representative bottle.
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NV Sandeman Porto 20 Year Old Tawny 89 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: sweet; pecans and walnuts; moderately alcoholic
BODY: brown-amber color; medium-full bodied
TASTE: pecans and brown sugar; sweet; somewhat simple; very pleasing, nonetheless.
B: 50, 5, 11, 16, 7 = 89
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