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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More...
Red

2005 Kunde Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

 Sonoma Valley more
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5/4/2012 - richardhod Likes this wine: 90 points

Must decant for more than an hour. On opening the tannins are still pretty sharp, and it's 7 years ols at this point! Once airated for an hour or two it shows good red and dark red fruits, boysenberry, red cherry, loganberry and so on; it demonstrates big tannins (both oak and grape), but in harmony with the wine, and it has good acidity. I think this may well age further very well to secondary characteristics, so I'm going to keep my remaining bottles for a few more years to let the tannins soften further.

Drink aerated, or keep for another few years to a decade. This could turn out be a really well-made Bordeaux-style Cabernet.

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Red

2006 Calcareous Syrah

 Paso Robles more
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8/19/2010 - richardhod wrote: 90 points

So, let's see about this alcohol. Or is it just a Paso thing you have to put up with for a good wine. So, I got myself out that bottle of the Syrah (the best of the threee by common consent) which I did find in one of the boxen of wine at the foot of my bed, here at my temporary place in Venice, CA. So... Here is a Faux-ratting live, At 7am from Los Angeles!

First tranche to come right here, keep your F5 ready:

So, first I rush downstairs, bl;earily in me nice blue boxers... Damnit my houemate opened up my ohter housemate's bottle of (ugh!) Oberon 07 Cab and so my nice shiny new Stuart Cellars huuuge decanter (pic to come) is used. to pour that blackcurrant bore-bomb back into its hole, sorry, bottle, and wash out the decanter with some nice filterd water. Aaaah, my mouth feels like the inside of a rhino's arse. I need more water. Mmmmmm. That's better. DAmn! My housemate's scratched the brand new Stuart Cellars decanter by using it as a !!!water jug for his dinner party on Sunday. Grrr. And it is a lovely one.. a single bottle hardly fills it at alll,, it'll carry at least three bottles, tho with less surface area than one. Best thing from Stuart Cellars. Found the rest of their stuff to be mightily disappointing!

I digress. Damn, I broke the cork with this crappy kitchen bottle opener, the sort that hurts your hand when yo use it as a corkscrew. Half a cork.. and some bits. Carefully does it..., and no, don't push down into the neck.. slooowly.. and ah, the screw's at the edge of the cork.. and.... yes! success!

Aaaaah! I can smell it frpom here. the nose!! le nez or that being Paso Robles even [/il nezzo. Hmm, I think I need to brush up on my Spanish. the nose is biiiiig in fruit. And yes, wow, alcohol. I must be drink and I haven't even drunk anyting yet. This morning, that is.

Dark sweet fruits. Syrah-y, I suppose. Is that bacon, or smoke, or fat? no idea,. Never used to look for those on the nose. Traditionally preferred them in my mouth. Well, not the smoke. Huuuge fruit in thst meduim-dark. Tobacco, definitely too.

Right, I'm taking this back to bed! Decanter, check, empty bottle, check, water glass, check. Damn, forgot the glass.. but I have a free Mount Palomar one here (their stuff's ok too, BTW, though frankly trhe only amazing wines in Temecula I've tried are Bella Vista.

OK, so let's sniff this now it's 15 mintues later. ooooh lots more fat and tobacco on the nose. Alcohol has gone a little. Maybe I should try to drink some. Oh wait, dry teeth-clean (no toothpaste, that would be silly for orange-juice tasting, never midn wine tasting, but I need to clear the ugh fuzz).

Ok, done! so, to taste....

Can small the alcohol as I go in for the kill. Still, swow.. spicy! Mmmm, smooth dark red fruits underneath. and wow, after the initial front taste of dark-red-blue tart-fruits (can't name them definitely, but maybe Boysenberry-arena) this palate is just all Mineral . and I mean tastes of lovely wet stones.. which is admittedly quite hard with porous limestone! but wow, that mineral cuts through the fruit after a few seconds on the palate.

wow! This is unique! High high alcohol, but it's balanced. Very alanced. Tart, even in parts, though the fruit, leather and bacon-umami come through on the palate. Then the mineral kicks in and zings you.

Maybe I'm mistaking high alcohol for mineral? Well, it's not tasting "hot". It's tasting of nice acid-on-stone. That's the thing. I hated that hot Pedroncelli Zin we tried at the winery (and the 07 we had on woot was somewhat too hot too). This ain't hot, though the nose has some of that before your nose cuts through it to smell the fruit-fat-bvacon and leeeeather.

So, it's taken me 30 minutes to get to this. And I'm loving it! Mooore fruit ont he palate too, it's opening up the redness in the fruit, like some loganberry adn nice tart redcurrants and cranberries! It ain't a Grand Cru St Emilion like what I had last night (well there's no Merlot for starters, and that was only an 03), but it's a damn good drink. A lot more mineral and zing. It's just a different experience. And, frankly, quite exciting. I might go in for some more... Great acid.

I'm hungry now. With Syrah it'll have to be an anglo-German breakfast. Time to go and get some toast and get that nice TJ's wine-salami from the fridge. THink I have some stilton and goat's cheese too. mmmm. Breakfast!

*****

tbc due to length restructions on reviews... for the rest of the review (from a live wooting rat) see COMMENTS below (on grapestories / new CT)

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Red

2005 Wellington Zinfandel

 Sonoma Valley more
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5/4/2012 - richardhod Likes this wine: 89 points

Excellent, but give it maybe 1-2 hours decanting and good aeration to let it open up and give off its minerality and extra complexity. A little hotter than I remember, but good zingy spicy dark red and blue fruits. I'm not a huge Zin lover at the moment, but this is very good.

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Red

2006 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

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2/15/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 89 points

Quite good: a heavy, fruity California Cab. Decent acid balance, a lot of smooth oak, giving drying tannins, and boysenberry and otehr red fruits. Some complexity but not the most refined. Smooth, but unsubtle-hitter with medium weight. More Napa style than restrained, but not an over the top fruit bomb.
Tasty.

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Red

2006 Wellington Merlot

 Sonoma Valley more
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12/1/2010 - richardhod Likes this wine: 90 points

Holy Merlot this is amazing! I went in for 2 because I wasn't sure about getting a whole case of Merlot, but Wellongton strikes again! Wish I'd been in for 3!

that dusty nose we noted during the blending tasting, with hints of dark fruit;

Vinturi'd: On the palate, huge minerality, and some peppery dark fruits comign fhrough. Not a huge body, but it may open out over the next few hours. Soft, subtle fruit flavours, with long mineral taste and a metallic, sharp dark fruit finish. Very tart dark red fruits, with hints or dried tomato, or rosemary (sage?) Very dry, though with a sweet kind of attack to the palate at the very front.

Remarkable. Almost too mineral at the moment. But such a wonderful flavour. I'm chucking the TLC I was trying beforehand in favour of this, easily!

Going to try it with my experimental Italian - sesame chicken and rice in a short while.

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Red

1998 Château Lanessan

 Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend more
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7/19/2012 - richardhod Likes this wine: 83 points

It's a good drink, but it's lost most of its fruit, and not enough leather and other bottle bouquet to make up for it. Medium-heavy, but it's lost its centre, and kept the tannins and acidity, which makes it austere, which at this age is a pity It works well with a meal, but still a bit harsh (decant well!). Give it an hour to open up, but it doesn't really get very complex. Disappointing at the price approaching 20 pounds. It was probably quite a good, boisterous Cab-claret, but nothing subtle and hasn't lasted.

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Red

2007 Expression Pinot Noir 44° Roserock Vineyard

 Eola - Amity Hills more
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3/14/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 89 points

Austere, but good. Probably needed more age, time, or to recover from travel shock

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Red - Fortified

1983 Warre Porto Vintage

 Port Blend more
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1/5/2013 - richardhod wrote: 89 points

May be a hint of TCA in this, but it could be paranoia from memories of the first two. I may jsut detect a hint of taint in this third bottle, but it's hard to tell as I've not yet had a good bottle of this stuff!

It's drinkable, with some decent deep berry flavours, and a hint of alcohol, but a little thin. Not as complex as I'd expect but a. it's just opened 30 minutes ago , and b. there may be a hint of cork suppressing its best qualities!

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White

2010 Kent Rasmussen Sauvignon Blanc Esoterica

 Suisun Valley more
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10/3/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 91 points

A classic Sauvignon Blanc. World-class, with New Zealand-style bite, some gooseberry, maybe a hint of a grapefruit, but with many more qualities to it too beyond the simple bomb variants. With striking acid, it also has with the body and warmth of a French SB, fine length, and mouthwatering minerality. Amazing.

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Red

2000 Giuseppe Contratto Barolo Tenuta Secolo Cerequio

 Nebbiolo more
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2/22/2013 - richardhod Likes this wine: 91 points

Pretty hefty Barolo, as expected, with big oak. Dusty, dark cherry violets on the nose, and sharp, dark fruits with stringent acidity on the palate. Mouth-puckeringly intense, and long palate, with red roses and sharp dark red cherry. After 3 hours opening the oak's a lot less intrusive, having been too much within the first hour. nicely integrated and well-done. , Although the intensity is high, the body is only medium, so it's not really as hefty as it might be, and I'd prefer a little more body to go with the hefty oak, even when it's integrated after a few hours.

I drank with a homemade Bolognese, but that wasn't hefty enough to go with it really. Needs maybe deeper meats, cheese or mushroom dishes to counterpoint this big, keenly acidic, traditional Barolo. Very good, if not quite the body to be sumptuous.

Probably best in 5-10 years.

Edit: Day 2, softened and has some nice violet on the palate too. Very good-cabernet-like in its complexity and subtlety. Excellent wine! up a point!

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Red

NV Wellington The Duke 8

 Sonoma Valley Red Blend more
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11/5/2010 - richardhod wrote: 89 points

This wine, for under a tenner is truly amazing! It's huge with heaps of flavours, and fruits and even structure! Tannins galore. I'm sure a Vinturi could tame it somewhat, but it' no shrinking violet this. Thing is, it has great strong red fruit in it, like damsons and rounded peach with strawberries. And tart loganberries. Or Lingonberries, or something. nice sharp acid, but not malic-green tart! More mineral. You can tell there's Merlot in it and some heftier grapes too.

It's a great NV, made withI think lots of Merlot, PV, CS and whatever else they had left from 07-09! It's definitely rustic, and not a subtle thing, but its strong hefty ed fruits, tannins and good acid make it the best buy I've even made . It has so much power and body and tannins it'll last a few years too.

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Red

2008 Ty Caton Racchus Red

 Sonoma Valley Red Blend more
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11/12/2010 - richardhod Likes this wine: 87 points

Comparative review with the Wellington Winery Duke 8.

The first time round I didn't like the Racchus; then I tasted it again on the beach off the headland at the Golden Gate bridge and it was a lot better. But it's entirely the opposite kind of drink to the 8th Duke of Wellington. The Racchus is King's College choir to the Duke's St John's College choir. The first is a soft, smooth silky experience, which many people will love for its round friendly resonances. The Duke is altogether bolder, punchier, with much more life and dynamic range. It has so much more depth, complexity and overtones going on. True it's coarser and more rustic, but what it lacks in smoothness and ease if approach it way more makes up for in sheer volume, taste and liveliness. And the Duke is half the price! Horses for courses.

Edit: I may have sounded as if saying this isn't worth buying, but it is. It's smooth, fruity and tasty, if with slightly bitter tannins and more smooth extracted than zippy lively wine. Does have good balance but the wine is all about soft and smooth and maybe a bit of sweet. Parker-style wine lovers will like this as a good everyday drinker.

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Red

2009 Poliziano Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Vigna Asinone

 Sangiovese more
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4/18/2021 - richardhod Likes this wine: 94 points

I never expected this out of a sangiovese, but wow, this is a revelation. I bought 4 bottles in 2012 because they were on accidental 75% discount in Tesco, and it looked like great wine. Every time I take it I go wow this is good but I bet it opens up in time. And still it's not immediately open on the first day which means it's got years left, maybe two decades even.

This is still dark and closed and tannic on day 1 but after 24-hours of being open it has opened up into leather and Cassis and briar fruits with still strong acidity and some floral notes on the middle and end of the palate. It is long and deep and subtle and beautiful. This could last another 10 years. I hope I haven't just drunk my last bottle! Highly recommended this is a really really good wine, and structured to last.

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White - Sweet/Dessert

1999 Château de Fesles Bonnezeaux La Chapelle

 Chenin Blanc more
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5/29/2012 - richardhod wrote: NR

from the oxford wine company.. we haven't opened our bottle yet
A pleasing pale golden hue on inspection. As with the 1998, the nose is captivating, with plenty of stone and mineral characteristics. Behind this there is a core of rich, honeyed aromas, and a suggestion of lemony freshness, with rosemary herb nuances. On the palate it is fabulously rich, yet balanced, with superb acidity, a hallmark of Chenin Blanc. A lovely, fat, round, oily texture, with a deep, mealy, mineral complexity which surpasses that found in the 1998, which had a more elegant and slightly less rich feel to it. Great sweetness and nicely poised acidity. Tremendous length. Marvellous stuff.

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Red

2009 Amala Springs Syrah

 California more
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4/15/2011 - richardhod wrote: NR

No idea if this is going to be any good. IT was a "deal-filler", a hopefully decent bottle of wine to fill out my promo purchase from the mostly-terrible stock of wine insiders. This is what they say about the winemaker:

A bit-of-a-maverick winemaker with close, terrific vineyard contacts creates wines from grapes grown throughout the prestigious areas of California. He produced this lovely Syrah from grapes grown in two distinct areas of California. Syrah characteristics vary depending on climate and ripeness. Cool climate Central Coast grapes contribute notes of blackberry and pepper and a nice acidity for balance and aging potential, while grapes from the warmer North Coast vineyard offer jammy flavors. The result is a juicy, easy to enjoy full flavored Syrah.
Food: Barbecue, especially spareribs, bean based dishes such as cassoulet, grilled meats, aged cheeses

Region: California
Total Acid: 0.62 g/l
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 0.0 g/l
Cellaring: 2-3 years

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Red

2006 MacRostie Merlot

 Carneros more
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12/26/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 90 points

Really good, especially for a Merlot. Might help that it's "94% Merlot from Beckstoffer’s Las Amigas Ranch, which is on the Napa County side of Los Carneros, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bennett Vineyard, which is in the Coombsville area."

After a day in the opened bottle the dark red fruits were deep and open, not too plummy, no heat, just great fruit, balanced with a decent acidity and some soft integrated tannins on the finish. Much better fruit, though fewer traditional "claret" flavours than a good cheap French ordinary Bordeaux an inhabitant of Normandy had brought. (well, it's not claret, so that' sunderstandable). Fewer flavours, but much richer and more intense, and less green. Almost hints of mineral to it also. Rich, powerful, medium-long finish, it has some depth to it, and may well age nicely for another five years at least, given how well it was after a day open (undecanted). Amazing, especially for the price!

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Red

2005 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Estate Vineyard Series Ramal Vineyard

 Carneros more
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11/17/2010 - richardhod Likes this wine: 95 points

Fine wine, should with a couple of more years be even btter than the 03. A respected friend says it's a but like Premier, or even Grand Cru Burgundy at half the price, though this may be overenthusiasm. Yet it's really that good, I think... have to age it a while more to know for certain. Quite possible you could age this for a decade or considerably more. Complex, rich without being heavy or overripe or overoaked! Brilliant delicate complex Pinot.

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Red

2006 Schug Syrah Carneros

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3/12/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 91 points

This is one good Syrah. European-style, colder-climate from Carneros, but with some good CA fruit and fine length! Not too acid-tasting like some European ones, it has great legs, a firm body and lasts forever on the tongue.

Pepper, and spice on the palate, with sharp dry red fruits behind it. No alcohol heat,which is usually what you get when you taste
"spice". It tastes of Syrah, pure and simple, with some nods to a good Pinot Noir! It's the restrained pepperyness and the Carneros red fruit perhaps. Body is medium, it has great acid counterpoint, but not too much. It has good pH and will probably age interestingly too. Paired beautifully with a good hearty Coq au Vin I made yesterday.

I could drink this all day. And probably will! There will be more complex Syrahs, and heavier ones out there, ceertainly, but there is a lot going on in this bottle you'll have to find the very best to match this. Top value.

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Red

2007 Concannon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Conservancy

 Livermore Valley more
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2/21/2011 - richardhod wrote: 89 points

Tasted at the winery with Jim, the estate manager. Top bloke.

Smells of cabernet, or claret. As in smells old-world. nicely restrained, with green notes of bll pepper or bean. But not horribly-underriply so. ost going on on the palate, with red fruits. Good tart acid.

A little young, will keep for while, and will be a great accompaniment to a dinner.

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Red

2007 Concannon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Conservancy

 Livermore Valley more
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9/2/2012 - richardhod Likes this wine: 86 points

Nice Cab but nothing special. Not as European as I remember.

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White

2009 Château de Ligny Chablis

 Chardonnay more
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5/17/2011 - richardhod wrote: NR

Tesco notes: This clean and fresh white has a bouquet of apple and citrus fruits and combines the appetizing minerality of Chablis with hints of richness beneath.

Serve as an aperitif or try with a wide range of fish or white meat dishes

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White

2009 Château de Ligny Chablis

 Chardonnay more
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5/25/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 88 points

A very good straightforward Chablis, and outstanding at the sale price. Has a light malic and gooseberry attack, good zesty palate involving nice acid without astringency, some round fuller body, and a definite mineral on the end. Mpouthwatering, and medium-long finish! Lots of zip, plenty of life and although the palate is light without huge flavours of its own beyond the light goosberry and strong mineral, it has plenty to recommend it. Very good, and better than a bottom-end Chablis! Bargain

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White

2009 Château de Ligny Chablis

 Chardonnay more
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6/5/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 89 points

Not overly complex, and needs an hour to breathe, which allows the tannins (yes, or something that's a bit like them!) to spring out, and the intense minerality to shine and make your mouth water.

When first opened, it did complement smoked salmon, lemon and pepper quite well, but without much taste on the body. Later on, lon its own and with time to breathe, it came into its own. Gooseberry and tropical notes are more present on the palate. Don't drink it too cold.

Truly excellent, and I've never had a better white for a fiver!

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White

2009 Château de Ligny Chablis

 Chardonnay more
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8/4/2011 - richardhod Likes this wine: 91 points

Yum again. Way better than expected and while not heaps of fruit, it has enough to make a great balance, nice austere acid, and has a wonderful mineral back end once you let it open out for an hour or so. Would age for a few years yet if I didn't know I'll drink it all by next year!

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White

2009 Château de Ligny Chablis

 Chardonnay more
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6/19/2012 - richardhod Likes this wine: 87 points

This bottle had a little less ocmplexity. Drank a little warmer, it was greener rather than minerally. Possibly past its best now, or just a variant bottle.

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  • Tasting notes: 449 notes on 307 wines

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