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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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Red
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2008 Ridge Zinfandel Pagani Ranch
Sonoma Valley
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Was served at a dinner party, a wine lover's friend's house 3 nights ago.
Dark, inky, purple-garnet in color & viscosity.
Deep nose spicy wet underbrush & los of subtle fruits.
A bit hot & tight on the nose which also came across on the palate.
Lots of deep fruits (red & black berries), curants, spiciness & herbal notes.
OK!?
Now here's what I think. The wine did evolve in the glass & started to show very nice & well integrated flavors of fruits, spicines, and terroir character.
Full bodied, rich, and well balanced wth a good finish.
BUT . . . it did take almost two hours to start showing that . . . and I felt that its potential lays way off still at least 2-3 years away.
Easily capable of reaching the WS 92pts/WA 94pts that it has received . . . but NOT right now.
Needs age . . . so am gonna pick up a couple of bottles & lay them down a while!!
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Red
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2007 Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles
Paso Robles
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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My experience is very much in line with Rich S (see three reviews before this one).
Opened a 1/2 bottle with a nice chicken & Salad meal. Not a huge California wine fan, compared to the palate I have for old world stuff, and I truly did find this wine showing strong oak but, again, with enough acidity, body, hints of aok/vanilla, mocha, shrub herbs, and enough red & black fruit expression that I thoroughly enjoyed this. Getting my hands on a few more 1/2 bottles so I don't have to brek open full bottles (of which I have about 4!). :-)
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Red
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2009 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard
Willamette Valley
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had this at a small wine tasting.
Nice nose of bright red fruits with strong oakiness, kirsch & spiciness.
Rather thin with nice fruit expressions and underlying kirsch, nutmeg, & phenolic tones.
. . . But waited about 30 min and it began opening up nicely (mind you, the bottle had been open for at least a coupla' hours already). More expressive, greater body, mouthfulness, and "glycerine coating" coming through. The up front oakiness faded into the background & balanced nicely.
Good background of kirsch & forest floor flavors showing through while still bringing out greater fruitness. Mmmm!
OVerall very enjoyable. Not sure about teh QPR at nearly $50/bottle . . . BUT, I may still pick one up. :-)
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Red
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2007 Dobbin Lane Merlot
Central Coast
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What an interesting surprise!
So what is this wine? A bunch of excess Merlot, a small producer (or a large producer with excess capacity), made just right, add a few years in the bottle.
End up with something unexpectantly good. Seems the universe is in alignment on this one.
Deep earthy/fruit on the nose. On the palate deep bramble and dark berry fruits mixed in with underbrush, deep forest peet, earthiness with some spices (even hint of cinnamon), moderately significant complexity and med long finish. The complexity and character kept evolving as it opened. I've been told that this wine evolves even more the second day, but the bottle was finished in one evening.
Surprisingly good, really impressed me for a Merlot (didn't know they could be this great)! Tasted way above it's price point and would compare to a $35-$45 bottle in quality, character, balance, and complexity. For the price (<$10), I bought 2/3 of a case.
CHEERS!
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Red
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2007 White Stone Heavyweight Red
California
Red Blend more
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Solid straight forward fruit expressive (lots red & dark berry flavors) with currants, touches of vanilla & faint hints almond/hazel nuts. Med bodied. Not very complex but very good for quafing and very friendly & approacheable.
Mostly Cab with some Zin & Syrah to bring out the flavors. Excellent PQR. Will be gifting the office staff this one as a holiday gift.
Total score 88-89!!
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Red
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2007 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Not a fan of the big California highly extracted oaky Cab style.
This wine was recommended to me by the store manager as a good pedestrian Cabernet.
It has lush red fruit flavors on the nose, with hints spiciness & oak.
Very straight forward palate of red fruits with oak & spiciness present. Yet I found it one dimentional and NOT very seductive at all.
A little disappointing. For a < $20 wine, i could search around & find many others more to my liking.
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Red
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2007 Pianetta Sangiovese
Paso Robles
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AM a big fan of California Central Coast wines for their terroir expression.
A nice herbal/undrebrush nose w/ a good background of fruit.
Drinkeable now w/ little air time, although oxygenation brought out the flavor more.
Solid red fruits (strawberry & cranberry) along with hints of kirsch, sage, herbal blends, & touch vanilla.
Med-full bodied. Wonderful flavor but only med depth and somewhat lacking in complexity.
Overall, a very good qaffing wine . . . just not sure I'd want to pay > $20 for abottle.
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Red
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2008 Herman Story Syrah Nuts & Bolts
California
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Now THAT is what I'm talkin' 'bout!!!
94+
Will write a better (longer) review when I'm on my computer, instead of this labor intensive iPad.
(LOL)
An excellent example of California Central Coast meets the Cote-Rotie.
==============================================================================================
OK! Now for my review. Good balance fruity (strawberry & dark fruits) on the nose along with layers of subdues kirsch, forest floor, earthy spices. A bit young & alcoholic notes as well. Tastes even more expressive than the nose. Fruit is even more broad with tastes of pmegranate as well; lots of kirsch and spices incl hints of ginger & nutmeg, vanilla and woodiness. Still young and a tad hot. Will likely express itself more over the next few years. Very impressive. Will match well with many pairings & settings.
Really a good expression of the fruit forwardness of new world wines (but not in your face at all) mixed with layers of terroir expression reminiscent of old world wines. Will try to get my hands on more.
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Red
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2008 Herman Story Grenache On The Road
California
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What the heck is this wine?!?! Had it with dinner . . . the food was so much better than this drink.
Such great promise from a WS 93 rating . . . my expeience couldn't be more opposite.
Very nice present grenache & rhone varietal fruit flavors along with earthiness & various spices . . . yet thin & underwhelming.
Overly HOT, alcoholic, and oaky. Not just youth, but generally lacking a good palate feel or coating.
Not really sure if a little more air or bottle time can smooth it out & bring out greater potential. Not sure the PQR is all that good if it doesn't improve!
But for now, am NOT very impressed . . . just opened a 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel (Rouge) for a little late night glass. Mmmm! Much better.
Sorry Herman Story, you'll have to win me over some other way!
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White - Sweet/Dessert
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2009 Château Suduiraut
Sauternes
Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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What Jeff Leve said in his notes.
Lots of layers of sweet fruits and blossoms that're just starting to come together, but still needing time to mature.
Reminds me of a younger slightly lighter 2001.
Tasted at The Union DES Grand Cru Bordeaux 2009 in LA.
Overall impression 94-97.
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Red
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2001 Senor de Lesmos Rioja Crianza
Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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Good deep garnet color, good legs & viscosity.
Very briary with wet underbrush prominent on the nose.
The fruit is subdued & barely present, nonetheless it showed well with a good med-full body and a med-long finish. Lots of subtle herbal & woodsy flavors, with good structure. Overall very enjoyable.
Would go well with baked meats & dishes, grilled veggies, even a fuller bodied vegan or vegetarian dish.
I enjoyed it!
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Red
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2009 Château Roc de Segur
Bordeaux
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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A little thin. Very Bordeaux-esque, showing more terroir (spice, kirsch, herbal underbrush notes) than fruit (which is far into the background).
NOT complex but good straight forward drinking. A very good value considering it's around $10. Won't give it more than 2-4 years shelf life.
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BTW, I'd say it shows a very good promise of what the Bordeaus 2009 vintage promises to deliver!!
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Red
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2008 Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Paso Robles
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Justin wines are favorites of mine, so I'm perhaps a bit biased.
Deep kirschy, a bit minerally, and herbal on the nose. Very dark ruby/inky in color.
Classic Cab taste, nice full body with loads of red & dark fruit, kirsch, olive & chocolate, touch of cinnamon and wood.
Also present that undeniable Paso Punch (spiciness) . . but wait a minute, me thinks there's a bit of Napa Cab fruit mixed in (but what do I know).
Still, I think it makes a very nice blend.
Solid Central Coast Cab, would prob remain approacheable for several years (5-6 years) to come.
Well done!!! :-)
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Red
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2008 Sans Liege The Offering
Santa Barbara County
Red Rhone Blend more
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I agree with pretty much all the previous wine reviewers posted so far!! An EXCELLENT PQR for the wine that it is.
Lush, rich, full bodied but not overwhelming. Good balance, and although still a tad young, it oipened up beautifully. It was the first wine on Thanksgiving dinner . . . AND the first course. (Mmmm, LOL)
Delicious.
I'm a cigar smoker, so I have a hearty palate and enjoy fuller flavors.
This wine DID NOT disappoint. Came up a tad short on complexity, but I think that a year ot two of cellaring wil bring it up to a 92-94 rating!
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Red
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2007 Marietta Cellars Petite Sirah Alexander Valley
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Tasted this at a favorite store today.
Relatively viscous, reddish purple color with a thick jammy nose of dark fruits and strawberry.
[That's one reason I like the Petit Syrah grape so much . . . makes a very jammy, mouthful wine. :-) ]
Flavors of very light black pepperwith a trace of mint, some ginger and herb de provence.
Very dominant fruits with strawberry, blackberry, hints of blueberry, and figs.
[I always taste figs with Petit Syrah.] Great mouth coating, long satisfying finish.
Enough complexity to make a great food wine, enough fruit seductiveness for simple quaffing.
Didn't need much time to open up, very approacheable now . . . suspect it could still cellar 2-3 years, although I won't be waiting that long.
Excellent QPR at $17. A solid 91-92!!
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Red
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2009 The Pinot Project Pinot Noir
California
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Hmmm! A nice, simple, quaffable Pinot Noir for around $10.
Who'd have believed.
Good wholesome fruit with a nice but light red & dark cherry flavors and a touch of spice.
Not much tannins, a light finish, not deep in structure of complexity at all.
BUT, still, has enjoyable qualities. Not bad for $10.
P.S. Kudos to xfactor for his reviews; got the flavors spot on so much better than me.
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Red
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2009 Gilles Robin Crozes-Hermitage Papillon
Syrah more
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Young nose of underbrush with lush underlying chery & berry fruit, a little hot, phenolic, and alcoholic.
Young tasting but a very nice northern rhone cuvee with the classic northern fruit berry (mostly red), terroir, and underlying herbs & spices.
Tasty, flavorful, expressive, but lacking in deep complexity (but still showing some likeable complexity).
For a bottle that's < $20, a purrty good value for the money. Had it at a tasting & it was one of two bottles picked up!
Has potential for a coupla' years age and some evolution in the bottle.
Would likely open up more given time in a glass. But overall, pleasing.
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Felt that is would score 88pts - 92pts, depending on how much it would open up & age. So I gave it a middle score of 90.
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Red
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2008 Tobin James Château Le Cacheflo
Paso Robles
Red Blend more
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Agree w/ most reviewers here. An excellent quaffing wine with a very nice broad fruit expression along with a tight terroir presence (but not so tight that it's unpleasant), and a distinctive "Paso punch".
A bit hot but readily improves w/ air time, finish not very long but leaves you wanting another sip.
Room for improvement? I'd say a longer finish, a little more depth & complexity, maybe better longevity.
BUT, for the QPR (I managed to get my hands on several bottles at a "fire sale" price < $10), it's EXCELLENT!
Thiink I'm gonna have to visit the Tobin James Vineyard & try some of their other wines. :-)
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Red
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2009 Coquelicot Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir Coquelicot Estate Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley
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My tasting is very close to micklethepickle's experience.
I'd add that the wine iricher & more plush compared to many lighter styled Pinot Noirs, without being over oaked & over extracted.
Good wine! Me enjoy . . . and will buy more.
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BTW, I've actually met the family owners of this extate and have found a liking to their other wines.
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Red
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2008 Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles
Paso Robles
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Am a BIG Justin fan, and especially the Isosceles . . . but this one disappointed.
Strong nose of red & dark fruits, brooding spices & underbrush.
Flavors of red & black berry fruits,currants, spiciness of moder intensity, kirsch, vanilla, and hints of coffee.
Sadly, VERY hot & alcoholic on nose, which even after 3 hours didn't diminish much.
Very young & not integrated at all. Lots of harsh tannins that did not lead to a very likeable, but maybe tolerable, finish.
The wine seemed to fight itself.
Perhaps age willl help it . . .I really do think it has the potential to reach 91+ pts, and be much more enjoyable in 3-4 years.
I'm very sad over this wine and will just have to sit on the bottles I have for a while (2 half, 2 whole). The Isosceles is one of my epiphany wines, I expected a lot more from it.
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Red
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2008 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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What a Cab!! Absolutely astonished, then seduced by this one!
Thick, viscous, showing beautiful dark garnet (w/ a hint of purple) in the glass.
A dark brooding nose that's slightly phenolic, lightly spicy, and showing very tight deep berry fruits.
Was absolutrely turned off my first coupla's sips . . . so I laid it down for a coupla' hours while I finished another wine.
. . . But it sure came around!! And what a beauty.
Very Cab qualities, full bodied with lots of well integrated fruits, including red & dark berries, curants, licorice, tobacco, chocolate, with hints of spice, kirsch, and wet forest floor.
Chewy (but not overwhelming), with a nice long well balanced finish. I think RP's review was spot on for this one!!
Only drawback is its youth . .. but I'll definately be getting a coupla' more bottles of this to lay down for 3-5 years.
Highly recommended.
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Red
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2009 Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Paso Robles
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Had to try it as I am a Justin fan.
A very nice, well balanced, cabernet with a strong Paso signature.
Good berry fruit & currant expression along with tobacco, chocolate, kirsch & spice.
Holds a lot of potential & promise . . . but drank young, hot, alcoholic, and thinner than I expected.
Med bodied /w a med lingering finish . . . I expect that the wine will outgrow these characteristics after about 3 years in a bottle and blossom into its greater potential!!!
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Red
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2009 Domaine Joblot Givry 1er Cru Clos de la Servoisine
Pinot Noir more
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A very interesting Burgundy with an old world terroir, classic style, but a surprisingly nice new world fruit expression.
Med bodied plus, nice pinot fruit flavors with lots of terroir, kirsch, forest floor, and a tad of nuttiness on the palate. Good long pleasing finish.
Acidic, still a bit tight & tannic, but showing a good balance and integration for an early wine.
Would be good by itself or with a variety of dishes! Should improve even more with 2-3 years of cellaring.
BTW, I've been hearing rumors of French wine makers that're styling their wine with more (new World) fruit expression, and have recently come across that in some 2008 Bourdeaux, but this is my first Burgundy showing this characteristic.
I'll be looking for more like it!!! :-)
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White - Sweet/Dessert
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2009 Longoria Albariño Beso del Sol Clover Creek Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley
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Found this a very interesting wine!
A very diminished nose of sunflower & wet cotton, and a hint of bitter.
Med bodied with deep clover honey tastes, dried apricot, and hints of honeysuckle & bitter sage.
Med finish with good overall balance. A very nice desert wine. Well recommended!
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Red
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2008 Pine Ridge Vineyards Onyx
Rutherford
Red Blend more
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Worth a 92, IMHO, but I liked it so much I gave it a 94!
A very deep onyx garnet color.
A very wet moss, underbrush, herbalness, & wet wood, with hints of underlying fruit on the nose.
Still very tight & tannic, a little hot, showing lots of youth.
Lots of layers of subtle red & blue fruits, currants, kirsch, with hints of wood, chocolate, & tobacco.
Chewy, med/full bodied with a nice lingering finish . . . shows incredible promise.
Sadly . . . with all this complexity & rich flavor, I fear the grapes varietals just don't integrate THAT well (maybe changing the ratiio of the different grapes can help?), keeping it from it's greatest potential.
Bottle age should bring out more character and quality.
Very enjoyable, but at an average price of $60/bottle . . . hmmm!
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