| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2017 Carlisle Zinfandel Mancini RanchRussian River Valley more |
9/16/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRI'll join the passion that Neras posted in his previous note, too. The bottle for my note here was opened on Saturday morning, and it's now Monday afternoon. We had so much left that I have just been working through it the past few days. The bouquet on this stuff leaps out of the stem. Bramble, floral, reminding me of the aromas that come from a barrel sample, just a joy to take in. The palate starts with crisper red fruits like cranberry and maybe some black cherry, with the latter giving the wine a juicy note. And even after 2 full days open, there is structure remaining here, too. I really do like the Mancini vineyard and like the 2016 that wowed me last year for similar red fruits and structure with acid, the 2017 is not far off from that same profile, which tells me I need to keep buying it. Delicious wine.........ah hell, one more update. Day 5 and this stuff keeps going. This is the end of the bottle from this past Saturday and it's rounded out well. Still some light structure but mostly now just a beautiful, pure red/black fruit with a zippy acidity. Damn straight, one of the best Carlisle zins I have ever had, and I've been drinking them for 15 years now. Awesome wine. 7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (15) |
| White - Sparkling |
2014 Marie Courtin Champagne Efflorescence Extra BrutPinot Noir more |
5/9/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRBottle #7. Opened for Mother's Day. 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage, farmed bio from the Tremble slope in Polisot. This stuff for me is magic. It has a 'something', an imprint of the soil, the place. The fruit, a unique red berry note that unwinds when warm (and to those who drink this wine too cold, you're gonna miss the beauty of the fruit). Tiny, gentle bubbles, with aromas of stone, sea air....this is grown just north of Chablis so the linkage in the aroma is for me clear. Salty, with green apple, some grapefruit in this bottle, the zing of the lemon pith acidity, too. Finishes with a bright push of saline that is unmistakable, you cannot miss it. I drink a lot of Champagne these days, of different styles, dosages and elevage on lees, all of it creating diversity. But with this 2014 Efflorescence, it is uniquely distinctive, an energy and texture that I love. And as a final reminder, let this warm up, allow the bubbles to fade out, and then you'll find the creaminess pick up and the red berry come through, the magic. I'm down to two bottles of this wine now, and it's time to go source more for the years ahead. Unique, fantastic, magic. 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (14) |
| Red |
2018 Pezzato Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
2/18/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRTasted blind. My initial guess on this was petite sirah, as it was inky in color and just seemed big, dark. Lots of asian five spice, although some in the group called it clove, which works too. The aromatic also exhibited a graham cracker note. Inky, dark, with charcoal, dense and concentrated, clove and dark chocolate. I didn't care for this, based on the elevated alcohol, density and I just don't care for wines like this in my glass anymore. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (10) |
| White - Sparkling |
2014 Cabot Vineyards Blanc de Blanc Brut Zero Anderson ValleyChardonnay more |
2/24/2023 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRFirst note! Honored to do it, John. I've heard about John's sparkling project for some time and last night, I got blinded on both the 2014 and 2016. Given our tasting group, I assumed that we had some Champagne in front of us, both because of how our group usually rolls with Champagne, but more importantly, how both vintages tasted. The flight has just these two wines, and no hints. It was only after we had guessed the varietal that Brig told us that we were guessing the wrong country. What was remarkable about these two wines for me, especially the 2014, was the similarity in energy and build to something low/sans dose out of Champagne. I was straight fooled on the 2014, pegging it as something out of the Aube. The 2014, a zero dose Chard from Anderson Valley, initially showed me thyme and mineral on first taste. I kept tasting, and then I found a core of grapefruit with some lemon oil. With more air, sour apple, tangerine zest and what I really thought was dried cherry/raspberry. Man, I enjoyed the 2014 and it really fooled me. As for the 2016, also zero dose from Anderson Valley, more characteristic of green apple with a distinct salinity/salt on first taste. Then, some toastiness appeared, followed by some lemon and the same green apple. Good concentration here and bit more rocky than the 2014. These are terrific sparkling wines, and that 2014 is the best US sparkler I have tasted. I do want to retaste them both, especially the 2016, to get another experience with them but as a first try, John has done some terrific work here. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (9) |
| White - Sparkling |
2014 Marie Courtin Champagne Efflorescence Extra BrutPinot Noir more |
3/19/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRBottle #6 to date, with this bottle from a reload I did in late 2020. Of all the Champagne I have opened and tasted the past 5 years, there are few bottles that consistently ring my bell like 2014 Efflorescence. Regardless of context, mood, whatever the variable, every time I open one of these I want to run out and reload more before it's all finally gone. And how there is still any of this around puzzles me but whatever, this stuff rocks. 100% Pinot noir, elevage in old wood, disgorged 12/2018, farmed bio without dosage. Just a faint whiff of pie crust when I opened the bottle and had a pour at cellar temp. Then, that beautiful mineral streak that runs through the palate. Decided to chill the wine for about 15 mins and then retaste. Aromas of toasted barrel, white flowers, dried herb. Like past bottles, this wine has texture and tactile impression without a drop of dosage. The palate mixes in snappy green apple, pomelo and then the dried red berry note that always hooks me about this wine. Finishes with a savory, refreshing minerality/flint that I love so much. As for drinking temp, I do think this wine really excels with just a light chill but any colder than that, you lose the flavor markers and distinctiveness that make this first class. Beautiful stuff, every time. 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8) |
| White - Sparkling |
2017 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les CrayèresChardonnay more |
5/26/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRTasting with Benoit Marguet (in Ambonnay at the winery): Ok, so maybe one of my top two wines of the entire week. This wine really resonated with me. Disgorged March 2022, with no dosage and 100% Chardonnay. Like the 2017 Le Parc cuvee, this has a richness and a concentration that gets my attention. And, I would challenge really experienced tasters to assess this wine as a no dose. Tangerine, honey and pears in syrup. This is just flat out gorgeous and I sourced a few of these to take home, with the hopes that the bottle tasted at the winery is as good and the experience as thrilling as what I will get from the bottles I bring home. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (8) |
| Rosé - Sparkling |
NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut RoséChampagne Blend more |
11/17/2019 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRChampagne Event (Wine Exchange in Santa Ana): No back label info. Zesty, good acidity but came off just kind of burly to me, a bit rough. In my view, for what this costs, there are numerous other examples of really fine Rose out there. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (7) |
| White - Sparkling |
NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs BrutChardonnay more |
9/16/2018 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRFrenchy's Grower Bubbly Event In the OC (Todd Frenchy's Place): Poured blind. This bottle was voted the WOTN by the tasting group, although I didn't have it composed that high (my WOTN was the 2012 Marie-Courtin Effloresence). Base of minerality, berry, big energy, rocky with apple sauce and lime. Overall, this showed well and I would like to try something leaner in the Hebrart range, to see how those show. Does the winery make such a thing? Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (7) |
| Red |
2019 Halcon Vineyards Syrah AlturasYorkville Highlands more |
12/9/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NR95% Syrah with 5% Viognier. 50% whole cluster and just neutral wood. Love this stuff. Dried purple flowers/potpourri and ground black pepper aromatics, even a little bacon fat too. With no aeration this drinks super. Some plushness that is framed by blackberry, cherry and a bunch of tar, creosote and garrigue. Finishes with black licorice and a moderate kick of acidity. In contrast to the 2018, I suspect the 2019 will be attractive to a bigger audience. I like both vintages but the striking aromatics of the 2018 still haunt me. I wish Jackie and Paul Gordon the best, as they sold the vineyard and are going back to the UK. You guys made some of the best syrah in California and it will always hold a special place in the palates of many of the wine dorks, including me. 8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| White - Sparkling |
2018 Marie Courtin Champagne PresenceChampagne Blend more |
4/24/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRI'll join csimm with a note. Disgorged January 2021, farmed biodynamic, no dosage from a blend of 70% Chard and 30% Pinot Blanc. First time tasting the 2018, and I have to agree with him that this bottle is worthy of praise. Yeah, there is a crispness here, but that for me is one of the compelling reasons I buy and drink so much Marie-Courtin: freshness, acidity and purity, all working well together. This bottle showed those qualities. Lemon zest and chiffon, a note of dried herb with an intense core of energy and, well, presence. Finishes with a clean minerality. Probably gonna go back and reload some of these now, especially given the vintage and the quality that is showing here already. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| White - Sparkling |
2014 Marie Courtin Champagne Efflorescence Extra BrutPinot Noir more |
12/5/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRPinotFest at Paul's (US Pinot Noir served blind) (At Paul's Place): This was the December 2019 disgorgement. Initially this started off with an apple fruit in the wine's core, along with a light signature of the red berry note that I love so much in former bottles. This took some air to come around, which then allowed the depth and texture to surface, joined by the richness of the fruit's character. And I know some no dosage wines can be austere and linear but this wine is never this way (provided you don't drink it too cold). The finish is tangy yet with good tension and light mineral. This bottle also showed an herby/savory note in the finish. too. Once again, the 14 Efflorescence is delicious, a wine I have consistently admired after now what is a case opened and enjoyed. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| Red |
2017 Myriad Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Three Twins VineyardNapa Valley more |
4/23/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote: NROpened this about 2 hours ago. I just left the cork out and the wine to sit on the counter. The air did seem to soften it up, along with a very light chill I put on the wine to avoid it being too warm (75f in the house tonight). I cam see why these wines are so well-received, as it's hard to not like the wine once it hits my palate. There is a juicy aspect to the palate, what reminds me of a squeezed blackberry, but without the over sweetness of that berry. In that same vein, the acidity of the skin, of that same fruit is also in here. For me, the tart, darker tinged quality of blackberry is what attracts me to eat a lot of it, and its the way I seem to be translating the sensory of the wine. There is also a tart quality, this time what I would call plum skin. Much like blackberry, the same kind of feel imparted by biting down on fresh plum skin. Hiding also in here behind the fruit and acidity is some dark chocolate, a touch of resin and bit of iron in the finish. I've saved enough for a couple good sized glasses tomorrow, when I will update this note but wanted to brain dump what I found on the first night.....so finishing up the last ounce or so, this has evolved and benefited from the aeration overnight. There is a blue fruit quality that has come through the wine, with the blackberry also picking up an intensity, a depth to the darker fruit. And, the emergence of structure, so as the fruit has become more complex, the finish has found some grip. Overall, this is more complete and stronger in total with the air it saw so good advice is to aerate and then let it rip if you're drinking this now. Overall, I really enjoyed this bottle, most notably this final glass. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| White - Sparkling |
2016 Marie Courtin Champagne Concordance Extra BrutPinot Noir more |
6/5/2023 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRThe November 2021 disgorgement, which may be the final and most recent disgorgement for this vintage of Concordance. 100% Pinot Noir, this is the non-sulfured cuvee. I've had many bottles of this now and the bottle yesterday (and with the retaste tonight), it's truly something special. Showing some of the same more golden color as past bottles, yet the wine shows fresh and clean. And, this bottle has the smoky/reductive quality that some of the past bottles have beautifully shown, too. Yellow apple and black cherry. Gorgeous with a saline finish. Retasted again using the last few ounces I maintained from yesterday, damn this is good. I mean really good. It takes me back to the very first bottle I had of this a few years ago and the impact that bottle had on my senses. The tactile feel of the wine, with the minerality component is such a cool driver of the wine's profile, then the fruit wraps around it, like a smoky apple and strawberry. It's at one moment savory then the next feeling rich, yet it's in balance. I need to track down a few more of these and put them back into my cellar--what a killer bottle of Champagne. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| Red |
2015 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGTSangiovese more |
6/25/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRCristal and Fontodi Flaccianello plus Riverain and Schrader (served blind) (Foretti's in Corona Del Mar): I had this back in 2019, and I thought the wine then had a lot of power. Last night, it was poured again, this time part of a flight of three other Flaccianello (the 2006, 2010 and 2012). All were served blind side by side so I had a chance too sit with all 4 wines and evaluate them carefully. For me, this was the star wine of the flight. I was sitting next to Viet Ly and he mentioned a lavender flower quality, something he also framed by the word 'soapy'. We had some discussion at the table about it, with some consensus about a kind of lavender resin, if that makes sense. For me, it was just like a dried floral note that I really dug. This started out juicy and with air, that quality transformed into something more concentrated and powerful, like the bottle back in 2019. There is the core of red fruit here, but also a shading of black, that is joined by a tarry kind of black quality. Finishes with a dusty tannin. Really enjoyed this. 10 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| White - Sparkling |
2015 Marie Courtin Champagne Eloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra BrutChardonnay more |
5/4/2022 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRThere seems to be a little of this left in retail so I decided to give my final bottle a go, to see if this is a backfill. It's been a good 8 months since the last one. Since that time, my interest in the MC wine is even higher than it was so it's time to look at another bottle. This is the May 2019 disgorgement, 100% Chard and no dosage, farmed bio-d. I've had this open for about 45 mins, working through small pours, and as I make a point of saying about Dominqiue's wines and zero dose in general, don't drink these too cold so my wine is around 65f and warming a bit more towards 70f (room temp). I consider the Marie Courtin wines to be truly 'still' with bubbles so I try and let them evolve in that glass in that way, with air and the right temp. If you drink these too cold, you defeat the nuance and the intention (at least for me) of how these are made to show best. For the aromatics, there is a little bit of old barrique shining through, some old wood which makes sense as this is done in barrique. Also a little floral, lime flesh with pounded rock. The palate is juicy, round, with green apple, lemon peel, bright tangerine, perhaps too some nectarine skin. Finishes with lemon oil, a mineral note and a cleansing quality. A pure style of Chardonnay, and when still, yeah this is really like drinking a Chablis. It's that kind of wine and worth grabbing another bottle to age for a few more years but there's no harm in drinking now, too....finishing this on the second day. This is a citrusy, bright wine with grapefruit coming into focus tonight, along with a savory note. I really like this but again this is not going to be for everyone's palate. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| Red |
2019 Halcon Vineyards Syrah AlturasYorkville Highlands more |
1/17/2024 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRIt's been 2 years since I opened one of these and I was having some Italian food last night and thought man I could use a glass of Syrah so I went and grabbed one of my bottles of inventory and what a beauty this thing is. This version continues to just be a wonderful glass of syrah. It's full of white pepper and purple flower, with dark fruit although there's plenty of red fruit in here too, and a spicy rosemary kind of driven note that extends well into a long finish. The acidity is fresh and the wine has a nice medium weight to it and I just wish I had a whole case of this to drink over the next 5 to 10 years. What a beauty. 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| White - Sparkling |
2014 Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Les EmpreintesChampagne Blend more |
1/30/2024 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRChampagne Bookclub (served blind)--Me (My House): January 2020 disgorgement. 50% Pinot Noir (from the Maison Rouge parcel) and 50% Chardonnay (from the Chemins d' Epernay parcel). 3.5 gms dosage. In tasting this next to the 2013, I find the 2014 more brassy, less seductive than that wine but with more electricity in the 2014. The citrusy energy is higher, with the green apple and rocky tones more prevalent. Apricot, honey and some lime into the finish. I find the 2014 more powerful and a little more rugged, whereas the 2013 is more suave and alluring. Perhaps in another year, the 2014 softens more and begins to catch up to where the 2013 currently is for development, but also some may find the 2014's power more attractive, as I have on a few past occasions with the 2014. Both vintages are good but the impact of vintage is very present in the contrast of them side by side. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| White |
2019 DuPuis Chardonnay FerringtonAnderson Valley more |
12/17/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRI'll join Mike D with another note. First of two bottles. Opened yesterday. Concur with Mike on the pear and lemon curd, as the latter was what resonated for me yesterday. There is a richness to this wine, plenty of stuffing that is being punctuated by a good dose of vanilla oak. I noticed the wood yesterday, today it remains there. I'm not much of a fan of new oak on Chardonnay so take my comment here in that context. I do also agree with Mike that this is drinking fine now, accented by a good note of anise and citrus that helps lift the finish. Overall, I like the wine but I know Wells has made better Chards in his past life, such as Laureles Grade and Brosseau so I think the wine right now is just a combination of being too young, and perhaps Wells working to figure out Ferrington so he can dial in his signature. Overall good, but not for me to the level I know Wells can do Chardonnay. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| Red |
2016 Kutch Pinot Noir Falstaff VineyardSonoma Coast more |
1/2/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRFirst 750 I have opened since I last tasted the wine from tank back in 2017. I opened the bottle yesterday, been working through it. This is good, but nor great. Why? First, it doesn't have the purity and balance of what Falstaff can really do when it's on, such as with the 2017. The flavors in this bottle are influenced by the whole cluster, which seems to give a meatier note, along with some pine needle in the aromatic. Raspberry, black cherry, with some astringency that affects the balance. What I end up with is a tangier version of Falstaff, accented by some black and red fruits. I'm not sure where this wine goes from here, as it would seem to suggest further aging but my guess is that it's as good as it will get. For what it's worth, I just tasted the finished version of the 2019 this week, and I sense that it may rally the 2017, which is outstanding. We'll see. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| Rosé - Sparkling |
2013 Marie Courtin Champagne Allégeance Extra BrutPinot Noir more |
5/31/2020 - Frank Murray III wrote: flawedThere is just something off with this bottle. The color is an orange/salmon, and there are some sherry-like notes and perhaps even a touch of TCA, although I am not certain it's corked. Overall, I didn't care for this and have taken some photos of the wine to shoot off to Dominique Laurent at the domaine to get her thoughts. I'm wanting to think my other bottle is not like this, and at $90 US, I want to taste something much better in my glass than what this wine is showing. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| White - Sparkling |
2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal BrutChampagne Blend more |
5/12/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRThis bottle was great right on opening, when the richness and the acid were working great together. Lots of lemony citrus. As it aired out further and warmed up, I noticed the green apple note really come through and also the wine lost some of the richness and replaced it with structure. Like most Cristal, it never seems to get more than 30 mins before the bottle is drained. One of these times I have to force intention to save a glass for the following day. I still think the 2009 is superior to the 2008 but what the hell do I know. 8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| White |
2010 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru SéchetsChardonnay more |
2/23/2013 - Frank Murray III wrote: NROpened about a 1/2 hour ago, dropped into the freezer to put some chill on it. Aromatics seem a little shy, but there is some faint marine notes here and lemon, but again subtle. The palate shows sea shell, orchard fruit--yellow apple, nectarine--then in the finish is where the citrus pith comes in, along with a saline/mineral water quality and some bright acid. $30 for these.....while I often wonder if I'd simply put the Michel dollars aside and pool them for a few Dauvissat or Raveneau, I seem to end up buying Michel yet again and enjoying the pleasure of having more of his cuvees, versus a couple single bottles of really GC chablis. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| Red |
2012 Wind Gap Wines Syrah Nellessen VineyardSonoma Coast more |
4/17/2014 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRSo I'm second into the mix here, followed by Matt who weighed in to kick off. I opened this bottle y/day to pour some quick glasses of wine before heading out to see some music. I could sense the wine change just being open for 20 mins, as the air evolved the texture and bouquet. So, the note here is with a day of slox ox, and I believe the wine is pretty well fleshed out now. This has some elements of what I sometimes call 'camp fire', so think smoke, char, that bouquet that comes from cool climate and some whole cluster. Savory. The palate is all about texture, flushed with crunch, black cherry fruit, the dark plum that Matt mentioned in his note, along with blueberry and licorice. Really juicy. The acid is all woven into the juicy, crunchier dark fruit. I'll say, this wine savored up over night, as y/day it was mix of more suave, pure blue and red fruit but today, more sauvage and refeshingly cool. Finishes with more whole cluster signatures of black olive, lavender and char, rocks. I have no problem drinking this now but in terms of the drink window, I'd say now for the next 5-6 years. Really good. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| White - Sparkling |
2016 Déhu Père & Fils Champagne Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Extra BrutPinot Meunier more |
2/12/2024 - Frank Murray III wrote: NROpened yesterday, still working on the bottle a day later. 100% Pinot Meunier, done without dosage. There is some discrepancy here on disgorgement, as the back label says February 2020, and the cork stamp says February 2021. Dunno which is accurate. Farmed biodynamic, no malo. Current release is 2018 so this is a few vintages older. Of note, I had some mixed experience with a few bottles of the 2013, with one advanced and another less so, and then one other that was fine. So, I finished off the 13s and when I saw this 2016 out for sale, figured I would give it a go. Little bit of gold here showing but the wine's energy is spot on. When we first opened this yesterday, it was softer, showing raspberry, tangy peach and orange rind. By the end of dinner last night, it had started to acquire some coil, a firm energy. Today, the wine is pretty consistent with the final glass yesterday. In terms of texture, the chill really shuts the wine down but when the chill is relieved, then some saline infused lime comes through with some of the fruit signature. The wine just needs the right temp to relax, and I just wonder how often people misjudge brut nature because they hit it with too cold a serving temp, then wonder why it's lean and coiled--an act of begging the very thing that is unwanted. Let this warm up so that you get the ground from the Noyers plot to talk, then the fruit from Meunier to join in. Finishes with some light seasoning of wood, adding an allpsice note. This is worth reloading as it's drinking really beautifully--tangy, a bit salty and I love the fruit. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Red |
2018 Halcon Vineyards Syrah AlturasYorkville Highlands more |
4/22/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote: NRBookclub--Wines Tasted Blind: Poured blind. Grown at 2,500 feet, grown organically. This was my WOTN last night. There is just the right amount of everything here, with the beautiful white pepper aromatics being the star of the bottle. Of note, this also has 4% Viognier added. It's been a long time since a bottle of red wine has aromatically wowed me like this one did last night, and it's a joy. Purple fruit, balanced with some tang. This is just beautiful, distinctive syrah. I wish I not only had some leftover from last night to taste and savor again, but. some more bottles of this for the cellar. I guess I will need to wait and buy the 2019. 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
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- Tasting notes: 7,429 notes on 4,271 wines
