| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow VineyardAnderson Valley more |
2/5/2014 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 94 pointsThis is one of those you knew was firing from the first whiff. Cool, fruity, but something exotic that is a combination of earth and spice that is unique and subdued. That character carried over to the palate very well, but it became immeasurably better. Balance and earthy elegance dance on the palate while bright red fruit is very expressive, the stream of red fruited flavors and acidity literally make you salivate, and lead into a very long finish. Notes of cranberry, sour cherry, red licorice, and spice, with a backbone of earth continue to echo. A complete and incredibly satisfying Pinot that is outstanding with both food and alone. Lean and powerful, this screams integrity. A real treat that is likely on the upswing, one of the best Rhys I've had and not even estate. Superb. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2006 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Aria'sHumboldt County more |
12/16/2012 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 pointspreface, haven't read a note on this wine. cabot has achieved the unachievable. this is straight up french, northern rhone syrah. reeks of roast beef, a little corned beef, and red cherry fruit. Delicious palate of roast beef, smoke, and red cherry, with subtle spice notes. The character of the wine is remarkable, smooth and savory with a compelling balance begging for any kind of food. Totally integrated package serving up meaty character, balance, and drinkability. Exceptional wine. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2007 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Humboldt Countymore |
5/8/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 pointsFolks evaluating this wine should really consider 24 hours in the cellar to get it ready to drink. I poured off one glass and let the rest sit for a day and this is fresh as a daisy and drinking much, much better. Nice and crisp red fruits of apple and cherry followed by darker fruits and savory cured meats with just a touch of smoke(good spice in there too). Pretty darn ripe but with beautifully integrated acidity and top notch savory elements to balance it out. Exceptional as always. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2007 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
10/29/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: NRNR. My wife opened this without clearance. Hot, brooding, and brutally closed. 2nd day not much different. Ouch. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2006 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private ReserveNapa Valley more |
12/22/2014 - kenhoeve wrote: 85 pointsThis bottle started out with a hint of life and a hint of prune. The prune won out and this was over the hill and less than an hour. Ouch. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2007 Round Pond Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherfordmore |
12/13/2012 - kenhoeve wrote: 92 pointsMy previous two notes are tracking some good evolution on this gem. That said, now is not a good time to open this bottle unless you have some serious time on your hands. I tasted this over two days and while it ultimately lined up with previous notes, the tannins have clamped down. What is interesting is that on day one even with the fierce tannins and heat, you can still glimpse all of the components behind the tannins. The fresh berries are there, the black currant, the herbs, some wood, all there. Under cork in the fridge for a day, the wine re-emerges. The overall profile is sweet and savory, a bit thick, but leaning up. Berries, currant, savory herbs, and for now a still tannic finish. I'm encouraged by how the components take hold with time. This will be pretty classic rutherford stuff, it will just take an estimated 2 years to re-emerge. Positive potential. 92+. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2010 Mount Eden Vineyards Pinot NoirSanta Cruz Mountains more |
7/9/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 pointsNice cool nose. Tobacco leaf with strong ash on the nose, with cranberry and fleeting stem notes suggesting green things. The ash component is strong on the palate too, but it intermingles with the cherry and cranberry and anchors itself into a rather prominent savory tone in just the right way, almost like a spice accent. In fact, I wouldn't call this a fruit driven wine at all, it is savory and stems in the best possible way with a very serious silken texture and outstanding balance. This would be a great food wine right now, and clearly has the pedigree to go the distance where I can't help but think those stemmy notes will add fascinating dimension. 93-95. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Evangelho VineyardContra Costa County Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel more |
4/24/2015 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 91 pointsEvolution continues from my last note. At this point this has a big nose of exotic spices and maraschino cherries that is very zin in character. The front palate reflects this with a luxurious layer of red and dark red cherries that is very deep with a velvety texture(keep it on the front palate for that), but the acid is starting to take hold after that. It switches gears and goes to a combination of citrus peel and wild berry fruit that I associate with blood orange. The texture also changes as it seems the furry tannins of the mourvedre begin to show with some light garrigue notes. Practically changes to a Rhone blend at this point. Still has a little warmth to it. It hasn't come together yet, the components are still a bit disparate. I think the acid will bring it all together in a short 1-3 years. Very interesting wine that could only come from this vineyard. 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2007 L'Aventure Cabernet Sauvignon EstatePaso Robles more |
10/10/2012 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 pointsPop n pour. An outrageous bottle of cab. So dark and thick you could swear the glass feels heavy simply due to the viscosity of what you are pouring into it. Soaring nose of blueberry preserves, strawberry and strawberry florals, and blackberry. On the palate there is stunningly fresh (for the concentration) profile of berries with red and blue baked preserves, fresh mint and bay leaf, that is followed by slight cassis liqueur and further notes of baked berries. The finish is outstanding with fresh baked berries, pie crust, and tightening tannin. Certainly some evolution to be had yet, but what a daunting combination of concentration and freshness. A divisive wine for sure that hits some major style points and only suffers from the underlying baked liqueur impression. Pretty fascinating stuff. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2000 Vino Bambino Pinot NoirCarneros more |
12/15/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: flawedTCA on the cork. Smells of horse and leather. Just a few minutes in, tremendous, some horse action, book aged leather, spices, cherry candy, with some decomposing things and a very silky mouthfeel. I'm loving this but the TCA is taking over and I have to keep aerating to blow it off. Very burg like aged, better than most, damn you cork. 1/2 a glass and done. Tasted greatness but just a glimpse. The TCA is so bad I cannot wash it out of my mouth. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2005 Tolo Cellars Syrah ReservePaso Robles more |
7/7/2011 - kenhoeve wrote: 89 pointsPopped and poured, notes taken at 2 hours open. Very dark burgundy. Black licorice and red cherry on the nose, high toned, with some time there is a hint of smoke to hint you toward syrah. The house style dominates on the front with massive fruit of red cherry and licorice with a slight candied quality, but that is not a bad thing if you wait around for the midpalate where things unfold. The midpalate is where this style shines as the fruit gains in depth and layers of very well integrated exotic spices become lengthy upon a stong acid spine. There is red and black cherry, a deep plumminess, with complicating notes of allspice and cardamom. The structure is overwhelmed by the concentration so the finish is obscured. Doesn't matter all that much because the flavors continue to linger. At this young stage the wine shows well with fatty meats and dark chocolate. Overall the alcohol is fairly well held in check and while it delivers some great flavor it will become more structured and subdued to reveal hidden layers over time. An excellent effort. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2011 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
7/17/2014 - kenhoeve wrote: 92 pointsMan is this good. This was served to me blind and I almost nailed it, got the sonoma coast pinot noir, but picked a mid level producer. Now some of you say Alesia is mid level. I disagree but it's all relative. The reason I went with mid level was the tannin were not showing any structure, no texture to the wine. But the flavor profile and proportion were dead on. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2010 Oakville Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Grownmore |
12/3/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 pointsLet me start by saying Cab is not my favorite, a guilty pleasure in ripe form at least, but I'm dazzled by hard edged old school stuff. This carves out a middle ground. It smells of sweet tobacco and flowers, and bitter earthy things. Approachable but rather reserved, and yet it is replete with layers and layers of cassis, perfume, fresh berries, a cumin/nutmeg like spice layer, and something bitter that is nicely balancing. There's even a mineral backbone in this, likely due to some brilliant tannins that show a silky and very long finish with a lot of grip but also a load of perfume and berry. This is tremendous and a ridiculous bargain from last bottle. 93-95 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2001 Tolo Cellars Cabernet SauvignonPaso Robles more |
11/5/2010 - kenhoeve wrote: 95 pointsConsumed over two days. Opaque at the center, a soft dark crimson on the rim. Day One pnp- A nose of asian spice, oak, and dark berry you could smell from the garage. The cork smelled so strongly of cinnamon, clove, and oak that I could have rubbed it on my neck for a night out. On the palate the flavors repeat the nose along with strong oak treatment, a little sweetness, and still some tannin on the finish. Very good but lacking depth as the oak and sweetness are a touch cloying. Full bodied, full flavored, good balance. First day 91. Wine was sealed, no vac, and stored at room temp. Day two- stunning change. Blaring nose of dried herbs, cedar, leather, milder spice, all covering a cup of cherry balsamic reduction. Again, everything on the nose gets on the palate and it is smooth. In fact, what is so shocking about this wine is that it carries itself in a fairly delicate manner at 15.3%abv(after a day open!). The body remains, the tannins are there but round and resolved, and the balance is perfect. The tannins remain on the finish and slowly build grip for what seems like forever. This is ultra high dollar Oakville Cab from... San Luis Obispo. Like the previous guy, I have never rated a wine this high on CT. But I've had enough cabs to know that this IS classic. And I have three more bottles. Josh my man, send me the next Opus! 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2001 Tolo Cellars Cabernet SauvignonPaso Robles more |
12/11/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 95 pointsPop and pour into decanter. Freaking delicious. No signs of age in color or on the palate, this bottle is immortal. Fresh berries, stem and forest floor, bubblegum, perfume/florals, black currant, cedar, exotic spices. Round and full, with good proportion and excellent line. Medium long finish of perfume, berries, and tannic grip. This will make old bones, the tannins and the acid are still there, and the bottle still is not throwing much if any sediment. Hands down, classic cab for the princely sum of $35. More notes to come... 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2010 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
2/25/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 91 pointsVery tightly coiled. Balanced, integrated tannins, but not much else beside a very strong impression of carmelized spicecake. Needs time. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2011 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow VineyardAnderson Valley more |
1/21/2015 - kenhoeve wrote: 93 pointsBased on my last note this is really giving a ton more at this point. Right off the pop, the nose was cologne. Woody, smoky, just a hint of fruit, and very cool. The palate is very cool as well, extremely balanced. That changed but it was great. After tasting over about two hours, there were subtle shifts but it remained overall the same composition. I keep trying, but I cannot shake the front palate impressions of melon, that is a new one. Then there is some apple, hard candy and red cherry. There is a blanket of subtle smokiness that persists throughout, attractive, and much less intrusive than your syrahs. There is also a pungency, a slight decomposing log note, that I associate with pinots of terroir. After a bit all those fine tannins obscure the finish, and it's a touch warm while some fleeting mintyness tries to poke through. Med to med+ body, med+ acid. 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2011 Rhys Pinot Noir Bearwallow VineyardAnderson Valley more |
5/25/2014 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 93 pointsRight from the pop, a very pretty wine. Feminine and perfumed, floral, but tempered by subtle stem influence. Not much fruit showing, but wonderfully textured and light, combined with outstanding balance. Fairly stubborn with air as it is not changing much but remains smooth and composed. A real beauty with long term elegance. Love this vineyard, love this wine. Wow. 93-95. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2013 Argyle Pinot Noir Willamette Valleymore |
3/26/2015 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 90 pointsReading the notes on this wine cracks me up. I get exactly the perspective where all the comments come from, which is to say a lot of you are wrong but you are still right, sort of. I like burgundy and I unabashedly love very light pinots that don't necessarily have a lot of fruit but have the "tone" that I love from pinot. This wine has that. It is not insipid, it is not even thin for that matter. This is a translucent pinot that has excellent balance, a perfect green forest earthy pinot note throughout, and excellent acidity with cranberry and citrus peel fruit. It is refreshing to drink, and typifies what a lower end pinot actually should be... light, but varietally correct and balanced. This wine has that. Well done. And Trader Joe's wine person, tip o' the hat to ya'. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2010 Cabot Vineyards Pinot Noir Anderson Valleymore |
6/17/2013 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 92 pointsMan is this throwing some serious sediment, screen required! This has settled down a bit and the texture seems to be dying down as the tannins resolve. Loads of red cherries, macerated cherries, sour cherry, pomegranate, with an herbal rhubarb acidity and some spice thrown in. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2006 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Kimberly'sHumboldt County more |
2/18/2014 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 94 pointsAwesome. Bacon, smoke, and more bacon. Lovely balance and full body with excellent acidity to match at the dinner table. This had everything you could want from a N Rhone and more. Definitely more on the meaty bacony side, but there is great underlying fruit and some herbaceous notes. An absolutely fabulous wine that I feel lucky to drink. 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| White |
2010 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe VineyardSanta Cruz Mountains more |
9/8/2015 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 93 pointsNeeds air. Orchard and tropical fruit with notes of ginger and spice. Touch of flint and reduction adds interest. Very very smooth and cool on the palate. Aging very well. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
5/6/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 94 pointsReally is the essence of chateauneuf but with additional layers of complexity missing in most. Very balanced and long on the palate. Great, great, stuff. 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2010 L'Aventure Estate CuvéePaso Robles Red Blend more |
12/22/2012 - kenhoeve wrote: 95 pointsAgree with Matt, most approachable Cuvee yet and drinking in a primary window right now just needs ~30min of air. Tobacco, spice and dark berry on the nose. Deep palate of bitter chocolate covered plum, savory herb with a dill streak, cassis, chalky/dusty tannin like cocoa powder, little perfume to the red and black spicy fruit, tiny squeeze of soy sauce, faint smoke. Very deftly layered and integrated with a hidden acidity that can stand up to even rich tomato sauce. With a couple hours of air the tannins are getting velvety on the finish that is med+ and fresh if a bit austere right now. Outstanding and easily bordering on classic, a killer composition that is balanced and completely masks the 15.7abv. |
| Red |
2010 L'Aventure Estate CuvéePaso Robles Red Blend more |
9/21/2013 - kenhoeve Likes this wine: 94 pointsConsistent notes and this even easily survived 3 days in the fridge with just a cork and still has tannin and structure. There is blackberry, blueberry, cherries, mocha, vanilla, herbs, all delivered so smoothly on to the palate that you almost forget it's intensity. Maybe this will age well, my others seem to be doing ok but nothing revolutionary, but it's a great no guilt drop right now. While this is no longer a style of wine I will choose to enjoy, I think it is just an outstanding example of an extremely fine wine of this type. This stuff will blow a lot of folks away. |
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- Tasting notes: 554 notes on 304 wines
