| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| White |
2007 Paige 23 Sauvignon BlancSanta Barbara County more |
8/29/2009 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 pointsA little ripe. like late harvest style. Lots of rich tropical fruit, with pineapple and honey. Very golden in color. Not much acidity. Unusually high viscosity, quite heavy in the mouth. Must have been some lees stirring. Pretty sure this wine has seen some oak. Probably tastes best when served near red wine temperature. |
| Red |
2009 Hunt Cellars Pinot Noir InspirationSanta Barbara County more |
5/23/2016 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 93 pointsIt is hard to put words on how much I enjoyed tasting this wine. It is really “out of this world”. Fortunately we caught it just at the peak of its maturity. The color is rich almost opaque purple, but maturing obviously browning rim. The dark cherry fruit has an enticing baked quality telling us time to drink up. The secondary and tertiary leather and kitchen spice flavors are exerting themselves equal to the fruit on the finish. |
| Red |
2010 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir HuntingtonSanta Barbara County more |
3/23/2013 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 90 pointsGiant Wine Sale & Tasting at Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC 3/23/2013 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): My nose and palate immediately gave this wine a 90-91 score. For around 20 bucks, this is the real thing. There is kind of rustic character to what I suspect are mostly Davis clones. There is a spicy, black pepper, wet earth aroma profile. The fruit flavor is very sharp and precise, especially considering the price. The fruit has that mature vine, spiced mulled red fruit approach. It has, and handles well, some serious French oak. The finish shows some mature, refined, spicy red fruit in oak with balanced acidity. |
| White |
2010 Seaglass Sauvignon BlancSanta Barbara County more |
4/21/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 pointsThere is lots of flavor here. I'm not sure I like it, in some ways it reminds me of Yellow Tail. Extreme amounts of mouth puckering lemon, tangerine, and especially lime. Pungent nose. Medium bodied. Lots of green garden vegetable flavors. Spicy on the roof of the mouth. The acid is on the raw side. The finish is an herbal, limestone lemon. not your usual Sauvignon Blanc. |
| Red |
2009 Sanford Pinot NoirSanta Barbara County more |
12/20/2014 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 90 pointsI'm not sure why this one is still around in any quantity. Our favorite wine bar had it by the glass for $11 and we jumped all over it. I really liked the slight savory, meaty flavor and aroma the extra bottle age brings. Darker than typical color for a Pinot. Mature fruit on the nose like crushed dried and roasted red raspberry. Rich and refined, close to, but not quite candied, perfectly ripe and mature cherry mulberry and blueberry fruit. The oak, acid and tannins have all decided to just get along. Slightly burnt blueberry pie filling on the finish. |
| White |
2009 Steele Wines Pinot BlancSanta Barbara County more |
4/5/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 pointsAn Evening With The Wines of Jed Steele (Gervais & Vine, Columbia, SC): Jed thinks his white wines need a little oak. I don't always agree with oak on my Pinot Blanc, but this seems to work. It definitely brings a vanilla and lanolin to the mouth feel. It also brings some real body to the wine. There is a spicy, glycerin feel to citrus, lemon and white fruit. The best part of this wine is the extremely focused dose of acid that floats over the lips with this heavy bodied juice and hits you right on the top of the mouth, just about the time you thought this wine was going to be flabby. The acid keeps things together all the way through the finish. |
| Red |
2009 Oreana Syrah Project HappinessSanta Barbara County more |
6/10/2013 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 pointsA tasty little value priced Syrah. Not particularly complex, but still basically precise in the flavor profile. Has a somewhat small amount of Syrah's ability to completely coat the palate. Dark but not intense color. I get some molasses and vanilla with the black fruit on the nose. Close to full bodied without being cloying. The dark fruit is not concentrated enough to get a big score, but stands on it's own. Might already be on the downward slide in it's flavor life. Soft, smooth, if not terribly memorable blackberry and black cherry fruit across the palate. Barely noticeable tannins or oak. Some spices and vanilla with the fruit on the finish. |
| White |
2009 Babcock ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
2/11/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 pointsSo, to me this epitomizes the newer style of California Chardonnay. I think this producer, and many others have tried to bring some of the same style of freshness to Chardonnay, that we have come to respect from Sauvignon Blanc. There is a certain light hearted crispness across the palate that is welcome and refreshing. Instead of being heavy and viscous, this style is light on it's feet. There is a citrus rind crispness on the entrance, that, at least to my palate was not there 10 years ago. I think most of the wine saw malo lactic fermentation. I don't think there was much lees stirring. They integrated the oak and alcohol very nicely. The fruit profile is pinpoint, and even almost sharp pear, mango, citrus, and other tropical fruit. Ripe but not heavy. I like this wine. |
| White |
2008 Lucas & Lewellen ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
2/12/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 85 pointsAlthough I can't say I find anything really wrong with this wine, I have to say I am not really feeling it either. There is some decent honeyed spiciness at the end of the roof of the mouth, toward the finish, but generally things are pretty lackluster. The color is very nice glistening golden dark straw. The nose is a little off, kind of like dirty sweat socks. It has that typical Chardonnay smell of fresh cut root meets orange peel and brown spice. The viscosity is typical also. The fruit falls off, both chilled and warmed a little. There is little or no lift where the mid palate is supposed to be. Maybe this bottle has been around the shop a little to long in the upright position. The finish is on the short side. Hope it is just this bottle. |
| White |
2011 Four Vines Chardonnay Naked ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
4/13/2013 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 pointsSaturday Tasting at The Gourmet Shop, Columbia, SC 4-13-2013 (The Gourmet Shop, Columbia, SC): A long time favorite around here, this was our initial introduction to unoaked California Chardonnay about 10 years ago. They seem to get better at it every year. Two things stepped out to me; 1) is a very nice slight touch of an unripe, green garden lime peel flavor, 2) the finish seems thicker, richer, creamier, and more sophisticated than usual. The color is more yellow than gold. Lemon citrus nose. Crisp lemon lime fruit with nice viscosity. No doubt about the intensity of the acid. The finish is mouth filling with some yeasty lees type flavors that really work. |
| Red |
2012 Jekel Vineyards Pinot NoirSanta Barbara County more |
11/21/2014 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 pointsFriday Walk Around Tasting at Sam's Fine Wine & Spirits, Lexington, SC 11/21/2014 (Sam's Fine Wines & Spirits, Lexington, SC): Just a little bit different than typical. This Pinot has a strong, maybe too strong, leesy taste and feel of big vanilla and tree sap. There is plenty of nice cherry and red raspberry fruit. More body and mouth feel than usual. Minimal influence from oak. Some secondary herbal flavors and a touch of wet leather. Rounded, balanced, lingering finish. |
| Red |
2008 Twomey Pinot Noir Santa Barbara Countymore |
11/15/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 92 pointsPremium California Pinot Noir Tasting (WineStyles Columbia, SC): We tasted this from the bottle among it's peers from well known producers from all parts of California and Oregon. Even though this was the only 2008, the rest were all 2009, this one seemed the most closed, and not showing it's best that day. I would have decanted if at home. Sourced from the famous Bien Nacido Vineyard, and aged for 12 months in 40% new French oak, how can we blame it for not being exactly ready? We definitely get the sense that the Santa Barbara fruit is different, from say Russian River, or Carneros. There is a rose petal, sassafras, cedar,and evergreen tone to the mineral, black cherry, and oakey nose that is totally distinct. The color is pretty intense purple for a Pinot. The fruit profile, mostly black cherry, blackberry, and even some plum, is quick hitting, kind of like mountain grown fruit. There is a concentrated structure, enhanced by vibrant acidity, and big, possibly a little too big, French oak. Quite full bodied for a Pinot. There is some interesting brown spice emerging at the back of the palate. Very silky tannins. I think this wine is slightly in its "dumb stage" which will age out, and of course integrate with the vinturi, decanter, or bottle age. |
| White |
2010 Four Vines Chardonnay Naked ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
4/7/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 pointsGiant Wine Sale & Tasting 4/7/2012 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): To my palate, this comes across as sharp. No malo lactic, and no oak, to me equals a raw grapefruit flavor that is by no means unwelcome, but somewhat incomplete. This wine has developed a following around here, that deserves some respect. It seems very dry, and steely. Nice color. Lemon and grapefruit on the nose. Apple and pear on the just short of ripe fruit flavor. Kind of balanced in a natural sort of way. To someone who prefers "real Chardonnay" this one doesn't quite "get it" but is very well conceived, and well made. Nice job. |
| White |
2010 Fess Parker ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
12/20/2013 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 pointsThis is a Chardonnay for California Chardonnay lovers. The climate and terroir of Santa Barbara County seem to bring a little more briskness than other areas within the state. There is a nice concentration of upfront wet stone influenced pineapple meets apricot, citrus and oak. The fruit has enough intensity to allow barrel fermentation and still maintain a crisp freshness. The color is a glistening gold. Close to full bodied, partially a result of barrel fermentation. The extra couple years of bottle age has helped the integration and softness across the palate. Nice clean lingering ginger spiced yellow apple and oak finish. |
| Red |
2008 Lucas & Lewellen Pinot Noir Queen of HeartsSanta Barbara County more |
12/29/2009 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 pointsTo me this is a step up from the usual grocery store value producer Pinot Noir. Possibly due to the Santa Barbara County address, or inspired winemaking, or a combination of both this one has a bit more structure. Very fruit forward, with a jammy, plummy profile, that is almost sweet to the taste. There is just enough balance with a spicy, acid backbone to get to the next level. |
| Red |
2009 Seaglass Pinot NoirSanta Barbara County more |
4/1/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 85 points17th Annual Central Carolina Food and Wine Festival (Medallion Center, Columbia, SC.): Nothing special, nothing wrong. I think we can sense the flavor and aroma profiles we expect from the Santa Barbara Pinot Noirs. It is light, but complete. We get strawberry and cherry. One of those balanced wines that may come across as a little sweet, I don't think it is. Commendable acidity. Everything is working in harmony. Soft on the palate. Pretty quiet on the finish. |
| White |
2014 Brea Wine Co. ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
3/5/2016 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 pointsVery competent, if not exactly overwhelming, brisk, crisp and complete Chardonnay from California. Just a hint of butter. Spicy. Hits all of the expected aroma and flavor characteristics. Solid, balanced and integrated acid. Tropical fruit, some green apple and unripe pear with lemon. Very judicious use of oak. Moderately rich and creamy while still crisp. Basically this is real Chardonnay at a budget friendly price. |
| White |
2021 Diatom ChardonnaySanta Barbara County more |
1/12/2024 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 91 pointsLots to like here. My palate says this has some Chablis style crisp austerity underlying the ripe California stuff. They really got this right. Yes some oak, but not really too much. Lemon and citrus. Nicely balanced acid. Viscosity is spot on. Leaves an exquisite tangerine flavor lingering on the finish. |
| Red |
2016 Seaglass Pinot NoirSanta Barbara County more |
11/12/2017 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 pointsTypical California Pinot with just a touch of attitude, with the sharp upfront fruit. Not rich and creamy, but solid and precise. Some interesting tannins. Adequate, judicious oak that is still young and integrating. A bit of menthol and cedar. Refined cherry and other red berries. Really balanced with proper Pinot mouthfeel. Wood and richer dark cherry by the finish. |
| Red |
2006 Novy Family Wines Syrah Santa Lucia Highlandsmore |
2/9/2010 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 91 pointsThese wines are big and powerful, but very easy to describe. A ripe, deep, dark, earthy, extracted wine. Somehow combines the California fruit forward style with some of that old world earthiness. Very bold in every respect, color, aroma. flavor profile, and finish. Very strong, but balanced acid character on the nose, and the palate. The fruit is still hiding behind all this structure. They have tamed the tannins. This should last a while, wish I owned a case or two. |
| White |
2010 Hahn Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlandsmore |
9/1/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 87 pointsLooks like this a good place to grow Chardonnay, and these people have developed a style we can appreciate. By no means typical for a California Chardonnay. This is most likely a cool area, resulting in a flavor and aroma profile that is quite balanced between the fruit, and other than fruit side. The color is deep rich golden. The nose has minerals and spicy ginger with moderate tropical fruit. Pretty substantial on the palate. Nice lemon, pear, and some apple fruit. Those non fruit flavors are somewhat old world bringing a spicy, herbal character that is often so lacking in California Chardonnay. They were not afraid to give some oak, only 18% new. You can sense it from the nose to finish, and it is very well done. Spicy, dry, lemon and mineral finish. |
| White |
2012 Lucia Chardonnay Santa Lucia Highlandsmore |
10/31/2015 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 93 pointsThis is the big California style Chardonnay done right. The first impression is that of great concentration. Even the color is more golden than typical. The nose is fantastic. Yes there is buttery oak on both the nose and palate. Beside the oak, the nose is really intense pineapple, fresh applesauce, lemon curd, honey, and ginger. The palate is full bodied spice infused pineapple, honey, yellow apple, lemon and grapefruit. This amount of oak is probably never going away, but it has hunkered down and found a lovely home surrounding these nice fruit and secondary flavors with a layer of vanilla and caramel. The ginger with cinnamon and apples coat the roof of the mouth and linger for minutes. |
| Red |
2007 Morgan Pinot Noir Twelve ClonesSanta Lucia Highlands more |
1/3/2010 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 88 pointsSeems like a solid wine, if not a little young and tight. Nose is subdued, but some spiciness, and some tell tale vanilla. Pretty dark for a Pinot Noir. Took lots of swirling to get the aromas and flavors moving. Very nice black cherry on the palate, shy at first but grows in the glass. Probably too much oak is still keeping things under wrap. An underlying spiciness, together with some earthiness and leather, keep things interesting. There are some pretty raw tannins that are not quite ready yet. Might score better in a few more months. Could be a sleeper for the price. |
| Red |
2004 Travieso Syrah Amaranta Kirks' VineyardSanta Lucia Highlands more |
1/16/2010 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 90 pointsThis is a big rich wine that not everyone can appreciate. When you let it air out and swirl a bit it really is quite balanced. Dark magenta in color. Medium heavy bodied. I get violets, and quite unusually, butter on the nose. And, of course some pretty heavy duty oak, even at age 5, it is still trying to integrate. That butter profile continues on to the palate in an elegant, soft, smooth, silky blueberry pie flavor. The complexity of this wine is enhanced by a touch of old world earthiness. A hint of road tar, graphite, and leather on the finish. All in all, these guys have tried to make something a little different, special, and unique that gets to the 90 point glass ceiling. |
| Red |
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Rosella's VineyardSanta Lucia Highlands more |
12/24/2009 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 92 pointsThis was my first taste of Siduri Pinot Noir. Their reputation for big wines preceded them, and this one did not disappoint. As a Pinot and Zin lover, my first taste almost made me imagine this was a cross between the two. I've never had a Pinot like this before. I can only use the word unctuous. This wine is really big. I did not know Pinot could be this dark in color. Although the nose was different than I am used to, it was still unmistakingly Pinot. The fruit is almost on steroids. Big ripe plum and blackberry fruit. Elevated level of spiciness. Of course there is oak. Thick in the mouth without being heavy. Finish lasts for minutes. |
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