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

2008 Yalumba Shiraz Patchwork

 Barossa more
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11/10/2010 - River Rat wrote: NR

Drank over 3 days.
Pop and Pour - Dark ruby, nose closed, palate spicy and fruity. After 30 minutes in the glass I felt like I was waiting for the bread dough to rise. Big yeasty bread dough aroma permeated the air. @ 1 hour it had some perfume on the nose, a big fruity palate with some residual yeast. Re-corked.
Day 2 - Still smell the bread dough otherwise the nose is pretty reserved. Big juicy, fruity, jammy palate with a hint of dusty tannins on the medium finish.
Day 3 - Still huge fruit with a mid-palate Syrah tartness showing through and a bit of spice. The tannins are there but still hiding out. Alcohol was hidden pretty much all 3 days.
Overall this needs to rest and find itself. 3 days wasn't enough so give this one some time or some serious air. I'd like to revisit it in a couple years and see where it goes.

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Red

2004 Yalumba The Signature

 Barossa Valley Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend more
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11/12/2010 - River Rat wrote: NR

Deep garnet in the glass with brick edges. Nose showing cola, eucalyptus and mint. Interesting palate of tobacco and a vegetal (green bean) hint with menthol and barnyard notes. After some air, palate medium bodied with red a green bell pepper, more tobacco, spice and firm slightly grippy tannins. On Day 2 I'm still getting the green on the palate but it is finishing with a heavy dose of black olive from the cabernet which isn't my style. A much more complex wine than the Scribbler but the olive is throwing me off. Maybe it's just in a morphing stage. Maybe it's just me. Not sure. Interesting is all I can say.

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Red

2008 Yalumba The Scribbler

 Barossa Valley Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend more
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11/11/2010 - River Rat wrote: NR

Pop N Pour - Ruby color, fruity Syrah forest floor nose. Light to medium on the palate with lots of spice, good acidity and building fruit. Not tatsting the Cab Sauv much but really liking the Shiraz. After a couple hours I get some bacon fat on the nose, the fruit backs down and the spice kicks in. On Day 2 I get a similar nose to yesterday. In the mouth the spice has backed down and the fruit is taking center stage with some meaty Cab finally showing up. Finishes medium with smooth semi-drying tannins. Liked it.

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Red

2007 Chono Syrah Reserva

 Elqui Valley more
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5/8/2010 - River Rat wrote: 88 points

Dark color, medium bodied, smooth tannins, medium finish. Bargain for the price $8.99.

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Red

2017 Milos Frano Plavac

 Pelješac Plavac Mali more
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12/16/2021 - River Rat wrote: NR

Pop n pour and checked back in at the 2 hr mark as well. Nose of menthol and pine needle. Medium minus bodied with a little blackberry dipped in acid and chalk. Very tannic, grape jolly rancher and more tannins. Cousin of Zinfandel? This is the cousin nobody talks about who plays dungeons and dragons and dabbles in CB radios in the Appalachians.

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White

2011 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Clos Häuserer

 Alsace more
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10/12/2019 - River Rat wrote: NR

Needed a little time to come around. Started out a bit astringent. Nice aromatics of pineapple, lemon and grapefruit. Steely minerality, nice acid spine. Could have used a couple hours but my table mates were not sippers. Got my attention.

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Red

2005 Château L'Evangile

 Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/4/2015 - River Rat Likes this wine: NR

Sunday gathering, Benji visits Wine Country (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): Young, sharp tannins, delicious nonetheless. Most interesting wine of the nite for me. Needs time but will shine.

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Red

2014 Château Siran

 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend more
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5/11/2019 - River Rat Likes this wine: NR

A gift from a friend that’s been sitting for a year or more teasing me. This was pretty darn good for the price point. Nice balance, no overt fruit, not overly complex, just seamless from front to back. Will benefit from more time yet very drinkable at this stage. I’d definitely buy more.

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Red

2001 Château Montrose

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
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6/24/2011 - River Rat wrote: NR

Sipped 1st half of bottle through Carpaccio app and Osso Bucco entree. Nose of saddle leather, cassis and cedar. Palate not giving much up other than some green pepper on a medium body. Tannins still a bit course. Corked and will revisit tomorrow night. Enjoyable but still too young to rate. Will surely show better after a day or so.

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White - Sweet/Dessert

2003 Château Doisy-Védrines

 Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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9/24/2011 - River Rat wrote: NR

Popped and poured and then revisited 4 days later (just re-corked in fridge). Notes really didn't change over that period.
Stewed apricots, peaches some vanllla and a splash of pineapple. Had a slight alcoholic edge to it like a fortified wine but the richness of the fruit was front and center. Still some acidity on the finish but not a lot. Interesting.

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Red

2006 Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru Clos du Roy

 Pinot Noir more
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4/18/2012 - River Rat wrote: NR

Dark cranberry with bricking edges. Nose showing subtle strawberry, cherry liqueur and some barnyard. Palate is very green and stemmy (whole cluster fermented?) with some strawberry notes. Doesn't seem to have the fruit to hold up to much bottle aging but I'm letting the remainder sit in hopes that the tannins resolve. Really not very enjoyable at this point in time.

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Red

2006 Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru Clos du Roy

 Pinot Noir more
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1/12/2019 - River Rat Does not like this wine: NR

Pop n pour, looks like old wine, brickish brown with a ruby tinge. Nose of saddle leather and leaky septic tank with nothing resembling wine. Palate is acidic, bland and devoid of most fruit. A hint of cherry/strawberry followed by enamel stripping tannins and a chalky finish. Really the only change between this bottle and the one I opened 7 years ago is the total lack of fruit. Yuck.
Checked back in after a couple hours. No change. Cork back in and will give it on last try Sunday before it becomes a sacrifice to the porcelin god.

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Red

1983 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux

 Pinot Noir more
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1/4/2015 - River Rat wrote: flawed

Sunday gathering, Benji visits Wine Country (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): DOA. Old and tired.

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White

2014 Domaine Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère

 Chardonnay more
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10/13/2018 - River Rat Likes this wine: NR

Really showing well for such a young wine. Expressive citrus, great texture and complexity, seamless from beginning to end.

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White

2004 Louis Jadot Santenay Clos de Malte Blanc

 Chardonnay more
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8/21/2012 - River Rat wrote: NR

Great nose of citrus and green apple. Very creamy texture, with tropical fruits layering the palate. Finishes with a blast of acidity and some nuttiness. Really enjoyable wine.

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Red

2009 Domaine Rossignol-Février Père & Fils Volnay Clos de la Cave

 Pinot Noir more
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1/9/2014 - River Rat wrote: NR

WB Wk 8 VT Series - Transparent light cranberry color. Red raspberry, white pepper, Asian spiciness, mushroom and some stemmy notes on the nose. Mouth is ripe strawberry but light/med bodied and the fruit fades kind of quickly. Creamy texture, raspberry, bright acid with gritty green tannins. Overall kind of tight in need of unwinding. Only been open a couple hours. Will check back tomorrow.

We paired it with an Asian seasoned Beef, Broccoli, Carrot and Onion Stir Fry over White Rice.

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Red

2005 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

 Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru Pinot Noir more
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10/13/2018 - River Rat Likes this wine: NR

Decanted an hour+ drank over 2hrs. Spiced cherry, cranberry, mushroom/underbrush. Long and balanced, with the oak matching the big ‘05 structure. Came together nicely after a couple hours open.

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Red

2005 Domaine Tortochot Charmes-Chambertin

 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir more
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4/10/2012 - River Rat wrote: NR

Brought to a blind tastng. Was hard as nails but opened up in the glass a bit showing savory red and blue fruit, earthiness and lots of chalky tannins.

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Red

2006 Antonin Guyon Gevrey-Chambertin

 Pinot Noir more
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9/25/2012 - River Rat wrote: NR

Open for 4+ hours on night 1 and recorked. Notes from night 2.
13% abv Transparent ruby with bricking edges. Nose heavy on sweet strawberry preserves, cherry liqueur, smoke and touch of orange zest. Palate is kind of primary with cherry kool-aid, a little spice, decent texture, green tannins that persist though the finish.
Alcohol, fruit and tannins in balance but kinda low on the acid. Not sure where this will wind up in a few years unless the acid is hiding somewhere.

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Red

2008 Domaine Marchand-Grillot Gevrey-Chambertin En Songe

 Pinot Noir more
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6/5/2012 - River Rat wrote: NR

Part of a Virtual Tasting. Popped and left open in cellar for 11 hours. Transparent ruby garnet color. Nose is earthy with truffles, star anise and spice. Palate is loaded with tart red fruit, sour cherry and raspberry. Very light on its feet. Finishes with tart red fruit and soft dusty tannins. Real impressive wine that has a bright future.

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Red

2011 Domaine Joseph Roty Marsannay Cuvée de "Boivin"

 Pinot Noir more
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11/27/2019 - River Rat wrote: NR

Dark crimson color, strawberry and raspberry aromas jump from the glass. Creamy texture, mineral driven, some stems, bright acidity, crunchy fruit. Sandlewood and minerality on the finish. Nice QPR.

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Red

2012 Domaine Dujac Morey St. Denis

 Pinot Noir more
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8/5/2016 - River Rat Likes this wine: NR

Night one was like a trip to the County Fair. Day 2 muted fruit, dried cherries and dried flowers, tart red berries, steely/crushed rock minerality with some chalk on the finish.

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Red

2009 Maison Ilan Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots

 Pinot Noir more
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1/4/2015 - River Rat wrote: flawed

Sunday gathering, Benji visits Wine Country (Napa Valley Wine & Cigar): Poor storage or closure failure, cork wet right to top. Nose was all brett, no fruit, or acidity, muted rose petal water. Very poor showing.

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Red

2009 Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Maréchale

 Pinot Noir more
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9/1/2014 - River Rat wrote: NR

At 4hrs there is still a hint of alcohol on the nose. The fruit profile is black cherry and merde up front, prevalent acidity, stemmy mid palate, gritty finish with spicy cherry and strawberry. Fun to follow but too young. Needs more time to integrate the oak and acidity. Not sure if there is enough fruit to keep up with it though. As this was my only bottle I will never know for sure.

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Red

1998 Domaine Jean Grivot Vosne-Romanée

 Pinot Noir more
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9/24/2012 - River Rat wrote: flawed

Picked up during the Last Bottle Moving Marathon. I think I am coming to a realization that nearly every wine I have with age on it ends up being corked. Why waste my time and money just to pour it down the drain. I'll try Saran Wrap on this one and see what happens but another disappointment.

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  • Tasting notes: 887 notes on 757 wines

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