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

1998 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta

 Corvina Blend, Corvina more
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1/15/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com Likes this wine: 99 points

White Burgundy, Barolo, Brunello, Amarone Feast (Caffe Macaroni): Opaque red violet color; rich chocolate, dried fig, chocolate syrup nose; rich, delicious, chocolate, chocolate syrup, hazelnut, licorice palate; very long finish

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    2/14/2013 8:56:00 PM - Greg, this Amarone is delicious now, and should go 20 years or so. A decant of one to two hours should help bring out all the complexity.
    Enjoy!
White - Sparkling

NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée

 Champagne Blend more
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7/5/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 97 points

From magnum - light lemon yellow color with abundant, fairly speedy tiny bubbles; wonderful, hazelnut, coriander, dried lemon, almond nose; delicious, hazelnut, tart lemon, preserved lemon, mineral palate; long finish 97+ points (bottle had a code of 5104830 on the back, but not one of the official Krug IDs that have been issued with bottlings since Sept. 2011)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    7/8/2013 3:32:00 PM - Excellent info Tomas. Thank you for the link to your blog.
White - Fortified

1908 D'Oliveiras Madeira Boal Reserva

 more
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6/12/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 96 points

Madeira Trade Tasting San Francisco (Hotel Monaco, San Francisco, California): Medium dark brown color with yellow meniscus; very appealing, toasted almond, walnut, roast coffee nose; very tasty, rich but balanced, roast coffee, tart lemon, walnut, toasted almond, smoky palate with notes of apricot; long finish

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    9/28/2013 9:45:00 PM - John,
    I haven't yet heard about any upcoming Madeira tastings like there were the last two years in San Francisco. I'll check with the organizer of the last one to see if she knows anything.
Red

1975 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

 Napa Valley more
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7/18/2017 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 95 points

Bricked medium red violet color; aromatic, mature, cedar, menthol, cassis, cigar box, tobacco nose; delicious, silky textured, tar currant, cedar, sandalwood, tobacco palate with good balancing acidity; long finish (13% alcohol; 2.5 years in American oak) 95+ points

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    8/17/2017 12:13:00 PM - It was a very good vertical tasting at Beaulieu with the winemaker there. This was the best of several bottles of the '75 I've tried, with pristine storage at the winery itself.
White - Sparkling

2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

 Chardonnay more
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9/30/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 points

Light yellow color with abundant, speedy, tiny bubbles; appealing, lime cream, brioche nose; tasty, poised, brioche, lime cream, tart pear, mineral palate; long finish 94+ points

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    11/5/2013 10:56:00 AM - I think you might have responded to the wrong note. This is not Bollinger, it's Taittinger's prestige cuvee. In no way is this on the decline. It's extremely young yet and capable of serious aging.
Red

2004 Château Latour Grand Vin

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
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4/12/2014 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 points

Slightly hazy, bricking, very dark ruby color; maturing, lifted, tart currant, roast coffee, pencil lead, tar, tart black fruit, cedar nose; tasty, creamy textured, maturing, tart black fruit, cedar, pencil lead, tart currant, roast coffee palate; long finish 94+ points

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    5/18/2014 8:52:00 PM - Thank you. Enjoy your 2004 Latour. I tasted it at Pebble Beach at a Latour seminar with Frederic Engerer.
Red

1977 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio

 Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more
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10/22/2014 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 points

Bricked medium red color with orange meniscus; very aromatic, mushroom, dried porcini mushroom, roast beef jus nose; delicious, savory, beef jus, tobacco, dried porcini, dried red currant palate with good acidity; long finish (14% alcohol)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    3/11/2015 7:33:00 AM - Thank you Stud. Fabrizio Bianchi opened that bottle for us from the estate's cellars in honor of the young camera man who was with us, whose birthday was that day. It was a delight.
Red

2005 Bodegas Hermanos Peciña Rioja Señorío de P. Peciña Reserva

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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1/25/2015 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 points

Bricking dark red violet color; appealing, dill, tart cranberry, red currant, raspberry, coffee nose; tasty, silky textured, ripe raspberry, black raspberry, ripe cherry palate; could use 3 years; medium-plus finish (delicious, classic Rioja juice; 13.5% alcohol) 94+ points

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    3/12/2015 8:54:00 PM - Thank you Sir. It was a good hiatus, but I'm back.
Red

2011 Sky Vineyards Syrah

 Mt. Veeder more
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4/16/2015 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 points

Very dark ruby color; appealing, fresh, dried fig, light pepper, tart black cherry nose; delicious, delicate, fresh, dried fig, light pepper, tart black cherry palate with good acidity; should go 20 years; long finish

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    6/2/2015 10:04:00 AM - You have good taste. ;-) I definitely see a lot of aging potential in these Syrahs. Have you tried their Zins too?
Red

2009 Domaine Katsaros Cabernet Sauvignon Krania

 Larissa more
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5/28/2015 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 94 points

Saturated very dark purple red violet color; appealing, very aromatic, savory, tart black currant, pepper, tar nose; delicious, characterful, tart black currant, roasted tart berry, pepper, violets, mineral palate; could use 5 years and will go 30+; long finish

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    7/21/2015 4:53:00 PM - A few places have the '08 in the U.S. for $50-60.
Red

2008 Antinori Tignanello

 Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend more
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10/25/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 points

Medium dark red violet color; redolent, tart cherry, tart berry nose; tasty, tight, tart red fruit, tart berry, cedar palate; needs 6 years; medium-plus finish

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    12/18/2012 8:00:00 AM - That's a good question. I mean six years from the date of tasting, so 2018. That may still be too soon for people who like mature wines, but that's my best guess as to when the tannins will be resolved enough so that tasting it will be more of a pleasure. Obviously a wine like this can age for decades.
Red

2010 Château Léoville Poyferré

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/18/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 points

2010 Bordeaux at 2012 Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux Tasting (Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California): Opaque purple red violet color; very appealing, mocha, tart black currant, cedar nose; appealing, mocha, tart black currant, cedar palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish (61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    1/27/2013 10:30:00 AM - Hi Peter,
    Where the wines at the recent UGC Bordeaux tasting were approachable already (i.e., good to drink now), I didn't indicate that. I only put in an estimated number of years to hold on those that were tight and clearly needed some time. It was remarkable how many of the 2010s (like the 2009s) appear to be ready to drink on release. That said, this is a fine Bordeaux with good acidity which should age quite nicely. If you prefer secondary and/or tertiary aromas and flavors on your wine, you'll definitely want to wait 8 to 10 years to start getting that kind of development. If you just want something good and drinkable, no reason to wait.
Red

2005 Château Haut-Bages Libéral

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
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3/3/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 points

Very dark ruby color; oak, tart black currant, blackberry, roast coffee nose; rich, tart black currant, tart blackberry, roast coffee palate; medium-plus finish (75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot; 40% in new oak)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    7/27/2013 6:00:00 AM - I'm having trouble understanding your comment, Kdog. My TN did not say "tart tart tart." "Tart black currant" and "tart blackberry" are pretty typical descriptors for Cab Sauv based blends and not at all negative, as far as I'm concerned. The TN also says "medium-plus finish" not "medium finish." Are you in the habit of misquoting a wine reviewer and then asking him or her why they gave a score based on your complete misquoting? What a peculiar way to occupy yourself.

    At any rate, I'm the most recent professional reviewer of this wine by far (I think the other most recent review goes back to '08), and I think it's in a good place now. Did you hate it recently or something?

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    8/10/2013 10:56:00 AM - Kdog,
    Thanks for following up. Thank you also for the very kind words on my Santa Barbara pieces. Sounds like we're both excited about the region. I'm headed back for another week of tastings there at the end of this month. Great stuff!
White - Sparkling

NV Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve

 Champagne Blend more
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9/30/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 points

Light yellow color with abundant, steady, tiny bubbles; autolytic, hazelnut, almond, baked apple nose; delicious, rich, creamy textured, hazelnut, almond, baked apple, mineral palate; medium-plus finish (per back label, laid in chalk cellars in 2008, disgorged 2012; good value)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    11/4/2013 10:10:00 AM - Good question. It is a current release in the new packaging, designed to invoke the days of "Champagne Charlie," as Charles Heidsieck was known in the U.S. in the 1850s for his many visits here that helped popularize Champagne in this country. On the back it says it was disgorged in 2012.

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    11/4/2013 12:55:00 PM - Now that you mention it, I think that's a pretty good approach with C. Heidsieck. Their vintage wines are generally ready to drink on release. The others in their lineup are always among the best values in Champagne, for those of us who go for the autolytic style.
White - Sparkling

NV Ulysse Collin Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (2010) Les Roises

 Chardonnay more
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2/21/2016 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 points

Light lemon yellow color with abundant, steady, tiny bubbles; aromatic, sweet butter, autolytic, almond nose; delicious, butter, lemon, mineral palate with medium acidity; long finish (disgorged 3/14)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    2/27/2016 11:58:00 AM - I think it's surprisingly ready, but would certainly reward two or three years of aging as well.
Red

2014 Sante Arcangeli Family Wines Old Vine Zinfandel

 Santa Clara Valley more
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12/30/2016 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 93 points

Dark ruby color; aromatic, black raspberry, black cherry, black fig nose; delicious, black cherry, black raspberry, wild berry, black fig palate with good balancing acidity; will go 15+ years; long finish (14.5% alcohol; from 106-year-old vines) 93+ points

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    1/7/2017 11:18:00 AM - Chris,
    I think this is ready to drink now. I usually only indicate a "hold window" when I think the wine is too tight for drinking now. I'll say "needs 2 years" or something like that. From the body, acidity and palate length on this one, I felt comfortable indicating it was going to be a long ager.
White

1962 Château Laville Haut-Brion Blanc

 Pessac-Léognan Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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3/2/2010 - Rupert wrote: 92 points

1962 Bordeaux horizontal (Institute of Directors, London): Earthy, musty nose, fat and ripe on palate, citrus, wax, lanolin, very long and once the mustiness blew off, this was glorious

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    3/4/2010 4:21:00 PM - Looks like a very interesting tasting, Rupert. You mean "horizontal" though, as you tasted through many producers of the same year. A vertical is when you taste multiple years of the same wine.
Red

2010 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 Red Rhone Blend more
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1/25/2014 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 points

Very dark black-tinged purple red violet color; appealing, dried berry, baked berry, anise, garrigue, tar nose; tasty, rich, dried berry, tar, garrigue, mineral, anise palate; medium-plus finish (70% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre) 92+ points

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    9/9/2014 3:13:00 PM - Jim,
    Thanks for the catch. The cuvee percentages have been corrected.
    --Richard
Red

2011 Cornerstone Cellars The Cornerstone

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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12/13/2014 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 points

Magenta color. Lots of loamy and dusty soil on the nose, coffee bean, notes of cedar and pine, mixed in with tart black and red currant fruit. Starts off with a dose of refreshing acid, the fine-firm but grained tannins provide some weight for the velvety truit. Black cherries and red and black currant fruit, all of it ripe but crunchy as well, the wine glides across the palate. Complex notes of black tea, sweet cocoa, cedar and vanilla and integrated well with the earthy and herbal aspects. Needs time to expand but a beauty. Impressive stuff.

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    12/20/2014 9:52:00 PM - Great note Dude. Definitely conveys a sense of the wine. Cheers!
Red

2005 Bodegas Valdelana Rioja Agnus Reserva

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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6/26/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 points

Visit to Bodegas Valdelana (Elciego, Rioja, Spain): Medium dark red violet color; appealing, ripe berry, vanilla, baked berry, cherry nose; tasty, rich but poised, ripe cherry, cassis, vanilla palate; needs 2 years; medium-plus finish (95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano; 2 years in 50/50 French and Russian oak)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    3/12/2013 5:39:00 PM - I got my information from the Valdelana Marketing Director, who conducted our tasting of the bodegas's wines after the owner took us on a tour of the vineyards. Usually the official representative of the winery is pretty accurate in the info they convey to visiting journalists and wine writers, but not always, I suppose. That much Russian oak is highly unusual for a high end Rioja, but since you've pointed me to an authoritative source, in writing (which may also be wrong), I've changed the info in my note. I appreciate the apparent correction. I'll also be writing the Valdelana staff for an explanation.
Red

2011 Wind Gap Wines Pinot Noir

 Sonoma Coast more
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2/4/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 points

Medium dark red violet color; lifted, ripe cranberry, cherry puree nose; fresh, ripe cranberry, cherry puree, mineral palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 91+ points (40% whole cluster; no new oak; 12.4% alcohol)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    3/13/2013 6:52:00 PM - My estimate, with the amount of whole cluster inclusion that it has, would be three to four years. Its relatively high acidity and tannins should sustain it for a number of years after that, I'm guessing 15-20.
White

2006 Nikolaihof Riesling Federspiel Vom Stein

 Wachau more
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1/27/2014 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 points

Very light yellow color; maturing, aromatic, yeasty nose; tasty, savory, mineral, tart pear palate; medium-plus finish

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    4/7/2014 8:18:00 PM - Zach,
    In magnum, I think the wine probably has another couple of years to get to this point of maturity and savory qualities that I found on the 750 format. It should then go 7 to 10 years.
Rosé - Sparkling

NV Salton Pinot Noir Lucia Canei

 Serra Gaúcha more
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11/30/2015 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 points

Very light pink color with abundant, steady, tiny bubbles; appealing, fresh, strawberry, raspberry, strawberry jam nose; tasty, medium bodied, creamy textured, raspberry, tart strawberry, dried strawberry, white chocolate palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish (100% Pinot Noir; 8 grams dosage)

  • Comment posted by rjonwine@gmail.com:

    1/8/2016 4:13:00 PM - Hi Tim,
    I've had similar experience with Brazilian wines over the years. They've also had an unusually high percentage of corked bottles in my experience, up until the last few years, due to dumping of bad corks there by unscrupulous Portuguese cork producers. The vast majority--90%--of wines made there are poor quality table wine. There are, however, several producers making world class wines--both sparkling and still. Salton is a solid producer which has a little U.S. distribution so far. The top producers are Lidio Carraro, Don Giovanni (amazing sparklers), Cave Geisse and Pizzato. I visited virtually all the producers worth visiting on a trip organized by Wines of Brazil & Evan Goldstein the first week of December 2015.

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