| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| White |
2006 Ojai Chardonnay Special Bottling #1 Dry Solomon Hills VineyardSanta Maria Valley more |
2/26/2012 - VeniceCalif wrote: 97 pointsPale amber color. Excellent nose of peaches, spices, mineral, and earthy-musty tones from botrytis. Wonderfully balanced on the palate, as honeyed notes add complexity and richness over an acid bed that's finely tuned between soft and firm. It's full and rich yet silky. This wine is conducive to meditation like few are. It's fabulous. It's in the Classic realm for me. |
| Red |
2003 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos VineyardNapa Valley more |
10/21/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 97 pointsDecanted off of a bit of sediment. Wow. Integration is the key in this wine. It has what you need in terms of aromas & flavors (coriander, berry, leather, cherry, a bit of chocolate), and these are all spun together into a wonderful harmony, with no single one dominant. The texture is exceptional as well, balancing sleekness and richness in a compelling way. It's smooth, but still firm with multi-faceted acid balance. The finish is not long, with coffee notes and fine-grained tannins. I could quarrel with the extraction level a bit, but that's Napa these days. This wine is at a very high plateau in its evolution, and seems like it could stay at this stage, or even improve, for many years more. Tremendous. |
| Red |
2011 Scheid Vineyards Pinot Noir POM Mesa Del RioMonterey County more |
1/22/2019 - VeniceCalif wrote: 97 pointsGosh. An amazing wine. Decanted off of some sediment. Intense floral and violet notes jumped up immediately, followed by cherries and wet wood. On the palate, it’s medium bodied, rich, with black cherry fruit |
| Red |
1994 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
12/30/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsDecanted off of some sediment. Medium garnet color, remarkably free of orange or brown. Wonderful nose of cedar, dried herbs, and fresh currants with some mint. Very well-structured on the palate, with a still-holding acid backbone that spins out charcoal, red berry, and earthy flavors. Not heavy, not overly extracted, it's more in the old style of Napa, light on its feet, which is great. Finishes well, with orange peel and a bit of dry grip with very few tannins left. This was a fabulous bottle, at its peak with no sign of approaching senescence. Memorable. |
| Red |
2007 Vino Noceto Zinfandel OGP Grandpère VineyardAmador County more |
3/7/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsDeep ruby-garnet color. Spicy nose of cinnamon, clove, and allspice, ahead of blueberry and ripe strawberry notes. Rich and engaging on the palate, as firm structure conduces to meditation on the layers of fruit and spice flavors. Austere and deep at the same time, as spice flavors lead over fruit. Finishes dry and nicely with light tannins and good earthy grip. This is another serious bottle, showing very well and worthy several more years of cellaring. |
| Red |
2004 Calera Pinot Noir Ryan VineyardMount Harlan more |
9/26/2011 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsWow. Exceptional nose of truffles, violets, black cherries, earth tones. Great depth of flavors, as complex red fruits mix with cedar in a wonderfully balanced package. Finishes firmly, with some acidic grip and even a bit of tannin. This is an exceptional pinot in a rich style, showing really well right now. I don't think it gets much better. |
| Red |
2003 Harbor Winery SyrahAmador County more |
2/26/2012 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsDeep red with orange rim. Exceptional nose of cedar, earthy-musty aromas, hard spices, stones, plums, and cooked blackberry notes. Deliciously balanced, even at its 8 1/2 years of age, showing no sign of senescence. Tobacco and cedar notes chime in on the palate. The finish is long and wonderful, with waves of wood, iron filings, and allspice ahead of near-zero tannins. This wine is at its peak and I'm really sad that it's my last bottle. |
| Red |
1998 Rotllan Torra Priorat AmadisGrenache Blend, Grenache more |
9/2/2018 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsCompletely fab. Bricky ruby color. Wonderful nose of cedar, tobacco, cherry. Still lithe on the palate, showing ethereal firmness. Long finish with spices. At its peak and could hold for awhile. |
| Red |
1993 Chateau Ste. Michelle Artist Series MeritageColumbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/16/2011 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsI hope we are all drinking the same 1993 meritage by Ch. Ste. Michelle, because mine was exceptional. (Dale Chihuly on the label) Ruby-garnet color with orange-brown edges. This looks like an aged wine but does not smell much like one: plums, mushrooms, white pepper, earth, cedar notes; a bit shy but nice. More cabernet than merlot. Very pleasant on the palate, with excellent weight. Fruit acids are holding up amazingly well along with oak flavors. None of the mustiness or cooked-fruit flavors that you might expect. Finish is very dry and surprisingly tannic at first, but it lenghthens and lengthens. An excellent wine by any standard, and unbelievable for its age. |
| Red |
2008 Bokisch Vineyards Monastrell Belle Colline Vineyard Lodimore |
11/17/2011 - VeniceCalif wrote: 95 pointsDecanted 1 hr. ahead. Medium ruby color. Excellent nose of plums, earth, smoke, pomegranates, spices. Delicious on the palate as well, with wonderful acid structure and good depth of flavors. The finish is spicy and long ahead of light tannins. This is one superior bottle of vino. Rich and elegant. Racy and deep. It totally belies its Lodi provenance with excellent structure, augmented by beautiful spicy flavors. I don't rate many bottles higher than this. |
| Red |
2006 Linne Calodo Rising TidesPaso Robles Red Rhone Blend more |
9/9/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsDeep ruby with some orange. Very nice nose, led by spices: cinnamon, allspice. Next a plummy layer of dark fruit. And below that, some earthy, mushroomy tones. Awhile after opening, some completely welcome floral tones came in. Smooth and rich on the palate, showing that bottle age has paid off. Tobacco flavors, cherry pie, and a few chocolate notes in a rich stew. Finishes with a bit of rust and some cooked flavors over low tannins. This wine is showing very well right now. The date of this wine leads me to place Linne Calodo among the leaders of the Rhone Revival in Paso Robles. It's a very impressive bottle of juice. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2014 Potek Grenache DemetriaSanta Ynez Valley more |
4/27/2020 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsA fab bottle. Decanted off of near zero sediment. Pretty garnet color, fading at the edge, with just a hint of brick. Bright red fruits lead on the palate with raspberry and blueberry, violets and a touch of Garrigue. It finishes with tea leaves and near zero tannins. This is a wonderful bottle of Vino. |
| Red |
2012 Donkey and Goat Mourvèdre The ProspectorEl Dorado more |
5/29/2014 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsDoes varietally bottled Mourvedre have a future in California? Here is a very loud affirmative answer. Decanted 1 hr. ahead and sampled over the next 90 mins. Deep deep garnet, with purple. Very nice nose of earth tones, black cherry, violets, black pepper. Led on the palate by heaps of clear black fruit in a smooth and rich texture that is also full-bodied, with the fruit keeping things interesting and not overbearing or too heavy; very drinkable. Finishes well, with a touch of cranberry, light grip and light tannins (folks who see lots of tannin here need to let it breathe). Wow. A great bottle. Full of interest. Could be better in a few years, but not much. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2010 Bokisch Vineyards TempranilloLodi more |
4/12/2016 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsI wish I had more of this wine. Decanted 30 mins ahead and sampled over the next hour. Medium ruby-garnet color. Very fragrant nose of hard spices, cherries, bay leaf, cooked blackberry. Medium-bodied, rich, and balanced on the palate, with little sign of acidity amid dark flavors; coffee notes showed up later. The acid balance is relaxed, neither firm nor tart nor soft. Finishes well, with leather notes, light grip and zero tannins. This wine has really come to life; it jumps out of the glass with dark-spectrum aromas and flavors. Gives me hope for my other vintages of Tempranillo and for Bokisch in general. This wine has one of the best QPRs anywhere on earth. |
| Red |
2008 Seghesio Family Vineyards Old Vine ZinfandelSonoma County more |
7/28/2011 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsDecanted 1 hr. ahead. This wine has really evolved since I last tasted it. Ruby-garnet color with a hint of orange at the edge. Very nice nose of blackberries, currants, and lots of spices with just a bit of welcome violet aromas. The nose is lush and rich. Classy and sleek on the palate, with good acidity, cedar notes, black pepper, and clear, brisk fruit. It's not flabby, rather it's more in a claret style. Alcohol is 15.5% acc to the label, but this wine wears it very very well. The finish is pleasantly long with waves of berries and cedar, followed by light tannins. This is a good example of what zinfandel should be. It's not idiosyncratic or extreme in any way or overly fruit-driven, it's just damn good. I have been drinking zin for 35 years, and the best word for this is Classic, rather like Louis Armstrong in the 1940s and 50s. Entrenched excellence. It could have longevity; I wish I could keep a few bottles to see what may happen in 10 years. |
| White |
NV Harbor Winery Oloroso SoleraAmador County White Blend more |
11/7/2023 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsBeautiful, golden amber color, tinged with copper. The nose jumps up from the glass with dried apricot, coral, licorice hazelnut almond salt and chalk. A wonderful nose, in other words, very rich. Medium full body on the palate, with a nectarous texture. Not bone dry, but rather rich and elegant. The finish is exceptionally long, recapping all of the aromas in the form of flavors. An amazing bottle. The level of alcohol, 22%, means that it is rather potent. But otherwise wonderful. |
| Red |
2007 Lafond Pinot Noir Arita Hills VineyardSta. Rita Hills more |
5/16/2012 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsDecanted 90 mins. ahead. Deep ruby color. Nice and spice-forward nose of violets, allspice, black cherries, mushrooms. Rich and elegant on the palate, as cranberries, vanilla, and a bit of ink enter the proceedings. Acid balance is excellent, neither too soft nor too harsh, for a wine of this medium weight. Finishes well with iron filings ahead of slight grip and low tannins. This is a tremendously good bottle of pinot, rich and deep. Not for the cellar, but for savoring and enjoying right now, tonight. |
| Red |
2011 Cedarville Vineyard Turnabout's Fair PlayRed Blend more |
3/25/2015 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsIf you were wondering about the viability of El Dorado county in the race to make great wines, here is one affirmative answer. Decanted 1:15 ahead. Very deep garnet color. Beautiful nose of black pepper, white pepper, herbs, pine, plum, and cherry, which should tell you something. Firm and lifted texture on the palate as acid levels are firm but not by any means tart. Earthy flavors along with dark red fruit. Finishes very well, with light grip, light-medium tannins, herbal waves, and a few metallic tones. It's not exactly going out on a limb to report that this is an excellent bottle that will probably improve for the next several years. |
| White - Fortified |
NV Pérez Barquero Montilla-Moriles Gran Barquero Amontillado Solera 25 AñosPedro Ximénez more |
12/14/2023 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsMedium Amber color. Wonderful nose, showing chamomile, saline, earth, and mushroom. Medium bodied on the pallet, dry, but not rakingly dry. Long finish, which brings chalk and butterscotch and lasts and lasts. |
| Red |
2009 Inman Family Pinot Noir OGV EstateRussian River Valley more |
9/23/2015 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsAired for about 45 mins. Pretty pale garnet with orange flashes. Very fragrant nose, with flowers, violets, cherries, strawberries. Pleasant on the palate, not tart but rather elegant, with aged red-fruit flavors buoyed by just enough lifting acidity. Light-bodied for a CA pinot, it's refreshing and easy to drink. It's drinking very well now, will probably hold for awhile. Excellent. |
| Red |
2009 Vino Noceto Zinfandel OGP Grandpère VineyardAmador County more |
4/24/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsHere is a question regarding Zinfandel: Do you go for Power and Intensity, or do you reach for Elegance (I am obviously not the first to think of this question)? The former is as easy as falling off of a log with this grape in this state; the latter is, unfortunately, rarer. Here we have a very successful instance of The Latter: Decanted 1 hr. ahead, and sampled over the next hour. Nice medium garnet color. Fine, cedary nose, with overtones of plums, dried herbs, and black pepper. Elegant and smooth on the palate, as cherry and hard-spice flavors join. It's not full-bodied, but rather medium, with good and not excessively firm acid balance. Finishes well if a bit quickly, with licorice, another wave of fruit, and light tannins. A bit of heat shows up, late in the drinking window. This is a stylish zin in a restrained style. It's not fruit-forward, but rather spice-forward, which is not a surprise from this vineyard & winery. But I have written CT notes on 6 of the last 8 vintages of this wine, and this one stands out by its suave elegance. It may well improve with a few years in the bottle, but it's very drinkable, even irresistible (given enough air), right now. It's an excellent addition to the Noceto library of OGP Zin. 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2007 Viñas de Lujan Malbec Las LoicasValle de Uco more |
3/9/2011 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsMalbec is not a soft wine. The examples I am drinking here in Buenos Aires all have a strong acidic backbone; they are austere. The wine as a whole experience revolves around this acidic core, spinning out flavors aromas & textures. My California palate is accustomed to pinots and zins whose acid level is shall we say less encompassing, and the fruit leads the way. With that as a caveat, this is without doubt an excellent bottle of vino. To business: The first thing on the nose is earth & mushrooms, well that was 2 things but what the heck. I also get deep, rich red fruits such as plums and cherries (not strawberries). Currants. We also get dried oregano. All of the above is teamed up in a seemingly inevitable fashion, a wonderful bouquet. On the palate, we have the lively (to understate it) acidity mentioned above. The red fruits & earth notes dance around. It's strong in the mouth but forgiving; not as anxious-to-please as a softer wine might be, but its acid balance encourages a cerebral rather than sensual response. Be open to this, and the wine will reward you richly. The finish is only mildly tannic but the aforementioned acidity carries it along into a burst of more dried herbs and iron filings. I wonder what 5 years in the bottle would do for this wine. On first opening the wine is rather hot, but 90 mins of air makes all the difference. Putting a number score on this wine is difficult, but I tried. Executive summary: Find this wine. Buy it. Air it. Drink it. Enjoy it. It wants rich peppery food, and an open mind. |
| Red |
2005 Cold Heaven Syrah Second Sin Santa Barbara Countymore |
6/13/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsDeep ruby with a bit of brown. Very nice nose of white pepper, cooked plums, leather, with a faint but totally pleasant moldiness from bottle age. Rich and balanced on the palate, with solid but not tart acids supporting a full body. Tea and floral notes with cooked black cherries in the flavors. Finishes well, with a light, drying grip and light velvety tannins. Executive summary: Wow. This is a very nice bottle, showing very well right now. It repays patience. |
| Red |
2004 Harbor Winery SyrahAmador County more |
9/4/2013 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsVery dark ruby, almost black, not much brown. The nose presents a wonderful blast of spice-bowl richness, including black pepper, allspice, white pepper, and nutmeg, balanced by tea notes and plums. Flavors include coffee, cedar, and blackberry compote in a dry, smooth, and medium-bodied texture. This was once a rich wine, but it has definitely mellowed in a nice way. Finishes well, with more tea notes and drying light tannins along with orange peel notes. This wine is a great example of why certain wines ought to be aged. It's old, yes, but certainly not tired. |
| Red |
2011 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir Vigneron SelectSta. Rita Hills more |
10/3/2017 - VeniceCalif wrote: 94 pointsSometimes patience is rewarded. Decanted 30 mins. ahead off of light sediment. Light-medium ruby color tinged with brick. Very nice nose of spices, cherries, violets, plums. Medium-bodied on the palate, with spicy fruit flavors in a delicious acid balance tinged with minerals. The finish is long, very low tannins, drying, with orange peel notes. This one is showing very nicely; it's near its peak but could probably hold longer. |
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- Tasting notes: 1,149 notes on 1,013 wines
