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

1890 J.W. Burmester Porto Colheita

 Port Blend more
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3/13/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 100 points

Some Ports, mostly Martinez (Roy's): such a treat!
I was handed a glass and told nothing about it, besides that "I would remember this day forever"
this was just totally wonderful. The nose reminded me of chocolate raspberries, but with a rootbeer character that made me feel like I was in a 1950s soda shop. The palate had a madeira-like nuttiness to it, and all together it was so smooth, and so lingering, we kept smelling the glass even hours after it had been emptied. Yum, yum, yum. This is why port is aged.

On scoring: I never give anything 100 points, because it seems so definite. But this was the absolute perfect port experience, so for that, I'm going to go there. Take my scores for what they really are - a personal wine journal, nothing more.

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Red

1990 Château La Conseillante

 Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend more
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10/6/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 98 points

STG Bordeaux (Eric's): My favorite of the flight, and my favorite bordeaux to date. It appeared more oak-infused and more intense than the 1989, though the palate retained some green edges reminiscent of the earlier vintage. I tasted bacon and perfectly ripened black fruits, overlaid with cardamom toast, as the palate morphed continuously over the tongue. It's hard to imagine a more complete or perfect wine.

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White - Sparkling

2002 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare

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5/10/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 98 points

Champagne Producer Tour, 2011 (Champagne, France): Tasted with Christian at the Pavillion
disgorged 2010, 73% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir
nose: seashells, sweet bread
palate: just slightly incomplete now, underneath is something silken, tight, and pulsing with frothy energy. The rest of my notes say: "Wow. This is going to be awesome."
This wine was eye-opening. Having been fullly enamored with the Charles Heidsieck line compared to the Pipers throughout the tasting, I wasn't even close to prepared to taste this. Was I got was an electric shock of pure, crack-laced mineral shot through my veins with high-strung, glamorously crazed citrus. Having personally never taken heroin, this is what I imagine drinking it would be like. SImply extraordinary. Amazing. Incomprehensible. Hallucinatory. I sure hope I'm not going to go all Trainspotting trying to recreate the experience....in fact, I'm afraid to be dissapointed if I ever get a chance to taste this again. What a ride.

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White - Sparkling

1996 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

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7/26/2021 - tarheel17 wrote: 98 points

Fabulous! Amazing bottle. Even more complex than 6 years ago, I actually smelled toasted coconut and vanilla meringue at one point. I do so love aged Bdb. Way more than young, anyway. Still very vibrant. What a wine!

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White

2001 Coche-Dury Meursault

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9/27/2008 - tarheel17 wrote: 96 points

I was given just a taste of this at a restaurant, and it was by far, the best burgundy I have ever tasted. Simply divine mouthfeel and the finish was perfection. Eric's tasting note below sums up the flavors, but the magic has to be experienced.

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Red

1997 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Alpha

 Columbia Valley more
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3/19/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 96 points

Betz Pere de Famille Vertical Tasting (+more) (Bothell): THe first wine of the Betz vertical, and the one that no one could forget at the end of the night. In fact, I don't think a single person did NOT pick this as one of the top 3 of the PdFs. A true stunner
I recall and herbal nose with precise, pure red fruit and a cedary undertone. THe palate was very young, with vivacious acid and it truly tasted the youngest of the flight. A simply fantastic wine. THere were many jokes around the table that perhaps Bob should have stopped making wine after his inaugural vintage...but thank goodness he didn't.

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White - Sparkling

1983 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé

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1/21/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 96 points

STG End of Year (Roy's): tasted blind
A phenomenal bottle of wine. the nose was full of chocolate, caramel, and sweet, generous richness. THe palate was simply delicious. Slightly sweeter, and with less acid than #2 in the flight (the 1988 Krug), it was just drinking in this perfect, sublime way. THis is what aged bubbly is all about - what a treat!

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Red

2005 Cayuse Flying Pig

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6/20/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 96 points

Best of Washington at Russell's (Bothell): FANTASTIC. Herbal, bright, focused, this was my WOTN. I loved, loved loved all components. Funny that I didn't like the Bionic Frog very much, but this one rocked my world.

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Red

1970 Château Palmer

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1/21/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 96 points

STG End of Year (Roy's): tasted blind
herbally fruited and very lovely, with a lightly chalked mouthfeel. quite amazing, and I did not guess it was the oldest in the flight. Superb wine, WOTF.

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White - Sparkling

1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires

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5/10/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 96 points

Champagne Producer Tour, 2011 (Champagne, France): Tasted at the Pavillion with Christian.
nose: coconut and pineapple. Smelled exactly like when my friend Darcey would make homemade pina coladas in the blender with all fresh ingredients. I loved the nose
palate: WOW. coconut and lemon and pineapple, this was dryly tropical. Very young, with a streak of lively, vibrant acidity and a long finish. I can't believe 100% chardonnay can act like this. Yowza. I wish I could buy a case and just sock it away in the cellar.

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Red - Fortified

1977 Barros Porto Colheita

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12/3/2007 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

perfect.

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Red

2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

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1/21/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

STG End of Year (Roy's): tasted blind
OK, so THIS is Cali cab. Intensely forthright on the nose, with gobs of fruit and caramel and all sorts of yumminess. THe palate was exactly what the nose promised, though with pedigree to last much longer. Both younger and more voluptuous than the other wines in the flight. I kind of suspected the producer, and was happy to taste this into my own personal oblivion. But for 'real wine' experiences, I still prefer the 1991 Dominus.

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White - Sparkling

1997 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Cuvée Creation

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4/18/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

this needs air.
In a burgundy glass, I get the most gorgeous brown sugar nose. In the zaalto, I didn't, but that was before the wine warmed a bit and it was just after opening. After half an hour of air, the brown sugar-caramel is flecked with grass. Really really gorgeous, actually.
The palate is compact, dense, yet lightweight. Flavors of caramel (but not in the least sweet), herbs, and preserved lemon. THe finish is spectacularly long. Bubbles so fine they tickle. This champagne is most excellent, dude. Party on.

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Red

1997 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

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7/31/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

WLTV and others do CdPs (Bellevue Wine Storage): WOTN
nose: animal, spicy, a bit musky, but not unappetizing
palate: sweet berry, just a lovely palate with perfect presence on the tongue. Savory and sweet at the same time. I loved the completeness of the palate.

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Red

1974 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

 Napa Valley more
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5/31/2009 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

This bottle was fantastic. Cork came out whole, and the fill was well above the shoulder. Hints of dill and great depth of black fruit on the nose, with just a perfect supple mouthfeel, a cloudlike experience.

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Red

1997 Dominus Estate

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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2/22/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

delicious! Definitely reminded me of Bordeaux on the nose, though the rootbeer and caramel flavors that emerged in the glass after some time did give the nod to Napa. It still retianed an elegant, slightly herbal melody throughout. I thought this was incredible, and I preferred it to the 1991 next to it, though only slightly. Thanks, Blair!

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Red

2005 Betz Family Syrah La Serenne

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7/2/2008 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

pop&pour. nose: dense and meaty, with a layer of spice and black cherry.
palate: one of the best wine I have ever had. really complete mouthful of silky, sublime dark fruits, tannins are covertly hidden, but give mouthfeel depth. Cigar and clove on the finish. I can't believe this stuff. I try to take a sip and instead it becomes a gulp. Outstanding.
1hr
Nose: After an hour, sweet caramel comes through on the nose, but alcohol also appears (due to temp increase, I can only assume). some minerality is sensed as well. Cool stuff.
Palate: still drinking beautifully. Tannins have emerged from slumber, but nothing out of place. Still finishes with cigar and also a sizeable amount of black tea.

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White - Sparkling

2012 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

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11/28/2020 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 95 points

Super amazing. As expected.

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Red

2002 Frederic Esmonin Ruchottes-Chambertin

 Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru Pinot Noir more
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12/4/2010 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

Absolutely divine - supple, silken texture and delectable fruit. Went way too fast...

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White - Sparkling

1999 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année

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4/12/2009 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

nose: complex tones of honey and sweet bread.
palate: fine mousse, layered with bitter lemon, baked bread, long finish. Chris' favorite champs to date.

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Red

2007 Cayuse Flying Pig

 Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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4/12/2016 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 95 points

nose: slight spice, slight greenness, a very complex nose. Maybe sandalwood in there somewhere?

palate:the mouthfeel was velvety, but light in character, not heavy in the vein of Cayuse syrahs. Tasted of sour cherry and stems and darker berries and grass. The greenery became more pronounced over time, but it emphasized the fruit instead of distracting from it. I really enjoyed this. I really wish this winery would sell me some of the Flying Pig - I've asked every year for 5 years!

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White - Sparkling

1990 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru l'Esprit

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5/10/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

Champagne Producer Tour, 2011 (Champagne, France): Tasted with Rodolphe
nose: mushroom and truffle and ripe apricot
palate: weighty, but not heavy, this was still fresh with lemon peel essence. Fantastcially intense but light....really excellent balance displayed here. Loved it.

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Red

1989 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

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6/28/2012 - tarheel17 wrote: 95 points

STG does Syrah: nose: fancy rootbeer, smoky essence
palate: perfectly balanced acid with velvety tannin and a dusty, mineral finish. I loved this. I wish all wines smelled like it did.

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White - Sparkling

2008 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or

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4/21/2018 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 95 points

Champagnes vs CA Sparklers (My house): SO AMAZING.
I mean, I know Vilmart is amazing, this was no surprise. It blew away all the other wines (4 NV champs, 5 CA sparklers) at the table. It was miles ahead of them to all tasters which included many neophytes, but also some well-traveled palates, which is just confirmation of how wonderful Vilmart's wines truly are.
My notes read: pineapple nose, totally delicious, therefore obviously Vilmart.

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White - Sparkling

1985 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Oenotheque Champagne Charlie Brut

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1/26/2013 - tarheel17 Likes this wine: 95 points

Superlative stuff. This is just my kind of awesome - caramel, biscuit, nutmeg, all that good stuff. If only everything from the 80s could age so gracefully.

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  • Tasting notes: 1,807 notes on 1,508 wines

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