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

2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico

 Aglianico more
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3/20/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 points

At home w/Valerie and some awesome eggplant rollatini from Gennaro's... needed an interesting Italian wine for pairing. These bottles a gift from a friend. Slow oxed for 30 minutes, drank over 2 hours. Clean cork

Dark garnet core color, mild separation.Nose was a bit closed at first, opening up to show blackberry, coffee, earth, mushrooms. Rich palate of dark cherry, black currant, game/savory notes, herbs (rosemary?), coffee grinds, mineral. Great texture, full body, long(ish) finish.

Nicely aged at this point, Anglianico can be impenetrable in its youth... this has come together in a really nice way. The air time/wake up makes a big difference, much better about an hour in. Would give it at least that much if venue allows. The palate seems much younger than the nose...not sure if that means anything. My experience with Anglianico in groups is it can be a love it/hate it result. This one is a classic "taste the volcano"...may not be for everyone. In a great spot, should continue to drink at this level for a while

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    3/21/2020 4:34:00 PM - A good excuse to open that last bottle...give it a decant if you remember. A lot going on with this wine, worth the wait. Cheers
Red

2009 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny

 Cabernet Franc more
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2/3/2019 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Nose: The nose is fragrant and herbal with red cherries, raspberries, dark chocolate, violets, roses, herbs, and dark red berries. There is excellent depth and class here with great balance between the herbal parts of the grape and red fruits.

Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity and medium+ tannins. The structure is well integrated, though the tannins have a sneakiness to them. The feel is refined and deep with red cherries, herbs, raspberries, roses, and some dark chocolate.

Overall: This is a gorgeous Clos Rougeard that is drinking beautifully right now. This is a dignified and poised Saumur that has excellent depth. While this can certainly age a good while, it’s just wonderful right now.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    2/15/2019 7:51:00 PM - Keith - did you decant the wine at all, if so how long does it take to show?thanks for the note...
Red

2000 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard

 Napa Valley more
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5/19/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 points

Sunday night dinner with the family... with my famous ground chicken burgers, avocados and brown rice.

Decanted, was fragrant and drinkable right out of the bottle. Stayed almost the same for 2 hours, opening slightly. Medium purple, some bricking at the edges. Subtle nose, mild spice, red fruits, leather. Palate carried all the flavors of the nose. red fruits come through with cedar and eucalyptus - like an aged Heitz Martha's... Tannins are smooth and integrated.

Elegant and smooth wine - could almost mistake for a Bordeaux if tasted blind - the eucalyptus gives it away. Cathy Corison makes these wines to age, so its hard to say if it hit its peak. In a zone now, I think it may start to fade, who knows. Gorgeous wine.

PS - with the flavor profile, low alcohol, and mouth feel - you can pair with a wide variety of foods...or drink by itself

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    5/23/2013 7:14:00 PM - thanks for your comment, eucalyptus is a flavor profile you find in Rutherford and Napa valley floor wines, in my experience. Comes with age in most wines. You should pick it up on the nose and finish, minty an fragrant. You get it in some Bordeaux. hope this helps...
Red

2009 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

 Oakville more
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7/26/2019 - jgreco Likes this wine: 98 points

The 2009 Vine Hill Ranch "VHR" is one of the most interesting Napa Valley cabernets I have ever had and an incredible effort for only the second year of VHR. Featuring a dark purple core with a clear rim, the 2009 has a nose of blackcurrants, bramble, and a hint of smokiness. Tannins are well integrated and the wine's texture is silky smooth. Tertiary flavors are just beginning to supplement the black cherry and cassis with coffee bean, graphite, and charred earth. This is drinking beautifully now and should continue to do so over the next decade.

From the label: Blocks 4, 6, and 7 picked in the first half of October.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    10/1/2021 12:06:00 PM - JGreco - thanks for the note. Do you recall if you decanted this bottle?
Red

2007 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve

 Napa Valley more
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10/3/2013 - walkerjfw wrote: 95 points

At Gary's Grand Tasting. Did a vertical of BV Georges de Latour. Opened for about 2 hours, drank after the 04. I own this wine but have been letting it rest, was looking forward to getting a peak to where it was.

Dark color, big nose, consistent with other BV wines. This is a big, smooth wine. Mouthfeel was elegant, huge fruit of blackberry, cassis, currants, vanilla, oak and tobacco.

It seems to be ready now, given how big it is I am inclined to let it have some more time. One of the best BVs I have tasted

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    10/4/2013 7:33:00 PM - I would be sure to give it some time to breathe. I am sure it will be spectacular
Red

2007 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard

 Oakville more
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10/20/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: NR

Wine Spectator, NY Wine Experience Grand Tasting...more wines than time...shorter notes (NY City): A sentimental favorite of mine, I love the older vintages of this wine. The wines from the mid 80s can be dead ringers for left bank wine. Haven't had as much experience with more recent vintages. Wines poured by some of the Heitz family, fun to meet them.

Full bodied wine. Rich dark fruits, black cherry on the front palate, cedar, pipe tobacco, black tea through the mid and back palate. I did not pick up the typical eucalyptus/mint you find with Martha's, perhaps I needed to spend more time with the wine, maybe it had not been given enough air time. Nonetheless, a rich and lush wine, still early in it's development. Really nice, should drink well for another 10+ years...maybe longer...

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    12/3/2016 6:18:00 AM - It's OK to drink now, just still early in its development. I like to check in on wines like this at 10 years - maybe you find the right venue to try a bottle in 2017 and gauge from there...Cheers
Red

2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry

 Stags Leap District more
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3/5/2022 - Emjay1 Likes this wine: 80 points

Cork broke, but managed to have it filtered into a decanter and allowed it to breathe for an hour. It was perfect. This wine has aged beautifully, the notes of dark fruits, leather, and earth were prominent.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    11/4/2023 2:42:00 PM - Your comments on the wine suggest you may have a mistake in your score - 80 points is harsh for a wine you enjoyed...
Red

2009 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

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3/28/2020 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 96 points

OMG! A perfectly aged Napa cab from Howell Mtn......this has it ALL together. For those of you who love a Napa cab in the primary/secondary window....this is it. The nose is deep, loads of lead pencil, classy and rich, right from the pnp. Classic. The fruit is still rich, sweet and powerfully restrained. It is dark Howell Mtn fruit, it is smooth. The tannins are also sweet and round and still in the back round. Goes exceptionally well with a pan seared prime sirloin, peppers/onions and a nice marsala mushroom sauce. This is a beautiful wine in a really good place right now. Thank you to CC for gifting it. It is so VERY appreciated.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    6/19/2021 9:15:00 AM - Mark1NPT - - great note, I am planning on opening a magnum for a dinner party to pair with the main course - medium/rare tenderloin...did you decant at all? Howell Mountain wines are big, many need minimal air prior to serving...but I am thinking i would give this ~ 2 hours prior to serving...any thoughts...?

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    6/20/2021 8:05:00 AM - Thanks for your guidance - the wine was amazing!
Red

2012 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake

 Spring Mountain District more
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10/11/2014 - walkerjfw wrote: NR

At the vineyard over lunch. Very young (obviously) and olny decanted for about an hour prior to our drinking. Rich and fruit forward, wine was showing well.

Nose of red fruit and leather. Dark fruits, blackberry, tobacco, smoke, vanilla. Better than my memory of the last few vintages...

This is an expensive wine, we'll see if it ages and worht the price. The setting is gorgeous,the vines on Rattlesnake Hill were planted in the early 80s by Joe Heitz. I think the highest elevation on their property. I think with a few years in the bottle you wind up with a great Spring Mountain wine from a spectacular vintage...will rate the next bottle...

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    10/18/2014 1:23:00 PM - A nice decant wouldn't hurt. The bottle we had was probably open an hour and was drinking well -- although still very young. I would be interested to hear how it does with a longer decant
Red

2001 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate

 St. Helena more
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1/29/2022 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 points

A bottle (almost) forgotten in my cellar. A dusty bottle pulled while looking for something to perk up a casual dinner. Last of this vintage in my cellar, last note was 2012...:) Cork crumbled on the way out, strained and splash decanted. Valerie and I drank over 90 minutes.

Slightly faded garnet. Nose was showing during the decant - picked it up a couple feet away. Blue fruits, cassis, underbrush, leather on the nose. Smooth and rounded palate showing dark cherry, blueberry, baking spices. Blue fruits persist through the mid, showing some spice/pepper as well. Tannins are resolved and sweetened. Medium body and finish.

This bottle "made the journey", nicely aged, great texture, still expressive in the way you would expect from a 20+ yr old cab. The texture is notable. While I don't know the Merlot content from this vintage, guessing this is what is delivering the texture quality at this point. This is not likely to improve from here, this bottle seemed to have have few more years at this level - but I would drink up!

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    2/18/2022 12:37:00 PM - pianist718:

    Thanks for your comment and apologies for the delay in response. I have been collecting for ~25 years, more seriously for the last 10-12 yrs. The short answer to your question is it takes some time and attention. It's a combination of reading/study, travel and of course a lot of tasting w fellow wine geeks. You can never learn everything, but it fun to try!

    As for where I buy, its a range. Current release, much is purchased directly (mostly US based). For aged bottles mostly auction houses (online and live) and dealers. Some retailers I trust to fill in the rest. Through Wine Searcher you can find almost anything, provenance can vary on aged bottles.

    For online auctions I buy from Benchmark, Blicker, K&L and have dabbled with Spectrum and Acker Merrill. They are reputable, all have their own pros and cons. Live auctions I have gone to Zachy's - be prepared to spend there...:) There are specialty retailers for some regions (eg Italian Wine Merchant, Lisbon Wines, MacAurthur for Bdx, etc..)

    In summary, build your collection over time - if you are in a hurry you probably make mistakes AND your tastes may change. Continue learning and tasting (the fun part), and keep your eye out for deals.

    Hope this helps!
Red

2010 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Napa Valley Cuvée des Quatre Cepages

 Spring Mountain District more
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9/8/2015 - Ouisie77@gmail.com wrote: NR

Wrong name

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    9/8/2015 4:19:00 PM - This is the PNV wine, you can see from the link the 2010 vintage is named Cuvee des Quatre Cepages. These are all one of a kind wines bought at auction

    http://premierenapawines.com/wines/wines_by_winery.asp?Winery=Pride Mountain Vineyards
Red

2016 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch

 Oakville more
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10/29/2020 - bsumoba Likes this wine: 99 points

OMG! I am going to buy every bottle I can find in the market.

Coravin'd the first glass. Going to bring it with me to work to share with another wine-o.

Deep purple in glass. Great color.

Dark fruit, cedar, some tobacco on the nose. As I was pouring the elixir into my glass I could smell the wine permeate the air around me as if it was getting me ready for a special moment, maybe even a transcendent moment.

After a couple more swirls and nose dives, I went in for a taste. I felt fine tannins coat my tongue, I sensed a balance that could only come from a great winemaker with grapes from a great vineyard. I got blackberries and mission fig. I got sweet wood and little earthy undertones.

This wine was sexy. It felt like a new fling, making me want more and nothing around me mattered. Every sip felt like an end of the night kiss on a first date that went spectacular. You didnt want it to end and as you walked away, you shamelessly ran back to her.

This is why we buy wine at this price point.

I left a point on the table because in 5-15 years, this thing is going to be spectacular and will undoubtedly achieve that magical 3 digit number.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    10/30/2020 6:50:00 AM - Great note! I have been buying VHR from its first vintage and have let the bottles age a bit. Started drinking 08-10 in the last few years. These wines are spectacular once the tannins settle. Nice to hear the 16 is accessible now - a great vintage for Napa and VHR
Red

2005 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

 St. Helena more
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5/14/2020 - jnewman77 Likes this wine: NR

I had this bottle 9 years ago at a restaurant and it was one of the first truly great wines I had; fun to be able to try it again; served with beef tenderloin and red wine reduction; the nose initially showed a fair amount of oak, but with 30 min in the decanter this resolved and the nose became more balanced; creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur, a subtle hint of bell pepper, vanillin notes from the oak, violet, and just a hint of mocha. The palate is absolutely silky with filigreed tannins, ripe voluptuous fruit, and well judged acidity. Despite the density of the flavor, it does not feel heavy at all and there is not really any noticeable heat. A long finish rounds this out perfectly. A great example of ripe (but not overripe) Napa cabernet from one of the best producers. This still seemed very youthful to me at 15 yrs of age and really is still not quite at peak. Should provide another 15-20 years of stellar drinking.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    5/14/2020 11:48:00 AM - Thanks for your note. Nice to Spottswoode was your "ah-ha" wine...mine was an 85 BV Georges Latour.

    Spottswoode, in my experience, is one of the most consistently great wines in Napa. I hope you are correct on the longevity of this vintage! Cheers...
Red

2013 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon

 Napa Valley more
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9/26/2017 - wino_tim wrote: 96 points

Deep ruby. A complex yet beguiling nose suggests just ripe blackcurrant, black cherry, fresh tobacco, toast and graphite. Full bodied and rich; the nose could perhaps, in a distant world, be Bordeaux, but the palate, though balanced, with plump tannins and medium+ acidity, is round in a classically Californian way. This is convincing and strikingly good right now, but certainly has potential to get better.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    9/27/2017 4:24:00 AM - Thanks for the note, well done. I have been cellaring all of my 2013 CA and Napa wines as I found them to be heavily tannic in the barrel and at release. I am a big fan of Forman wines, they are well made and age gracefully...I am conscious of opening these too soon. Did you decant? and was the wine still tannic?
Red

2003 Long Shadows Wineries Cabernet Sauvignon Feather

 Columbia Valley more
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9/22/2017 - wine4ever Likes this wine: 92 points

Very nice! Still tastes very young and fresh. Very little signs of age on the nose, color, or palate. Clear. Dark reddish purple in color. Decanted and drank over 3-4 hours. Only improved as the night went on. Started off a little coy and sweet, but developed to be quite complex. Great balance, medium finish. I figure this has lots of life left, but very enjoyable today too. Drink now-2025. Have one more I will try in about 5-7 years.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    9/20/2019 7:59:00 AM - Great note. I know it was a couple years ago but do you remember if you decanted at all and for how long? My last bottle of this was probably 10 years ago, it took a good 2 hours to open. Looking forward to checking in on it again
Red

2007 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

 Napa Valley more
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2/19/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: 92 points

At Press tasting during PNV week (Then & Now), good opportunity to taste recent vintages, auction lots and library wines from some great vintners...tasted next to the 13...

Nicely aged, good core color not much sign age. Nose somewhat restrained, black fruits, mint. Palate is ripe/juicy dark fruits, plums, vanilla, oak.

This still drinks young but in a good spot right now. This was from a magnum that had been open a while, I suspect a 2 hour+ decant would be in order for the wine when opened. Should drink at this level for a while

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    3/3/2016 5:40:00 AM - Thanks for your comment. Larkmead does make some nice age worthy wines. If you have the opportunity, try the Firebelle or Solari. Ramey also has made a vineyard designate from Larkmead vineyards that's very nice
Red

2014 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

 Oakville more
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2/21/2017 - walkerjfw wrote: NR

Epic PNV Kickoff Lunch #2 with Juan/Jamie/Tom/Jay/Mitch/Steve (Solage - Calistoga, CA): Brought by Juan, PnP, drank over 2 hours.

Dark and opaque purple color. Expressive nose of blue fruits, savory and floral notes. Palate was classic Realm BTK, blueberry pie, cassis, espresso notes, mild oak. Rich and layered finish, really beautiful...

Obviously young but fun to drink at an early age...this should be a long lived wine that will evolve into something even better in time

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    2/28/2017 2:51:00 PM - Thanks for your note - sort of PnP...it was opened before I arrived but not decanted. We didnt drink until later so it had some time. For sure this improved in the glass. Obviously still a baby, but much more accessible than the 2013s. It's great now, but would leave it for 3+ years before drinking again.
Red

1999 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23

 Stags Leap District more
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7/13/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 points

With K&O, socially distanced wine on our patio...last bottle of this 5 years ago, good time to check in on it. Drank next to an 02 Lascombes, nice to contrast 2 wines at a great point in their evolution. Splash decant, drank over an hour

Medium ruby color, no separation. Nose showing dark fruits, floral/violets, earth notes. Palate showing blackberry, currant, cedar, licorice, damp earth. Full body, richly texture. Long finish, tannins smooth and dusted.

In a great spot right now. Earth/terroir is dominant at this point. Maybe a Napa version of Haut Brion at this stage...:) Well, stored bottles should continue to drink at this level but not likely to improve much. Great showing on this evening.

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    11/28/2020 5:27:00 AM - Assuming good storage, your 3L should be good for a while. My comment on this bottle was less of a concern that it would start to decline and more a suggestion that its ready to drink and aging wont add too much more. My experience with Cask 23 is it has a very long life, just finished up my 92s a couple years ago and they were still great. You should have a group of good friends around when you open that 3L...:) Cheers
Red

2007 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard

 Oakville more
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10/20/2016 - walkerjfw wrote: NR

Wine Spectator, NY Wine Experience Grand Tasting...more wines than time...shorter notes (NY City): A sentimental favorite of mine, I love the older vintages of this wine. The wines from the mid 80s can be dead ringers for left bank wine. Haven't had as much experience with more recent vintages. Wines poured by some of the Heitz family, fun to meet them.

Full bodied wine. Rich dark fruits, black cherry on the front palate, cedar, pipe tobacco, black tea through the mid and back palate. I did not pick up the typical eucalyptus/mint you find with Martha's, perhaps I needed to spend more time with the wine, maybe it had not been given enough air time. Nonetheless, a rich and lush wine, still early in it's development. Really nice, should drink well for another 10+ years...maybe longer...

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    12/2/2016 7:07:00 AM - Good question, I don't know how long the wine was open but it was poured from the bottle not a decanter. This was at a large tasting event so they usually open all the bottles in the beginning of the evening. As you likely know, this wine does benefit from some air time. This was drinking well but still young, I would decant if you were serving now.
Red

2000 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

 Washington more
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12/17/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 84 points

Really, really bitter. This was the first wine tasted at the event and it has the associated misfortune of that status. Plum, currants, minerals, herbs, and cigarette ash

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    2/5/2020 2:10:00 PM - Did you decant at all? Last bottle I had of this was tight and a bit astringent, after an hour+ it did much better. Its been a couple years, hoping my remaining bottles are not shot...:)

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    2/6/2020 1:26:00 PM - Ah! I didn't see the date...my fault. Nice of you to respond to a crazy request like this...:) Cheers
Red

2002 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate

 Napa Valley more
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12/11/2020 - walkerjfw wrote: 91 points

Bottles in my cellar for ~15 years, well stored from purchase. Cork crumbled on open, strained and decanted. Drank w Val over 2 hours.

Dark garnet core, thinning at the edges. Nose showing cherry, mineral notes and cedar. Oddly the nose closed up after about an hour...but palate was still showing well...Palate of dark cherry, plum, graphite and earth notes. Some sweetness with the red fruits on the mid palate. Tannins smoothed and resolved. Was picking up a bit of heat throughout. Medium weight and finish.

Wine has aged nicely at this point, texture is notable. My only criticism is the heat I got on this bottle, which only dissipated slightly

Has aged nicely, tannins smooth and resolved. Fruit showing some depth. The 02 Napa wines for me have been hit/miss at this stage. This had a decent showing, although I was expecting more. Ch Montelena is a great producer but I would say this bottle was "good not great." Will see how remaining bottles do

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    12/13/2020 5:05:00 AM - oldwines - thanks for your comment and guidance. Will look to plan ahead for a decant with remaining bottles. Cheers!
White

2014 Big Table Farm Chardonnay The Elusive Queen

 Willamette Valley more
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8/18/2021 - walkerjfw wrote: 93 points

With Neeta and Manoj at our place, first wine of the evening. Last bottle from a case bought direct. Chilled, PnP

Prior notes:""Citrus, lemon, honey, brown sugar, vanilla on the nose. Palate is rich and rounded, apples, citrus, lemon zest, baking spices. Medium/long finish."

This bottle had distinctive nose of butterscotch, honey. Palate or lemon zest, baked apples. Deep and persistent through the mid palate

Still drinking beautifully, like last bottle was open right out of the bottle. Had this with the cheeses and it killed. Wish I had more, probably goes another 5 years...

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    9/10/2021 5:59:00 AM - Thx for your comment. I have been buying BTF wines from the 2014 vintage. Its interesting to watch how Oregon wines (and different vintages) have been aging. It's still early in the game for most of them, learning the terroir

    The whites in particular are interesting - and underrated so far...:) Cheers
White

2010 Kistler Chardonnay Dutton Ranch

 Russian River Valley more
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9/25/2015 - walkerjfw wrote: 94 points

Valerie cracked a bottle during the week, this one has kept together (in the fridge) over 3 days...

Deep gold/yellow color. Aged nicely, seems to be in a perfect spot right now.This vintage has really come into its own...Tropical fruits, baked apples, quince, vanilla. Creamy and layered finish...

Kistler is one of the few Calif Chardonnays that really needs a few bottle years to show at its best, Dutton in particular. Just great...

  • Comment posted by walkerjfw:

    9/26/2015 6:37:00 AM - Looks like you and I traffic in the same wines...I'll take a look through your tasting note. Thanks for the comment!

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