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

2015 Antoine Sanzay Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux

 Cabernet Franc more
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1/13/2018 - bretrooks wrote: NR

Not decanted, consumed over ~2 hours. Lean, clean, dark-fruited, just a little meaty/smoky, maybe a bit of brush, very little pyrazine-type green (which I appreciate). This is showing somewhat taut and simple at the moment, but we liked the overall balance, and I suspect this has some life ahead. Seems fairly priced to me at ~$17.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    9/26/2019 5:48:00 PM - It was the Poyeaux - Wine Exchange had this at $17 for a handful of months back in late 2017. Prices really have jumped quite a bit since then, haven't they... Looks like I made a mistake drinking my two as early as I did, since they were nice enough but really not showing much at the time. Ah well, live and learn.
Red

2015 Antoine Sanzay Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux

 Cabernet Franc more
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5/29/2018 - bretrooks wrote: NR

Not decanted, consumed over ~1 1/2 hours at room temp. This is very much in line with the bottle from 1/13/2018. The balance is good and I like the overall feel of the wine, although there is a sense of simpleness and it seems closed. Hard to say whether this will open up with time or just coast for a few years, but it's nice enough right now, if a little lacking in personality.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    12/31/2018 8:36:00 AM - Wow, I see that now. Wine Exchange had this in stock at $17 for about a year but I only ever bought a couple. I liked them well enough...just didn't find them especially remarkable at the time. Bad timing, perhaps, or maybe just my limited Loire experience, since the most recent note makes it sound like this has transformed. Cheers (and happy new year)!

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    5/30/2018 8:28:00 AM - Could be, Tim. Based on my very limited experience with aged Loire, it's hard for me to tell if it has enough character to be worth holding onto. My wife thought it was fine but wasn't really enthusiastic about it, so I probably won't be reloading to find out.
Red

2001 Tolo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

 Paso Robles more
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11/5/2010 - kenhoeve wrote: 95 points

Consumed over two days. Opaque at the center, a soft dark crimson on the rim. Day One pnp- A nose of asian spice, oak, and dark berry you could smell from the garage. The cork smelled so strongly of cinnamon, clove, and oak that I could have rubbed it on my neck for a night out. On the palate the flavors repeat the nose along with strong oak treatment, a little sweetness, and still some tannin on the finish. Very good but lacking depth as the oak and sweetness are a touch cloying. Full bodied, full flavored, good balance. First day 91. Wine was sealed, no vac, and stored at room temp. Day two- stunning change. Blaring nose of dried herbs, cedar, leather, milder spice, all covering a cup of cherry balsamic reduction. Again, everything on the nose gets on the palate and it is smooth. In fact, what is so shocking about this wine is that it carries itself in a fairly delicate manner at 15.3%abv(after a day open!). The body remains, the tannins are there but round and resolved, and the balance is perfect. The tannins remain on the finish and slowly build grip for what seems like forever. This is ultra high dollar Oakville Cab from... San Luis Obispo. Like the previous guy, I have never rated a wine this high on CT. But I've had enough cabs to know that this IS classic. And I have three more bottles. Josh my man, send me the next Opus!

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    11/10/2010 10:19:00 AM - Alas, I drank my only one of these a few years ago. I'm trying to be better about waiting to drink Josh's wines since they benefit so much from cellar time, but it's not always easy.
Red

2007 Tolo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

 Paso Robles more
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3/11/2013 - BigSchmove Does not like this wine: 79 points

I did not like this bottle. It did not have any flavor. it was like drinking colored water. I've had other bottles from this maker and this was a big drop off. I was disappointed. I had one glass and dumped that bottle. It was not a good experience IMHO.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    3/12/2013 2:56:00 PM - Bummer. This isn't anything like my experience with the one bottle I opened, so maybe it's got some sort of unusual flaw? I'm sure the winemaker would like to know - if you have the time, you should give Josh a call.

    Hope your next bottle is better, whatever it may be...
Red

2001 Tolo Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

 Paso Robles more
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12/11/2013 - kenhoeve wrote: 95 points

Pop and pour into decanter. Freaking delicious. No signs of age in color or on the palate, this bottle is immortal. Fresh berries, stem and forest floor, bubblegum, perfume/florals, black currant, cedar, exotic spices. Round and full, with good proportion and excellent line. Medium long finish of perfume, berries, and tannic grip. This will make old bones, the tannins and the acid are still there, and the bottle still is not throwing much if any sediment. Hands down, classic cab for the princely sum of $35. More notes to come...

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    12/12/2013 8:45:00 AM - Glad to hear this was firing on all cylinders for you...and glad also that I was able to finagle a trade with Josh for one last bottle earlier this year! Hope all is well.
White

NV Tolo Cellars Chardonnay

 Paso Robles more
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6/1/2010 - rcdyer wrote: 87 points

More of a full-bodied Chardonnay, with oak and butter and a golden hue.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    6/4/2010 1:23:00 PM - I go back and forth on how much I like his slightly-oxidized style, but I have enjoyed this in the past.

    Is this the NV Chardonnay that's been out for a while, or the current "Chardonnay II" release? (I had to create a new entry for the new NV "Leros II," and I'm not sure if anyone else is noticing the distinction...)
White

2007 Kumeu River Chardonnay Estate

 more
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9/15/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote: NR

SnP, served non-blind. Not something I would care to drink on its own, but my new world, butter and malo loving friends couldn't get enough. Just too rich for me (oh how my palate has changed in the past 10, 20 years), but as it was served with some nice, thick tuna steaks straight off the grill, it worked. Be sure to serve this cooler than warmer, lest the 13,5% abv sneaks in on you. The first of 5 bottles, all of which I will serve to friends and guests that prefer this type of drink.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    10/1/2013 5:59:00 PM - Just ran across this note while checking up on a few wines I've bookmarked over time...I also prefer my oak/malo reined in, so I will take this as a warning.
White

2015 Domaine de Bellivière Jasnières Les Rosiers

 Chenin Blanc more
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10/29/2018 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 84 points

MNB: Riesling vs. Chenin: (blind)

Pale gold.
Aromatics aren't super distinctive - maybe a hint of honey / botrytis. Notable oxidation - yellow and slightly bruised apple.
On the palate - 20g/L (actually 25g), slight frizzante, 13% alcohol (actually 12%), high acid. Very confused:

Riesling - Alsace Grand Cru (would be dry-er) or Spatlese (would have lower alcohol).
Vouvray Demi-Sec - makes sense.

Final call: 2013 Vouvray Demi-Sec.
Actual: 2015 Les Rosiers Jasnieres
Analysis: I was pretty close on this! Not bad - a bit premoxed, but otherwise correct.

Loire Chenin is often oxidative in style. This was more apple-driven than I’d consider typical. Especially at such a young age.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    10/30/2018 4:14:00 PM - Thanks for the note! I think the oxidation is part of the style here, a little like what Joly does (well, based on reputation and the one bottle I've tried). I bought a bottle of this after enjoying a 2011 Bellivière Coteaux du Loir Vieilles Vignes Eparses at Passionfish this summer - definitely some oxidized musky apple notes going on, but it somehow brought out something delicious in every dish we had there. Go figure. Cheers...
Red

2010 Bodegas Nekeas Garnacha El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa

 Navarra more
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9/27/2013 - bretrooks wrote: 89 points

Not decanted, consumed over 2 hours. This has come along a little bit since my 5/28/2013 note. A bit on the darker side of grenache, especially in its price range - dense red berry/cherry fruit with a nice spiciness and plenty of acid integrating well. Maybe no special complexity to the fruit, but this is shaping up to be everything you could hope for from a grenache of this style in this price range. 89-90, and ready to drink now or over the next few (several?) years.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    9/30/2013 9:51:00 AM - Tim, the Tanzer review caught my eye on this one, and I'm glad it did. I'm not ordering anything for a while, but if K&L still has some around once I'm ready again, I'll probably grab a few more.
White

2016 Union Sacré Gewürztraminer Belle de Nuit

 Santa Barbara County more
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6/10/2017 - Ben Christiansen wrote: 98 points

Mineral and some earthy funk on the nose with the gewurtz perfume buried underneath. And some power on the back.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    11/12/2018 3:42:00 PM - I know this is an old note, but I just ran across this wine and saw your 98-point score. Is that a typo, or is this something pretty special? I'd be curious to know, if you have a minute to comment. Cheers!
White - Fortified

NV Terrassous Rivesaltes Hors d'Age 6 Ans

 Grenache Blanc, Grenache more
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6/6/2017 - CranBurgundy wrote: 86 points

The nose is very brandy-ish. It's more like a liqueur than wine, and the alcohol seems much higher than 16% shown on the bottle. Not quite as nut flavored as I was expecting either. There's some peach and apricot with honey hiding behind the alcohol.

Maybe it needs some air as other sweet wines do, so I'll evaluate over a few days before scoring.

It did get a little better over a couple nights, and a hint of nuts joined the mix while the alcohol burn settled down a bit. Overall, a decent bottle but nothing I'll go out of my way to stock.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    6/8/2017 12:48:00 PM - Interesting to see your impression on this - was your bottle labeled "Réserve Privée" like the one I found? The version we had wasn't nutty either, but I didn't pick up a impression of heat or brandy-ness. Just curious to see if it's a different bottling or if there's just some bottle or palate variation. Cheers!
White

2013 Ruth Lewandowski Wines Grenache Gris Naomi Gibson Ranch

 Mendocino County more
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9/7/2014 - bretrooks wrote: 91 points

Consumed over 2+ hours. Pale peachy-pink in the glass, with an almost-imperceptible effervescence upon pouring, just a hint of secondary fermentation. The nose makes me think of a dry rosé, reserved and more floral or pithy than anything else. On the palate, this is medium in weight and shows some white Rhone waxiness alongside plenty of lemon/grapefruit zip and an intriguing background note of rhubarb or almost-ripe strawberry. Delightful and unusual stuff, and I'm glad to have another.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    9/8/2014 5:56:00 PM - Tim, I'm curious to hear what you think after you open yours. It wasn't a good match for the cedar-planked salmon I made (it wanted something brighter and/or more savory than the spice preparation I used), but I enjoyed it quite a bit anyway.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    9/8/2014 9:11:00 PM - That sounds promising to me. I had also been thinking that salty cured meat might be a good match for when we open our other bottle...not sure in what form, though.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    11/2/2014 8:41:00 PM - Tim, based on the body and acidity, I do think this should last at least a few years, although I don't know what to expect as to how it might improve or decline. I have minimal experience with aging white rhones, and aside from one or two which were in a shut down phase, my impression is that I prefer them on the younger side.

    I do think that this is a great choice if you're looking for something to open for another inquisitive wine geek. Plus, BWO still has them in stock, so if you open this and like it, you can always grab another...I am thinking of adding at least one more since I'm in process of filling another case there.
White

2013 Ruth Lewandowski Wines Grenache Gris Naomi Gibson Ranch

 Mendocino County more
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7/18/2015 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine: NR

I picked a few of these up exactly one year ago, and I've been waiting for the right opportunity ever since. Well, tonight was that opportunity, as I wanted to enjoy it with friends as much for their reactions to the wine as my own. Having said that, this is a food wine, and as a further qualifier, a wine-geek's food wine. I found plenty to admire here, though it did require some careful inspection, my friends, less so. Either way, delicious starter wine; I will probably finish my remaining bottle within the next 12 months. A quality effort. For more detailed notes, see bretrooks's excellent reviews. 12,7% abv, recommended (for AFWE only).

Double decanted for one hour, served non-blind 3 hours later.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    8/20/2015 3:27:00 PM - Haven't had time to browse through tasting notes this summer...just saw that you got around to opening this one. Glad you enjoyed it, although I'm not surprised to see it wasn't a crowd-pleaser, since it's far from being either fruit-driven or off-dry.
White

2018 Bernhard Ott Grüner Veltliner Am Berg

 Wagram more
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1/21/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine: NR

This is a tremendous value/wine in this vintage. Have been drinking at least a case each year for the past 10+ as this is one of my wife's favorites; it's not always my favorite, but in this vintage, it's (at $18) an exceptional value. Med/Med+ body, with lots of honey, corn, green veg., white pepper, ripe apple/pear and a good base of mineral/soil. Easy to drink, delicious, pure and well-priced - what's not to like? This will never win any awards for complexity, but on the sheer enjoyment scale, at this price-point, in a well-grown package, this is easily recommended+. Drink now or in the next several years; 12.0% abv., screwcap.

Bought 7 more immediately after tasting.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    1/22/2020 5:36:00 PM - Thanks for the note, Tim - I don't drink much GV and haven't had an Ott before, but I picked up one of these last month just out of curiosity. Glad to hear it's solid.

    Hope your 2020 is off to a good start.
White

2015 Freie Weingärtner Wachau / Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Terrassen Federspiel

 more
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10/3/2016 - grafstrb wrote: 91 points

-- opened 1.5 hours before first taste --
-- tasted non-blind over a couple hours --

NOSE: medium+ expressiveness; strong mineral tone set against a backdrop of lemon/lime peels; not complex.

BODY: green-yellow color of medium-light depth; tiny bit of spritz; medium-light bodied.

TASTE: 12.5% alc. not noticeable; medium+ acidity; a bit zippy; strong mineral, especially on the finish, which is medium-long and of medium-strong intensity; tropical --- coconut/lime/gooseberry; better than usual for this bottling --- did Austria get some of Germany's 2015 magic?; very nice, and I will happily buy again for $17; drink in the near term, as this seems open and not complex.

50, 5, 12, 17, 7 = 91

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    10/27/2016 2:58:00 PM - Not at this point...we haven't been going through many whites lately & I haven't actually made an online order in a while. 'Tis the season, though, and there's a case to be filled, so I might grab at least one.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    10/14/2016 9:25:00 AM - This just showed up at Wine Exchange for $13...found your note while looking into it & thought I'd mention it. Hope all is well!
Rosé

2016 Tercero Mourvèdre Rosé

 Santa Barbara County more
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1/14/2018 - bretrooks wrote: NR

Consumed over ~2 hours with & after grilled salmon, starting at cool room temp and slowly warming. This has developed a little bit in the months since our last note but remains seriously compelling - watermelon or red raspberry with something like peach/mango in the mix, good citrus acidity, medium plus weight, lovely nose. Top-notch CA rosé, drinking well now.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    1/15/2018 1:32:00 PM - I picked up just a few bottles last year, and this was my last. I'm weighing January purchase options and am thinking I may have to grab a few more while he's running his futures deal. Happy new year, Tim!
Rosé

2016 Tercero Mourvèdre Rosé

 Santa Barbara County more
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5/29/2018 - brigcampbell wrote: NR

Mourvedre based Rosé? The best. This stands with any rose on the planet. The good news it's made by a great guy and love supporting the cause. Complex aromas of earth and leather with ripe apricot and peach. Fresh cut peaches and a little grit for good measure.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    5/29/2018 6:12:00 PM - Figured as much - been there done that. Glad to hear it's still showing so well. Larry's holding some for me, and I need to get down there to pick them up.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    5/29/2018 5:57:00 PM - 55 points with that note? Tough grader!
Red

2019 Rock Wall Wine Co. Nebbiolo Heringer

 Clarksburg more
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8/5/2022 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 82 points

Not a fan of this wine. Heavy on the VA (nail polish remover), somewhat nutty. A bit of dried fruit, though overall not overripe, good acidity with varietally appropriate tannins. But overall a very rustic wine, given its youth, a bad cork is not likely the source of its impression. Drink now.

**Update: re-corked immediately after opening and stored in fridge for 2 weeks. More enjoyable, interestingly, VA less noticeable, though still 'muddy' in terms of flavor profile. New oak showed both on the nose and palate, though not too dominant. Structure and weight were varietally appropriate, very Neb-like to handle a long time since initial opening. Revising review accordingly.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    8/22/2022 12:40:00 PM - Thanks for the update! I'm now extra-curious as to how the two I have will show.
Red

2009 Rocca dell'Olmo Barbaresco

 Nebbiolo more
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12/14/2012 - bretrooks wrote: 87 points

Not decanted, consumed over 2 hours. Hints of cherry skins on the palate, but really more floral and woody notes, with the wood being noticeable at first but mostly disappearing after a little bit of time in the glass. Enough acid, mild dusty tannins, and correct (if somewhat dilute) nebbiolo character.

While this doesn't seem to have the fruit to last and might not live up to high expectations because it's labeled Barbaresco, you'll have a hard time finding a better $10 nebbiolo for near-term drinking. (If you know of one, I'm all ears.)

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    12/15/2012 3:20:00 PM - Trader Joe's, actually. There's a barbera and barolo as well, but the wine guy at ours steered me towards this one as his favorite of the three...at $10 I had to give it a whirl. It's not spectacular, but it hit the spot last night with dinner, so there you go...
Red

2019 Rock Wall Wine Co. Nebbiolo Heringer

 Clarksburg more
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8/5/2022 - Cabfrancophile wrote: 82 points

Not a fan of this wine. Heavy on the VA (nail polish remover), somewhat nutty. A bit of dried fruit, though overall not overripe, good acidity with varietally appropriate tannins. But overall a very rustic wine, given its youth, a bad cork is not likely the source of its impression. Drink now.

**Update: re-corked immediately after opening and stored in fridge for 2 weeks. More enjoyable, interestingly, VA less noticeable, though still 'muddy' in terms of flavor profile. New oak showed both on the nose and palate, though not too dominant. Structure and weight were varietally appropriate, very Neb-like to handle a long time since initial opening. Revising review accordingly.

  • Comment posted by bretrooks:

    8/8/2022 10:12:00 AM - Sorry to hear about the VA! The one bottle we've opened had maybe just a whiff at opening, but nothing serious (I would guess that I have average sensitivity to it, FWIW). We liked it well enough that I bought a couple more...hope those are sound.

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