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

2017 Mickaël Bourg Cornas Les P'tits Bouts

 Syrah more
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2/8/2020 - forceberry wrote: 91 points

A Syrah blended from several vineyards (60% from the 1950s, 40% from 2004-05). Fermented without destemming as whole bunches. Macerated for 3 weeks. Aged for 16-18 months in old Burgundy pièces (4-8 yo) and larger (400-500 l) oak casks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 13,5% alcohol. Slow-oxed for 6-7 hours.

Almost fully opaque, youthful blackish red with a subtly purplish hue and a pale, translucent ruby-red rim. Very open, expressive and youthful nose with intense primary aromas of blackberries, blood, some crushed peppercorns, light bilberry tones, a little bit of stony minerality, a hint of ink and a floral touch of violets. The wine feels ripe, silky and medium-to-moderately full-bodied on the palate with quite intense primary flavors of fresh blackberries and boysenberries, sweeter blueberry tones, some crushed peppercorns, light mineral notes of sun-baked stones and gravel, a little bit of blood and even a hint of rusted iron. Despite the silky, suave mouthfeel, the wine is wonderfully firm as well, thanks to its high acidity and ample - yet very ripe and gently grippy - tannins. The finish is pure, juicy and so clean with ripe - yet not sweet - fruit flavors of boysenberries and brambly blackberries, some crushed peppercorns, a little bit of sanguine iron, light floral notes of violets and a hint of sweeter bilberry. The aftertaste feels long, supple and succulent with gentle tannic grip that slowly grows in intensity as the tannins pile up on the gums.

A wonderfully pure, juicy and honest Cornas - albeit one that is surprisingly fresh and delicate not only for a Cornas, but also for a 2017 Syrah. If one is expecting a big, ripe and tough Cornas, this certainly isn't anything like that: this feels more like a classic St. Joseph or a warm-vintage Crozes Hermitage. If something is left for wanting here, is some roughness and rusticity - this is just slightly too clean, polished and fruity for what I like in a Cornas: no meat, olives or funk and just a pinch of black pepper. Nevertheless, this is a tasty and convincing yet not dead-serious effort where the pure, vibrant Syrah fruit is wonderfully at the fore. Most likely this will only get better as the wine ages and loses its exuberantly youthful fruit, albeit this is wonderfully accessible and delicious already now. Priced according to its quality at 34€.

Horrendous label, though.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    2/12/2020 12:44:00 PM - excellent note...thanks very much
Red

2016 Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet (Hervé Souhaut) Syrah

 Ardèche more
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1/4/2021 - DoubleMagnum Likes this wine: 90 points

OK. The best way I can describe this wine is picture a natural Beaujolais that has been mixed with some tapenade.
It's as if Marcel Lapierre met Pierre Gonon and told him, OK, I'll take care of the palate and you take care of the nose.
Voilà!

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    1/5/2021 7:55:00 AM - Great note! Really captures the spirit of this wine.
Red

2015 Domaine Gallet (Henri et Philippe) Côte-Rôtie

 Syrah more
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3/1/2020 - rc@ughey wrote: 93 points

Unreal QPR here. With so many N. Rhône wines spiraling into the stratosphere, here is a $40 Cote Rotie that’s an absolutely superb example of the appellation, regardless of price. This is juicy, meaty, and ripe — certainly a fleshy, fruit-driven version of Cote Rotie — but it’s far from overblown. It has acids and faint minerals and herbs on the nose and palate. A wine that’s priced for weeknights but built to wow on Saturdays.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    3/4/2020 12:37:00 PM - Shhh...we need to keep this quiet...lol
Rosé

2014 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Rosé of Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard

 Santa Barbara County more
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7/15/2015 - loantaka Likes this wine: 94 points

Love love this rose. Stone fruit on the nose. Easy going down but with some complexity and depth not found in the usual rose.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    7/16/2015 7:30:00 AM - Totally agree with your note...this is one of the best Rose that I've tasted in a long time. You have to go up to Tempier which is way more expensive.
Red

2014 Dirty and Rowdy Mourvèdre Antle Vineyard

 Chalone more
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9/13/2021 - Armando B wrote: 85 points

My first D&R wine. And probably my last. Light-to-medium body. Very faint red fruit. The remaining elements (including the mouthfeel) were reminiscent of a bottle of old bdx that did not survive the journey. Not in any way recognizable as Mourvedre of the Bandol or even of the Calif versions that I like a lot (e.g., Terre Rouge). Not good QPR for about $50, IMO.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    9/14/2021 11:45:00 AM - They just announced that they were stopping production. Sounds like the partners splitting ways and one has announced his new project already.
Red

2013 Poggio di Bortolone Frappato Vittoria

 Vittoria DOC more
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11/3/2014 - joshmizrahi Likes this wine: 91 points

OH gawd oh gawd oh gawd. This wine is my red wine wet dream. As a mostly white and rosé drinking male I don't really drink much red and therefore catch a lot of flack. I want to expand my horizons though. So, I chose this wine on a Garagiste offer and just tried it today. So bright and refreshing. My wife called it eminently drinkable and that's true. Also great pairing with beef and rice grape leaves. This wine has wonderful balanced acidity that worked perfectly with the lemon and tomato in this old family recipe.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    11/4/2014 10:02:00 AM - If you like this...its worth tracking down a bottle of the Occhipinti Frappato. It's killer stuff.
White

2013 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett

 Nahe more
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3/11/2015 - Sennma wrote: 87 points

Much leaner than the KK served in the same flight and a sharper acidity. I think this will show better with some time.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    3/12/2015 7:27:00 AM - Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl (KK)...to notes easier to type, a lot of people abbreviate the Donnhoff vineyards (OB = Oberhauser Brucke)
Red

2012 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60

 Syrah more
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3/8/2015 - Aravind Asok wrote: NR

We bought this at a restaurant last night and it was decanted and served to us. It was rather closed and intensely tannic (even with the decant). About half the bottle was left and was recorked. We opened it up today and let it get back to room temperature about 2pm before drinking at 8pm. Today we drank this side-by-side with a 2010 Ojai White Hawk Vineyard Syrah.

Today (i.e., after more that about 24 hrs open), fairly aromatic nose with cherry cola, bacon fat, raspberries. On the palate, the tannin comes on early and leaves a chalky coating in your mouth that sticks around for a while. Good acidity, but just much more unfocused than the Ojai White Hawk. I wanted to like this a lot more than I did.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    3/9/2015 10:13:00 AM - Young Cornas can be a bit painful, I do believe these will come around with time.
White

2012 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru La Forest

 Chardonnay more
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7/28/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: 93 points

Beating the heat with Whites and Bubbles (Mott St., Chicago IL): Nose: The nose is open and giving with loads of springtime florals, crushed rocks, lemon peels, white fruits, pears, citrus notes, and some saline. There is excellent depth with a lovely feminine side to it.

Taste: Medium/light bodied with high acidity. The acidity is certainly noticeable, but it isn't overbearing. The feel has more of a feminine side to it with crushed rocks, lemon peels, white fruits, floral notes, and some saline.

Overall: This was showing beautifully. There is a freshness and understatement that really drives the wine.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    8/1/2015 9:28:00 AM - Thanks for this great note! Have got a couple stashed away, hopefully I can show the patience on them.
Red

2012 Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne St. Joseph

 Syrah more
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5/13/2016 - pbaek wrote: NR

A cracker of a wine. Cool, Northern Rhone Syrah with lots of pepper, olives and broth. There's lot of material here but the acidity provides freshness. Very true to place, in the same mold as the wines from Gonon, and much cheaper - at least for now. Drunk over 3 days and it didn't budge. Young, for sure, but delicious now.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    5/16/2016 6:47:00 AM - Totally agree with your comment on this wine...a real bargain if you like Gonon.
Red

2011 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

 Red Rhone Blend more
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1/2/2015 - drwine2001 wrote: NR

Half bottle. Light ruby core. Overwhelmingly floral nose with traces of red fruit. Lighter weight, supple, open and again dominated by floral pastille and pomegranate fruit. Little in the way of tannins. This may be the easiest, most accessible Vieux Telegraphe I've tasted over the last 35 vintages or so. Neither great nor built to last-enjoy now and over the next 5 years.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    1/3/2015 12:14:00 PM - Totally agree with your note...was surprised at how open this vintage of VT is at this early point.
Red

2011 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 Red Rhone Blend more
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11/12/2015 - danielbleier Likes this wine: 92 points

Coming after 2 powerhouse vintages, the '11 may be a bit underrated. Classic flavors of cherry and plum, with tobacco and leather tones.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    11/23/2015 6:20:00 AM - totally agree with your assessment of this wine...I think will be be good drinker for the medium term while 2009/2010 come around.
Red

2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

 Red Rhone Blend more
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7/17/2016 - Arch57 Likes this wine: 93 points

This is only my 3rd Pegau that I've had the pleasure to drink and I know the 2011 is a so-so vintage but man I do like this producer. Very complex kirsch like aroma's scented inches away from the glass, long finish with savory notes. I'm cellering other vintages of this and look forward to the opportunity to pop the cork on these. Cheers!

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    7/17/2016 10:44:00 AM - 2011 is a great vintage for drinking now while cellaring your other vintages (especially 2010). These can be had for quite a bit cheaper than other vintages as well.
Red

2011 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

 Red Rhone Blend more
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11/28/2020 - CPS67 Does not like this wine: NR

Not sure what to say about this. We bought the wine after a tasting at our local wine shop a few years ago. Clearly, I was compelled to buy some bottles in the wake of the tasting. Opened the first bottle we had and let it decant for a bit. Tasted it and came up with serious funk. Barnyard flavors? You're not kidding! I figured the bottle must have been compromised in some way, especially since we weren't tasting any of those purportedly present "silky fruit" flavors. I opened a second bottle of the same - a bit less funk, and definitely more/better fruit, but still an overwhelming essence of "eau de shitteau." One taster said, "wet hay." The other said, "Not sure which part of the barnyard that is, but I'm getting a sense it is a stable, and not the rails or the sky part."
Very sad and disappointed. I would not have bought this wine had I tasted these same flavors at the time. Cellared at 55 - 56 degrees F without fail since purchase, in case anyone is wondering.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    11/29/2020 7:50:00 AM - My experience with 2011 is that this vintage shows more brett than other years and a lot of bottle variation. It's been very hit and miss.
Red

2010 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block

 Russian River Valley more
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1/10/2015 - Screameagle Likes this wine: 94 points

This was our 5th bottle of this wine and by far the best even with a pop and pour. One of our favorite of Mike's syrahs which we find drink best after a few years of age. Over 15% alcohol but doesn't show it. If you have any of these left in your cellar you are very lucky. Drink now or over the coming 3-5 years.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    1/10/2015 11:13:00 AM - Great note...made me check that I haven't touched any of mine, need to dig one out!
Red

2010 Domaine Grand Nicolet Rasteau Vieilles Vignes

 Red Rhone Blend more
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2/15/2015 - Sennma wrote: 82 points

This bottle was quite bretty...very simple not much to speak of.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    9/23/2015 7:36:00 AM - There is a bacteria brettomyces (may have spelled that wrong) which makes its way into wine. Some people consider a little bit to add flavor to a wine, others consider any form of it to be a fault. In this bottle it was pretty overwhelming.
Red

2007 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

 Red Rhone Blend more
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10/2/2015 - pryby wrote: 83 points

Not very impressed. Granted Southern Rhone is not really my thing.
Decanted and waited about 90 mins. Drank over 4 hours.
Interesting nose: black cherry, a little wet earth.
Taste is a bit unbalanced for my palate. The first glass had an odd umami/soy sauce character but that dissipated quickly. Otherwise, dark fruit, dried bing cherries, plum/prune. A little hot in the mouth. Wish there was more acid or tannin to carry the finish.
Maybe a bum bottle given some of the other reviews - I have one more in cellar, so we'll see...

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    10/3/2015 9:56:00 AM - It might be worth trying vintages other than 2003 and 2007 in the southern rhone...these were both hot years and the wines tend to show this. I'm a big fan of the region and these years I have very little of in my cellar.
Red

2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 Red Rhone Blend more
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6/4/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: NR

This just wouldn't come out and play. It was dumb and grumpy. Will have to check back in in another 2-3 years

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    6/5/2015 4:26:00 PM - I've had this on a number of the 05's...they just don't want to open up.
Red

2004 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée

 Red Rhone Blend more
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4/25/2019 - Eric Likes this wine: 94 points

Celebrating CellarTracker's Fifteenth Anniversary (Seattle, WA): This has always been one of my favorite vintages of Pegau, and this opens up as an exceptionally meaty and vibrant bottle. Absolutely screaming of garrigue yet with a different energy than many other vintages. As I recall, in this vintage the entire white production went into this red wine. The only troubling note was some funkiness and a hint of oxidation that crept in as we sat with the bottle. I have every reason to believe it was a proper example (I have been drinking bottles from this same case for years and the cork was perfect), but there was just a hint of tiredness that started to show up in the wine. No matter, it is always a treat, but I am going to start drinking up my last ones while this is still a background note.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    4/26/2019 12:39:00 PM - Congrats on 15 years! You have developed an amazing tool for wine lovers.
    ps - thanks for the note on the Pegau...still have some 750's and mags to open.
White - Off-dry

2001 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel

 Mosel Saar Ruwer more
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6/28/2014 - acyso wrote: 98 points

HDH auction tasting at Tru; 6/27/2014-6/28/2014 (Chicago, IL): #22-02, 7.5% abv. Ethereal.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    6/28/2014 4:12:00 PM - So glad that you enjoyed this wine today...I thought it was quite special.

    Cheers
    Mark
Red

1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

 Red Rhone Blend more
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5/30/2015 - finewinebuff57 wrote: 90 points

Less good than my last reviewed bottle (April 2014) which I think confirms the bottle variation of this often great wine in this vintage. This was good but not singing........

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    5/30/2015 7:06:00 AM - I've had exactly the same experience...when the bottle is on they are amazing but other bottles just ok.
Red

1998 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau

 Red Rhone Blend more
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7/10/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 94 points

Bought at auction, opened, but not decanted, for about an hour before pouring at a NYC restaurant with my wine group. Cork the cork came out in one piece and was saturated about half way up the cork. Nice purple color, but it was easy to see it was lighter than the 2006s and 2010 CdP's that we also had at dinner. Also much less fruit, with some spice notes replacing the fruit, a beautiful nose, with a long finish. This was a big hit.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    7/12/2018 7:37:00 AM - Thanks for the note...a lot of the 98 CDP's are drinking really well right now.
Red

1994 Château Fortia Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 Red Rhone Blend more
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6/21/2015 - eluebchow wrote: 90 points

Not a blockbuster by any means, but still providing some pleasure; Nose has pleasing aromatics of saddle leather, earth and tobacco, with plenty of sweet dark fruits and spice on the palate; Tannins are beginning to fade, so I would recommend drinking up if you have them

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    6/24/2015 10:05:00 AM - similar experience at recent dinner...really pleasurable wine from an unheralded vintage.
Red

1978 Château Mont-Redon Châteauneuf-du-Pape

 Red Rhone Blend more
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7/15/2015 - KingSlacker999 wrote: NR

Far too fresh and young, something odd going on here.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    7/17/2015 9:31:00 AM - Do you know if your bottle was original release? Mont Redon recently (I think it was last year), released another a batch of these to the market from the cellar.
Red

1970 Bodegas Olarra Rioja Reserva

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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10/31/2020 - Keith Cooper wrote: NR

Tasted at home with friends, dinner featuring wine vintages ending in a zero. Served to accompany Italian style chicken casserole. This was the first and oldest of three reds tasted, included to ensure that a 1970 vintage featured in the dinner. I find this wine a bit of a mystery. A recent Decanter article on the bodegas confirmed that the winery was established in 1973 and it is only vintages from 1973 onwards which are typically available. However, there are a few bottles on the market from this 1970 vintage and a few Cellar Tracker members have entered tasting notes for this vintage. So how can a winery which started in 1973 have produced wines from the 1970 vintage? I have contacted the winery to ask them, but unfortunately they have not replied. Maybe a CT member can enlighten me? On to the wine. We didn't expect this to be especially good because of the wine's age. Opened, decanted and poured immediately, just in case it faded straight away. The cork was almost non existent - where had it gone, no sign of it in the wine, but the capsule was intact? Looking very old and cloudy, there was initially little nose and it tasted pretty awful. But after a few minutes, the nose opened to show some weak berry fruit and the palate became smooth and almost palatable. It faded soon. An interesting experience, but I am no nearer understanding how a 1970 vintage could exist. Impossible to put a score on this wine.

  • Comment posted by Sennma:

    11/3/2020 5:47:00 AM - No specific knowledge on this winery... Sometimes what happens is that an existing winery is bought with wine in barrels and it gets bottled as the "new" winery. Also possibility given the aging requirements of riserva that these were purchased from other producers and labeled under this winery.

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