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

2010 Roots Run Deep Cabernet Sauvignon Hypothesis

 Napa Valley more
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12/28/2012 - mjnickel wrote: NR

thus is to wine as Gary Buaey is to teeth: over the top, unnatural, and seemingly made from wood. Seriously.

I would have rated it lower, but some like that over oaked style. and to them, you can have my share.

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White

2010 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Réserve Personnelle

 Alsace Gewürztraminer more
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5/10/2013 - mjnickel wrote: 93 points

Gewürztraminer is a woefully underrated grape, and this is the best I've ever had. Made in Alsace, which has been passed back and forth for years between France and Germany, this bottle is bright, floral, Aryan, spicy, feminine and beautiful, much as I recall Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall. For those who are allergic to uppity tasting notes, please excuse yourself now or give yourself that Epinephrine injection you so often have to administer when reading about wine.

With this, I get apricots (no, not peaches you pedestrian sons of bitches...apricots!) all over the mid-palate and this thing I want to call grapefruit marmalade on the finish. Is grapefruit marmalade a thing? If not, you can have that idea for your own start-up specialty food business provided you give me a few jars and a shout out at your bankruptcy hearing. At 14% abv, the alcohol is really well integrated. I would have guessed something closer to 12-13%. Yes, the acid and spice make this a great pairing for curry, as one expects from Gewürztraminer, but to paraphrase Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Vacation, it does just fine by itself.

P.S. Patti Labelle just texted me to say that "Grapefruit Marmalade" is her cat's drag name.

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White

2010 Etude Chardonnay

 Carneros more
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4/2/2014 - mjnickel wrote: 88 points

This is going to be an odd tasting note, but hang with me and don't over think it. But this wine makes me want some biscuits and gravy. You know, the southern staple of fresh homemade biscuits and sawmill gravy.

This is not to say this wine tastes like either of those things, or would go well with either, but there's something here that is fatty and thick, but uplifting enough that you could full yourself with it for half a day.

There's some nice tropical fruit here, with just a hint of a grassy note, that takes a backseat to the oily, oakiness of the, um, well, oak. It's not overbearing, but about 15% more acid would have made this kinda special. As it is, it's still pretty good. I'd drink it again if you gave me a bottle. Hell, I'm drinking it right now as I type this. But I could also pick up a bottle of La Crema at just about any wine shop for $10 less, and enjoy it just as well.

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White

2010 Les Vins de Vienne Condrieu La Chambée

 Viognier more
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3/2/2013 - mjnickel wrote: 91 points

I love Condrieu for all its florid charms. When treated with Northern Rhone crispness, viognier is the rose on your birthday cake. Buttery, fattening and delightful in equal measures.

This bottle is so full bodied that it reminds me of new world viognier, which doesn't quite rise to the scarcity of this Nother Rhone version of the grape. This is not to say it's a bad wine. I liked it very much. I drank it with scallops on top of a a white bean puree. It was as round, soft and delightful as Scarlett Johansson , but when it comes to Condrieu, I expect all that, plus the angular sharpness of Charlotte Rampling. Still, the $50 I paid for the bottle was money well spent. It's a lovely wine.

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White

2010 Sleight of Hand The Magician Evergreen Vineyard

 Columbia Valley White Blend more
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11/2/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 90 points

Excellent value at less than $20. Nice crisp acidity, and you get baking spices the closer it gets to room temperature. Will buy more.

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Red

2009 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

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3/24/2013 - mjnickel wrote: 92 points

This winemaker is special to me because they are recognized as not only the finest producer of California Pinot Noir, but also as a champion barbecue team who has recently competed in the Memphis in May World Championship Barbecue Contest. This is one of the first of their wines I received after getting on their mailing list. And even though their fall releases are considered their lineup’s bettors, this spring released Somoma County bottle is round, full-bodied and packed with rhubarb, strawberry and mid palette goodness. It’s excellent wine, and I could just hug myself for obtaining more than just the bottle I drank tonight. Invite me over for salmon, pork chops or chicken, and I’ll bring a bottle to share. I promise. All I ask is you don’t be an asshole or try to convince me that my politically liberal leanings are immoral. Almost everything else I can tolerate.

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White

2009 Domaine Mercouri Roditis Foloi

 Peloponnisos more
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5/14/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 87 points

Nice crisp acidity. This would go well with anything that would benefit from a squeeze of lemon. I enjoy Greek wines because of the strong acidity of their native whites, but this Roditis and Viognier blend is missing out on the floral aromatics I was hoping for.

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White

2009 Château Graville-Lacoste Blanc

 Graves Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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4/8/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 89 points

Really enjoyed this wine. Loaded with green apple giving way to banana peel in the middle and a crisp acidic finish. Though bright, I could have handled even more acidity. Still, a very nice wine, especially for the money.

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Red

2009 Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy Langhe Nebbiolo Martinenga

 Langhe DOC more
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3/21/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 87 points

The nose is earth (soil, not barnyard) and herbs with a nervy string of fruit running through it. I like the nose quite a bit, actually. But it's more tannic than I expected given it's light color. I can see what the goal here is, but it's somewhat of an acquired taste.

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Rosé

2009 Domaine de la Pépière Cabernet Franc La Pépie

 Val de Loire more
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2/21/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 87 points

Loads of minerality and acidity. Sour cherries in the middle and something like candy on the finish.

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White

2009 Zocker Grüner Veltliner Paragon Vineyard

 Edna Valley more
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4/30/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 87 points

Lots of acid and minerals that overshadow the fruit. Not bad, but not as interesting as some others from this varietal

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White

2009 Martín Códax Albariño Rías Baixas Burgáns

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2/14/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 84 points

Underwhelmed by this wine. I enjoy albino quite a bit, but this one struck me as a little flabby. To be fair, I maybe prefer a little more acidity than most.

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White

2009 Pascal Jolivet Sancerre

 Sauvignon Blanc more
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5/29/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 89 points

Nice wine, with a nice round body and nervy acidity. More body that NZ versions of this varietal. O paid $27, which is overpriced, but if you can get it for $20, go for it

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White

2009 Nik Weis / St. Urbans-Hof Riesling QbA

 Mosel Saar Ruwer more
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3/26/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 89 points

On the nose there's a lot of minerality, pear and something that makes me think of rubber bands, which I like as it makes me thing something interesting is going on with the way the alcohol is integrated. I got pretty much the same on the palate, plus a little dustiness and good acidity. A dry style of riesling that may make it pair well with curries and spicy shellfish. On it's own, though, it needs a little of such foods to carry it through. It's young still, and I bought a couple of bottles based on the reputation of the winemaker, and don't regret it...especially at its price point.

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Red

2009 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

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9/8/2013 - mjnickel wrote: 90 points

I opened this bottle tonight for two reasons. The first is that I didn't want to wait any longer, and the other is that I'm celebrating some very exciting news. According to my latest Tarot card reading, I'll be the new lead singer of The Dixie Chicks in 2017. If anybody knows all the words to "Goodbye Earl," please forward them to me tout de suite. I'm bad with memorization and really want to hit the ground running with this new gig.

I carried this bottle with a chicken breast stuffed with shallots, goat cheese and thyme. Then, I made a sauce with tawny port and figs and put that on my chicken. Figs, y'all, they don't just come in Newton form. Did you know they're also a fruit? It's true.

By the way, here are three things overheard today while buying the figs at Whole Foods:

1) The cakes here are so good; they're made with free range eggs.

2) Excuse me. What kind of cheese are you sampling today?

3) That cupcake dog is the most adorable thing ever. And so is that cupcake pig.

Incidentally, Cupcake Pig is what the other Dixie Chicks and I are going to call Natalie Maines when I'm the new lead singer. Seriously, though, she's very talented. The three of us wish Cupcake Pig all the best.

Now, onto the wine: I would have been rewarded with another year or two of patience. The acid was stronger than expected, which is a good sign, as I like acid in my reds, just as with my whites. But with all that strawberry, cherry, rhubarb and sassafras, I would have liked the acid to settle down into some interesting spicy notes. Still, an excellent wine. Drink it. Drink it. Open a bottle and drink it.

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White

2009 Qupé Marsanne

 Santa Ynez Valley more
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2/19/2012 - mjnickel wrote: 90 points

I don't have to work tomorrow because of President's Day (thanks George Washington!). So, in addition to the many freedoms my country affords me, this particular non-worknight Sunday gives me license to open the wine bottle of my choosing. Tonight, I chose this. Why? Because I'm down with white Rhone varietals like Naughty by Nature is down with OPP (Did you know that when a white man makes a lame hip-hop reference more than ten years out of date, he becomes even more white? It's true. Look it up).

This California wine is crisply acidic, but mouth filling. You know, like Joy Behar, but better. I bought this bottle last 4th of July (thanks George Washington!) with my friend Nick Papafotopoulos in Chicago. We picked up about 18 other bottles that night and drank a good many of them while sitting on his back porch making like Bruce Springsteen and talking about the glory days. Tonight I drank this with Veal Picatta and a roasted potato medley while on the phone with my dad. My dad is a great guy. Get to know him!

Quick story about my dad: When I was around 10 years-old, UPS, of which he was a very early employee, sent him to Dyersburg, TN to become a center manager. This assignment was to a young UPS supervisor as the western outpost assignment was to Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves. Only in Dyersburg, there are fewer wolves, but more Lee Greenwood fans (I know, pick your poison, right?). He'd setup in an apartment and called on my brother and me to come visit. Then, while entertaining us in the swimming pool, things got rough and he went to splash me with a wave of water, but given his Nickel-like lack of dexterity, miscalculated his movements and punched me right in the mouth instead. Hard. Like, hey, someone should call Child Protective Services hard. The story's ending is unexciting, as it contains only profuse apologizing and rudimentary first-aid. But the denouement is fantastic! To this day, I have a "Get out of Jail Free" card with my dad.

"Son, I think you should give more care to your studies."

"Who are you to judge, Daddy? You punched me in the mouth!"

Wine! Drink it!

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White

2009 Sparkman Cellars Chardonnay Lumière

 Columbia Valley more
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7/14/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 86 points

I can see how others might Luke this more, but I found that the oak overpowered the fruit.

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Red

2009 Oveja Negra Cabernet Franc/Carmenere Reserva

 Maule Valley Red Blend more
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5/18/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 88 points

Excellent value at $13. Good balance of fruit, herbaceousness and alcohol. Nice and green in the middle with some astringency on the finish that's mellowed somewhat by the oak.

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Red

2009 Casa Castillo Monastrell Jumilla

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8/16/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 87 points

I thought this was an excellent value. You can smell the fruit as soon as you pull the cork, but there are more tannins than you'd expect. I had this with burgers off the grill and sweet tomatoes, and it matched really well. Simple, yes, but enjoyable and a bargain.

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Red

2009 Sleight of Hand The Spellbinder

 Columbia Valley Red Blend more
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2/3/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 90 points

This is Sleight of Hand's "every day" wine, but I don't think that description serves it well. There's more structure here than you'd expect for the price. Black cherries and fruit up front, but also some anise and spice toward the finish, and even a hint of leather. It's meant to be drunk young, but could also benefit from just a little more time in the bottle. I don't think many cases are made, so I'll be buying more soon.

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Red

2009 Rex Hill Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

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9/24/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 90 points

This is vibrant with bright fruit and food friendly acidity. Perhaps not as nuanced as tip tier Pinot, but a great bargain and very good. Will buy more.

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White

2009 Bunnell Family Cellars Viognier Clifton

 Wahluke Slope more
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4/9/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 89 points

The oak is integrated very well, carrying with it a sweet banana peel flavor, but with a tart lemon finish. Not as bright as I expected from the Pacific Northwest, but enjoyable nonetheless. Likely to buy again.

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White

2009 Oveja Negra Chardonnay/Viognier Reserva

 Maule Valley White Blend more
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11/20/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 84 points

Picked this up for $12 in hopes that i'd find a well kept secret, as so many wines from Chile seem to be. There's a nice honeysuckle component to this, but the nose is fairly mute and it's equally as diluted on the palate. It should appeal to Pinot Gris fans who want something different, but for me it's a little too weak.

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White

2009 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay

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11/5/2011 - mjnickel wrote: 89 points

The oak is balanced very nicely with this juicy chardonnay that leans more the tropical style. Nice acidity and just a touch of butteriness keeping it smoothed out.

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Red

2009 Château de Barbe Blanche

 Lussac-St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend more
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10/6/2012 - mjnickel wrote: NR

This one is purple and fruity like Prince circa 1985. Also, like Prince, it's best when young. As suggested, its dark fruit is right up front, and is carried through the palate with hibtsbof cedar and mellow oakiness. At 14% abv its alcohol is hidden quite well under drying tanins and its youthful vibrancy. At this price get a bottle to drink now with grilled meat and maybe another for a couple of years down the road. The 1992 era Prince was pretty good, too, and this one might surprise in say 3-5 years.

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  • Tasting notes: 119 notes on 118 wines

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