| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2016 Domaine de ChevalierPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/21/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 95 pointsDomaine de Chevalier Tasting (French Embassy): Juicy, energetic, but deep core of fruit on the nose (currants, raspberries, black cherry) with cedar, smoky earth. Concentrated and young on the palate but also surprisingly accessible. Pretty currant and plum fruit, laced with cocoa, earth, cedar, graphite, iron. This needs time but it’s balanced well for a long life ahead. Wow, what a beaut. |
| Red |
2009 Produttori del Barbaresco BarbarescoNebbiolo more |
6/29/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 pointsMedium ruby color. Tart red cherries on the nose with bacon, black pepper, mushroom and smoky herbs. Grip on the tannins is quite strong, the acidity is bright and crisp and I get tangy red and black cherries and currants. Complex notes of mushroom, earth, smoky herbs, pepper, anise, hints of balsamic glazed mushrooms. The flavors are all on point, but it's still tight and it was much smoother on day two. If I had another bottle, I'd hold it for three or four more years. |
| Red |
1994 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña TondoniaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
12/15/2014 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 pointsMonday Night at Ripple (Ripple - Cleveland Park - Washington, DC): Love the nose: spice, leather, pepper, bright red fruit. Juicy and ripe on the palate with tart acid and dusty tannins. Flavors of orange peel, red apple and strawberry blend well with notes of earth, tobacco, pepper and beef broth. So fresh and easy to drink, I love these “current” releases from Heredia and how lovely they are right out of the bottle. Still plenty of stuffing for the cellar though, as this wine has a lot underneath to come out. |
| Rosé |
2010 R. López de Heredia Rioja Rosado Gran Reserva Viña TondoniaGrenache Blend, Grenache more |
7/17/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 pointsSocial distancing blind tasting: Medium copper color. An interesting mix of racy, spicy, complex aromas: watermelon rind, rosemary, mint, candle wax, cherry jam and candied orange peel. The palate shows briskness and tartness but a gorgeous depth of texture, with this waxy but refined mouthfeel. Red apple, watermelon and juicy red cherry fruit is pure and lively, but backed with complex cheese rind, tobacco, mint, oregano, some clay and read rose bush notes. So fresh, a long ager. So, I tasted this blind and knew it immediately, I just didn't know what vintage it was. This one is one to age, as it is gorgeous right now but tons to unpack. The next day it was crazy complex. Lovely wine. 7 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2005 Château GuiraudSauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
11/1/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 pointsDelicious stuff, rich and honeyed and waxy, but showing moderate acidity as well. Complex ginger, clover, honey, candle wax, marmalade and floral tones. Could definitely use more time to develop, as it seems still quite dense. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| Red |
2013 Fattoria Le Pupille (Elisabetta Geppetti) Saffredi Toscana IGTRed Bordeaux Blend more |
7/15/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 96 pointsTuscan Tasting (Zachy's DC): Christ, this wine blew me away! I had never heard of this producer before, but I’m listening now. Gorgeous waves of red fruits on the nose along with tobacco, leather, incense. Structured so well but vibrant and refreshing, the mouthfeel is so pure and focused. Cherries and velvety plums with lots of leather, sage, tobacco, mint, rhubarb – so much to unpack for many years in the cellar. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2013 Herman Story Grenache 440 DaysPaso Robles more |
9/12/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 pointsPaso Robles Wine Trip; 9/12/2017-9/14/2017: Aromas are dark and saucy with fig paste, smoky earth, leather and black olives. Rich, smoky, bold with sturdy tannins, and yes it is high in alcohol (something like 15.5-16%), but it's miraculously not too heavy or hot (relatively speaking). And, frankly, I love it. The flavors of fig paste and blackberries are matched by complex elements of bacon fat, olive brine, campfire smoke, funky pot and leather. Rich, hedonistic, but so friggin cool and delicious. As winemaker Russell From told me at dinner, "All my wines are as big as I can get them." Well he sure pulled that off! |
| Red |
2016 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du PyGamay more |
7/17/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 pointsYoung but so good. On the nose: raspberries, red cherries, pomegranate, along with spicy floral tones, earthy, some subtle savory tones underneath. Silky already but built well, crisp acidity. Strawberries and cherries, pure and crunchy fruit. Pepper, violets, minerals, graphite, subtle beefy and mushroom tones. So nervy and tense and alive. I'm excited to see what this does in four or five years. |
| Red |
2010 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point FiveStags Leap District more |
3/24/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 pointsIncredibly dark purple color in the glass with thick legs. Aromas of black plums, espresso, toasted oak, hints of rose petals. Grippy tannins provide solid structure. The plum skin, blackberry and cassis flavors are strong and compact and need time to develop. Acid seems a little low. On the finish, flavors of black tea, espresso and dried leaves mingle with a big dose of toasty oak (it’s aged 20 months in 100% new French oak). If you’re drinking it now, a long decant is the way to go. |
| White - Sparkling |
2004 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs BrutChardonnay more |
1/21/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 95 pointsDomaine de Chevalier Tasting (French Embassy): Wow, this was everything I was hoping it would be. Rich, biscuity, doughy, lots of apples and lemon curd fruit, but the richness is matched with briskness, brightness, depth, minerality. Gorgeous, deep fruit, lots of minerals and chalk. Showing well but built for the long haul. |
| White |
2009 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine VineyardSanta Cruz Mountains more |
8/4/2014 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 pointsDinner at Ripple (Ripple - Cleveland Park - Washington, DC): What a beauty. Aromatically kicking, with complex pear and apple, sea salt, white flowers, lemon custard. Tart and fresh on the palate, superb acid but nice weight as well. So precise, clean and elegant. Complex pear, orange and lemon custard notes mixed in with rocky minerals, honeycomb and subtle nutty notes. Gorgeous and elegant with a long life ahead. |
| Red |
2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran ReservaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
10/10/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 points2001 Rioja (Maryland): Beautifully fruity aromas (juicy black and red cherries) along with tobacco and white pepper. Refined but structured tannins, medium acid, the wine is quite velvety and silky despite the firmness. Juicy raspberry and cherry fruit, which tastes pure and bright, with an impressive complexity of smoke, cedar, potting soil, dried rose and spice potpourri elements. A rich style but so much besides instant gratification going on here. |
| Red |
2012 Freemark Abbey Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
10/12/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 pointsCalifornia Blind Reds - Mostly Cabs: Vibrant purple color. Smells of jammy blackberries, currant paste, cocoa powder, sweet violets and vanilla. Full-bodied with solid grip on the tannins, medium acid steers it toward freshness. The blackberry, tart blueberry and cassis fruit is rich and juicy. Notes of graphite, vanilla, cinnamon and clove are woven in with the rich fruit well. This is a bold and full wine but the mouthfeel is silky and smooth. Long finish with jammy fruit, roasted coffee and birch beer. Expressive but this could use a few years to unwind. Includes Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec, aged 25 months in mostly French oak, some American. |
| Red |
2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Alder Springs VineyardMendocino County more |
2/24/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 95 pointsAromas of saucy backberry, lots of smoke and meat and charcoal, grilled herbs, violets – just wow. Grippy tannins but vibrant acidity keeps it lively. Black cherry and plum fruit, generous but tangy. A host of complex soy, smoke, peppered steak, tar, olive and leather make this complex and astounding wine. I love Bedrock, and this wine in particular, but I think this may be the best one I’ve tasted from Mogran. Hats off, sir. Well done. This has a decade+ of evolution ahead. The most Cornas-y California Syrah I’ve tasted in a while. |
| Red |
2013 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside SelectStags Leap District more |
10/12/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 95 pointsDeep purple color. Gorgeous aromatics of black currant, plum skin, blackberry compote, laced with graphite, tobacco, smashed rocks, cedar, mint chocolate chip, so much aromatic complexity to unwrap. Full-bodied and brawny with serious tannic structure but surprising acidity that wraps up the bold fruit. Waves of blackberries, blueberries, crunchy plums, the fruit is packed with cocoa, coffee, charcoal, pencil shavings, birch wood, cola. So complex and expressive despite its depth, concentration and youth. A pure and alive Cabernet, but I’d love to bury this and forget about it for a few presidents. All Cabernet aged 32 months in all new French oak. |
| White |
2015 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé BlancOakville Sauvignon Blanc more |
6/20/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 90 pointsMedium yellow color with aromas of nettle, lemon verbena, sliced jalapeno, on top of white peaches, apricot, honey and white tea. Juicy and full with creamy texture but lively acidity. Apricots, green melon, lemon, with honeyed white tea, cut green herbs, spicy nettle. Notes of cinnamon and almond woven in well, this is a balanced and vibrant wine with a dusty mineral finish. Mostly barrel-fermented with some lees stirring for nine months, 14% Semillon blended in as well. |
| Red |
2008 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza ReservaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
8/5/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 pointsDeep ruby/light purple color. Nose is dense with a deep core of plums, black cherries and red currants, along with potting soil, chewing tobacco, leather, allspice, some cedar and vanilla. Medium-bodied, seriously sturdy tannins, but vibrant acidity, makes for a young but fresh wine. Plums, black cherries, currants, the fruit is dense but crisp, laced with soil, tobacco, leather, pepper, sage, also some coffee grounds and dark chocolate. Lots going on here, but I would bury this in the back of the cellar, forget it for 10-15 years, and be amazed at what it has to offer. 80% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacha, bottled in 2013. |
| Red |
2015 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry ReserveNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
3/22/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 91 pointsBright purple color. Rich and bold on the nose with a solid core of black cherries and currants, roasted plums, with sweet cocoa, violet petals, clove, espresso, and some underlying earthy, savory notes. Full-bodied on the palate with a rich, velvety tannic structure, moderating acidity underneath helps keep it relatively fresh, but this is a big, smooth red with lots of juicy black fruit. Very pretty, though, with violets, clove, mint, vanilla and cocoa notes, with earthy undertones. Really opens up with air, so I’d recommend decanting or sometime in the cellar. 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot aged in 60% new French, American and Hungarian oak for 22 months. |
| Red |
2015 Bodegas Beronia Rioja ReservaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
6/9/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 pointsLight purple color. Fresh nose of cherries and red currants, mixed with spicy herbs, tobacco, red pepper, paprika, with smoky earth. Super fresh and crisp on the palate with dusty tannins, very accessible feel with a tangy vibe. Notes of pine needle, chewing tobacco, rhubarb, light roast coffee and earth accent the tangy red cherry and spicy cranberry fruit. Fun now, but will drink well over the next few years. Good, bargain-priced stuff that would be great with grilled veg and roast chicken. 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2019 Coudert Fleurie Clos de la Roilette Cuvée TardiveGamay more |
10/21/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 pointsI killed this too early just to see, and it is really delicious but needs a lot of time. Deep, solid grip, takes more time to coax out the secondary notes of mesquite, violets, charcoal. But beautifully balanced and bright. Hold for at least five years and let this show its stuff. |
| Red |
2010 Domaine de ChevalierPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/21/2020 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 pointsDomaine de Chevalier Tasting (French Embassy): Lovely complexity on the nose, earth, tea, spice rub, lavender, on top of pretty currant fruit. Crisp acidity frames the wine so well, with serious grip from the tannins, gorgeous depth and texture. Smooth, suave currants and plum fruit, this is big and bold, but nuanced, too, with a mix of earth, graphite, tar, clove, violets. Mineral and black tea elements, too. I like where this is at, but it has a while before it hits its best, and this will be a really long-aging vintage. |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2011 Château Doisy-VédrinesSauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
4/28/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 93 pointsWine on Wheels Tasting (City Winery, NYC): Nutty, apricot, almond butter nose. Plump and sweet but vibrant as well. Lovely honey and spice elements. Many years of evolution here. |
| White - Sparkling |
NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Tradition BrutChampagne Blend more |
10/1/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 94 pointsWow, what a phenomenal bottle. This was disgorged in 2008, so it's had a decade since then. I was skeptical, but it is killer. Rich gold color. Nose shows its age but also still vibrant: bready, ginger, honey, yellow pears, green apples, minerals, chalk, sea salt. The acidity on the palate is pristine, but the depth of texture and richness is lovely, too. Nougat, honey, ginger, bread crumbs accent the layered apple and pear fruit. Complex notes of sea salt, minerals, yster shell. Layered and complex yet ripping and lively. |
| Red |
2006 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
7/19/2015 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 92 pointsRhone Tasting: Medium ruby. Tart currants, fig paste, rhubarb, tobacco, cowhide aromas. I opened this the night before, showing firm tannins, moderate acid and a course, dusty feel. Smoothed out by day two and got more expressive. The saucy black cherry fruit is laced with roasted herbs, pepper, rich earth, granite, dark chocolate shavings. Notes of anise and sweet roasted figs on the finish. Very good stuff but I’d hold off for another three or four years before trying again. |
| Red |
2005 Château Cos d'EstournelSt. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more |
1/18/2016 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 98 points15 Vintages of Cos d'Estournel (Ripple - Washington, DC): A textbook example of near-perfect Bordeaux, as far as I can tell. Concentrated but elegant aromas, rich black cherry and currant fruit, accented by gorgeous earth, incense, dried floral and complex spice tones. So elegant on the palate despite the firm structure. Seems perfectly balanced between acid, tannin and fruit. Black and hints of red currant, the fruit is so pure and precise, and backed up by curling waves of incense, cedar, fallen leaves, graphite, mocha and cardamom. Simply phenomenal, and I bet it's just getting started. My wine of the night. A real treasure to taste. |
Search Results - Save This Search
- Tasting notes: 13,620 notes on 12,207 wines
