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

2016 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina

 Red Rhone Blend more
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12/30/2023 - ERU wrote: 98 points

Aerated and decanted 2 hours. Poured a glass and sat by the fire.

Nose of game and blood. Wealth of beautiful black fruits and plums. A surprising zing of menthol every third long, slow inhale.

Palate of spicy herbs and cured meat. The grenache holds more sway here with some red fruit breaking through the black. It’s got so much going on—game here, tar there, stewed puréed fruits and blood splattered about. It’s big and deep; it’s hedonism with an almost impossible balancing act with. . . everything. Everything!

This wine is NOT for the fastidious or decorous who prune the shrubbery into animal shapes, make love with the lights off, and/or are not haunted by Ellen Burstyn’s loss at the 73rd Academy Awards. It’s for those who enter the opium den, find it all blasé, then head to the secret back room where a mysterious man keeps the magic puzzle boxes that can bring forth either angels or demons, depending upon your proclivities, of course. I don’t know about you, but, for me, bring it on, denizens of the opium den!

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    3/18/2024 9:39:00 AM - This is the first time in my 30 years long wine-drinking experience, that I felt such a strong curiosity, fueled solely by someone else's criticism and description of one particular wine. Now, I just have to buy that bottle, sit by the lit fireplace, open it, pour myself a glass and try to imagine myself walking into that secret back room. What will I find there? Maybe the wine will point me in the right direction, whether it's angelic or demonic, whatever...I'll definitely let you know...

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    3/19/2024 4:10:00 AM - Oh yes, I definitely will. But since the whole stage has to be set properly, which includes the mysterious dance of fire tongues in my fireplace, we will have to wait until next winter, because current temperature in Croatia is enormously high for this part of the year and I feel that the unnecessary heat from the fire would lead me to feel like giant fire puffer from Frank Zappa’s "Torture Never Stops" dungeon of despair, rather than allowing me to relax and focus on the wine. Furthermore, the closest bottle I found is in Vienna (Austria), so the whole operation of delivering this bottle to my door will take at least 2 weeks. All in all, quite a complicated operation. However, your intriguing thoughts and associations with this wine made all this meaningful and I can't wait for the day when I will be able to write to you my impression and my thoughts in which direction this wine took me. Cheers.
Red

2010 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva Selección Especial

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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5/9/2017 - wgoelen wrote: 90 points

Rustic old style Rioja. Barnyard, oak, cherries and totally dry with an acidic streak. Very drinkable now but could do with 3-5 years of cellaring. Great PQR (12€ (in Spain))

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    11/12/2017 10:26:00 AM - Hi Wgoelen,

    Please can you tell me where did you get it for 12 euros in Spain?? I bought 2007 for 17 euros at the winery 2 years ago.

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    11/27/2017 2:46:00 AM - Hi Wgoelen,
    Thanks a lot for the info, a very useful one. I used to buy through www.ebuywines.com and 2008 was for instance 21 euros. We just had a bottle of 2008 and this one was absolutely fantastic. I didn’t try 2010 so far, but if it’s only 75% of what 2008 is, 12 euros is really fantastic bargain. Cheers.
Red

1997 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Bolgheri Superiore Tenuta Belvedere

 Red Blend more
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11/18/2016 - Kronos(er) wrote: 92 points

Wine Canuck notes describe exactly what we all experienced with this bottle. At the end this bottle tasted like 3 years old Cab and Merlot mix. Decanted well in advance and tasted every hour, wine has gone through the different stages, but was always behaving like young. My friend who had tasted this wine (not necessarily 1997) on many occasions before, did not liked it so much, but I must admit I was incredibly surprised to discover 19 years old Italian of such structure. If you have it in your cellar and if it is there properly placed, and for a long time, in that case, there is absolutely no need to rush. It can wait for another 10 years (and I would recommend that) as it may develop in a more elegant and harmonious wine. For now “only” 92 points.

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    11/23/2016 7:18:00 AM - Well, lucky you for having 4 more bottles of 1997. Are they with you for a long time now? Going through your tasting notes I can see a very impressive profile! If you will ever decide to explore Istria (Croatia) send me a message. If at home, will be glad to help you with some hints and tips :) Cheers.
White

2012 Clai Malvazija Istarska Sveti Jakov

 Zapadna Istra more
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4/6/2015 - Kronos(er) wrote: 89 points

I don’t know what should I say about this 2012! I have divided opinion about this wine. Much much lighter in style than for instance 2009. Very nicely paired with risotto con il funghi. Seems to me Giorgio just wanted to explore different, more approachable style hoping for the bigger market and better sale. I wish him good luck. I prefer 2009… much more.

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    6/26/2016 2:20:00 PM - Hi Julien2. Well, I would not go so far to call Giorgio's Sveti Jakov, wine with the flaw. It is simple that kind of wine and no one will force you to buy it, however what I see as a point here is that 2012 was not "his" wine and I would appreciate if the price of 2012 would have mirror this difference. 2013 was back on track, 2014 again NOT and 2015 is going to be a real bomb. If you dont like these long macerated wines (75 days in case of Sveti Jakov) just stick with fresh Malvasias from Kozlovic or Matosevic. I prefer those orange wines a lot!

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    6/28/2016 12:34:00 AM - Hi Julien,

    Thanks for your reply. I 100% agree with your statement that most of the Istrian winemakers are well overpriced and do not deserve that reputation they believe they have. I have been drinking Istrian wines since the 1994 (what some call Istrian wine Renaissance) where, some believe, modern winemaking in Istria actually started, and yes, most of those winemakers from the beginning only increased price but did not follow with, what we may call, the quality. Believe me, I live here and know very well how things works here. I see this phenomenon as advertising coupled with the Snob effect, and this will continue to drive this part of the wine market for some time, but not for long!
    As for the flaws, in our case (acetaldehydes) I would disagree with you that level of these compounds are unpleasant in Giorgio’s wines. They bring smell of roasted nuts or dried out straw but if backed up with “sweetness” of dried apricots, candid fruits and sweet and slightly oxidized red apples, then I personally don’t see any problem with this. Please keep in mind these compounds (tastes) are commonly associated with Sherries where these aromas are considered very acceptable.
    Having said that, I don’t disagree that some Giorgio’s bottles have lost that balance in between dried out salty straw and dried fruits aromas and turned out to be very unpleasant and undrinkable. I have experienced this in a few occasions. But since I buy Giorgio’s bottles directly from the cellar and cellar them properly, my bottles are usually tip-top. Few weeks ago I opened one Sveti Jakov 2009 where this unbalance have developed to the point that I had to give up drinking.
    I would also avoid to compare “well balanced oaked chardonnay or pinot blanc/gris”from Austria and Giorgio’s 75 days macerated Malvasias. These have very little in common if anything at all. I am not talking about bad or good wines here, just don’t see and ground for comparison.
    It is fair to say that Giorgio sell out all his wine very shortly after they come on the market. Is this the same phenomenon as previously mentioned advertising + snob effect ? Maybe, but I personally don’t see it that way. Maybe I just like wines with the flaw, as I like women different from what has been advertised all over the world (I don’t see Angeline Jolly attractive but rather hungry :-) I would like to see world of wine developing in all directions and all of us in it finding our own favorites…with or without “flaws”.

    At the end, thanks a lot for the info on Ritosa. Will definitely try to find it ASAP. If you have some more to recommend, please feel free to do that. Will be highly appreciated. Cheers.
Red

1999 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Brunello di Montalcino

 Sangiovese more
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4/5/2015 - Kronos(er) wrote: 95 points

Once I said Italians can't mature for more than 10 years. Now it's time to admit that I was wrong. Castelgiocondo 1999 has proven that.
Colour still impenetrable, after 15 years. Little of brick rims but that's all.
Obviously perfectly matured in my cellar for more than 10 years, ready for drinking now.
Italian aristocracy and the best old Brunello I have ever tasted.
Different, taste like old Bordeaux 1996 or 2000 left bank. Cigar box, cinnamon, cedar and even trace of fig marmelade. Harmony and pleasure in every sip. Paired with roasted lamb for an Eastern lunch. Frescobaldi...cappello giù!!!

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    4/6/2015 4:08:00 AM - Hi,
    Well, all depends what you expect from matured wine. If all fruit is gone than I don’t consider it successful. This 1999 was so fruit forward and elegant with loads of silky tannins that I must admit I was surprised. I have few Clerico’s Ginestras and Pajanas 1998, 2000 and will inform you in details when tasted. Hope to be equally pleasantly surprised there as well. Cheers. Vilim

  • Comment posted by Kronos(er):

    8/10/2015 1:00:00 AM - Happy to see you enjoying your first 99. Lucky you since you have them more. Looking through your tasting notes one can see you are well in love with Brunellos and Barolos. If you have a chance, I would to recommend you to try Barolo Cavallotto Bricco Boschis 2010. Had a chance to try it few weeks ago (only one sip). But that was enough for me to recognize something unbelievably rich and pleasant right now but structured to develop for next 25 years. If you try it, your opinion would be much appreciated.

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