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

2016 Château Lilian Ladouys

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
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4/7/2024 - Jason Wu wrote: 88 points

Deep ruby
Med+ intensity on the nose, dark plum, clove, black pepper, developing.
Dry, high acidity, high tannins, full body, med intensity, dark plum, toast, violet, med finish.
This bottle is suspected to be a little corked. It’s right at my threshold to be sensed but not 100% sure. The fruit notes is a bit muted when we opened the bottle last night. Tried to decant in the bottle overnight, however, it’s not helpful.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    4/8/2024 4:15:00 AM - Seems like you should call it flawed if it's corked.
Red

2020 Auclair 96 Cedars

 Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend more
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3/25/2024 - Wine12345 Likes this wine: 91 points

Tantalizing dark red color. Although labeled as a “Red Wine,” this vintage is actually 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (including grapes from Heart of the Hill vineyard). Very nice wine, especially for the price.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    3/26/2024 7:49:00 AM - I hear tell it also has Cab from Ciel de Cheval and Kiona old block. It's a steal. And they've moved on to the 2021 already. Grab more of the 2020 if you see it!
Red

2018 Château Pape Clément

 Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more
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2/8/2024 - cfoy wrote: 91 points

I was expecting much more from this bottle. Not very expressive for the price point, maybe drank too early?

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    2/8/2024 11:12:00 AM - way to early. :-)
    Did you decant it for a few hours first?
Red

2016 Andrew Will Two Blondes Vineyard

 Yakima Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
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2/5/2024 - Sagan99 Likes this wine: 90 points

TBD

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    2/6/2024 7:57:00 AM - ?? why the 50pt rating? seems like a super low rating in need of explanation.
Red

2015 Château Léoville Poyferré

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/19/2024 - Mscrank wrote: NR

Decanted two more bottles of the 2015 LP for 1.5 hours and served with a light dinner for six friends at about 58-60 degrees. The first bottle was fantastic- slow to open but followed by blackberry, cassis, and hints of licorice and tobacco, smooth tannins and nice acidity, with a delicious finish and perfect balance overall. One the best bordeaux that I have had in years.

The second bottle was also served decanted for 1.5 hours, but is was very different. More open on the nose than the first bottle, the same flavors that were so enjoyable in the first bottle were suddenly overwhelmed by waves of acidity. Very frustrating, and although “drinkable”, nobody asked for a second glass.

Both bottles where purchased from the same retailer, and stored next to each other in my temperature controlled cellar. Both corks looked perfect, but the difference in acidity was even noticeable on the cork.

I’ve had three three bottles of the 2015 LP over the past 18 months. The first bottle opened in the fall of 2022 had of all the right pieces for a perfect wine, but there was little harmony, as though the ingredients had yet to blend together. The other two bottles are noted above- My conclusion is that the 2015 Leoville-Poyferre has issues of consistency, and although some bottles are fantastic, we shouldn’t have to open two or three bottles to get a decent wine.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    1/23/2024 8:04:00 AM - Sounds like a cork issue. Even tiny amounts of TCA can affect the wine and how it presents. You'd think by 2015 they would have been using tested cork though...it was available on the market.
Red - Fortified

2017 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage

 Port Blend more
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1/15/2024 - CubFan4Life Likes this wine: 94 points

Very good, but price difference between this and something like Grahams non vintage port is mind boggling. Not with the price IMO.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    1/15/2024 3:03:00 PM - The complexity of a vintage port vs a non-vintage is pretty significant quality wise, in my experience.
    I do see the attraction of the non-vintage fruit forward style though.
Red

2011 Upchurch Cabernet Sauvignon Upchurch

 Red Mountain more
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12/28/2023 - bramwessel wrote: NR

Reasonably decent wine from a bad weather year in the Yakima Valley. Can still taste that the fruit didn’t fully ripen. Much better in day 2. Some of the greener vegetal notes smoothed out revealing blue-black fruit. Actually verging jammy, with which the rich dinner of leek-potato gratin with smoked oysters and Dungeness crab oddly paired quite well.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    1/2/2024 8:29:00 AM - 2011 was a fabulous year in WA for those who knew how to deal with cooler weather. Not sure about this house but others are fantastic.
Red

2016 Château Cos d'Estournel

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/2/2024 - brh_wine Likes this wine: NR

First taste of this collection. Maturing nicely. One person noted a bit of tar in the mouth but this blew off. Nose had muted merlot notes. Some moderate tannins in mouth and generally kept developing and opening up over 45 minutes. Should have a good future.
Thanks to all who pointed out 1st version of this note where somehow the flawed box was checked. Should be corrected now. It was not flawed, sorry for the confusion.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    1/2/2024 8:19:00 AM - Confusing note. Why did you mark it flawed?
Red

2016 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Hillside

 Santa Cruz Mountains more
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12/12/2023 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 82 points

This was incredibly disappointing. I was overwhelmed by a wood imbued, vanilla oak component. I had to do a double take on the bottle to make sure somebody didn’t slip a modern Bordeaux, or Laurent styled Burgundy in on me. There was pretty, red, fruit down there, somewhere, but I couldn’t get around the sweet, vanilla, creamy, oak, thing going on. This was unlike any Rhys wine I’ve had before.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    12/13/2023 7:39:00 AM - Sounds flawed. Certainly doesn't sound like any Rhys I've ever had.
White

2016 El Enemigo Chardonnay

 Mendoza more
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11/17/2023 - SirFred wrote: NR

Drank on several prior occasions. Not feeling it tonight, but want to share a few thoughts. I don’t think this is worthy of a 98 point score, as James suckling awarded it. I have enjoyed this wine on several occasions over the past few years, but today I found it quite opulent without much complexity and not enough acidity to keep it lively. New world I suppose, but lacking charm, refinement, cut, and vibrancy. Also a bit oaky on this night. I am not scoring it, because I did not spend enough time or interest on it to give it a fair evaluation, but I would like to point out, that for twenty bucks, this is quite good value. I just don’t think this is worthy of some of the high scores it received. However, it is better than most chardonnay’s at this price range, and has consistently been so in all of the vintages I have tasted, which is a credit to the Catena-based Winery. Best with salmon or shellfish, and can certainly hold for a handful of years.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    11/20/2023 9:02:00 AM - Couldn't agree with you more. Decent value. Crazy score.
Red

2018 Auclair Left Blend Red Mountain

 Red Bordeaux Blend more
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11/2/2023 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 points

Once again, I brought this wine to an Indian restaurant with my wine group, and again it was a hit. This was a Garagiste Mystery Wine Home Run!! My 3rd of 4 bottles and they have been consistent from bottle to bottle.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    11/3/2023 9:12:00 AM - I have inside knowledge that the winery has a few cases left and might be willing to part with some.
Red

2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender In the Rocks

 Walla Walla Valley more
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6/9/2013 - TheDarkPrince Does not like this wine: 80 points

Tasted last night with family and friends. Five of us in total. Although Mum enjoyed the bouquet, likening it to freshly cut flowers, It was the one wine that everybody avoided. Consistent with my tasting from around three weeks ago. This wine bears no resemblance to the varietal from which it claims to come from.

I'm giving it a lower mark as I now have more objective opinions. I have one bottle left and I can't get rid of it fast enough!

:0)

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    6/9/2013 7:11:00 AM - I'll take it off your hands.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    6/10/2013 6:23:00 AM - shipments between us would cost more than the wines. I live in WA state. I visit Reynvaan regularly and think they are making some great stuff right now.

    Sounds like you have some nice wines. I'm lucky enough to live in a great wine making state so my cellar is WA heavy, though I love Bordeaux as well and travel regularly around the world to places like Australia, Germany and S. Africa. If you are ever in the area stop by my winery. I'm the owner/winemaker at Auclair winery.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    6/11/2013 8:15:00 PM - Skiing is great here as well as the wine.
    Cheers.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    6/28/2014 7:01:00 AM - Thanks. Everyone well. Stop by the tasting room if you ever make it to the area.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    8/31/2023 9:10:00 AM - Carolandjay, you would be most welcome to stop by. Just going into harvest. Wish me luck!
    Thedarkprince and I have never connected. Would have loved to have that Contender. It's good juice! I still have 1 in my cellar.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    8/31/2023 3:21:00 PM - PM me at info@auclairwinery.com. We can work out a trade...
Red

2003 Château Haut-Brion

 Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more
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6/25/2023 - fcxj wrote: 90 points

Big disjointed here.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    6/26/2023 11:17:00 AM - Sorry to hear that. Did you decant and give it some air? How long did you evaluate for? Thanks
Red

2005 Château Léoville Barton

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
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5/28/2023 - Staufer Does not like this wine: 87 points

we previously liked the wine, but today tastes almost tart. no richness and not much flavor to report .. Hopefully next bottle will be better

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    5/29/2023 10:07:00 AM - Sounds flawed. Could be the cork had just enough TCA to strip the fruit but not show the telltale wet cardborad notes...
Red

2016 Château Haut-Bages Libéral

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
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3/23/2023 - mathwonk wrote: NR

pnp. wow. i hope this improves after some more time. at present, maybe 30 minutes after opening, it is essentially undrinkably sour tea, in my obviously ignorant view. lots of bitter tobacco like flavors but no grape or fruit flavors, and no sweetness. i will try the 2015 next time, which i recall very differently. maybe this will improve in 5 years, but i will not be there waiting.

by contrast, the 2018 yesterday was also obviously too young and tannic, but still enjoyable. this is not. will repost if it changes for the better over the next few hours or maybe days.

4-5 hours later: no improvement. so far a waste of $60, except for the education.

second night: improved to the point of being drinkable, and smelling good from a swirled carafe, but not really enjoyable tasting. It is not like bad or cheap wine, and not corked, just less than pleasant tasting high quality wine. as a comparison, i like high quality chocolate (gianduotti), but neither cheap chocolate, nor high quality licorice.

third night: improved to the point of being reasonably enjoyable and we essentially finished it, even if occasionally mixing it a little with an older rioja. so as others more knowledgable here have emphasized, this is quality wine that demands a lot of airtime and/or more age.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    3/24/2023 1:29:00 PM - sounds flawed
Red

2019 Alpha Estate Xinomavro Skantzoxoiros

 Amyndaio more
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3/3/2023 - jmcmchi Likes this wine: 88 points

Very pale in glass

Crisp texture, great acidity, cranberry and watermelon

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    3/3/2023 2:45:00 PM - What would you recommend as a food pairing for this? I'd heard lamb was ideal but your notes don't scream pair this with lamb to me :-)
Red

2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

 Columbia Valley more
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2/11/2023 - Stevethebeav wrote: flawed

Bad bottle. Very soft and loose cork.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    2/13/2023 9:30:00 AM - Maybe call it Flawed instead of rating it?
Red

2014 Cameron Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

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1/1/2023 - Mtpisgah Likes this wine: 93 points

I bought three of these on release, this is the first one I have opened. Too much wine, to little time.
Third day open. No noticeable change.
Nose is good, but not spectacular. The palate though is incredible. Dark cherry, bursting with flavor. Long lingering finish. Not sure if this is at its prime, but it is definitely in a great window.
I only bought Cameron on from Storyteller because I was trying to consolidate shipping, but if his current releases are this good, I will need to start buying direct since Michael shut down many years ago.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    1/2/2023 4:23:00 PM - I bought so much wine from Storyteller I was paying his rent :-)
    He is now the wine reviewer for the PNW for Wine Enthusiast. Perfect job for him, he writes so well.
Red

2018 Château Branaire-Ducru

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
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11/18/2022 - hiker_guy Likes this wine: NR

From 375

Nose is densely fruity with dark red and black tones

Palate is dense, dark and fruit focused. There’s some new oak in here but it’s not prominent .

Finishes long and smooth .

Has some cellar potential but hard to resist now .

Would buy again .

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    12/1/2022 2:06:00 PM - Every review is a bottle review. Second bottle was a 375 so that might have been the difference.

  • Comment posted by hiker_guy:

    12/7/2022 9:35:00 AM - Queen - acknowledged. I edited both reviews for clarity

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