Search Results - Save This Search

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

2003 Château Pontet-Canet

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

2/23/2024 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 93 points

Lovely dark fruited nose. Cherry and cassis. Well balanced for the vintage. Ample acidity and silky tannins with some air. Still quite enjoyable after a week of slow ox.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    2/29/2024 3:14:00 PM - Hear ya. Unintentional, ended up traveling and left a cork in a 1/3 of a bottle for a week. Posted mainly because I was shocked at how well it held up, particularly for the vintage. Probably one of favorite 03s short of Latour.
Red

2016 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

 Santa Cruz Mountains more
Options

12/9/2023 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 94 points

Really in a good spot after 24 hours of air. Dark fruit, coffee on the nose and palate. Silky tannins. Early maturity. Persistent, well defined and balanced.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    1/17/2024 11:09:00 AM - Slow ox in the bottle.
Red

2020 Château Phélan Ségur

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

10/28/2023 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 91 points

Dark cherry and a bit of oak on the nose. Dark black and blue fruit on the palate. Still a bit of oak left to integrate. Hints of coffee. Velvety tannins that have a bit of bite. Nice mid palate for this estate, which is unusual. Good effort and QPR. Best wine I’ve had from this chateau.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    10/29/2023 4:48:00 AM - Thanks. Somehow that box was inadvertently checked.
Red

2017 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red

 Rutherford Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

4/7/2023 - csimm wrote: 97 points

A few days in Napa with fellow CT'r Cristal2000: I don’t want to fall in love with 2017s. I don’t even want to fall in like with 2017. In fact, I want to love 2017s as much as I love 2020s, or even 2011s for that matter. If I have to hear one more winemaker or proprietor tell me how their 2011s are drinking beautifully now, I’m going to start eating tinfoil as a palate cleanser. Stop calling 2011 a “winemaker’s vintage.” I get it; there were some who ended up the phoenix[es] that rose from the ashes (literally, especially in 2020. …What? Too soon?!). And there were those who are simply trying to sell a phoenix when it’s more like a chicken whose diet consists of poblano chiles, green peppercorns, and wet portabella mushrooms. They weren’t good vintages. They just weren’t. And I know there is a handful of beautiful people on Cellar Tracker that will tell me otherwise. I love you all, but if you are specifically targeting 2011 and 2017 Napa Cabs as your primary holdings in your cellar, then I’d simply ask why do you even drink Napa Cab?

Sure, I’ve had some 2017s that were fine. They were ok. They were forgettable, which sometimes isn’t a bad thing when sampling vintages that were “challenging” for most. But more to the point here (and I’m sure you might be able to sense the buildup), I am confident in stating that the 2017 Bella Oaks, slated to be released in the Fall, is one of the best, if not the best, 2017 I’ve had out of Napa. The nose is effusively floral, fooling me into believing this is going to deliver in high register fashion. Not so, as the black fruit on entry comes in swiftly and with vibrant energy. Red and black licorice, purple plum, cassis, black cherry, violets, bitter chocolate, loam, and a slightly bitter spice note all add to the complexity of this elegant specimen. The mid-palate is perfectly balanced, finishing slightly linear as it tapers off on the exacting tail. Balance and classiness reign here.

Comparatively speaking, certainly this does not have the sheer sultry oomph and relative opulence that 2019 displays, nor the equal depth and weight of the 2018, but it’s simply not built that way. Sure, if you want a 19% (marked 14.9%) Caymus cocktail that your 21-year-old frat brother drinks with crushed ice and pairs with pot pie and pancakes, then best run down to the local Liquor Locker and grab yerself a jug o’ some of that brain hemorrhage hootch. But you’re not going to find those shenanigans here (thank God). Instead, this reminded me of a Sade smooth operator Pomerol the likes of which would pair perfectly with some of thems grass-fed beef tartare and farm egg yolk type dishes popping up on menus across the Valley.

I wanted to dismiss this wine, but it was undeniably excellent, not just for a 2017 Napa red, but as standalone juice from what is quickly becoming a standalone winery. How this wine continues to evolve will be another fun exercise in wine consumption. 96-97 points. I may even be underscoring this because there is that gremlin in the back of my brain that still haunts me when it comes to this vintage. Score higher if you’re not otherwise traumatized by the systematic numbers 2-0-1-1, 2-0-1-7, or 2-0-2-0.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    8/19/2023 9:49:00 AM - Had it at the winery last week and agree with your assessment. It is a spectacular 2017 and definitely on the subtle side for Napa, which my old world palate prefers. Oak management is much more deftly handled than when the grapes were used by Stalin. Interestingly, their first release (the 2018) was a choice between the 2 vintages. I have my allocations but have never had the 2018 or 2019. The 17 is being released because of they are not releasing wine from 20 (thankfully). It will be interesting to see how the wines from those that harvested early (Harlan) pan out from that vintage.

    If the 17 reflects the true potential of the winemaking team, I believe wine from this small production estate will be very hard to come by. Recommend getting in on the ground floor.
Red

2014 Château Haut-Batailley

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

6/2/2023 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 89 points

Open nose, classic Pauillac. Medium length and ample fruit but fairly astringent tannins. Will revisit after 12 hour slow ox.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    6/3/2023 2:23:00 PM - Settled down after 24 hours. Red fruits; primary. Small amount of residual oak.
Red

2001 Château Léoville Las Cases

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

2/20/2023 - englishman's claret wrote: 91 points

For the first hour or so, this is simply dominated by its new oak. After that, the fruit character does emerge with appraling raspberry, cedar, and nutmeg, and saddle leather. Medium bodied, perhaps with a slight dearth of acidity to match its body and tannin. Though reasonably good, but I can’t help but wonder whether this will still be vital when the oak has finally integrated.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    5/5/2023 2:52:00 PM - Trying it right now (ex Chateau acquired from Zachys). No oak but completely closed nose. Palate is a bit austere. Will follow and see.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    5/7/2023 1:58:00 PM - Followed for 48 hours. Fruit aromatics notable at 30 minutes but finish was dominated by very chewy (almost astringent) tannin. Things softened a bit by 24 hours but oak was apparent on the nose and palate. A little less oak at 48 hours but it still dominated the fruit. Love LLC and the vintage but not sure if the fruit will outlast the oak here. First bottle of this wine. Much prefer the 01 Lafite.
Red

2012 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five

 Stags Leap District more
Options

9/25/2022 - Davimorrmd Likes this wine: 93 points

Black fruits. Good acid balance.
2h decant

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    4/6/2023 1:03:00 PM - Drink now or hold my man?
Red

2008 Château Pontet-Canet

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

11/3/2022 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 92 points

PnP. Very aromatic on popping; dark fruits. Oak is integrated. Length was modest; tannins chewy. No improvement with 2 hours of air. Try again in 2027.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    11/6/2022 1:18:00 PM - Held strong after 5 days of slow ox.
Red

2009 Château Branaire-Ducru

 St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

10/22/2022 - mayoutze wrote: 80 points

Short, lost all fruit

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    10/28/2022 2:56:00 PM - I've had a fair bit of this over the years and is quite nice with air. Hope you have more bottles to try?
Red

2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select

 Stags Leap District more
Options

6/23/2021 - Cailles wrote: 96 points

Small vertical of Hillside Select 1994/2002/2016. All wines showed great with unbelievably complex aroma profiles, laser-sharp precision, and an impeccable structure. They have the Napa fruit and ripeness but all is well dosed and with so much hillside minerality to balance it. The 1994 (97pts) was almost Bordeaux-esque and almost fully mature (the opposite of a very young bottle 2 years ago). The 2002 (96pts) is slowly getting there, shows incredibly complex but still has to lose some baby fat. The 2016 (97+pts) is of course very young but the most singular 2016 Napa I‘ve had to date (out of probably 30) and is a great promise for the future.

TN: Very expressive nose with lots of cassis and blackberries, strong minty notes, some baby fat, baking spices and a touch minerality. The palate shows much more layered and ever changing with lots of ripe but not too ripe dark fruit and blue fruit, graphite and some ashy minerality and smoke, herbs, with time red fruit, violets, hints of chocolate and baking spices as well as some first shy tertiary aromas with fresh tobacco. The wine has a massive but fine tannin structure which is in need of further ageing and a good freshness but not with the same tension great Bordeauxs have (and I guess the 2016 will have at the same point in its life). Easily 96+ points.

Decanting: Quickly double-decanted 7 hours before consumption, good from the go.

Glass: Conterno Sensory

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    9/24/2022 7:11:00 AM - Agree with this note (wish I would have read before pulling). Still even a bit of oak yet to integrate to my surprise. Would have guessed a much younger wine if blinded. Think my last bottle should rest for another 20 before retrying.
Red

2019 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

 St. Helena more
Options

6/18/2022 - Hojun-na-Wine Likes this wine: NR

Quick notes drinking at the Spottswoode garden party. Medium ruby, star bright.

On the nose bright cassis, cedar, Napa dust, fresh tobacco. Cherry flavored tobacco.

There’s beautiful minerality on the palate, which can be challenging to find in Napa Valley. Has restraint.

Medium alcohol, full body, medium acidity. Fine grained but firm tannins lends good structure.

This drinks beautifully now but will be fantastic with age. Better than 2018?

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    9/16/2022 5:23:00 PM - Interesting…not sure about 18v.19. Time will tell but get the sense that 18 will take longer to fully unfold. Both really nice, elegant expressions of the valley
Red

2009 Château Smith Haut Lafitte

 Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

5/20/2022 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 92 points

The nose is a bit strange. Butterscotch, presumably from heavy oak extraction, dominates the fruit. You might be able to imagine a hint of cassis behind the oak.

The palate is much more typical. Very rounded with black fruits and fine tannins. Excellent balance and lacking signs of over extraction that others have noted.

Frankly, would have thought this a 2018 left bank. This is young and primary. Will plan on following over 24 hours for science, but yeah, revisit this in a decade.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    5/21/2022 2:27:00 PM - After 24 hours, oaky notes have faded. Lovely aromatics and palate. Classic SHL. Finish lingers. Updated score is 95
Red

2011 Harlan Estate The Maiden

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

4/17/2019 - sung251 Likes this wine: 91 points

The wine had a relatively high acid in comparison to its fruit profile which almost gave it a thin impression. Over time in decanter the fruit profile came forward more but the acid remained relatively high. There was generous oak but used very judiciously where it did a great job to change the tannin profile but not infecting the wine with oaky flavors. This wine was pulled in presence of Napa wine lovers and most of them did not enjoy this wine. I however thought it was a very beautifully balanced put together wine that showed finesse without overbearing fruit profiles which is all too common in Napa today. Despite enjoying this wine I do not think one can justify the price easily.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    5/20/2022 2:02:00 PM - I think you nailed it with fruit / acidity balance comment. Tasting after 24 hours of air, I figure that is the problem with the wine. The acidity dominates the mid palate and kills the finish.
Red

2003 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

4/6/2022 - DesMarteau wrote: NR

Drank from a 3L...was way way too young and never really had a chance to open with over an hour in the decanter. Needs 10 year or more...will be a 95 point wine eventually. deep purple, grippy tannins and lots of back end undeveloped fruit.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    4/12/2022 7:49:00 PM - Hmm. I had from a 3L as well last summer…didn’t sense much acidity at all. Thought it was a bit flabby. Will wait on opening the 6L for a decade or so.
Red

1994 Château Pavie Macquin

 St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

3/26/2022 - Shugs_Claret wrote: 85 points

Muted nose. Palate a tad backwards with coarse tannins. Still some fruit but very austere.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    3/30/2022 4:11:00 PM - That is a good question. With old wine, you can never be sure. This was the first of an OWC with good storage. Other tasters enjoyed the wine, which was drank at the same time as a 97 Mondavi Private Reserve. I thought the fruit had faded and coarse tannins persisted…not surprising given the vintage. Hopefully just bottle variation. Interested in your thoughts after you try yours…I have another 11 to get through.
Red

2019 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five

 Stags Leap District more
Options

2/24/2022 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 95 points

Deep purple color. Gorgeous aromas of tart blackberries and deep red and black currants, along with violets, pencil shavings, charcoal, anise, smoky earth – all sorts of stuff comes out with time. The palate has a bold presence but a pretty, refined feel with structured but smooth tannins, vibrant acidity, and lovely balance. Tart currants and blackberry fruit is beautiful, and mixed with complexities of graphite, black tea, iron, cedar and mint. Long-lived for sure, but this is elegant already. Give it five to ten for the underlying savory elements to come out, as this has much more to show. Cabernet Sauvignon with 12% Merlot, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot, aged 20 months in 100% new French oak barrels.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    2/24/2022 3:26:00 PM - I guess we had the same thought. Agree with your comments
Red

2018 Château Phélan Ségur

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

10/29/2021 - Motz wrote: 87 points

Drank over three days.

Well...this is just awful!!! Quality fruit, entirely wasted. This features two revolting hallmarks of the international (abominable) wine-making style, which, when they appear in Left Bank Bordeaux, really tweak my melon: offensive oak treatment and blood-out-of-a-turnip extraction.

The oak flaw (yes, I called it a flaw) is easy to address: Its sweet, sappy, charredness (is that a word?) sits above the liquid, flipping the figurative bird at any aficionado who might have expected even the slightest suggestion of St. Estèphe terroir.

The extraction here is on another level! What is the purpose of in-your-face extraction in terms of consumer appeal? Well, it creates an elevated bouquet. What is the most misleading element of F-U! extraction (for those who do not understand what Left Bank Bordeaux is, thus, do not know how to recognize its insidious destruction of quality fruit, such as the many professionals who scored this in the 90s)? The green-like, high-noted, chalky, puckering, bitterness that masquerades as tannic structure.

Other than over-the-top timber and inconceivable extraction, which respectively, mask and destroy the quality fruit, what does this offer?

Jack squat!!!

Do not be deceived, including by the professional wine...marketers...oops...I meant reviewers who lauded this swill. Heavily sauced BBQ beef or pork might increase the wine's drinkability.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    11/26/2021 4:25:00 PM - Agree with the extraction and oak. Only a touch of bitterness for me though. Perhaps they included some press wine?
Red

1999 Harlan Estate

 Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

11/13/2021 - Shugs_Claret Likes this wine: 100 points

Tasted at the winery along side the 2005 and 2016. Dark fruits, smoke and tobacco on the nose. Perfectly precise palate with just a bit of tannins and generous acidity. Finish lingers and lingers. Simply put, one of the best wines I have tasted.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    11/17/2021 2:14:00 AM - You are welcome! At the winery, the bottle had been open for 2 hours before we tasted.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    11/17/2021 5:46:00 AM - Nothing available to but while there but I get their wines annually.
Red

2016 Arietta Variation One

 Napa Valley Syrah Blend, Syrah more
Options

8/29/2021 - RockinCabs wrote: 95 points

There are a small handful of excellent expressions of Syrah in Napa Valley and this co-fermentation from Arietta is among the best. Rich layers of blackberry, boysenberry, cracked pepper, olive, cocoa and cherry. The tannins are a bit hard at this point, but you can see the layers of this fine wine with a few hours of decanting.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    9/1/2021 3:36:00 PM - It’s pretty tasty surprisingly. On par with relentless and a tad below Colgin.
Red

2015 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia

 Tinta de Toro, Tempranillo more
Options

7/8/2021 - Shugs_Claret Likes this wine: 91 points

A lovely garnet with an open nose of cherry, cola and oaky vanilla notes. Dark cherries dominate palate that remains laden with a bit of oak. Very long finish but the tannins are a bit chewy at this point. Has potential if things integrate.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    7/9/2021 3:42:00 PM - Defintely softer after 24 hours of slow ox. Excellent.
Red

2016 Château Picque Caillou

 Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

12/1/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 85 points

Odd showing for a 2016 in that there's a bit of brett and most people have worked out those kinks nowadays... at any rate, beyond that this comes off as hot and aggressive.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    6/24/2021 3:11:00 PM - Maybe a touch of heat, indeed

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    6/24/2021 5:28:00 PM - Bad vodka and red pepper blend. Was off putting but some still enjoyed.
Red

2015 Château Haut-Bages Libéral

 Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more
Options

3/12/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 87 points

Medium/full-bodied with a crisp, overly bright, red berry character, the wine mixes, cranberry and cassis, with leaf, olive, herbs, earth and tobacco. This is on the crisp and crunchy side of the red fruit range.

  • Comment posted by Shugs_Claret:

    2/24/2021 2:34:00 PM - I was trying to place what I was tasting but you nailed it...
    Cranberry and cassis. Such an odd pairing.

Loading wine details...
loading

×
×