| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2009 Quilceda Creek Cabernet SauvignonColumbia Valley more |
3/9/2023 - mellison Does not like this wine: 91 pointsI rarely write reviews because I do not have the writing skills or the tasting acume to detect all the different flavors and describe them in intimate detail. However I can distinguish good wines from bad and all those along the spectrum. This wine was acquired direct from the winery and stored in perfect conditions. Despite the professional reviews at 96 + this is not a particularly memorable or even good wine let alone great. It tastes green like it was made from unripe grapes and has no character or anything memorable about it and even has a bitter component after sitting in the glass for like two hours. Just a HUGE disappointment. Happy I did not give as a gift!! |
| Red |
1998 Château Troplong MondotSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/8/2018 - mellison wrote: 90 pointsWhen first tasted this after opening was rather disappointed. Tasted more like a thin Pinot Noir then a Bordeaux.. As it opened up it began to express the typical Bordeaux tastes. However, if this bottle is any indication, it is time to drink this up as the fruit has begun to disappear. |
| Red |
2004 Rudd Oakville Estate Proprietary RedRed Bordeaux Blend more |
9/14/2018 - mellison wrote: 90 pointsThis turned out to be quite the disappointment. There was no there there. Kind of flat, no character, flat on the palate with a little taste of green and unripe. No finish at all just kind of a slightly bitter aftertaste. Perfect storage conditions from winery to climate controlled storage. |
| Red |
2004 Château Léoville BartonSt. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more |
8/23/2017 - mellison wrote: 96 pointsThis turned out to be surprisingly good. Blackberry, black current and black cherry flavors. Very well structured and smooth. Opened it not expecting much but was an excellent complement to grilled rib eye. |
| Red |
2002 Harlan EstateNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
4/10/2016 - mellison wrote: 93 pointsMaybe my expectations were just too high. Perfect setting with 25th wedding anniversary very nice piece of rib eye cooked to perfection, all to set up that "special" bottle of wine. This is not a great wine certainly not for its cost or value. Very intense purple color with lighter dark fruit tastes more dark current then blackberry. Relatively smooth but with no backbone. Fortunately did not decant since it has neither the structure or backbone for much exposure to oxygen. In a blind tasting with Philip Togni, Ridge, Quilceda Creek and similar wines would have been outclassed. Had a glass the next day and it tasted flat and flabby. Limited supply, great marketing, wining and dining reviewers seems the key to this wine's reputation. |
| Red |
2005 Domaine de L'Arlot Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Forêts St. GeorgesPinot Noir more |
3/16/2016 - mellison Does not like this wine: 85 pointsNot a very enticing bottle. Kind of harsh and completely lacking in character. Fruit not there, little backbone and basically a very mediocre wine! 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2001 Ferdinando Principiano Barolo BoscaretoNebbiolo more |
2/22/2016 - mellison wrote: 93 pointsVery pleasant bottle that went well with slow cooked chuck roast with roasted potatoes. Seems to have softened considerably since last reviews. Nice fruit not heavy and tannin well integrated. Pleasant long finish. |
| Red |
2006 Cayuse Syrah Bionic FrogWalla Walla Valley more |
12/25/2015 - mellison wrote: 96 pointsWhat I have come to expect from Cayuse in general and Bionic Frog specifically. Fantastic wine with good color, dark fruit flavors overlaid with smokey, mushroom leather and earthy flavors. Just slightest hint of beginning to fade but still a refined and powerful Syrah. |
| Red |
2000 Château Léoville PoyferréSt. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend more |
3/19/2015 - mellison wrote: 95 pointsA fine bottle of wine. Drank side by side with a 2003 Quilceda and a 2007 Leonetti. The Leoville was noticeably more complex with nice balance and a multiple of different flavors. Just way more interesting then either of the Cabs. |
| Red |
2009 Cayuse Syrah Bionic FrogWalla Walla Valley more |
3/19/2015 - mellison wrote: 97 pointsAn outstanding wine from a great producer. Smooth with plenty of backbone. Perfectly balanced with great fruit but not at all "fruity". Kind of like drinking liquid satin. |
| Red |
2005 Tenute Dettori Dettori Romangia IGTCannonau, Grenache more |
11/21/2014 - mellison wrote: 50 pointsThis wine is completely undrinkable. Another of Garagiste's disasters. Tried all four bottles and each was as bad as the other. $60+ for drinking wine. What a rip off!! Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (6) |
| Red |
2006 Giacomo Grimaldi Barolo Sotto Castello di NovelloNebbiolo more |
5/24/2014 - mellison wrote: 96 pointsFantastic bottle. Decanted and drank over a couple of hours. Great fruit and balance. Classic Barolo flavors Extremely smooth with tannin acid and fruit exceptionally well integrated. One of those rare times when a bottle greatly exceeds expectations and drinks well above its price point. |
| Red |
2000 Château Smith Haut LafittePessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/19/2014 - mellison wrote: 96 pointsFantastic wine. Was ready to drink. Smooth and silky with outstanding balance and sophistication. Truly a great wine and wished I had purchased more. |
| Red |
2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Palengat VineyardHorse Heaven Hills more |
4/18/2014 - mellison wrote: 94 pointsSee review of Galitzine for a comparison. |
| Red |
2006 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine VineyardRed Mountain more |
4/18/2014 - mellison wrote: 94 pointsOpened this along with a bottle of the 2006 Palengat. Wines were both great but quite different. The Palengat was more fruity and full bodied while the Galitzine was sleeker and more refined with a hint of tannins and further aging. Both evolved and became more sophisticated as they opened. |
| White |
2013 Hamilton Russell Vineyards ChardonnayHemel-en-Aarde Valley more |
4/2/2014 - mellison wrote: 92 pointsThis wine was recommended to me by some involved in the industry as a good crisp chardonnay at a good price point. He was right. Nice and crisp with the citrus flavors but with enough acid to make it feel alive and not flabby like so many CA chardonnays |
| White |
2011 Kongsgaard ChardonnayNapa Valley more |
11/22/2013 - mellison wrote: 97 pointsEverything one would expect from Kongsgaard. Lively citrus tastes with perfect balance. |
| Red |
2008 Clos ApaltaRed Bordeaux Blend more |
9/14/2013 - mellison wrote: NRReally like this wine but this bottle was rather interesting in that right after opening it tasted well but a little tight. After that initial opening shut right down and never did really open up. Even my wife commented on it. Probably should wait awhile longer on it. |
| White |
2008 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate VineyardSonoma Coast more |
4/24/2013 - mellison wrote: 95 pointsAs usual Aubert does not disappoint. Classic chardonnay flavors with just the right amount of fruit and a hint of oak. Smooth as glass. |
| Red |
1999 Ridge Monte BelloSanta Cruz Mountains Red Bordeaux Blend more |
4/3/2013 - mellison wrote: 94 pointsSecond bottle I have drank with NY steak and it was fabulous just like the first one. |
| Red |
2005 Cayuse God Only KnowsWalla Walla Valley Grenache more |
3/17/2013 - mellison Likes this wine: 93 pointsExcellent wine. Difficult pairing with corned beef but it was a champ. Earthy with tastes of smoke, mushrooms and leather. Opened up nicely and everything kind of softened. Drank along with a Cayuse Syrah En Cerise and this was softer and more sophisticated. Great wine. |
| White |
2007 Kistler Chardonnay Cuvée Cathleen Kistler VineyardSonoma Valley more |
3/10/2013 - mellison Does not like this wine: 80 pointsBig disappointment like all the Kistler 2007s'. Barely drinkable. Color like apple cider. Does not hold a candle to Aubert, Peter Michael Kongsgaard or Paul Hobbs. |
| White |
2007 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill VineyardRussian River Valley more |
3/7/2013 - mellison wrote: 80 pointsThis is a sad story. I purchased a case of 2007 Kistler from Hyde, Kistler and Vine Hill vineyards. So far out of 10 bottles they are either undrinkable or barely so. They were shipped to me directly and have been stored in a custom temperature controlled cellar since. These are not good wines. I contacted Kistler and no response. Kistler used to be my go to wine and the one I measured others against. No more. I have never had this problem with other high end Chardonnays. Konsgaard, Aubert, Peter Michael etc. Kistler has a problem with either corking or premature oxidation and they are essentially ignoring it. This is so bad I am going to remove myself from their mailing list. Very unfortunate!!! |
| White |
2007 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler VineyardSonoma Valley more |
3/4/2013 - mellison wrote: 80 pointsThis wine is spoiled. 6 out of 6 2007 Kistlers' all bad. Two Hyde and 4 Kistler vineyards. |
| Red |
2006 Mitolo Shiraz ReiverBarossa Valley more |
3/2/2013 - mellison wrote: 83 pointsJust another hot weather Aussie Shiraz. Had it w/taco salad and ok but too heavy and too much alcohol. A $15 wine at best. |
Search Results - Save This Search
- Tasting notes: 477 notes on 334 wines
