| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2012 Belle Glos Pinot Noir DairymanRussian River Valley more |
9/4/2014 - mfortunek wrote: NRSo here is the definitive note on this wine (arrogant, right? - just wait). If you have a refined palate and a cultivated nose for pinot noir, there is a strong chance you will be repulsed. However, if you are new to wine or more of a beer/liquor drinker, you will find some pleasantries here; and that's okay. The rub is that this bottle retails at $40. If you're not a wine drinker, that's too much to pay for a bottle of pinot (i.e. you aren't going to be drinking this), and if you do have a more refined palate you will instantly compare this wine to far, far better pinots at the same price point (and below) and become vituperative. This is a wine without a market; a man without a country. It's too expensive for the people who will actually enjoy it, and too basic/syrupy for the people who will pay $40 for a Caymus family wine. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
1993 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valleymore |
7/3/2014 - mfortunek wrote: 90 pointsThe cork crumbled to sawdust despite my many efforts to extract it. However, the wine wasn't overly oxidized. I was surprised by its resiliency and vibrant bouquet. However, I just wasn't a fan of the tar, soil, vegetable, herbal, smoke type flavors. Not enough fruit for me, but that's just a personal preference. This was my first bottle of Dunn. Compared to an older Joseph Phelps or Dalla Valle, I didn't care for this one. |
| Red |
1999 Dalla Valle Cabernet SauvignonOakville more |
5/29/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 98 pointsThis bottle was killer. This is what drinking a great cab at its absolute peak tastes like. The nose was floral, but subtle, like flowers in a light rain. Leather and black cherry, strawberry jam, a dash of cocoa, all integrated and singing beautifully together. Can't wait to get my hands on more of it. |
| Red |
1996 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq CépagesSonoma County more |
5/24/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 93 pointsWe opened this one and gave it a quick 20 minute decant just to wake up, then drank fairly quickly between the four of us over less than an hour. It was a very enjoyable experience; the wine showed bricking consistent with its age, and the fruit was still very pleasant. Notes of leather and herbs blended elegantly with aromas of figs, raisins and prunes. |
| Red |
2012 Reata Pinot Noir Three CountyMonterey County more |
5/18/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 90 pointsThis is a great pinot for the price. It was smooth and easy to drink, with nice rounded fruit and a pleasant bouquet. |
| Red |
1997 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valleymore |
3/20/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 92 pointsGreat dry cab. Well aged. |
| Red |
2001 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valleymore |
3/23/2014 - mfortunek Does not like this wine: 80 pointsThere was very little fruit left in this bottle. It seems very muted and lifeless. Over the hill for sure. |
| Red |
2002 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon ArtemisNapa Valley more |
3/5/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 91 pointsI think Stag's Leap cabs are sort of "hit and miss." But Artemis seems to be a consistently good QPR. I bought this 2002 at auction just for fun and we opened it on a random Wednesday. Didn't anticipate that it was really an "ager" but I think it held up well! Nice finish, fruit still layered and complex. Some hints of dates and nutmeg on the front end. Overall a win at auction. Enjoy if you've got it; not likely to get any better than it is now. |
| Red |
2004 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain Districtmore |
2/28/2014 - mfortunek wrote: 85 pointsIf I'd tasted this blind and been asked the varietal, I would have guessed a 2011 zinfandel-heavy blend, not a 10 yr old Napa Valley Spring Mountain cab. The bouquet was ripe fruit (raspberries, blackberries and a hint of floral blossoming) but the nose was sweet without substance, fruity without firmness, and overall just lacked backbone. It left a lot to be desired, but if you like sweeter, almost jammy, less tannic reds, give this one a shot. Otherwise, spend that $40 on something else (the Prisoner if you want a zin blend or a Joseph Phelps if you want a cab). |
| Red |
2005 Long Shadows Wineries SaggiColumbia Valley Red Blend more |
2/22/2014 - mfortunek wrote: 88 pointsThis one comes out swinging! I've oft pondered the propriety of the term "super Tuscan"; the 2005 vintage of Long Shadows' Saggi gives a hint of what that means. Lots of backbone, medium heat, tighter than I might have expected of a 2005. If I had to do it over again I would have kept this one for another 3-5 years. As it decanted and warmed up a bit, it softened (but only a little). This wine has really nice structure, streaks of chocolate and spice box sparking against the backdrop of big tannins. If you've got it, save it. |
| Red |
1994 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valleymore |
2/14/2014 - mfortunek Likes this wine: 95 pointsWe opened this bottle for Valentine's Day and weren't sure what to expect. The moment we popped the cork, I was amazed at the rich, floral bouquet coming from the bottle. Deep, dark fruit that hadn't seemed to lose a bit of its vibrance in 20 years! I expected more muted tones and softer, almost fading flavors for a cab of this age and price range. I was wrong. We poured straight to a decanter and drank immediately. Hints of plum and black currant with an undercurrent of what I'm tempted to describe as wet forest. I'll be looking out for more of this one if I can find it. |
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- Tasting notes: 11 notes on 11 wines
