| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point FiveStags Leap District more |
12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 92 pointsVery strong and lingering nose, with some strawberry, very dark cherry, anise and blueberry. On the palette, this one is silky smooth. Still maybe a little early to be drinking it at its peak, but even so, there's no denying that this is good now and will be a great wine with age. There's some good ripe fruit, chocolate and, odd as it sounds, some sausage on the initial taste. Some oak, but definitely not over-oaked, very well balanced and complex, all the way through to the end - hits quickly at the front, drives straight through the mid-palate and stays complex through the finish. The tannins on this are definitely a prominent part of the mix, making the wine slightly chewy, but that's right up my alley when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Red |
2007 Quivira Petite Sirah Wine Creek RanchDry Creek Valley more |
12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 86 pointsthe color of squid ink, but from a squid that grew up in a barnyard. big, bold and chewy. |
| Red |
2006 Andrew Will Ciel du Cheval VineyardRed Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 91 pointsstunning...dark cherry, meaty, spicy, well balanced with a HUGE finish... |
| White |
2008 Long Shadows Wineries Riesling Poet's LeapColumbia Valley more |
12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 91 pointsstunningly complex riesling, with just enough sweetness and a monstrous finish. best riesling I've had in '09. |
| Red |
2007 Schild Estate ShirazBarossa Valley more |
12/23/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 89 pointscherry chocolate tobacco rolls, with a hint of herb and sage on the finish. big fruit on the palate with an even delivery throughout the palate. really liked this one and i'm not typically a fan of shiraz. |
| Red |
2006 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir TenSta. Rita Hills more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 95 pointsThis is, hands down, the best Pinot Noir I have ever tasted. I first learned about Sea Smoke with the 2004 vintage and it continues to amaze me with this, my third vintage of Sea Smoke. This is not a faint, light Pinot - it's dense, rich and incredibly well balanced, with a complexity unrivaled in other Pinots (or, at least those I've tasted). Definitely one of those wines I'm sad to finish...my only consolation is the other bottles in my cellar, but I think I'll wait a few years on those. |
| Red |
2007 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 91 pointsFor the 2007 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, the nose is dark cherry, raspberry, menthol and some heat, transforming into dark cherry, spice and vanilla in the mouth. It's light in color, lighter than I expected, with good acidity and tannins. This is a very well balanced Pinot Noir, with a long, lingering finish. As I suspected, given that it is a newly released 2007, it's still a little young and I think I'll wait a few years to try the next one. The bad news is that I have to wait...the good news is that I know it will be worth the wait. |
| Red |
2006 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux VineyardWalla Walla Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 94 pointsThe fruit on this wine is some of the most subtle I've ever tasted on a Washington Syrah. With 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier, there's definitely a nice fruit balance on the front end with blackberry, blueberry and rasperry, but when it hits the mid-palate, there is a truly unique minerality, leather and earthiness that takes over and subdues the fruit. Not in a UFC-type submission, but more like a dinner with the Dalai Lama who convinces you that everything you ever thought about life was wrong...and it was all okay with you, even uplifting and motivating. |
| Red |
2006 Blackbird Vineyards AriseNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: NRNot sure I found the cola mentioned on WS (although it is an intriguing aroma for a red wine) but the cherry and cassis are definitely there, with a nice complex nose that I could spend a lot more time exploring. For the taste, I found the plum and raspberries, but it also had a strong strain of overripe fruit - more like a very dark and ripe cherry, than a bing cherry - and some huckleberry. The finish is long and lingering, with a strong mid-palate to get it going. This is a beautifully balanced Merlot and would be a nice pairing for a leaner steak like a Filet Mignon, a hearty pasta dish or even a pizza. |
| Rosé |
2007 Blackbird Vineyards ArrivisteCalifornia Rosé Blend more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: NRI have to admit I'm not a huge fan of Rose. Not even sure why, just always felt a little too fruity and light to drink regularly. But, the Arriviste is one of the better I've tried. It was refreshing, nicely balanced and had a very rich coloring. Overall, a good Rose. My favorite Rose is the Bandol Rose Domaine Tempier, which is hard to beat, but, overall, I would buy the Arriviste again, particularly to have on hand for those of my guests who do like Rose. |
| Red |
2006 Michel-Schlumberger Pinot Noir Le FouDry Creek Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 90 pointsVery well balanced, both on the nose and in the mouth, with floral undertones and a sweet nectar taste. The acidity is spot on and, like the Pinot Blanc, this Pinot Noir brings with it a mineral, metallic feel, much like zinc, that I have yet to see in other wines in Napa. For me, this is what made the wines I tasted feel truly unique. This is not an in-your-face, spicy, robust Pinot Noir. It is much more subtle than that, but is still rich and packed with good fruit, mineral and floral notes. |
| White |
2008 Michel-Schlumberger Pinot BlancDry Creek Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 89 pointsIt's clearly a French-style wine, not a sweet or oakey California white - one of the cleanest, most refreshing and simple white wines that has had the pleasure of meeting my palate...as the person pouring said "drinks like water, doesn't it?" That's partially true, but only in regards to the ease with which it goes down. But, there is some complexity here, as nuanced as it is. Good subtle fruit and touch of mineral and metal, almost a zinc-like quality, that does add some interesting qualities to the wine. |
| White |
2007 Fantesca Chardonnay Russian River Valleymore |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 90 pointsNot a typical California Chardonnay, with a little less oak and butter than I expected, this offering is much more along the lines of a French white wine - very well balanced, crisp and light, more earthy than oakey, with a consistent and prevalent acid structure. Also, more citrus than I expected from a California Chardonnay, which, on the warm summer night we tasted it, definitely hit the spot. |
| Red |
2007 Owen Roe Syrah "Lady Rosa"Yakima Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 91 pointsThis wine is beautiful. A huge nose...and I mean huge. To use e boxing metaphor, a heavyweight who came to win and even intimidates some of the super heavyweights along the way. Blueberry, eucalyptus, play-doh and cigar box (not a lit cigar, more like running a cigar under your nose before lighting it). A weird combo on paper, but it really was dynamic, aromatic and ever-changing. Then, on the mouth, I tasted one of the richest, creamiest wines I've had in a long time. Again, some blueberry, with dark berries and fresh earth, and a phenomenal caramel / butterscotch finish that I can still taste in the back of my throat, like a Werthers Original hard candy, but a less sweet-version. Overall, an incredibly lush and silky Syrah, with very fine tannins, from a state that is currently blowing me away with their Syrah (if you don't believe me, get your hands on a Cayuse Cailloux Vineyard or Bionic Frog - unbelievable...come to think of it, if you do get ahold of them, give me a ring, I'll be right over). |
| Red |
2006 Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon DuBrul VineyardYakima Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 91 pointsHUGE nose on this thing. In fact, I had to pull the glass away from my nose on the first sniff – interesting aromas, but almost as if they all settled in the glass like a trapped bee, just waiting to seize on any innocent nose it could find. On the next sniff, this thing absolutely took off. Such an interesting array of aromas – blackberry, chocolate, sage and toffee predominately. In the mouth, those aromas came to life on an acid wave riding all the way through a long, lingering and lush finish. The Dubrul Cab is rich and silky, but not overbearing or chewy. Like the Rosa Mystica, it’s a little lighter than you would expect, but still packs a ton of flavor and balance. |
| Red |
2007 Caymus Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 93 pointsThe good news is that this wine definitely delivers on what I've heard. It's a big, aromatic California Cabernet, with so many interesting elements. Over a period of about 15 minutes I picked up blackberry, chocolate, coffee, dark cherry, paprika and herbs on the nose. So many good things, it's hard to list them all. In the mouth, it's just as extravagant, but without as many spice and herb notes, mostly cherry, plum, dark berries and espresso. It's a 15% alcohol wine, but, even at that high level, it's an incredibly well balanced wine with very firm tannins, mild but good acidity and an incredibly long finish. Definitely still a little young, but deserving of the Caymus name. This is a fabulous wine and should have the stamina to peak at about 5 - 7 years...just decant it if you want to enjoy it now. |
| Red |
2008 Pepperwood Grove Pinot NoirCentral Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 89 pointsThis is a light, fruity, spicy pinot, with blackberry, cherry, spice and toasted vanilla notes. You won't find any stemmy qualities or rich complexities, but it is incredibly well balanced, with very little heat and a nice mid-range finish. It's definitely a wine that would work well in the early stages of Thanksgiving dinner, just after a nice white and some cheeses. |
| Red |
2006 Long Shadows Wineries Chester-KidderColumbia Valley Red Blend more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: NROn the nose, it's dark cherry, chocolate, espresso, smoke and roasted nuts - a much more complex nose than the 2004. But, it is still very young. When I opened it, it took about 45 minutes to come into its own, with a very tight and bitter start. But, it did open up and delivered good fruit and acidity, with just the right amount of toast and nuttiness. The thing I found amazing about this wine is that, even at 14.9% alcohol, it had zero heat. None at all. Will be a beautiful wine 5 - 7 years down the road. |
| Red |
2005 Long Shadows Wineries Merlot PedestalColumbia Valley more |
12/22/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 92 pointsHave been a big fan of the Long Shadows wines for some time now and this one lived up to the expectation. A recommendation from a good, very trusted wine friend, I was actually more entranced by this wine than I thought I would be. Huge nose, with dark cherries, plum and mocha, followed by some mellow Christmas spice notes (cinnamon, nutmeg, clove). Tannins are a little chalky still, but will mellow over time and I'm glad I have a few more in the cellar so I can taste it when it does |
| Red |
2006 Jeff Cohn Cellars Syrah Rockpile Vineyardmore |
12/21/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: NR'06 jc cellars rockpile syrah - nose of chocolate covered black fruit, sprinkled with granite, meat and spice. |
| Red |
2006 Ortman Family Vineyards SyrahPaso Robles more |
12/21/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: NRortman '06 syrah - dark fruit (blackberry / blackcurrant), freshly grated nutmeg, some menthol, just a hair hot on the nose |
| Red |
2006 Stevens Cabernet Sauvignon XY ReserveYakima Valley more |
12/13/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote: 90 pointscomplex, peppery, cranberry, woodsy, chalky goodness...i will be getting more of this, without a doubt |
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- Tasting notes: 472 notes on 453 wines
