| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| White - Fortified |
NV Rare Wine Co. (Vinhos Barbeito) Madeira Malvasia Special Reserve Manuela Barbeito Demijohns No. 22, 32, 33 & 90Malvazia, Malvasia more |
3/4/2024 - smctipton Likes this wine: 98 pointsConsensus this was dryer than expected for a Malvasia, but wonderful nonetheless--and very suitable cigar companion. Typical acidic spine uplifts the tobacco, dried fruit, and resin nose and palate...all deep, but light on its feet. A nice feat, and perfect ending to the La Fleur fete at Blackberry Farms |
| Red |
2000 d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz-ViognierMcLaren Vale Shiraz Blend, Syrah more |
1/22/2024 - smctipton Likes this wine: 90 pointsStill amazed at the longevity here. Clear garnet, with no bricking, crunchy dark red fruit, barely perceptible tannin, and decent length. |
| Red |
2000 Château Brane-CantenacMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/31/2023 - smctipton wrote: 93 pointsOdd nose and acidic palate upon opening, so left over night. Next day, clean ruby color, with soft red fruit nose. Old style claret on the palate. Mostly red fruit, with touch of tobacco and sous bois..and maybe a hint of green. Tilts to the acidic side, but in a pleasant way. Tannin mostly resolved. Very nice. Have 6 more to study over time. |
| Red |
2010 Proprietà Sperino UvaggioCoste della Sesia Nebbiolo Blend, Nebbiolo more |
10/23/2023 - smctipton wrote: 93 pointsdzoned1 below nails this one. Great QPR and a pleasure to drink now and I think still some future. Certainly has not faded over the last two years. Wish I had bought more. |
| White - Sparkling |
1992 Peter Lauer Saar Riesling Brut ReserveMosel Saar Ruwer more |
9/17/2023 - smctipton wrote: 89 pointsDisgorged Sept. 2016, labeled "nature". This night, the wine just never came around. I usually decant these, but did not here. Expected tart profile at first let little fruit through, and a hint of peat. Even after an hour or so in the glass, the fruit struggled. Only hints of the smoke often seen. Good with King Crab, but overall, less than expectations. |
| Red |
2001 d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie Shiraz-ViognierMcLaren Vale Shiraz Blend, Syrah more |
8/28/2023 - smctipton wrote: 91 pointsThis wine has always amazed. Four bottles over the last two months. Bought on release and cellared at 52 degrees for 20 years. Muted nose. While the Viognier contribution to the nose is gone, the silky texture and saturated dark ruby color remains. Fruit faded somewhat, but silky tannins and mouthwatering acidity make this a balanced joy to dink...still. One bottle left, and on to the 2002. |
| White |
2011 Lubentiushof Gondorfer Gäns Riesling Alte RebenMosel Saar Ruwer more |
8/13/2023 - smctipton wrote: 90 pointsMuted nose as expected and predominately ripe pear fruit on the palate. From prior bottles, expecting more clean acid than it presents at this stage. Very well made, but not a standout among its peers. To be fair, we did pop n pour, finishing in about 30 minutes, so we really did not give it time in air. Have two more bottles and will give them more time to blossom. |
| Rosé - Sparkling |
NV Mod Selection Champagne Mod Rosé ChampagneChampagne Blend more |
6/16/2023 - smctipton wrote: 91 pointsLovely salmon color. Light red fruit nose. Fine mousse. Nice experience, but not one I would purchase at that price. Pleasant wine downgraded a touch as an occasional waft of alcohol punched through. |
| Red |
2020 Casa Castillo Jumilla Pie FrancoMonastrell, Mourvèdre more |
6/16/2023 - smctipton wrote: 93 pointsWith Montesquieu, and Hilary in the kitchen. Paired with 2005 Clio. Based on prior reviews, this was much more elegant than expected. The word "ethereal"has been used, and I agree. Not a massive wine. Clearly has potential for development, but not yet at the 98-100 ratings from the pros. Will look forward to re-visiting. Love Monastrell, and this is a departure from the usual from Jumilla. |
| Red |
2005 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla ClioRed Blend more |
6/16/2023 - smctipton Likes this wine: 93 pointsStill hanging in there. Somewhat muted nose, except for vanilla. Solid blackberry and pomegranate fruit with still clear but not excessive vanilla notes. The oak works here. Light integrated tannins carry to a medium finish. Will drink remaining bottle sooner rather than later. |
| White |
1994 Cantine Colli di Catone Lazio Colle Gaio The Old WhiteMalvasia Bianca, Malvasia more |
2/13/2023 - smctipton Likes this wine: 90 pointsGolden in the bottle. Like other tasters, that did not foretell oxidation. Muted nose. Grilled Meyer lemon , ripe apples on the palate. A hint of burnt sugar to start, but that faded. Short fade to ripe white fruit. Same on second day under vacuum. With domestic caviar, creme fraiche and Pringles, then blue crab jasmine fried rice with side of King Crab. These wines are always a fun and mostly unexpected ride. |
| Red |
1996 Fontodi Chianti Classico Riserva Vigna del SorboChianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more |
1/19/2023 - smctipton Likes this wine: 95 pointsIn a word...elegant. At this age and this level of enjoyment, I have to give this a classic rating. Soft mouthfeel, with no astringent element whatsoever. Near perfect balance on the palate and medium length. A favorite of the night among many. Has the legs to go further, but the remaining four bottles in community holdings should not just sit there. Make a pleasant memory now. |
| Red |
1996 Abadia Retuerta Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León Cuvée El PalomarTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
1/19/2023 - smctipton Likes this wine: 94 pointsWonderfully fresh, predominately blueberry fruit, with tobacco hints. Fine powdery tannins, medium acid. From original release and well stored since. Look forward to the remaining 5 over the next two years. |
| Red |
1996 Parusso Barolo MariondinoNebbiolo more |
1/16/2023 - smctipton wrote: 93 pointsOsso buco night at the Atsumis. Last bottle, and still singing. Only a short one hour decant. A little more primary than expected at this stage. Light nose. Sound plum with earthy backdrop on the palate. Tamed acid and tannin...nice balance. Medium finish. Perfect match to the OB. |
| White |
2009 M. Chapoutier St. Joseph Blanc Les GranitsMarsanne more |
9/19/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 96 pointsAlways great. Classic Marsanne profile, but not as honeyed as expected at this stage. Hanging in with oily citrus freshness. Long on the palate. Too bad only two bottles left. |
| Red |
1999 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo MonprivatoNebbiolo more |
9/16/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 94 pointsNo time to decant. Saturated tawny upon PnP, with muted nose. Palate however was dark fruits, dust, mushroom, with sweet fine tannins and balanced acid levels. Turned to deep ruby after about 1 hour, and nose bloomed to spice and plum. Very nice. |
| Red |
1998 Château de la Gardine Châteauneuf-du-PapeRed Rhone Blend more |
8/5/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 95 pointsBought 4 cases upon release and it has never failed to please. Next to last bottle. Have been hovering in low 90s for me for years, but now into the classic range at age 24. No bricking, med. ruby with excellent saturation. Classic CDP nose. Dark cherry on the tongue with crystalline sense. A touch of tomato leaf and iodine. Great balance. One minute finish. A real joy. |
| Red |
2008 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Vin) State Lane VineyardYountville more |
7/30/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 94 pointsSteak and potato night. True to prior bottles. 2 hr decant. Light bodied compared to other Napa Cabs of the vintage. Lou eschewed over-extraction, and his design is demonstrated in spades here. Enjoyable pairing with the steak. Pomegranate on the nose, dark fruit palate, balanced slightly to the acidic side. Medium length. I'm not inclined to think this will get better with age. Day 2, offered more fruit purity and better balance. Hard to beat the '96 Dalla Valle this night. |
| Red |
1996 Dalla Valle Cabernet SauvignonOakville more |
7/28/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 96 pointsSteak/potato/salad night at the Atsumi's. Perfect match to the NY Strip. Wonderful balance. It's all here. Sheer elegance. About a two hour decant, but the beautiful nose was there from the beginning. Sadly, last bottle, but it's been a great ride. |
| Red |
2006 Cayuse Syrah Bionic FrogWalla Walla Valley more |
7/11/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 88 pointsNot the best bottle of this. Perfect provenance, but just not showing much. Meager blueberries and blackberries on the nose and palate. Tannin resolved. Just not the deeply complex and interesting wine I've enjoyed on other occasions. Even enough left for day two, but it was no better. One experienced taster (but not of this wine) tagged it as WOTN, out of 18 wines. I had it half way down the list. I'll drink my other vintages sooner. |
| Red - Fortified |
NV Barbeito Madeira Bastardo Avo Mario 50 Year Oldmore |
5/19/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 97 pointsMy second bottle, and just ordered one more. Stunningly beautiful and balanced, revealing a rich palate and expected bracing acidity. Offers up a little smoke and tea, with a primarily marmalade and citrus zest profile. Ricardo is so on a roll. |
| Red |
2009 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des CélestinsRed Rhone Blend more |
6/20/2022 - smctipton wrote: 97 pointsSeemingly light weight, but nevertheless complex classic CDP. All the expected elements are there...and so drinkable now. |
| Red |
2018 Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa Bierzo Valtuille Cepas CentenariasMencía more |
6/20/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 95 pointsWonderfully clean nose of candied cherry and violets. Same on the palate with a little smoke and sound juicy minerality. Blind, I would have guess pinot noir. Just a hair tight, but still in a great place now. Bumped it one more point as I think it will round out and up the ante in a year or two. Great Mencia. |
| Rosé - Sparkling |
2014 Jacques Selosse Champagne Brut RoséChampagne Blend more |
1/30/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 95 pointsAt the Bellm's with Matt Peters in the kitchen. April 2014 Disg. surprisingly fragrant, with the pinot noir fruit up front, in the standard Selosse oxidative framework. Extraordinarily refreshing and a perfect introduction to the Salon that eked out only a slight win in the rating race. |
| Red |
2006 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Les GreffieuxHermitage Syrah more |
3/12/2022 - smctipton Likes this wine: 97 pointsRhone night with friends at Wink. Three hour double decant was sufficient to allow settling into what is now a finesse wine. No longer the brute taking a day to settle down. Multilayered dark fruit, meat, and hint of blood. Lighter on its feet than previous bottles. Truly special. |
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- Tasting notes: 46 notes on 45 wines
