5/14/2024 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

Tasty and just fine as it goes.

5/14/2024 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

Just a bit of scallion note to it.

5/14/2024 - rayq wrote:

Nice nose with leather/meaty notes. Hint of olive too. Fruit is bright and too primary for me at the moment. After a day in the eto it comes along nicely. Good wine, needs more time imo.

5/14/2024 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

Juicy fruit to it. with a nice little clip to it.

5/14/2024 - alamoave Likes this wine:

Great food wine with sharp acidity and distinctive minerality. Server suggested “olive pits”. Maybe so.

5/14/2024 - Ben Christiansen wrote:

Good fresh soft fruit to it.

5/14/2024 - rosuoter wrote:

PnP. Under natural cork. Pale garnet red. Sweet red fruit with a touch of reduction on the nose. Light-bodied, the fruit on the palate is red too and is more on the lean side. Fine tannin. A very hot alcohol burn and a distinctive feel of bitterness on the mid palate. Long warm finish. Overall, this is a decent Garnacha from Gredos, but a little bit hot and alcoholic for me.

5/14/2024 - jakakun Likes this wine:

Very balanced and very easily approachable. Pretty delicious. Needs about 30 mins of air for the fruit to start coming to the foreground.

5/14/2024 - Rodenbach99 Likes this wine:

Bouteille transparente. Le sauvignon laisse sa marque avec du pipi de chat au nez, des poires, chèvrefeuille. La bouche une bonne acidité, c'est frais et limpide.

5/14/2024 - RolandFranz Likes this wine:

Un superbe chemin en macération. A besoin d’aération, et devient alors explosif en volume et énergie, avec de la buvabilité et du caractère. Un vin original et superbe.

5/13/2024 - Raywilliams420 Likes this wine:

Slight fruit notes on the nose, like soft exotic fruits. really really good acidity on the palate. Like really good.
Fruit is far from overpowering. Just a good wine plain n simple.

5/14/2024 - RolandFranz Likes this wine:

Robe jaune claire, voilée (pas mal de dépôt dans la bouteille). À base de Verdejo, dans un style nature. C’est frais, mineral, vivifiant, avec de la salinité et même une touche tannique. Super RPQ et belle buvabilité.

5/14/2024 - j5614.person@gmail.com Does not like this wine:

Oxidized

5/14/2024 - j5614.person@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Excellent with good complexity, aging flavors and great nose.

5/14/2024 - calriesling Likes this wine:

Smells initially like pine resin. Taste is unctuous honey with an additional lingering (but generally pleasant) bitterness that stands out on the aftertaste. A small bit of the trademark gerwurz lychee, but the honeyed notes kind of overwhelm that. A little simple on the finish and hasn't quite gelled together yet, though it did get better as it opened up.

Good find in a hypermarket, but may need some time.

5/14/2024 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:

A chardonnay, pinot noir blend: pale salmon, brioche, quite intense, full bodied, orchard fruits, good length. Overall, our favorite of the three.

5/14/2024 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:

Golden straw, fairly muted in the nose with yeasty notes, a blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, full bodied, good finish.

5/14/2024 - StiGGe wrote:

Light scent.

Color is waterish light green with some light yellow elements

Taste of green fresh apples, waterish yellow fruit, but unfortuneately not much more!

Texture is a bit waterish, where is the complexity?

Great to toast, aperitif and light food!

21 years but in my opinion a way to young Dom Perignon. Lacks complexity and flavours. We should all lock the rest of the bottles inside for a long time to come!

Points: 90 (91)

5/14/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine:

Drank this as a pop-and-pour (PNP) and it was my favorite experience with this wine. This is what I’ll do with my last two bottles. No formal notes due to late night, but this had good fruit, full body, and nice structure. Stereotypical well made Napa CS. Drinks very well for its sub-$100 price.

5/14/2024 - Tommy Pacu Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully, could go longer

5/14/2024 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:

Interesting nose (apologies for the weak lack of adjectives) - our favorite of the three we tried in that regard - dry, somewhat lean, citrus, moderate to high acidity, perhaps fell off in the finish.

5/14/2024 - Pink Phantom Likes this wine:

Ruby colour with medium intensity
Nose - Ripe red fruit - raspberry, red cherries
Palate - Medium body, high acidity and alcohol. Flavours of red fruit - raspberry and cherry, and ground spices. Soft tannins. Medium length finish.
Conclusion - good wine. my first pinotage, so nothing to compare it with. Drink soon, I'd say

5/14/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine:

Five hour slow ox. Deep dark intense magenta color. Cassis, blueberry,… too tight to assess clearly. Dry, grippy palate. Firm tannins on the longish finish.

This has terrific raw materials. It drinks pretty well with a full 3+ hour decant. With just a slow ox, this drinks very tight. Two or three more years should have this singing. Impressive QPR here.

5/14/2024 - Blake Brown Likes this wine:

NV TALBOTT VINEYARDS SPARKLING BRUT- from a producer known for its quality cool climate Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs sourced from Sleepy Hollow Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA, this sparkler was really good and surprisingly so to all once revealed; following its light green yellow color came mild aromas of white peach, green apple and orange peel which continued on once tasted and was joined by a splash of lemon; in short time, all of the separate tastes components came together as it became more deliciously enticing supported by some nice acidity; it was just big and rich enough to merit mention; on the youthful side, it would seem to suggest giving it a little more time.

5/13/2024 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine:

First bottle. Decanted for one and a half hours. Delivered an experience consistent with its price point. It was a little "dark" for a wine from Saint-Emilion and tasted more like a Left Bank Bordeaux. That is not a criticism, but will remember this when pairing it with food down the road.

5/14/2024 - Bob AR wrote:

My first Sake. Clear-ish in color. Scent of melon. Tasted grapefruit. 14.9 ALC. At room temperature, the alcohol was somewhat overwhelming. After chilling, it was less pronounced. Definitely won't finish this bottle in one sitting.

5/14/2024 - kubbe Likes this wine:

Perfect for grilled pork

5/14/2024 - 560 B&W Likes this wine:

In a much better place but not yet peaked

5/14/2024 - xuaeinw wrote:

Drinking well now.

5/13/2024 - WineGuyFL Likes this wine:

I believe this is the third vintage of this wine that I have purchased. All have delivered an almost identical experience.....tart, yet tasty. This is a great sipping wine.

5/13/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine:

One hour slow ox. Very very deep magenta color. Toffee, black cherry, and subtle sage. Smooth, very dry, and surprisingly full bodied palate. Full tannins on the longish finish.

I was pleasantly surprised by the structure of this Zin. Drinks more like a Howell Mtn Zin (e.g., Outpost). Terrific acidity and length of finish. Enjoyed at business dinner in New Orleans.

5/12/2024 - F_&_M Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hrs. It's lack of faults make seem boring at first, but there is a lot there. There is a fair bit of sediment, so a careful decanting or filter is in order.

4/20/2024 - Wine Of The Moment Likes this wine:

With bright acidity, and notes of watermelon, cranberry and strawberries, what’s not to like with this sensational sparkling wine? Sourced from Lahey Vineyards of the Texas High plains AVA, this big mouthfeel bubbly is quite refreshing. Have another sip and you might pick up on some pomegranate with a touch of citrus. A refreshing delight on a spring or summer day to enjoy on its own or with food pairings - what a treat! Cheers!

5/13/2024 - EdwardsCellar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2 hours. beautiful dark red fruits, some earth and balanced acidity. Paired extremely well with pasta with red sauce and meatballs. Still young but very good.

5/14/2024 - Pedroel Does not like this wine:

Not in a good place, with a pruney nose, harsh tannins and little fruit.

5/9/2024 - pmarlo Likes this wine:

Opened this either Saturday or Sunday. Today fruity and some sting also. At 15.2% alcohol. Dark ruby in color almost glowing, very pretty in glass. Although some sting ha not detracted from wine. Keep reaching for next glass. Finish maybe ten seconds. Somehow flavor profile closer to raspberry. But very slight there, as other flavor going on. Fruit still hanging on at day four, but was best maybe day two. A zin that doesn't quite taste like a zin. Legs sort if erratic, as they don't start right away, but close to 45 seconds they suddenly show up and creep slowly down. Funny how there's a delay.
I am coming to appreciate the diversity of this grape, the sometimes really old nature of the zinfandel vine, and the vintners approach. Find myself returning again and again to Cortina, one of my favorites from Seghesio, a great producer. Would buy again without second thought. Some might not agree, but put in same class as Carlisle and Martinelli. Ready now but might age another three years.

3/4/2024 - pmarlo wrote:

Screw cap. Light gold color. Reminded me of a sauvignon blanc without the sharp acid. The flavor was almost a peach and grapefruit smash up, and the reduced acidity let that come through. There was bouquet but it threw me as it smelled more of a red wine, which makes sense, since this is a malbec blanc. The body was deeper and fuller. I tried it the next day and it was a better balanced wine. I think this would pair with a large variety of foods that one might reach for a red for. Oh, and it really cleaned the palate after each bite of tilapia.
Next day. There is a grapefruit rind bitterness to this which is almost palate numbing. This was served at forty degrees but now hovers in the fifties. When aerated in the mouth it changes and a lot more elements emerge. Just the faintest hint of lemon flies by and then vanishes. Numbs the inside upper lip. Nice again served this with tilapia and went well.
The question is...would I buy it again? Because it evolved over a day, I think I would. Liked that it had more body. I had this at 5 years and it performed well. Ready now but for the adventurous, give it up to 5 more years. Recommended, and a decent food wine at a decent price point.

5/14/2024 - wqseow wrote:

Slightly reductive, curry leaves. Citrusy, simple. Some creamy notes. Imbalanced acidity that can be quite jarring.

5/13/2024 - AGELVIS Likes this wine:

PNP. Deep ruby color. Bing cherry, anise, and cranberry. Smooth, dry palate. Firm, lower intensity tannins on the longish finish.

This has a classic Pinot nose. It lacks some minerality, but is more elegant and complex than my notes make it sound. Enjoyed at Cochon in New Orleans.

4/26/2024 - pmarlo Likes this wine:

Thin cork, and not a good pop. Deep purple and sediment on cork, which, although thin, was intact. Just realized Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards in California was involved. Fruit is restrained and sense it is holding back. After hour in glass, fruit came forward, felt youthful. Nice acidity makes this feel vibrant. Sealed with vacuum for next day.
Now 4/30/24, and the fruit was best at the end of day 1, and on day 2 was very nice. And still here today, although with a !little sting from alcohol, rated at 14.8%. The color of this wine is beautiful and deep, almost vibrant. A slight bitter finish, and drying tannins that still need time. This is a better than average Washington wine that has some substance from what I attribute the vineyard soil. Doesn't feel like in came from the barrel. Last glass has sediment that looks like skins. I would buy this again and drink it at ten years, maybe more. I think it needed at least five more years aging for the fruit to be present within first day instead of day 2. Recommended.

5/14/2024 - Burgnick Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable with candied fruit and sweet spice. In a blind BM dinner, I thought it was a 10 Mugnier Bonnes Mares. Very good for its level and price point.

5/14/2024 - Burgnick wrote:

Classic Bonnes Mares with dark fruit, earth ans forest floor. It still showed the chunky fruit of the vintage. Very open for a Vogue. 91+

5/13/2024 - DrBad Likes this wine:

Drank over several nights, this seemed too young, a bit tight and tart, with some improvement on day 2. Definitely a cool climate Syrah as Jeb mentions. Tart cherry and pepper, with the tartness subsiding a bit on day 2. Minerality appeared on day 2 as well. I think I would hold off on these for a few years.

5/13/2024 - Vinsboro Likes this wine:

Delicious, but unresolved at this stage. The Petite Syrah component brings depth, texture and heft but it's still elemental - you can taste the Zin and PS separately. Lots of vanilla. Plush on the palate. Hold for five (or more).

5/14/2024 - wino121 wrote:

Walah! I just found another fantastic Syrah for a weekly drinker…unbelievable QPR!
I was puzzled reading the other comments, either they don’t know what Syrah is suppose to taste like or
bottle variation, my guess is the first one.
It’s slightly tight upon opening but was really nice after a couple hours.
Drink now with decant thru 2028.

5/14/2024 - TCG616 wrote:

Was not as special as I had hoped and deters me from other Chris ring and wines. Maybe I just don’t like Syrah.

4/24/2024 - forceberry wrote:

Made with fruit sourced from the Vesúvio estate vineyards in Douro Superior, near the Spanish border. The fruit is trodden by foot in granite lagares, then the fermentation is arrested at 20% ABV by fortification and the wine is moved to age in large oak casks. 20% alcohol, 102 g/l residual sugar and 4,8 g/l acidity.

Deep, moderately opaque blackish-red color with an evolved maroon hue. The nose feels wonderfully fragrant, floral and lifted with nuanced aromas of minty greenness and Sichuan pepper, some juicy bilberries, a little bit of wizened dark plum, light figgy tones, a spirituous hint of aguardente, a touch of raisiny fruit and a whiff of cigar box. The wine feels sweet, mellow and silky on the palate with a full body and complex, evolved flavors of raisins and dried dates, some minty green tones, a little bit of pruney dark fruit, light savory notes of autumnal leaves, a hint of dried black cherry and a touch of juicy blueberries. The moderately high acidity lends good sense of balance to the wine, but the structure relies more on the firmness from the silky medium-plus tannins that slowly pile up on the gums. The finish is rich, long and quite sweet with an intense yet mellow aftertaste of raisiny dark fruit, some prunes and dried dates, a little bit of extracted bitterness, light autumnal notes of damp leaves, a hint of ripe black cherry and a touch of cooked strawberry.

A beautiful, harmonious and quite fascinating Vintage Port that stood in stark contrast to the slightly drier and noticeably more angular 1994 Dow's Vintage Port. While the Dow's VP seemed to emphasize the more savory and peppery tones, the emphasis on this Vesuvio was on somewhat sweeter dried-fruit flavors and a more mellow, silky overall feel. However, what really caught my attention was the wonderfully fragrant, slightly green-toned and herby elements that gave the wine's aromas a wholly new dimension. Our preference for the wines was pretty divided - although I found this 1995 Vesuvio a very wonderful Vintage Port, I still preferred the slightly leaner and drier style of Dow's more. However, some said the silkier, sweeter and more fruit-driven style of this Vesuvio was much more to their liking. This re-release is maybe not particularly affordable at 130€, but at least you get a wine with perfect provenance at that price!

5/14/2024 - Mark Burnett wrote:

Pale salmon in color.

Medium plus intense aromas of ripe strawberry and lemon peel, followed by some rose petal and hibiscus. Minerality is also present, but is stripped to a minor chord by the ripeness of fruit.

Flavors follow the nose, with a medium plus length finish.

Mouthfeel is dry and ripe, with medium body, medium plus acidity and nice roundness on the palate.

Paired with chicken Provençal and it was a hit.

5/13/2024 - d.f.c Likes this wine:

I have never heard of this producer before, but decided to get 12 bottles of the 2018 Grancois Gaunoux "Le Clos des Mouches" 1er Cru Burgundy. A surprising find for me. It was an easy and smooth drinker. Taste wise, it felt slightly more powerful in tannins and alcohol, quite rich and dense. The nose had characteristics of dark berries, pine tree and jams.

5/13/2024 - ankitmehra Likes this wine:

These 2002s are ready and open for business. Having consumed Robert Ampeau's 2002 Volnay 'Santenots' and Meursault 'Perrières', Michel Gros' 2002 Clos de Vougeot and Bouchard's 2002 Volnay 'Caillerets' from the vintage over the past few months, I was excited to dive into this Gevrey-Chambertin from a 1er Cru vineyard I don't have a lot of experience with - Clos Prieur. Slow oxidising the bottle for about an hour, there was a great deal of balance on a highly aromatic nose that boasted red cherries and raspberries that led into aromas of licorice, menthol and a light vegetal scent. The palate boasted a lot of primary and secondary fruit on the upfront as blackberries medlied with morello cherries before a typically Gevrey mid-palate of sous bois, moss and light tobacco. The finish was exquisite as a brilliant white chocolate note popped up alongside spices and a bit of licorice-driven astringency. With the tannins still very much intact, this was in a great spot on the night.