5/1/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Paired with same vintage Napanook for birthday party. Double decanted and threw a lot of concentrated sediment. Distinctly better than its sibling. A wine to contemplate. Still has some baby fat but lets you immerse yourself in its profundity.

5/1/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Birthday party bottle. Could have used more time, as could I. Classic and concentrated.

4/5/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Classic mid-level Howell Mountain. At cruising altitude. Drink now or wait a few years. Sadly, this is my last bottle of this vintage.

4/8/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Credit for being distinctively Stags Leap AVA. Tannins are fully resolved and fruit has receded but not dried out. This would have been even better a few years ago, as with most Napa 2012s.

3/14/2024 - Big Ted Red wrote:

Bad cork. Not rotten but so dried out that the screw went right through and made a hole. The nose and mouth were subdued with no obvious flaws, but nothing positive stood out.

1/31/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Nice Barbaresco but not exciting.

1/16/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

In a great place right now. 2010 a great year in Napa, especially in tune with HM style.

1/17/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Still a baby but headed to a great place.

1/17/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

A classic Malbec at peak.

1/11/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Luscious bottle with hint of brown sugar. Too bad Big Basin doesn’t make this cuvée anymore.

1/13/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

This is a PN that is very sure of itself in spite of the unique style. Opens with a not unpleasant stemminess, cola and hint of beetroot. Never really changes over a few hours. I think this is where it will end up. However it can be cellared a few more years without fading.

1/14/2024 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Nice QPR. Thanks Garagiste! PNP with a jumble of tastes that sorted themselves out as we drank over 2-3 hours. Started with some autumn leaves and black tea. Evolved to Morello cherry and some freshness. .

12/31/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Classic 2010 Howell Mountain. It doesn’t have the stuffing of some of the big names, but perfectly balanced.

12/29/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

I’m getting some bottle variation, but all in a great QPR range. This one in the middle and, like all of them, Howell Mountain terroir is obvious. 2012 Napa was a peak for CHW and this is a prime example. The balance isn’t getting any better so drink up.

12/26/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

This bottle seemed a bit linear. Hoping for better next time.

12/19/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

I could drink this every day.

12/21/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

As before. Solid performer.

12/6/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Fresh and lively.

12/8/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Solid CDP, medium body. Garrigue.

12/9/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

As before. Solid Burgundy but not outstanding or exciting.

12/11/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Luscious, not quite opulent. Truly a triumph of Washington State winemaking.

12/14/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Didn’t seem to have the depth of the previous bottle.

11/26/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

I would have guessed Good quality modern style Loire. Lean and begging for food, not a free standing New World style at all. Good QPR.

12/3/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Enjoyable Northern Rhone. Surprisingly light for Hermitage and somewhat straightforward. Wouldn't buy again at the ~$50 price. I have a couple more and hope they are better.

11/29/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Exceptional New World Syrah. Still fresh, 10 years on. Chocolate, black pepper and dark fruit. Wish I had more.

12/1/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Good solid CDR. Garrigue and some tertiary funk that call out CDP, if not an exceptional one.

11/16/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

What a joy to drink! An experiment by Anthony Bell. No sulfur added. Unfiltered. I think my other two bottles have a great future. Silky and monolithic.

10/29/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

A little better than the last couple of these tasted. Still presents as a mid-level Valley floor bottling, not Spring Mountain AVA.

10/20/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Extra credit for the classic flavor profile. Tastes like a mid/level St. Emilion. Fully mature.

10/25/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

EExcellent QPR. Brown to the middle. Would buy again.

10/26/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Nice daily drinker.

10/13/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Typical 2012 Howell Mountain. Let’s just call it Dunn junior. Lead pencil and black fruit. Well balanced with medium grain tannins and some pleasant grit on the finish. It’s in its happy place now. I’ll drink through the rest of the case in the next year. Great QPR.

10/12/2023 - Big Ted Red wrote:

Wel it is technically wine and has no flaws. Nothing interesting here, just move along. Held this one too long.

9/17/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Not the concentration of a real Port but very well done. Espresso and brown sugar.

10/1/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Easy drinking Rias Baixas Albariño. Not top quality. Needs acidity and definition.

9/29/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

This shows the advantage of keeping a Napa Cab past my usual 10 year benchmark. This was acquired at the winery and perfectly stored since. Has that elegance typical of Coombsville. Surprisingly little in the way of tertiary flavors, just a little Shiitake mushroom. Perfectly balanced with blue fruit and milk chocolate with vanilla. I think thix was rounded out with Petit Verdot.

9/7/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Perhaps typical of the vintage if not the Napa Valley. Linear and focused. Well balanced, one of the best Napa 2011 Cabs I’ve had.

9/9/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Always a big fan of Coastview, the addition of the “Dune” is an upgrade. It seems to add a piquant blackberry note. First plastic “cork” I’ve seen from BB. Fortunately I didn’t use Coravin, it would have been ugly.

9/11/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Elegant and regal. Silky with fully integrated tannins. Typical Coombsville from a great year. Black fruit predominates.

8/19/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

I don’t have my usual context for a rating. I don’t have a history of tasting Lemberger (Blaufränkisch). However, this young wine is compact with plenty of well integrated acidity. Unique terroir. Cherry is the dominant note at this stage. Bottled by me(!) directly from the barrel.

8/25/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Seamless and elegant. Typical Coombesville from a great year.

8/28/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Good example of a young Carneros PN. Not my favorite region.

8/27/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

From magnum. Slightly better the second night open in the cellar. Super Tuscan must have significant Cabernet Franc with Cabernet Sauvignon. Seamless flavor profile. Blackberry, lead pencil, cocoa powder, hint of forest floor. Longish finish sustained with morello cherry. Fantastic QPR. Did not throw any sediment.

8/27/2023 - Big Ted Red wrote:

In its favor, no flaws other than being boring. And the word insipid does contain sip, so there is that.

8/25/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Nice note of apricot skin. Refreshing. Surprisingly long finish. Just enough acidity. Sourced from organic grapes. 13% ABV. Takes me back to Spanish Summertime. Great QPR.

8/19/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Rose petals and cherry compote. Elegant and light like a BDM should be. Medium finish brought the score down. It’s not fading but won’t get better either.

8/11/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

You really have to completely reset how you evaluate a natural wine like this. Purchased at the winery in 2019 from the winemaker. This wine is energetic anc sinewy. Light mouthfeel with plenty of complexity. Guessing the main grape is Syrah but could be way off.

8/13/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Eight years from vintage and still in a great flight path. Perfectly balanced.

8/14/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Nice 12.5% ABV summer drink. Probably worth aging as flavors are a bit jumbled now.

8/6/2023 - Big Ted Red Likes this wine:

Nice example of what a classy and light red Bordeaux should be. Small scale but balanced and food friendly.