12/16/2014 - SS Chris wrote:

g_aaD <insert doucheroll>

10/26/2014 - SS Chris wrote:

BRUCE (aka OttawaB) -- I'm up in Ottawa now and Mark B. opened this wine for me last night -- I concur with your Tasting Note completely and since I'm drinking this one year after you, it does seem that the extra time sideways has made this wine even better. A very nice Bordeaux Blend for the money that I will seek out (may be tough to get in the US).

6/2/2012 - SS Chris wrote:

Brought this to "A Toute Huere" (Cranford, NJ) for our 24th Anniversary dinner (ATH is simply fabulous!!!). A little age has helped this wine...it is drinking beautifully right now. Explosive nose of fresh tart red fruit which carries over to the palate which is so nicely integrated at this point (not detecting the hint of heat I've detected previously). A beautiful CALIFORNIA Pinot with it's fresh, bright fruit, but perfectly restrained for my tastes. Some subtle baking spices and seamless transitions throughout. and a hint of scorched earth on the long finish.

3/31/2012 - SS Chris wrote:

UclkyleaD <insert doucheroll>

3/23/2012 - SS Chris wrote:

this is probably closer to a 93.....this '05 Zin is drinking absolutely beautifully right now. Vibrant a voluptuous fruit, underlying spice; medium acid; harmonious and perfectly balanced right now. Lovely

2/10/2012 - SS Chris wrote:

This is my 2nd bottle and I see scores are quite disparate here. I didn't take formal notes on the 1st bottle, but remember being disappointed - it seemed a bit thin and just wasn't delicious. This 2nd bottle is like a different wine and is drinking very well. Beautiful llush and vibrant dark fruit with a great silky mouthfeel and firm grip. Also, some nice undertones of chocolate and carmel from the subtle oak. This is silky smooth and transitions nicely throught the mid-palate to a very nice finish. The nose really starts to sing after some open time. This bottle makes me regret only buying 4 of these. On the other hand, bottle variation seems to be an issue....I'm very curious to see what bottle #3 brings. THIS bottle is a very solid 91 for me (thanks for the REC Jaims).

12/3/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

This wine is in a VERY good place right now. Double decanted this with a Vinturi:

NOSE: exhibiting nice dark fruits, subtle floral with hints of cinammon and caramel; the aromatics opened up with time; PALATE-the dark fruit (blackberry and blueberries) from the nose follows through on the palate; just the right amount of oak provides hints of cofee and caramel, medium acidity provide a nice balance; subtle tannins; this wine is silky and nicely intecrated providing seamless transitions throughout; also exhibiting some nice complexity with hints of leather, pencil shavings and unsweetened black licorice (Dede said "anise" which is a better descriptor); and a lengthy finish. A "most excellent" effort by el jefe!!

5/14/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

Great QPR for $12....nice dark fruit, med+ acidity; quite silky and nice finish.

5/7/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

I was really looking forwad to this, but this is just OK.....simply doesn't compete w/ German Rieslings in the same price rang. Not a bad wine. Nose is muted. On the palate, only slightly sweet with apple and pear, but certainly not "delicious". And a little heat on the finish. Hoping that they next bottle will be better.

5/4/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

for $8, this is a steal..good fruit, smoky, scorched earth on the finish and quite complex...only 1 left

4/29/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

drinking quite well right now...

4/23/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

very nice cab, nice dark fruit, good acidity and quite silky

4/16/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

Recommended by Brandon M (Chateau Miller); this is the best $10 Pinot I've ever had by far....initially ordered a case, which I then cut back to 6....and now I'm pissed. Expressive nose of cherry-strawberry cola. Medium bodied, modern style CA Pinot. The strawberry and cherry cola follow from the nose along with some underlying black pepper and spice components (cinnamon/clove). Really smooth with a very nice mouthfeel. The finish is not super long by a solid medium length. And, quite simply, this is just tasty. This $9.98 bottle drinks like many $30-$35 Pinots IMHO.

4/16/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

For $12 bones, I find this is a wonderful QPR. Nice golden color. some pinapple & honey on the nose. This is quite sweet with a delicious combination of ripe peach honey, and pinapple. The pinapple along with a hint of lime provides the back-end acidity to balance out the seetness. There is some back-end minerality as well. This has a nice mouthfeel with a long finish. Very nice! Happy to have 7 left!!

4/15/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

PnP'd right out of the fridge....first of all, the color is crazy on this wine.....and, on it's own, makes you want to get to gluggin'. The nose, while initially muted, opened up nicely w/ melon & subtle ripe citrus notes. On the palate, I simply find this to have the "delicious factor" that makes you want to keep drinking. I get fresh stawberries and watermelon with just enough sweetness, but with ample acidity to maintain balance and crispness. Intially, it was quite cold as I drank it right out of the fridge......as it warmed, the flavors were really popping providing providing mouthcoating depth of flavor that I've not experienced w/ most Rose's. I did get a little heat on the back-end and should mention that I got quite a nice buzz from the half bottle I drank.....due in part, I assume, to how easily you can glug this down. 89 right now, but think this has the chops to get to 90 with a little time.

1/29/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

some nicely integrated sweetness (honey, peach, apricot), but finishes with a distinct citrus lime component that provides the balancing acidity.

1/29/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

this was very nice, especially considering that this is an infant (I should given a couple of years sideways). Slight sweetnesss with some peach and dried apricot notes, but also has some nice minerality and just enough of a citrus/lime acidity providing some nice balance.

1/15/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

While the nose was initially a bit muted, it opened up after 30 minutes in the decanter exhibiting both red and dark fruits along with some baking spice components. On the palate this wine is absolutely singing right now. Beautiful upfront fruit -- a mix of tart boysenberry and raspberry with a tremendous mouthfeel. Getting some floral aspects along with a a subtle cinammon toast component. The smooth tannins provide great stucture and this elegant wine is silky smooth. Hints of dark chocolte on the crazy long finish. This is a beautiful wine.

1/8/2011 - SS Chris wrote:

same as previous note....still loving this wine, just cracked into my final case.ugghhhHH!!

3/26/2010 - SS Chris wrote:

I forgot that I had written a note on this previously....but this is still very consistent with my last note. Excellent with our take out Thai !!!

12/24/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

The GREATEST Rose on the Planet!! WTG Brando!!!!! KaD

12/19/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

quite nice...I had a cold and couldn't pick up much on the nose. On the palate this delivered what you would expect of this 50/50 blend of Shiraz and Grenache, but done very well. Nice bright sour cherry fruit w/ the body and structure from the Shiraz and quite silky.

10/10/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

This is simply a sick QPR value of a dessert wine. Dominated by a mix of apricot, pineabpple Juice & honey. Beautiful viscuous mouthfeel with enough acidity to provide some balance for the delicious wine! Down to 7....starting to get nervouse

8/29/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

excellent and well made Riesling; beautiful honeysuckle sweetness, very fresh and vibrant and a subtle lemon/lime tartness on the finsih that provides the acidic balance we all like (advice to self: try to hold off and let this bottle get some age -- should really impove and gain complexity w/ some years)

8/20/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

simply, Quarts de Chaume NEVER disappoints.....apricots and honey for days, but as always such great balance w/ the acidity on the back-end. LOVE it!!

8/1/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

For me, this bottle was very similar to Grape King's T/N. The color was quite nice.....a vibrant ruby red, but was quite a bit thinner than a CLIO or other big Spanish Reds that I've had as I could easily see my fingers through the wine.....really more of a traditional Pinot color which was nice, but surprising. On the nose, there was some upfront sour cherry, but then dominated by a strange aroma....one person said anise or licorice like Grape King....I likened it to smelling a very heavily caraway seeded rye bread (from Schnitzer's) and I can also see GK's plastic reference. On the palate it was similar to the nose, there was some nice upfront sour fruit (cherries), but the fruit was almost immediately overwhelmed by harsh and just plain unpleasant acidity. The finish was medium. Really that's about all I've got on this wine.......The rye bread/plastic nose and then the harsh and unpleasant acidity on the palate. I would rate this simply............."not good!"

7/29/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

I REALLY loved the '04 Clio and this is the first of my 6 2005's for me. Had this at dinner in Cape May. Certainly a big boy with some good fruit, but this was over-oaked for me. A little over-the-top. I'm going to wait a while and hope that the oak integrates with some age

7/29/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

Probably the best Sauv Blanc I've had....YUM....just a lovely bottle. Nice medium golden color.....nice medium body w/ a semi-viscuous mouthfeel which is reminiscent of some Riesling Kabinett's. Nice fresh fruit....certainly some grapefruit, but not overwhemingly like many NZ SB's. Some peach as well along w/ some subtle minerality. And nice acidity as well. Really wish I had bought more of these (only 2 left)

7/29/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

Very nice Pinot.....definitely a fruit forward Cali Pinot, but not over-the-top

7/27/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

Not bad.....but it was a little hot and the fruit tasted slightly artificial to me

4/4/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

Special thanks to dc13 for recommending this. Wow...my palate is really developing towards the Rhone Blends. A big vibrant nose of fresh red fruit w/ underlying spice and caramel notes. On the palate, this is big, but not over-the-top. Some beautiful fresh and lush red fruit on the attack with a quite seamless transition to the long silky finish that exhibits some nice hints of chocolate. This is drinking beautifully right now, but has enough backbone to develop nicely for a few years. A very well made quality wine.

4/4/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

and excellent and true CdP....cherry and barnyard on the nose. On the palate, this is just silky smooth and nicely balanced. Nicely integrated red fruit (cherry & pomagranite) w/ some nice spice and earthones. very well made!!

2/27/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

This was #56 of Spectator's 2008 Top 100 receiving 90 points. Light to medium gold color. Popped and poured this w/ some Thai food. Medium viscosity w/ subtle sweetness and excellent acidity. Some fresh apple & pear and then, a nice citrus lime component on the medium to long finish. Subtle hints of apricot & minerality as well. This is well structured and balanced. Not terribly complex, but a very nice QPR for $10 bones -- a very nice everyday Qba Riesling. This is very young and would anticipate more complexity w/ some sideways time.

5/12/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

NY Pete brought this (along w/ the '05 vintage) to the post-Conan offline at Fabio's w/ smokemirrors, waibeens & dank. Both the '04 & '05 are Temp based, but with different secondary varietals. this one is 65% Temp, 31% Cab & 4% Petite Verdot. This is my first tasting of one of Jeff's wines (el jefe)......and I am super impressed.....first this is a great looking bottle; big heavy bottle w/ a large punt.....it just looks like a big bad-ass wine. Well, the wine absolutely delivers....it is big and bold, pure dark fruit, a little black licorice & chocolate as well on the long, long finish. Showing some supple tannins, nice stucture to cellar for sure, but this wine is also absolutely approachable and drinkable right now. This was my WOTN......thanks Pete!!! and kudos to Jeff!!

5/12/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

NY Pete brought this (along w/ the '04 vintage) to the post-Conan offline at Fabio's w/ smokemirrors, waibeens & dank. Both the '04 & '05 are Temp based (the '05 is 64% Temp, 21% Graciano & 15% Garnacha); Pete said that while he likes this one, he didn't like it as much as the '04; smokenmirrors quickly pointed out the this wine seemed hot on the nose...which I agreed with. We then tasted....and the alcohol was compoletely integrated....again pure fruit, well structured, nice supple tannins, and silky smooth again, long finish again. There were some differences, although I'm having trouble recalling them....what I do recall is that I really liked this as well.

1/21/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

Meh!!

1/21/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

decanted for 1 hou. quite elegant & polished. nice dark fruits along w an black tea component; nice acidity w/ a very plush mouthfee. Also getting a nice meaty component on the long finish. Nice wine.

1/21/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

joe g Spanish Simultasting. In glass for about 45 minutes. Some very juicy upfront fruit; medium tannins w/ some nicely integrated oak (both vanilla & chocolate tones), medium plus acidity w/ a long finish for a $9 bottle. Excellent QPR

1/21/2009 - SS Chris wrote:

Tasted at joe g's SIMULTASTING: Poured in Bordeaux glass and let it sit for 20 minutes; On the nose some dark fruit and vanilla; On the palate there is some nice sour black cherry and plum along with a dark burnt earthiness. There is some bitterness on the moderate finish. This is not terribly complex, but solid for $7. After an hour or so, the bitterness did subside.

9/20/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

...this wine is absolutely "singing" right now.....so nicely integrated....just a gorgeous wine!!

9/22/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

This wine initally had some heat on the nose, although it may have been the "bloody iron" smell that joe g says is common. some nice fresh cherry as well. As I've been drinkin this it has become even more silky and rounded, as joe pointed out, the tannins are very soft for a '01 BdM and, hence, very approacable and drinkable right now. Very nice sour black cherry on the palate, w/ a chocolate/mocha flavor on the finsh....also a little charcoa and a hint of black olive on the finish. Medium mouthfeel w/ quite a bit of acidity. I don't love big, bitter tannins, so this is nice for me....asolid 90 points.

8/30/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

Popped and poured....simply a GREAT QPR at $11!!! (Happy I bought a case...sad I didn't buy more) A very nice mediium to full bodied wine w/ nice, but not over-the-top, red fruit. Beautifully balanced w/ nice acidity. Very approachable right now and only got better as the night went on...will give this a decant next time.

8/27/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

Nice wine.....nice mouthfeel.......dark red fruits w/ a hint of a minty/cinammon on both the nose & palate and not a super long, but definetly solid finish.

7/4/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

I popped & poured this. Nice mouthfeel and pretty silky w/ some nice fruit. But the finish was pretty short and rather simple....will try decanting this next time

5/31/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

This may be the most delicious wine I've ever had.....this is what Nectar should be. On the nose, you get beautiful aromas of apples, pears, peaches and apricots along w/ a nice honey component. These wonderful aromas follow through on the palate. And while this is not overly sticky (which I like), it is still a lovely mouthcoating experience of pure "deliciousness". At the same time, this shows excellent acidity that gives this wine an absolutely perfect balance of fruit, sweetness & acidity. The finish is very long and simply beautiful. The only issue I have is that this is so delicious, that it's going to be difficult to keep the remaining bottles in the cellar. On the other hand, this has the potential to be a truly SPECTACULAR 100 point wine with some years on it. So my goal is to hold out, but may need counseling.....

5/3/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

Brought to a little Italian BYOB...just a perfect Italian wine for a little Italian BYOB....beautiful sour cherry w/ nice earty tones. Beautifully balanced and silky smooth. an excellent QPR

5/2/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

drank at a small Italian restaurant w/ friends...this wine is an absolute STEAL for $21 bones, beautiful black fruit w/ a nice hint of spicy cinnamon on the nose. On the palate, this is a big boy.....beautiful black fruit w/ some nice oak. Great mouthfeel and structure....the tannins are very evident but nice. This drinks more like a $30-$50 bottle. While this is very approachable right now, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this wine evolves.

4/18/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

This wine has a tremendous nose of pineapple w/ hints of sweet lemon. On the palate this is a viscuous, medium to full bodied wine that is quite sweet on the attack w/ apricots, pineapples and a hint of honey. It then transitions seamlessly to a very nice subtle citrus, acidic finish...I'd say a mix of lemons and grapeftuit. I love the balance between the sweetness and the acidity...this really is quite delicious. I'm also getting a hint of petrol on the finish as well along w/ some other interesting underlying flavors that I'm having trouble pinpointing. I will definitely be picking up some more of this!!

1/26/2008 - SS Chris wrote:

I've never been disappointed by St. Urbans-Hof. Such a nicely balanced Riesling. Beautiful pear w/ a hint of peach. You get the delicious sweetness of pure fruit, but balanced w/ a perfect amount of acidity and a hints of petrol & a nice minerality. A hint of floral & citrus as well, namely grapefruit, on the finish. Nice sweetness, which paired son nicely w/ the Thai food Dede and I had, but still so fresh & crisp at the same time. Tremendous bottle and great value!!

11/30/2007 - SS Chris wrote:

I love this wine. In a word, DELICIOUS. The nose is very fresh and full of beautiful fruits...hints of peach, mango, pear, pineapple which all show up on the palate as well. Nice "real" sweetness based on the fruit, but nice acidity and balance. Some nice minerality as well. I love what Gregg G said in his T/N when he said, "The fruit is big and lush, while at the sametime maintaining a 'light on it's feet' character." Paired this with some excellent Spicy Thai.....magical!!! Great wine...Great value!! If you can find this, get some!!!!