4/3/2017 - S_stas wrote:

Too young. A little flabby and chalking it up to the vintage..

1/9/2017 - S_stas wrote:

Dumb phase?

12/31/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Bret/cork tainte. Still drinkable, but the leakage was a serious sign of a problem. I guess this library release bottle didn't get recorked :(

12/13/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Amazingly fresh! Old world style. I assume this is what Napa used to be like....

8/2/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Not as stellar as it should have been. Bottle variation? Not sure what's going on...

7/17/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Well above its weight class.

6/29/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Amazing.

6/14/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Fantastic.

4/4/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Drying out heavily. Maybe just a phase, but this is tannic and somewhat unbalanced at the moment. Still Flacc, which is better than most.

3/21/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Needs time. Acid a bit overwhelming.

2/5/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Fantastic.

1/16/2016 - S_stas wrote:

Really shines with a couple hours of air.

1/8/2016 - S_stas wrote:

According to AG this wine was not made..

http://vinous.com/articles/castello-dei-rampolla-sammarco-1981-2011-oct-2015

12/19/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Some definite funk here. Typical bottle variation at play. Over all good juice nonetheless.

12/19/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Cooked

12/19/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Absolutely delightful. A four hour evolution of spectacular flavour.

12/13/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Definately one of the better wine from the Kelowna area. Recommend.

12/9/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Marlborough nose, Sancere pallatte.

12/1/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Good old school juice. Obviously needs some time. Acidity high, alcohol not present. Grip on the palette. If you like old world north Rhone, you'll like this.

11/28/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Died a quick and painless death after 45 mins in glass. Less representative than the last bottle, and not as good as the Garuade larose from the same vintage tasted at the same time. No formal notes.

11/26/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Another few years to shed some weight and mellow tannins. Acidity is gripping. Typical sangio notes of sour cherry, leather, and rustic Italian herbs. Also slightly introverted at the moment, with only two hours or air. The Cabernet adds more masculinity to this wine, compared to the '08 big brother Flacc.

11/17/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Like.

11/13/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Great potential here. After an few hours of air, showing nicely.

11/13/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Feminine, light, balance, with the Grenache as the focus. Not what you'll expect. Bright and fruity. But still grippy in the back palate.

11/6/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Drinking nicely.

10/30/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Some Brett. Not as good as last bottle. Needs more time, worried about bottle variation.

10/23/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Very nice. Strange white light density sediment.

9/27/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Really opened up with some air. Modern styled with a nice fruit in the foreground and a ripe tannic grip
In the back.

9/25/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Pretty tasty. A little alcohol on the front end, but otherwise nice and smooth. Much better than the '09. Black cherry. Raspberry. Slight tar. Refined vegetable note. Tight tannin just at the back of the mouth. Very rich and long. I've really enjoyed this developing over three hours. Likely will be great in a few more years.

8/25/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Not nearly ready, but I enjoyed nonetheless!

8/15/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Less ripe and more in balance than the 2011. Typical Caymus SS.

7/27/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Agree with previous taster's note. Amazing wine.

7/24/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Total disappointment. Bought from retailer two years ago, stored in my temp controlled cellar even dice, and was obviously cooked.

7/15/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Fantastic. Slight sediment. Deep blackberry colour. Great perfume of eucalyptus and herbs. Black raspberry, currant, and rich tar. Smooth with a nice acidic balancing backbone. Tannins are coming together with some early sharpness. Will grow into a wonderful beast.

7/11/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Not as bad as everyone makes it out to be, and I'm an old world fan.

6/30/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Rich and balanced with a new school ripe Cali style. Good for the vintage. Very new world.

5/11/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Lacking something. Ripe in the moderat Napa style. Fig, black berry, hot road tar. Certainly drinkable, but not breathtaking.

3/26/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Very nice bottle. Great value for Barolo.

3/19/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Great showing after a few hours of air. Charcoal, smokey hardwood, and rich liquorice spice. Much better than the last bottle.

3/9/2015 - S_stas wrote:

A little hot. A little too ripe. Otherwise very nicely structured. Enjoyed, but could always reference the heat and ripeness.

2/20/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Amazing juice. Initial high acidity and sharp tannins require a few hours in a decanter to mellow. The fruit builds with a beautifully complex nose. Suprisingly it apears viscous, but has a contrastingly light mouthfeel. Very nicely balanced, but still modern, which helps it drink well early in its life. Boysenberry, blackberry, and a raw cacao thing on the nose. The structure on the palate is apparent, which likely needs some time in bottle to mellow. Iron, cassis, and some pencil hiding in the background. Great wine, from an obvious pedigree.

1/29/2015 - S_stas wrote:

This is a very nicely styled vintage for the cosme St. Joe. Highly recommended for the price.

1/23/2015 - S_stas Likes this wine:

This is showing amazing. Exactly what I expect from a super Tuscan. a nose of red cherry and slight menthol. After a 2 hour decant it has stabilized with some typical Tuscan leather. There is a minor pencil shaving note, which is very elusive. Very long, with a balanced feel across the tounge. Tannins are smooth. Overall I think this wine is in a perfect place for consumption right now, but probably fine to hold for 5 more years. Some age showing.

1/18/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Underwhelmed, but still a reasonably good value for entry level Brunello. After 2 hours of air, the tannins were soft and round. Colour showed some age already. A slight bit of wood on the nose. And there are tobacco and sour cherry notes with a clean, but slightly short finish.

1/10/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Past peak, but this bottle may not have been stored properly. Food helped out, but there wasn't much pulse left.

1/3/2015 - S_stas wrote:

Very dark extracted colour. The rim is just starting to slightly brick. After a 5 hour double decant, the nose is big and intense. Blackberry, Kalamata olive, cedar sawdust. The finish is long, and I'm always the last one to think that. There is definite heat from the alcohol. I mean, how can you hide 15%? It's not a deal breaker, but takes a little away from the mouthfeel. Tannins are very strong at the tip of the tongue. Leather, graphite, black plum. I think this needs a few more years, as it seemed to open more and more over time, and the tannins are just so aggressive at the moment.

12/26/2014 - S_stas wrote:

Needs more time in bottle. Fabulous wine, with a beautiful right bank finesse. Chocolate, tar, mulling spice, and black currant. Drinking window needs to be updated to 2016 to 2026, as it's totally close down right now.

12/23/2014 - S_stas wrote:

Needs air, and undoubtably more time in bottle. After 4 hours it is just starting to release some interesting fruit and floral on the nose, but it's hard to pin down. Earlier it was singularly black pepper, almost stereotypically St. Joe, but it's since changed. Medium bodied, with serious grip, and nice acidity. I can't afford the Hermitage, so I'll have to wait to see how these develop.

12/21/2014 - S_stas wrote:

This is ripe. Strong blackberry on nose. Med-full bodies. Tannins are in balance, but acidity is lacking slightly. Probably will mellow out a bit with a few years, but two hours of air didn't do a lot to pull it together. Cassis, black currant, tar, and mint.

12/16/2014 - S_stas wrote:

Pretty good, the concentration is right, but it feels a touch out of balance right now. Best to cellar for at least a couple more years. No decant, with a quick splash through a Vinturi.