5/6/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

My second-to-last bottle of the 2010 basic Sonoma Coast bottling, these have impressed me from day 1, and this bottle in May 2024 was no different — a super pinot, still with delicious up front cherry and tart raspberry fruit, with an almost citrus-like acidity on the back end that provides interest and length and makes it more food friendly.

5/3/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Tasty and very enjoyable, some dark fruits and a long finish. Still young.

4/27/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Liked this Talley a lot! Some bottles I’d bought before Covid for social visit gifts that didn’t end up getting drunk. I think this was second of five bought. Very nice! Aging well. Excellent balance too.

4/25/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

It’s been 2 years since the last bottle I’ve drunk of this modest 1999 South Africa sauvignon blanc - this bottle was similarly surprisingly great! Full bodied, with grassy, classic SB notes, and still no evidence of decline.

4/20/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Perhaps drunk too young or not given enough time to breathe? The end of the bottle was definitely better than the first half. Initially somewhat muted, this gradually showed lemon meringue and sweet lemon creaminess (and full bodied) the longer it was open.

4/19/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

This bottle was a bit better than the ‘96 from last month. The cork was perfect - tight and came out normally with only the very bottom soaked, as if it was much younger. A wonderful nose of sweet dark cherry and herbs. I didn’t get eucalyptus like the last bottle but this one had some remains of lovely primary fruit. The following day was promising evidence of how it’ll continue to age - slowly and well, as it hadn’t fallen apart at all- still very tasty and a joy to drink.

4/6/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

This bottle, while delicious, was a little more advanced than prior bottles. Sweet fruit and full bodied, but showing more tertiary flavors than in the past.

4/6/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

A crowd- pleaser, this had tasty tropical and creamy sweet lemon notes, plus a hint of oak.

3/29/2024 - kabert wrote:

Musty smell and taste - not drinkable. Day two was no better.

3/31/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Ethereal scents and flavors of a grove of sappy pine trees, overlaid with cherries. The 2015 is more fruit forward (yet just as strong), and I expect it will drink well for longer than this 2014. Still, the 2014 is dynamite.

3/31/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Pleasant accompaniment to Easter appetizers and dinner - silky, with white fruits, with a tinge of acidity on the finish.

3/26/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Delicious cherry fruit notes; tannins noticeable but starting to soften. Super with pasta dinner.

3/25/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Drinking in its prime! Delicious fruit, and very little indication on the palate that this is a 20+ year old cab franc. Lots of sediment though.

3/24/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Not drinking like a superstar as some early 2000s Etudes are, but this 1996 Napa Valley is still drinking very well. Those looking for a fruit-forward wine may be disappointed - it’s a nearly 30-year old wine, after all. Cork partially broke, but retrieved it with an ah-so. Dark ruby in color and well-bodied; flavors of eucalyptus on the palate were mesmerizing, followed by pleasurable mostly tertiary notes of dried cherry, truffles, and a touch of leather.

3/22/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

I’ve been enjoying the ‘97 Pride merlot since visiting the winery in the summer of 1999, and buying a case. It has gone through many stages since then! Now, perhaps embellishing because I’ve known its past, it’s a distinguished, fine St Emilion-like sip - still dark ruby, sweet dark cherry and leather nose, and delicious - but entirely tertiary - flavors. Still very enjoyable but more of a wine for wine geeks than to share with typical neighbors or family. A contrasting note - @5-6 years ago I picked up @ 8-10 bottles of the 1999 merlot from WineBid. That wine was called more tannic than usual for Pride merlots by reviewers, but those bottles I bought (sadly, gone now) still had amazing primary fruit, as recently as a couple years ago. If I had the purchase opportunity, I’d definitely pick the 1999 over the 1997 merlot today.

3/17/2024 - kabert wrote:

Corked

3/15/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Dynamite! Tastes similar to the 2008 Old Vines - thick, overflowing tasty fruit, decadent. WS review said to drink by 2024, but here in 2024 it’s just hitting its stride - I expect it’ll still be drinking great in 2034.

3/9/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully. Blackberry and dark fruits, and silky smooth, this is ready to go. No noticeable oak. Classic Pride CF.

3/8/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

I thought this 2011 Tapestry was superb. I’ve long been a fan of Tapestry and this bottle only supported my admiration! I didn’t get any of the green or herbaceous notes a couple of notes below mentioned. It seems to me to be in a wonderful zone between delectable fruit, unobtrusive remaining tannins, and a finish that hints at the beginnings of some lovely “age-appropriate” tertiary flavors.

2/18/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

A hint of oak to accompany the blackberry on day one but it was all pure fruit on day two.

2/17/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Unique, port-like, somewhat sweet, and so so delicious. Like nothing else in Napa. Will last for decades to come!

2/2/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Tasty, medium-full bodied. Classic Tapestry. This should age well - @15+ years. Score (91-92) now will only go up as tannins tone down in future years - to likely 93 or 94. Bought on sale in DC for @$34.

1/30/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

I last drank a bottle of the 1990 Brolio vin santo around 15-20 years ago. This bottle, amazingly, tastes about the same as that one. Classic vin santo flavors of nutty dark caramel and a hint of molasses. Not sweet or cloying though. Very enjoyable. I still have another ‘90, plus a bottle of the ‘86, plus several ‘03s - glad to have them!

1/20/2024 - kabert wrote:

Not the same as the bottle drunk in September 2021, which was delicious. This one wasn’t corked - it just didn’t have much of a nose, nor was there much flavor of any kind. I thought maybe it was too cold but even after more than an hour of warming up it didn’t get better. Seemed maybe shut down but I wouldn’t expect that to be the reason. Perhaps just a slightly bad bottle.

1/11/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Similar to the bottle drunk in July 2021, this was just positively gorgeous! Everything in its place. Delicious fruit. Wows around the table. Sorry it’s my last 2003 cab.

1/11/2024 - kabert Likes this wine:

Similar to 10/2023 bottle - still a baby, very fruit forward. Delicious. Wish it had a bit more bite but this may have been served too warm.

12/31/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Tasty, crowd-pleasing, rather full-bodied. Definitely a young wine, with little yet in the way of secondary characteristics. Easier to drink this 2017 CF than a recent 2015 Merlot (which seemed bigger and more tannic).

12/28/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Still young and tannic, though full bodied and bursting with fruit. Classic Pride merlot.

12/27/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Last of 5 bottles purchased @3 years ago, this has been a wonderful, consistently pleasing chardonnay. No hard edges, with flavors of baked apple, creamy lemon, and a hint of spice. I expect this has several (at least 5) more years of life left, as I didn’t notice any change in the bottles I opened over the last few years.

12/26/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

My last bottle of the ‘16 MacLean’s Block, this is a super pinot. It’s still drinking well, with delicious (but not lush) cherries, and some spice and tartness on the finish.

12/20/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Holding on well. This seems similar to the 2010 Sonoma Coast but maybe with a wee bit more stuffing. Dark cherry.

12/14/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

What a dynamite chardonnay - the first bottle I had back in October was awesome, and it wasn’t a fluke! This second bottle (of @5) was just stunningly good. Incredibly delicious white fruits; full bodied; no noticeable oak or alcohol/heat. Half yesterday and half today (recorked in fridge overnight) — tasted just as good/perhaps even better today. Bravo!

12/8/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

An enjoyable Tapestry, tasting mostly of tertiary flavors and a bit of cherry. Went well with dinner and was still tasty the following day, though chocolate flavors were intermixed then too.

11/27/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Dynamite! Didn’t try using a regular cork screw - given the bottle’s age, went with an ah-so and it worked perfectly. Three-quarters of cork was wet. The wine poured amber in color. Incredibly full bodied - sweet apricot and peach notes, underlined on the palate by a welcome touch of acidity. Had the 750 ml bottle open for the last four days and there’s seemingly no change day to day. Delicious, special experience.

11/23/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

A beauty, with tart lemon. This needs more age though.

11/23/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

This 1990 Brusset Gigondas just continues to surprise and impress! Bought 5-6 of these as bin-end bottles at my local shop @ 6-8 years ago, and I think every bottle has been great so far. It still tastes as thought it’s on its plateau, not in decline. Special, and perfect with Thanksgiving dinner.

11/23/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Delicious but could still use another few years to soften a bit more. Blackberry and plums, with some tartness on the back end. Definitely upside with more bottle age or decanting.

11/23/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

My kind of pinot — concentrated; delicious dark cherry, not lush or in-your-face though. Almost northern Rhone minerally/syrah-like. Unique and wonderful.

11/23/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Super. Almost black and pretty full-bodied. Loads of primary fruit; still tannins on back end. Better than bottle two years ago.

11/22/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Cherry, cinnamon, some earth- a super, mature pinot. Not much primary fruit left but so much going on. My first 2010 horseshoe pinot.

11/22/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Crisp, fresh, and lemony. A youngen no doubt but nothing out of kilter.

11/22/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Too young but super-tasty. Still-a-baby elements show up in some oak, loads of richness, and plenty of underlying tannins. Bottle was drained quickly by family at Thanksgiving Eve lasagna dinner.

11/18/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

The 2008 Alpine i had a few months ago was a better bottle than this 2009, but there could’ve been some bottle or storage variation as I bought both at auction. That said, this 2009 was still excellent. It poured a light to medium gold and its nose was classic aged lemon. Medium bodied, some initial hazelnut showing the wine’s age, followed by honeysuckle and light lemon.

11/9/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Far better on day two. This put on a lot of weight and depth and fruit in 24 hours of time corked in the fridge. Day one, this didn’t share much fruit- perhaps needed more time to open. Remember that for next time!

11/10/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Lovely classic Switchback merlot. Had opened bottle a couple hours before pouring the first glass. Definitely tannins noticeable, but they’re enveloped with the delicious fruit. I didn’t notice any oak. This will only get better over the next 6-10 or more years! It was great on its own and with a perfectly seasoned grilled steak.

11/10/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Delicate, delicious. Paired surprisingly well with grilled-in-shell oysters.

11/11/2023 - kabert wrote:

Gone. Vinegar. Bought as an auction purchase. Probably a mistreated bottle - first time I recall that happening in 25+ years of drinking and enjoying BV Tapestry.

11/5/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Dang, this is nice. The fruit is so pure and consistent and concentrated, but with a back end that peaks though some minerals and acidity. I pushed my CT “drink-by” date from 2027 to 2030.

11/6/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

Still delicious. Not a tart lemon bombshell like the Les Clos but very enjoyable. More on the creamy lemon with a hint of age side of things. Excellent on its own and with dinner.

11/7/2023 - kabert Likes this wine:

A super Chianti - medium bodied with some fat (not tart, edgy, and minerally like some Chiantis), plus very tasty ripe cherry fruit. Delightful with lasagna leftovers and sweet potato soup. I was a huge fan of the 2015 version of this riserva, and it was a by-the-case house-red for a year or so, but this is close behind. The score for this will certainly go up in the coming @10 years as it further softens.