http://www.cellartracker.com/list.asp?Table=Notes&iUserOverride=23301 These are my recent CellarTracker tasting notes. © 2003-10 CellarTracker! LLC. All rights reserved. "CellarTracker!" is a trademark of CellarTracker! LLC. No part of this website may be used, reproduced or distributed without the prior written permission of CellarTracker! LLC. eric@cellartracker.com http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=473376&iNote=944328 944328 Tasted by tuscanbob. Deep magenta color. Bright nose of plum, black cherry and some campfire. Medium to full body and packs an early attack of black fruit. Oak dominates the mid and mouth puckering tannins finish it off. Big wine and super value. I popped and poured and look forward to finishing this bottle tomorrow as edges soften. (89 pts.) - Tasted 2/7/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=546693&iNote=944321 944321 Tasted by tuscanbob. Terrific wine for under $9. Fresh and balanced with notes of sour cherry. Very pleasant with soft, round finish. Dynamite match with grilled salmon. (88 pts.) - Tasted 2/7/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=355000&iNote=934817 934817 Tasted by tuscanbob. (86 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=498815&iNote=934794 934794 Tasted by tuscanbob. (89 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=585129&iNote=934793 934793 Tasted by tuscanbob. (85 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=351032&iNote=934791 934791 Tasted by tuscanbob. (87 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=578444&iNote=934789 934789 Tasted by tuscanbob. (89 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=578444&iNote=934788 934788 Tasted by tuscanbob. (89 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=608215&iNote=934787 934787 Tasted by tuscanbob. Same as previous notes (89 pts.) - Tasted 1/28/2009. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=307355&iNote=886157 886157 Tasted by tuscanbob. Finally popped this magnum at a holiday party and it was a crowd pleaser. Big, big wine...same as previous notes. (92 pts.) - Tasted 12/16/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=378023&iNote=878232 878232 Tasted by tuscanbob. I like this quite a bit. Dark ruby red with a twinge of purple. Decanted for about 1 hour and I get predominantly cedar closet on the nose. Big hit of plum and right up front along with black cherries. Balanced acidity and tannins round out this straightforward, uncomplicated wine. Great food wine. (89 pts.) - Tasted 12/7/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=608215&iNote=874133 874133 Tasted by tuscanbob. First year for this blend which I believe is 60% Riesling and 40% Traminette. Drank while putting up my riesling and traminette juice from this year's harvest (Fulkerson is THE home winemaker's mecca in the Finger Lakes). This is proof that blending can provide more than simply the sum of two parts and as a result, I'll be blending my batches as well. Pale yellow. Nice nose of grapefruit and apple and typical floral/spicy Gewurtz notes (everyone uses 'lychee nut'...I've yet to smell one of those). Light bodied, crisp acidity and refreshing steely mineral finish with just a speck of residual sugar. Great stuff. One of best bottles of wine I've had from the Finger Lakes. (89 pts.) - Tasted 12/3/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=361455&iNote=872976 872976 Tasted by tuscanbob. Pears and honey on the nose along with petrol and burnt rubber. Medium weight mouthfeel but with nice, crisp acidity. A little more residual sugar than expected but delicious. First bottle we popped at German themed dinner party with pickled herring, sauerbroten, schnitzel and spatzle. Frankly, I wouldn't pay the premium again for this bottling versus the regular Zind riesling bottling although this Turckheim offers something a little different with the residual sugar and Mosel-like petrol notes. (90 pts.) - Tasted 12/1/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=165519&iNote=872912 872912 Tasted by tuscanbob. I love CDR's, but this one is no good. Nothing on the nose but a little musty odor. Zero fruit on nose or palate. Just a vein of harsh acidity running through this bottle. (76 pts.) - Tasted 12/1/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=492377&iNote=872873 872873 Tasted by tuscanbob. This blend is 50% Garnacha, 25% Tempranillo and 25% Cab Sauv. Dark ruby red to purple in color. A whiff of tar and oak on the nose. Full bodied. Black cherries and plums up front give way to a simple mid-palate and finish. Returned to this two days later and now there's a wonderful layer of vanilla cream on the mid-palate. I just popped and poured upon opening so do yourself a favor and decant to unlock the complexity. I'm upping my rating from 87 to 89. Another solid Borsao QPR. (89 pts.) - Tasted 12/1/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=329278&iNote=866997 866997 Tasted by tuscanbob. Mom and dad brought a couple bottles for Thanksgiving. Cool packaging. Nose is musty and earthy. Red berries and mild tannins. Simple...no secondary flavors but not bad for retail of about $6. (84 pts.) - Tasted 11/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=418927&iNote=866978 866978 Tasted by tuscanbob. Excellent chianti. Cedar box and sour cherries on the nose. Bright red fruit up front into a touch more oak than I like, but acidity and tannins finish it off nicely. Delicious and a strong value. (89 pts.) - Tasted 11/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=399476&iNote=858639 858639 Tasted by tuscanbob. After the alcohol blew off a bit I could pick up some cherries and red berries on the nose. Light to medium bodied. Plenty of tannic grip and balanced. Fine for the price but there plenty of better CDR's out there for a few bucks more. (84 pts.) - Tasted 11/19/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=598190&iNote=858634 858634 Tasted by tuscanbob. Tight nose offers a little honey but not much more. Medium body with enough acidity but otherwise quite plain. Certainly well made...brilliant light gold color and medium weight are it's best features. (84 pts.) - Tasted 11/19/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=544622&iNote=853875 853875 Tasted by tuscanbob. (86 pts.) - Tasted 11/15/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=422634&iNote=853864 853864 Tasted by tuscanbob. (84 pts.) - Tasted 11/15/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=479607&iNote=849925 849925 Tasted by tuscanbob. Lots going on here. Big shot of berry/cherry fruit up front then some barnyard and green veggie notes and a nice long finish. (87 pts.) - Tasted 11/10/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=373273&iNote=669401 669401 Tasted by tuscanbob. Nice color, like store bought olive oil. Honey note seem to dominate the nose and palate. Medium to full bodied mouthfeel, creamy characteristic but still tangy. Lingering finish where you can pick up the fruit and then honey hangs around on the finish for a couple of minutes. This is 100% Insolia variety from Sicily, fermented in stainless steel. Lovely offbeat value white wine. (88 pts.) - Tasted 4/5/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=328509&iNote=661940 661940 Tasted by tuscanbob. Is there anything sillier than decanting a $6 bottle of wine. I did it anyway and it definitely helped. Color is a somewhat pale. Nose has some cherry fruit combined with a smokey bacon fat component along with black pepper. The heat of this wine is evident on the nose. I don't have much to complain about really except for the heat. There's the red berry fruit up front with a spicy/peppery mid palate and tannic finish. I mean, $6? I've had some southern rhones at $20 that have been worse (not many though). (85 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=227404&iNote=661933 661933 Tasted by tuscanbob. Nice golden color. Nose is more tropical fruit than their standard riesling. Apricots and pineapples in this more so than the apples and lemon. Fuller mouthfeel...not quite oily but close. Hints of the burnt tire/petrol/autoshop component that you typically get in a riesling from the Mosel. Excellent stuff, but frankly I prefer their standard bottling at about $10 less. (90 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=323940&iNote=661930 661930 Tasted by tuscanbob. Consistent with previous notes. This is our favorite 'everyday' alsatian riesling. (91 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=301823&iNote=661927 661927 Tasted by tuscanbob. I just had to pop this pink for Easter...actually it's an aussie screwtop so technically didn't pop it. Anyway, this is fantastic stuff. Brilliant color. Strawberries dominates the nose. Enough acidity to make your mouth water and a very pleasant, simple, dry finish. You think this wine is going fruity/sweet with the strawberries up front but this is a wonderful, dry rose. Rose's are usually a great value anyway, but this one is an exceptional QPR at $13. (90 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=378583&iNote=661922 661922 Tasted by tuscanbob. Consistent with my previous notes. Really nice rheingau riesling value if you can find it. (89 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=388960&iNote=661914 661914 Tasted by tuscanbob. A sentimental favorite as we spent a spectacular day visiting this Castello, the summer home of Baron Ricasoli (the 'Iron Baron', responsible for chianti classico laws). July 4, 2006 and they had an outside (covered) bottling operation working at the bottom of the hill. We toured the castle, tasted the wines and had a wonderful picnic there. It was damn hot (in the 90's) and I wondered about this outdoor bottling thing going on in that heat. Anyway, this is good chianti. Not great...good. Plenty of fruit, good acidity and grippy tannins. Their shining star, in my opinion, is their vin santo...check that out if you can find it. (85 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=71406&iNote=661912 661912 Tasted by tuscanbob. Caramel color with a motor oil consistency. Wow, this is a wonderfully syrupy nectar of raisins, figs and dried plums. Tremendous value and a truly outstanding dessert wine. (93 pts.) - Tasted 3/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=414650&iNote=652345 652345 Tasted by tuscanbob. Brilliant garnet red turning to violet color. Really vibrant. I get sour cherries and balsamic on the nose. Medium bodied. This is a stout chianti, big and powerful. The fruit, oak, tannins and acidity are all there. Still some green notes that suggest an even brighter future. (91 pts.) - Tasted 3/18/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=65499&iNote=646105 646105 Tasted by tuscanbob. Splash decanted. Nice purple color. Campfire dominates the nose. The secondary scents are very interesting: cedar, hints of dark fruit, almost a raisin-like aspect and some soy sauce...but the campfire definitely dominates. Mouthfeel is very enjoyable, nice texture. The problem I have with this wine is it's over-oaked...the Oak Monster is jumping right out of this bottle and punching me in the mouth. Everything else is in balance but the oak is masking a nice wine and preventing it from being a 'very good' wine, let alone 'outstanding' as others believe. I'm not with it. I'll give it another try tomorrow and update. (84 pts.) - Tasted 3/11/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=378147&iNote=644082 644082 Tasted by tuscanbob. Very pale color. Closed nose, faint hints of apple, lemon and a little mineral/stone. Medium bodied and quite plain tasting. Not very interesting, slightly hot tasting (13.6% alcohol) and not enough acidity. (82 pts.) - Tasted 3/9/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=297625&iNote=640592 640592 Tasted by tuscanbob. Popped and poured and frankly I am stunned that this wine cost $6. Nice violet purple color. Unfiltered and unoaked. Loads of grapey/dark berry fruit on the nose. Just a little hot tasting but otherwise delicious. Enough tannins to balance out the fruit. Reminds me of a spanish garnacha blended with merlot. Great mid-week quaff and a ridiculous value. (86 pts.) - Tasted 3/6/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=409303&iNote=639061 639061 Tasted by tuscanbob. (90 pts.) - Tasted 3/4/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=269799&iNote=639012 639012 Tasted by tuscanbob. Had at Bottega del Vino in NYC. Strawberries on the nose and throughout. Light, dry and delicious. Perfect complement to our light salad lunch on this unusually warm February day in the city. Al fresco tables were full. (87 pts.) - Tasted 2/18/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=354002&iNote=638830 638830 Tasted by tuscanbob. Hot, harsh and out of balance, and this is after decanting for a couple of hours. I don't understand Tanzer's rating (90) on this wine at all. Grapey up front quickly yields to hot alcohol and green, harsh tannins. There's a funky Vicks Vaporub/menthol thing going on here also. Pouring what's left down the drain. (75 pts.) - Tasted 3/4/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=338571&iNote=636650 636650 Tasted by tuscanbob. In the style of Mosel Spatlese which I'm a big fan of. Light gold color. Nose is all honey and dried apricots. Oily mouthfeel with honey being the dominant flavor profile. Definite spatlese-esque residual sugar. Just not as complex as the entry level Mosels and it isn't as crisp. To be fair, this bottle was $9 and most of the entry level Mosel Spatlese I've had begin at $12. (84 pts.) - Tasted 3/2/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=323940&iNote=630909 630909 Tasted by tuscanbob. Consistent with other bottles. Brilliant color. Apples, pears and lemon on the nose and palate. Crisp acidity. Love this wine...must be the cowhorn they plant in the soil. (91 pts.) - Tasted 2/24/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=307355&iNote=630835 630835 Tasted by tuscanbob. Same as previous notes. Delicious chocolate covered cherries flavors. Wonderful...only problem with this bottle was that it was my last one. (93 pts.) - Tasted 2/24/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=378840&iNote=630810 630810 Tasted by tuscanbob. Picked up a smoky bacon component on the nose that's new to me with this wine along with the usual garnacha profile of strawberries and cherries. Great flavor up front but then feels a little flat on the mid-palate and provides not much more than tannins on the finish. Still, a very good wine and a very solid value at $7 bones. (87 pts.) - Tasted 2/24/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=337008&iNote=617042 617042 Tasted by tuscanbob. Dark purple in color. Try opening a pouch of grape Big League Chew (I played and now I coach little league) and stick your nose in it. It smells exactly like this wine. Dip into that foil pouch and you get that powdery sugar/starch on your fingers...the smell matches the whole Big League experience. So it's a little fakey grapey smelling but I'm ok with it. A touch of smokey oak also coming through on nose. Taste matches the nose exactly. Grape ape with nice subtle oak. Nicely balanced tannins provide very good backbone and finish. (88 pts.) - Tasted 2/12/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=307355&iNote=611279 611279 Tasted by tuscanbob. Loads of fruit on the nose coming through...ripe strawberries and cherries. Packed with chewy fruit and dark chocolate on the palate matched with grippy tannins. Massive wine with long finish. Like biting into chocolate covered cherries and strawberries. Big fruit bomb with elegance...wonderful stuff. (92 pts.) - Tasted 2/7/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=438518&iNote=609717 609717 Tasted by tuscanbob. Pale yellow. Apple and herbs on the nose. Nice mouthfeel, light to medium bodied. More apple, decent acidity. A little burnt match-phosporus taste on the finish. Up there with some of the better rieslings I've tasted from around the Finger Lakes. (86 pts.) - Tasted 2/5/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=262157&iNote=608945 608945 Tasted by tuscanbob. Bottle was a gift. Color was fine. Nose offered only a faint hint of oak. There is no fruit to be had in this wine at all. Dusty taste with an astringent finish and absolutely nothing else. Tried splash decanting and tasting again, then poured the rest down the sink. (72 pts.) - Tasted 2/4/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=465092&iNote=608654 608654 Tasted by tuscanbob. Dark purple color. Dark berry, oak and spice on nose. Loads of spice on palate including cinnamon, black pepper, some clove mixed in with black berries with a dry oak finish. (85 pts.) - Tasted 2/4/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=130200&iNote=608626 608626 Tasted by tuscanbob. Terrific nose. Definite burnt tire and petrol scent mixed with the sweet smell of dried apricots and dried apples. My wife thinks I'm nuts about the burnt tire thing being there, but it's there and I like it. Full bodied, oily mouthfeel. Same flavors as described above along with flinty minerals. Lip smacking residual sugar and a great finish. Delicious stuff, but I will say I've had similar experiences with $12-$18 Mosels. Took this bottle to our favorite mexican restaurant and it was a great pairing with the spicy mole. (92 pts.) - Tasted 2/4/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=381174&iNote=608621 608621 Tasted by tuscanbob. Dark red, almost purple color. After airing out it had plenty of jammy fruit and some peppery notes. Good stuff. Nice southern rhone blend and very good value @ $10. (86 pts.) - Tasted 2/4/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=437958&iNote=600424 600424 Tasted by tuscanbob. Interesting...didn't decant this bottle like the previous bottle I had and there's nothing but acidity and tannins. Just some smoke on the nose, no fruit. Very drying/tannic and a bit of a metallic/beef blood finish. I'll decan the rest and come back to it tomorrow. - Tasted 1/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]> http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=266508&iNote=600418 600418 Tasted by tuscanbob. Delicious fruit bomb. Deep red/purple color. Loads of blackberry, plum...dark berries jump out along with vanilla on nose. Medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Big juicy chewy fruit with more vanilla. Nicely balanced tannins Great stuff. (90 pts.) - Tasted 1/27/2008. $ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $]]>