brandoneley
Member #154,702 signed up 12/20/2010
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Jess&TravWine
28 Tasting Notes
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Member since December 2010
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Member #154,702 signed up 12/20/2010
28 Tasting Notes
This member's profile is not public.
2019 Kunde Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley
2/6/2024 - brandoneley Does not like this wine: 72 Points
Meh. Over produced. Almost chocolatety tasting. Not my jam.
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2020 Hayes Valley Vineyards Meritage
2/28/2023 - brandoneley wrote: 84 Points
Hayes Valley 2020 Meritage Red Wine Central Coast
Picked this up at Costco on a whim. Googled reviews and saw this review from Wine Enthusiast (https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/hayes-valley-2020-meritage-central-coast/) and was thinking it had to be worth the $8.59 a bottle so picked up two bottles to try.
Right out of the bottle there was a lot of fruit on the nose, but nothing prepared me for the first taste… it was like eating a spoonful of mixed-berry jam. I thought there was no way I was going to like this wine and almost poured it down the drain, it really tasted more like juice than wine, but decided to give it a little time to open up and I’m really glad I did. After about 30 minutes it’s still very fruit-forward but more mellowed out and balanced, with hints of black pepper and tobacco with lots of rich tannins.
The back of the label says it pairs well with beef, mushroom sauces and smoked cheeses. I cooked top sirloin filets with sautéed mushrooms and peppers and a Demi-glacé, with creamed potatoes and roasted broccoli. It tasted great with the steak and mushrooms, still really sweet but robust enough to hold up to the strong flavors of the beef demi-glacé.
It’s still a little too sweet for my taste, and I don’t agree that it’s a 92-point wine, but it’s a decent wine for the price and I’m glad I didn’t pour it down the drain.
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2016 Biltmore Estate Malbec Limited Release
2/19/2023 - brandoneley wrote: 79 Points
Better than I thought it would be but not something I would buy again. Strong alcohol on the nose but it eventually mellowed out as it decanted for a while. Still super sweet and not the typical Malbec I’m used to, not my jam if you will.
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