sean7711

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• melsdad says:

  2/3/2024 8:19:00 AM - Hi Sean - It's not local for you but I'll make you an offer you CAN refuse. Russell Bevan is showcasing his Adversity Cellars wines in Northern NJ (20-30 minutes from Manhattan) in March. If you would like to find out more my email address is melsdad117@gmail.com. Cheers!

• Cyclist says:

  6/13/2023 12:16:00 PM - Hi! Yes, I’d be definitely be interested if the timing works out!

• Franken Berry says:

  6/6/2023 9:34:00 AM - Hey sean. are you planning on attending the Post Parade/O'shaughnessy/etc tasting in New Jersey on 6/22? I am on the fence as it is an hour from me, but it would be great to meet in person. you can also reach me by email togliam@verizon.net

• JLuch1 says:

  1/10/2023 9:04:00 AM - Hey Sean, makes sense that I recognize you as I am also class of 08. You are welcome to pm me on Facebook (Joseph Luciano), as I do not believe there is a means to do so on CT.

• iamandyc says:

  12/5/2022 2:51:00 PM - Sean - heard via WineLover's review that you were at the Philly event last week that MM headlined. I was there too (live up in the Lehigh Valley). Wish I had a chance to meet you guys in person there! Nice event. Hard to say the other cabs were in the same league as MM but fun to try.

• Cyclist says:

  11/15/2022 7:03:00 PM - Ah no worries, feel better! Let's try to have some wine this winter! And yes, I did see the event, I know the Covert folks well so I got the invite through them and I know Travis from Memento too. I was thinking of trying to make it but the timing isn't great for me in the middle of the week and Fishtown is a bit far but I might try to make it to hang out!

• Cyclist says:

  11/15/2022 5:36:00 PM - Hey there, kind of last minute but a fellow CT friend and I are doing a wine dinner in the city (Philly) this Saturday and have 2 extra seats on the reservation if you want to join some strangers for wine!

• Mark1npt says:

  9/25/2022 9:03:00 AM - Sean, we were just up your way visiting my brother in Sewell, NJ then thru PA up into Niagara Falls.....will have to remember to give you a heads up next time, so we can all get together one afternoon to share a bottle or two.....maybe get Franken Berry in on the action, too.

• Franken Berry says:

  8/20/2022 4:55:00 AM - Sean. I saw that you posted that you recently were in Montauk, we love that place. Curious where you stayed. We moved here from the north shore 25 years ago and would love to go back to visit this fall

• Franken Berry says:

  6/11/2022 6:26:00 AM - Sean. Trying to decide whether to pull the plug on the 2018 trespass six pack, which includes each of the blends at a very nice price (650, for six bottles) vs pick and choose amongst the options. I enjoyed both Intrigue and mayhem, but haven’t had Mischief or Rendezvous. Would appreciate your thoughts

• MJP Hou TX says:

  8/19/2021 9:56:00 AM - Sean, thanks for the tip on the 18 Cornell Extended age. I'll have to inquire about it. I know VHR made one in 18 and I heard it is fantastic.

• MJP Hou TX says:

  8/3/2021 2:30:00 PM - Hey Sean, I hope this finds you well. As far as new projects there are a few on my radar. Bella Oaks Impasata Almacerro Bergman La Vol/Kinsman Keplinger/Vine Hill Ranch VHR/18 Extended Age Heimark Been around but yet to visit property. Kapcsandy Also, I'm considering more spend buying some vintage wines from Araujo Eisele/Abreu/Heitz/Diamond Creek etc... Also, I just loaded up on some 2020 BDX so I'm trying my hardest to dial it back! What about you? Michael

• MJP Hou TX says:

  6/27/2021 6:17:00 PM - Sean, I've been told to sign up for this early. https://almacerro.com/ MJP

• Franken Berry says:

  6/23/2021 6:22:00 PM - Sean, curious whether you have tried any of the '19 Carters. trying to decide what to do with the pre-release

• Franken Berry says:

  1/3/2021 11:20:00 AM - Sean I live outside Philly as well. 2016 petite vice widely available in state stores, 2014 is on clearance sale

• Winowhyno says:

  12/15/2020 1:00:00 PM - Sean...what do you think of the My Favorite Neighbor Paso Robles 2018. I just picked up a six pack and opened the first bottle. It is still a little young, but seems to have potential. Paid $40.00. What do you think of it?

• jimyeni says:

  11/14/2020 10:36:00 PM - I've been totally shying away from the 17s for all the same reasons that Csimm mentions. Now having some experience tasting them, I will say in general it's been a good decision. I really like the 16s and the 18s I've tasted show a lot of promise. I'm hopeful for the 19s as well, of course 20 is a non-vintage, saw so many grapes on the vines or on the floor last week, anyone who picked is seriously rolling the dice.

• vintage1949 says:

  8/27/2019 11:47:00 AM - Hi again, The only California Cab from 2017 I purchased was 2017 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard. Please note I also bought a six pack of 2017 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron. They used only 40 % of the harvest to make their 2017 vintage wine. The result from being so selective with their grapes is a wine that ranks highly with professional tasters. Right now I am saving up for the 2018 California cabs. I am also saving up to buy three bottles of 2018 Chateau Mouton Rothschild. (I have only purchased from three vintages because of the high price) However it can be worth it in my opinion. The 1959 Mouton Rothschild was the best wine I have ever tasted. Dave

• vintage1949 says:

  8/25/2019 10:23:00 AM - Greetings, I just read on a message board your comment “I agree that it's important to be more discerning with the 2017s especially with all I've been hearing around how great 2018 will be. Rather save up a bit more this coming year for more purchases in 2020!” Wow that sounds exactly what I would post. We think alike. I am buying a couple 2017’s but saving up for 2018 both for California and Bordeaux wines. Good luck with your future 2018 purchases. Dave

• Yondan says:

  4/18/2019 1:04:00 PM - Try Tudal in St. Helena

• Yondan says:

  3/18/2019 11:25:00 AM - Looks like you been back to Napa. See you tasted a lot of wine. What stood out as your top 2 favorites

• bestdamncab says:

  1/23/2019 10:14:00 PM - I forgot-try Carol Shelton Zinfandels which are very diverse and terrific Zin at reasonable prices.

• bestdamncab says:

  1/23/2019 10:13:00 PM - Martinelli makes great chardonnays and even greater Zinfandel especially Jackass and Jackass Hill, their Pinot Noir is consistently very good.

• bestdamncab says:

  1/23/2019 6:04:00 PM - The best club to join is Aubert for great Pinot Noir and Single Vineyard Chardonnay. Also, consider Carlisle and Martinelli for Zinfandel. Thanks for becoming a fan of my tasting notes.

• csimm says:

  11/23/2018 9:08:00 PM - Hey Sean...My apologies for the late reply from the message you posted on my message board. With regard to the 2017 vintage, I'll be honest...It's gonna be a tough sell all the way around. Of course there are the fires and smoke taint which has a lot of folks worried (for good reason in a lot of respects), but what's worse is the heat spike that had some winemakers scrambling to pick early, or they freaked out and didn't let the fruit stabilize after the spike. But those who did missed the window in picking before the fires. It's kind of a sh**-show for a consumer to try to navigate through the wines that might have made it through the chaos. The advice I'm giving myself insofar as purchasing the 2017 vintage is "seek to be informed." Some of the winemakers we like did indeed pick after the fires. Some will tell you they have been monitoring the smoke taint issue and do not think the wines they picked after the fires will be an issue because the smoke taint the wine has will not be "detectable." I'm not a winemaker or a scientist, but I'm pessimistic. I hope that winemakers are, if nothing else, honest and transparent about when they picked their grapes. I have grown tired hearing about some special ointment or snake oil that was used to treat the grapes so they won't show smoke taint in the wine - again, who knows if this is actually true, but it's not worth it for me to spend $150-250+ on a bottle of wine that "might" be tainted. What's worse, is that if you pass on an allocation of 2017, you risk being booted off a list. I hope wineries are sympathetic to this. But if that's the case, then so be it. I don't mean to sound negative, as there are a number of houses that are doing it right (either being transparent, or those who picked before the fires - so at least that's a non-issue). Overall, I think 2017 for Cab will be a bit "meh," especially when compared to 2015, 2016, and even 2018. Will I buy Mike Smith wines? Yes. But will I be asking a lot of questions? Absolutely. I know VV took a hit and is not using certain fruit because it was picked after the fire. That's admirable to me, as they don't want to compromise their reputation. Anyway, there are no easy answers for 2017. I'll want to be properly positioned for 2018... but in order to do that, one may have to selectively keep in good graces by purchasing 2017s. I know some will poo-poo that, but it is a reality if you're thinking in terms of future allocations. In the end, I'll say this.... ask lots of questions of the places you buy from, and taste as much wine as you can BEFORE you buy. You can't rely on LPB to save you, because her reviews of the 2017s really don't come out until AFTER many wineries will have sent out their allocation mailers. That, and pay attention to CT for those who have had opportunities to barrel taste some of the wines. I've had a number of 2017s that were picked after the fires....they were fine in terms of no detectable smoke taint, BUT that can hide out for the time-being, but then pop up in a wine once it's in bottle. It's unsettling for those of us who spend a significant amount of time and money in this endeavor. Best of luck my friend... I'll continue to post any info I find out along the way on CT......

• Mark1npt says:

  11/18/2018 7:32:00 PM - Hey Sean, no worries.....life gets in the way! Grew up in Northern Liberties then across the river in Collingswood for HS/College. Many, many years ago.....

• Mark1npt says:

  10/13/2018 10:04:00 PM - Hey Sean.....I grew up in Philly but have been in FL for 37 years...welcome aboard! It can be a really great ride! Cheers! Mark

• esw423 says:

  9/7/2018 7:29:00 AM - Glad you enjoyed the Havens note! I work in Center City and would be happy to meet up at a BYO sometime. If you’re around, feel free to email me at ewolfish@gmail.com -Eric

• Winowhyno says:

  8/5/2018 12:41:00 PM - Sean...check out the Heitz Martha's Vineyard on sale a PA State Store...Was $160...now $80.

• csimm says:

  10/31/2017 8:08:00 PM - With the exception of Maybach, all of the others will usually entertain tastings if you email them directly and show a genuine interest in their wines. As you know, it's always nice to have the winemaker pour during your tasting. Mike Smith is certainly good for that with Myriad and Carter (Dan and Mark Carter are great as well). Benoit Touquette (Realm and Fait Main) is a riot worth trying to hook up with. The proprietors at Outpost are very nice folks as well (great property too). Anyway, happy hunting!

• csimm says:

  10/28/2017 9:12:00 AM - Hi Sean...You also asked about other options/clubs to join. My personal practice is generally not to join "clubs" that pick wines for me or force me to buy one wine in order to get the wines I may want. I sign up for allocation lists on wineries that I like and cherry pick what I want - that is the format I prefer. Top lists to be on for Napa Cabernets in my humble opinion include: Carter, Myriad, Outpost, Maybach, Pott, and Realm. Other considerations certainly worth looking into are MacDonald, Greer, Bevan, Purlieu, Janzen, and Memento Mori. Everyone has their favorites, but those all will deliver far more than anything from Moone Tsai by my estimation.

• csimm says:

  10/28/2017 9:05:00 AM - Hey Sean. Sorry for the late reply to your post on my message board. Regarding Moone Tsai, I unfortunately cannot recommend them. Especially for the price point, I found their wines to be lacking character, complexity, and depth. During this last tasting, I found some of the wines to be a little funky as well, as though there was something off about either the fruit (prune? = picked late?) or the cooperage possibly had become dank. I really don't know. Anyway, I don't have much experience with them in general outside of that. I can tell you that a friend was on their list, but is getting off now for the aforementioned reasons - for whatever that's worth. For the price point, there are much better options out there.

• MrGoldenSun says:

  5/9/2017 10:52:00 AM - Hey, you asked me what riojas I liked for less than about $30. The answer is "most of them." :-) But looking at my notes, it looks like I really enjoyed the 2010 Bodegas Olarra Rioja Cerro Anon Reserva. I think most good reservas would be a better value than the wine about which you were asking me. I used to drink a lot of rioja from a producer named Cortijo and it was pretty cheap and enjoyable. We called it our "house red."