This really is everything I could ask for when I think of "good aged red wine." It's delicious. So very drinkable, it has a luxurious mouthfeel and tender tannins which are present and relaxed, with enough acid to hold up to food and also make it refreshing enough to happily have a glass by itself. Some youthful dark fruit flavors are here, along with some mature, slow-roasted cherries and blackberries. Olive, rosemary, thyme, rich clay and gravel, salted 70% dark chocolate, and that characteristic purple flinstone vitamin that I get out of my favorite cabs. Some vanilla from the oak on the finish but it doesn't stand out at all. Overall, an exceptionally well-balanced wine in every way. The perfect accompaniment to beef and barley stew on a snowy night. I got two of these from auction so I'll be reviewing the other whenever I open it. I stopped giving numerical ratings to wines because I don't believe in it, but I would strongly recommending getting a bottle if you find it. It could definitely hold on a few more years but it's in such a great place now. Do whatever you want, I'm holding onto the other one until I can't stand the wait any longer!
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Tasted from mag. Definitely agree with notes below about campari-esque flavors. Much more herbaceous and savory that fruity, which is why I imagine most people wouldn’t like it or would find it strange. I love it. A delicious balance of juicy strawberries with sage, dried flowers, medicine cabinet, orange peel, mushrooms, petrolish flavors akin to those of aged Riesling and flint/smoke. It possesses high acid and a slightly bitter finish (like that of Campari but much milder) which compliments fatty dishes exceptionally. It was delicious with pizza, it would go equally as well with something refined like poached salmon with peas and morels. I haven’t had a bottle older than this so I don’t know if it can age longer, but given the structure and flavors I would assume it could continue to improve, as long as you’re into tertiary flavors
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Absolutely delicious. Honesty don’t know what else you could want from an Oregon pinot noir, or youthful Pinot noir in general for that matter. Concentration, balance, acid, intensity, depth, brightness, it has it all. Tons of fruit together with Pinot earthiness and characteristic temperance hill brine. Could absolutely age but also my only bottle. I’d say I regret drinking it young, but damn is it making me happy right now. Also it’s a hell of a bargain price-wise. Wish I had more
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1997 Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
12/16/2020 - CorkTaint69 Likes this wine:
This really is everything I could ask for when I think of "good aged red wine." It's delicious. So very drinkable, it has a luxurious mouthfeel and tender tannins which are present and relaxed, with enough acid to hold up to food and also make it refreshing enough to happily have a glass by itself. Some youthful dark fruit flavors are here, along with some mature, slow-roasted cherries and blackberries. Olive, rosemary, thyme, rich clay and gravel, salted 70% dark chocolate, and that characteristic purple flinstone vitamin that I get out of my favorite cabs. Some vanilla from the oak on the finish but it doesn't stand out at all. Overall, an exceptionally well-balanced wine in every way. The perfect accompaniment to beef and barley stew on a snowy night. I got two of these from auction so I'll be reviewing the other whenever I open it. I stopped giving numerical ratings to wines because I don't believe in it, but I would strongly recommending getting a bottle if you find it. It could definitely hold on a few more years but it's in such a great place now. Do whatever you want, I'm holding onto the other one until I can't stand the wait any longer!
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2016 Château d'Aqueria Tavel
9/27/2020 - CorkTaint69 Likes this wine:
Tasted from mag. Definitely agree with notes below about campari-esque flavors. Much more herbaceous and savory that fruity, which is why I imagine most people wouldn’t like it or would find it strange. I love it. A delicious balance of juicy strawberries with sage, dried flowers, medicine cabinet, orange peel, mushrooms, petrolish flavors akin to those of aged Riesling and flint/smoke. It possesses high acid and a slightly bitter finish (like that of Campari but much milder) which compliments fatty dishes exceptionally. It was delicious with pizza, it would go equally as well with something refined like poached salmon with peas and morels. I haven’t had a bottle older than this so I don’t know if it can age longer, but given the structure and flavors I would assume it could continue to improve, as long as you’re into tertiary flavors
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2017 Lumos Wine Company Pinot Noir The Barrel Temperance Hill Vineyard
7/17/2020 - CorkTaint69 wrote: 96 Points
Absolutely delicious. Honesty don’t know what else you could want from an Oregon pinot noir, or youthful Pinot noir in general for that matter. Concentration, balance, acid, intensity, depth, brightness, it has it all. Tons of fruit together with Pinot earthiness and characteristic temperance hill brine. Could absolutely age but also my only bottle. I’d say I regret drinking it young, but damn is it making me happy right now. Also it’s a hell of a bargain price-wise. Wish I had more
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