Extra brut. Light golden color with steady fine bead; clean minerally moderately aromatic nose with slight yeast, slight apple; palate is light bodied, medium alcohol, medium-plus acid, tart grapefruit acidity through the midpalate, lemon-lime; finish is medium length. A nice extra brut with clean minerality, tart acidity, but without being enamel-stripping, and overall a good value for <$40 to drink now. 89
Deep ruby with some bricking; nose is aromatic with spice, some white pepper, cranberry; palate is full bodied, high alcohol (16%) and it shows its heat, some remaining black fruit, medium acidity, a bit bitter towards the finish; medium length finish. My last bottle was in 2012 and I thought it was a bit simple then, and I think that is true today as well. Hasn't changed much in the intervening years. Drink up, unlikely to improve. 87-88-
Nose has some strawberry, minerally; palate is light to medium bodied, very minerally, high acid, somewhat tart. Nice, but no rose has really blown me away. 88-89
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Medium clear ruby; highly aromatic nose with black pepper, spice, excellent fruit, some early dusty secondary notes, slight smoke, blackberry; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus fresh acidity, 14.5% well integrated alcohol, black fruit, tons of vanilla from oak; medium fruity length. This is excellent Zinfandel at medium age with good concentration of fruit and other complexity, ready now or over the next few years. 90-91
From a 375. Medium ruby; nose is moderately aromatic, bramble, black fruit; palate is sweet, balanced, black fruit, simple; short finish. Nice but simple. 85
Gorgeous tawny colored; aromatic nose with nuttiness, caramel, slight minerality, smells dry; palate has moderate sweetness but high acidity to balance it out, overall very fresh, dates, molasses; long finish. Very nice for vintage malmsey Madeira. 91 8/27/16: After having a few vintages of the Rare Wine Co bottlings (which are very good), coming to this vintage Madeira shows just how much better madeira can be. More aromatic with spice on the nose, and just incredible balance throughout the palate without too much sweetness and great fresh acidity throughout. Easily flows from one flavor to the other with a long finish. Very nice. 92
NV Pierre Gerbais Champagne Extra Brut Cuvee de Reserve 89 Points
France, Champagne
Extra brut. Light golden color with steady fine bead; clean minerally moderately aromatic nose with slight yeast, slight apple; palate is light bodied, medium alcohol, medium-plus acid, tart grapefruit acidity through the midpalate, lemon-lime; finish is medium length. A nice extra brut with clean minerality, tart acidity, but without being enamel-stripping, and overall a good value for <$40 to drink now. 89
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2004 Turley Zinfandel Dragon Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Deep ruby with some bricking; nose is aromatic with spice, some white pepper, cranberry; palate is full bodied, high alcohol (16%) and it shows its heat, some remaining black fruit, medium acidity, a bit bitter towards the finish; medium length finish. My last bottle was in 2012 and I thought it was a bit simple then, and I think that is true today as well. Hasn't changed much in the intervening years. Drink up, unlikely to improve. 87-88-
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé 89 Points
France, Provence, Bandol
Nose has some strawberry, minerally; palate is light to medium bodied, very minerally, high acid, somewhat tart. Nice, but no rose has really blown me away. 88-89
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Broadbent Vinho Verde 85 Points
Portugal, Minho, Vinho Verde
Typical vinho verde, excellent freshness and acidity with slight effervescence. Very nice.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Marqués de Cáceres Verdejo Rueda 88 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda
Similar to last time. 88
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2011 Gary Farrell Zinfandel Maffei Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Medium clear ruby; highly aromatic nose with black pepper, spice, excellent fruit, some early dusty secondary notes, slight smoke, blackberry; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus fresh acidity, 14.5% well integrated alcohol, black fruit, tons of vanilla from oak; medium fruity length. This is excellent Zinfandel at medium age with good concentration of fruit and other complexity, ready now or over the next few years. 90-91
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2006 John Robert Eppler (JRE Wines) Zinfandel Late Harvest Bluxome Creek Ranch 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
From a 375. Medium ruby; nose is moderately aromatic, bramble, black fruit; palate is sweet, balanced, black fruit, simple; short finish. Nice but simple. 85
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
1990 D'Oliveiras Madeira Malvazia 92 Points
Portugal, Madeira
Gorgeous tawny colored; aromatic nose with nuttiness, caramel, slight minerality, smells dry; palate has moderate sweetness but high acidity to balance it out, overall very fresh, dates, molasses; long finish. Very nice for vintage malmsey Madeira. 91
8/27/16: After having a few vintages of the Rare Wine Co bottlings (which are very good), coming to this vintage Madeira shows just how much better madeira can be. More aromatic with spice on the nose, and just incredible balance throughout the palate without too much sweetness and great fresh acidity throughout. Easily flows from one flavor to the other with a long finish. Very nice. 92
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue