Pietros

Tasted Wednesday, July 24, 2019 by Woodbridge Brad with 182 views

Flight 1 - Southern Glazers (7 Notes)

  • 2016 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Tre Terre 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Full oak with classic Chardonnay notes. The oak is overarching and not that well integrated to the point that the finish is mildly edgy with oak tannins. All in all a well balanced and expressive wine and I am sure many will ignore the oak level.

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  • 2017 Antica (Antinori) Chardonnay Mountain Select 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

    Complex yeasty, citrus nose, that has developed nicely. In the mouth nice weight and acid balance. Exceptional suppleness and lovely complex citrus, spice and yeast flavors. Long very nice finish.

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  • 2017 Joseph Phelps Chardonnay Freestone Vineyards Sonoma Coast 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Very classic Sonoma Coast barrel ferment Chardonnay. Loved the spicy (oak) nose, the yeast notes and the overall complexity. The fruit was a bit subdued by the flavors of the barrel fermentation, mild citrus in a Meyer lemon direction. A really excellent wine. Not quite as evolved and developed yet, needs time.

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  • 2016 Ferrari-Carano Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 86 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Medium color, very mild flavors, the nose was not distinct but in the mouth it was balanced and drinkable, but very modest in weight. Having tasted several $30 Oregon Pinots lately this compared but I really expected more.

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  • 2016 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Big intense Pinot with tons of complexity. Very well balanced and supple, the weight and texture is almost better than the flavors. Excellent finish. Really liked it.

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  • 2014 Ferrari-Carano Trésor 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    I was surprised by clarity of fresh fruit in this wine. The nose is classic claret but without the touches of brett or other beauty marks. This is pure clean flavors of Cabernet, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot. The oak is nicely integrated and the finish although not perfectly smooth is quite drinkable. I think this will only get better with time 5-7 years, but it is quite nice now.

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  • 2016 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown Napa Valley 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Haven't had this in a long time but it is great. Not really ready to drink right it needs 3-4 years more bottle aging to my taste. Classic and complex, it is perfectly ripe and has great weight, depth of flavor, ample structural tannins and a long finish. Big wine with complex flavors for the real carnivore.

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Flight 2 - Southern ? (8 Notes)

  • 2017 Quilt Chardonnay 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    For the 2016 vintage I said "Standard California Chardonnay, oaky, ripe, sweet, close to being acid balanced but not special or particularly speaking of Napa fruit." For this vintage I say "ditto".

    BTW I noted that someone said this did better on the second day. That might be true, but at $36 a bottle you can do far better with a wine you can drink the first day.

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  • 2016 Chamisal Vineyards Chardonnay 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Developed and complex Chardonnay where the fruit, the barrel ferment notes and the spice of the wood all integrate into a wonderful wine. Truly an classic of the Santa Rita appellation, that makes me want take a road trip to Santa Maria soon.

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  • 2016 Flowers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Supple and integrated this is another wonderful Chardonnay that uses classic winemaking and great fruit picked just at ripeness and balance. If you like White Burgundy you will love this wine. Very nicely executed and I may have to buy some.

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  • 2017 Daou Vineyards The Pessimist 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    At 15.5% alcohol this ripe monster is a style I don't appreciate, but I have friends that do. So I am scoring it for them and I will say they will love it, but my vote is neutral. Very ripe fruit but not really sweet and port like as some of these wines are. The flavors are very clean and powerful and the oak is in context. The balance is okay but the heat and alcohol started to give me a headache.

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  • 2017 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    The nose is relatively mild but this wine shines in the mouth. Very mild tannin structure and good acidity the sour cherry fruit is quite nice. The overall flavor is complex and spicy. The finish is quite nice and classic. If you are a fan of RRV or Santa Barbera PN this wine might seem wimpy but I quite like it and given a year more it will show some more power.

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  • 2016 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    So I went from an Archery Summit PN to this which is a very impressive intense wine. Comparing the two wines is somewhat unfair but this wine totally overshadowed a very nice Oregon PN. Great fruit stall flavors, nice spice from the elevation, weight and balance in the mouth with a long finish. Excellent value.

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  • 2016 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Overall I am sure this is a very good NV Cabernet but I don't like the sweet (RS) notes and there is also a VA from the barrel that puts me off. Big intense wine but I am passing on.

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  • 2015 Quilt Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Truly big and intense. One of those Kabuki NV Cabs that are sweet, over ripe and high alcohol with no sense of place or vintage. Not sure what I would eat with this it would overpower most dishes. Well made and I am sure there is a following, but I will go another direction and save my $120.

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Flight 3 - Trinchero (12 Notes)

  • 2017 Cloudfall Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County

    Clean fresh, unadorned Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp and fresh with a good presence and nice lingering finish, it has ample varietal character in the citrus herbal direction.

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  • 2018 Neyers Chardonnay 304 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Complex and quite citrus this is a California Chardonnay that compares quitenicely with Chablis but still has some Sonoma personality. Vey balanced, almost tart, all stainless so just pure lemon and yeast flavors. The Sonoma aspect appears in the weight of the wine. Lovely

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  • 2016 Ziata Chardonnay

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    A complex barrel fermented Carneros Chardonnay the oak and the yeasty notes are apparent and seem integrated but overall the wine was rather closed. it did have weight in the mouth, but thats all. Was not able to aerate it. My general perception of quality is probably high but it is unfair to pin a score on it as it showed in this tasting.

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  • 2016 Neyers Chardonnay Carneros 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Lovely, complex, barrel fermented Chardonnay. The oak is very nicely integrated with complex yeasty flavors and ripe grapefruit notes. Classic Napa Chardonnay. Very nice and not overdone.

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  • 2017 Neyers Pinot Noir Roberts Road Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Classic fruit and vegetable stall nose. Some spice from the barrel but the fruit trumps all. Complex and full bodied, it was hard not just stop the tasing here and down the glass. This is a lovely wine.

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  • 2017 Bravium Pinot Noir

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Wines where the oak is the dominant character are less appealing to me. This is one of those wines. I think under that layer of oak is an appealing wine. The balance is certainly good. I am not scoring this.

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  • 2016 Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon Neyers Ranch - Conn Valley 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Big round Napa Cabernet, good intense flavors and nice weight. Shows a bit of heat in the finish but it would be fine with food. This wine has been elevated nicely and displays length and complexity.

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  • 2013 Trinchero Cabernet Sauvignon BRV 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Big wine, nicely complex and really lovely. Developed but still a bit chewy, nice to see it offered as a on premise pour. Ripe flavors but not hot, fairly approachable. Really a value

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  • 2013 Trinchero Forte Red Blend 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    BDX blend based on Malbec (74%) and no Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a really big wine as Malbec can be but also soft and approachable. Nice level of complexity from the other grapes, Malbec can be rather one dimensional.
    This is a really nice wine.

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  • 2016 Folie à Deux Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    A bit lighter as Alexander Valley can be, a solid Cabernet, very approachable. Aimed more at the $20+ price point this has good complexity but less depth and concentration,

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  • 2016 Neyers Left Bank Red 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Classic and elegant, this wine is very approachable and attractive. The complexity is BDX like as is the finish. Very nice wine.

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  • 2014 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very approachable Napa Valley Cabernet. Good structure and depth, oak is a bit forward of the fruit but mostly integrated. Not a monster wine, there is ample depth and complexity. This is a very nice wine at this price point.

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Flight 4 - ? (11 Notes)

  • 2016 Dutton-Goldfield Chardonnay Dutton Ranch 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    I have always loved this vineyard and had the pleasure of making wine from it for quite a few years. It is truely special and this bottle really shows why. Although the wine is barrel fermented the lemon and green apple tones of the fruit are the stars of the nose supported by the native yeast and spice oak. Great acid and tons of length.

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  • 2016 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Jayson 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A one note chardonnay, all oak. Not bad oak, it is sweet and buttery but that is not what I like. It is technically well made and if you like very oak focused Chardonnay, give it a try.

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  • 2016 DuMOL Pinot Noir Wester Reach Russian River Valley 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Big fleshy powerful Russian River Pinot. Very complex, totally inviting, it is even better in the mouth than its aromatics. I hated to spit it out. Would like to go back and spend more time with it. Pricy but worth it.

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  • 2016 Clos du Val Pinot Noir Carneros 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Coming after the DuMol was unfair to this more elegant Pinot. This is a really nice wine at half the price. Plenty of nice flavors and spice, great finish and I would be totally happy with this wine anyway. Very nice.

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  • 2017 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Founders' Reserve 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    I have had a lot of Sonoma Coast, Carneros, and RRV Pinots today and this modest wine from Oregon does go to the back row aromatically. The nose is just not as intense nor distinct. Still it is a nice WV Pinot and I love the lighter structure and balance.

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  • 2016 Jax Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Calistoga

    Big very dark, chewy over ripe Napa Valley Cabernet. Needs lots of development, but I am not sure that is possible. Concentrated and lethargic, extremely chewy. Give it at least three years and more likely 7. It is not sweet.

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  • 2016 Seghesio Family Vineyards Defiant 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    Powerful yet elegant and integrated. Seems to be based on an old field blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, etc it is very balanced and complex. Tons of personality a really lovely, powerful wine. Although it was drinkable, I would give it at least a year.

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  • 2015 Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon Affinity 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted a lot of big very ripe Napa Valley Cabernets today, this is another very real example. Great flavors, extremely powerful and thick. A big chewy Cabernet that is not easy to drink at this point but give it a year or two and this will be wonderful

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  • 2015 Hall Merlot 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    15.8% alcohol, not for the faint of heart. Big ripe very tannic Merlot with a hot finish. I have friend that would love this wine, as for me I don't want to waste the brain cells. It is a very good wine with tons of personality.

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  • 2015 St. Supéry Merlot Rutherford 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    More a BDX blend than a Merlot. Nicely elegant and very approachable, good weight and complexity.

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  • 2016 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    The bottle was very cold and did not show well. We never went back to it after it warmed. What I did taste was solid and elegant but it would be unfair to assign a score.

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Flight 5 - Klinker Brick (2 Notes)

  • 2015 Klinker Brick Old Vine Zinfandel Marisa Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

    Big and spicy at 15.8% alcohol. Not sweet and it has good acid/tannin balance. Lot s of depth of flavors. I would probably never drink it but it is sound and attractive if you like the style.

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  • 2016 Klinker Brick 1850° 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi

    A decent Lodi Cabernet blend with Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, it tastes more of the Zinfandel and Petite Sirah than Cabernet. High alcohol at 15.4% it was the last wine in a long tasting. I have mixed feelings, the wine has complexity, is dry, and has a nice finish if you ignore the heat of the alcohol.

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