3/29/10: Yeah, this is lighter and not at the same level as the great value '07. Ok. 85
12/5/09: Not liking this as much as previous vintage. That nice earthy streak isn't as pronounced... In fact this now seems a little under ripe? Simple, with hard berried fruit. High acid. Fine for simple Chianti, and the price is fair. 83-84
3/29/10: Bright, clean, Great value. I always enjoy this. 87
1/16/10: Soft melon fruit on a fantastically aromatic nose. On the palate, it's brighter, with more lemon lime fruits and a bright acidity. A tasty little quaffer at a good price. This does soften up with time. 87
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Soft blackberry and raspberry fruit. Maybe it's the acidity, but I found this nicer than most of the Epicuran style of Aussie fruit bombs. A couple bucks cheaper and we might have ourselves a new Aussie wine on the shelf.
France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie
6/29/10: Tried this after the '09 Pepiere's and this paled in comparison. I think that says more about the '09 vintage then it does about the producers. It was much softer, without the focus and intensity of those wines. 88
3/29/10: Nice acidity, and medium bodied. A little richer. Good. Did retry this a week later and the acidity and saline qualities were much higher. 88-90
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet
7/9/10: Soft, easy going. Great mouth feel. This is a pounder. Very light. Some citrus. Serve it with some delicate seafood and watch this really shine. 87 3/29/10: Light and bright. A slight saline quality. So easy drinking. Very good. 87
Been trying this for a year, and it's still so delicious, actually a little better, as it's showing more. Come chalk and minerals. So bright. Delicious. 90+
One year later, this is showing much better. It's become much softer and more seductive. A little more structure on the palate. Nice acidity. Very good. 89-91
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Pays d'Hérault
6/29/10: Almost a fruit cake of spices. The palate is fine, it's easy going and tastes good, but it doesn't quite pass the Eh? level, wheras the next tier of this producer is so much better and not that much more money. 86
3/29/10: Some spice. Medium bodied, nice dark red fruits. 85-86
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Soft, rich fruit. Black pepper. Great structure. This is a killer wine, and seems to be more restrained than most of the other '07's I've had. Terrific wine. 92-93
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
7/13/10: This is much better on the 2nd day, but still doesn't reach the heights I'd hope for. The aromatics are big and funky. It's a pretty rich style on the palate as well. It's good, but nothing really distinguishes this wine, and I'm not even sure I'd guess BdM if poured blind. 89-90
3/29/10: My response veers toward the TN's on CT more the the high scores from the critics, especially the 95 points from WS. This just didn't really have the balance and verve that I was expecting from not only a highly rated wine, but Brunello in general. 87-88
I wonder if the previous taster had an old or improperly stored bottle? This bottle was funky and earthy. Lots of fruit characters, and tasty and smooth. Quite delicious. 89-90
2007 Mirante Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 85 Points
Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
3/29/10: Funky, a little licorice. Ripe. Somewhat off. 86
11/3/09: Ripe, rich fruit. Ok, doesn't taste like a Monte, though. 85
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2008 Di Lupo Chianti 84 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti
3/29/10: Yeah, this is lighter and not at the same level as the great value '07. Ok. 85
12/5/09: Not liking this as much as previous vintage. That nice earthy streak isn't as pronounced... In fact this now seems a little under ripe? Simple, with hard berried fruit. High acid. Fine for simple Chianti, and the price is fair. 83-84
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2008 François Pinon Vouvray Cuvée Tradition 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
3/29/10: Apricot, bright, delicious. Same as before. 90+
10/28/09: Gorgeous, lovely wine. Bright and clean, with that great Chenin mouth feel. 89-90
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2007 Tenute Valdifalco Brillando 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
7/13/10: Easy going. High acid. Bright. This is solidly made. 87
3/29/10: Ok. Bright fruit. Some tannins. 86
12/15/09:Raspberries, cherries, medium bodied. A little herbal. 87-88
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2008 Domaine du Cros (Philippe Teulier) Marcillac Lo Sang del Païs Rouge 88 Points
France, Southwest France, Marcillac
3/29/10: Yummy! A little softer then I remember, but delicious and great structure. 88
1/12/10: Nice, rustic wine. Medium bodied. Some spices. This is rocking. Great stuff, as always. 88
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2009 Parés Baltà Penedès Blanc de Pacs B 87 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
3/29/10: Bright, clean, Great value. I always enjoy this. 87
1/16/10: Soft melon fruit on a fantastically aromatic nose. On the palate, it's brighter, with more lemon lime fruits and a bright acidity. A tasty little quaffer at a good price. This does soften up with time. 87
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2007 Domaine de Bérane Ventoux Les Agapes 87 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux
3/29/10: Sweet fruit on the nose. A little grapey. Hints of spices. Nice. Better then previous bottle that had been opened for a day. 87-88
2/2/10: Good sappy fruit. Not a lot going on. This was opened the previous day, so perhaps that explains the muted qualities to this wine. 86?
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2007 Gran Familia Rioja 85 Points
Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
3/29/10: Ripe. A little Aussiefied. Not as good as I remember last time, and as compared to the '06. 83
2/5/10: Red fruits, and ceder. Bright, med body. A solid every day Rioja. 86-87
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2007 De Forville Nebbiolo d'Alba San Rocco 89 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Alba, Nebbiolo d'Alba
3/29/10: I prefer this quite a bit over the regular Langhe Neb. Very smooth, and just has that high quality to it. Very nice. 89-90
2/9/10: Great nose. Bright. This is delicious. Some grippy tannins, but this is accesable right now. 89
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2007 De Forville Barbera d'Asti Vigneto Cascina Buc 88 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti
Great nose. Good fruit. Spice. Very good.
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2008 De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo 87 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC
Softer. Accessible now. Nice. 87+
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2008 Crios de Susana Balbo Chardonnay
Argentina, Mendoza
Did not enjoy this. The weakest of the Crios wines.
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2007 Glaetzer Shiraz Grenache Wallace 87 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Soft blackberry and raspberry fruit. Maybe it's the acidity, but I found this nicer than most of the Epicuran style of Aussie fruit bombs. A couple bucks cheaper and we might have ourselves a new Aussie wine on the shelf.
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2008 Domaine Luneau-Papin Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie Vieilles Vignes Clos des Allées 88 Points
France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie
6/29/10: Tried this after the '09 Pepiere's and this paled in comparison. I think that says more about the '09 vintage then it does about the producers. It was much softer, without the focus and intensity of those wines. 88
3/29/10: Nice acidity, and medium bodied. A little richer. Good. Did retry this a week later and the acidity and saline qualities were much higher. 88-90
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2009 Domaine Saint-Peyre Picpoul de Pinet 86 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet
A little richer than the Caves de pomerol. Solid, but just doesn't have that zip.
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2009 Les Costières de Pomérols Picpoul de Pinet Hugues de Beaulieu 87 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Picpoul de Pinet
7/9/10: Soft, easy going. Great mouth feel. This is a pounder. Very light. Some citrus. Serve it with some delicate seafood and watch this really shine. 87
3/29/10: Light and bright. A slight saline quality. So easy drinking. Very good. 87
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2009 Château de la Vieille Tour Bordeaux Blanc 84 Points
France, Bordeaux
Doesn't have that Grapefruit New Zealandish quality of the previous vintage. However, it is kind of boring.
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2007 Lucien Crochet Sancerre 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre
Been trying this for a year, and it's still so delicious, actually a little better, as it's showing more. Come chalk and minerals. So bright. Delicious. 90+
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2009 Domaine de Martinolles Chardonnay Aude 86 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Aude
Medum bodied. Some brightness. Actually brighter and cleaner then I remember previous vintages being. A definite value play. 85-86
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2006 Henri et Gilles Buisson Saint-Romain Sous La Velle Blanc 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Romain
Powerful, almost sweet nose. Some richness. Really complex, but there seems to be a slight oxidative note in here, as well. 89-91
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2006 J.A. Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé Les Vernays
France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé
I personally didn't feel like this was really doing that well when tasted.
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2008 Giraudon Pinot Noir Bourgogne-Chitry 87 Points
France, Burgundy, Bourgogne-Chitry
This has softened a little since I last tasted over 6 months ago, while also gaining a little weight. Very good. 87-88
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2007 Edmond Cornu & Fils Chorey-les-Beaune Les Bons Ores 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chorey-les-Beaune
Nice earthiness. A little tannic, in fact tightly wound right now. Give it time, I think this will come together well.
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2006 Forey Père et Fils Vosne-Romanée 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
One year later, this is showing much better. It's become much softer and more seductive. A little more structure on the palate. Nice acidity. Very good. 89-91
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2007 Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieille Vigne 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Funky, earthy nose. Great fruit. Lots of structure. Terrific, but needs time. 90-91
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2006 Gerard Charvet Moulin-à-Vent La Reserve d'Amelie Vieilles Vignes 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Moulin-à-Vent
Still tightly wound. A lot of depth coming through now though. Spices. Very nice. 88-89
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2008 Lamé Delisle Boucard Bourgueil Cuvée des Chesnaies 89 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil
This is so good. So many flavors. Lots of earth, spices. A little tannic, but this is a killer wine and a fantastic value. 88-89
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2008 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Granges 88 Points
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon
8/14/10: Yummy, rustic nose. Well balanced. Light on the front. Herbal. Maybe a little on the green side. Good. 87+
6/29/10: Spicy, rustic, meaty on the nose. rich and spicy palate, but this was actually a little closed today. A little tight. 88-90
3/29/10:Some cinnamon spice on the nose. Dark fruit. Tons of depth in this wine. Really delicious stuff. 88-90
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2008 Château d'Oupia Pays d'Hérault Les Hérétiques 86 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Pays d'Hérault
6/29/10: Almost a fruit cake of spices. The palate is fine, it's easy going and tastes good, but it doesn't quite pass the Eh? level, wheras the next tier of this producer is so much better and not that much more money. 86
3/29/10: Some spice. Medium bodied, nice dark red fruits. 85-86
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2008 Château d'Oupia Minervois 88 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois
6/29/10: Showing better now. Spice on the nose. Nice concentration. Very high on the yummilicious scale. 88+
3/29/10: Some spice. Very young. Lots of depth. Quite nice. 87+
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2008 Domaine Monpertuis (Paul Jeune) Côtes du Rhône Cuvée La Ramière 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Great spices all over the nose. Garrigue intertwining with the fruits. Delicious stuff. 88-89
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2007 Domaine Monpertuis (Paul Jeune) Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Soft, rich fruit. Black pepper. Great structure. This is a killer wine, and seems to be more restrained than most of the other '07's I've had. Terrific wine. 92-93
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2008 Ferrando Erbaluce di Caluso La Torrazza 88 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Erbaluce di Caluso
Medium bodied. Nice acidity. Bright and clean. Good, though I'm not sure I'd pay the money this costs.
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2007 C.V.T SRL Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Bucaro 86 Points
Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
Ripe. Some tannins. ok. 86+
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2007 Colle Del Sole Rosso Piceno 83 Points
Italy, Marche, Rosso Piceno
Soft. Berries. innocuous. 82-83
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2004 Terra Nostra Chianti Classico Riserva 86 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Lots of fruit. Simple. Bot has solid fruit, and is ok.
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2006 Villa S. Anna Chianti Colli Senesi 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Colli Senesi
Soft, sexy classy wine. Delicious stuff.
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2004 Castellani Campomaggio Toscana IGT 84 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Funky, but not really in a good way. Not much else going on.
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2004 Le Casine Brunello di Montalcino 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Ok. Bright. Not really getting that, oh yeah, this is Brunello feeling. 86-87
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2004 Tenuta Corte Pavone Brunello di Montalcino 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
7/13/10: This is much better on the 2nd day, but still doesn't reach the heights I'd hope for. The aromatics are big and funky. It's a pretty rich style on the palate as well. It's good, but nothing really distinguishes this wine, and I'm not even sure I'd guess BdM if poured blind. 89-90
3/29/10: My response veers toward the TN's on CT more the the high scores from the critics, especially the 95 points from WS. This just didn't really have the balance and verve that I was expecting from not only a highly rated wine, but Brunello in general. 87-88
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NV Kizakura Tozai Living Jewel Junmai Premium 88 Points
Japan, Kansai, Kyoto
Mushroom and a hint of tropical. Smooth. Quite nice. Made in a richer style.
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NV Kizakura Junmai Nigori Snow Maiden Premium 89 Points
Japan, Kansai, Kyoto
I wonder if the previous taster had an old or improperly stored bottle? This bottle was funky and earthy. Lots of fruit characters, and tasty and smooth. Quite delicious. 89-90
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NV Tentaka Kuni Hawk in Heavens Tokubetsu Junmai
Japan, Kantō, Tochigi
A little rough, and I didn't enjoy this as much as some of the others, despite the higher price.
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2009 Parés Baltà Penedès Ros de Pacs R 86 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
Bright, Ok. 86
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2006 Liparita Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
Good. Rich.
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2008 Mount Eden Vineyards Chardonnay Arroyo Seco 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Seco
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2008 Truchard Chardonnay 88 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Rich, full bodied cahard. Very nice. 88+
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2006 Truchard Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Big rich nose. Solidly made, and quite enjoyable.
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2007 Truchard Syrah 86 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
By far, my least favorite of the 3 Truchards. A little over the top.
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2006 Belle Pente Riesling 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Medium bodied. Ok. 87-88
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2009 Union Wine Company Pinot Gris Kings Ridge 86 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Solid, every day value PG from Oregon.
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2009 Union Wine Company Pinot Noir Underwood 83 Points
USA, Oregon
This is ok, and priced fairly. Yes it's forgettable, but it doesn't taste like Syrah, either.
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2008 Torii Mor Pinot Blanc 84 Points
USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley
Round, boring.
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NV Quinta do Infantado Porto Tawny 88 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
6/29/10: Nice fruit. Easy going. Spicy. 88
3/29/10: Solid. rich fruit. Good. 88
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