Warning: I'm an Alsace hater. But this has everything I hate about Alsace, magnified - smells like grandma powder, big, ripe, over-alcoholic, completely lacking any trace of elegance, and flabby as crap.
Pencil lead nose (on a NZ Pinot?!?). Smooth, ripe but not huge. Integrated oak, but lots of it. Slightly smoky. Very, very odd for a NZ Pinot, tasted more like a new world Merlot. But that said, I like it a lot.
Massive, high-toned nose with some alcohol. Oaky, ripe, slight burn on the finish that keeps this from being a total knockout. Still quite elegant. Chocolate. Good acid, medium tannins.
Very tarry nose. Incredibly smooth mouthfeel, fennel, tar. Not tannic! Ripe! Very unlike most of the tart red cherry tannin bombs I've had from the region. There was definitely a good dose of Gary, Indiana going on, though. $50
2008 Torii Mor Pinot Gris 84 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Apple cider nose, with a bit of pear. Salty? Simple and pleasant, but flabby.
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2009 Hecht & Bannier Languedoc Rosé 83 Points
France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc
Shy watermelon nose. Not quite crisp enough for me. Easy, smooth, bland. $12
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2008 Helfrich Gewurztraminer 77 Points
France, Alsace
Warning: I'm an Alsace hater. But this has everything I hate about Alsace, magnified - smells like grandma powder, big, ripe, over-alcoholic, completely lacking any trace of elegance, and flabby as crap.
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2005 Whitehaven Pinot Noir 91 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Pencil lead nose (on a NZ Pinot?!?). Smooth, ripe but not huge. Integrated oak, but lots of it. Slightly smoky. Very, very odd for a NZ Pinot, tasted more like a new world Merlot. But that said, I like it a lot.
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2006 Ottimino Zinfandel Zinfinity 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Oaky nose. Good acidity, not heavy. Oaky, smoky. Dark fruit buried deep under the oak. Slightly talcy. Different but interesting and tasty.
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2006 Zaca Mesa Z Cuvée 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
Off nose somehow. Ripe, stewed prunes, chocolate. Smooth. Alcohol pokes through. Very new world.
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2007 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Côtes du Rhône Parallèle “45” 88 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
Olivers on the nose. Smooth, easy, very representative for the vintage. More meaty than most basic CdRs.
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2007 Orin Swift Papillon 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Massive, high-toned nose with some alcohol. Oaky, ripe, slight burn on the finish that keeps this from being a total knockout. Still quite elegant. Chocolate. Good acid, medium tannins.
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2001 Antinori Chianti Classico Marchese Antinori Riserva 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG
Very tarry nose. Incredibly smooth mouthfeel, fennel, tar. Not tannic! Ripe! Very unlike most of the tart red cherry tannin bombs I've had from the region. There was definitely a good dose of Gary, Indiana going on, though. $50
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2006 Benton-Lane Pinot Noir 89 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Smooth, but odd bubble gum notes. Some strawberry.
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