Winebar [4 Whts, 8 Reds, + 1 Shared Bottle] from 4/6/18

Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA
Tasted Saturday, April 7, 2018 by srh with 210 views

Flight 1 (13 Notes)

2016 Cambria Pinot Noir Rosé

USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

N: Oranges, flowers, poss spice?

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt adequately balanced by an acidity which slowly transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with ULT hints of raisins. NICELY done in a quaffing/lighter entrees style for now & into '19. My VG. 90 pts winereviewonline.com [This vendor's $12.95 is at least $2 < than anyone else on wine-searcher's listings.]

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2015 Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz Riesling "Ökonomierat"

Germany, Pfalz

N: Petrol VERY dominant

P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE frt QUICKLY met by spritzy, POTENT acidity which slowly morphs into a VERY LONG, tangy/swt (80:20) finish which, because of the AWESOME acidity, seems way drier than I suspect it actually is. For now & into if not through '20, poss more. My EXC -- particularly considering the QPR of this vendor's $14.95, which is at LEAST $3 < than anyone else on wine-searcher's currently limited listings. 89 pts WS (300 cs imported)

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2015 Jean-Jacques Vincent Pouilly-Fuissé Château de Fuissé Tête de Cru

France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, Pouilly-Fuissé

N; CLOSED; Minerals?

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with nice, almost swtish oak/frt with smokey notes met by balancing acidity which pushes through into the LONG, tangy/swt finish. POSS still tight & needing into Fall '18, then drinking through '20. Otherwise my VG- & rather poor QPR @ this vendor's $34.95, which IS in ~ the top 10% of wine-searcher's current listings. 92 pts WS (500 cs imported to U.S.), 90 WA, 88-90 ea Burghound & Vinous (Tanzer), 89 winealign.com , and 15.5/20 Jancis Robinson.

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2016 Freemark Abbey Sauvignon Blanc

USA, California, Napa Valley

95.1% S.B. + 4.9% Semillon, 20+ year-old vines in rich clay loam soil, plus 4 year old Semillon; Fermented in 62% S/s & 38% barrel (no malolactic fermentation), aged in S/s & older FR oak barrels, 20 days ave total barrel time; 13.4% ABV, "Dry", 3.38 pH, & 0.63g/100m T.A.

N; "Oily" (lanolin?) with grass, poss flowers; toast way underneath?

P: Med, poss MF body; RNDISH entry with nice, almost swtish frt which transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt (70:30) finish with the BAREST hint of bitterness. A crisp, "food friendly" style for now & prob through '20, + I can see this improving through the Summer of '18. My VG/VG+. 91 pts winereviewonline.com @ $25. [This vendor's$19.95 is in the top quartile of wine-searcher's current listings.]

Note: FYI, though I found this crisp & sans detectable R.S., one very experienced taster was CERTAIN he detected R.S.

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2015 Domaine Maume-Marchand-Tawse Bourgogne

France, Burgundy, Bourgogne

From vyds located in Nuits-Saint-Georges (Prémeaux side), Morey-Saint-Denis, Marsannay, & Côtes de Beaune; 100% destemmed; 11 months in used FR oak, followed by 3 mos in vat; Unfiltered, unfined.

N: Fragrant straws, cherries, flowers, with notes of earth;

P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by firming structure which fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with an attractive fruitiness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now with food, & should improve through '18, then drink into if not through '21. My VG/VG+, quite poss EXC-, , given the QPR of this vendor's $20.95, which although not currently listed on wine-searcher, I'm guessing to be VERY competitive!

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2012 Casanuova delle Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino

Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

24 mos in Slavonian oak barrels

N: Vanilla, berries, spice (cinnamon?)

P: Med body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which slowly transitions into a LONG, balanced finish with a bit of tangy & ALMOST a swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Relatively early maturing for this DOCG, it still NEEDS into '20 (perhaps more?), then drinking for 4 yrs so... certainly. My VG+/EXC-. 96 pts Suckling. [Though definitely competitive @ $45.95 in wine-searcher's widely varying listings, there is one current source that beats it by $6.]

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2014 Trione Pinot Noir River Road Ranch

USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

A mix of clones from their Russian River Ranch, 20% of the grapes being added whole cluster to the bottom of the fermenter. 14.9% ABV, 3.74 pH, & 5.50 g/l T.A. 1,226 cases

N: Fragrant RIPE straws with spice & other dark fruits

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by some astringent pucker which evolves into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with notes of spice & a swtness to the occasional glimpses of very, VERY fine tannins. For now with food, but DESERVES another yr or so, then drinking for 3 yrs more. IMPRESSIVE QPR in a substantial, almost brawny style! My VG+/EXC-, given the price. [This vendor's $22.95 is a whopping $9 < than the only other current wine-searcher listing!] 92 pts Planet Grape, 90 WE @ $39, & Gold @ '18 TEXSOM Int'll Wine Comp. [FYI, another more experienced taster was not NEARLY as enamored with this as I.]

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2014 Escalada do Sil Valdeorras

Spain, Galicia, Valdeorras

60% Merenzao (Trousseau), 30% Mencia, & 10% Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) from vines planted in 1993 in slate & granite sandy soil with traces of clay at 1,640-2,460 ft elevation. Pressed & aged in 500 L FR barrels for 15 mos; 425 cs (6 pack)

N: Fragrantly RIPE berries with notes of smoke & poss pyrazines

P: LM body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a very, VERY slightly puckerish astringency which never even comes CLOSE to losing the initial sense of frt as it slowly transitions into quite a LONG, BALANCED finish with a tang & swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now & the next 4+ yrs. SENSATIONAL! 13.5% ABV; My EXC. 95 pts Suckling, 92 Vinous, 91 WS, & 90 WE @ $40. [This vendor's $33.95 heads the currently limited wine-searcher class.]

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2014 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT

Italy, Veneto, Veronese IGT

Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.

N: Berries, smoke, poss pyrazines underneath?

P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt which retains that swtness when met by slightly puckerish astringency which loses its bite as it transitions into the LONG, tangy/swt, very, VERY slightly spicy finish with a swtness to the SLOWLY subsiding, very, VERY fine tannins. For now with food, this DESERVES through '18, then drinking for 3+ yrs more. AWESOME QPR -- even though there are current wine-searcher sources that beat this vendor's competitive $16.95 by $1-2. 13.5% ABV; My VG+/EXC-.

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2016 Chappellet Mountain Cuvée

USA, California, Napa Valley

51% C.S., 24% Merlot, 13% Malbec, 9% Petit Verdot, & 3% C.F.; 14.5% ABV, 0.60g/100ml T.A., & 3.70 pH.

N: Vanilla, berries, poss jamminess & spice?

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by a very, VERY finely tannicly astringent pucker which never really develops (because of the swtness) other than a "firming" bite, the finish being LONG & at least somewhat tangy/swt, the tannins being more spicy than objectionable. for now (with food), but DESERVES into Spring '19, then drinking for 3+ yrs more. Nicely made in its style. My VG/VG+. [Though this vendor's $26.95 beats everyone else in wine-searcher's currently truncated listing, there is one source listing it for $2 less.]

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2013 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

N: Closed; Vanilla, seems ripe

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt nicely counterbalanced by a swtish infused, puckerish astringency which slowly, SEAMLESSLY morphs into a VERY LONG, BEAUTIFULLY balanced finish with a swtness to the still present, very, VERY fine tannins. For now with food, though a yr, maybe 2, of improvement a distinct poss, then EASILY making its 10th... & more. My EXC, & I'd not rule out SOME level EXCEPTIONALITY down the line! 93 pts ea Vinous & WS, and 17/20 Jancis Robinson. [TOTALLY UNcharacteristically, this vendor's $67.95 is in the BOTTOM quartile of wine-searcher's HUGE listing.]

FYI: My *experienced* fellow taster was not nearly as thrilled, detecting some heat.

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2014 Langmeil Cabernet Sauvignon Jackaman's

Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

100% C.S. from vines planted in 1964 & yielding but 0.5–1.5 tons/acre; 24 mos in 60% new & 40% seasoned FR oak Hogsheads; 14% ABV, 7.0 g/L T.A., 3.51 pH, & 2.41 g/L R.S.

N: Closed; Seems ripe (berries) with vanilla; Intensity lurking

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by a puckerish astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with the very, VERY fine tannins retaining the swtness of the initial frt. DESERVES into '20, then EASILY making its 10th. My VG+/EXC-, poss more with age. IMPRESSIVELY made! 92 pts ea Suckling & Vinous, 91 WS, & 90 WE @ $69. [This vendor's $55.95 is the LEAST competitive of wine-searcher's limited entries. (Apparently only 60 cs were imported to the U.S.)]

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1985 Bargetto Cabernet Sauvignon Bates Ranch

USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

THANK you for sharing, Jake! :)

N: Earthiness, which one *experienced* taster felt was a touch of Brett

P: LM body; Still NICE frt BALANCED by acidity &, given its age, surprisingly persistent tannins, though exhibiting the initial "swtness" of the frt. The finish is LONG & with a LOVELY balance. Drink now, though should still safely hold a few more yrs, POSS even making (gasp!) its 40th! 12.5% ABV; My EXC+! :)

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