Aged 10 mos in FR oak (15% new); 13.28% ABV, 1.07 g/l R.S., 6.50 g/l T.A., & 3.28 pH
N: Lemons, poss some minerals?
P: Med body; Nice, toasty frt on entry met by a brief astringency mid-P, this morphing late into a long, almost swtish finish. VERY nicely made in a food friendly style. Drink through '17, poss longer. 92 pts Suckling, 91 Vinous, Silver @ '16 Deanter World Wine Awards, and Bronze @ '17 Int'l Wine & Spirits Comp. [Tasted @ $13.99, and still avail @ that & $14.99 from 2 of July 2018's wine-searcher sources.]
70% Grenache Blanc, 10% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc, & 10% Viognier fermented & aged in s/s, NO malolactic; 13.5% ABV
N: *Lovely* FLORAL, poss lemons
P: LM body; Crisp entry turning caramelly & slightly bitter on the long finish. N *markedly* ahead of P, at least as of this date. I like this style (I suspect) more than many would. Nonetheless, there may well be better values out there in a crisp, food wine style. 90 pts WS, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, & 12.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France. Tasted @ $9.99, this is still available on July 2018's wine-searcher @ $10.99.
Frt from the Home, Catarina, & Green Acres blocks; "Each block was separately hand-harvested, whole cluster- pressed, & then fermented in 1/3 new barrels, 1/3 one-year barrels, & 1/3 older barrels. After primary fermentation, the wine was inoculated for a second, malolactic fermentation & aged on its lees for nearly 9 mos. The individual wines were blended shortly before bottling." 14.4% ABV, 0.3% R.S., & 3.55 pH. 1,460 cases
N: Toast slightly atop lemons
P: MF body; Rndish entry with almost swtish oak; Long, slightly oakily harsh finish; Might the oak (particularly on the finish) integrate? Otherwise, overoaked for my palate. 86 pts WE @ $30, & Silver @ '16 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp. [Tasted @ $22.99, but didn't see it available anywhere in July '18.]
P: Med, poss LM, body; Nice frt on entry goes astringent mid-P, though that fades by the long finish; Might improve through '17. Decent in a lighter style. 13% ABV. [No longer available @ the tasted $12.99, though I did see one July 2018 wine-searcher vendor listing it for $15.]
Mountain vineyards with an age of 35 to 60 years situated at an altitude of 600- 700 meters, on stony, slimy soils with clay & limestone. Fermented in controlled temperature s/s tanks, then aged 5 mos in new bordelaise barrels; 10,000 cs made
N: Closed; Jam, some alch
P: Med body; Nice frt on front goes astringent mid-P before evolving into a long, very slightly astringent finish with notes of spice. NEEDS through '17, maybe more, then poss QUITE nice. 15% ABV. 91 pts WS & #39/Top 100 for '16 @ $18, 90 pts WA, 88 RJonWine, & other accolades listed on wine-searcher's "Tasting Notes" menu. [No longer avail @ the tasted $14.99, July 2018's wine-searcher does still show vendors offering it from $14.39-$23.]
70% Syrah, 17% P.S, 10% Grenache, & 3% Viognier; 15.3% ABV; 12,000 cs released Fall 2015
N: Fragrant, but tough to parse
P: MF body; Nice frt on front quickly turns alcoholic; LONG, very slightly astringent finish. Not my style. :( 91 pts ea WA & WE with an "Editors' Choice" @ $20. [While this vendor no longer carries it @ the $14.99, mid July 2018's wine-searcher shows 4 sources @ from $18-22.]
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
N: Jam & earthy notes; A tad closed initially, it gained fragrance with air
P: MF body; Nice frt on front with excellent length & just a touch of austerity to firm the finish. 13.8% ABV. 92 pts Vinous, 90 ea WS & James Halliday, 88 WA, & a Bronze @ '16 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards. [Tasted @ a no longer avail $18.99, mid July 2018's wine searcher still shows 4 entries from $24-$40.]
78% Merlot + 22% Syrah & Malbec from the Hudson (Merlot & Syrah), Stagecoach (Merlot), Antica (Merlot), & Trefethen (Malbec) Vyds, aged in a combination of FR & AM oak (30% new); 15.2% ABV; 4,500 cases
N: Ripe, jammy, with some hard to parse aromas
P: MF body; Almost swtish frt on front, structure kicking in mid-P; LONG, slightly astringent finish. NEEDS into, if not through, '18. 88 pts ea WS & RJonWine, 85 WE @ $40, and Bronze @ '15 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards. [No longer avail @ the tasted $25.99, mid-July 2018's wine-searcher still shows various sources from $30-$50.]
N: Some complexities -- notes of cherries, tar, poss pyrazines?
P: Almost swtish frt upfront (approaching threshold R.S.?) with a LONG, very slightly tannic finish. Decent, but drink up! 14.7% ABV. 88+ pts RJonWine. [Tasted @ $29.99, but as of mid-July 2018 apparently no longer available anywhere?]
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt met by some mid-P structure; LONG, spicy, VERY slightly astringent finish. Should be fine now with food, but could well improve into late Spring '18. NICE QPR @ this vendor's $13.99, which doesn't seem to be available ANYWHERE as of mid-July 2018. 92 pts & "Editors' Choice" from WE @ $20.
2015 Errazuriz Chardonnay Max Reserva
Chile, Casablanca Valley
Aged 10 mos in FR oak (15% new); 13.28% ABV, 1.07 g/l R.S., 6.50 g/l T.A., & 3.28 pH
N: Lemons, poss some minerals?
P: Med body; Nice, toasty frt on entry met by a brief astringency mid-P, this morphing late into a long, almost swtish finish. VERY nicely made in a food friendly style. Drink through '17, poss longer. 92 pts Suckling, 91 Vinous, Silver @ '16 Deanter World Wine Awards, and Bronze @ '17 Int'l Wine & Spirits Comp. [Tasted @ $13.99, and still avail @ that & $14.99 from 2 of July 2018's wine-searcher sources.]
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2015 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Blanc Saint-Esprit
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône
70% Grenache Blanc, 10% Clairette, 10% Bourboulenc, & 10% Viognier fermented & aged in s/s, NO malolactic; 13.5% ABV
N: *Lovely* FLORAL, poss lemons
P: LM body; Crisp entry turning caramelly & slightly bitter on the long finish. N *markedly* ahead of P, at least as of this date. I like this style (I suspect) more than many would. Nonetheless, there may well be better values out there in a crisp, food wine style. 90 pts WS, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, & 12.5/20 La Revue du Vin de France. Tasted @ $9.99, this is still available on July 2018's wine-searcher @ $10.99.
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2014 Gregory Graham Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyard
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Frt from the Home, Catarina, & Green Acres blocks; "Each block was separately hand-harvested, whole cluster- pressed, & then fermented in 1/3 new barrels, 1/3 one-year barrels, & 1/3 older barrels. After primary fermentation, the wine was inoculated for a second, malolactic fermentation & aged on its lees for nearly 9 mos. The individual wines were blended shortly before bottling." 14.4% ABV, 0.3% R.S., & 3.55 pH. 1,460 cases
N: Toast slightly atop lemons
P: MF body; Rndish entry with almost swtish oak; Long, slightly oakily harsh finish; Might the oak (particularly on the finish) integrate? Otherwise, overoaked for my palate. 86 pts WE @ $30, & Silver @ '16 S.F. Chronicle Wine Comp. [Tasted @ $22.99, but didn't see it available anywhere in July '18.]
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2014 Bocelli Rosso Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
N: Fragrant notes of jam & flowers, poss spice?
P: Med, poss LM, body; Nice frt on entry goes astringent mid-P, though that fades by the long finish; Might improve through '17. Decent in a lighter style. 13% ABV. [No longer available @ the tasted $12.99, though I did see one July 2018 wine-searcher vendor listing it for $15.]
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2014 Bodegas Borsao Garnacha Campo de Borja Tres Picos
Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja
Mountain vineyards with an age of 35 to 60 years situated at an altitude of 600- 700 meters, on stony, slimy soils with clay & limestone. Fermented in controlled temperature s/s tanks, then aged 5 mos in new bordelaise barrels; 10,000 cs made
N: Closed; Jam, some alch
P: Med body; Nice frt on front goes astringent mid-P before evolving into a long, very slightly astringent finish with notes of spice. NEEDS through '17, maybe more, then poss QUITE nice. 15% ABV. 91 pts WS & #39/Top 100 for '16 @ $18, 90 pts WA, 88 RJonWine, & other accolades listed on wine-searcher's "Tasting Notes" menu. [No longer avail @ the tasted $14.99, July 2018's wine-searcher does still show vendors offering it from $14.39-$23.]
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NV Marietta Cellars Christo Lot Number 3
USA, California, Sonoma County
70% Syrah, 17% P.S, 10% Grenache, & 3% Viognier; 15.3% ABV; 12,000 cs released Fall 2015
N: Fragrant, but tough to parse
P: MF body; Nice frt on front quickly turns alcoholic; LONG, very slightly astringent finish. Not my style. :( 91 pts ea WA & WE with an "Editors' Choice" @ $20. [While this vendor no longer carries it @ the $14.99, mid July 2018's wine-searcher shows 4 sources @ from $18-22.]
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2014 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Sexy Beast
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
N: Jam & earthy notes; A tad closed initially, it gained fragrance with air
P: MF body; Nice frt on front with excellent length & just a touch of austerity to firm the finish. 13.8% ABV. 92 pts Vinous, 90 ea WS & James Halliday, 88 WA, & a Bronze @ '16 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards. [Tasted @ a no longer avail $18.99, mid July 2018's wine searcher still shows 4 entries from $24-$40.]
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2012 Prisoner Wine Company Thorn
USA, California, Napa Valley
78% Merlot + 22% Syrah & Malbec from the Hudson (Merlot & Syrah), Stagecoach (Merlot), Antica (Merlot), & Trefethen (Malbec) Vyds, aged in a combination of FR & AM oak (30% new); 15.2% ABV; 4,500 cases
N: Ripe, jammy, with some hard to parse aromas
P: MF body; Almost swtish frt on front, structure kicking in mid-P; LONG, slightly astringent finish. NEEDS into, if not through, '18. 88 pts ea WS & RJonWine, 85 WE @ $40, and Bronze @ '15 TEXSOM Int'l Wine Awards. [No longer avail @ the tasted $25.99, mid-July 2018's wine-searcher still shows various sources from $30-$50.]
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2009 Veedercrest Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
USA, California, Napa Valley
N: Some complexities -- notes of cherries, tar, poss pyrazines?
P: Almost swtish frt upfront (approaching threshold R.S.?) with a LONG, very slightly tannic finish. Decent, but drink up! 14.7% ABV. 88+ pts RJonWine. [Tasted @ $29.99, but as of mid-July 2018 apparently no longer available anywhere?]
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2013 Fiddletown Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Fiddletown
93% Zin & 7% Alicante Bouschet; 14.5% ABV, 0.5% R.S., 6.2 g/l T.A., & 3.57 pH; 4,300 cs
N: Fragrantly jammy (lingonberries?)
P: Med, poss MF, body; Almost swtish frt met by some mid-P structure; LONG, spicy, VERY slightly astringent finish. Should be fine now with food, but could well improve into late Spring '18. NICE QPR @ this vendor's $13.99, which doesn't seem to be available ANYWHERE as of mid-July 2018. 92 pts & "Editors' Choice" from WE @ $20.
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