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Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Locale Date Posted Score Helpful Comments Comment Date Community Score More...
White

2019 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc

 Columbia Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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11/10/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine: NR

An exceptional showing of what IMHO is Washington state's most iconic white wine. Everything's right in this vintage: lemon, apple, minerality, tension. It's the best young Chaleur Blanc I can remember.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    11/12/2020 7:53:00 PM - I agree. Year in and year out this is a reliable home run. Also agree that the 19 may be the best in years
White

2018 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc

 Columbia Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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8/28/2021 - Neurowine1 Likes this wine: 93 points

Garagiste mystery wine. Gorgeous nose of honeyed pear, white grapefruit, and tropical flowers. In the mouth, absolutely lovely peach, green apple, toasted almonds, herbs, and white pepper. Exceptional acid balance. Crazy long finish. Very much in balance. It is certainly reminiscent of white Bx and reminds me a bit of Ch. Carbonnieux, but there is something unique here that may come from its own unique terroir. I also feel there is more subtlety here than many white Bx and is not as heavy handed or glycerin-y as some. Overall, this is very much a style I love. I have no experience with this producer and very little experience with Washington white wines in general. This is truly spectacular and drinking perfectly but clearly has the stuffing to last. I can't get over how well this is drinking tonight, esp with roasted barramundi. I have some bottles of the '16 I am now very much looking forward to. Zimmerman got this one right!

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    9/29/2021 8:21:00 AM - One of our favorite whites. All of their wines are great. The roussanne is also lovely as is the single vineyard SB (new bottling this year). Reds are also excellent. Highly recommend their whole line.

    All of their wines are built to age.
White

2018 Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

 Sonoma Coast Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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7/13/2020 - Minnesota wrote: NR

Luc Morlet again does not disappoint. I'd pour La Proportion Doree or Peter Michael L'Apres Midi every day if possible. Exquisitely flawless, must force myself to slow down and savor.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    7/15/2020 7:05:00 PM - I agree. I absolutely love this wine year in and year out. Never would have thought my desert island wine would be a white wine until I tasted my first bottle of this.
Red

2018 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico

 Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese more
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4/25/2021 - Bob H wrote: NR

Somewhat reticent but vaguely pleasant nose. Seems a little thin/dilute on the palate. Popped and poured - this is my first time trying the new vintage, and on opening, I’m somewhat on the fence - I don’t hate it by any means, but at first glance I’m not sure I would make a effort to track more down either.

So I’m revisiting this wine 2 days after I originally opened it, and liking it more today. Still young and primary, but I can see the potential here.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    6/3/2021 2:32:00 PM - I had the same experience. But I had a little left on night 4 and it was fabulous. Putting my other 4 bottles away for at least several years
White

2018 Morlet Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Les Petits Morlet

 Sonoma County more
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7/22/2020 - Cristal2000 Likes this wine: 92 points

I adore the La Proportion Doree wine from Morlet, so figured I would give this Sauv Blanc a run, despite obviously not having the Semillon component. Apparently this is made for restaurants but with most of them not buying much wine due to Covid shutdowns, they went DTC.

Nose of lemon curd, melon and other various tropical fruits to go along with crushed rock. Displays that perfect soft, round and silky morlet texture with high levels of acidity and freshness. Gets a tad linear through the mid palate and dives deep into minerality and stone-like flavors. Finishes long and with some bite. This actually can use some air, so decant it if drinking now. Doesn't quite get the depth, complexity or overall sophistication of it's older sibling, but that is to be expected.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    7/23/2020 1:21:00 PM - Thanks for the notes. I also love La Proportion Doree so I bought some when it was offered. Since I am on East Coast I won’t be getting mine till October. Looking forward to it
Red

2018 DeLille Cellars Syrah Signature

 Columbia Valley more
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11/1/2020 - markd.shipley wrote: 88 points

Extremely young. Will settle out with time but afraid there is far too much oak and extraction on this to begin with. Noticing an over extraction trend with Delille.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    11/21/2020 8:26:00 AM - My experience w/ DeLille is it takes a good 5 years on any red (except possibly D2 in some years) to integrate. Even then I tend to wait until years 8 to 10 before I start thinking about them. But I do tend to like some age on my wine. In any case enjoy
Red

2015 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

 Oakville more
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2/2/2018 - csimm wrote: NR

...Crisis averted from yesterday's strange Coravin experience. Same bottle as yesterday; Coravin pour again. This was not displaying in any sort of disjointed fashion, but I will say it appears to be a little smoother on the initial pour (compared to the first time this bottle was Coravin'd a month ago). This bottle has now been through 3 piercings of the cork over a month's time. This leads me to believe that some minute amounts of O2 are getting into the bottle at this point. This time it is just slightly less powerful. Just FYI when using Coravin; this doesn't preserve indefinitely and is obviously more vulnerable to spoilage the more you pierce the cork. No fault of the wine of course. Still awesome.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    2/3/2018 7:28:00 AM - I have noticed on multiple occasions a slight drop on the cork after Coravin. So has my son.
    To this point I haven’t noticed any harmful effects, but the longest I have waited to open the bottle has been about 6 months.
    I appreciate the tips listed especially pressing the trigger as inserting.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    2/3/2018 12:02:00 PM - The wine was fine 6 months later. It was a 2000 Fisher Insigna and it was still very good. Hard to say if it accelerated its development as a result since it is 17 years old to begin with.
    All of the other occasions of “cork bleeding”, we opened the bottle in less than three months so can’t really form an opinion.
    But it does bear watching.
Red

2015 Massimo Clerico Coste della Sesia Ca' du Leria

 Nebbiolo Blend, Nebbiolo more
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2/27/2020 - JS1056 wrote: 86 points

Northern Italy Wine Dinner at Sidney's (Sidney's East Berlin PA): Interesting Nebbiolo blend.
By adding the Cabernet it really took away the thing that makes Nebbiolo unique. It was richer than a normal Piemonte wine and in this case I don't think that is a positive.
I didn't dislike this wine, but it was like any other ordinary red table wine.
It didn't help that this really didn't pair well with the sweetness of the carrots and also the onions in the fricasse.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    7/4/2021 8:52:00 PM - swhatcher- this was a while ago, so don’t remember who did presentation. But whoever claimed there was Cab in the blend.
    I wasn’t familiar with the wine (still not actually). I take your word for it.
White

2014 Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

 Sonoma Coast Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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5/15/2016 - NickHBailey Likes this wine: 94 points

Enjoyed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of my parent's business. Extremely enjoyable but was expecting more from a 100 point rating. Dry, clean, great mouthfeel and structure, maybe some honey, floral notes. Served this too cold and not familiar with this style so could be ignorance on my part. Luc Morlet told us to sit previous vintages of this wine down for 15-30 years so very excited to see this evolve. Couple more bottles left to test my patience!

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    5/16/2016 11:42:00 AM - I agree with your comment about serving too cold. I had the 2008 last week and the host had it a little too cold. After about 20 minutes in glass it improved dramatically.
White

2014 Anam Cara Gewürztraminer Nicholas Estate Vineyard

 Chehalem Mountains more
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5/21/2016 - PDD907 Likes this wine: 69 points

Great w spicy food. Light not to sweet

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    5/21/2016 7:24:00 PM - You liked it but scored it a 69 which equates to "avoid". Did you mean to give it 69?
White

2014 Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

 Sonoma Coast Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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6/26/2019 - Cailles wrote: 95 points

Much improved vs a bottle I had a year ago. This showed fresh and light, great precision and complexity. A year ago it showed rather too opulent, sweet and fat. Remarkable improvement in just a year.... I guess this could even climb higher with more age. I will hold the remaining bottles for at least five years.

TN: White Bordeaux with a new world twist. Citrus, orange zest, whit fruit, flowers. Nicely complex and well balanced of by a very good acidity which cuts nicely through the fruit and a fine layer of salt providing an additional fresh layer. Well round, zesty and fresh.

Decanting: No decant needed

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    7/4/2019 12:06:00 PM - I just finished drinking the 2011 now and they are wonderful. I would definitely hold any vintage of this wine for a few years.

    For me if I only could have one wine ever again it would be La Proportion Doree
White

2014 Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

 Sonoma Coast Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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11/11/2020 - msuwine wrote: 95 points

This white blend is more settled and honeyed than when I tasted it three and a half years ago (5/17 - 95 points), but it is just as good, if not a little better, albeit for different reasons than before. This wine does not fade into the crowd of California whites, many of which begin to taste strangely similar after a while. This wine has matured, more than aged, and it is completely wonderful.

Darker yellow in color and more full in body, the wine offers compelling aromas of baked almond, gooseberry, lemon marmalade, and beeswax (no more grapefruit here!). Flavors of honeysuckle, pecan pie (cue the Billy Crystal), lime rind, and mandarin orange, with a finish that is more viscous but just as energetic (read: the acidic backbone has held up remarkably well for a wine this full). Blend of 66% Semillon, 32% Sauvignon Blanc, and 2% Muscadelle. 14.8% alcohol. 95+ at the moment. Drink in the next few years, depending on how much you value freshness (now) as opposed to creaminess (later).

P.S. I wholeheartedly endorse csimm's suggestion to pair this with more savory and funky fare (read: blue cheese), since the viscosity of this wine is undeniable - and delicious. This enveloping wine is made for a cold winter's night, when the woods are lovely, dark, and deep...

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    11/12/2020 7:50:00 PM - Great notes. I am glad you enjoyed it. I have yet to open this vintage but this wine is my desert island wine. Every bottle every vintage reveals another side. The last bottle we drank was served with carbonara and the richness of the simple preparation just killed it with this wine.
Red

2013 Lapostolle Carménère Cuvée Alexandre

 Apalta more
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10/13/2016 - JS1056 wrote: NR

I just can't get my head around this grape, and find it funky but not usually in a good way. And though I liked this one more than most carmenere, it still left me wanting.
Having said that, it did improve remarkedly when the duck was added.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    10/14/2016 2:03:00 PM - Thanks for the feedback. I have a bottle of Carmen Reserve and will follow your advice.
White

2013 Morlet Family Vineyards La Proportion Dorée

 Sonoma Coast Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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12/15/2018 - VlgJeff wrote: 92 points

PnP, chilled. Only one glass each at a dinner for six, so not much air time, which would have helped. A very nice medium plus bodied, Cali white Bdx blend, with white fruits, lemon, mineral, and juicy acidity. Last sip began to show a touch of honey. Should hold for several years.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    12/17/2018 7:27:00 PM - The air time definitely helps with this wine. I have not opened the 2013 yet, but I have had several bottles of previous vintages. And in every case they have gotten better over the years. I would recommend decanting this wine if you have the opportunity.
    My favorite white wine and maybe flat our favorite wine.
White

2012 Kistler Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard

 Carneros more
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7/31/2015 - JS1056 wrote: 93 points

Greenish gold in color with a slightly reserved nose, (at least compared to the Aubert)
More Chablis like than the Aubert, the wine took a little while to open. Pit fruit with an acidic backbone and wet stone.
Unfortunately this was my only bottle, because I think I opened too soon.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    8/7/2015 5:03:00 PM - Buzzoff - I sold my other bottles and regret it somewhat. Luckily I have several older bottles. We just wanted to compare the Kistler and Aubert, same vineyards and the 2012 was the only match we had. Oh well.
Red

2012 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia

 Bolgheri Sassicaia Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/31/2016 - JS1056 wrote: 93 points

Tre Bonne Annee Best of Italy Dinner (Bricco): Bottle opened for an extended period prior to pouring.
Big nose of briar, leather and spices.
Way too early, however this is a very good wine in the making. Already pretty lush and velvety, there is lots of nice fruit layered with spice and some earthiness. Still the classic Super Tuscan

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    2/29/2016 2:37:00 PM - Touché.
    Although, I am not sure that the Bolgheri DOC existed way back when these wines were first made.
    In any case, really meant International variety grapes.
Red

2011 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

 St. Helena more
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11/15/2020 - JJYoyo Likes this wine: 94 points

2.5 hrs air. An exceptional wine in a so-so year. Beautiful sweet smells of maraschino cherry, violet, vanilla, allspice. Palate had abundant cassis and cherry, coffee, roast beef. Tannins not particularly strong, and acidity solid but not high. Good energy right now and though it has years ahead of it, I don’t think this wine will get better from here. In a very nice spot right now.
Score: 94. Relative to expectations: ++

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    11/19/2020 4:32:00 PM - I had bought various 2011 Napa Cabs because the price was heavily discounted. I have opened about 5 or 6 in the last year and but for one I have been really happy with them. They are reaching maturity very early for their pedigree but they have all had an elegance to them. Personally I have found the vintage berry underrated. Great for drinking as their more heralded siblings age
Red

2011 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Cask

 Rutherford more
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6/26/2020 - rocknroller wrote: 92 points

Very dark red color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over two hours. The nose is a lovely mix of bright black currants that are buoyed blackberries and a deep graphite note with dried wood and wood spice overtones. The palate is medium bodied with quite pretty black fruits now, black currants with blackberries and a little plum; graphite, fine tobacco, well balanced, beautiful wood framing and the requisite dusty tannins. I love the weight and finesse of this wine. Give me all the off vintages you want if their made like this. 92+pts.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    6/28/2020 3:19:00 AM - I have really enjoyed almost every one of the 2011 Napa wines I have had. All finesse and balance. I think the vintage got a bad rap and I was able to get many a a discount. My only caveat would be concern about extended aging. But who cares, I will drink them now.
White

2010 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard

 Sonoma Coast more
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11/1/2012 - tp096255 wrote: NR

THIS IS NOT A TASTING NOTE BUT, RATHER, A STRONG RECOMMENDATION:
Please, please, please, for the love of all things good and pure, please carefully decant your Aubert Chardonnays while on their sides. If you fail to do so then you will likely encounter a "raw" edge to the wine due to the lees that invariably precipitate out of the wine. This may prevent you from experiencing the absolute elegance and sophistication that can be achieved by Mark Aubert in his Chardonnay program. Please trust me when I tell you that by sacrificing that last 1-2 ounces of wine (just as the dregs start to appear in the stream) you'll be so much happier with the end result.
HOW TO: Remove the bottle from your cellar, keeping it in a sideways position and moving it as gently as possible to a towel on the countertop. This will keep it from rolling around. Put a decanter and a glass next to it, along with a white paper towel beside the decanter to provide a visual contrast underneath as you look through the bottle. Remove the capsule and using a standard "wing" corkscrew (the kind with two handles and a round piece of metal to rest against the lip of the bottle) insert the worm as far as you normally would with any other bottle. While the bottle is still in its original position, begin pushing down on the handles until you have all but about 1/2 inch of cork remaining in the bottle. Now comes the tricky part. SLOWLY incline the bottle neck upward just until you see the wine no longer touches the cork. Hold it in place and then wiggle the cork out the rest of the way. Insert a plastic/crystal pourer and begin pouring the wine into the decanter very gently so as to avoid any agitation by the incoming oxygen. As you get down to the last 3 ounces or so you will see the lees will begin to enter the stream. If you're using a crystal pourer you will be able to see the exact moment when those lees start to leave the bottle. STOP. Pour the rest of the bottle into the extra glass nearby. It's still decent wine, just with lots of yucky lees. ENJOY!

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    2/27/2014 9:47:00 AM - Troy,
    Got an undeliverable on email.
    I have noticed the same issue with Aubert and have attempted to avoid the lees but have had some mixed results. (Probably related to the amount of wine already drunk by the time we pour it) Never really considered actually using a decanter.

    Any advice would be appreciated. We will be serving Saturday night as the feature wine.
Red

2010 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino

 Sangiovese more
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8/31/2019 - JS1056 wrote: 92 points

Had during a meal with friends so the notes are more from memory and perception than anything

The thing that stood out was the complete balance of the wine. Nothing jumped out at you but i mean that in the most positive way. The tannins were smooth and refined. The dark fruit was clear and distinctive but so were the secondary flavors of earth, clove, cinnamon and an ever so slight bit of menthol.
The mouthfeel was rich and smooth. The finish went on for quite a while. The word that keeps crossing my mind is pretty. It was so easy to drink that the bottle was gone before we realized it.
I would have liked to have tasted this after it had been open for a while because I think it probably would have evolved given more time open. Will wait another couple of years before the next bottle.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    9/1/2019 6:58:00 AM - Probably 1/2 hour. Not decanted. Not sure I would decant. But I would probably open a little earlier if I had the opportunity.
Red

2009 Clos Apalta

 Red Bordeaux Blend more
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3/1/2013 - JS1056 Likes this wine: 90 points

Had at a Chilean Tasting. Wasn't decanted long enough so that the nose was a little muted. There was some berry, tobacco and a touch of eucalyptus. The best way to describe it was thick. The tannins were still young and this wine needs at least another couple of years in the bottle. By the end of the tasting it was beginning to round into shape.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    3/21/2013 7:00:00 PM - Sorry about the delay responding.

    2008 Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) Le Dix de Los Vascos
    2007 Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon Gold Reserve
    2009 Viña Santa Rita Cabernet Sauvignon Casa Real
    2008 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor (Private Reserve)
    2010 Montes Alpha M
    2004 Seña
    2006 Errazuriz Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva Don Maximiano Estate
    2008 Errazuriz Syrah La Cumbre
    2008 Errazuriz Carménère Kai
    2009 Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta

    The only wine that was a disappointment was the Carmen. All of the others were really good. My favorite was the Kai.
    Generally I think the group was split between the Kai and the Casa Real.
    Also I think most people thought that the Le Dix de Los VascosLe Dix de Los Vascos could eventually round into a really good wine.
Red

2008 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

 Columbia Valley more
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11/3/2022 - learningandenjoying Likes this wine: 96 points

Side by side with '06. G30; 4.5*+9*+4.5*+9*+9+4.5+4.5*=96+; Dark purple color. This was great from the start, but needed G30 to harmonize. After that it was improving with aromatics leading the way; more dark berry than leather and smoke. Palate certainly followed, but the evolution seemed most apparent in the aromatics with the palate continuing to smooth while maintaining really great complexity. No flaws, just change and evolution as it opened. Super well-balanced wine with good complexity and finish. Strong tannins and acidity on the finish until it has time to mellow in the glass. This is likely years away from its peak and 10 more beyond that for a plateau. No hurry.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    11/30/2022 2:51:00 PM - Not familiar with term “G30”.

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    12/1/2022 4:49:00 AM - Got the response
    Thanks. I am looking to open this bottle at XMAS. Based on your experience would you decant? Or was the glass time sufficient?

  • Comment posted by JS1056:

    12/1/2022 1:47:00 PM - Thanks

    Appreciate you taking the time to answer. Happy holidays

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