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

2007 Full Pull & Friends Cabernet Sauvignon

 Columbia Valley more
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5/12/2014 - fingers Likes this wine: NR

Second of my four bottles and it proves that the first was not a fluke. This stuff is terrific. Just make sure to filter/decant, for there is a ton of sediment and wine crystals around the cork.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    5/13/2014 9:05:00 PM - My heart skips a beat and does a little dance when I see those crystals; never found a bottle of wine with those that I wasn't crazy about. They're like miniature crystal balls, you know you're going to like the wine before you even pour the first glass!
Red

2008 Olsen Estates Red Wine

 Yakima Valley Red Blend more
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8/30/2013 - Leomania Likes this wine: 88 points

Very good red blend, drinks above its discounted price point. Nothing to add to previous notes.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    9/30/2013 9:26:00 PM - It's holding up splendidly, no reason to rush. But by the same token I'm not thinking it needs any more cellar time. Unfortunately I've moved up the end dates on a few wines recently so my "drink soon" category is getting a bit full... ;-)
Red

2008 Dacalier De La Terre

 Lake County Red Rhone Blend more
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4/6/2012 - Leomania wrote: 86 points

Consumed over the course of 3 evenings; used Vinturi in all cases. Light in color, looks just like a Carneros Pinot as it is poured. Nose and initial flavor of Band-Aids, which subsides quickly and becomes less noticeable with additional time in the glass. Once that's out of the way, there's cherry, raspberry, tar and leather with a nice flourish riding on the ample acidity. Were it not for the initial flaw this would be a superb food wine, but as it stands I'm just hoping the next bottle doesn't exhibit this characteristic.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    5/22/2012 11:18:00 AM - Hello Dave. No worries, comment anytime!

    I have definitely experienced brett in a number of wines, and a couple in particular had amazing bottle-to-bottle variation. In low amounts I don't automatically consider it a flaw, but it was enough in this bottle to be above that threshold for me. Definitely looking forward to the next one; will let you know.
Red

2007 Kent Rasmussen Pinot Noir Carneros

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1/8/2012 - Leomania Likes this wine: 89 points

Poured into decanter and served after two hours. Samped a small glass ahead of time and I'd say the two hours was warranted. Nice raspberry nose and flavors with relatively high acidity (not too much, just more than average) and fine-grained tannins. Noticeable oak. Very enjoyable, but did not pair well with the grilled salmon we served.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    5/22/2012 11:11:00 AM - Not sure any at this point, it has been too long. It could have been a Coho salmon which I find to be more challenging with regard to a compatible wine.

    Sorry for the delay - I need to find out how to see when a comment has been posted.
Red

2009 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel

 Dry Creek Valley more
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5/20/2012 - bearcave wrote: 85 points

I can't believe no one is talking about the fact that this wine is ridden with brettanomyces.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    5/22/2012 10:25:00 AM - This is not common for a Rafanelli. I would suggest you drop them a note to let them know, they may very well replace it.
Red

2006 Humanitas Merlot Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Napa Valley

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3/14/2012 - BlackIce wrote: 89 points

An excellent Merlot with notes similar to Leomania. However, it needs to be drunk on first day. It fell apart a bit on the second day.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    3/14/2012 7:15:00 PM - I don't think I'll ever know if it's any good on the second day. :-)
Red

2008 Domaine de la Janasse Vin de Pays de la Principauté d'Orange Terre de Bussière

 Red Rhone Blend more
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3/12/2012 - daveste wrote: 88 points

Pop and pour this charming red. Medium body, fine fruit, not a lot of acid or tannin. Orange is near the Cote-du-Rhone, but this is not the violets-and-flowers type, more like a new world red. A blend of Merlot and Syrah, the fruit flavors are more on the Merlot side, full mouth feel. Good bargain but not to keep long.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    3/13/2012 9:40:00 AM - I've got the '06 and it's still drinking wonderfully. I also have the '08, and it seems very consistent with the '06. Don't be afraid to hold it for a couple of years if you have good storage.
Red

2006 Nicholas Cole Cellars Syrah Dauphiné Walla Walla Valley

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3/11/2012 - blabbott wrote: 87 points

Nice blackberry nose. This bottle has improved as it opened up, it had been decanted for about 30 minutes before we tasted it. This doesn't seem to be a really balanced wine, the acid is slightly overwhelming the fruit. Two and a half hours after decanting, this wine is still disappointing considering our expectations and other tasting notes. The fruit is coming out more and the wine really is improving, but it isn't leaving me wishing I had more in the cellar.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    3/11/2012 10:08:00 PM - Perhaps you had an off bottle; I hope you do have some more in the cellar. Of all of my Nicolas Cole wines, this one surprised me the most - it is the definition of "brooding", in my estimation. It is dryer than many Syrah, so give it a long time to open up (save a half bottle for a second night if you can). Pair it with something appropriate, and if all else fails get a good quality salami and I'm confident the wine will absolutely sing. Personally, it has taken all my will power to avoid drinking another bottle.
Red

2009 Renegade Wine Co. Grenache

 Walla Walla Valley more
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3/11/2012 - mulder wrote: NR

Are you kidding me? This stuff is a ridiculous QPR, amazing nose of raspberry, strawberry, underbrush and just a hint of white pepper. The mouth is silky but burst open with liveliness of red fruit and earth. There is a Pinot-like presence to this wine with mouth water acidity with only 13.3% alc. I wish I had cases of this to share!

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    3/11/2012 10:03:00 PM - Agreed. I've yet to sample a Renegade offering that wasn't more than worth the tariff, and this one is no exception. I think Grenache doesn't get its due in general, and over the course of time I expect this wine will be no exception.
Red

2005 Havens Wine Cellars Merlot

 Napa Valley more
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10/22/2011 - redman77 wrote: flawed

OUCH OUCH Corked.or..full of brett.....I have 6 more left

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    10/23/2011 5:29:00 PM - I moved through a couple of cases of this wine, and the amount of brett varies greatly. My last two bottles were outstanding, the one before that got poured down the sink - no amount of air would settle down the obvious brett. If you open another and it has just a little brett, give it some air - it will probably go away. Otherwise, quickly pop another and hope for the best!
Red

2005 Havens Wine Cellars Merlot

 Napa Valley more
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10/3/2011 - ckeilah wrote: NR

Nose of campho-phenique. I'm scared.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    10/4/2011 4:36:00 PM - It's most likely brett. Several of my bottles had this issue.
Red

2004 Rockledge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon The Rocks

 St. Helena more
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9/2/2011 - King Cab wrote: 93 points

I am obviously in the minority here, but that's never bothered me before. I love this wine.
Some wines take different routes to get to where they are going, others stay true and sure, hardly ever budging. This is the latter.
It's super dark and still ominous. Nose is all dark fruits of black-cherries, currant, and soft ripe super-black plums. The cola notes are in play as is some creme de cassis and cardamom. Pure and precise while being classic and gripping, this remains the cab lovers cab. Masculine and bordering a heavy weighted wine, this has gripping tannins---still, with a slightly elevated acidity; this seems about right for such a big boned wine and without this could easily fall apart. Notes of graphite, cedar box and hints of exotic tea leaf really make this a well balanced wine that carries much interest within its suit of armour. Finish remains lively with the dark fruits never wavering for pole position. This is really a satisfying Napa Cabernet. Last tasted with Mike Hirby when he visited with the CLONYC gang back in October, 2009. This has barely moved an inch since.....

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    9/6/2011 9:39:00 AM - Great write-up on this wine. I bought some of this at the same time as the 2006 which is the last vintage available. I understand Mike Hirby will be buying the grapes and making this great wine under his own label, and I look forward to trying it when that happens.
Red

2005 Havens Wine Cellars Merlot

 Napa Valley more
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3/5/2011 - winegr wrote: NR

Another bottle from the poorly stored case from local retailer. Too much brett, the fruit came forward a bit more the 2nd day to make it better. Drinkable, but not good.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    3/6/2011 4:19:00 PM - I purchased quite a lot of this vintage after the winery went under, and the incidence of brett is very common. If storage conditions are to blame (too warm), I would suspect it occurred prior to the retailers taking delivery of the wine.

    Note that the 2006 vintage, purchased at the same time in similar quantities, had not a hint of brett.

    Final note; I used a Vinturi for the last bottle I opened and the wine seemed almost free of brett and was quite delicious.
Red

2005 Havens Wine Cellars Merlot

 Napa Valley more
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1/29/2011 - winegr wrote: flawed

Bretty and not very good. I know past bottles have been very good, so I'll chalk this one up to bad storage due to Havens bankruptcy. Hope other bottles are better.

  • Comment posted by Leomania:

    1/29/2011 1:01:00 PM - I have a few bottles of this left myself and the amount of brett varies a bit bottle to bottle, but it's almost always present. I have noticed that it seems to subside with exposure to air. I opened one of these the other night and I employed my Vinturi, and I have to say that significantly reduced (really, virtually eliminated) the brett. If you have a chance to try this, I'd certainly be curious to know your experience. That is, assuming you have additional bottles available for such experimentation!

    Cheers.

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