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

2009 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender In the Rocks

 Walla Walla Valley more
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6/9/2013 - TheDarkPrince Does not like this wine: 80 points

Tasted last night with family and friends. Five of us in total. Although Mum enjoyed the bouquet, likening it to freshly cut flowers, It was the one wine that everybody avoided. Consistent with my tasting from around three weeks ago. This wine bears no resemblance to the varietal from which it claims to come from.

I'm giving it a lower mark as I now have more objective opinions. I have one bottle left and I can't get rid of it fast enough!

:0)

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/10/2013 5:23:00 AM - Hiker_Guy,

    I could let this bottle go with ease. Any chance you care to reciprocate with something of similar value?

    I was stalking you're tasting notes and you have tasted some impressive juice. If your ever in the NY area, let me know. We could tip a glass together! I have a collection of over 600 bottles (most not listed on CT due to time). No Lin Pin and Cheval Blanc, but I do have DRC, Haut Brion, Lafite, Grange, Harlan, etc. You get the drift. Be well.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/11/2013 7:40:00 PM - Hiker_guy, That's a nice touch! I love your region and when we have some more snow, I may just show up on your doorstep, The Contender and snowboard in hand. I'll let you know before I drop in. Cheers!

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/27/2014 8:54:00 PM - Hey Hiker Guy, I still have that bottle for you! I've not forgotten.

    Hope you and fam are well.

    :0)

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    8/31/2023 1:16:00 PM - Hey Guys "Dark Prince" here... I'm am true to my work. I have not consumed that bottle. I promised it to somebody online - it's theirs!

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    8/31/2023 1:17:00 PM - Hiker_Guy - It's yours!
Red

2012 Textbook Cabernet Sauvignon

 Napa Valley more
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8/30/2015 - Ken.hammer wrote: 88 points

A satisfying wine with softer flavors and acidity than its more robust (and more expensive) cousin (the stellar Mise en Place Oakville). I enjoyed this wine and would certainly purchase more at its affordable price point... but my bride was not a fan (she found it "thin and weak" which are not words I would use to describe this wine in fairness) so my consumption opportunities may be limited. I believe One of he more respected critics rated this wine a 90 so my wife's opinion and mine will matter little and the wine should sell well (deservedly so).

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    10/11/2015 4:36:00 PM - Dude, if your "wife to be" found the Textbook to be thin and weak, read that memo very carefully! She wants the best stuff you can get. I hope you have deep pockets. But I'm sure she is worth every cent!

    :0)
Red

2013 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard

 Yamhill-Carlton more
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4/6/2015 - TheDarkPrince Does not like this wine: 80 points

Spitting my pacifier out on this. It does not merit extensive notes. Calling it grape juice would be to complement it. Its just lousy wine. A frenchman would puke if he tasted this.

:0)

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    8/26/2015 3:01:00 PM - Sorry for your confusion. At the current price, I would not suggest this wine to a Frenchman, or any other lifeform.
White

2009 Sea Smoke Chardonnay

 Sta. Rita Hills more
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1/11/2015 - carlsport Likes this wine: 94 points

Kistler-like with apple and pear. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. Really enjoyed this effort.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    4/8/2015 4:31:00 PM - Completely in line with your score and notes, although your note was somewhat compressed. The only problem with this wine is the nosebleed at the checkout!
Red

2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary

 Napa Valley more
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1/23/2015 - Cabernet Couple Does not like this wine: 75 points

As many others have noted, not worthy of the Caymus label. There was a syrup-like consistency and it was so sweet it seemed like a grape juice of sorts. Not just the usual Caymus fruit bomb, this had no complexity and almost tasted like a sugary drink. We only held this for about 6-8 months but it was properly cellared for the entire duration. Very, very disappointing. We poured it out, unfortunately we purchased two bottles...we're hopeful that there is a variation between bottles as others have commented and that number two will be drinkable!

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    1/23/2015 4:43:00 PM - I see you guys "murdered" the Caymus 2012, and I don't blame you. On reflection, I think my arm was twisted by my wife. Given the money I paid for the wine, it probably merited only 87pts. You guys shud try the 2011, its singing at this point :0)
Red

2007 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Charlie's Patch

 Napa Valley more
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11/14/2014 - TheDarkPrince Likes this wine: 94 points

A stellar wine..

7 years old and still going strong. The nose is fresh and youthful today. A huge nose of dark precise fruit and valrhona dark chocolate.

In the mouth, the wine jolts you with the tannins. It's still precociously tight, with a broad-shouldered structure. This wine is built for the long-haul and is not going anywhere anytime soon. Huge extended finish. I detect a hint of syrup, although the wine is not sweet in any way. There is a dusty element to the wine, which adds a touch of complexity on the palette.

This is a great napa cab, with easily another 10 years of runway…

:0)

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    11/24/2014 10:13:00 PM - Yes, it was excellent, so much so that I went and looked for more. I have 4 bottles of the 2007, and I will guard them with my life! Enjoy what you have. I understand that 2008 was the last vintage. What a shame…
Red

2012 Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Palermo

 Napa Valley more
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4/21/2014 - Night Thief wrote: 89 points

Not my style at all. Lacking acidity, over extracted, very jammy. Like eating raspberry cream filled chocolate Bon Bons. Pretty over the top. This is obviously what the maker was shooting for and if you like that kind of thing, this will deliver. Good quality, but I prefer more restraint and acidic backbone.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    9/14/2014 5:59:00 PM - I found your description helpful. I was going to purchase a few bottles, but I think I will divert my duckets somewhere else. I don't want fruit bombs! Cheers.
Red

2005 Château Lascombes

 Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend more
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5/3/2014 - libero wrote: 94 points

My guests (Amateur sommelier) compared it with Don Melchor 2003 ( 93) and rated it as a solid 94. Already well balanced, we decanted for one hour and the aromas showed up. Dark red Margaux , velvety, round and really delicious.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/22/2014 12:23:00 PM - Nice tasting note. Got me thinking about trying to source some of this. If you don't mind me asking, do you recall how much you paid for this juice? Cheers!
Red

2004 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Silver Anniversary Reserve

 Napa Valley more
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11/4/2013 - Double D wrote: 93 points

The glass stopper system seems to have worked....why did they drop it?
Wine is fresh, sweet, medium bodied, Whitehall Lane always seems to provide a good value.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/14/2014 1:29:00 PM - I was in Napa yesterday having dinner at Mustards. In walked the Whitehall Lane winemaker! I asked him the same question. Here's the skinny:

    WH loved the closure. The manufacturer stopped producing it. He also informed me that they also needed special bottles to use with the closure. The bottle necks required a much higher dimensional tolerance. In his opinion, it was a great closure that the industry just didn't adopt. I was not aware that a special bottle was also required. I think that's the major driver for its demise. Alcoa owns the patent.
Red

2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary

 Napa Valley more
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5/22/2014 - BruceHubbard wrote: NR

I was excited to try this wine given the Napa 2012 growing season. I drank it from the same bottle over three nights. The first popped and poured, the second night after 24 hours under gas, and the third just with the cork in and the bottle half full. On the nose were very ripe, almost over ripe black fruit, cassis, and a hint of cinnamon. However, on the palate, I was very disappointed on all three tastings. It is dominated by caramel, vanilla, and cream with a slightly sweet taste. This flaccidity obscures much of the fruit and I could barely detect any tannins to provide balance. The wine did not improve over the 48 hours and if anything, the caramel grew stronger and the profile became more monotonous. It did have a pleasant gylcerol mouth-feel. It seems to me that it is probably grossly over oaked, probably with new French oak and was probably harvested late. I have not seen any vintner's statistics on this product. I have three more bottles and it will be interesting to see how and if it evolves. It reminds me a bit of the "great" 1994 Napa vintage that was a crowd pleaser right out of the shute, but declined rather rapidly with time.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/2/2014 9:12:00 PM - You drank a bottle over 3 nights?? I assume it was a double magnum?

    I hope so, cos to be a fully paid-up member of the cellar tracker group, you really should be approaching a bottle a night! :0)
Red

2006 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Ranch Vineyard

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4/29/2014 - TheDarkPrince Likes this wine: 92 points

I let this breathe for an hour. Heady nose of maple and spices with no signs of gray hair.

On the palette, the mouthfeel is smooth and textured. No bricking in the glass, but I do detect that the wine has begun to decline, but only slightly. Still loads of fruit, predominantly cherries and rich dark berries. Tannins are fully integrated and perfectly balanced. The finish is excellent, and somewhat exotic.

Wifey and I were between 92-93 pts. We both loved it. In terms of value for money, Sterling wines are hard to beat!

:0)

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    5/5/2014 7:05:00 PM - Champers, thanks for the feedback… As I recall, I did see some crystalline structures on the cork, but nothing too much out of the ordinary. I got the wine from what I consider to be a reputable wine merchant, but you never know regarding the provenance. I was not surprised that the wine has reached it's zenith. However, that may be just the bottle I tried. I will try another one very soon. However, I think the wine was stand-out, anyway, so if the remaining bottles are in the same place, I have no choice but to consume them immediately.

    We really need to get a tasting going in NY. What say you?
Red

2006 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Ranch Vineyard

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11/7/2013 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 92 points

First bottle of a case I hope ail age for 25 years. he cork had gem-like crystals of garnet and purple and in size could have been .25-.50 carats. Biggest wine crytas I have seen, and stuck to the cork too, t=rather than floating around or in the silt. Tartaric acid to be sure. I opened the bottle and put the entire quantity in the decanter. Sure enough I was pounded by a bad headache an hour later, so back in the bootle, recorded and opened the next day, but in the bottle, equivalent to a 24 hour slow-ox.

The wine was absolutely stunning. Pure mountain fruit of black currant (cassis) plain and simple, though strong notes of blueberry and marionberry showed through the nose and palate. some dark chocolate and coffee in the nose as well as hints of violets, and deep mineral. On the mouth the dark fruits were primary with mocha, cedar and hints of white chocolate. True mountain fruit with plenty of tannin even after the long aeration. This was a chewy thick tannin, though not unpleasant at all given the vibrant acidity and mineral core that showed through. Medium to long finish. I have to say I gambled on this case, because the SC crowd had an amazing pair of '73 Cab from Sterling. This is true Napan Diamond Mountain in every way. I enjoyer the Harlan, Bond, Scarecrow, shaver HSS and Schrader along with Hundred acres. I have had average Napa and old Napa, and strangely enough this pulled through somewhere towards the higher echelon. I don't think this is done on the upside at all, and still showing loads of primary dark fruit, tannin and mineral. I see this just getting better over the next 10-15 years. It may not last the full 25-30, but its built in the old style Napa fashion that required patience. This will only reward those who exercise some caution while drinking future bottles. I can say I think this was a bargain purchase and am looking forward to the next 11 bottles.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    4/22/2014 8:17:00 PM - Champers, nice note. On the strength of your feedback, I will buy half a case. Be well.
Red

2003 Château Calon-Ségur

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
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6/11/2013 - TheDarkPrince Likes this wine: 93 points

An excellent specimen.

Huge nose exhibiting cut flowers, tobacco and licorice. On the palette, its youthful. Tannins are pronounced. Brambles and very dark fruits such as blackberries are evident. The finish is super long I'm baby-snatching once again, but "throw me a bone".

Probably needs at least another 5 years in the bottle, but who cares!

:0)

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/14/2013 10:23:00 AM - Champagneinhand - Thanks for the feedback! I always try to share the moment and raise a smile. Life is too short for anything less. Be well.

  • Comment posted by TheDarkPrince:

    6/14/2013 3:34:00 PM - Champagneinhand - Connecting up in NYC for wine tasting would be a blast! I live within striking distance of the city, so it's not a problem for me. See if you can muster up some warm bodies! Im in!

    :0)

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