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

1996 Château Cos d'Estournel

 St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more
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11/7/2018 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 points

In its drinking window, but not as forward as most left bank wines from the vintage, it could be mistaken for a 1995. The nose is mature with dark berry fruits and tobacco,. On the palate the wine is developed, but retaining a robust tannic edge. The palate is multi-layered, and in perfect balance, and the finish likewise. Lengthy decanting is recommended, but the wine is ready to be enjoyed now. 94+

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    1/7/2019 3:09:00 PM - Glad you enjoyed the 1998 L ' Evangile I love it when at the very first sip you can instantly tell you have a great wine in your mouth such a great privilege. I drank the 1996 Cos d'Estournel a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Still youthful with many years of drinking pleasure, I have a few bottles remaining which I look forward to consuming. Happy wine appreciation !!! Cheers, John.
Red

2010 Domaine Gourt de Mautens (Jérôme Bressy) Vaucluse Rouge

 Red Rhone Blend more
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3/25/2018 - KPB Likes this wine: 94 points

Steadily improving, the 2010 GdM is a deeply colored wine in a supple, rich style. After many years of rather muted bottles, this one is more open. The nose shows brambly mulberries and forest loam, sage, beeswax, with a lovely sweet aroma of Chambord Liqueur that comes and goes. The fruit is ripe and rich, but tannins and acidity hold the ripeness in check, long balanced finish.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    3/26/2018 5:09:00 PM - Thanks for your comment Ken appreciate your feedback. I actually have stock of this wine both in my country of work and at my home residence. Both countries have very different climates however the wines have been professionally stored. My wines at home have shown no bottle variation whatsoever and have been ready to go over many years.How puzzling though to have had a less than average success with bottles at my place of work. One thing with wine you are always learning and its good to have an open mind...... Cheers,
Red

1998 Château L'Evangile

 Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend more
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1/17/2018 - Keith Levenberg wrote: 97 points

Spectacular. So powerful and exuberant that many guessed Angelus on the blind pour. Dark fruit profile loaded with similarly dark non-fruit intrigue - carob or dark chocolate, charcoal, cigar tobacco, gravel and scorched earth. I went back and forth between this and the '89 VCC as my favorites of the night but it's a bit unfair to compare the full-blast expression here to the more demure VCC.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    1/17/2018 12:26:00 PM - I have a bottle look forward to pulling the cork over the summer then wait for the 2015's !!!!! Thanks for the excellent note.
White - Sweet/Dessert

1989 Château Rieussec

 Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more
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11/12/2017 - AllRed wrote: 83 points

Second Sunday Group: 2012 v 2013 Napa Cabernets (Our house): Pineapple, mango and light stone fruit notes. Very lean and lacking fruit on the palate. Not one of the better examples of this wine that we have had.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    12/25/2017 10:14:00 AM - Yes I agree with you I always found this vintage in particular slightly less overtly sweet than I was expecting due to that the alcohol dominates the wine somewhat. Sauternes as a whole is not necessarily my favorite dessert wine, personally I prefer a ripe Tokaj 6 puttonyos or aged German TBA or Icewine and their are some glorious Quarts de Chaume from the Loire.

    Oh Happy Christmas !!!!!!!!!!!!!
White - Sweet/Dessert

1998 Müller-Catoir Mußbacher Eselshaut Riesling Eiswein

 Pfalz more
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10/24/2017 - sweetstuff wrote: 94 points

Latest taste 11/16/2017. 1998 Müller-Catoir Mußbacher Eselshaut Riesling Eiswein AP 22 99; $90/375 ml, before bp, WineBid; $113 FOB Piqua, OH. Imported by Skurnik/Theise. 9.5 pabv.

Brief note:
November 16, emptied from balance of Coravin half-bottle to leTaster and Riesling Riedel. Cork-finished wet up sides; original Coravin October 23. At first refrigerator temperature. Scattered tears? (Possible need for better polishing of glasses!) Plenty bitty; now light-colored for type. Plenty of large tartrate plates visible with a little care.

Grass/redcurrant with fresh air, little or no radish; mildly baked apricot/honey confection. Showing vivid punchy lemony activity, with sufficient ripeness and residual to show a slightly light-TBA stylishness. Hits all the buttons but needs a little more integration for best pleasure--can prove a little palate-fatiguing now. 92/100 on pure pleasure; 94/100 on quality Give 2020-2030 for best results, and don't be afraid to decant an hour or three beforehand. Very early November 2 Eiswein harvest, similar to Doennhoff's triple early November ones.
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Extended evaluation:

A very interesting color presentation from this cork-finished half-bottle, a combination of brilliance and slight golden metallicity, with a warm amber haze growing to rich orange. From Coravin to Riedel Riesling and LeTaster. A very even but substantial sheeting shows. Over 24 hours grows more brilliant and more refractive--an adiamant beauty to look at.

The botrytis of this Eiswein is not hidden in its vividly grapy, somewhat forward fruit that presents itself initially--orange, clove, nutmeg, and mild bakeshop aromas, for instance, but underneath there is an almost pure redcurrant preserve impression. Grows with air into luscious apricot preserve and mild tobacco smoke underneath. Its amour propre is lost in dusty band-aid and powdered sugar, at least at first, until good sense comes to rescue it.

Very vivid, nearly searing acidity as it were laid on to what would be a beautiful breakfast confection built around a sweet pepper and thyme jelly. The texture and finish of this wine resembles 'fuzzy' apricot flower honey in a way, if such can be imagined. This wine is delightful as is but giving it another 3 to 7 years would be all to its (and our) good.

One of the greatest and earliest Eiswein vintages of my time; however, most of the best others are very 'clean' wines on average compared with this nobly-rotten one. This one is actually still a bit too edgy for best pleasure on opening and would give it about 3-5 more years if improvement on this axis is desired. It certainly will be a 30-year wine, well-kept! Second day supports this assessment, with its liquescence, caressing texture of lime zest, and clarity. 94/100 RPP.

The 'Donkey Skin' ('Eselshaut') of the Einzellage name refers to a German mythic 'fairy tale' related to 'Cinderella'. The donkey in question had the ability to turn dung into gold, as this vineyard unquestionably does.

This is a large sandy area (300 ha) that was reclassified in 1969 with similar surrounding areas (the 'Meerspinne') to the Deutscher Weinstraße/Neustadt (northern Pfalz) region and which this estate has exploited so brilliantlly under Hans-Gunther Schwarz and his successors. The ability of this acreage to produce fine wine could be more related to surface topography than soil composition, allowing frosty airs to descend and drain from the growing surface down into the Rheingraben. (See German-language edition of Wikipedia).
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Brief note:
November 16, emptied from balance of Coravin half-bottle to leTaster and Riesling Riedel. Cork-finished wet up sides; original Coravin October 23. At first refrigerator temperature. Scattered tears? (Possible need for better polishing of glasses!) Plenty bitty; now light-colored for type. Plenty of large tartrate plates visible with a little care.

Grass/redcurrant with fresh air, little or no radish; mildly baked apricot/honey confection. Showing vivid punchy lemony activity, with sufficient ripeness and residual to show a slightly light-TBA stylishness. Hits all the buttons but needs a little more integration for best pleasure--can prove a little palate-fatiguing now. 92/100 on pure pleasure; 94/100 on quality Give 2020-2030 for best results, and don't be afraid to decant an hour or three beforehand. Very early November 2 Eiswein harvest, similar to Doennhoff's triple early November 1.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    12/16/2017 4:16:00 PM - Wonderful notes and yes an awesome wine !!!! Glad I have one half bottle more will keep at least a other five years before pulling the cork.
Red

2013 Craggy Range Sophia

 Gimblett Gravels Red Bordeaux Blend more
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10/27/2017 - grapenomad wrote: 96 points

If you think there is no great wine outside of Europe because you orgasmed right into the industry with a teaspoon of 1982 Pomerol, you need to shut your whiny, pretentious mouth and do your research. This wine people, this wine has no time for comments. But because this is the internet and many of you reading this right now will never get a chance to taste this epitome of liquid beauty, I'll give you my impressions. What a journey this was through taste bud heaven - notes of mocha, sweet cherry, plum jam, chocolate and vanilla stick. Titanic structure. Lush, elaborate and still a baby. Neither Tolstoy, nor Dostoyevsky, nor Homer, nor Camus, nor Voltaire, nor Balzac, nor Cervantes, nor Hesse could say more. Find it. Taste it. Experience it.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    12/9/2017 1:32:00 AM - Love your humor and passion. Lucky me have a six pack in the cellar waiting to taste.
Red

2010 Château L'Eglise-Clinet

 Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend more
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5/2/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 points

Inky and opaque in color, intense jammy black cherry, coffee, truffle, root beer, boysenberry, and chocolate notes. Powerful, rich, full bodied and structured, this needs more time to develop than the more sensuous and forward 2009 L’Eglise Clinet. The wine remains in your mouth more than 60 seconds building in flavor and complexity. Comparing both vintages over the next several years, or decades is going to be quite a task. Happily, I’m up for the job.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    11/10/2017 7:48:00 PM - Hi Jeff.......Your notes always give passionate independent advice with some humor also.
    Despite reading reviews from the leading wine critics I also like to read views from merchants and wine enthusiasts just to get an overall picture that does influence my wine purchases. There is nothing like tasting the wine yourself but with some expensive wines you do need that insight without opening a bottle that is....... Thanks Jeff !!
Red

2010 Château Grand Village

 Bordeaux Supérieur Red Bordeaux Blend more
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6/15/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 points

A combined tasting note of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages. All three are basically made from around 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc and aged in used barrels from Château Lafleur. They are quite big wines, weighing in at 14.5%, 14.5% and 14% ABV respectively. The wines are impeccably made (Grand Village is the home of the Guinaudeau family, the owners of Château Lafleur in Pomerol), and consequently they are true representatives of their terroir and their vintages. The 2009 has suffered a bit from the heat of the vintage, it seems. It offers delicious rich and ripe fruit, blackberries and plums even, but it feels very earthy, the wood sticks out a bit when the bottle has been open for a few hours and acidity is low; there is considerable heat on the finish. One to drink up before the fruit fades (88). The 2011 shares some of the earthy character with the 2009, but it is made in a much fresher and cooler style; although attractively energetic, it does display that certain dryness in the tannins which is typical for the vintage. Drinking well from now until 2020 (89). The 2010 is in a class of its own in this trio and seems to (almost) transcend the limitations of its modest terroir. It is lifted and floral, creamy, with an elegance and finesse not encountered in the two neighbouring vintages, the fruit is ripe but fresh, there is vibrant acidity, the oak is perfectly integrated and the tannins are still grippy but ripe; there is nice resonance on the slightly rough finish and length is good. This may improve for a few more years and should last until 2025 (90).

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    11/6/2017 3:01:00 PM - Very informative ...... Cheers ! I bought the 2016 for casual drinking which has had very good reviews.
Red

2012 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley

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7/29/2017 - Cathair Chaladinn wrote: 94 points

Aromas of cassis roar from the glass. Sauve and polished with no hard edges outstanding length. An iconic Barossa shiraz that represents outstanding value compared with some of its peers. A model of consistency
My only gripe is the 15 percent alcohol.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    7/29/2017 10:03:00 AM - Frederico wines............ I did give thought to decanting but in the end I just pulled the cork two hours before serving with dinner. There is no reason not to enjoy this wine in its exuberant youth.
Red

2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 890 'Selección Especial'

 Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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5/27/2016 - SilverFox65 Likes this wine: 96 points

Wow. And I thought its little Brother the 2005 904 that I drank recently was good!
This is a dark red and clearly still youthful. The nose is stunning with dark fruit, earthy damp forest floor, wood, spice and blood. Medium bodied and brimming with to the core with dark berries enveloped in a beautifully integrated frame of soft and sweet tannins. There are complex overtones of frost floor, wood and leather in the mid palate with a long and sweet spice infused finish stained with blood. All this with a splash of fresh acidity to maintain balance. What a beautifully balanced classical Rioja.
Now the big question, would I rather have one bottle of this of two of the 2005 904. I would probably take two of the 904, drink one now and lay the other down for a few years. With another 4 years of bottle age on the 904 there will be little to chose between theses two gems. But if you want an amazing Rioja to drink today, buy this and you will not be disappointed.

  • Comment posted by Cathair Chaladinn:

    1/8/2017 11:09:00 AM - Good advice I have drunk many Gran Reservas 904 2005 this summer its a belter of a wine !! Think I will buy some more in magnum you can't go wrong !!!

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