|
Wine Type
|
Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
|
Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
NV Laurent-Perrier Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
Chardonnay more
|
Exceptional. Celebratory dinner for hubby's important "pass" and wife's Intro Somm certification.
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
NV Domaine Amirault Crémant de Loire Brut
White Blend more
|
Good, with a slightly bitter finish
|
|
Rosé
|
2021 Domaine de Thulon (Famille Jambon) Beaujolais Rosé
Gamay more
|
One of the best rose's I've ever had.
|
|
White
|
2020 Zeitlos Riesling Stonestreet Vineyard
Alexander Valley
more
|
My Mood: “Happy International Riesling Day!”
(Note – I’m not typically a Riesling fan. However, I have an open mind and an open palette…)
Tasting notes:
Pale straw in the glass.
Nose is stone fruits, a bit of citrus, and a hint of honeysuckle. Fresh. (So far, so good…) This particular Riesling is not especially aromatic – swirl the glass and get your nose close. If this has been aged in oak, I don’t detect it on the nose.
On the palette this is peaches, a bit of tangelo (tangerine/lemon hybrid), and beeswax. It’s not sweet, it’s a dry Riesling. Med-high acidity – but by no means bitter.
And, oh my, THERE IT IS! Petrol. It’s not strong – but I can detect it – mid-back palette. The taste of what petroleum (European gasoline) smells like. Some folks call it the smell/taste of rubber or burnt rubber. This is a tell-tale marker of an aged Riesling. I’m not fond of it. It can be particularly strong in German and Alsatian Rieslings. If it’s well integrated, it can be a spectacular Riesling; if it’s not, at least for me, especially if it’s on the nose, I can’t get passed it. Keep in mind – this is my palette and my experience. It’s well-integrated here and not too strong. I still like the wine.
You may not detect this smell/flavor at all, or you may love it and seek it out. I can’t seem to pick Tannin is little to none as the wine was “fermented in “70% stainless steel tanks and 30% neutral German oak 600L puncheons — or "Halbstück" in German.”
Energetic and lively, a bit of structure (this could age a couple more years) and refreshing. Yet great for relaxing and contemplating life…
Overall, I would give this 2 wine glasses. 🍷🍷It’s an excellent example of dry Riesling. Perfect those that like Riesling and those being introduced to the varietal. Hubby and I finished the bottle. If I was a big Riesling fan, I would have given it 3 glasses.
{Scale = 1 🍷being “One is enough, thank you”, 2 🍷🍷meaning “We’ll finish the bottle, but may not purchase again, or we may wait and let it age if we have more in our cellar and revisit in a year or longer…”, and 3 🍷🍷🍷being – “Yes, please! Don’t stop pouring!!!”}
Music pairing: 80’s – “I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)” - Michael McDonald;
21st century: “Adore You” – Harry Styles;
“Save Me the Trouble – Dan + Shay
Food Suggestions: Wonderful aperitif, all by itself! Gets the juices flowing! Would pair well with anything light – appetizers, light cheese, dover sole, oysters…
Always remember, Drink what YOU like - not what someone told you to like/drink.
|
|
White
|
2021 Sandhi Wines Chardonnay Patterson Vineyard
Sta. Rita Hills
more
|
My Mood: It’s Wednesday. Happy “Hump Day”, y’all! LOL Have had Chardonnay on my mind – need a “good” one to sip after work and before dinner…
Tasting notes:
Light gold in the glass.
Nose is citrus (lemon) and flowers (honeysuckle!) and minerals (chalk) and oak – this is a complex chardonnay!
The palette is rich – yet racy. Again, complex and after about 20-30 mins in glass very well integrated – especially the oak that overwhelmed me, at first sniff/sip - with notes of apples – not “bright” green apples like granny smith – more like fuji – kind of sweet apples, and a bit of lemony-ness, and a minerally feeling with plenty of acid, yet not TOO racy/crisp (which can be harsh). It’s soft – slightly – dare I say, “feminine”? There’s also the saline (slight saltiness) that permeates most Santa Rita Hills AVA wines – that I adore. I think it calms the acidity and makes a wine that much more balanced as it still makes my mouth water and want more…
It's a medium body chardonnay – with a slight creaminess and mouthfeel – but not flabby. It’s richer, less bracing than Chablis – yet has that kind of restraint and complexity. There’s been some malo conversion – but it’s in no way a “butter bomb” – it’s slightly creamy – not “buttery”, per se…
No tannins to speak of. As the wine warms up, more of the lemony-ness comes out… Medium finish…
This is a superb wine and I give it 3 glasses! 🍷🍷🍷More! More! More! Please!
For a chardonnay lover, like me, this wine is extremely easy drinking on it own, yet would complement a whole host of foods from appetizers to lobster (although I’m allergic) to chicken to white sauced pastas to many cheeses, complex salads, and more!
Excellent drinking right now. No reason to wait. It’ll hold another year, maybe two, or six – but why wait? I have 2 more bottles that will be drank up this spring/summer… (they’ll make more!!)
Scale = 1 🍷being “One is enough, thank you”, 2 🍷🍷meaning “We’ll finish the bottle, but may not purchase again, or we may wait and let it age if we have more in our cellar and revisit in a year or longer…”, and 3 🍷🍷🍷being – “Yes, please! Don’t stop pouring!!!”
Music pairing: 80’s - The Cure , "Just Like Heaven" and “Waiting for a Girl Like You”, Foreigner;
2000s and on: “Rain On Me” Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande and Adele, “Easy On Me”
Always remember, Drink what YOU like - not what someone told you to like/drink...
|
|
Red
|
2021 Fort Ross Pinot Noir Top of Land Fort Ross Vineyard
Fort Ross - Seaview
more
|
Medium to dark ruby in the glass. Nose is typical PN – red berries, a bit of oak. I can’t seem to pick out any specific fruits – not sure of that’s me, today (thanks to allergies), or the wine
This PN has med-high acidity – my mouth waters. The structure of this wine is medium.
Medium tannins. I feel that “sandpaper tongue to the roof of my mouth” feeling. It’s there – not strongly – but noticeable.
This acidity, structure, and tannins tell me this wine could probably age another 2-5 years – possibly longer. The tannins should smooth out – get less noticeable and become “velvety” (the way I LIKE them). Medium to long finish…
I like that this wine was matured in French oak barrels, with 40% new, yet the oak is not dominant. It’s there – as a supporting player – which is how I tend to prefer my PN.
Overall, a good wine with lots of potential (91+). This wine seems too young. It needs to age another 2-5 years – possibly longer – to mellow out its rougher edges. (Next day was the same.) Food would also help a little bit to smooth those edges.
|
|
Red
|
2020 Montagne Russe Quatre Cinq un Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills
more
|
Goes great with the smoked turkey breast (see my other tasting note for more on this wine....)
|
|
Red
|
2020 Montagne Russe Quatre Cinq un Pinot Noir
Sta. Rita Hills
more
|
Very quiet at cellar temp (55) with very little nose and disjointed flavors. After about 30 mins in glass...MUCH different! The nose is not strong - this dark ruby wine smells like red fruits and blueberries (not typical for PN - but it works, here). The palette is fantastic - bright, with berries, wet rocks with very light toasty oak - balanced, nothing overpowering.
This is a big, dark (color) wine for grapes from Sta Rita Hills (my favorite AVA for PN), but it manages to stay refined and not turn into a "bomb" of fruit or oak or anything else that can overwhelm good SRH grapes.
Looking foward to having it with smoked turkey breast, later today...if there's any left, as I keep reaching for my glass...
|
|
Red
|
2020 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir 459
Sta. Rita Hills
more
|
One of my fave PN from one of my fave vintners...
|
|
Red
|
2019 Dierberg Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley
more
|
That initial oak I had on the last bottle is much more integrated in this one.
Strong red fruits - bright, medium acidity, smooooth. Short finish.
|
|
White
|
2021 Zeitlos Sauvignon Blanc Stonestreet Estate
Alexander Valley
more
|
Delicious. On its own or with food. Citrus-y, but not tangy. White stone fruits. Clean. Medium finish.
|
|
White
|
2020 Brick Barn Vermentino
Santa Ynez Valley
more
|
Light and crisp.
Aeromatic, great flavor of apple, pineapple, undercurrent of green herbs - didn't overpower the mahi mahi...
|
|
Red
|
2019 Dierberg Pinot Noir Dierberg Vineyard Santa Maria Valley
more
|
Excellent with grilled salmon.
Definitely changes and develops over time in the glass - seemed too much new oak at first - which integrated nicely after about 20-30 mins - showing red fruits - cherry, black cherry, red plum - baking spices - smooth, round mouth feel, medium finish
|
|
White
|
2018 de Négoce Chardonnay OG N.247
Russian River Valley
more
|
What rhymes with Friday?
Excellent QPR.
I keep coming back for another sip - no food needed.
Light, citrus crisp, yet round.
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
NV Gloria Ferrer Vista Brut
Carneros
Champagne Blend more
|
Cheers to 2024!
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
2018 Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs
Carneros
Chardonnay more
|
Perfect for New Year's Eve!
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
2016 Flying Goat Cellars Pinot Blanc Crémant Goat Bubbles Sierra Madre Vineyard
Santa Maria Valley
more
|
Happy New Year's Eve Eve!
Delicious brioche-y, light, FUN!
Just what we needed on a day like today... :)
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
2011 Brewer-Clifton Blanc de Blancs 3-D Vineyard
Santa Maria Valley
Chardonnay more
|
One of my favorite domestic Champagnes. I do love the BdB.
Crisp - fresh, yet enough creaminess and leesiness to make this champs lover happy. Perfect Brunch bubbles.
|
|
Red - Sparkling
|
NV The Chook Sparkling Shiraz
South Eastern
more
|
There is nothing wrong with this wine. It will take your brain on a journey like no other...
It's red. DARK red. And sparkling. If you've made it to CellarTracker - this is probably even new to you - and certainly unexpected - in OH so many ways!
This wine is not sweet - it is fruity. If i had to describe to someone that has no idea what wine tastes like - I'd say it reminds me of the flavors of Dr Pepper (soda) or possibly, cherry cola. Fruit and a hint of spice. (That 's shiraz grapes for you...)
For the oeniphiles, It's dark purple in the glass. It has almost no odor - a slight hint of smoke (oak aging, I'm guessing, at some point) Legs? Those don't indicate much these days except alcohol - so who cares? (thin to med, fast running...for those that do) The wine is at kitchen fridge temp - slightly warming up - tasting at still less than 50F - it's fruity - berries - lots of 'em - blackberries and raspberries - with a hint of spice - the "finish" has a flavor of whatever makes root beer tastes like root beer - sassafras or sarsaparilla. That fruit makes it SEEM sweet - at first - but this is very, very dry with a short finish.
It's fun drinking by itself but would go with almost any food except seafood or tofu.
It's light hearted, ironic, and FUN. It quaffable - many would enjoy it. I probably would not seek it out again for myself, but to share with others that have never had it - just for the intriguing conversation it generates, I would...
|
|
White
|
2019 Whitehall Lane Chardonnay
Carneros
more
|
Pre Salmon
|
|
Red
|
2018 Maldonado Farm Worker
Napa Valley
Red Blend more
|
Loved it. Smooth. Delicious. Makes me want more...
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
NV Besserat de Bellefon Champagne Bleu Brut
Champagne Blend more
|
Delicious. Creamy, granny smith apples. Yum.
|
|
White
|
2022 Shaw and Smith Sauvignon Blanc
Adelaide Hills
more
|
Delicious. Crisp, but smoother than a NZ Savvy B. Yet, not quite a Sancerre... I'd have it again. Good value, too, at $23US a bottle...
|
|
White
|
2019 Maggy Hawk Chardonnay Skycrest
Anderson Valley
more
|
I don't like this wine - I LOVE it!
Balanced - fresh, tasty - makes me want another sip (or gulp!), and another...
Right up there with my fave Chardonnays. From Anderson Valley CA (north of Sonoma)
light to med color - light to med body - apples, lemons - but not "tangy" - smooth
YUM! Glad I found it! LOL
|
|
White - Sparkling
|
2011 Brewer-Clifton Blanc de Blancs 3-D Vineyard
Santa Maria Valley
Chardonnay more
|
Good. Brioche-y with nice acid balance and apples and a bit of citrus...
YUM
|
