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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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White - Sparkling
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NV Charles Dufour & Françoise Martinot Champagne Bistrøtage B.10 Extra Brut
Pinot Noir more
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A D&M Champagne Club selection (San Francisco).
This stood out.
Not especially complex but exceptionally well balanced.
Nice example of Farmer Fizz as it is not overly elegant yet has the finesse of a Grower who understands how to make a complete wine.
We are still talking about it this morning, hence the note.
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White
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2006 Weingut Salomon Undhof Riesling Reserve Undhof Kögl
Kremstal
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Opened & thought this really is OTH.
Wasn't any petrol to it (which is expected), just completely flat and uninteresting.
But as always, gave it a chance to breathe and find itself again.
Which it did after an hour and became a perfectly acceptable near-the-end-of-its-drinking-window riesling.
Yes the fruit has largely faded, but somehow that doesn't mean the acids completely dominate.
Weight, mouthfeel, color are all spot on.
Bottom line: Drink 'em if you got 'em.
Not a lot left to go on here.
Also interesting is that this has a glass cork. For an aged wine I cannot say it was detrimental.
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White - Off-dry
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2007 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Spätlese
Nahe
more
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Agree with those that state its a rare miss - at least that's how it started out.
But after 5 days in the fridge with a cork, this came around to be a fabulous drink. Yes its soft & a bit creamy, but the tropical fruits combined with the gentle acid spine make for a wonderfully after dinner quaff.
Day One was paired against a decanted AJ Adams 2010 Hofberg - the Hofberg was a truly stunning bottle, so this seemed meh in comparison.
Bit curious how day 5 of this would stand up to the Hofberg... hmmm . may have to dig around the cellar to see if that can happen.
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White
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2009 A.J. Adam Hofberg Riesling Kabinett
Mosel Saar Ruwer
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A real Wow wine. Sheer clarity and balance with that Sweet Tart ping! that delivers a smile.
Honestly would not have guessed at 10 year old. So fresh and alive.
Drinking through the 10+ year olds German and Austrians during lockdown has me thinking its not a wine but a different class of beverage altogether.
Some duds but mostly stunning beverages.
Such diversity of acidity, sweetness
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Red
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2012 Devil Proof Malbec
Alexander Valley
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Deep dark. Decanted for 3-4 hours. Throws considerable sediment.
Overall very well made, graceful almost muscular wine with good balance. Problem for me is this is on the sweet side, so ding a couple points.
Looking at current wine searcher pricing rather sell than drink; but I think that's my last bottle.
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Red
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2014 Domaine Dujac Chambolle-Musigny
Pinot Noir more
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Decanted about 4 hours - deep plum color, generous earthy nose.
While not not off the charts WOW -this held beautifully against Osso Bucco with wild ramps.
The deep body matched the rich tomato sauce. The acids complemented the mildly garlic ramps.
Perhaps another 3 years will do some good - but not all that certain it has the stuffing to make much of a difference.
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Red
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2010 Pierre Gonon St. Joseph
Syrah more
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#1 of 3
Opens closed. Decanted.
Deep color. Lucious nose.
After 2 hours it opened up but I think this wants a few more years t come into its own. Like a Riesling in shut down time. Open next 2022.
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White - Off-dry
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2006 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Spätlese Faß 7
Mosel Saar Ruwer
more
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Was interested and a bit concerned about how these would age.
Turns out very well.
Gorgeous deep color. Inviting nose.
Day 1: good not great.
Day 2: Man this blossomed big-time with a great balance of acid/sugar. Some tropicals for complexity.
Day 3: Still in the pocket but would not wait for Day 4. ;-)
Might be n the outside edge of aging.
Summer is coming.
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White
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2008 Weingut von Othegraven Kanzemer Altenberg Riesling
Mosel Saar Ruwer
more
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Balance. Nice acidity. Low ABV. Golden color. Shows it's age but still delightfully fresh.
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White
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2010 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Riesling Kabinett
Nahe
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Pretty stunning surprise here. Essence of the varietal - while not an especially complex example - the purity and the clarity of the individual qualities shine through. Drink on the warmer side of cold.
Opened night 1 - took a taste, re-corked and put in the fridge.
Night 2: yeah baby- this sings with tight minerality, stone fruits, laced with an acid streak that knits the whole thing together. The mid-weight and smooth viscosity add an elegant mouthfeel. For some reason also get a hint of wet bamboo (?).
Night 3: Still singing but more of a sweet-tart affair as the mineral seems to have backed off. Prefer Day 2.
Couple extra points for the insane QPR - Am kicking myself for drinking all the other bottles years ago, but its all over now.
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White
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2007 A.J. Adam Hofberg Riesling Trocken
Mosel Saar Ruwer
more
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Opened Sat- drank Sun
This is closed down - not giving up much, even with warmth and air.
Beautiful intense straw color but a sleeper for now.
Mr Theise says drink years 12-18. Of course he's right.
Going to leave the rest for 2020+
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White - Off-dry
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2007 Müller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Spätlese
Pfalz
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No formal notes
Second wine of lunch (followed a Keller trocken), a perfect landing.
Heavier mouthfeel made for a nice viscosity/weight. Paired very well with simple salad then strawberries with creme fraiche.
Only regret is that it was a pop n' pour, as suspect this would benefit from a few hours of air, still it was a crowd pleaser.
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White
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2008 Weingut Keller Kirchspiel Riesling Großes Gewächs
Rheinhessen
more
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What applies to the GG also works here "...Rich nose, good minerality. Lemon lime, nice texture. Bit of spritz."
Also got a whiff of petrol on open.
Overall a pure clean wine, certainly one that has benefitted from aging. There's just so much more here than there was when it was a baby.
Med-light in weight with pleasing smooth mouthfeel.
Polished off at lunch of charcuterie, soufflé - would like to see what this is like on day two.
No idea about whether this will benefit from additional aging - its in a great spot now - if you have a few, time to open and enjoy one.
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White - Off-dry
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2007 Schäfer-Fröhlich Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Spätlese
Nahe
more
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Beginning to come round.
Its a crowd pleaser already.
Especially for those who enjoy very low ABV (7.5%) wines.
Still wants a good chill to show well.
Will try another in a year or so.
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Red
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2009 Herman Story Grenache On The Road
California
more
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This was in a box with some '09 Nuts & Bolts and a TomBoy.
This On The Road Grenache aged nicely while the Syrah went down the drain..
This is BIG and juicy but exceptionally well integrated - as you would expect at this late stage. Wants a good amount of air before it shows well.
This OTR makes an exquisite high-end pizza wine, like the mascarpone pizza from Pizzetta 211 in San Francisco. Stunning.
Agree with others this likely is on its last legs - drink 'em if you got 'em.
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White
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2009 Herman Story Viognier Tomboy
Santa Barbara County
more
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Deep, succulent and unctuous -this aged beautifully.
Intense and certainly mature, to the point here the fruit is tightly bound and not at all youthful - yet not raisin like - more dry Sauterne; but absolutely CA.
Perfect cold winter night wine with warm just-cooked lobster.
Can't see this getting any better, so if you got 'em...
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Red
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2009 Herman Story Syrah Nuts & Bolts
California
more
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Found a box of '09 Herman Story in the back of storage -- a nice thing to rediscover .;-))
One would think the Nuts and Bolts Syrah would age brilliantly - sad to say this is not the case.
Both bottles are OTH, near undrinkable. Perhaps a year ago they would be amazing.Today its rough drinking.
LOTS of sediment in these - decanting essential. Take look at the pix I put up.
Reading other notes I gotta wonder if the storage or something went wrong over the ensuing years. However other H Story bots in the box have been superb... go figure.... its wine.
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White
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2008 Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz Siebeldinger Im Sonnenschein Ganz Horn Riesling Großes Gewächs
Pfalz
more
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still pretty closed - thinking stay away until at least 2019
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White - Off-dry
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2006 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Spätlese Faß 7
Mosel Saar Ruwer
more
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incredible color
vibrant complex yet a bit closed on opening
T said petrol but I didn;t get that
Left open for 3-4 hours and that wasn't the best idea, as an odd plastic(?) overtone developed. Dissipated after hour 4.
Bottom line?
Let these breathe for about an 90 min, chill to about 50f and Njoy
Left half a glass out to see what happens... day 2 and 3 ... & Whoa!
Deeper intensity and viscosity. FANTASTIC!
Lot of layers to explore: Mineral, Citrus and bit heavy as its not a troken - yet aged Lauer has some depths we are starting to enjoy.
Cellared a ton of late naughts and these are just the beginning.
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White
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1989 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Ried Steinertal
Wachau
more
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A tough call to be sure.
Consumed over 4 hours
Sound bottle but overall the consensus was Over the Hill.
Note on the back label it states 'from a private collection".
Storage and travels prior to my 2010 acquisition may have influenced the OTH.
Still its always fun to open an aged bottle to discover what's inside.
Cheers
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White
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1998 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Ried Steinertal
Wachau
more
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Took about 45 minutes to come round, no surprise things started ugly.
Once awake a stunning example. Deep yellow complexion, unexpectedly young citrus nose, but the taste was best characterized as what it "wasn't". Because it wasn't citrusy, it wasn't petrol, it wasn't old or flabby, it wasn't a lot of things and that is what makes this note so difficult to write.
It was absolutely a pleasure to share and drink!
Blind I would never have thought this to be nearly 20 years old.
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White - Sparkling
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NV Jacques Selosse Substance
Champagne Grand Cru
Chardonnay more
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Absolutely a "WOW!" wine.
The complexity and balance combined with the strength and unique qualities makes this is my favorite Selosse.
Having tasted most bottlings but the single vintages, that is saying a lot.
Perhaps it was the additional aging, disgorged Sept 24, 2003. Something about this bottle distinguished itself as starting at 11 and just going higher as it developed/opened across the hours of the evening.
Wow
For my tastes, Substance benefits from additional aging.
Over time the Initial, Rose and others do not seem to gain as much.
I would drink those sooner before the youthful expression falls off.
In my limited experience, Substance develops the desired mature Champagne characteristics. This 2003 in 2014 was truly exceptional.
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Red
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2006 Lucia Syrah Garys' Vineyard
Santa Lucia Highlands
more
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I am with Frank- Glaze nails the character. Served with roast duck and this long forgotten bottle launched the meal into the stratosphere.
Tons of secondary character, a silky mouthfeel, gorgeous integration. Everything ties together into an impressive package made all the more impressive because in that this is a second label for the vineyard.
Well done!
once again provenance rule the day as this was not listed in my inventory.
Time has served this well but should you have any likely its bester to drink near-term.
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Red
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2004 Sean Thackrey Orion Rossi Vineyard
St. Helena
Syrah Blend, Syrah more
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Outstanding complexity with nuanced layers. An Original.
Every once in while the glass is filled with something that isn't simply another nice wine- even calling it wine belies what lies within.
The nose: While savoring the depths my daughter asks, "When are you going take a sip?" Honestly the nose alone is reason enough to seek this out.
Mouthfeel is extraordinary. Full yet weightless. Silky almost unnoticeable tannins, so well integrated from age and provenance.
Life cycle- 10 years old & I suspect this is just beginning to express itself. Any earlier and it was likely a jammy chewy mess. A crime to open. Given present vitality guessing 2024-2030 would be just insane.
Length, depth, vitality, balance and complexity.
Serious juice.
Not a party wine, this deserves contemplation and withstands intense examination.
3 hour bottle breathe, then decanted for another hour of air. Served with a grass-fed Porterhouse from Olivier's Butchery, mushroom risotto and sautéed spinach.
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Red
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2005 Beckmen Vineyards Syrah Clone #1 Purisima Mountain Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley
more
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Perhaps a bit late in the game for this. Bit thin & less fruity than a full-blown right moment to drink bottle.
Decant for an hour. Moderate sediment. Resolved tannins.
Beckmen does make some good wines; this one wasn't made to go the distance
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