| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2004 Torbreck The FactorBarossa Valley Shiraz, Syrah more |
5/27/2011 - O>-< wrote: 90 pointsThis is Powell's version of a big Barossa fruit bomb. The '01 and '02 are classic IMO. The '04? Not so much - at least not from this bottle. Standard dark, dark purple with ample, delicious blackberry and pepper on both the nose and the palate, but this seemed very one-dimensional, I miss the creaminess of my favorite Factors, and this had too much heat on the finish for my taste. Not a bad pairing with whiskey pulled pork, but all-in-all, this fell well short of my high expectations for Torbreck. |
| Red |
2001 Kongsgaard Syrah Hudson VineyardNapa Valley more |
5/19/2011 - O>-< wrote: 95 pointsDark crimson color and a fairly herbal nose with supporting dark red fruit aromas. Black cherry and blackberry on the palate, more minerality than I've experienced with any other American Syrah, and a long, spicy finish. Put me in the mind of a young La Landonne, if not quite as complex. Still, really impressive wine that's still showing some youth at age 10. Borderline classic for me. |
| Red |
1997 Fuligni Brunello di Montalcino RiservaSangiovese more |
4/17/2011 - O>-< wrote: 95 pointsSlow-O'd for six hours before pouring, and enjoyed over the next three hours. Still youthful in appearance, with a dark ruby color (maybe a hint of crimson) and no bricking at all. This is not closed by any means, but the palate is still dominated by sweet, elegant red fruits, some star anise, and smooth but noticeable tannins on the finish. With aeration, a welcome note of leather joins in, but the fruit is still front and center. Polished, pure and delicious, if a bit simple for my taste and expectations of Fuligni. A very bright future ahead for this gracefully aging charmer. |
| Red |
2006 Sine Qua Non Syrah A Shot in the DarkCentral Coast more |
4/17/2011 - O>-< wrote: 98 pointsI'm beginning a tradition of opening the newest Extended Barrel Aged SQN each spring, so I've made some comparisons to the 2005 17th Nail, my personal WOTY last year. Dark purple/black (darker than I recall the 2005). Straight out of the bottle, it had mind-blowing caramel and dark fruit aromas and a smooth, modern palate of slippery blackberry cobbler. With aeration, it showed a much more sauvage nose, with plenty of barnyard, iron, and roasted meat aromas. The palate exhibited at least as much coffee and pepper as bright blackberry and cassis, and a fairly long but very clean finish. Those who prefer Manfred's characteristic explosive, fruity nose and polished, layered fruit on the palate may prefer the 2005 17th Nail, whereas those seeking a more Cote-Rotie-like character with less overt fruit and more secondary and tertiary elements (especially sauvage notes) will likely prefer the 2006 A Shot in the Dark. As such, the 2006 seems a bit more 'evolved' than the 2005 did last year. Going beyond stylistic preferences (as far as I'm able), I'd say the 2005 is a smidge better, but that's really splitting hairs. I'd put both in the 98-100 range. |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2005 Sine Qua Non Chardonnay Mr. K The Noble ManEdna Valley more |
2/16/2011 - O>-< wrote: 94 pointsAmber/copper color, with plenty of apricot, honey, and clove on the nose. I love bot-babies with a syrupy texture and weight, but this was a touch heavy for me. Intense flavors of honey and apricot, with a long, notable finish of bitter apricot peel. As much as I enjoy these Mr. Ks, I have the opposite opinion as Parker, as I've enjoyed the 'To the Rescue' and Atlantis VdPs more. Impressive wine, but shy of classic for me. Perhaps more complexity will develop in time. |
| Red |
2007 Sine Qua Non Syrah LabelsCentral Coast more |
2/14/2011 - O>-< wrote: 95 pointsDouble-decanted (for traveling) in the 1.5-2 hour range, and enjoyed over the next 3 hours. Upon first opening, the nose seemed unexpectedly reticent for a SQN Syrah, but it opened up rapidly. Typical opaque purple/ruby color. Not as powerful on the nose as Atlantis, but more effusive than Poker Face or Raven, and so beguiling with sweet spices and coffee bean, with blackberry pie and spring flowers in the background. Mmmm. The palate centers on blueberry and blackberry, supported by a certain doughiness and a hint of coffee, with sweet spices and mild white pepper on the finish. Typical lithe, slippery texture. Later evolution added some sour cherry and caramel aspects. Really fun and intriguing to drink. On the positive side of borderline classic for me, with room for improvement for such a young wine. |
| White |
2007 Chasseur Chardonnay Durell VineyardSonoma Coast more |
1/28/2011 - O>-< wrote: 88 pointsDeep golden color and a moderate nose of toast and spice - surprisingly not much fruit. The palate is rich and full-bodied with lots of toast and butter, as well as rich pear and melon - very smooth. Medium long finish. While this is clearly well-made, it lacks some freshness and elegance to my mind, and considering how much I enjoy Chasseur's Pinots, this did not quite measure up. I'd describe it as a bit shy of outstanding, but if you dig rich, pure, velvety Chards with substantial oak, you may rate it higher than I. |
| Red |
2003 Delas Frères Hermitage Les BessardsSyrah more |
1/16/2011 - O>-< wrote: 93 pointsSurprisingly elegant, fresh, and delicate on both the nose and the palate. Charming aromas of cherry and blackberry, as well as star anise and a floral element, pairing admirably with the salad with fresh raspberries. With aeration it seemed more plush but always maintained a dancer’s physique. Will hold next for several years, but this was very enjoyable already. |
| Red |
2004 Sine Qua Non Syrah Poker FaceCentral Coast more |
1/16/2011 - O>-< wrote: 94 pointsDark purple color and most effusive nose of the evening with sweet honeysuckle, berries and spice; palate was deep and pure with dark fruits, a hint of buttered toffee, and a long, polished finish with plenty of acidic lift. Not enough complexity to merit a classic score, and having had this wine a few times now, I believe that Parker over-rated it – recognizable as SQN from the aromatic verve and polished tannins, but not on the same level as my favorite SQNs. |
| Red |
2007 Kanzler Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
1/9/2011 - O>-< wrote: 92 pointsRuby/garnet color - fairly transparent. Medium nose of cherry and warm spices. Palate is much more in the cherry and cranberry realm (unlike Kosta Browne's blackberry and raspberry). Medium long finish with a touch of heat. Outstanding, IMO. |
| Red |
1999 Sesta di Sopra Brunello di MontalcinoSangiovese more |
1/8/2011 - O>-< wrote: 92 pointsPretty bright ruby, almost cherry red. Nice nose of cherries, leather, and star anise. Palate is well-balanced and refreshing, with delightful cherry flavors, good typicity, and harmonious tannins, but a bit short in complexity IMO. Still outstanding. |
| Red |
2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Pietro's RanchRussian River Valley more |
12/19/2010 - O>-< wrote: 93 pointsVibrant - color, aroma, and palate! Dark, extracted color, effusive nose of briar berries, and a juicy palate of cherry, blackberry, and red raspberry. I get a hint of coffee and pepper on the finish, but this wine is really about the fruit. Remarkably food-friendly, especially considering the 16.1% alcohol, though there is a touch of heat on the finish. Really, really good, and has plenty of life ahead, but I say, "Why wait? Drink now." |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2005 Sine Qua Non Roussanne Atlantis Fe2O3~3eCalifornia more |
12/17/2010 - O>-< wrote: 98 pointsGolden/copper already at 5 yrs old. Decent aromas of apricot, honey, and faint spring flowers, but the real impact is on the palate: wow! Layers of vibrant tangerine, peach, apricot, buttery pineapple, and honey - just fantastic! Absolutely nervy acidity allied to full-bodied weight and depth, creating a wine that shows wide-eyed exuberance. Better than the '05 Straw Man I had earlier this year, IMO. Beyond my already high expectation. Bravo! |
| Red |
2001 La Rasina Brunello di MontalcinoSangiovese more |
12/13/2010 - O>-< wrote: 89 pointsDark ruby/crimson color; fairly extracted. Nose shows lots of cherry and a touch of smoke. The palate leads off with cherry and plum, but there's a grilled steak aspect to the mid-palate, with a medium-long finish and fairly grippy tannins. Suckling described this as having silky tannins; I find them a bit more fibrous and austere than 'silky.' This is my first taste of any La Rasina, and from this one sample I'd put them in the middle of the spectrum of traditional/modern: ripeness/extraction and oak influence seems fairly modern, but the fruit profile and tactile sense seems more traditional. Comparable to a Castelgiocondo, from my experience. Outstanding potential IMO, but just shy of that right now. I'd give it another two years for an official drinking window. |
| Red |
2008 Owen Roe Syrah Red Willow Vineyard Chapel BlockYakima Valley more |
10/25/2010 - O>-< wrote: 94 pointsVery dense, dark color, but also already very smooth and 'drinkable' (went down really fast for some tasters). What struck me was the pleasant balance the mild bitterness (rather coffee-like) of the tannins gave to the wine, along with a welcome earthiness on the finish. The opening is all luxurious, black fruit; it's the finish that brings in the interest for me. Well done! Delicious now, but I expect improvement in the short-term. Potentially classic IMO. |
| White |
2005 Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** (White Capsule)Mosel Saar Ruwer more |
10/5/2010 - O>-< wrote: 94 pointsThis wine has such fresh crispness allied to its lean but exciting peach, quince, lime and honey. Not overly sweet, and plenty of zippy acidity. Medium long finish and an ideal match for a summer-fruit dessert. Drink now or hold several years. Excellent! |
| Red |
2001 E. Guigal Ermitage Ex-VotoHermitage Syrah more |
10/5/2010 - O>-< wrote: NRLess than ideal decanting at the mercy of a total ignoramus. This needs a minimum of 3+ hours aeration at this stage; unfortunately it didn't get it. Lots of promise in this tightly-wound youth, but not rated out of respect for the potential that was not allowed to show. :( |
| Red |
2002 Torbreck Shiraz The StruieBarossa more |
10/5/2010 - O>-< wrote: 91 pointsNice savory aromas with pleasant but slightly fading blackberry fruit on the palate. Paired well with pork tenderloin, but I enjoyed this wine a bit more when it retained more youthful exuberance. Nice, but not in the same league as The Factor, or The Descendant from this vintage. |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2002 Alois Kracher Scheurebe TBA #10 Zwischen den SeenNeusiedlersee more |
9/26/2010 - O>-< wrote: 95 pointsMuch lighter in color (still primarily golden) than the #12 from 2002. Very clean, refreshing apricot and honey, not as viscous as many Krachers (including the #12), but a nice appearance of that apricot skin that I often find in good Sauternes. Delightful. I plan to hide the rest of these from myself for at least 2-3 years (it's the only way to keep me from drinking them!), as this is one of the few Krachers I've had that actually seemed 'young' to me. |
| Red |
2006 Saxum Broken StonesPaso Robles Red Rhone Blend more |
9/15/2010 - O>-< wrote: 94 pointsSyrah definitely dominates the character of this wine. A really big wine that carries its 16.3% alcohol remarkably well and exhibits lots of deep, dark fruits, a hint of licorice, and mild pepperiness on the finish, and a degree of minerality throughout that keeps it from getting plump. Big and impressive, but not wildly aromatic or complex. Definitely outstanding. |
| Red |
2005 Chasseur Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
9/17/2010 - O>-< wrote: 92 pointsReally impressive for it's chameleon-like development in the glass. It started out very focused on both the nose and the palate, with a very assertive red fruit character and just a bit of minerality to it. It later went through various stages of showing some spice and incense on the nose, and the palate adapted admirably to various foods. I still see this as a very young wine, and I'd expect it to be healthy and rewarding in another three years or more. |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
1991 Avignonesi Vin Santo di MontepulcianoWhite Blend more |
9/17/2010 - O>-< wrote: 98 pointsI've had plenty of Vin Santo in the past, but never anything like this. Dark brown color with burnt sugar, coffee, and a faint sauvage note on the nose. Lots of fig and toffee on the palate, with a reappearance of coffee and something wild on the finish. Truly a unique experience for me. The best way I could describe it would be to take an Aussie Rare Muscat, decrease the alcoholic burn, and trade in the maple syrup/caramel for a background briary note. My only bottle; it was great to share it with wonderful people who enjoyed it so much. |
| Red |
1999 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino CerretaltoSangiovese more |
9/17/2010 - O>-< wrote: 94 pointsOpened, poured about 3 oz. to get the top level into the shoulders, and gave it an hour+, as advised. This took over two hours to open, and even then the nose was fairly reticent with just hints of cherry and leather, and the color was as dark as the SQN Atlantis Syrah next to it, but with a brick-ish color at the rim instead of a purple glow. The palate was rich but reserved with dark cherry, and the midpalate and finish added that classic combination of star anise and refined tannins that I associate with the best BdMs. I had intended to serve this first and then follow it with the SQN Syrah, but because of the slow-development of the BdM, I brought out the SQN at about the same time and encouraged people to follow them through their evolutions in the glass, and I think this suffered in the comparison, though I think I enjoyed this more than my dinner-mates. |
| Red |
2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3~1a, b & cCentral Coast more |
9/17/2010 - O>-< wrote: 97 pointsGave this a five-hour decant, and it seemed just about right. I wish I could capture the aromatic explosiveness of this wine when it's first opened to share with tasters, but the combination of acid and alcohol on the palate is searing at that point. When we finally tasted together, the aroma was much more elegant, with notable blackberry and raspberry and a gorgeous floral element, as well as a subtle caramel note with further aeration. The berry profile is mirrored on the palate, with a just a hint of grilled meat and white pepper, and a long aftertaste of red fruits and minerals that keep this tidy. Many folks commented that it was equally enjoyable alone or with the grilled steaks, wrapped in bacon, and I got a clear impression that it was the favorite wine that night. My third bottle of this, and clearly the best one yet. 2005 remains my favorite year from SQN so far; everything from that vintage (the white "The Petition," the reds - especially the 17th Nail, the Mr. Ks, and the Atlantis sweeties - especially the wonderfully unique Grenache VdP) has been wonderful and memorable. (I admittedly have not had the Rose from this vintage.) |
| White - Sweet/Dessert |
2005 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume Grand CruChenin Blanc more |
9/6/2010 - O>-< wrote: 93 pointsLots of spicy botrytis on the and palate. Still fairly tart and refreshing, with plenty of quince on the mid-palate, followed by a touch of bitterness on the long finish. Really outstanding, but I honestly don't see this ever reaching the classic quality of the '95. I hope I'm wrong, as I've got plenty of it to drink. Stelvin closure; on the slow-track in aging. The '02 and '03 are better drinking now, IMHO. |
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- Tasting notes: 54 notes on 53 wines
