| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2009 Betz Family Cabernet Sauvignon Père de FamilleColumbia Valley more |
3/5/2022 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 90 pointsThis was good, but not monumental by any stretch. Showed a pretty decent amount of heat on the nose and palate. A little thin and mostly secondary notes at this point. Probably sat on this bottle a little long, tbh. |
| White |
2018 Vigneti Vecchio Sicilia Sciare ViveCarricante more |
1/16/2022 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 88 pointsNot my favorite Italian/Sicilian white (of which I’ve been drinking a lot lately. This one read as pretty extreme on the mineral side, and more muted as far as interesting aromatics. Maybe a hint oxidized as well. |
| Red |
2015 La Pitchoune Pinot Noir English Hill VineyardSonoma Coast more |
9/25/2021 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 91 pointsGlad i popped this now; looks like the cork was letting a little more O2 through than desired. Still a wonderful exemplar of why I love Coast PN — elegant, restrained, pretty, balanced. But showing surprising bricking for a 2015, and kind of fell apart on Day 2…but I think I do attribute that to the closure more than anything. |
| Red |
2007 Mark David Winery Cabernet FrancKnights Valley more |
7/31/2021 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 93 pointsThis wine has held up beautifully in the 9 years since my last note. Some of that Franc pyrazine shows through as the wine becomes structurally softer. Almost a little Loire influence. Still beautifully colored, with minimal bricking. Fruits are vibrant and fresh on the nose and palate. Really wish they had kept making this wine! |
| Red |
2010 Arista Winery Pinot Noir LongbowRussian River Valley more |
4/24/2021 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 95 pointsI'm seeing old notes on here saying this is past its drinking window, but I've got to tell you, this bottle is spectacular right now. It's been immaculately cellared, so maybe that helps, but it's bright, vibrant, lively, just a hint of richness showing the age. I would never in a million years have blinded this as 2010 based on the color in the glass...it's still vibrant red with just a hint of bricking on the very rim. Seriously, don't give up hope if you have bottles of this in your cellar still -- this one was glorious for me. It's why I used to buy so much Arista. |
| Red |
2009 Elsbree Family Vineyards Zinfandel Estate VineyardRussian River Valley more |
2/22/2021 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 91 pointsWell, I found this hiding in my cellar, and the cork tried to disintegrate, so I wasn’t holding my breath. The color showed some signs of oxidation, again tempering my anticipation. But I’m really pleased with how fresh and vibrant the fruit is on the palate. Juicy strawberry and blackberry. I don’t tend to love massive, over the top Zin, so the balance and moderation (14.5 ABV labeled) of this one is welcome. Quite an enjoyable find in the nooks and crannies of the cellar. |
| Red |
2012 Arista Winery Pinot Noir Sonoma Coastmore |
1/16/2021 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 91 pointsBottles like this are why I bought a lot of Arista back in the day. Bright, vibrant red Cherry, beautiful acidity, very soft tannins. The label says 14.9, which is really hard to believe...it just doesn’t show that heat to me. At the $38 i paid, I’m thrilled with how this is showing now. |
| Red |
2009 Arista Winery Pinot Noir La Cruz Vineyard Sonoma Coastmore |
12/20/2020 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 94 pointsWow...still holding up great 8 years after my last note on this wine. I drank a 2013 Arista a few nights earlier that didn’t show nearly as well. Slight bricking the only real hint of age right off the bat. Fresh and lively on first pour — brimming with bright red fruit. My appetite for Cali pinot started in the RRV and has progressively headed toward the coast. This is another great example of all the good that comes from the Sonoma Coast sites like La Cruz. Yum. |
| Red |
2010 Rasa Vineyards QEDWalla Walla Valley Red Rhone Blend more |
12/13/2020 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 88 pointsHonestly a bit underwhelmed. Feels a bit past prime — soft and a bit unstructured, definitely beginning to verge on oxidized as far as flavors and aromas go. This has been impeccably cellared since purchase, but just hasn’t held up. I have another bottle left, so we will see if this was just some bottle variation. |
| Red |
2009 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Hallberg VineyardRussian River Valley more |
11/22/2020 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 92 pointsI have to say, I was worried I waited too long when I found this in the cellar. But as soon as I opened and poured, I knew I was fine. Fantastic color in the glass — would never have called this an ‘09 visually. A slight oxidative note on the nose hinted at the age, but it was still replete with RRV pinot character. Very enjoyable. |
| Red |
2018 Alton Wines MourvèdreWalla Walla Valley more |
9/10/2020 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 90 pointsA very smooth, pleasant, approachable take on Mourvèdre. Nose has some caramel and leathery notes, with smooth, pretty red and blue fruit on the palate with a slightly sweet character. Have enjoyed sipping on this bottle before, with, and after dinner over the past few days. |
| Red |
2010 Gramercy Cellars Syrah Walla Walla Valleymore |
8/18/2020 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 89 pointsOk, but not up to the standard I’ve come to expect from Gramercy. Probably singing 2 or 3 years ago. Definitely taste the Les Collines influence on this wine. |
| Red |
2012 Rasa Vineyards Cabernet Franc QED Axiom of ChoiceWalla Walla Valley more |
8/18/2020 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 87 pointsProbably a little past its prime. Flat and unremarkable. |
| Red |
2004 Domaine la Barroche Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée FiancéeRed Rhone Blend more |
5/23/2019 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 93 pointsThis is drinking beautifully. Really vibrant blue and black fruit, nicely balanced. Acid is still lively. Drank with roasted leg of lamb and it was a beautiful as one might hope. Glad I have another bottle! |
| Red |
2005 Kuleto Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Native SonNapa Valley more |
7/24/2015 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 93 pointsStill a lot of life in this. Every bit as good as my last tasting. Smooooooooooth. |
| Red |
2008 Dois Irmãos Winery Pinot NoirWillamette Valley more |
6/28/2014 - Bender Bending Rodriguez wrote: 80 pointsIn all fairness to this wine, I've given it another chance, and this bottle was actually OK. It's not magical, but at least it was drinkable, and we finished the bottle. I'm not sure if the first two bottles I had were really that significantly flawed or what, but I'll give the last 3 bottles in my cellar a chance as well. |
| White |
2009 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Keefer RanchRussian River Valley more |
5/25/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 92 pointsA lovely Chard. I'm not a Chard drinker, but I consistently like what GF does with the grape. Absolutely gorgeous glowing straw yellow in the glass. The nose is full of crisp citrus and melon. On the palate, the texture is most striking -- it's silky smooth without being oily. The citrus notes are met with strong minerality, with a finish that almost has hint of ashes (not unpleasantly). |
| Red |
2010 Sequana Vineyards Pinot Noir Dutton RanchGreen Valley of Russian River Valley more |
5/24/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 93 pointsThis is a big and impressive RRV pinot. Though if you're looking for something Burgundian, move along. The dark color in the glass belies the extraction -- much deeper reds than most RRV pinots I've had. The nose is a mix of cherry, raspberry, and spice -- maybe some clove, maybe some cinnamon. On the palate, it's big and bold red fruit, but nicely balanced with some acidity and a silky smooth finish. I think this will get even better with age, so I'm glad to have more bottles, but thoroughly enjoyed this one. |
| Red |
2006 Torciano Brunello di MontalcinoSangiovese more |
5/12/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 90 pointsMother's Day with a tagliatelle w/ spicy lamb ragu. Opened and decanted for about 3h. Starting to brick a little in color; nose is rich and full with red fruit and some floral notes. Smooth and strong on the palate, with earthy and smoky edges. A really nice wine. |
| Rosé |
2012 Kerloo Cellars Grenache Rosé Angiolina FarmYakima Valley more |
5/12/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 88 pointsMother's Day warm-up. Brilliant and crisp on the nose and palate. Tart fruits and minerality really nicely balanced. A beautiful wine to look at. |
| Red |
2005 Kuleto Estate Cabernet Sauvignon India InkNapa Valley more |
5/11/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 90 pointsNot sure this is past its prime, but it's definitely ready to drink. Beautiful deep, dark red with lovely brick notes becoming readily apparent. Muscular and deep dark fruits on the nose; I could ID this as a Kuleto cab immediately. Rich, succulent on the palate, with black berries dominant. Starting to lose just a little bit of structure on the finish, but the flavor sticks around beautifully. |
| Red |
2009 ÀMaurice Cellars MalbecColumbia Valley more |
5/11/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 91 pointsBeautiful violet color in the glass. Nose is plum and spice. Hauntingly dark on the palate, with abundant dark fruit balanced with beautiful acidity and great tannic structure. Simply a great wine from start to finish. |
| Red |
2007 Outcast Zinfandel Napa Valleymore |
4/16/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 89 pointsA really nice zin. Beautiful clarity and color in the glass. Nose was an interesting combination of peppery spice, red fruits, and even a little floral hint. Bright on the palate, and yet chewy in the way a good Zin should be. Enjoyed with both homemade pizza (night 1) and some grilled chicken, interestingly enough (night 3). |
| Red |
2009 Epiphany RevelationSanta Barbara County Red Rhone Blend more |
4/12/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 91 pointsWith the generous helping of grenache, I'd expect more red fruit on the nose, but this guy is brooding dark fruit and smoke from the get go. Big, rich flavors on the palate, but not a jammy fruit bomb. It's a nice blend of dark fruits and more earthy notes, with great tannins and mouthfeel. Went down waaay too easy. |
| Red |
2009 Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valleymore |
4/11/2013 - Bender Bending Rodriguez Likes this wine: 90 pointsA really nice pop-and-pour bottle. I don't think this has a ton of years in it, so glad we're drinking when we did. That being said, really nice, fruit-forward cab. |
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- Tasting notes: 115 notes on 93 wines
