| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2014 Saint Cosme Côte-RôtieSyrah more |
3/31/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 93 pointsHad this alongside a 2014 Cayuse, with an Easter leg of lamb (perfect match, by the way). I expected this to be overshadowed by the Cayuse, but it really wasn't. In fact, the two were strikingly similar. The nose and taste of both wines practically screamed SYRAH. Neither wine was nearly as funky as I might have expected. The Cayuse was slightly bigger and slightly richer, but this was no slouch in either department. Has years to go. |
| Red |
2014 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux VineyardWalla Walla Valley more |
3/31/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 94 pointsCompared to a bottle almost two years ago, this has really settled down. It's now much better integrated. The creosote is muted, but all the other desireable components are still present - pepper, grilled meat, garrigue, minerals, etc. Tannins still present, but they're under control. Rich, with a great finish. Good stuff. Guessing it has years left on it. |
| Red |
2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Griffin's LairSonoma Coast more |
3/25/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 pointsIn March, 2022, I thought this wine was past its prime. Shows what I know, because this bottle - two years later - was terrific. Extremely dark, and the nose just lept out of the glass. Big time grilled meat, herbs, and pepper. Not too tannic, but the bodacious fruit made it seem like a "big" wine. Good, not great finish. Given my track record, I won't even hazard a guess on how much longer it will last. |
| Red |
2012 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon SignatureNapa Valley more |
3/16/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 pointsConsistent with a bottle five months ago. Holding up just fine. |
| White |
2017 Smith-Madrone ChardonnaySpring Mountain District more |
2/19/2024 - Night Train Does not like this wine: 75 pointsFlawed, but for all I know, they all are comparably flawed if and when they reach this age. Unusually dark color was the first clue, and the nose confirmed it - it was badly oxidized and literally undrinkable. I never pour disapppointing wines down the drain, but I made an exception for this one. CellarTracker shows 173 bottles still in members' cellars, and I strongly recommend drinking them ASAP (or better yet, a year ago). |
| Red |
2011 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family VineyardNapa Valley more |
1/27/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 pointsSame as it ever was. Dark color, nice (but not complex) nose, big time black and blue fruits, rich, great finish, yummy. A year and a half ago, I thought this was peaking and about to head downhill. It's still at that peak, and i'm beginning to think it will outive me. |
| Red |
2015 Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon VineyardSanta Barbara County more |
1/27/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 89 pointsTook to a party and didn't get to taste much of it. A big boy. Very dark color. Fairly rich, with a good finish. A little too sweet for my tastes. However, out of ten to 15 bottles at the party, this was the first one emptied, so what do I know. Years left on it. |
| Red |
2013 Carlisle Syrah Sierra Mar Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlandsmore |
1/20/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 91 pointsNose was a little shy, but it eventually emerged - smelled the way a syrah is supposed to smell. Blue fruits, pepper, and grilled meats. Black and blue fruits on the palate. Fairly rich,with a solid finish. Holding up well, although I would prefer a little more structure (probably better a year or two ago). |
| Red |
2015 Domaine la Roubine Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret Le MoulinGrenache Blend, Grenache more |
1/13/2024 - Night Train wrote: 84 pointsHad a bottle 8 or 9 months ago and gave it a score of 90, mostly for its almost explosive fruit on the palate. This one was almost dead and on life support. Could be bottle variation, or it could have rather suddenly blown by its drink-by date. Probably time to drink up. |
| Red |
2016 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle VineyardRussian River Valley more |
1/7/2024 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 pointsCompared to a bottle just four months ago, this seemed a tad over-extracted and overripe. The label says 15% ABV, but I would have guessed 16.5% or more. Otherwise, it was consistent with everybody's tasting notes, including mine from September - black fruits on the nose, mostly red fruits on the palate, along with a savory streak. Rich, good finish, elegant, and holding up just fine. May even improve over the next 12 to 18 months. |
| Red |
2013 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée ChaupinGrenache more |
12/31/2023 - Night Train Does not like this wine: 70 pointsGave a previous bottle a score of 82. Either I was in a charitable mood, or that (lousy) bottle was somehow better than this one. Very light, minimal fruit, zero minerals, zero garrigue, and a short finish - all the same as bottle #1. However, this bottle also featured a lot of sheep barn on both the nose and the palate. I almost never pour a bottle down the sink, no matter how bad or defective. I make an exception for this one. |
| Red |
2004 Etude Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
12/25/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 93 pointsTook to a Christmas dinner party, so no detailed notes. 2007 Quilceda Creek was WOTN, but the Etude held up just fine. |
| Red |
2009 The MascotNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/25/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 93 pointsTook to a Charistmas dinner, so no detailed notes. 2007 Quilceda Creddk was WOTN, but the Mascot was not chopped liver. Holding up well. |
| Red |
2007 Quilceda Creek Cabernet SauvignonColumbia Valley more |
12/25/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 96 pointsTook to a Christmas dinner party, along with a 2009 Mascot and a 2004 Etude. All three were great, but the Quilceda was spectacular. No detailed notes., because I was impaired when we started drinking the reds. In no immediate danger of going over the hill. |
| Red |
2016 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera RanchRussian River Valley more |
12/17/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 88 pointsTook to a party, so no detailed notes. PnP. Minimal breathing. Grapey and hot. Pleasant enough, but it needs decanting or another year or two in the bottle. |
| Red |
2013 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée RéservéeRed Rhone Blend more |
11/23/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 89 pointsDrank with turkey, dressing, etc., along with a 2010 Brune et Blonde and a 2014 Tensley syrah. A little disappointing, but still my favorite of the bunch. A little thinner and lighter than I had anticipated/hoped, but the nose...cowabunga! All kinds of stuff going on - lavender, herbs, minerals, baconfat, and more. Pleasant fruitiness, but not over-the-top like the Tensley. Good (not great) finish. Everything I'd want, except for the light body and somewhat muted flavors. |
| Red |
2013 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah North Coastmore |
11/13/2023 - Night Train wrote: 87 pointsSomehow lost track of this, a wine that I should have opened 3 to 5 years ago. Bright red, with no bricking. Nice, but shy nose - smells like a syrah! Blueberries on the palate and a decent finish. Tannins are completely gone. At its peak, it probably would have earned a score of 90. Although it's still pleasant, it's no longer close to balanced. Now, I'd give it an 84, so I've split the difference. |
| Red |
2016 Once & Future Wine Zinfandel Frank's Block Teldeschi VineyardDry Creek Valley more |
10/29/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 pointsConsistent with previous bottles. Great balance, fairly rich, really good finish. Extremely polished and refined for a zin. Tannins are mostly gone, so it wouldn't be a good match with grilled steaks, pizza, or other really hearty foods. However, it's still great by itself or with less robust foods (cheeses, pulled pork, etc.). Probably about time to drink up. |
| Red |
2014 Château de Saint Cosme GigondasRed Rhone Blend more |
10/7/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 pointsPretty sweet. Nice nose -- mostly herbs and garrigue. Assorted berries on the palate, along with the herbs. Medium body, decent finish. Impressively well knit and integrated. Very smooth and balanced. Didn't blow me away, but impressed me with its balance and restraint. Tannins are still present, but are subdued. I think it's at its peak, and I think it will be there for another year or so. |
| Red |
2012 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon SignatureNapa Valley more |
10/7/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 pointsI paid $47 for this, and the 2021 is going for $100. Back in the day, part of this wine's appeal was its QPR. These days - not so much. Along with Sequoia Grove, Chappellet cabernets have been among the very few affordable Napa cabernets that really don't show their stuff until they've spent a few years in the bottle. This one was better than a bottle six months ago, which was better than a bottle last year. I wouldn't be shocked if it continues to improve with still more age. 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2014 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Roblesmore |
10/3/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 87 pointsMy last bottle was two years ago in October, 2021, at which time I said drink within six months. Of course, I ignored that advice, and, sure enough, it has gone way downhill since then. Not only are the tannins gone, but it now comes across as flat and dull. Only an idiot would expect a $24 bottle of cabernet to hold up for more than 6 or 7 years. Guilty as charged. |
| Red |
2009 The MascotNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
9/26/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 90 pointsEven though it was decanted about an hour before tasting, it never seemed to open up. Since a bottle I had last Christmas was terrific, I'm thinking this was just an "off" bottle. Nevertheless, it was still pretty decent - well balanced, good structure, and a very good finish. |
| Red |
2017 Domaine Giraud Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes Les Sables d'ArèneRed Rhone Blend more |
9/23/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 88 pointsLast bottle I had was roughly three years ago, and I wrote "drink within the next year". Fortunately, I ignored my own advice, and of course it has improved. It's still well balanced, but it's much better integrated now, and it hasn't lost any "oomph". On the palate, the fruit seems bigger and more mouth-filling, and the transition to the finish is much more seamless. Holding up just fine, thank you, and it's a very good value. |
| Red |
2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah North Coastmore |
9/20/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 88 pointsGood news and bad news. Compared to a bottle a year and a half ago, this HAS developed some nice, "Rhoney" secondary notes and flavors. However, as Bedrock's entry level (cheapest) syrah, it probably wssn't built or intended for the long hall, and it has lost a lot since my last bottle. Still pleasant, but it's past time to drink up. |
| Red |
2012 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet SauvignonNapa / Sonoma more |
9/16/2023 - Night Train Likes this wine: 92 pointsProbably would have warranted a higher score two or so years ago. However, the tannins have faded to the point that it's no longer all that well balanced, and it's no longer a good match with robust foods. What it is, however, is just freaking delicious. Not much fruit left, but it has developed a whole lot of interesting and tasty secondary notes. Still quite rich and it still has a terrific finish. Drink now. |
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- Tasting notes: 1,544 notes on 734 wines
