| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2011 Hawk and Horse Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Block ThreeRed Hills Lake County more |
3/25/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 88 pointsI don't know Red Hills lake Co. wines very well, so I was interested to taste this biodynamic wine. First of all, at 13 years, the wine is in good shape, probably in its prime but it needed nearly 3 hours to lose the upfront fruitiness. It's nearly opaque, but there's not much to the nose. (Perhaps I decanted too long.) Interestingly, the acidity of the wine borders on volatile, noticible as in other raw wines that I have tasted, but here, adding a spark of freshness to the cab fruit. Tannins are moderate and the wine finishes medium. |
| Red |
2017 Black Kite Pinot Noir Kite's RestAnderson Valley more |
3/25/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 94 pointsI've enjoyed several bottles of this wine and it's one of my favorites. One thing I learned-the wine is drinking beautifully now, but still requires, at least, a 1 1/2 hour decant for the secondary characteristics to emerge. Intense ruby red color. Complex nose featuring tart cherry and cola, clove spiciness, the deepest note is tea leaves, no mushroom funkiness, maybe foresr floor. Unique characteristic-mouth-watering juiciness on a texturally soft, velvety frame that finishes long with a pleasantly bitter finish. Mendo pinot all the way. |
| Red |
2018 Montagne Russe Pinot Noir Terra de Promissio VineyardSonoma Coast more |
2/21/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 92 pointsSecond bottle of this wine and it's time to drink up. Similar tasting notes. Highly aromatic, the spices hit me this time-clove, and even incense mixed intense flavors with black raspberries, and tart dark cherry. Juicy, ample tannins, and delicious with an extended and complex finish. From one of California's most prized vineyards. |
| White |
2022 Ginglinger - Fix Riesling GoldertAlsace Grand Cru more |
2/20/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 pointsGoldert Grand Cru covers 111 acres in southern Alsace. Decant for many hours if possible. Delicious fruit and petrol aromas emerged on the second day. Medium gold color, I can see the concentration. Primary aroma of peaches, some pineapple. Deeper, I find the mineral complexity nicely balanced with the fruit and nose-tingling petrol. Similar in the mouth where this wine feels quite youthful. Although I enjoy the freshness drinking the wine now, my guess is that complexity will emerge with 5+ years or more in the bottle. Full, viscous mouthfeel. (For pairing I would go with a little sweetness and umami. Sushi or teriyaki comes to mind.) Tangy acidity and very round with an extended fruit forward finish. |
| White |
2019 Domaine Adrien Besson Chablis 1er Cru VaillonsChardonnay more |
2/17/2024 - hosscrow wrote: 90 pointsTwo hectares of clay and limestone Vaillons cru belong to this family where Adrian is the great grandson of the founder. Fermented in oak and elevage in oak and stainless steel preserves the freshness of the fruit. Bright yellow, the herbal and floral aspects of the nose appear first, especially tarragon and white flowers-honeysuckle and acacia. Lemon and other citrus flavors, some vanilla, but little oak influence other than the elegantly rich texture. Medium plus acidity and an extended, nicely balanced finish. Excellent with raw oysters. Less successful with creamy sauces. |
| Red |
2021 Domaine Cabirau Maury Sec Second EffortGrenache Blend, Grenache more |
2/17/2024 - hosscrow wrote: 92 pointsOne of my favorite expressions of Grenache. (38% Syrah) I first discovered with Dave Phinney's Shatter Maury sec bottling. Unfiltered and unfined. Aged in foudres for texture rather than oak flavors. Schist and marl soils. Bright dark purple with garnet notes. Highly aromatic dark blue fruits along with intense herbal garrique notes. Full in the mouth, pleasing texture with medium acidity and noticable tannins that will soften with age. Medium balanced finish. |
| White |
2015 François Gaunoux Meursault Le Clos de TavauxChardonnay more |
2/8/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 pointsLert this wine open for at least an hour for the aromatics to appear. Pale yellow color. Medium to light concentration. Inriguing nose. First impression-the bitterness of nuts, then the garden with flowers such as honeysuckle and something herbal like thyme, followed by a zesty lemon. The savoury elements are lifted by an enjoyable medium + acidity, a surprisingly lightly textured mouthfeel given the powerful and lengthy bitterness and fruit finish. Enjoy with any light cream and fish. We had a Boulud recipe with a base of spinach and green beans, topped with a garlic and light tomato sauce. |
| White |
2022 Fontaleoni Vernaccia di San Gimignanomore |
1/24/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 90 pointsA nicely aromatic wine with a lovely light gold color. Ample concentration with a powerful tree fruit nose of peaches, peach and apple blossoms, honeysuckle, and a bit of walnut bitterness. Tuscan hills, no coastal notes. Add honeysuckle to the palate. Appealing juicy texture with a medium+ acidity, in this wine that finishes balanced and long. |
| Red |
2009 La Granja Nuestra Señora de Remelluri Rioja ReservaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
1/19/2024 - hosscrow Does not like this wine: 88 pointsBordeaux-like without the smoke flavors that I associate with traditional Rioja. Nearly opaque, ruby with significant rim variation and some bricking. |
| Red |
2012 Sbragia Family Cabernet Sauvignon Andolsen VineyardDry Creek Valley more |
1/10/2024 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 92 pointsWonderful example of Sonoma cab now in its drinking window with at least 5 more years to go. Deep, opaque ruby red with hints of purple. Fresh, highly aromatic blackberry and red currant fruit. Earthy, stoney middle with a nice wood finish of nuts and vanilla. Surprizingly, no tertiary notes. Mouthfilling and delicious with a tart cherry (not at all jammy) lift, ripe taninns, well balanced; Long, even elegant, finish. 90 minute+ decant. |
| Red |
2019 Domaine Cheysson Chiroubles Le Prieuré Cuvée NatureGamay more |
12/11/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 93 pointsLovely and intense ruby color with some rim variation. Drinking nicely now but has, at least 3 or 4 years to go. Complex highly aromatic nose that begins with Gamay Noir typical pretty candied fruit bowl followed by baking spices and some sweet herbs like majoram or valencia orange. (i sense the connection to Bourgogne here with the solft texture but also something like a slightly oxidized pinot. Similar flavors on the palate adding blueberries. Nice tart acidity to balance the fruit, low tannin and a mouthfeel that caresses the tongue and gums. Moderate distinctive finish. A unique wine. |
| Red |
2018 Coho Pinot Noir Stanly Ranch Carnerosmore |
11/15/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 89 pointsLooks like a Russian River Valley pinot with a dark ruby color and density. Aroma notes of blue and black fruits , dark cherry with cola and spice. Medium plus acid and low tannin with a moderate finish. The 300 acres of Stanley Ranch are on the eastern most vineyard in the Napa side of Carneros. Part of the vineyard is being developed as an Auberge resort. I feel that past Buena Vista Winery PN from this site ofered more interesting complexity. This wine settles on primary characteristics. |
| Red |
2018 Montagne Russe Cabernet Sauvignon Claire-ObscureNapa Valley more |
11/8/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 93 pointsWhat happens when a cool-climate pinot specialist makes a Cab with Napa Valley (St. Helena AVA) fruit? The result is highly aromatic, light on its feet deliciousness. Opaque bright purple to the rim, this wine has lots of life ahead of it. Black currant, blackberries, mint and vanilla on the nose, delicate rather than powerful, juicy rather than jammy, in a medium + mouthfeel, more noticable acidity than tannins, with still a solid structure for the black fruit to hang on and a long, long nicely balanced finish. Reminds me more of a wine from Coombsville than Diamond Mt., acessible now with sufficient acidity to age well. If any is around in 10 years, it will be interesting to see if this style yields those tertiary characterisitics that Napa Cab lovers prize. |
| Red |
2019 Montagne Russe Pinot Noir Dragon's Back Black Knight VineyardSonoma Coast more |
10/10/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 pointsThis wine shows its aromatic complexity with very little decanting-30 minutes or so; after that it gradually oxidized by the next day. Medium ruby color, darker and heavier than many West Sonoma Coast pinot. Exciting, enticing and complex nose with cranberry, blueberry and cherry; but, for me, what really stands out is the exotic spiciness of this wine- sandalwood, rose and tea. Medium bodied with a silky texture, no noticable tannin and a medium plus acidity. The medium and balanced finish leaves a memorable impression and the desire to seek out more of this producer. |
| Red |
1998 Château Malescot St. ExupéryMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/1/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 94 pointsThis wine reminds me why I fell in love with Bordeaux in the first place. Classic. Elegent. Complex. As the color moves to the center, a layer of intense garnet gathers around a clear rim. A highly aromatic nose-exotic with spicy incense as the first impression, so inviting. the blue fruit and red fruit have evolved into a combination of leather and cedar box and stones, but also difficult to describe and delicious smelling. The tannins have softenedan d melded with the vanilla in the oak leaving the tang of dried fruit. The balanced but moderate finish seems to end abruptly but then reemerges in a minute or so. Fascinating. |
| White |
2019 Hermann J. Wiemer Riesling Josef VineyardSeneca Lake more |
9/22/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 92 pointsPale gold in color showing a richness that aso shows up in the nose. Pineapple gives a strong first impression, followed by lemon and apple while stoniness lurks in the background. Along with the intensity of the fruit, I can smell the sweetness. On the palate, the density strikes me first and tropical and citrus flavors follow. Auslese comes to mind. There's sufficient acidity to keep the elements in balance to a long finish. Not much complexity at this point, but there's enough stuffing here for other elements to emrge in five or so years. Serve well chilled to keep the wine fresh. |
| White |
2018 Domaine Christophe Mittnacht Riesling Terres d'ÉtoilesAlsace more |
9/21/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 pointsFruit forward but dry. Rich yellow color, smells like lemon, apricot, peach, banana, honeysuckle and peach blossom. Citrus and tropical fruit flavors with a medium/full body and round texturel that goes well with umami foods. Medium acidity on the moderate finish. |
| White |
2018 Cantine Europa SiciliaZibibbo, Muscat more |
8/10/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 89 pointsA dry version( the more famous sweet version is from the island of Pantelleria) of Muscat of Alexandria with Muscat grapey characteristics. Not complex or memorable. |
| White |
2018 Domaine Adrien Besson Chablis 1er Cru VaillonsChardonnay more |
9/6/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 90 pointsPnP. Domaine Besson is always reliable (terrior driven) if not stunning or memorable. First impression-full bodied balances the high acidity. Nice nose of lemon curd and seashells. Long finish. |
| Red |
2017 Bergström Pinot Noir Gregory RanchYamhill-Carlton more |
9/21/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 89 pointsPnP. A dissapointment as I expercted more from this producer. Reminded me of the entry-level (like the Burgundy regional) pinots produced by most of the big name Willamette wineries. |
| Red |
2015 Aliara Montefalco Sagrantinomore |
9/2/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 90 pointsPopped and Poured. Mot noticable impression: jet black, opaque color, full body, tongue-twisting, tannic dryness. Needs food. |
| Red |
2016 Manzanita Creek Rocky Ridge VineyardRockpile Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel more |
9/21/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 92 pointsRocky Ridge is an all Zinfandel property of the well-regarded Mauritson family. Biale sources from this vineyard and its retail price puts it in a league with other high end Sonoma vintners, Gamba for example. so let this powerful wine open for, at least, 2 hours. This Manzanita Creek offering expresses the Rockpile AVA nicely. Lovely medium crimson color with a highly aromatic blackberry, blueberry core vanilla from the oak and appealing spiciness typical of Rockpile, black pepper, clove, nutmeg and fur. Deliciously complex on the palate with black fruits and spices, a smooth medium/full mouth feel, soft acidity and little tannin with a nice balance of fruit and acidity in the long finish. |
| White |
2021 Velenosi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Querci’Anticamore |
9/21/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 90 pointsPale yellow, almost colorless. Grapefruit is the first impression, followed by lemon and a touch of walnut. Mouth-filling flavors of citrus fruits, in a medium bodied, juicy textured, high citrus acidity and an extended finish with a hint of nutty bitterness at the end. |
| Red |
2019 Hyland Estates Pinot Noir Single Vineyard Old VineMcMinnville more |
8/5/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 94 pointsWith Penner Ash and Beaux Freres, one of my favorite Willamette Pinots. Medium ruby,significant rim variation. Drinking well now with nice tertiary notes. Five more years tops. Powerful, complex nose of dark cherry, boysenberries, powerful mushroom, tea leaf, forest floor. Medium acidity low tannin with persistent fruit right through the balanced extended fisish. Labeled Old Vine which is significant because Hylandsnis one of the 1970s Oregon wine industry founders and,in my option, underrated. |
| White |
2020 Calafè Fiano di AvellinoFiano di Avellino DOCG more |
8/6/2023 - hosscrow Likes this wine: 91 pointsThis wine is a step above the Fiano that I drink, more concentrated with an interesting bitterness on the finish. Medium yellow with peach and honeysuckle on the nose. Quite savory. Mineral powerful mouth filling, tangy high acidity and a long complex finish |
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- Tasting notes: 483 notes on 445 wines
