| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2004 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
8/14/2022 - ilcalmo wrote: 92 pointsSo I should note that this may have been heat-affected, but in the sense that it was prematurely aged, not that it was damaged. Honestly whatever the reason, I liked it a lot. Plenty of secondary flavors here, including the usual savory/leather components, cherry, herbs, and American oak, with the fruit nicely mellowed. Instantly identifiable as Rioja. |
| Red |
2009 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet SauvignonWashington more |
1/4/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: NRBased on prior notes, I wanted to drink this over two nights before giving an opinion, and that was definitely the correct course. On the first night, this had definite quality already, nicely light on its feet, fresh red fruit, and good secondary characteristics, with some pleasant herbs. However, it also had a hard edge, with some harsh tannins that brought an unwelcome green note to the party. On the second night, the tannins had calmed, and with them the unpleasant greenness had fallen away while the lovely fruit came more to the fore and the more welcome secondary notes were very much present. I see excellent things in the future for this bottle, and I look forward to trying my other one multiple years down the line. So, either let this open for a long time or leave alone for a while. |
| Red |
2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon ReserveNapa Valley more |
6/24/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 93 pointsReally good. It starts off New World, as what one taster described as a "monster truck Cab", but after the up-front fruit the nuances come through to the point that one taster said this could be confused for a big Bordeaux. Nice herbal and mineral nuances in addition to big (but not overripe) fruit with a good finish and plenty of structure still. Highly recommended. I've heard some Mondavi Reserves can disappoint, but this one didn't. |
| Red |
2006 Produttori del Barbaresco BarbarescoNebbiolo more |
4/21/2017 - ilcalmo wrote: 89 pointsVery good, but never going to advance past very good I think. The fruit and characteristic nebbiolo spice were good, but already starting to show a little mature, and the tannins were not similarly mature. I think this may turn out to be one of the hard 06's where the tannins are in danger of outliving the fruit. |
| Red |
2012 I Veroni Chianti Rùfina RiservaSangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more |
5/2/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 85 pointsAn odd wine. The palate has nice cherry fruit along with sangio herbs that, as another poster mentioned, includes a distinct licorice component. There's a bigness to this wine that put me more in the mind of an IGT that Chianti, and this didn't necessarily have the acidity I'd expect from a young Chianti either, though it wasn't flabby. However, the big problem with this wine is that there is some alcoholic heat, not a huge amount, but enough to throw it off balance. This had worsened on day two, and I think there's a real danger this flaw only gets worse with age. Not terrible by any means, but not really something I'd recommend either. |
| Red |
1995 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva RanciaChianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese more |
3/30/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 91 pointsConsumed a couple of weeks ago with a collection of other pedigreed wines. This is mature and ready to drink now. Traditional old sangio flavors with good depth of flavor and length for now, though perhaps not as profound as truly great examples. The only real issue I have with this wine is its acidity, which I find a bit sharp for its age. I don't think this is something time will solve, as the fruit tells me this wine only has a couple of years before it really declines. |
| Red |
2009 Boudreaux Cellars Cabernet SauvignonWashington more |
1/6/2017 - ilcalmo wrote: 87 pointsAt first, this wine was like my previous note, structured, good acidity, with some nice herbs and good though not overbearing fruit. I came back to it a couple of hours after opening, however, and it had become just a mouthful of raspberry jam. Fresh, real jam, sure, but still a disappointing loss of complexity and perhaps a sign that this will age much more quickly than I originally thought. |
| Red |
2011 Podere Poggio Scalette Il Carbonaione Alta Valle della Greve IGTSangiovese more |
12/30/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 89 pointsStill way too young. The nose promises a bruiser, and the palate delivers a monster of a wine that clearly should not be consumed yet. The structure is extremely formidable, and while there is big fruit here and already the signs of some developing nuance, the whole experience is of one's palate being stomped on. On day 2 this was a much better drink, and confirmed to me this should be quite good once it settles down. |
| Red |
1996 Château Clerc MilonPauillac Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/26/2022 - ilcalmo wrote: 92 pointsIn a really nice place right now. Blind, actually got a lot of Dunn guesses, which should give you an idea of the flavor profile. Could go a little longer if you're so inclined, but no need to wait. |
| White - Sparkling |
2004 J. Dumangin Fils Champagne Extra BrutChampagne Blend more |
7/7/2017 - ilcalmo wrote: 90 pointsA real-deal Champagne for a fairly reasonable price. There is a nice yeastiness to it along with a little nuttiness that gives this a fairly classic profile. It has nice length and it has a little darkness and fullness that marks the fact that it is nearly 50% pinot. Not higher because it doesn't excel in any category, but a nice package. |
| Red |
2003 Château LascombesMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
5/26/2017 - ilcalmo wrote: 91 pointsA pleasant surprise, in an odd way. I think of 2003 as an earlier drinking, hotter vintage, and opened this wine with that expectation. However, this was surprisingly restrained. The fruit was fresh and working in concert with the traditional Bordeaux characteristics (mineral, herbs, leather). The only objection was, as one taster noted, this is more like a St. Julien, as it has few of the feminine characteristics that traditionally distinguish a Margaux. This is drinking well, and I might almost believe the 13% alcohol stated on the label. Very good. |
| White |
2001 i Clivi 140 months BrazanCollio Goriziano Friulano, Sauvignonasse more |
8/2/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 90 pointsLike many have noted, not for everyone's taste, and it should be allowed to breathe and be consumed a little warmer than other whites. There are nice fruit and nut flavors, but there is a sort of herbal character that almost puts one in the mind of a red, and a nice oily texture like you'd expect from an older white. Esoteric, and maybe not something I need on a regular basis, but worth trying at least once. |
| Red |
2013 Te Whare Ra Pinot NoirMarlborough more |
1/22/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: NRBrought to a blind tasting, and most of the guesses were Oregon/NZ with a Burgundy outlier, which tells you about where this wine lies. Good acidity, tart but not austere fruit, and some nice spiciness, this was a nice value and got general approval from what can be a tough table. Give this a shot if you like your New World pinots to have a good dose of Old World sensibility, and don't worry about the screwcap. |
| Red |
2012 Tenuta di Trinoro Le Cupole Toscana IGTRed Bordeaux Blend more |
11/18/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 89 pointsQuite good, but very young. There is nice ripe fruit, which helps balance out the still formidable structure, as well as herbal nuances that turn tea-like with more air. This will definitely be better with more time, as the structure is rather formidable, but the fruit means that the experience is bearable right now. Food would help as well, but hold if possible. |
| Red |
2013 Glaetzer Dixon Family Winemakers Pinot Noir AvanceCoal River more |
5/30/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 85 pointsI opened this on reading other notes indicating heat, and unfortunately they were proven right. Unfortunate, given this wine has other virtues. The cherry fruit and sweet yet spicy herbs are nice on the palate if you can ignore the heat (which you really can't for long) and blind I would have called this an Oregon pinot. That said, even apart from the heat the finish is short and rather diffuse. The profile minus the heat reminds me of Chehalem's style, and given their entry level bottling is not very expensive either, it's hard to get too excited about this wine. |
| Red |
2012 Passopisciaro PassorossoTerre Siciliane Nerello Mascalese more |
10/17/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 90 pointsA baby, really, but there was an occasion that dictated I break this out. It was really good, too. Plenty of acid, tannin, and structure at this stage (hence "baby") but it is already starting to show nice nuance and complexity with good cherry fruit, herbs, and a little floral note. It also hides its 15.5 alcohol remarkably well, and everything about this wine suggests it should age into a real beauty. Hold if at all possible. |
| Red |
2008 Dehlinger Syrah GoldridgeRussian River Valley more |
8/4/2017 - ilcalmo wrote: 86 pointsA real disappointment. I'm generally a fan of Dehlinger's wines, and their syrahs in particular, but this was not up to their usual standards. This was a huge, bombastic syrah with little in the way of secondary nuances, just gobs and gobs of jammy fruit with small hints of other characteristics trying to break through. This didn't improve as the evening went on, either. I'm hoping this was an atypical bottle. |
| Red |
2009 Domaine Michel Gaunoux BourgognePinot Noir more |
12/5/2015 - ilcalmo wrote: NRThe "Sonoma pinot" comment below is quite astute, as this pinot has a creaminess that becomes more evident with air and is unexpected given the origin. That said, I was still quite pleased with this, as it didn't do the things I dislike about Sonoma pinot (tasting like pinot-by-way-of-syrah, unwelcome sweetness, etc.). There was good fruit, some acid, and enough secondary flavors that this played quite nicely with food. Maybe a good gateway wine for more New World drinkers who want to get into Burgundy. |
| Red |
2003 R. López de Heredia Rioja Reserva Viña TondoniaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
4/8/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: NRBrought to a blind tasting where the proverbial everybody guessed what it was. This bottle had cherry fruit, lots of leather, some herbs, a hint of funk and blood orange, and, of course a bit of American oak. The fruit had a stewed character that was slightly stewed, and it was mild enough that there is a decent chance it was just the year rather than any heat damage. Your appreciation of this wine will vary dramatically based how you feel about Rioja's more distinctive characteristics, which this wine does nothing to tone down. I rather liked it. |
| Red |
2010 Château FontesteauHaut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend more |
2/24/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 83 pointsConsumed over two nights with and without food, and I have to say this was disappointing. On the first night the wine displayed good fruit, some nice earthy tones, and nice tannin, but it was all marred by a rather strong green note which at least didn't totally strangle the other flavors. The second night, that note became even more prominent, making the wine actively unpleasant, and after tasting the wine I poured the remainder down the sink. This is a wine of some substance, and perhaps it will improve with age, but I would have preferred something maybe less ambitious but better executed. |
| Red |
2007 Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Cinque QuerceTaurasi DOCG Aglianico more |
4/14/2022 - ilcalmo wrote: 91 pointsVery good, but be warned it's still Aglianico (which is to say, tannins that attempt to cut your mouth, even at this stage). Aside from that, warm-climate red fruit that doesn't go over the top along with Italianate herbs and an almost Bordeaux-like leather component. Very good finish and generally good balance in a warm climate way. Hold longer if you can, or have with a steak now. |
| Red |
2011 M. Chapoutier Crozes-Ermitage Les VaronniersCrozes-Hermitage Syrah more |
12/7/2015 - ilcalmo wrote: NRAs others, have noted, definitely young, but far from undrinkable. Very clean and focused for the appellation, as it should be, given producer and relative price. Dark fruit, lots of pepper, and savoriness, though still tight, as earlier mentioned. Not huge and bombastic, but Syrah from this region really shouldn't be. Quite nice, and recommended, but hold if you can stand it. |
| Red |
2010 Viña Otano Rioja Gran ReservaTempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more |
11/12/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 87 pointsThis was underwhelming for a 2010 GR Rioja. The fruit was surprisingly fresh, but that is probably due to the fact this was aged in stainless steel. I suspect this aging is also what robbed the wine of the depth of secondary characteristics I expect from GR Rioja. There were a few herbal and savory nuances, but they were much less than one would expect. They were also accompanied by an unwelcome green note, which makes me suspect that the 13% alcohol in 2010 was achieved by picking too early. This is inexpensive for a Gran Reserva, but for the same money I could have a Toro or a Crianza that would make me much happier. |
| Red |
2008 Antinori Chianti Classico Marchese Antinori RiservaChianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese more |
11/15/2015 - ilcalmo wrote: NRAt first, I was a bit down on this wine, but it needed a little time to open up. Once it does, it displays classic Sangio flavors with sour cherry, leather, and herbs. It does display a little mid-palate plushness and sweetness that is mildly disconcerting, and the finish shows a little more oak than I'd like. Still, very good with food after it opens, and it will probably be better if you give it a few more years. |
| Red |
2008 Piers Saffran Walla Walla ValleyRed Bordeaux Blend more |
3/17/2016 - ilcalmo wrote: 89 pointsThe score is the result of two confusingly different tasting experiences from the same bottle. On the first night, the fruit was out in full force, and gave an impression of a high degree of ripeness. What made it confusing was that the wine was not actually sweet and finished dry, and had some secondary nuances, though it also gave the impression of being a little hot. On the second night, the wine had actually become more restrained and balanced, with the fruit dialed back and a lot of herbs and spices showing up. I definitely liked the wine I had the first night, but I loved the wine I tasted on the second. It was consumed with food on both nights, and the first night didn't give the impression of a wine that needed time to open up, so I'm still not sure what happened. Regardless, the price was good enough that I'm quite happy with the purchase, and I wish I had another bottle to see what that would do. |
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- Tasting notes: 154 notes on 148 wines
