| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2005 Kaesler Shiraz The BoganBarossa Valley more |
2/13/2010 - pepper wrote: 85 pointsThis falls somewhere between a table wine and port. The extraction and alcohol are over the top. I'd rather drink port and get what I expect. Glad it was my only bottle. |
| Red |
2007 Domaine les Grands Bois Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée PhilippineRed Rhone Blend more |
11/8/2009 - pepper wrote: 89 pointsI've read all the hype about the 07 southern Rhones and think it's warranted, but here's the rub. This is a good wine but they all seem about the same to me a this stage. I think that's because they're just too young. I've been drinking my various 2007 Grands Bois cuvees, Dom de la Garrigue, Nicolet, etc., because they are inexpensive ($12-$18 for the most part) while letting all the 'good stuff' in my cellar age. The problem I think is that the 07 CdRs and village wines have the potential to be so much better, and way more distinctive, in a couple more years. Right now this, like the others, is a decent wine but it doesn't stand out in the least and hasn't come close to reaching its potential. I've decided that I need to find other QPR wines to hold me over until the 'good stuff' matures, and resist consuming all my 07 CdRs for another year or two at least. In the past I've found that a good CdR can age well and make the wait well worthwhile. So I plan to ignore the "drink now" recommendations and hold onto these for a couple more years at least, hard as it will be to resist drinking a 2007 CdR over an older bordeaux for example. Anyway, this wine is decent now but I have no doubt it will be much better as it evolves. |
| Red |
2002 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Lone Redwood RanchRussian River Valley more |
11/8/2009 - pepper wrote: 85 pointsI agree with other posters who note pinot characteristics in this wine. However, I bought this hoping for a nice round zin with some bottle age. It has indeed held up well and still seems young. On opening, though, the first taste is kind of like fruitcake. Whenever we got those at Christmas, they ended up in the garbage...too sweet ad too candied. This wine won't go down the drain but it does have a candied aftertaste and a bit of sour pie cherry flavor that I sometimes detect in new world pinots, and lacks the boldness and rusticity of a good zin. This wine is an enigma to me...it's too soft and candied for a zin and lacks the subtlty and elegance of a good pinot. While not a bad wine by any means, it misses the mark. |
| Red |
2005 Elena Fucci Aglianico del Vulture Titolomore |
11/8/2009 - pepper wrote: 92 pointsMy first aglianico and I'm a fan. From what I read I was expecting searing tannins that need years to resolve and a dusty volcanic dryness, but this was not at all the case. This wine has a really nice structure and fruit/tannin/acid balance. Great with hearty (and spicy) foods. I think this has years to go...and will satisfy at every stage along the way. |
| Red |
2004 Gran Clos Priorat Finca El PuigRed Blend more |
10/28/2009 - pepper wrote: 92 pointsSumptuous, hedonistic, fruity, and delicious. Grenache, cab, and syrah...nothing subtle but a very rich, ripe blend without being hot or overdone. Savored this as much as Phillies Game 1 win over the Yankees. |
| Red |
2005 John Duval Wines PlexusBarossa Valley Red Rhone Blend more |
10/23/2009 - pepper wrote: 93 pointsJuicy and delicious. This wine has layers of fruit and texture without being heavy or overripe. I'd have to say Duval got it just about right. Excellent! |
| Red |
2005 Kilikanoon Grenache The DukeClare Valley more |
10/4/2009 - pepper wrote: 93 pointsLke Muhammad Ali...a heavyweight but nimble and light on its feet. Dense fruit and spice but not heavy or overpowering. Carries its 15% alcohol effortlessly. Very nice and complex grenche. |
| Red |
2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma Countymore |
9/30/2009 - pepper wrote: 91 pointsConsistently good. Medium body, nice balance of fruit and spice...a wine for all seasons. |
| Red |
2003 Château DassaultSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
9/30/2009 - pepper wrote: 85 pointsInitial taste of oak/vanilla but lacks depth ad length. Seems a bit diluted. Somewhat disappointing for an 03 St. Emilion P.C |
| Red |
2003 Nicholas Cole Cellars CamilleColumbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
9/26/2009 - pepper wrote: NRThis is a 'Braveheart' sort of wine, fairly disjointed and average a couple of years ago. But wait, wait, wait...it's a worthy match for most any right bank warrior. |
| Red |
2004 Patrick Lesec Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pierres DoréesRed Rhone Blend more |
9/26/2009 - pepper wrote: 91 pointsThis is a solid wine, sort of light weight compared to many CdPs but nice flavors, depth, and purity. It's kind of a chimera...with each of the three bottles I've had showing differently but all good in their own way. I'm looking forward to 9 more variations on a theme. |
| Red |
2006 Faiveley MercureyPinot Noir more |
9/26/2009 - pepper wrote: 91 pointsBeautiful purity and balance. This is probably as good as it gets for a pinot around $20. |
| Red |
2004 Bodegas LAN Rioja ReservaTempranillo more |
9/26/2009 - pepper wrote: 83 pointsDay 1--ordinary but drinkable; Day 2--down the drain in favor of a 2007 S. Rhone CdR. Feels like an upgrade to business class. |
| Red |
2003 Columbia Crest Syrah ReserveColumbia Valley more |
11/11/2007 - pepper wrote: 89 pointsAn enjoyable if not remarkable syrah...a bit restrained initially, developing more depth and complexity with air. Classic syrah berry and spice notes, with a clean and crisp balance. |
| Red |
2001 Simi Cabernet Sauvignon Landslide Alexander Valleymore |
11/11/2007 - pepper wrote: 92 pointsI've had one of these a year for 3 years and this is hands down the best of them. The wine is succulent and juicy with a great nose, black cherry flavors, rich tannins, and a long finish. It has really opened up is finally realizing its potential. I recall reading some comments questioning its aging potential, but if this bottle is any indication, it's only getting better and I'll look forward to next year's tasting. |
| Red |
2002 Kilikanoon Shiraz ParableMcLaren Vale more |
10/23/2007 - pepper wrote: 93 pointsLush, round, and delicious. |
| Red |
2001 Chateau St. Jean Merlot Sonoma Countymore |
10/23/2007 - pepper wrote: 86 pointsKind of medicinal with fading fruit. Not nearly as round and rich as previous bottle a year or so ago, which was quite good. This vintage is probably past its peak. Drink up. |
| White |
2006 Alliance Loire Saumur Blanc Les PouchesChenin Blanc more |
10/23/2007 - pepper wrote: 87 pointsDry, mineral, grapefruit flavors. Tasty, inexpensive chenin blanc. A very good value. |
| Red |
2002 Territorial Pinot NoirWillamette Valley more |
10/23/2007 - pepper wrote: 92 pointsUnfortunately my last bottle of this delicious Oregon pinot from the Eugene area. Still nice fruit and an easy elegance about this wine...just right for a pinot. I think this is a fairly young winery but they are doing it right. This wine would hold its own against many of the much pricier single vineyard OR bottlings. |
| Red |
2003 Château FombraugeSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
7/3/2007 - pepper wrote: 91 pointsDecanted for an hour or so. First impression was its distinctively rich, earthy, and intense nose. Dominant flavors of plum and black cherry but very well balanced tannic structure and earthiness. This wine was enjoyable on its own but would be a knockout with hearty food. Compared with most other merlot-based wines I’ve had, this wine is more concentrated and multidimensional. If I had a case, I’d drink one or two a year and enjoy its evolution. |
| Red |
2003 Spring Valley Vineyard Cabernet Franc Katherine CorkrumWalla Walla Valley more |
1/1/2007 - pepper wrote: 92 pointsThis wine gave me a new perspective on cab franc as a varietal. It was rich and smoky with dark fruit nicely balanced with earth and tobacco notes, along with a very pleasing nose and finish. A well-made, highly enjoyable wine. |
| Red |
2003 Domaine des Entrefaux Crozes-HermitageSyrah more |
12/29/2006 - pepper wrote: 91 pointsThis has a really nice balance of fruit, tannins, spice, and terroir and is distinctly French and distinctly syrah. A couple of tasting notes refer to jammy flavors but I don’t get that at all. This is even better than the bottle I had about a year ago and I think it is drinking really well now. If you like French syrah, you should like this. |
| Red |
2003 Fattoria Capannacce Maremma Toscana RossoRed Blend more |
12/25/2006 - pepper wrote: 84 pointsSomewhat light bodied, bright cherry fruit, tasty at first and enjoyable with a basic meal on opening. However, I found this to be too acidic to enjoy further on its own and it seemed to fade a bit as well. |
| Red |
2003 Achával-Ferrer QuimeraLujan de Cuyo Red Bordeaux Blend more |
12/25/2006 - pepper wrote: 94 pointsHeld this for a year and well worth the wait. Lush red fruit, smooth tannins, great structure, and long finish. Everything comes together harmoniously to make a delicious wine. |
| Red |
1999 Taurino Notarpanaro Salento IGTNegroamaro more |
12/23/2006 - pepper wrote: 80 pointsPrune, raisins, and more prunes and raisins. Not easy to drink and definitely not food friendly. Not for me. |
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- Tasting notes: 101 notes on 94 wines
