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Wine Type
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Vintage
Name
Variety
Locale
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Date
Posted
Score
Helpful
Comments
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Red
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2015 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
Pauillac
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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👁 deep ruby, legs
👃medium intensity.
* Primary aromas of red/black fruit - raspberry, red cherry, red plum, black currant, blueberry. Black currant leaf. Cedar. A touch medicinal-mint.
* Secondary aromas of oak treatment-vanilla, coffee, milk chocolate, smoke.
* MLF-butter,cream
* Developing
👅dry, medium (+) acidity, medium (+) grippy tannins, medium alcohol, medium bodied.
Medium flavor intensity - primary flavors of black fruit - black currant, black plum and black cherry. Baking spice, black pepper (very spicy), vanilla, cream.
Medium finish
Quality: very good
Too young-cellar.
This wine will benefit from further bottle aging, it is developing.
After decanting it is showing nicely, it’s balanced, length is a little short, intensity on the palate leads more to spice and cream (less so, fruit, at this stage), it’s smooth yet grippy. Given the grape variety, site location/climate and extraction/maturation process, this wine asks that it be cellared for several more years before its structural components are fully integrated. Once so, it will not disappoint
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Red
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2012 Dominus Estate
Napa Valley
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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👁 medium ruby
👃medium intensity. Primary aromas of red fruit - raspberry, red cherry, red plum, redcurrant. jammy, with a little smoke, pepper and vanilla. Developing.
👅dry, medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins, high alcohol, full body, pronounced flavor intensity, primary concentrated flavors of black fruit - black currant, black plum and black cherry. Baking spice, char, vanilla, cream, butter.
Medium (+) finish
Quality: excellent
Drink now, but has potential for further aging.
This wine will benefit from further bottle ageing but it is already showing development (tannins and flavor integration). After one hour decanting it has opened up nicely - soft texture/mouthfeel (M-L) balanced with good acidity, spice and concentrated fruit.
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Red
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2012 Valley Floor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga
more
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👁 deep ruby
👃medium (+) intensity. Primary aromas of ripe black cherry, black plum, blackcurrant. smoke, char. Developing.
👅dry, medium (+) acidity, medium (-) tannins, high alcohol, full body, pronounced flavor intensity, primary concentrated flavors of black fruit as per nose. Smoke, char, resinous.
Long finish.
Quality-outstanding
Drink now, but has potential for further aging.
Napa valley floor cab - hot climate and volcanic soil leads to a rich, bold wine with very concentrated sweet fruit along with char and subtle oak treatment (my guess is french oak).
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Red
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2016 Château Lalande-Borie
St. Julien
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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👁 deep ruby, legs
👃medium intensity, wet stone, medicinal, oak, black fruit - Black cherry, black plum, cassis, blueberry, blackcurrant, bramble
👅dry, medium alcohol, medium tannins, medium intensity, high acidity, as per nose w/eucalyptus, spice, pepper, oak treatment. Medium finish.
Quality- Very good
Can drink now, but has potential for aging
This vintage is still a touch too young but if decanted it shows well with high concentration of fruit without overwhelming tannins. Would go great with sauced dishes.
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White
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2015 Domaine Vincent et Francois Jouard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot Les Fairendes Vieilles Vignes
Chardonnay more
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Eye - pale gold
Nose - medium (-) intensity aromas of peach, lime, biscuit, butter, cheese. Developing.
Palate- dry, high acidity, full bodied, medium alcohol, medium (+) flavor intensity, citrus/stone fruit, lees, spice. Long finish.
Outstanding quality
Drink now but suitable for further aging
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Red
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2009 Seigneurie de Posanges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Pinot Noir more
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Eye: medium ruby
Nose: medium intensity. Red cherry, red plum, red currant, red apple. Tobacco, Mushroom,leather, ash, smoke, forest floor. Developing.
Palate: dry, high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, medium tannins. Medium (-) flavor intensity. Flavor as per nose but with black pepper.
Finish: medium (-)
Quality: very good
Drink now but potential for further aging.
This is a savory and spicey, premier cru regional NSG pinot. Great with pork or game.
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Red
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2012 Dominus Napanook Red
Napa Valley
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Eye: medium ruby, legs.
Nose: cassis, blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, ash, earth, violet, black plum, coffee, vanilla. Medium intensity. Developing.
Palate: dry, high alcohol, high acidity, medium tannins (starting to round off, not coarse) black cherry, black currant, black plum, coffee, bitter chocolate, vanilla.
medium (+) flavor intensity
medium (+) finish
Drink now but potential for further aging.
Quality: excellent
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Red
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2011 Frank Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Calistoga
more
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Medium ruby
Black fruit - black cherry, plum, Blueberry, vanilla
Dry, high acidity, medium (-) tannins, high alcohol, full bodied.
black cherry, plum, Blueberry, strawberry, spice, Coffee,
chocolate, vanilla.
Medium finish
Drink now
This is a good quality, rich, spicey, intense cab that’s typical of Napa wines without being overbearing with oak treatment.
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Red
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2013 Château Montus Madiran
Tannat Blend, Tannat more
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Eye: medium ruby
Nose: Med intensity, developing. Spice, Charcoal, smoke, granite, stone, earth, wet wool.
Palate: Dry, medium acidity. Medium tannins, medium alcohol,medium bodied. Minerality dominates the core to the finish along with baking spice, and after further decanting, chocolate, coffee but not in an obvious Californian style. Lingering heat/alcohol. Tannat is a different animal. Medium Finish
Quality: good
Drinking now out of inquisitiveness, definitely has a profile, and possibly with further ageing could be increasingly interesting.
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Red
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2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary
Napa Valley
more
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Eye: deep ruby
Nose: Med (+) intensity, developed. Ripe blackberry, black cherry, plum, cassis, vanilla.
Palate: Dry, medium acidity. Low tannins, high alcohol, full bodied. Palate as per nose with addition of chocolate. Medium (+) finish
Quality: outstanding
Drink now.
A decadent wine.
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Red
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2012 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero
Tinto Fino, Tempranillo more
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Eye: Medium ruby
Nose: Med intensity, developing. red cherry, raspberry, strawberry, cassis, vanilla.
Palate: Dry, High acidity. Medium (-) tannins, high alcohol, full bodied. red fruit - strawberry, red cherry, raspberry. Oak treatment but not overdone.
Medium (+) finish
Quality: Very good
Drink now but suitable for further ageing.
The little brother to Vega’s ‘Valbuena’, it doesn’t disappoint. Lighter in style but still full of wonderfully focused red fruit.
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Red
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2010 Château Haut-Chaigneau
Lalande de Pomerol
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Eye: medium ruby
Nose: black cherry, black currant, violet, raspberry, red plum, milk chocolate, earth, wet stone, vanilla, oak. medium (-) intensity.
Palate: Dry, high acidity, medium (+) tannins, high alcohol, full bodied. Blackberry, plum, black cherry, coffee, chocolate, vanilla. medium flavor intensity, medium finish.
Quality: Very good
Drink now, potential for further bottle ageing.
A full, rounded and balanced wine with a rich, soft, buttery mouth feel. Chalky tannins. Not a nuanced or complex wine - this is a delicious merlot blend that would go great with duck or game and accompanying sauces.
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Red
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2006 Salvatore Molettieri Taurasi Cinque Querce
Taurasi DOCG
Aglianico more
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Aglianico from Taurasi, Campagnia, southern Italy - 2006 - bottle ageing shows wonderful rich pronounced palate of toffee, caramel, choc, coffee, tobac, earth, savoury, smoke. Rich black currant, black cherry, plum, prune, dates. High alcohol is balanced with high acidity. Medium grippy tannins but not overwhelming. This is a must have with rich, savoury dishes - grilled meat, game - cured cheeses, follow this up with an aged single malt whiskey.
At its peak, drink now!
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White
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2012 Charles Hours Jurançon Sec Cuvée Marie
Gros Manseng more
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Eye: pale gold, orange hue.
Nose: light intensity, citrus, lemon, Lees, bready.
Palate: dry, high acidity, high alcohol, medium body, medium (+) flavor intensity, citrus and lees - bready, dough, brioche. Also shows spice, white pepper. Medium finish. Oak treatment.
Developed
Drink now, potential for further ageing if well cellared but it’s reached its apex.
Quality- very good
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Red
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2016 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
St. Émilion Grand Cru
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Eye: deep ruby, legs.
Nose: Ripe black plum, black cherry, fig, black pepper, butter, cream, milk chocolate. Developing.
Palate: dry, medium (+) acidity, high tannins (grippy but not coarse), high alcohol, full bodied, medium flavor intensity, nose confirms palate with secondary flavors of oak, vanilla, cream, coffee, white pepper.
Quality: Outstanding
Drink now but potential for further ageing.
A seriously succulent, soft wine with sensuous mouthfeel, inviting straight out of the bottle. Exceptional quality for a young wine.
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Red
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2017 Barone di Villagrande Etna Rosso
Etna DOC
Red Blend more
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Eye: Pale ruby
Nose: red fruit aromas of cranberry, raspberry, red cherry. milk, light cream. rock, granite. Youthful.
Palate: dry, high acidity, medium tannins, medium alcohol, light body, medium (-) flavor intensity. Slightly tart/sour red fruit, and spicey black pepper.
Short finish
Good quality
Drink now, won’t age.
No need to decant. No sediment.
A good light red, goes well with sashimi.
Vines grown in volcanic soil on a hot-by-day and cool-by-night Mediterranean island. Light, dry, refreshing with good acidity. A good alternative to a typical high acid white when paired with seafood.
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Red
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2012 Ahnfeldt Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley
more
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Eye: deep ruby
Nose: black cherry, black current, raspberry, vanilla, oak. Developing.
Palate: dry, med acidity, med (+) alcohol, medium tannins, full bodied, medium (+) flavor intensity, black cherry, black plum, bramble, vanilla. Medium (+) finish.
Quality: very good
Drink now but potential for aging
Smooth, instantly likeable, sediment so decant.
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Red
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2006 Michel Picard Pommard 1er Cru Clos Micot
Pinot Noir more
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Note: This is not Clos Miscot as pictured, it’s a premiere cru Pommard, a combination of fruit from more than one climat in the Pommard premiere cru controlée.
Eye: pale ruby, subtle hint of garnet at the meniscus.
Nose: Subtle notes of red cherry, cranberry, raspberry, rose petal. More intense notes of tobacco, vanilla, earth and spice.
Palate: dry, high acidity, medium tannins (grippy but smooth), medium alcohol, light bodied. Tart Red fruit/floral flavors as per nose with additions of hibiscus, white pepper. Medium finish.
Quality: good
Drink now, could still develop in the bottle given the tannins and acidity but the question is will it? This is a 2006 and drinking this at 2020 it’s a little doubtful. Nice early evening wine with an appetizer of smoked salmon salad.
Grease is the word.
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Red
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2012 Bodegas Vega-Sicilia Ribera del Duero Valbuena 5°
Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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Eye: deep ruby, legs
Nose: redcurrant, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla, cream, gun flint. Developing.
Palate: dry, high acidity, high alcohol, medium tannins, full bodied, medium (+) intensity, red/black fruit - red cherry, black plum, bramble, pepper, tobacco, vanilla, cream. Medium (+) finish.
Quality: outstanding
Drink now but would benefit from further aging.
Decant two hours or it’s not going to show its best as it is just beginning its succulent journey. wonderful with cold roast beef, coarse salt, and grilled vegetables, I don’t recommend horse radish typical with roast beef as the wine is fresh, vibrant but once fully developed with tertiary flavors it will offer more possibilities.
This is not a boisterous wine, be gentle and soft spoken.
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Red
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2015 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard
Red Mountain
more
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Eye: Medium ruby, touch of purple showing it’s still a little youthful.
Nose: beautiful concentrated intermingling of fresh red and dark fruit-blackberries, pomegranate, cassis, licorice. Minerality-slate, ash, granite,smoke.
Palate: high acidity, medium tannins (slide off teeth, very clean) high alcohol, full bodied, fruit as per nose, very concentrated, rich blue/blackberries, spice, M-L/butter, cream. Oak, vanilla.
Excellent balance of acidity, alcohol, fruit
Quality: Outstanding
Drink now (2020) but will definitely benefit from aging.
This wine is rich, velvety, creamy. Stylistically it’s typically west coast US with its high alcohol, oak/vanilla, but it’s not a bomb, this is a very well crafted wine, the northerly latitude gives this wine increased acidity balancing out the high alcohol and concentration of gorgeous fruit, without the acidity it would be too much. Serve with food that matches its opulence. Fois gras, duck, food that has textures and layers, sauces. Not suitable with a sandwich or salad bar.
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Red
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2013 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso
Sangiovese more
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Eye: pale ruby, browning slightly.
Nose: light intensity, floral, red fruit
Palate: dry, high acidity, medium (+) grippy tannins
high alcohol, medium body, medium flavor intensity, spice, tart red fruit, short finish.
Quality: Good (balance isn’t great as yet, will improve over time)
Too young, cellar.
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Red
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2015 Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco
Nebbiolo more
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Eye: Pale ruby
Nose: light intensity, red cherry, rose, developing
Palate: dry, high acidity, high alcohol, medium body, medium flavor intensity, red cherry, rose, slightly tart, hints of secondary flavors of raisin, toffee, caramel. Medium (-) finish.
Quality: very good
Can drink now but has potential for ageing. ideally cellar for another 3-5 years.
Decanted 4hrs but still wound a little tight, cellar for a few years to develop bottle aromas/flavors.
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Red
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2012 Babcock Pinot Noir Slice of Heaven Rita's Crown Vineyard
Sta. Rita Hills
more
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Eye; Medium ruby
Nose; Med+ intensity, developing. Red plum, red cherry, raspberry, cassis, vanilla, ash, earth
Palate; Dry, High acidity. Soft tannins, high alcohol, full bodied, pronounced red fruit flavors of baked or stewed red fruits; strawberry, red cherry, raspberry. Vanilla.
Long finish
Very good
Drink now but suitable for further ageing
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Red
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2009 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904
Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo more
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Corked
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Red
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2009 Luigi Pira Barolo Serralunga
Nebbiolo more
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Deep ruby
Nose-Medium intensity-caramel, dark chocolate, clove, vanilla, violet, black pepper, tobacco
Palate - palate confirms nose
Soft tannins, high alcohol, medium (-) acidity
Soft, round, tertiary development, sumptuous, developed
Drink now but can cellar for a few more years
Excellent wine
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