| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2015 Halpin Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel SelectNapa Valley more |
4/19/2024 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsOur last bottle - same comments as previous review. Considering the price point, this Cab drinks like a wine 4 times the price. Better 2nd day. |
| Red |
2016 Halpin Cabernet SauvignonOakville more |
3/30/2024 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 89 pointsOur first bottle - nice cab, but I think a little more time will help it settle down some. I think once the heat burns off (day two) it is more enjoyable. I would give it more time in the cellar, make sure it gets some air and it could improve to 90. |
| Red |
2014 Priest Ranch Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
2/9/2024 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsReally drinking well now. Fully integrated, dark purple in color, black cherry on finish, with a nose you notice right at the start. Again, better day two. Sediment at the end of the bottle - beware. We continue to be impressed with Priest Ranch across the board. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2015 Girard Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Calistogamore |
1/6/2024 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsReally enjoyed this wine. Consumed it over a few days. Much better on day three. I think the extra air helped the heat blow off making the wine smoother and allowed the subtle flavors to show. Drinking really well now and should be fine well through the drink window if properly cellared. 90 on open, 91 with plenty of air (decant a couple hours), 92+ potential as it integrates more. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2021 Jacob Franklin EastCalifornia Red Blend more |
12/11/2023 - Skibank114 wrote: 90 pointsWhat a pleasant surprise - wasn't sure what to expect. Jacob Franklin put together a very nice blends of various varieties - listed as primarily Italian varieties of grapes. Subtle nose, layers of fruit - gentle not bold or overpowering, medium finish, and very dry. Basically, checked all the boxes. Now that I have tried this wine, I will be looking to add a few bottles if still available. Anxious to try "West" now too. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2010 Château Cantenac BrownMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/11/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 92 pointsEvery bit as enjoyable as my previous note. Little further into the drink window but would still suggest plenty of air or decant. Day two is noticeably better. Enjoy! |
| White |
2018 Ashes & Diamonds Blanc No. 4Napa Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend more |
8/16/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsReally nice white blend. Not much of a white wine guy, but I like this wine a lot. Originally, tasted with a friend and found myself searching for a bottle at local shops. A white Bordeaux blend out of Napa makes it unique. I will look to add some to my cellar. |
| Red |
2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le PetitPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
7/24/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsLast bottle of the '10 - pretty much the same comments as previous notes. I would say it is at or near the end of the drink window. You can hold a little longer if properly cellared. Drink up! |
| Red |
2018 Etude Pinot Noir Grace Benoist RanchCarneros more |
6/16/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsExcellent - Shared with friends over fresh bread, cheeses and dinner. We all felt the structure, finish and was right on point. Nicely integrated with subtle fruit, smooth texture, and medium to long finish. |
| Red |
2009 Virginie de ValandraudSt. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend more |
3/26/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 93 pointsMy 3rd note (10th bottle) on this wine - still an outstanding Bordeau that is every bit as smooth and integrated as my last note several bottles ago. I would think the drink window for this wine could be expanded a bit if the bottles have been properly stored. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le PetitPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
2/25/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsStill drinking really, really well. Not much add from previous comments except this will be fine past the current drink window of 2023 - maybe 2025/26 if properly cellared. We found ourselves saying - should have bought more! Anxious to try the other vintages in the cellar. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2010 Château Teyssier St. Émilion Grand CruRed Bordeaux Blend more |
2/13/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsThe last of these for us. Clearly a luck of the draw based on others comments as we found this bottle very nice. It has been in the cellar for about 8 years. The nose was dark cherry, texture was integrated, and finish was medium. I don't think I would hold these much longer, but if properly stored it should hold for another year or two. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2013 Priest Ranch Coach GunNapa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
2/4/2023 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsI really enjoyed this wine. I am a big Bordeaux fan, so I found this well balanced overall. It was a little bit of old-world blend meets big CA fruit without being overpowered. Nice nose, both dark & red fruit, and medium finish. I would define it as unique and very well done. It is definitely ready now and you could extend the drink window several years (2-3 years). Looking forward to the '14, '15. '16, and '18 that have been resting in the cellar. |
| Red |
2014 Elyse Merlot HossfeldNapa Valley more |
12/16/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsThis was outstanding - sorry I waited so long to taste this Merlot. I would have acquired more. The nose comes from the pour, enhances from the glass, and the dark fruit is well balanced. The finish is medium. Really enjoyable. Makes me wonder how this Merlot is today after the acquisition in 2018. Enjoy now - maybe give it a little air. |
| Red |
2005 Château KirwanMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/19/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsOverall, excellent. Wine is well balanced with more room to improve. Once this wine finishes integrating it could be a 92-93, maybe even 94. Nose, dark fruit, medium to long finish are all good indicators that there is plenty of runway, at least 8-10 years IMO. Needs air for sure. At this point, a bit behind the 2005. Will hold my last couple bottles another 5 years at least. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2010 Château Haut-BergeyPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
10/9/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsFirst of a few in the cellar. Decided not to wait any longer to give this a try. I would agree with the majority of the comments. This is well integrated at this point but can improve a bit more. Nice nose, fruit and finish. Definitely better day two. We will wait a couple years for the next bottle. 90 now, maybe 91-92 in a couple years once fully integrated. Wish I would have bought more - cheers! |
| Red |
2010 Château Cantenac Brown BriOMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
9/27/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsReally nice Margaux - wish we had purchased more. Everything you would expect from nose to finish. Completely integrated at this point. This has a few more years but drinking really nicely at this point. Enjoy now or hold. |
| Red |
2012 Stags' Leap Winery Petite SirahNapa Valley more |
8/19/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsLast bottle of a case acquired over 2015. Really nice Petite Sirah that is about at the end of the drink window for sure. Dark cherry, smooth, integrated, and a long finish. If properly cellared, you can hold this for another year or two, but I would drink up. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2016 Karo-Kann Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valleymore |
7/2/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsVery nice. Dark fruit, full body, nice nose, smooth finish. I would say it is ready and might improve a little. We enjoyed this as did our guests. Excellent when you consider the QPR - enjoy. Cheers! |
| Red |
2009 Chevalier de LascombesMargaux Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/30/2022 - Skibank114 wrote: 90 pointsLast of this wine for us. Same basic structure as first comments. Very typical Margaux style and again it opened up better on day two. The finish was longer and overall the integration is more complete. If you are still holding some of these I would drink up. It will hold some, but I don't think any improvement should be expected. Cheers. |
| Red |
2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le PetitPessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/2/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsUpdate to previous rating - still very, very nice wine. Would say more integrated, dark fruit present, smooth finish, more complexity. Definitely in the drink window. The nose has improved as well. Will try to space out the remaining 3 in the cellar over the next 5 years. Enjoy now! |
| Red |
2015 Teeter-Totter Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
3/14/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 92 pointsVery nice. Dark fruit on the nose and palate. Drinking well now and should cellar for several more years. May improve with a little more time in the bottle, but it is already a very nice cabernet. Better day two - so make sure you allow for some air. Enjoy! |
| Red |
2011 Fleur de ClinetPomerol Red Bordeaux Blend more |
3/6/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 90 pointsReally enjoyed this Bordeaux. I think many of the previous comments might be folks that tasted the Clinet a little early. This was my second bottle this year and both were what I was expecting - red/dark fruits, some dust, dry, and nicely integrated. The finish could be better though. Happy to have a few more in the cellar. I don't think I would push the drink window past 2025 - enjoy! |
| Red |
2015 Girard Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veedermore |
1/24/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 92 pointsPretty much the same as my last comments. Very approachable with some extra time for air. Still better day two. Nice level of fruit, finish, dark fruit. Really nice Girard cab. Honestly, I still think the potential is here for a 92-93. Window might be a little longer than 2027 but would expect improvement to happen over the next 2-3 years. Enjoy. |
| Red |
2015 Priest Ranch MauserNapa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon more |
1/22/2022 - Skibank114 Likes this wine: 91 pointsI think this is still a little young. It is approachable with some extra time for air. While it is ready now with some air, I think the window on this wine is another 5 years versus 2022. Definitely better day two. Nice level of fruit, forward but not a fruit bomb. Really nice cabernet. I don't normally reference another wine in comments, but we opened a '15 Girard Mt Veeder cabernet when we finished the Mauser. Honestly, I think the potential here is for a 92-93 same as the Girard. I wish we would have acquired more than 2 bottles. Enjoy. |
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- Tasting notes: 193 notes on 156 wines
