| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
1989 Château MeyneySt. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/1/2023 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 93 pointsI had sold off hundreds of cases of Bordeaux and other great reds through auctions years back to empty my cellar. This was among a scant few I did not consign. Somewhere in the bottle turning over the years, the label got a rip in it. I had only bought this single bottle upon release ($17.99 price tag was still on it). Decided to give it a spin. Corked. Uggh. I cleared that and poured with low expectations, especially after having read the most current reviews. To my astonishment, it is a pleasant drink. Still has tannins and structure. Over time, it did not fade but improved. The other half bottle tomorrow might be different. If you have this wonderful wine, drink it. Your experience might vary obviously. But we have these wines to enjoy. Enjoy them. |
| Red |
2020 Golden West Pinot Noir Golden West VineyardWashington more |
4/10/2023 - sonofabacchus wrote: 86 pointsFor the price, it is a decent enough fine wine. Wet leather and tobacco over the fruit. Finish is too short. Lacking drying tannins, so no legs in the celler. Drink it if you have it. Not unpleasant in the least, but I'd opt for alternatives. |
| Red |
2017 A to Z Wineworks Pinot NoirOregon more |
3/5/2021 - sonofabacchus wrote: 82 pointsAcceptable. Unremarkable nose. Flat profile. Reminds me of earlier American Pinots and how they failed to measure up to even the more modest French Burgundies. Flavor is fine, nothing at all offensive. Moderately dry. Works well with an ordinary dinner, but I would serve guests better wine at a similar price point. There is enough here though that I would try different vintages from the producer. Tannins do not suggest improvement from further cellaring. Won't likely buy more but will try another release. (Drank from a 375ml split.) |
| Red |
2003 Pirramimma Petit VerdotMcLaren Vale more |
5/20/2019 - sonofabacchus wrote: 90 pointsReluctant to score a wine that is 5 years outside its consumption window, but this is 89-90 still. Astonishing for a grape more noted as an accent addition in a blend. Well settled in the bottle. Presents nicely, like a classic dark claret. Nose is typical wet earth and barnyard straw upon the initial pour. That extends through the olfactory experience. A solid licorice backbone that follows through deep into the palate. Was expecting dark chocolate but the licorice saturated it in a long finish. Though noted at 14%, it felt just a little hot, like a California Zinfandel. I truly wish this was not my last bottle as I would love to test folks in a blind tasting to try to identify this one. It has a superb character all around. If it had more residual tannins and a touch of complexity, it would fool people as a considerably expensive wine. Petit Verdot deserves a lot more respect than it gets. Kudos to the Aussies in coaxing out the greatness. And I would have sworn it was from a major European terroir. Wondering how this will evolve over the next hours. |
| Red |
2006 Bodegas Altanza Rioja Dominio de HerediaTempranillo more |
3/10/2019 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 90 pointsI am astonished with the unexpected quality here. I paid ten bucks for this a long time ago and forgot about it in my cellar. Consensus was to drink by 2012. Popped and just poured. Thick honey nose and outstanding color. Loam and berry notes hit the mid-palate instantly. Long finish. A hint of petit verdot also. Had I tasted this blind, I would have run through quite a number of high quality above $40 bottles. The demerit is the acidity which seems awkwardly out of place in its development. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves in the glass over an hour or two and in the bottle overnight. I would have given it a few more points had the acidity been more appropriate. |
| Red |
2006 Bodegas Bilbainas Tempranillo Viña ZacoRioja more |
10/30/2018 - sonofabacchus wrote: 99 pointsLast bottle, long forgotten in the cellar. Figured it would be bear and has zero quality expectations. Popped and direct poured. Quite pleasant. First impression is that it is quite light-bodied. Rich color. Low nose. Non-descrip red berry, say cranberry koolade, and that is not meant to disparage the wine. Drinks like a petite sirah. I might better characterize the American palette as like a very light zinfandel with a faint anise spice accent. Tannins are mature and evened out. Interesting bottle. This might cruise for years, properly cellared, before diving. Not fabulous wine, but a decent wine for personal quaffing with snacks, which stood up for a surprisingly long time. Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2000 Louis Bernard Côtes du RhôneRed Rhone Blend more |
9/26/2015 - sonofabacchus Does not like this wine: 75 pointsWhatever this was before being buried in the cellar was lost. Probably was a decent bottle but is perhaps a decade beyond its drinking window. On the unpleasant side of water as it stands. Hate to give it a numerical grade though at this point. |
| Red |
2006 Luca Syrah Laborde Double SelectValle de Uco more |
9/8/2015 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 89 pointsFirst taste after uncorking indicated an oak bomb. It did settle down in a few minutes and became increasingly interesting. Overall, it was decently made and cellar ed well but seemed to be a little out of balance to be truly remarkable. That belies the ridiculously deep punt in the bottle that we generally find in subscription only Napas. |
| Red |
2004 Taltarni ShirazPyrenees more |
8/23/2015 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 86 pointsBeautiful bottle presentation for a Shiraz with no dusto guishing character. Decent food wine but would be a disappointing sipper. Pipe tobacco bouquet with a wet leather hint. A little tart but not really spicy. Dark garnet color. Would be an excellent restaurant wine offering for typical diners. I am too spoiled by do many outstanding wines at not much higher price points. The QPR is probably pretty good. Works well with the homemade chicken parmigiana I have here for dinner. |
| Red |
2005 Doña Paula Malbec Selección de BodegaGualtallary more |
8/23/2015 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 93 pointsWow. I was surprised where this bottle is. Extremely well balanced with just the right amount of fruit and acidity. Nice color in the glass. But the best is the spiciness that lingers for a moderate length. Classy serving at thus stage. I saved half for the second night. Out of the fridge, it had some residual spiciness. That declined fast and it remained a lackluster table red. Enjoy it now over a couple hours, with no need to air or decant. A little grit at the end. Hope I have more in my cellar. |
| Red |
2003 Altaïr Vineyards & Winery SideralRapel Valley Red Bordeaux Blend more |
6/12/2014 - sonofabacchus wrote: 89 pointsAt this point, is has a distinct and dominating green pepper bouquet, extending to the palette. The complexity is fading now along with the fruit, as it assumes a rather vegetal character. Finish is medium short. Initially off-putting, the wine maintains a degree of elegance that grows on you. Medium body with nice viscosity, color, and opacity. It is a decent food wine, with the right plate. I do not see this improving with further cellaring. I will share my final, remaining bottle soon. |
| Red |
2005 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherfordmore |
1/20/2014 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 90 pointsI thought this would be over the hump, but it still has a nose and plenty of fruit and spice. Drank with NY Strip Steak, with a nicely complementing sea salt, crack pepper, and allspice rub. Tannins matured to a fine bottle. Nice medium length on the fore and end palettes. Perfectly good dinner fine. |
| Red |
2005 Starmont Cabernet SauvignonNapa Valley more |
12/12/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 89 pointsLow nose. Honey, cherry, tobacco with pepper and allspice. Short, but nice, finish. This is on a pop and pour and not in a meal context. It's a nice casual sipper still. |
| Red |
2007 Delas Frères Côtes du Rhône Saint-EspritRed Rhone Blend more |
12/13/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 90 pointsSurprised this was still drinking fine. Fruity, with considerable structure, and drying medium finish. Quite satisfying, with or without food. |
| Red |
2005 Bennett Lane MaximusNapa Valley Red Blend more |
12/12/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 91 pointsChose to bring this to Rosa's in Ontario (California) for dinner - which had a very reasonable $15 corkage charge. Nice and elegant. Tannins have relaxed. Dark fruits are nicely integrated. Presents well in the glass. Low nose at this point. A little spicy, in a way that does work with food with considerable versatility. Won't hold my last bottle much longer. |
| Red |
2006 Cardwell Hill Cellars Pinot NoirWillamette Valley more |
11/28/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 91 pointsWet leather, pipe tobacco, and dark chocolate nose upon first pour. Well balanced with muted fruit, dominated by black cherry. Raspberry and a hint of anise on the drying palette. Very nice classic aged pinot. Will drink the rest with Thanksgiving dinner. |
| White |
2006 Chateau St. Jean Chardonnay Robert Young VineyardAlexander Valley more |
11/19/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: NRI won't give this a number because it is quite obviously outside its drinking window. This last bottle was cellared properly from the day of purchase. Initially, it was unappealing. However, after about a half hour, it showed itself decently. You can taste the nuances that were quite nice in previous years' tastings. Mind you, this is not the wine it was, but it really is fine in its last gasp. If you have any left in your cellars, drink it before the year's end. I still have some 2007 in the cellar but it has the bones for more mileage. |
| White |
2006 Louis Latour Pouilly-Vinzelles En ParadisChardonnay more |
10/8/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: NRMuted accents that surely were remarkable a few years ago, and now lost to time. It was nonetheless graceful and refreshig, but only could hint at the character of its youth. Woth the ten bucks or so spent on it four years back. The cellar was not kind enough in the end. |
| Red |
2003 Rolf Binder/Veritas Shiraz HalesBarossa Valley more |
8/25/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 91 pointsI didn't have much of an expectation after reading previous notes and especially when the corked came out in crumbles. (It was properly cellared since purchase and had a complete fill.) The wine, however, presented nicely. Light weight and garnet color. Dried red fruits with some eucalyptus on the midpalate extending into the fruity menthol medium finish. It was the nicest Shiraz I have tasted at home in some time and went well with dinner. Perhaps there is bottle variation or some was transported under different conditions? Anyway, mine drank very well now and it seems to be ideal to pop and pour presently. Classy but not some monster. Certainly was porth the modest price I originally paid for it and the time it spent in my cellar. |
| White |
2011 Michel Gassier Costières-de-Nîmes Nostre Païs BlancWhite Rhone Blend more |
6/26/2013 - sonofabacchus Likes this wine: 92 pointsNow, that was a surprise. This was a very well designed wine with a damned nice execution by the winemaker. Considering the grapes employed, it was pretty close to unimprovable. The balance was perfect and the midpalette creamy. Sufficient finish for a food wine. Paired fine woth a macaroni and cheese cassarole. Simple decadence. Picking up more and will be among the bottles I take to our wine tasting party next month. |
| Red |
2006 Tait Shiraz Basket PressedBarossa Valley more |
12/12/2012 - sonofabacchus wrote: 89 pointsPetrol and tobacco nose. Rich color. This should be decanted, though I didn't. Dense red fruit with bittersweet chocolate and coffee notes. A bit too hot for my preference. I won't knock it though, as that is what it was made to be. (This is why I stay way from most Zins too.) It's okay with food, but could not imagine it as a pleasant sipper on its own. If you like this style, it is well made and a reasonable QPR. I am glad this was a singular bottle in my cellar. But to each his own. |
| Red |
2009 Estancia Cabernet Sauvignon Keyes Canyon RanchesPaso Robles more |
12/4/2012 - sonofabacchus wrote: 89 pointsI got this as a supermarket markdown at just over four bucks for the bottle. Decided to try it right away. Nice bottle. I expected jug/box wine quality. To be honest, I woudn't have scoffed at it had I paid $20. Nice, jammy bouquet. Flavorful. Not a blockbuster, but not a lightweight either. I wouldn't hesitate to serve this to guests. I also wouldn't cellar it, as it doesn't have the stuffing for that. Drink it up now and enjoy it. Good food wine. |
| Red |
2006 Nine Points Cabernet SauvignonStags Leap District more |
10/15/2012 - sonofabacchus wrote: 91 pointsDecent balance, with plenty of red fruit and a weak anise overtone. It's in a good place for a meal, though I would suggest more of a red sauce pasta meal than steak. At my <$20 original purchase, it was an excellent value. One of the better supermarket NAPA offerings. |
| White |
2010 Dry Creek Vineyard DCV3 Fumé BlancDry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc more |
7/19/2012 - sonofabacchus wrote: 89 pointsGot this for $3.43, including tax, from one of those supermarket clearance carts. No big expectations, but always a great way to try a bunch of wines with no big risk. Not much of a nose, but really decent balance and the right minerality for the varietal. More of a French style than, say, something like the popular New Zealand offerings. Light fruit and not too peachy, crisp, a bit dry. Medium-short length, but pleasant enough with any food accompaniment. Probably not a lot more rack life in the cellar if you have this. Drink up. |
| Red |
2007 Root:1 Cabernet Sauvignon [The Original Ungrafted]Colchagua Valley more |
7/10/2012 - sonofabacchus wrote: 85 pointsInitially, I was going to just say popped, poured, and puked. However, I let is stand for an hour or two and it was drinkable. Not something at this point to write home about. Might use the rest of the bottle for cooking a pasta sauce and maybe a glass. |
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- Tasting notes: 78 notes on 73 wines
