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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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2022 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch
Oakville
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Tasted at VHR - Received a fair amount of air, but I didn't note the length of the decant.
Bruce was kind enough to provide us with a sneak preview of the 2022 vintage. Although this was a barrel sample and not a completed product, it nevertheless gives an insight to what's to come! Needless to say, the wine was fantastic! Of course, just a barrel sample, and extremely fruit forward, but comes across as having great structure. Dark red fruit takes center stage and the purity of fruit is excellent. Shows enough tannins for aging and enough acidity to keep the fruit lively for a very long time. This sample would require a fair amount of bottle age to realize its true potential.
My best guess based on this tasting, and the 2022 barrel samples of other winery tastings, is that the 2022 vintage will mirror 2011, i.e., you will need to be choosy on the wines you select as some will be stellar and others not so good. I also suspect the 2022 VHR will be one of the wines of the vintage. Bruce and his team do a remarkable job every year of making the best possible wine from all the blocks at his disposal. The magic of VHR wines is not that they consistently taste the same, but rather that they consistently are great wines. While Bruce and Heather could make wines with consistent flavors, instead they focus on making wines with subtle inconsistencies in flavor, but the very best wines the vineyard can produce. The result is that the wines may vary from year to year (as evidenced by the blocks chosen that go into the wine of a particular vintage), but the quality of the wines remain consistently outstanding! This will be one of those 2022 wines worth seeking out!
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Red
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2021 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven
Napa Valley
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Tasted with Samantha - I believe all wines received about a 6 hour decant.
Mag 7 never disappoints. Although it is getting rather pricey, it remains one of the elite, premium wines, and for good reason! It is made from the best barrels of fruit from all the vineyards. The 2021 Mag 7 shows loads of dark and red fruit, cocoa bean, anise, coffee and forest floor, with some spice and sweet oak. As always, a luxurious mouthfeel. Super delicious and 97 now, but will get better with time when tertiary flavors add to its complexity and taste.
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Red
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2021 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Mysterons
Napa Valley
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Tasted with Samantha - I believe all wines received about a 6 hour decant.
This was one of my favorite wines of the tasting! For some reason, this was like To Kalon on steroids...the fruit was darker and more intense (as was the dark chocolate) but not in an over-extracted way, just a more potent way (if that is even possible!) The fruit was accompanied with notes of dark potting soil, some licorice, some tar and some graphite, coupled with sweet tobacco and sweet toasted oak. Certainly delightful know, but has the balance to go for a few decades. Depending on how you like your wine, this is delicious and hedonistic now showing off the purity of fruit, or will be awesome later if you would like more complexity and some nice tertiary flavors to accompany the fruit. I cannot overstate that there is plenty of fruit and I would expect this wine to last longer than me (although I will be drinking all mine!) 96-96+ today, and a great wine!
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Red
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2021 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
Oakville
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Tasted with Samantha - I believe all wines received about a 6 hour decant.
This wine showed what VV can do with To Kalon fruit....it's a beauty! The purity of fruit and concentration are immediately noticeable. The nose is intoxicating with a mix of purple flowers, cherry blossom and forest floor with some exotic spice. Palate hasn't quite caught up to the nose, but you have a feeling that it definitely will in a few years, already showing some red and dark cherry and some notes of cassis, coupled with some anise, cedar and dark chocolate notes, finishing with some sweet oak and vanilla. This wine is built to cellar, and I would recommend 7-10 years. If you're into infanticide, please give it at least 6-8 hours of air, i.e., splash decant and leave in the cellar before you go to work and serve with dinner that night. 95+ to 96 today (yes, it pretty good now, but will definitely reward patience.)
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Red
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2021 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III
Rutherford
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Tasted with Samantha - I believe all wines received about a 6 hour decant.
This wine was very good, but seems to lack the pizzazz of its brethren. It may just need more time to shed some of its baby fat and come together. VV signature dark cherry and dark chocolate core, with some tar, graphite and spice. For me, this seemed the least developed of the wines in the VV stable, but still has loads of potential.
94 today, but can possibly pick up a few points down the road. Personally, I would touch now, but if you must then give it a super long decant (best guess...8-10 hours)
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Red
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2021 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon Spinning Plates
Napa Valley
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Tasted with Samantha - I believe all wines received about a 6 hour decant.
2021 Spinning Plates - This was a great wine to start with and provided a sneak peek into the 2021 vintage, which looks pretty darn good! The wine shows nice structure with fruit, acidity and tannins to age well.
Nose and palate show dark chocolate cherry, with some graphite, spice and vanilla oak. Pretty tasty now, but will get better. This is not an entry level wine, but rather a little brother that can stand on its own two feet.
The 2021 Spinning Plates will require some age or a long decant to really strut its stuff. Good now, but better in a few years. 93 today and should pick up a point or two with a longer decant or a few years of bottle age.
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Red
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2008 Ovid Red Wine
Napa Valley
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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This wine is in a very nice place for my palate...that area where fruit and tertiary flavors are in balance...a peak window for my palate. The wine shows plenty of dark fruit(blackberry, cassis and dark cherry) with tertiary notes of earth, leather and forest floor all hitting the mid palate and hint of anise and dusty tannins coming through on a medium finish. Old world style but enough acidity to keep the fruit alive and still going strong enough to share the stage with tertiary flavors. No hurry, but I don't see this getting better unless you don't mind sacrificing the fruit for additional tertiary flavors. 96 to 96+. Thanks Peter!
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Red
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1998 Château Trotanoy
Pomerol
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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Unfortunately corked....needless to say I hate when that happens!
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Red
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2021 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red
Rutherford
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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A gorgeous wine, showing slightly better than the one two days ago (probably because I had less wine preceding this one and because it got more air). On smell and one sip and you know you are in the presence of greatness! The aromas are perfumed with some noted of mocha and cocoa beans. The palate shows layers of red and dark cherry with a chocolate creme, also some cassis and blueberry. The wine is also showing a little earthiness, some black olives, some vanilla and some toasty oak. The tannins are plush and provide a velvety mouthfeel. This wine will definitely get better with time, but it will be difficult to keep my hands off this beauty! 96+ to 97. Even at this price, I think it offers an excellent QPR!
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Red
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2021 Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Le Génie
Rutherford
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Second time in 2 days I had this wine. Consistent. Similar experience as before. Dark cherry and cassis are coupled with some tapenade and a little earth and spice and notes of toast oak and vanilla. A very nice wine that may gain more meat with time, but for now, it is just a little brother walking in its big brother's shadow. Less expensive than its big brother, and certainly made well...but I think it's big brother offers a better QPR. 93 points today.
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Red
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2012 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Booth Bella Oaks
Rutherford
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This wine is a transition wine between Heitz Bella Oaks and Bella Oaks Proprietary Red that uses Bella Oaks fruit. Very nice wine and at 10 years old it showing quite well. Still very much on the fruit forward side (mostly black fruit) of the spectrum, but some tertiary flavors developing, including cocoa, anise, earth, and tobacco, with some toasted oak. This is tasty right now, but I believe will get even better with another 10 years of age or a super-long decant. Probably best at ages 25-35, where I suspect a nice balance between fruit and tertiary flavors. 94 to 94+ today, but may pick up a couple more points with additional age.
Note: The wine is drinking quite well now, and if you are not a fan of tertiary flavors, this will definitely be in your wheelhouse now! I like wine both ways, but would save at least one bottle for the next decade.
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Red
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2017 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red
Rutherford
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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I was looking forward to tasting this wine (released in 2023 due to fires in 2020) because I had purchased a few bottles of this even though I was leery of 2017 vintage. I am pleased to report they made a very nice, elegant and approachable wine in 2017! This is drinking nice right now, and will likely improve for another 5-7 years, but I don't think it has the structure to be as long lived as other Bella Oaks or Heitz (Bella Oaks) wines. I would drink this over the next 10-20 years.
The wine has a nice floral nose (actually, quite exquisite) with violets, fruit, potting soil and some anise and spice. The palate shows creamy dark and red fruit, some tobacco and graphite with a touch of sweet toasted oak. Tannins are silky and enough acidity to keep the fruit lively, but not sure if there is enough for considerable age. All in all, drinking great now, and as I plan on drinking my bottles in the next 10 to 15 years, I am not going to worry about it! This bottle is quite open now, and offers a very tasty and compelling wine for immediate consumption, but no hurry! Solid 95 and may slightly improve as tertiary flavors become more developed. However, I worry more about the acidity keeping the fruit going if aging more than 10-20 years. If you have multiple bottles, I would check in ever few years...that is my plan anyway!
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White - Sparkling
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NV Christian Gosset Champagne Grand Cru Brut A02
Champagne Blend more
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This started our Napa adventure, which began at Bella Oaks. Martin was nice enough to pour this so our palates could be warmed up and fresh! This is a quite serviceable Champagne and offers a great QPR. Nose showed brioche and straw with some sea breeze and hints of lemon zest. Palate showed toast with lots of citrus and tart apple and a streak of minerality (chalk and saline). A solid Champagne and a solid 92.
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Red
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2019 Château Margaux
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): This was one of my contributions....originally, I was going to slip into the 2019 blind tasting, but then thought it deserved to stand on its own and be appreciated for what it is. Also, I had forgotten what young Bordeaux (especially Margaux) tastes like and I thought it would be a fun wine to follow throughout the years.
Needless to say this wine did not disappoint! This is why I love Bordeaux and Margaux! The wine shows classic Ch. Margaux aromatics with a perfumed bouquet of purple and white flowers, sweet red and purple fruit and a slight hint of vanilla and spice. The palate is filled with silky dark cherry, plum and currant notes coupled with notes of black soil, tobacco, coffee and sweet toasted oak. The wine is pure silk going down and the finish is quite long. This wine will definitely flirt with perfection and is so darn good now! Love it! 97 points today.
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Red
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2021 Bella Oaks Vineyard Proprietary Red
Rutherford
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): This was a nice contrast to the 1984 Bella Oaks. Same score for me, but for different reasons. This wine shows great structure, amazing fruit and a nice finesse that makes wish I was younger to drink this wine with 25 or 30 years of age on it. I think it will outshine the 1984 Heitz Bella Oaks by quite a bit. The purity and layers of fruit already makes this wine compelling, with some tertiary flavors already beginning to bud, namely olives and herbs. The floral nose is also already a knockout. They are definitely making world class wines at Bella Oaks! 96 to 96+ Kudos!
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Red
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1984 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks
Rutherford
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I believe PnP, but not 100%
This wine was singing! I loved it and it was squarely in my wheelhouse! A gorgeous bottle! This Heitz Bella showed an awesome balance of fruit and tertiary flavors (leaning slightly on the tertiary side) with dark black, purple and red fruit still fairly bright (amazingly bright considering its age and the vintage (although unlike Brian, I feel 1984 was a great, but perhaps underrated vintage) with layers of tertiary goodness, including mushroom, old leather, graphite, tobacco, and dried herbs. Absolutely delicious! Thanks for bringing this Brian! 96 to 96+ and I doubt it will get better!
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Red
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2014 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon The Magnificent Seven
Napa Valley
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2014 VV Mag 7 - Yes, 94 is a very good score, but I admit I was disappointed on the reveal because I was expecting better! I believe this was the very first vintage of Mag 7.
I like this wine, and blind I wrote: "Very smooth wine with nice fruit and some tertiary character, but definitely leaning on the fruit side of the spectrum. Dark black, red and blue fruits with some forest floor, graphite, licorice and chocolate, with a hint of vanilla. This wine is in my wheelhouse." I gave it a 94 (and still give it a 94), but for the money and age, I expected perfection (or very close to it) and this wine did not deliver. It didn't seem like anything was wrong with the bottle, and 2014's, in general, are hitting their stride right now, so I am not sure why this didn't show better. Of course, I had not had the 2014 Mag 7 before, so maybe it just wasn't up to subsequent vintages. Like I said...a very good and very well made wine, but it didn't meet my other-worldly expectations of this wine!
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Red
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2014 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection
Napa Valley
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2014 Caymus Special Selection - Unlike all the nay-sayers in the group, I loved this wine! I did not find it overly sweet nor manipulated. In fact, I found it quite balanced and nicely integrated with good structure. Yes, it is sweeter than some wines (reminiscent of a Mike Smith or Bevan wine) but certainly not overly sweet. Oaky? Not really, although you can tell it uses American oak rather than French or Austrian. However, the oak is nicely integrated lending to nice sweetened vanilla flavor on the finish. The wine can be characterized by rich dark fruit (with some red fruit), earthiness and old leather with some tobacco and milk chocolate and sweet oak. What I really love about this wine is the plush mouthfeel it provides. A definite crowd pleaser (with most groups)! Solid 96 for me....I love it!
Note - The Special Selection is much better than their regular bottling and with 10 years of age, this is drinking quite well! No hurry, but definitely okay to open now!
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Red
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2021 Bella Oaks Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Le Génie
Rutherford
more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2021 Bella Oaks La Genie - Blind, my notes said a nice wine but nothing special, filled with dark and red fruit, a little olive, a little oak and a little spice. I agree with Chris (csimm) that this wine could use some time to further integrate and develop. Will never be confused with its big brother, but certainly will be a nice everyday wine or restaurant wine. However, the price point may be a little offsetting. 92 to 93 points today. I was not at all surprised on the reveal.
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Red
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2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru
Pinot Noir more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin - I probably enjoyed this wine more than most of the group! It reeked Burgundy even blind! It had a barnyard funk (in a good way) to go along with some florals, fruit and spice. The palate was chalked full of cherry and red fruit with some iron and mountain pepper berry. Still quite young, but definitely has the acidity and tannins to age quite well! Will be even better in another 5 years! 94+ to 95 today.
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Red
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2019 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia
Bolgheri Sassicaia
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2019 Sassicaia - I was disappointed when this was revealed. I typically enjoy Sassicaia. I can think of three factors that may have contributed to my disappointment. First, the wines that preceded this one (the wines listed above are in tasting order). Second, it is very young....I had not tasted a young Sassicaia, but I think this wine needed a ton more air, or preferably a ton more age. Third, due to a higher acidity level, this wine probably needed some food to go with it.
Anyway...the wine: Tons of red fruit, mostly tart cherry. Some tar and anise, but really lacks complexity at this point. I am confident that more age will significantly elevate this wine. I recommend refraining from opening a bottle for another decade. But if you must, give it as much air as possible (even 24 hours would be good!) 93 today, but lots of potential!
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Red
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2015 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard
Napa Valley
more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2015 Colgin Tychson Hill - I am not a huge fan of Colgin. They make good wines, but I feel a bit overpriced for what they are. However, (and this is why I like blinds sometimes) this bottle showed remarkably well. Nicely integrated red and dark fruit (mostly red and dark cherries) with dark chocolate and a nice creaminess I like. Add some earthiness, tobacco and sweet oak, and you have a fine that fits squarely in my wheelhouse! Some thought this was slightly boozy or hot, but I didn't taste any alcohol. I thought this was better than the Abreu and a hair behind the Scarecrow that preceded this wine. 96+
As previously stated, I was surprised on the reveal! I never held Colgin in such high regard, but this made me think that I may need to rethink!
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Red
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2021 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon
Rutherford
more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2021 Scarecrow - The elegance of this wine was amazing! Layers of brooding dark fruit (mostly blackberry and cassis) with plush tannins and some forest floor, sweet tobacco, cocoa, and sweet oak. The purity of fruit, balance and structure were close to perfection! I loved this wine! 96+ to 97 and will undoubtedly reach perfection down the road!
As a side note, I was surprised after the reveal because I would have thought this wine would be extremely tight! I rarely drink wines this young, but I understand people who open up some of these wines immediately upon release...I guess there is a window there!
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Red
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2010 Abreu Thorevilos
Napa Valley
Red Bordeaux Blend more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): I am guessing the wine got at least 1-2 hours of slo-O before tasting, but honestly not sure about the bottle treatment/preparation before the tasting, i.e., it could be more.
This was part of a blind tasting that included the following wines:
1. 2010 Abreu Thorevilos
2. 2021 Scarecrow
3. 2015 Colgin Tychson Hill
4. 2019 Sassicaia
5. 2019 Domaine Trapet Chapelle-Chambertin
6. 2021 Bella Oaks La Genie
7. 2014 Caymus Special Selection
8. 2014 Vice Versa Magnificent 7
2010 Abreu Thorevilos - This wine was a slight disappointment given the pedigree. I expected much more. Don't get me wrong, the wine was very good, showing lots of dark fruit, and some tertiary flavors (earth, tobacco, graphite and new leather) but it lacked that "wow" factor I expect from Abreu. This also may have suffered slightly from the two wines that immediately followed (which I liked better. i.e., Scarecrow and Colgin). A solid 95, which is a great score, but I always expect Abreu to be closer to perfection....yeah, I know, it's a high bar!
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White
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2020 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Chardonnay more
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The Blind Side - no, not football! (Chateau Simms): This was opened for about an hour prior to tasting.
It was in a line up of Chardonnays served blind (including some Burgundies):
1. 2013 Marcassin
2. 2019 Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Mouchère
3. 2018 Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge
4. 2021 Faiveley Bâtard-Montrachet
5. 2022 Walter Scott Chardonnay X-Novo Vineyard
6. 2020 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne
2020 Henri Boillot Corton-Charlemagne - My favorite Burgundy of the tasting! I identified correctly as Burgundy because of the rich minerality. This wine also had the high acidity, but still more rounded than the other Burgundies. Although citrus (mostly lemon zest) was the most prevalent, there was also plenty of poached pear, green and red apple and a touch of Meyers lemon and tropical fruit to go with the oyster, flint and limestone minerality. Remarkably balanced and will undoubtedly get better, but oh so good now! 96+ to 97 already.
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