Community Tasting Note

• msuwine wrote: 93 points

  December 30, 2019 - This is more juicy and less rustic than previous Teeter-Totter wines - all in a good way, if you ask me. Dark purple in color; medium in body; nose of plum, cardamon, and graphite. Tastes of boysenberry, blueberry tart, peppercorn, and gravel, with an earthy and tannic finish. Blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon with the remaining portions of Merlot, Syrah, Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc. 14.1% alcohol.
  
  This is a solid entry in a bleak portion of the market (read: there isn't a lot of impressive Napa Cabernet in the $50-75 price point). Within the 2016 vintage, a few comparative thoughts: the Teeter-Totter lacks the purity and depth of Di Costanzo's DI CO, and it doesn't have the polish of Vice Versa's Le Petit Vice. If anything, it tastes like a more lean, shallow, and funky version of Kata's Ghost Dog (read: if you want rustic Benoit, go there first). Still, it's easily the best Teeter-Totter I've tasted to date. 92-93 at the moment, and it could grow into something quite tasty in another 12-18 months.

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9 Comments

• wineotim commented:

  12/31/19, 5:38 AM - Good comments, I agree with your review of the wine, but I am not familiar with Benoit's other offerings. I'll check out your reviews.

• msuwine commented:

  12/31/19, 12:03 PM - Hi wineotim - Thanks for the comment, and sorry if my note wasn't clear; I just revised it to clarify that the other two wines (DI CO and Le Petit Vice) were made by others (Di Costanzo and Melka, respectively). The Kata Ghost Dog is made by Benoit, though, and I think it's a real step up - just more polish and depth. Thanks again for the comment.

• wineotim commented:

  12/31/19, 7:54 PM - Thanks for the clarification. I've had a few vintages of the Melka CJ, which I liked.

• msuwine commented:

  12/31/19, 10:39 PM - I haven't had a CJ in a while, but I liked them when I did. I'll keep my eye out. Thanks again.

• wineotim commented:

  1/1/20, 10:39 AM - BTW, I have two more bottles of the '16 Teeter-Totters, will see how long I can keep my hands off of them, I will post my reviews.

• wineotim commented:

  6/14/20, 4:51 PM - I keep lovin it!

• msuwine commented:

  6/14/20, 5:31 PM - Great to hear. I just saw the 2018s are being released soon, and I have to think it will be a good vintage for these.

• wineotim commented:

  6/15/20, 3:12 PM - Thanks for the info, I'll be looking for the '18 vintage.

• wineotim commented:

  6/16/20, 9:24 AM - This would be a great everyday wine if price was no object. I like it because it's a wine I don't have to think about or analyze, it's just delicious.

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