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My Tasting Notes from "Straight to Ale"

(5,000+ notes on 4,813 wines)

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White - Sparkling
Disclaimer: we sell this wine.
Initially out of the fridge, it was too cold and this needs air. After time in the glass, this began to unfurl. The nose is rich toasted brioche, ripe golden apple, baked apples, some ripe citrus and crushed stones. The palate is a lovely balancing act of ripe fruit and golden pastry richness, citrusy acidity and chalkiness. It's never too austere and displays only the slightest bitterness/oxidative undertone which adds complexity. I like this. But again, this really needed air to come out and play.
Red
5/17/2024 - CabPfeffer Fan Club wrote:
89 points
Quite lovely and complex with hints of vanilla from the aging. Had it with pepperoni pizza and it was an AMAZingly good match. All the spicy stuff melted together.
Red
1996 Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
Bloody, with lovely stinky hint like blue cheese. TBC
White
Wonderful, vivid and extra ordinary. More acidity than in the past. Oh so beautiful.
White
5/17/2024 - Corporateslaves Likes this wine:
92 points
Fabulous! Couldn’t be anything else but Burgundy. Very elegant, honeyed, background spice, some supporting acid. Absolutely on pointe. Only two left and that makes me sad..
White
5/16/2024 - rmcnees Likes this wine:
93 points
Golden lemon colored, medium full-bodied, full, round, concentrated, complex opulent fruits with a layer almost bordering on butterscotch, accented by notes of baking spice, hints of lemon, grapefruit, ginger and a touch of peach and almond nut cream, with bright acidity, depth and balance on a full long finish.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2024/05/pour-boys-gather-for-flw-weekend-and.html
White
5/17/2024 - culater Likes this wine:
92 points
With grilled fish and burned butter.
Aerated 60 min.

Let it breathe longer, drink at higher temp to avoid sulfur.

Drink in 2026 again
Beer
5/17/2024 - Papies wrote:
Rich and fuller, not heavy just full and properly well made beer for demanding palates.
Beer
5/17/2024 - Papies wrote:
Properly good made lager and seems the Basques have nailed this down to a t. Impressive, soft bitter and full of flavour
Red
5/16/2024 - TashNYC wrote:
92 points
Tasty wine. Red fruit, currant and crème de cassis plus leather, herbs and a bit of mocha. Tasty on its own and even better with the grass-fed burgers.

We paid $19 on sale. It was a great buy. Higher at the winery.
Red
5/12/2024 - TashNYC wrote:
91 points
notes of cherry, currants, crime de cassis, tar, tobacco and herb. Delicious with our herbal, roast chicken
Fruit/Vegetable Wine
Opened to celebrate a friend's green card - and were not disappointed. Sum: outstanding balance and depth.
White
5/17/2024 - PLLU Likes this wine:
92 points
Medium golden
The intensity is pronounced with aromas/flavors of fresh and dry pineapple, passion fruit, apricots, orange blossoms, thyme, honey.
The wine is dry with medium + acidity, medium alcohol, and body. The intensity is medium + and the finish is long.
The wine is developed and can drink now potential for aging. A complex and mature wine
White
5/17/2024 - aagrawal wrote:
91 points
Cork broke with an Ah-so but came out OK. Light golden; medium intensity aromatics, orange oil, citrus zest; palate is full bodied, medium-plus acidity throughout, nice textural complexity; medium length finish. Very well balanced Musar blanc, will benefit from some significant air today before dinner. 91+
Red
2019 Kukkula Kaamos Paso Robles Adelaida District Petite Sirah (view label images)
5/17/2024 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:
90 points
Meh. As a Finn, I had default sympathy for this. Like 3X overpriced for the quality over here. Even been to the winery at Paso Robles. Very so so. Probably because the grapes are off. Petite syrah, grenache and mourvedere blend? Tastes better than I feared given that. Not worth buying or drinking. Sorry. I mean it's nicely done, but the product concept is a deadend. If this was 3-4X cheaper I might consider. At this price point? Uncontrolled laughter!
White
5/17/2024 - Connaissøren wrote:
89 points
Very enjoyable, fresh orange wine. No rush.
Rosé
5/17/2024 - Yannou Likes this wine:
92 points
Sublime vin avec une finesse folle. De la fraise de la grenadine rehaussée avec une finesse saline comme son nom l’indique. Et quelle longueur !!!!!!
White
5/17/2024 - Geaux Tigers wrote:
92 points
Green apple jolly rancher, green melon, wet rock, mineral backbone carrying everything along. Not as intensely flavorful as last bottle, seems to be settling into a road towards better integration.
White
5/17/2024 - -Tim- Likes this wine:
89 points
Lovely terroir-driven Gelber Muskateller with salty slate minerality (Schiefer), elderberry, white peach, alpine herbs, and lime. Fresh and fruity balance.
Falstaff rated 92p.
Red
5/16/2024 - Vascular46 Likes this wine:
92 points
Deep ruby color with dark and red fruit on the nose and palate. Fuller bodied than I expected from a Gamay based wine. Some licorice added on the palate and finish. I suspect that this wine still has a long way to go and will develop further
White
5/17/2024 - Robjes Likes this wine:
86 points
Nose: subtle blackcurrant including the leaf and twif, smoke. With air I get herbs including lemon balm. Same green notes, also some bell pepper, on the palate. Bone dry. Tastes good, but underwhelming given how hyped Tement is. Maybe too young.
Red
5/16/2024 - jcampano Likes this wine:
94 points
Tasty Howell Mountain fruit with brilliant notes of black cherry, licorice, graphite and cedar. Silky tannins with a 20-second finish. This has definitely gotten better with time in the bottle. Only upside from here for the next 5 years.
White
5/17/2024 - PLLU Likes this wine:
90 points
Pale golden
Medium intensity with aromas of fresh lemon, apricots, grapefruit, pine, rosemary, wet stone. developing.
On the palate the wine is dry with medium + acidity, medium alcohol and medium -body. The intensity is medium + and the finish is medium. The quality is very good, can drink now potential for long aging.
White
5/17/2024 - rmh66 wrote:
89 points
Stone fruit, orange, apple, lime, melon, and earth on the nose. Lemon, stone fruit, lime, minerals, a touch of citrus peel, herb, and earth on the palate. Good acidity (could use more), med body, med finish. Tasty. Cleansing, but big enough to hold up to cream sauces. Quite nice.
Red
5/17/2024 - tpuffins wrote:
89 points
I thought this wine was absolutely delicious
White
5/17/2024 - glouglou3000 Likes this wine:
94 points
Wonderful notes of honey, saffron and marzipan backed by the citrus and tropical fruit from its youth. It has really matured into a fantastic wine. Too bad this was my last bottle.
White
5/17/2024 - Whitman wrote:
flawed
Premox. Best "taste" i have experienced with a premox wine. When you see the colour you know what is waiting for you. Its just tricky to cellar white burgundy. Last years experience with Bouchard "Perrieres", Ramonet " Ruchottes"and now Fevre "Clos".
White
2022 Tanca Nica Soki Soki Terre Siciliane Zibibbo, Muscat (view label images)
5/17/2024 - Boblen wrote:
91 points
Hvide aromatiske blomster, ananas, lidt honning, velhængt kød, lissen siger fersk kødsaft. Tårnhøj syre og medium- tannin. Godt glas.
Red
5/17/2024 - deadlyapp Likes this wine:
88 points
Somehow better. Still not exciting but better than previously.
Red
5/17/2024 - tropa56 wrote:
88 points
Not sure how I felt about this wine. My first ever Cathiard. Nose was similar to an American pinot. With air seemed more Bourgogne. Definitely good complexity for this level wine. Mouth feel was excellent. I have one more bottle I probably won't open for a year or so. Not sure I would pay this price for this level wine again. Much better options in100$ range.
Red
5/17/2024 - LarryA45 Likes this wine:
90 points
I disagree that this wine is over the hill. Just opened a bottle last night and it was quite to very good. Excellent Burgundy nose with some maturity, good flavors, good fruit. In a great place right now, maybe the first Villages-level red Burg from 2005 that I would say was ready to drink.

With good storage, probably good for several more years but good to drink now.
Red
5/17/2024 - Schönibert wrote:
Anfangs etwas zugenagelt diese Flasche, kommt nach ner Stunde aber. To Be Continued.
White
5/17/2024 - SacFrench wrote:
91 points
Solid
White
5/17/2024 - ruth3 wrote:
Sharp, pale, good aperitif
Red
2020 Stellekaya Hercules Stellenbosch Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)
5/17/2024 - Bob AR wrote:
90 points
I enjoyed this wine. Medium purple color. Scent of cherry and some earthy notes. Tasted cherry and a hint of tobacco. Medium tannins and acidity. Nice finish.
Red
5/17/2024 - Vandelaar wrote:
89 points
Mediocre and flabby on opening but now 5 day later way more balanced and refined. ‘Spanish Pinot’ with mocha chocolate and candied cherries.
Red
2020 Fattoria Petrolo Boggina A Val d'Arno di Sopra Sangiovese (view label images)
5/17/2024 - pemazel Likes this wine:
92 points
What an outstanding Sangiovese this is. Juicy, fine quality, long aftertaste. Still pretty young of course, so the second glass was a bit more agreeable than the first (PnP). Not in the shadow of the great Galatronas (100% Merlot) of this fattoria, but so enjoyable.
A means matured in amphoras, B is white (bianco) and C means classico.

From https://www.superiore.de/:

“Bòggina A” Sangiovese Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC 2020 (BIO)
Fattoria Petrolo | Tuscany
Petrolo s.a. s.s. | Loc. Petrolo 30 | IT 52021 Bucine

"Bòggina A" Sangiovese Val d'Arno di Sopra DOC 2020 (BIO)
The A in the name of the Boggina stands for the natural wine aged for about 6 months in terracotta amphorae of 400-600 Liters each, which is bottled in an edition of just 5,000 bottles without further addition of sulphites. Bright, luminous garnet red. The bouquet is ethereal, very delicate and nuanced, with a very precise fragrance interpretation of the Sangiovese grape. Medium-bodied, with a beautiful structure and authentic Sangiovese fruit with a salty vein. The finish is highly drinkable, with silky tannins and a beguiling length. A masterpiece of beauty and elegance. SUPERIORE.DE

"Pure red wine with aromas and flavours of cherry, strawberry, iron, earth and tobacco. Lean and supple in texture, with an elegant profile and a long finish that reflects the fruit and spicy notes." WINE SPECTATOR

"Bright, medium-dense ruby with a slightly pale rim. Very fragrant and appealing nose, of ripe raspberries, fresh plums, plus notes of cinnamon, some cardamom. Firm tannin on the palate, shows good tension, but at the same time seems a bit raw, salty on the final." FALSTAFF

"The Petrolo 2020 Val d'Arno di Sopra Bòggina A presents the Sangiovese grape with a fresh, concentrated, almost crisp personality. This organic wine opens with aromas of wild strawberries or fragolino, lilac, blood orange and rusty earth. It has an almost shiny or brilliant character. The Bòggina A shows plenty of primary freshness, fine tannins and balanced acidity." WINE ADVOCATE

"Very floral and pretty with aromas of orange peel and cherries that transition into a medium body with lots of tension and brightness. A dusty texture of tannins." JAMES SUCKLING

"The 2020 Boggina A, 100% Sangiovese vinified and aged in amphora, is possibly the best vintage of this wine I have ever tasted. Finely sculpted and nuanced, the 2020 sizzles with energy. Crushed rocks, red fruit, spice, mint, rose petal and orange peel are all beautifully delineated throughout. Just as important, the 2020 doesn't have any of the awkward aromas and flavors that have penalized some previous editions. Superb." VINOUS
Red
5/17/2024 - Patrik Mellstrom Likes this wine:
87 points
Easy drinking, fruity, dark berries, cherries, plum, high acid, medium tannins, full body, medium intensitet, not overly complex and short finish
Red
5/15/2024 - Charlie C Likes this wine:
94 points
Dark red at the core, clear at the edges. Raspberry and moist earth on the nose. Full and precise on the palate, black cherries, raspberry, earth notes. The raspberry notes become more prominent with air. Fine tannins, brilliant acidity, great balance. Finishes long, bright and red-fruited. Lovely stuff that should drink well for 4 to 5 years more. The Sea Smoke pinots from this period have all held up well.
White
5/17/2024 - alamoave Likes this wine:
90 points
Interesting blend. Closest comparison is viognier. Long finish. Sharp acidity. Full bodied.
White
5/17/2024 - isbjoern wrote:
88 points
Typical Grüner Veltliner Federspiel with peppery spice, hint of vegetal bitterness and nice apple fruit. Best at 8°C. Ready and easy-drinking. - 88 points
Red
5/17/2024 - studleytrey Likes this wine:
90 points
From 375mL. Purplish ruby. Smells like cherry, plum, leather, soil, graphite. Medium body, medium (+) acid and finish, with flavors of cherry, red apple skin, lemon, and spice. Pretty solid grocery store halfsie to go with a Friday afternoon lunch. 🤙
Red
5/16/2024 - bendb Likes this wine:
92 points
Some reviewer called Hardy a "vine whisperer", and this Nightlight Red is a perfect example of why. Who else could assemble something so light, deep, refreshing, interesting, and engaging wine from such a disparate and motley assemblage of grapes? This is everything I love about Extradimensional wines.

Popped and poured, then followed through an evening. It was good from the first sip, and developed nicely. Can't wait to see how it does on day 2.
Red
5/17/2024 - habermas wrote:
93 points
Très bel équilibre comme toujours avec Arlaud. Il commence à peine sa fenêtre de maturité. Un vin racé tout en nuance avec une belle concentration qui vient du fruit et non d’artefact à la vinification. Bravo.
Red
2013 Result of a Crush Red Wine Walla Walla Valley Syrah Blend, Syrah (view label images)
Funk and fruit have receded with time, leaving hints of fruit and the great savory notes. Still think of these as a great value.
White
5/15/2024 - Rich S Likes this wine:
92 points
Medium straw color with hints of gold. Pronounced nose of ripe stone fruit with a touch of honeysuckle and some ripe orchard fruit as well. Similar flavors on the palate with a juicy mouthfeel with excellent acidity but lots of ripe fruit to carry it along. Touch of texture on the palate from perhaps a tiny bit of skin contact. Delicious wine on its own but also food friendly.
Red
5/17/2024 - elevwine Likes this wine:
92 points
Purchased from my favorite Italian wine retailer, Z. They rarely step wrong. A little bricking on he edges, but no other real signs of age. Opened fully within 30 minutes. Medium weight for a Brunello, elegant cherry fruit, tar and white pepper, a hint of thyme. Balanced acidity. Some tannic bite leads o longish finish. Wish I had more.
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