2/14/2011 - lbruno wrote:

Light gold. Subtle nose of creamy, light, vanilla and limes. Mouth very much in line with the nose with medium acidity. Medium finish and fairly astringent at the end, though this falls away with time in the glass. A more creamy texture and flavor emerges with time as well. An easy, middle-of-the-road wine.

6/20/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Consistent with my last note.

1/9/2011 - lbruno wrote:

I was looking forward to this, too bad it was corked.

9/3/2010 - lbruno wrote:

89+. Golden yellow with a greenish tinge. Nose of creamy peach puree, ripe apricots, tropical fruit syrup, green apples, nutmeg, and a sweet mixture of herbs (basil, mint and sage) with a very faint trace of botrytis(?). Mouth is very in line with the nose - super ripe yellow and white peaches, pineapple juice, granny smith apples, sweet limes and honey.

With food (Thai), a really enjoyable, almost savory, herbaceous quality compliments the sweetness. Six years has rounded the edges on this one - acidity, sugar and overall texture are nicely in tune - and it's a solid wine but not groundbreaking. I wouldn't buy it at full price but I found it for cheap and glad I bought a couple bottles.

5/7/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Consumed months ago, no notes taken, but i remember thinking that it was an enjoyable bottle and a pretty good value.

9/2/2010 - lbruno wrote:

A little refreshing with lime spritz, but if it wasn't for the spritz and the neon green-tinted yellow color I'd have said it was a chardonnay, based on it's smell and taste; it's also a bit on the flabby side. I remember drinking this a year ago and thinking how much more excited about it I was.

9/1/2010 - lbruno wrote:

90+. Very fresh aromas of fennel, black licorice, and red, ripe cherries with hints of other red fruits (raspberries, plums). More freshness on the palate in the form of red licorice, subtle red cherry juice, sweet raspberries - overall, very in line with the nose. Medium acid and medium tannin and well balanced.

This didn't have the secondary layers of smell, taste and texture I was hoping for and expecting from a Barolo of 9 years maybe it's at an in-between stage?? There wasn't a lot of development of complexity throughout the bottle (generally, pretty straightforward) but still drank really well and was a great wine with dinner, especially the duck-plum-sage pate.

8/27/2010 - lbruno wrote:

This is way past its prime, though not entirely undrinkable. Nose of wet sandy pears and green apples sitting in a musty cardboard box; tastes like watered-down sour apple Blowpops.

8/26/2010 - lbruno wrote:

89-90. Stewed red and black fruit on the nose, musky cranberries, purple fruit-stained sweaty (yet sweet) socks, plum and blackberry skins, enjoyable notes of green peppers and menthol. Mouth has cranberry peppermint, ripe red and green apples, dark berries; medium+ acid and medium finish. A touch less complexity than her Frappato but just as fun to drink.

8/26/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Very tight nose; full of chalky blue fruit with bright red fruit hiding around the edges. In the mouth, it is liquid blackberry torte; almost a limp jam profile though and is a hair too 1-dimensional and undecided, as if the blend needed to go more in one direction rather than dead in the middle? Enjoyable nonetheless, though not nearly as exciting as her Frappato or Siccagno.

8/26/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Aromas of fresh strawberries and cranberries, baked blackberries, cracked black pepper, freshly picked (or harvested or whatever) green veggies, fruit smoke, purple floral soap/perfume. Tastes of spicy strawberries, dark berry jam with a hint of an apricot tartness, red licorice, red plum; medium+ acid, medium finish and very well balanced overall. Really enjoyable stuff.

8/27/2010 - lbruno wrote:

89-90. Dark red core, fading to orange red rim. Nose has cooked red berries, cran-strawberry, smoked as well as charred meats, salt/minerally iron blood notes, sweet decaying/earthy fruits...opening up to reveal spicy, woody roasted tomato and red peppers (less heavy on the tomato). Mouth of dark plums, roasted red fruits with an attractive and fresh brightness in the middle, mellow dried spices and herbs, medium+ to long finish and healthy tannins. Good balance and worth the $.

5/8/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

(consumed months ago, no notes taken) Hard and alcoholic upon opening - even with decant - but it opened up beautifully on day two.

8/19/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Dark golden orange. Nose of light caramel, sweet sticks, dried fruits. On the palate, dried mangos, dried pineapples, dried yet plump and juicy cherries, little caramel and a faint tinge of star anise or fennel floating around in the mid palate. Good length and finish.

5/1/2010 - lbruno wrote:

(didn't take any notes when I drank this 3 months ago.) Great acidity to match the crisp, off-dry, stony citrus. In general, I've had a half dozen Donnhoff bottlings, from kabinett to auslese, and the amazing crisp acidity is always an enjoyable component. Would certainly buy this again.

5/6/2010 - lbruno wrote:

80-85 (copying these notes from a tasting months ago). Nose of bright, peppery red fruit, dried leaves tending towards tobacco, little gamy blood, and, oddly, a cinnamon and sugar note after a while in the glass. Rather dry in the mouth but with plenty of red fruit hidden around the edges, soil, dirt-covered fruit emerges after a bit.

5/6/2010 - lbruno wrote:

On the nose, black pepper well integrated with blackberries and strawberries, smoky (approaching cigarettes), and alcohol that thankfully burned off. Wonderfully bright acidity on the front, great peppery strawberries and cherries, a little pleasant tomato juice in the finish. This is mostly a front-end wine but very balanced throughout.

5/6/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Initial nose of cigar smoke, ash tray, hint of red fruit, but eventually showed some blackberry pastry qualities. Mouth of slightly bitter smoked red peppers (similar to New Mexican cuisine), maybe some tart dark fruits, though overall the fruit never came around as it did in the nose.

5/6/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Nose of roasted green peppers, hints of dried red fruits, gamy, minerally and even some fishiness. Softer on the palate than expected - light red fruit with cracked pepper; smooth but not a great finish.

8/9/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Blind tasted on this (and other bad stuff left over from work). Nose of ultra ripe cantaloupe, watered mango mash, applesauce, vanilla sugar, cheap smelly cheese. Tastes just like it smells - terrible. I don't think it was a flawed bottle, it just wasn't made well.

6/23/2010 - lbruno wrote:

89-90. Nose has honey, golden raisins, sugary lemon creme brulee, marmalade and toasted brioche. In the mouth, butterscotch, caramel, creme brulee, almond paste, ground almonds. Very tasty, yes, but almost overly-syrupy and lacking complexity and balance due to limited acidity, and so I don't think this is one for the long haul.

11/4/2009 - lbruno wrote:

Nose of banana peel, menthol, musty lemons, honeysuckle. A bit muted in the mouth; green and bitter towards the end, under-ripe citrus and grapefruit, green almonds.

8/16/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Tight and simple nose of creamy white peaches and sweet limes; citrus in the mouth - oranges, lemons, grapefruit, orange blossoms and leaves, tart apricot; wondering if this has a surprisingly long finish or it's just the sweet acidity that hangs in my gums.

8/13/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Golden orange with medium plus viscosity. Nose of musky stone fruit, candied lime peel, sweet nutty aromas (oxidative), blossoms and savory/smoky overtones. Mouth of sweet lacquer, apple/lime juice, honey, soft ripe apricots, sweet herbal notes; med. to med. plus acidity and body, nice sweet/tart finish with a hint of walnuts.

Acidity sparkles nicely with spicy sausage; sweet green earthiness comes out with greens/peaches/cheese/balsamic salad.

8/8/2010 - lbruno wrote:

med. to med+ viscosity. Nose of banana syrup, meringue, marzipan, undertone of aniseed. Mouth: watered down butterscotch syrup, peach/pear mash, lightly smoky. The flabbiness and lack of any acidity suggests that this is far gone and should have been consumed at least a year ago. Had I drunk it then, I might have scored this in the high 80s...

8/5/2010 - lbruno wrote:

89+ Great nose that developed and expanded throughout both glasses. Apricot marmalade with orange pith, baked apples and pears with nutmeg and cinnamon, sweet and rich marzipan, roasted hazelnuts, white blossoms were all things that jumped out, though plenty more underlying complexity. Not nearly as impressive or inspiring on the palate: leaning towards pear skin, apple core, bitter honey, nearly yeasty but not quite oxidative. Slightly flat and lacked the depth that the nose promised.

8/5/2010 - lbruno wrote:

NOSE: black cherries, dried cranberries, lightly cooked strawberries, dark chocolate, menthol, cedar and baking spices (oak); MOUTH: cooked sweet/tart red fruits with cracked pepper, med+ alc, acidity and tannin, med+ finish but alcohol dominates even after 2nd day. Better in a couple years?

4/26/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Second bottle I've had in as many months. Still enjoying its easy drinkability and I'm still a fan of the spicy and gamey notes - guessing there's some syrah in the blend - but it got to be a bit one-dimensional towards the end. This is sort of like music that's really good if just played in the background.

4/7/2010 - lbruno wrote:

84+ Very fragrant bouquet of melon rind and fruity wisteria. Crisp and clean on the palate with nice fruit-forward acidity - good wine for a hot day. What kept my score down was the fact that every pleasant nuance had vanished by day two, turning it into a slightly bitter, dull drink. Consume in one go with lighter foods.

4/13/2010 - lbruno wrote:

A light, well made dolcetto. Very subtle nose of fresh herbs (cilantro and rosemary mostly), sweet tobacco and sticks, and red fruit; occasional pleasant whiffs of yeast. More lightness and subtlety on the palate that syncs up well with the nose, in addition to sour cherries. Not really my thing, but it's very well balanced and a nice enough drink, and probably on the lesser side of the 11-14% abv the bottle specifies.

4/1/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Little spice on the nose upon opening, but this quickly blew off to reveal chocolaty, creamy vanilla and dark fruit/blueberries. Not a bad texture in the mouth up front, but the acid and alcohol towards the back end throws off the balance. Very much a chocolate-covered fruit/candy flavor profile. Tannins mellowed considerably on day 2 but this doesn't make it a show-stopper.

3/30/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Hints of mangoes and pineapple juice with nuances of sweat, rubber and a nice dusty sort of minerality on the nose. Tasted sweeter than expected but with a nice ripe mango pungency. Good acidity on the front but not quite enough throughout to mitigate the sweetness. Still, it's very smooth and has a nice baked fruit/pie crust component on the finish and a fine chalky texture. Unfamiliar with Savennieres in general so I have no idea how this will evolve...

2/28/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Posting this score a month after I drank this, and no notes were taken since it was at a dinner party. Many of the expected syrah bouquet and flavor attributes were present and it was a pretty decent bottle that I'd probably buy if I saw it for $15 or so.

3/22/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Limited notes taken at the Henry Wine Group trade tasting. One of the dozen or so nebbiolo-based wines tasted. Nose of heavy, musky fruit with well integrated spices and herbs. Mouth is full of delicious fruit with great balance and texture throughout. Will definitely buy.

3/23/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

89+ Decanted for 2-3 hours. Great spicy nose with creamy cherry leather. Balance is spot on with a noticeable lack of greenness for such a young cab. Really enjoyable jammy characteristics with enough acid to keep them in check. That said, I don't think it has the ability to hold out for years and years since it is already so approachable.

By day three it has lost a little of it's focus and is showing its youth with green and red peppers on the nose; some hints of graphite and chocolatey cherries around the edges. Still has a great velvety, fruity texture, though. Incredibly it was only $8!

3/13/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Nose of cream soda and maybe some hard pecorino. This isn't incredibly complex, but I enjoyed it for its simplicity. Not an over-the-top fruitbomb, but rather balanced with very well integrated acid. Stood up very well to and complemented green chile enchiladas.

3/9/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Tight nose - hot fruit, Darjeeling tea and some muskiness but otherwise not incredibly expressive. Pretty light in the mouth with moderate tannins; thin red fruit with a finish of orange zest. Nice length and texture similar to a hard Italian cheese. Great food wine.

2/27/2010 - lbruno Likes this wine:

Interesting combo of white peaches and coconut milk on the nose. Tasted a hint of an oxidized style on the front, and a nice acidic comeback on the finish. Initial flavors of melons and lime give way to a little bit of greenness towards the finish, but nothing too offensive.

2/20/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Just wasn't really into this. Dusty, stewed fruit nose and not much of interest for my palate.

2/15/2010 - lbruno Does not like this wine:

Nose of wine-steeped raisins, nice smokey tomato spice with hints of hoisin and chipotle. Good overall mouthfeel but an alcohol burn in the middle-end throws off the balance. Decent finish and good acidity, but the fruit is almost too plump and overripe, again disrupting the balance.

2/26/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Nice nose of banana peel, green apples, light honeysuckle and citrus blossoms. By the third day a little buttery. Good zest of acid on day one, but didn't get any of the effervescence Randal Graham mentions. A little waxy green peel flavor and texture to go along with the crisp fruit. No heat. Good balance with the asian food.

2/12/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Spicy, yeasty fruit on the nose - unexpected and pretty cool. Tastes of subtle fruit with a solid backbone of zesty acid, lots of ground cinnamon and cloves, sweet dirt and plenty of chewy tannins. At $15 or whatever I'll definitely be buying more.

2/12/2010 - lbruno wrote:

First Dolcetto I've had. Nose of bittersweet/dark chocolate, dark berry jam and hints of toffee and coffee grinds; a little heat at the back. Fairly well-structured and integrated acid in the mouth. Not as velvety as I was hoping and not as much sweet fruit as I expected (unfortunately, in this case), but a decent finish. I bought this based on a recommendation but wasn't nearly as wowed by it as the person who recommended it. It was a perfectly good food wine, though, and I'll be interested to try it again.

2/1/2010 - lbruno wrote:

(89+)
DAY 1: Decanted for 2-3 hours. Plenty of sediment in the bottle. Nothing but heat, menthol and charcoal with only a faint note of dark fruit on the nose. Much of the same while drinking, including lots of leathery green tannins. Poured the rest back into the bottle and corked it up. A pretty solid disappointment.

DAY 2: A completely changed wine, for the better - olive tapenade, tar, dried herbs de provence, and a slight bit of blood on the nose. Tastes of roasted game, near-ripe dark fruits (though not necessarily green), plum and roasted tomatoes. A very dense wine, and the tannins are now much more integrated and balanced. Thankfully much of the alcohol has blow off and is a much more enjoyable bottle. I had to force myself to save one last sip for the next day.

DAY 3: The last bit has developed yet again. Pungent macerated berries with hints of (inoffensive) manure and savory jams. Humid, if that makes any sense. There is now also a distinct development of dark fruit, finally convincing me I should buy some more.

1/11/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Upon opening and decanting, a nose of vanilla, nutmeg and cloves. Spiced light red fruits - berries and earthy plums, even a hint of cedar. Much of this gave way to sweet perfume notes (not unlike the perfume section of a high-end department store) in the glass. A bit greener than expected in the mouth, and a little like chewing on raw cinnamon for the first few sips. Light fruit but too heavy on the acid/bitterness for my taste, and not a memorable finish. This wasn't an offensive wine by any stretch, but it's nothing too exciting.

1/22/2010 - lbruno wrote:

Black pepper on the nose...x10. Rare-cooked beef blood, hints of dried corriander, hint of a nuance of soft, ripe dark red fruit. Tastes like peppered steak... actually, exactly like broiled flank steak with a rub of ground corriander, salt, pepper and allspice. A little greenness in the middle (but not overwhelming) and a light bit too hot at the end. By the 2nd or 3rd glass, some of the pepper/blood blew off to reveal a little unexpected profile of red Burgundy - notes of funk and slight oxidized barnyard, cranberry and tart preserves.

1/22/2010 - lbruno wrote:

(89+) The nose on this stuff is always awesome. Viscous, heady sherry notes, nail and hair salons, spiced/roasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans). In the mouth it's almost too round and flat on the attack, though it gives way to nice honeyed walnut skins. Not quite enough acid towards the back for my taste - just a little more would be nice to equalize the thickness this wine brings... but it's good nonetheless. 14.5% alc not a problem.

1/22/2010 - lbruno wrote:

On the nose, Granny Smith apples lead into warm pear torte, light almonds, toast and toasted sesame seeds; even a hint of pancetta?? In the mouth it's very consistent with the nose. Small bubbles, good acidity, complex nuances of baked goods with a little cinnamon, tart apples and pears. A little more bread/yeast would have been great but overall well balanced and delicious.