3/9/2020 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

In a great place. With about 30 minute decant. Wow.

3/9/2020 - bigedk33 Does not like this wine:

Pickles and chocolate? Flawed possibly? Definitely not well integrated.

4/21/2019 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Really needed to open up. Much better the next day. I'd wait on this one.

1/1/2019 - bigedk33 Does not like this wine:

Nose of chocolate covered raisins and Tootsie Roll. Thinner than I expected. Not much after mid palate. Did not improve after 30 minutes.

12/30/2018 - bigedk33 wrote:

90 upon opening. 86 after 30 minutes. Medium to high acid. Pretty thin. Not much tannin left. Didn't last long.

12/27/2018 - bigedk33 wrote:

Not as good as the previous couple vintages. I might wait a couple years before opening another.

12/26/2018 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Pretty vibrant color considering it's 27 years old. bright fruit on the nose. Medium to high acid. Drinks nicely for 30+ minutes. Starts to fade after that. 45 minutes in, the back palate started to disappear. A bit past prime. Drink now.

12/22/2018 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Great QPR. Complex flavors, a little barnyard on the nose. Ulises Valdez, who emigrated from Mexico, recently passed. Very sad. Wonderful wine.

12/15/2018 - bigedk33 wrote:

Found a bottle in a friend's cellar. Used the Coravin to taste it. Drinkable but losing its luster for sure.

12/15/2018 - bigedk33 wrote:

Found a bottle in a friend's cellar. Used the Coravin. Showed nicely for about 45 minutes but quickly faded after that. Some fruit left but not a lot. This is drinkable but at the end of its life.

12/15/2018 - bigedk33 wrote:

Used the Coravin on this bottle to see if the other three were even worth keeping. This wine is at the end of its life.

12/14/2018 - bigedk33 wrote:

Found this in a friend's wine cellar. Several bottles were present so we opened one to taste it. Shockingly, after 26 years in bottle, it's still good. Structure is still present but fruit is fading. No decant, no swirl. Faded fairly soon after opening, but a lovely bottle for as old as it is.

11/18/2018 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Past its prime. Flavorful, but thin.

1/13/2017 - bigedk33 wrote:

Drink it now! It's complex. Only 1.5 hour decant and tannins are way soft.

2/11/2016 - bigedk33 wrote:

Possibly tainted. No fruit whatsoever.

2/5/2016 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Great balance between fruit and terroir. Eucalyptus was an evident marker in a blind tasting. Decanted for 2 hours. Really wonderful.

12/5/2015 - bigedk33 wrote:

PnP Rich, plush mouth feel. Savory smoked meat on the palate. Almost Syrah-like.

12/4/2015 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

3 hour decant was probably a bit too long. Would recommend 1.5 hours.

2/15/2015 - bigedk33 wrote:

Doesn't turn a corner until 5 hours in decanter. Then it excels.

1/27/2015 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Nice balance of green pepper and rich, luscious fruit. Nicely done.

12/6/2014 - bigedk33 wrote:

Outstanding now with 7 hour decant. Will improve even more I'm sure.

1/30/2014 - bigedk33 wrote:

Getting better with age. Really opened up after 2 hour decant. Wonderful Bordeaux blend that is as evenly balanced as I've tasted. Big fan.

1/6/2014 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

This is as close to blueberry pie in a glass I've ever encountered. Took a good 2-3 hours to fully open up. Not harsh at all for a young wine. Really drinkable right now.

1/5/2014 - bigedk33 Likes this wine:

Really nice, smoky nose. The taste in the first 30 minutes reminded me of a zinfandel (chocolate covered cherries). Opened up after a bit to show some real cabernet character. Poor-man's Pride Mountain cab. Great deal for $25.

3/9/2013 - bigedk33 wrote:

This was disappointing. Waited until the next day to taste and score. Didn't improve. I had higher hopes here. Thin mouth feel, nothing offending, but nothing delicious either. Ends quickly, nothing lingering. Left me wanting more.

3/9/2013 - bigedk33 wrote:

Fruit forward, notes of green pepper on the nose. Good mouth feel, would like to see a bit more tart at the end, but still a very flavorful $13 bottle.

3/9/2013 - bigedk33 wrote:

Note I had the 2011, not yet in the DB. Fragrant from 3 feet away. Barnyard almost makes it feel Old World. This was a bit harsh 30 minutes in, but after 60 minutes, the complexity was that of a $40 bottle. We tasted it next to the 2010 and liked both, but what a noticeable difference. The 2010 was much more fruit forward with virtually no barnyard at all. The 2011 offered a wonderful harmony of herbs, black fruit, tannins, cedar and tobacco. In my opinion, the 2011 is one of the best bargains going. Went back to buy a case. Will probably drink through 2014.

2/27/2013 - bigedk33 wrote:

2009 Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyard. Bright fruit, mineral nose. The altitude does this wine good! Luscious mouth feel and lingering finish. Score it 92!

1/20/2013 - bigedk33 wrote:

Upon opening, this was disappointing. A bit thin and inky, and quite puckering. Wasn't going to buy it. I let the taste sit for about an hour and revisited. Opened up quite nicely unleashing really nice tobacco, cedar and black cherry notes. I bought 5 and will try them in a couple years. Lots of tannins to play with, so took a chance...we will see if it pays off.

12/20/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Juicy, great tannin structure. Inky, good mouth feel. A bit of green pepper in the palate, but still a winner.

11/3/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Dense garnet color. Mix of petite syrah, syrah, Cabernet franc and charbono. Firm tannin structure, but still very drinkable. Pnp.

8/5/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

This has come a long way in the past 18 months. Previously scored it a 90. Delicious, full bodied zin. Tobacco and leather nose. Bright berry upfront. Soft tannins, great smooth finish. Drink now. Well done, Michael Talty!

7/29/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Really well-balanced cab with velvety, rich berries on the palate. Great mouth feel and fantastic tannin structure ? enough so to cellar for many more years. Yummy now, and probably yummy-er in a few more years. I?ll give it a 93 with even slightly better potential. This is as good (sometimes better) as many $50+ cabs I?ve tasted.

7/29/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

The nose started off as buttered popcorn drizzled with iHop raspberry syrup and just blossomed from there?ahem, cannabis. Sip after delicious sip, we just couldn?t get over how silky smooth and lusciously delicious this wine is. We bought four bottles and wish we stocked up on more.

7/23/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Opens up quickly. Not much decanting needed...maybe 30 minutes. Cotton candy, sweet nose. Almost tastes like a merlot. Tannins wear off pretty quickly. Nice $16 bottle.

7/16/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Yes, 92. I am thrilled that a Georgia winery has finally gotten some accolades. This one is an award winner in SF wine competition. Perfectly balanced acid. Fantastic find. If you haven't had GA wine recently, try Tiger Mountain. You won't be disappointed.

7/5/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

This light-to-medium bodied table red has a nose of leather, smoky tobacco and strawberry. In the mouth, the wine begins fruit-forward and bright like a Pinot Noir, with a hint of pepper in the middle and a smooth easy finish. Tannins are more present in this wine than in the Rabun Red but it?s still not a huge red that I?d lay down for any length of time. http://50shadesofgrape.com/2012/07/05/pre-trip-tasting-tiger-mountain-cabernet-franc-2008/

7/5/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Good solid every day wine. The nose is mineral, cherry and blackberry and the wine itself definitely has notes of tart cherry and a bit of raising on the finish. It?s light-bodied, not particularly complex and nearly without tannins but super drinkable, as evidenced by the empty bottle on our table. http://50shadesofgrape.com/2012/07/05/pre-trip-tasting-tiger-mountain-rabun-red-2008/

6/16/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Hello strawberry cheesecake! Light magenta color, very little tannin. Flavor of vanilla, not very complex. Drinkable...maybe with an after-dinner cheese plate. August Briggs makes several consistent, good-drinking wines. Have been in their wine club for about a year.

6/16/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Smell... Grapefruit, tropical fruit. Taste... Easy drinker, crisp then round with an almost creamy finish.

6/16/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

Inky, dense, black cherry, plummy, smoke on the nose, fire in the sky. Firm tannins. Decanted for 2 hours. Lovely drink!

6/16/2012 - bigedk33 wrote:

For a Georgia wine, one of the best. Juicy and oaky and a very nice drinker.

12/9/2011 - bigedk33 wrote:

So sad this is my last bottle! Yummy!

3/27/2010 - bigedk33 wrote:

Starts out a bit tight, but opens up really nicely. Perfect pairing with red meat.

2/26/2010 - bigedk33 wrote:

Only 7 barrels produced, Robert Young has done it again. Delicious balance of fruit and tannins. Started a bit harsh, but opened up nicely after 30 minutes.