4/5/2024 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to previous notes after a 2 hour double decant & I believe the best bottle yet; outstanding & at peak, ready to drink, no rush

3/22/2024 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Brought by Mark last night to Fleming's, deep ruby with French oak on the nose & tasted like black cherries in chocolate with med. tannins & long finish, clearly Napa cab. Blind, I would have guessed a 19 Schrader, I loved it (but you have to like stereotypical Beckstoffer Napa cabs - not for French snobs)

2/9/2024 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Double decanted for 2 hrs, dark fruit on both nose & palate (the former better), firm tannins; good, but too young, hold for at least another couple of years

1/25/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

A little more than 2 years since my last bottle (a 92) and with all the controversy about the '05 Bdxs I felt compelled to try one tonight with a nice grilled hanger steak, plus Carol was basically forcing me to cook a hanger steak, and she's not even drinking wine these days......lol.

Decanted for two hours then put back into to the bottle no cork so it slow ox'd for another 1-2 before dinner. Enjoyed for a total of 4 hours of air. Dark garnet in the glass, no hint of bricking or aging in any way. Early on there was quite a bit of fruit on the nose along with the graphite, leather and some cigar box and oh so slight mushroom component. I could have easily enjoyed the entire bottle before dinner but paced myself by only having half. This is so well integrated right now.....there's just the right amount of softness to it, yet perfectly matched acidity and red plummy fruit entering its tertiary phase. There is no hurry with these at all. They will go for quite a while yet and if you like a nice red fruited aged, dry Bdx, you will like this. Especially with a meal. This bottle borders on a 95 for me, personally, but maybe that's just my Bdx palate?

12/31/2023 - DCHawkeye Likes this wine:

Drank on NYE, with cassoulet. It's fascinating to see the differing opinions on this wine. My first bottle of 6 - I was stunned by how youthful it seemed. Very dark, obviously big, but not overwhelming (and certainly not from the alcohol). Lovely spice, lots of fruit. I really enjoyed this, and look forward to tracking the remaining bottles. It will also be interesting to see how this producer, in particular, handles the increased temps from global warming. Much like Bordeaux has better learned to handle the warmer vintages post-2003, Châteauneuf-du-Pape has hopefully done the same to prevent its Grenache from being a look-alike for Sine Qua Non. (Fwiw as a comp, my go-to CdPs are Pegau Cuvee Reservee and Vieux Donjon; both of whose '10s I love.)

1/11/2024 - Bordeaux 2013 Likes this wine:

Very good, but not top notch.

1/7/2024 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Double decanted over 2+ hours then back into the bottle for dinner at HMCs. Still needed a little more time there, too. I'd say maybe decant this fully for 3-4 hours right now.

Medium garnet in the glass, indicating its age somewhat. Nose of rich fruit, perfumed florals and cassis. Palate is unique in its liqueur laden dark red/black fruit. Creamy, silky with excellent balancing acidity. A hint of unresolved tannins early on but these left over time.

This wine is the only one out of thousands of bottles (and plenty of pro scored 100 point wines) that I have ever given 100 pts to and that was around 4 months ago. This bottle obtained only recently and I have no idea of its handling over the past 16 years. There seems to be a bit of controversy over the metal cap glued to the cork and the breaking of corks in two on removal. The cap was removed easily by popping it off the cork with a small eyeglass screwdriver. I attempted to remove the cork with an Ah-so but it snapped in half in the process. On further inspection I found the reason why. The corks are in fine shape but the hot glue they use to attach the metal cap to the top of the cork leaks down the sides of the cork, and literally glues the lower half of the cork to the inside of the neck of the bottle. Once you dig all the cork out, you find the residue of cork and glue stuck to the sides of the neck and it's impossible to remove it all so I used a finer in the bottle to pour into the decanter which bypasses the glue residue in the neck. Just food for thought........

12/5/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Double decanted for 2 hrs, similar to my earlier note; outstanding & was WOTN in a good group

10/21/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Might not be fair to compare but this just falls short of the blanc Grande Anne. Missing the same verve/energy as the other bottling.

11/9/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

At PNP this wine is a bit disjointed, hot and bitter. After 24 hrs of slow ox in the bottle this wine rounded out and was very enjoyable. Not as over the top as I recall previous vintages.

Hold or long decant.

93+

11/7/2023 - vinus_operandi Likes this wine:

tasted blind at a white truffle dinner with several friends. wine was opened 5 hours prior to drinking and double decanted by Oldwines. wine showed aromatics of rose and mint with a hint of sous bois. on the palate, the wine was medium bodied with a lovely soft mouthfeel. coming from a very ripe vintage, the wine managed to show excellent varietal characteristics despite the heat of the year. many producers failed in that respect with their baroli but this wine had to be one of the wines of the vintage. the wine showed beautiful cherry fruit, raspberries, wet earth, and menthol along with some old leather. this was a classic barolo that i found to be simply wonderful in virtually every respect hence the high score. oldwines is a big believer in a long decant and he certainly captured the drinking window on this one. the wine paired well with the truffle dishes but was particularly excellent with the venison carpaccio and white truffle appetizer

11/2/2023 - jclarkwmj Does not like this wine:

Drank w/ KH for 40th.

Bottle design is horrible. Difficult to remove stupid coin on top without shards of glass coming off or bending a cork screw/foil cutter. Definitely needed an ah-so which didn’t occur to me at the time. My fault.

Cork was dried out and disintegrated I’m guessing because of inferior quality cork as well as no foil from dumb bottle design to help retain moisture. There’s a reason the Europeans have used foil for generations. Probably tried to save more money on bottle design. It seems most of the money went into the girth and obnoxious size/weight of the bottle which without foil continued to leak on every pour. In fact, it just seemed to leak wine everywhere throughout this comical experience .

Had to push the cork in so every glass had bits of cork floating in it. What a joke! Didn’t decant because of the amount of effort I already invested in trying to get the cork out. Not to mention I had stored this upon release which alone required years of patience.

Wine was quite good, but I could barely enjoy it because of the amount of blood and sweat I invested in removing the cork.

I’ll stick to my previous note. This wine is nowhere near a value at $500 plus years of storage. Bob and Martha need to get a grip with this over the top bottle design shwap. Just stick to the basics 😁

10/28/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior notes after double decanting for 2 hrs; outstanding & has entered its prime drinking window, drink or hold. It was outshone by the 1990 Pichon Baron next to it, brought by Ira

10/8/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Ummm, yeah.....I'm just not quite feelin' it. Tried a sample at the pnp but gave it a 90 minute decant, 90 minute slow ox after that......drinking 2 hours more over dinner. It's Cab Franc centric at that point on the nose and the palate, which is nice because I love Cab Franc...but, it's just not that great. It's really pretty darn average at a 92-93. Airtime from the pnp on out (3-4 hours) doesn't seem to be much of a factor other than improving it a point over that time from 91.5 to 92.5?.....it's well made but at the same time has only minimal complexity overall. I've been holding this last bottle quite a while so I expected more. Maybe that's on me? Obtained from the winery directly and cellared at 55 degrees ever since so I can't say it suffered somewhere else......

9/17/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

From memory after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, another great bottle, drink or hold, no rush

9/9/2023 - Bobcat 31 Likes this wine:

very good cab blend

9/9/2023 - Handy1 wrote:

Decanted for an hour. Nice dark fruit didnt have much finish. Think it was coming around toward end of the bottle. Recommend decant for 3 hours

8/27/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to previous notes after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold

10/15/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Tasted with Nigel in Napa. This wine is gorgeous and was singing from the glass. The CF element is one that makes this so approachable compared to the young 100% CS wines. This is not to be missed!

Wow wine for me.

7/18/2023 - Derek Darth Taster wrote:

BaBa 05-10 dinner session at Bar Cicheti.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensiyy, with aromas of rich ripe red plums, vegetals (?uneven ripeness?), dark figs, some black fruit. Earth and mushroom with more air. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, high alcoohl (14.5%), high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of vegetals and fig, rich red plums, strawberry confit, dark black fruit undertones, spice. Earth and mushroom with more air. Long finish.
Good quality. Will last, though there is a sense that it may turn pruney with more age. Guessed that this was a 2007 that should be drank up sooner rather than later. Not typically a Bartolo Mascarello on the blind. Marred by the vintage?

7/3/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding, drink or hold

6/22/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Pulled this for a family trip to Telluride.

A worthy wine after a successful family hiking day. Reached 11K' on Ballard only to be turned back by snow on the trail right around the saddle. Raising small mountain goats is tough work!

Now for the wine. At 10 years this wine is incredibly youthful. The tannins are firm and the dark fruit is hidden. The wife and I had all intentions for revisiting over a few days but this bottle was just too damn good to stop. I did leave a glass for day two.

The prime drinking window for this wine will take another 7-10 for my palate and will drink well for the next 20 plus. The is a structured beast that can be enjoyed today but will be a legend after 2033.

97 today with 100 point potential if you can keep your hands off.

Along for the journey.

13 Chave Hermitage
12 Checkerboard Aurora
19 KE Anjea

6/17/2023 - jsmorris707 wrote:

Double decanted for 2 hrs. The nose was restrained & not what I remembered. It tasted ok, but also less than I recall. A couple of tasters believed that it was slightly corked. I am usually very sensitive to TCA & did not pick it out, but that would explain the result.

6/7/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Best bottle yet after PNP at restaurant, creamy lemon; outstanding, great QPR, drink or hold

5/28/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior note after double decanting for 2 hrs, except that this bottle had entered peak drinking; outstanding, ready to drink, no rush

5/21/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Agree with the notes below, but the wines were accompanied by one of the best experiences I have ever had in Napa. We were shaded under a big tree high on Howell Mtn at the new Ciminelli vineyard on a beautiful Sat afternoon. We tasted the 19 Merlot, then the 18 & 19 Englehard cabs & finally the 19 Las Posadas. The only one I have now not purchased (yet...) is the 19 Englehard. The Merlot & the 18 Englehard, although young, were amazingly approachable already. Of the remaining cabs, the 19 Engelhard was the more open at present, but I felt that the Las Posadas has the better future & I bought some.

As great as Angela was last year hosting us at Wheeler Farms, she way surpassed that yesterday; what a lovely afternoon!

5/18/2023 - michael.rapp wrote:

Bought some at a tasting in Paso last week. Winner-winner-chicken dinner! Would be great with my spatchcocked grilled chicken! A one step up bigger offering than their Juvenile Zin. Originated in the vineyard behind the tasting room in Paso.

5/12/2023 - jmoon Likes this wine:

First of six bottles. Absolutely brilliant after a two hour decant, served to accompany lamb chops. Velvety plush luxurious deep ripe and delicious.

4/14/2023 - grafstrb wrote:

-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 1.75 hrs. --

NOSE: expressive; "winey"; floral/green/grass/plastic note.

BODY: medium-light to medium bodied.

TASTE: apple; high acidity; back-end hint of lychee gummy; 13.5% alc.; this bottle came across as needing a couple years to sort itself out -- it seemed a bit scattered.

5/6/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

Hands down my favorite wine from the 2014 vintage.

The mouthfeel is weightless like gravity slowing pulling a silk sheet. Undeniably Vine Hill Ranch fruit with all the classic dark bramble berry fruit, floral rose, five spice and subtle crushed stone. IMO, this wine is a few years from full integration and will continue to develop beautifully over the next 20 plus.

Every vintage should be different and that is the case with this wine. Terroir, check! Vintage, check!

I really had no plan on touching these 2014 for years but with the opportunity to load up on more so I checked in.

97+

4/16/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Same after 90 minute double decant; drink or hold

4/4/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

1st bottle, just had to dip into the '21s that recently arrived. This vintage takes me back to the classic Pesenti vintages of old. Young, but clean black zin fruit with some cedar notes and a zesty white pepper spicebox and cinnamon on the ending. Zin Life is really good drinking this one!

3/25/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior notes after a 2 hour double decant, WOTN again against some good wines; outstanding, drink or hold, no rush

3/22/2023 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

With the opportunity to purchase more on the secondary market there was a definite need to check in.

Violets, roses and vanilla. Dark fruit, plums & sweet cassis. Velvet tannins wash the palate. Amazing freshness with a touch of secondary development. The beginning of what I consider a drinking window.

Well, now I'm on the hook to bring more of these beautiful wines into the cellar.

97+

3/9/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Despite a 1 hour double decant, it did not fully open up until the 2nd day when it became the Pesenti that I love; delicious, drink with a longer decant or hold

2/25/2023 - gbbwino Likes this wine:

Purchased direct from winery & cellared since. Decanted for an hour. This is a dense, powerful & stunning wine! The nose & palate are equally amazing. Dark black, floral pure fruit. Tannins are soft & sweet. Lower acidity but still balanced. Still 5-10 years left. Still very primary, very California. None-the-less, this is a serious wine with an intoxicating nose.

1/21/2023 - FDWines Likes this wine:

A very nice Zin. Big fruit bowl with a nice finish. Went well with fettuccine bolognese and lasagna.

1/7/2023 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior notes (although from a new purchase) after double decanting for 90 min; outstanding & ready to drink, no rush

12/18/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, slightly lighter at the rim, red & dark fruit & more like a beautiful, mature CA cab blend, but not over-ripe, med. tannins, long finish; outstanding & best bottle I have had, drink or hold

11/12/2022 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine:

One of the most complex wines when it comes to aromas on the nose and palate. I pulled this at the end of the night during WW4 so I could see the lightbulbs going off.

I had this earlier in the year from a Magnum and that had a good bit more fruit left.

Great window to enjoy. Plenty of life left in Larger Format.

For me this is an Ah ha wine.

11/10/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

My last of the '18 Turleys......so depressing. 😞

This was THE vineyard that turned me onto Turley a decade ago. Pnp'd to enjoy with leftover pizza tonight. It did not disappoint. For those of you who know the Turley vineyards, you know that this one has its own singular taste and feel. The chalky zin fruit, the clove and tea on the nose, the perfectly matched tannins, acidity and spicy fruit profile. I may be carried away by the experience and the sentimentality tonight, but dang......this bottle is drinking so well and is such a prime example of this vineyard. It's not often that a zin, rates this kind of score, but here it is. Needs only about an hour of air to rock.....

11/4/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to previous notes after a 2 hour double decant; outstanding & went well with a great meal & lovely evening with Mark & Carol in Naples, drink or hold, no rush

10/28/2022 - merlotsmile wrote:

The Clove Club. Deg 04/21

10/20/2022 - bschucha Likes this wine:

This is a Turley favorite for sure! So much ripe red raspberry. Great acidity and complexity. Integrated tannins. It drinks amazingly well right now. Could probably lay down for a few years too. Buy lots more of this.

10/1/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior notes after a 2.5 hour double decant, WOTN against some good wines; outstanding, but I suspect it will still improve, drink or hold, no rush

3/16/2022 - popopdrops Likes this wine:

Dekantert. Starter litt mistenkelig. Kjemisk lukt og smak. Roer seg ned. Likevel ikke på høyde med det jeg er vant til. Men godtatt. Meget penere dag 2. Altså vent noen år med neste.

9/3/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior note after a 30 min SO at The Palm in Tyson's Corner; outstanding, drink or preferably hold

8/20/2022 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior note after a 2 hour double decant, except it has now entered peak drinking; outstanding, drink or hold, no rush

7/3/2022 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:

Brought to the table tonight by HMC after he slow ox'd it 4 hours at home beforehand. Sampled during our apps (along with the other 2 wines) and this one is still quite tight, black fruited, laden with oak, and a touch course. Into the decanter it went and after 3-4 hours of additional air the richness, the class shown through. Deep, dark fruit, sweet cassis and much reduced oak led it to a nice point at 96-97 by the end of the night.....but I am in agreement here with others here on this one.....it needs time. A lot of time will really help it go farther. Much thanks to HMC for opening his bottle for us. Wanted to give it a 96.5 by the end of the night so I rounded up.

7/5/2022 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote:

Still plenty of life here. These were bought direct at release and are continuing to improve. Full bodied with moderate acidity and alcohol that’s finally starting to settle. Ripe cherry, strawberry, balsamic, wet earth, prune/raisin and herbs. Given the considerable weight it is not a wine everyone will love. Probably approaching the peak.