6/26/2009 - Doug House wrote:

Lovely Barolo nose, but then hard sledding to drink. Acidity is over the top tonight and the tannins quite coarse. This has happened to me before with the 1995 Le Sera & a night in the fridge helped a lot. We'll see.

6/26/2009 - Doug House wrote:

Brutally, vilely, corked.

6/8/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Delicious tonight, but I wish I'd had the discipline to wait longer on our last bottle from this vintage.

6/8/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Very tasty and bright, but I"d wish for just a smidge less sugar at the Kabinett level. Still, disappeared quickly!

6/7/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Finally, this is drinking -- I'd all but given up hope. Age clearly shows in the form of decadent leaves/forest floor, but also a pretty green herbal note in the nose. In the mouth, some very ripe black cherry and sour cherry fruit has finally escaped from the clinching tannin and acidity. Oddly fresh and refreshing for a wine that also has so much forest floor and over ripe fruit character. Complex and easy to drink for me, but already too old/musty for some.

5/20/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Drinking nicely right now, with lovely balance and depth. Rich yet still lively. Better in 3-4 years?

5/13/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Not a good bottle, hopefully just in an awkward stage. Reeks of ash - cigar and wood ash - and showing the same character in the mouth. A fair bit of dark, rich, fruit, but the ash character made the wine undrinkable.

4/26/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Not much fun. Showing heavy, ponderous, black cherry fruit swaddled in new wood. Not lively, fresh, or very interesting to drink. It wasn't terrible, but just not very interesting or satisfying. The heaviness of the wine worries me. I'll hold this for a few more years in the hope the wood will integrate and fruit recede a bit, but I'm not wildly optimistic.

4/24/2008 - Doug House wrote:

I liked this - perhaps a little old fashioned and could have been more complex, but the fruit was nicely earthy/funky and the wine worked with the Mexican pulled pork we made very well.

4/24/2008 - Doug House wrote:

No formal notes, but richer/more modern than the Barbi drunk the same time. Drinking really well, but could have used a year or two more to fully relax.

4/24/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Showed very well with waxy Chenin fruit, some secondary aromas, hints of quince, apricot. Complex and nicely mature, but still very attractive fruit.

4/24/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Oxidized.

4/24/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Too bad this was my last 2000 Santa Duc. Funky, rich, and fun to drink. Ready, but no rush.

4/24/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Drinking great, rich, deep, and nicely balanced. Not sure I'll wait long on my last bottle.

4/16/2008 - Doug House wrote:

A solid 2004 with moderate fruit, some minerality, and bright, refreshing, acidity. Better after an overnight in the fridge, with more fruit, earth, and length. Very enjoyable and a good value.

4/16/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Some earthy, animal, funk on the nose leads to spicy ripe black raspberry, earth and black cherry flavors. Fine, firm, tannins show up at the end. A good, not great, Santa Duc that will be better in 2-3 years when the tannin resolves.

4/13/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Way young, but promising. Like the good acidity and bright cherry fruit.

2/3/2008 - Doug House wrote:

This is really getting going now, although still has plenty of room to improve. Right now, there is lovely tension between the wine's acidity and deep, dark, fruit and creosote notes from the wood. Still plenty of wood, but no longer woody. Refreshing and delicious.

1/2/2008 - Doug House wrote:

This is the last of 3 bottles purchased in 2004 and most recently tasted in 2005. In 2005, the wine had shut down with tight, almost green, oak obscuring things aromatically and in the mouth. Now, the wood has integrated and the wine shows silky smooth with good black cherry fruit, a hint of earthiness, and some high-toned floral notes. Looking back at Tanzer's note from 2002, I think he nailed this wine. Very pleasant and enjoyable, but hardly profound. Drink now or soon, as the fruit -- never all that strong to begin with -- should start fading soon.

1/2/2008 - Doug House wrote:

Drinking well right now in a fresh black cherry way. Still improving as the fruit comes forward & structure softens a bit. Drink now - 20010?

12/11/2007 - Doug House wrote:

Wow, this is drinking really well right now in a straightforward, direct, style. Good crushed cherry, licorice, and tar aromas and flavors, lively acidity and firm, ripe, tannin. Very easy to drink with pork tenderloin or even just along. What a great value!

12/11/2007 - Doug House wrote:

1st night, not bad. Oak has receeded a bit to show some thick blackcurrent fruit with bit of vanilla and some woody herbal notes. Second night the fruit has gotten thick and sappy and wood/dill/herbs overwhelms. I suspect this will show better with still more time in bottle, but I'm glad I don't have any more.

12/9/2007 - Doug House wrote:

Continuing to drink well and evolving steadily; no rush.

12/8/2007 - Doug House wrote:

With 30 minutes of air, a layered nose of spice, sweet cherry, red flowers and hints of sandlewood. Feels light in the mouth with lively, focused, cherry, red fruit, and baking spice flavors leading to still firm, fine, tannin. Lacks the mass and intensity of a better vintage for this wine, but very enjoyable tonight with a roast chicken. Will hold for another 5 years and perhaps improve.

11/18/2007 - Doug House wrote:

Showing well tonight. Pretty cherry, sandlewood & just a hint of sappy, fresh cut oak on the nose. Flavors of subtle baked strawberry, cherry compote fruit with some red floral notes. Good energy on entry and fine, brisk, tannin on the back with a nice sour cherry finish. Not great, but satisfying.

1/22/2007 - Doug House wrote:

This continues to open and develop nicely. Showed juicy black fruit and floral notes on the nose. Bright black cherry fruit is juicy and fresh if a little simple. Nice fine ripe tannin on the back-end. Fun to drink, although not really complex enough yet to fully justify the price.

1/22/2007 - Doug House wrote:

What an improvement over the past year. A wine that showed tired and over-wooded 9 or 10 months ago is now coming out of its shell. This showed much fresher than last year with bright red cherry/raspberry fruit, tar, earth, and just a hint of old wood flavors. Tannins have softened as well. Very tasty for drinking with or -- surprise! -- without food.

1/22/2007 - Doug House wrote:

Showing really well, with the oak fully absorbed and the bright red fruit out and accessible. Tannins still nice and firm, but this showed extremely well with grilled chicken.

11/5/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Dead

11/5/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Completely, totally, and without doubt shut down. Huge fruit lurking within a lush, brooding, texture, but only brief glimpses emerging over 5 hours. Hold for 3 years and try again.

10/24/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Another yummy bottle. The nose has closed down a bit but is still showing some high-toned plum, black cherry, and tar notes on the nose. Nice sour cherry entry with ripe plum, licorice, and blackberry fruit in a mid-weight frame with a dusting of tannin and cocoa powder on the back. As with past bottles, this is a little forward and short, but still quite tasty and enjoyable with Thai basil chicken.

9/15/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Nice low-end, cool-climate, cab. Bright red currant/casis fruit with lots of herbal notes. Sappy finish supported by mild tannin and good acidity. Not really special, but a nice Wednesday night wine.

9/5/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Nice enough, but over-sold by the wine store. Straight-forward Bourgogne, light red fruit and some hints of sappiness. Pleasant enough, but not really memorable. At the price ($18), do not buy again.

9/2/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Herbs, lemon rind and mellon notes on the nose. In the mouth, brisk entry opening to a creamy textured mix of herbs, minerals, and a hint of green grape fruit snapped shut by a tart finish with lingering lime pith and herbal notes. A little bitter on the finish. Not much fruit apparent here, so stay away if you're a Cloudy Bay drinker. But, this is very fresh, vigorous, and nicely complex wine that will work well on the table.

9/1/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Drinking well now, but plenty of room to grow. Dark, spicy, nose and with spice, floral, and red/black fruit flavors. Enters focused, spreads out and then closes down at the end on firm tannin. Very nice.

8/15/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Very rustic and not at all ready, but still some fun ripe fruit, tarry notes, and hints of leather and spice. Too acidic and tannic for most folks to enjoy, this is already fun for me with grilled steak.

8/15/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Finally, a bottle that showed well. Instead of clipped, hard, acidic juice we got bright, purple, robust flavors and smells. Some of the tingly metalic character remained, but dropping fast as this opens up. I'd wait a year or two before trying again.

8/15/2006 - Doug House wrote:

With an hour or so of air, drinking very well. Nose isn't there yet -- just hints of leather, cherry, and some funk -- but ripe, rich, and rollicking in the mouth. I love the interplay of the very ripe fruit and brisk, bright, acids. Even with a good bit of air, still quite tannic and plenty of room to grow, but fun and delicious now.

8/4/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Nice for what it is -- a solid $15 PN. Good loamy/leafy red fruit nose, bright fruit and earthy flavors around a ripe red fruit core, and medium finish. Acid provides more of the structure than tannin, making the wine a flexible weeknight choice. I'd buy more at this price.

8/3/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Another lovely bottle of this. Pear, necterine, wet stone, and faint petrol notes on the nose. Grapefruit, green apple skin, green grape flavors. Brisk entry, juicy acids in the middle, and long lime skin and citrus notes on the finish. Some sweetness, but just enough to keep the firm acids from turning the wine sour. Light and lacy texture with powerful, distinctive, flavors. This is what I like in a Kabinett and I kick myself for not buying more.

7/31/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Super ripe black cherry nose -- you can really smell the cherry pulp -- with creasote/tar notes. Decent acidity leading to very ripe black cherry fruit, some cough syrup notes, and pulpy black grape flavors that are going somplace wild, intense, and a little exotic before drying, harsh, tannin wraps up the tounge and turns sandy and harsh. A lot to like here, but the tannin tastes unripe and is out of balance now, which gives concern.

7/30/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Simple bready/yeasty smells with biscuit and green apple flavors. Nothing too special, but a great deal at $10.

7/25/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Drinking well now, but better in 3-5. Raisins, dried cherry, asphalt, and loads of loamy earth on the nose. In the mouth, the road tar comes forward with black raisins and pulsing dried black cherry flavors. A little spirity and still showing more tannin than ideal and a fair bit of VA...but, compelling, satisfying, and loads of promise to improve.

7/25/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Completely shut down tonight, with some tarry/floral notes on the nose but nothing but structure and body in the mouth. Still, the shape of the wine is promising -- lighter and more elegant than I'd have expected given how this showed last year -- and I think paitience will be rewarded. Wait 3-4 before trying another.

7/22/2006 - Doug House wrote:

At wine tasting -- tight, but interesting.

7/21/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Tonight, with limited air, showing creosote, tar, black cherry, and sweet spice notes on the nose. Fairly full bodied with a rush of intense tar, black cherry, clove, and baking spice flavors. Black cherry turning sour on the finish with brisk, dusty, tannin. This bottle more tannin than the last. Has the stuffing to last another 10 and the tannin to need 5, but very, very tasty right now.

7/20/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Very, very, closed right now. Almost no nose. Good body and structure with some hints of ripe fruit and smoke, but everything is very muted and muddy right now. Needs 5 years.

7/19/2006 - Doug House wrote:

Fun wine -- ripe and juicy with good snap, bright (but oddly dense) fruit, and a nice clean finish. Buy more of this.

7/10/2006 - Doug House wrote:

This is doing very well. Still plenty of zingy acidity with exotic, wild, muscat grape and floral smells and flavors. Showing very ripe (but no RS) and big in the mouth and very, very long. I think this will reward drinking over the next year or so -- wouldn't want to lose the fruit and spectacular foral nose. Yum!

7/10/2006 - Doug House wrote:

After a fine showing about 18 months ago, this bottle was awful. Yes, there was some interesting ripe berry fruit and dark, tarry, notes. But, good heavans, the wood! Drinking this wine was like sucking on a barrel stave that had been soaked in red wine. Not vanilla, not chocolate, not cedar, not even dill -- I'm talking pure, unadulterated, oak lumber. Others liked this more than I did last night, but I could not finish even half my first glass and spit out a second pour an hour or so later. Just dreadful.