Tasting Notes for Blade

Red

1979 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (view label images)

1/10/2010 - Blade wrote:

92 points

Surprisingly, still kicking. Good fruit after the barnyard blows off..smooth tannins.

Comment

Red

2001 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (view label images)

12/25/2009 - Blade wrote:

88 points

The fruit is fading - time to drink (or donate)...

Comment

Red

1997 Vigil Valiente Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

12/25/2009 - Blade wrote:

Bad bottle.

Comment

White

2001 Stony Hill Chardonnay Napa Valley (view label images)

12/25/2009 - Blade wrote:

91 points

I did not really enjoy the wine when I first tried it in 2005. It was a very nice surprise to enjoy it with cracked crab last night on Christmas Eve. A hint of sweet lemon came through & was nicely balanced by the acidity. Drinking well now.

Comment

Red

1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

12/25/2009 - Blade wrote:

92 points

beautiful nose after the barnyard blew off - nicely balanced

Comment

White

1999 Kongsgaard Chardonnay Napa Valley (view label images)

12/15/2009 - Blade wrote:

86 points

Over the hill.

Comment

Red

1997 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

12/15/2009 - Blade wrote:

92 points

Good balance although the fruit seems to be fading a bit. If this bottle is indicative, I don't see it improving from here. Time to drink!

Comment

Red

2005 Dominus Estate Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

5/11/2009 - Blade wrote:

93 points

Quadruple decanted six hours before a dinner party - which was cancelled because the host's child got sick. Still tannin-filled & chalky that night. I took the family out to dinner & decided to give the Dominus another day to breathe. After 36 hours, the fruit was nicely balanced with plenty of backbone. I don't see a reason to crack another bottle for 3 - 5 years. My guess is another 10 years & this will be compelling.

Comment

Red

2002 Boyd Syrah Big Ranch Vineyard Oak Knoll District (view label images)

5/4/2009 - Blade wrote:

92 points

Right out of the bottle: Round, nice fruit, balanced with smooth tanins. good juice.

Comment

Red

2005 Elderton Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz/Merlot Ode to Lorraine Barossa Red Blend (view label images)

1/31/2009 - Blade wrote:

91 points

This took some time to open up & was much more interesting after 3 hours. Hard to see how this scored a 95 in WS...

Comment

Red

1995 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (view label images)

1/24/2009 - Blade wrote:

94 points

For my money, this is the quintessential Napa Cab producer. Consistent, delicious and age-able.

Comment

Red

1985 Château Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

1/2/2009 - Blade wrote:

flawed

Flawed bottle.

Comment

White

2007 Château Guiraud Le G Bordeaux Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend (view label images)

12/20/2008 - Blade wrote:

93 points

Peaches & citrus. Like drinking Summer. Delicious.

Comment

White

2003 Lewis Cellars Chardonnay Napa Valley (view label images)

11/19/2008 - Blade wrote:

94 points

Over the top; drank with several other bottles of different whites open... this stood up to the sausage & stinky cheese ...concentrated flavors of butterscotch; long finish. Not a wine I would enjoy every day but powerful & noteworthy.

Comment

Red

2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County (view label images)

10/13/2008 - Blade wrote:

92 points

I enjoyed this strong effort with a pepperoni pizza. It was fruit-forward but well balanced by acidity that stood up to the spicy sausage. There was one glass left which I had before dinner the next day. Without food the alcohol was more pronounced & the overall effect was less desirable.

Comment

Red

1999 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley (view label images)

7/19/2008 - Blade wrote:

93 points

This still has a long way to go. Tannins are strong & up front for the first 90 minutes, after which it mellows & the fruit becomes more apparent. Nicely balanced.

Comment

White

2005 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Les Princes Abbés Alsace (view label images)

7/11/2008 - Blade wrote:

88 points

A bit thin on the finish; good fruit.

Comment

Red

1997 Godspeed Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder (view label images)

7/11/2008 - Blade wrote:

88 points

On the down-side. Drink up...

Comment

Rosé

2007 Boyd Syrah Ruby Tuesday Big Ranch Vineyard Oak Knoll District (view label images)

4/18/2008 - Blade wrote:

92 points

Delicious! Nicely balanced & refreshing.

Comment

Red

2005 Linne Calodo Outsider Paso Robles Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)

4/6/2008 - Blade wrote:

93 points

Big black fruit. Best pizza wine out there...

Comment

Red

2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)

4/3/2008 - Blade wrote:

94 points

Full, wonderful stuff. I will likely wait a couple of years before pulling the cork on the next bottle as it has plenty of time to develop. After 3 hours in the decanter the tanins rounded-out a bit, but this is still a baby.

Comment

Red

2005 Linne Calodo Outsider Paso Robles Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)

2/17/2008 - Blade wrote:

91 points

Big fruit. Perfect with pizza.

Comment

Red

2000 Leonetti Cellar Merlot Columbia Valley (view label images)

2/17/2008 - Blade wrote:

93 points

Very tight - still - and much better the second night. Fruit came through nicely binding tanins very much in place.

Comment

White

2006 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Gris Anderson Valley (view label images)

2/4/2008 - Blade wrote:

90 points

Dry, hint of sweetness; great cocktail wine w/chili & lime chips.

Comment

Red

2003 Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah Sonoma County (view label images)

2/4/2008 - Blade wrote:

85 points

Austere. Tanins mellowed over a couple of hours, but still lacked balance.

Comment

White

2002 Hugel Riesling Jubilee Alsace (view label images)

1/25/2008 - Blade wrote:

84 points

Very tart green apples; disappointing.

Comment

White - Sparkling

2000 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Premier Cru Brut Millésimé Champagne Blend (view label images)

12/9/2007 - Blade wrote:

93 points

Dry & not too yeasty; very nice.

Comment

White

2005 Navarro Vineyards Riesling Anderson Valley (view label images)

12/9/2007 - Blade wrote:

92 points

I can't imangine a better accompaniment with Thai food. Not as much fruit as the '03, but still wonderful. Alsace in NorCal.

Comment

Red

2003 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Mason's Napa Valley (view label images)

12/9/2007 - Blade wrote:

94 points

Layered, complex & delicious...Napa fruit up front & a beautiful, long finish.

Comment

White

2002 Hugel Riesling Jubilee Alsace (view label images)

11/15/2007 - Blade wrote:

89 points

Tart up front; good fruit & a hint of sweetness.

Comment

White

2005 Domaines Schlumberger Riesling Saering Alsace Grand Cru (view label images)

11/2/2007 - Blade wrote:

87 points

Good fruit & balanced with solid acidity. A bit thin on the finish.

Comment

Red

1998 Vita Nova Sangiovese Alisos Vineyard Santa Barbara County

10/19/2007 - Blade wrote:

88 points

Fruity light easy-drinking wine.

Comment

Red

1998 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley (view label images)

10/16/2007 - Blade wrote:

82 points

Past its prime; fruit all but gone initially & fades further over the course of one hour.

Comment

White

2005 Toni Jost Bacharacher Hahn Riesling Kabinett Mittelrhein (view label images)

3/23/2007 - Blade wrote:

88 points

A bit too much residual sugar; could mellow with a bit more age.

Comment

Red

1998 Surh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (view label images)

2/11/2007 - Blade wrote:

85 points

A bit thin. Not holding up well. Sorry Lucky.

Comment

Red

1979 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (view label images)

2/11/2007 - Blade wrote:

97 points

Wow! Almost perfect balance. I'm amazed that this has held up this well. Still plenty of fruit & tannins that are just right. I let it settle for 2 days after removing from the cellar & decanted. A rare experience.

Comment

White

2002 Domaine Frey Riesling Tradition Alsace (view label images)

2/11/2007 - Blade wrote:

80 points

Too thin & cloying sweetness.

Comment

Red

2004 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir "Méthode à l'Ancienne" Anderson Valley (view label images)

2/11/2007 - Blade wrote:

90 points

Jammy; lot's of up front fruit.

Comment

White - Sweet/Dessert

N.V. Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles Solera 1927 (view label images)

2/11/2007 - Blade wrote:

85 points

Prunes & molasses

Comment

Red

2003 Toulouse Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Anderson Valley (view label images)

12/2/2006 - Blade wrote:

90 points

1st glass had floral nose but somewhat astringent. Corked it & returned the next day & it drank beautifully. Give it a year.

Comment

White

1999 Stonestreet Chardonnay Sonoma County (view label images)

11/25/2006 - Blade wrote:

89 points

Big butter & big fruit. If you like the Cali style, this is holding up well.

Comment

White

2004 Stony Hill Chardonnay SHV Stony Hill Napa Valley (view label images)

11/25/2006 - Blade wrote:

83 points

Astringent. Acidity too high; unbalanced. Not enough fruit.

Comment

Red

2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova Sangiovese (view label images)

11/19/2006 - Blade wrote:

94 points

Creamy, balanced. Needs more time.

Comment

Red

2004 Tait The Ball Buster Barossa Valley Shiraz Blend, Syrah (view label images)

5/14/2006 - Blade wrote:

87 points

Blackberry syrup; a bit too over the top for me.

Comment

White

2004 Gérard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Sauvignon Blanc (view label images)

5/14/2006 - Blade wrote:

93 points

Delicious fruit & nice balance.

Comment

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