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Tasting Notes for MadisonWIneGuy

(609 notes on 452 wines)

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Red
2/25/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
89 points
Enjoyed by all and drinking very nicely right now. 89-90 pts.
Red
3/25/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
88 points
merryberry has it nailed just below. Enjoyed the nuttiness and always like a little eucalyptus note. Would've been fine with a little less tartness to the cherry/cranberry, but the finish was nice. It's a solid buy though I won't search it out again. 88-89 pts.
Red
3/24/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
86 points
Nice wine, though nothing remarkable. Easy sipper to be enjoyed with hors d'oeuvres, cheeses, etc. but not with a big meat dish for it will most certainly be overpowered. 86-87 pts.
Red
3/25/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
An excellent wine and still plenty of time to drink it. Will still hold its own in 2030 I'm sure. Even with 12 years of age I probably opened this too soon. big black fruit, a little menthol/eucalyptus. Reminds me of Barossa Shiraz though not quite as over-the-top. And I like over-the-top Shiaz so that wasn't meant as a compliment I suppose. 91 pts.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
3/24/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
93 points
Exquisite... made to be enjoyed with a big NY Strip. One of the better cabs I've had, seriously. 93+ pts.
Red
3/22/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
90 points
A textbook Aussie Shiraz. Big fruit, mostly blueberry, some herbal tobacco and eucalyptus, and a nice lengthy dry finish. More depth on days 2 and 3 than day 1. 89-90 pts.
Red
3/7/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
84 points
91 points RP?! Wow, just not getting it. It's decent table wine. Admittedly I'm pretty picky about Garnacha in general, so the fact that it makes up 40% of this may skew my opinion a bit. Still though, there just isn't anything remarkable here. Decent fruit, medium finish. 84 pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2/16/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
85 points
A little thinner, with tart cherry and a bit of cranberry. Dried herbs coming through mid-palate and on the finish, which finishes dry and a touch chalky. Very solid wine but not remarkable. This was the “stand-out” at their tasting room. Many better places to visit in El Dorado and Amador. 85-86 pts.
Red
2/4/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
91 points
Blueberry, chalkiness, eucalyptus, dried herbs. With triscuits and Muenster I got a distinct olive taste! Bold but certainly not over the top, this is smooth, refined, and an excellent bottle. Round and full in the mouth with a lasting finish. 90-91 pts. Drink now, tannins likely fading a bit and will likely lose some fruit and acidity over time.
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Red - Fortified
1/13/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
92 points
Still excellent, please see previous notes. Crazy QPR. 92 pts.
Red
1/12/2021 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
86 points
Decent yet unremarkable. Good table wine no doubt, but a little thinner than I would've imagined. Finish is medium to short. 86-87 pts.
Red
11/5/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
90 points
Brought this to a gathering of wine drinkers and had them taste this blind. People guessed it was a Cab or Merlot, no one guess Cab Franc. The herbal notes could've given some a hint, because they're certainly there. A touch of green pepper and some tobacco leaf along with the red fruit. This aged nicely and was a bit better than when I had it at the winery. As is everything in Temecula, a bit overpriced at this point but a nice effort. Enjoyed, 90 pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
11/29/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
86 points
I'm picky about my Pinots. Nothing off-putting here, just nothing over-the-top special about it either. Lacks complexity but food friendly. 86 pts.
Red
11/24/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
A bottle of Scott Harvey's wine never disappoints. Day 1 was very good, but days 2 and 3 were excellent. Great fruit, a long finish, and more extracted the longer it's open. Superb on its own but also great with dessert. detailed notes with the next bottle. 90-91 pts.
Red
11/16/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
Another winner from Scot Harvey. Great blueberry, some blackberry, a little cola, faint herbal notes (tobacco leaf). Fruit is up front, much drier on the finish. Excellent layers, wouldn't guess that this is only an '18. This is a fantastic QPR. Under $25?! Buy, buy, buy. 91+ pts.
Red
2015 Iron Hub Petite Sirah California Shenandoah Valley (view label images)
11/1/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
89 points
Predominantly black cherry fruit on the nose with a little dusty chocolate (cocoa powder but not quite as concentrated). It's very pleasant, just not as strong as I might expect from a Petite Sirah. Slight herbal notes as well.
Similar on the palate, with black cherry leading the way, maybe a slight bit of cola along with the dusty chocolate. I mention and like the dustiness because it dries out the fruit-forward characteristic a bit and makes for a more interesting wine. This is more concentrated, more like a classic Petite Sirah, on day 2. Still though, not as dry or quite as bold as most Petites I've had. A very nice wine nonetheless, and a nice example of what can be done in the Sierra Foothills and Amador County. Hints of menthol definitely noticable on day 2, and I added to the scoret to account for the more layered notes. Enjoyable wine and Iron Hub has some great views. 87 day 1, 89 day 2. 89 pts.
Red
10/5/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
88 points
Got better as time went on. By days 3 and 4 this was quite good; richer with a bigger nose and a longer and riper finish. Decant this one for sure. May be better with food than alone as it's made in more of a French Rhone style. Cooler climate, tasty Washington Syrah. Have 5 more in the cellar. 87 day 1, 90 by day 4. 88 pts. for now.
Red
9/2/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
Open these 1869s up with people that can appreciate great wine, a good story, history, and a sense of purpose and place in the bottle. 91+ pts.
Red
10/11/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
92 points
Still a wonderful bottle of wine. Scott Harvey's the best. If you're not part of his wine club you're seriously missing out. 91-92 pts.
Red
2011 Château St. Jean de Béard St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
10/22/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
88 points
Nice wine, easy sipper. Nothing crazy here, perhaps better with food as many French wines are. Good fruit, well balanced, medium finish. Wouldn't search it out but happy to have another in the cellar. 88 pts.
Red
10/12/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
88 points
It's good juice, I just wish they'd leave the Viognier out. A bit more acidity and thinness than I want from my Shiraz. I love the big, over-the-top Shiraz that Aussies often offer AND the cool climate Syrahs as well, and both handily beat the Viognier-blended Shiraz in my opinion. For the money there's a lot out there that I like more. 87-88 pts.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
10/1/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
An excellent bottle of wine, and a great example of what Merlot can be. Cherry & plum, leather, and other notes layered seamlessly and leading to a lengthy finish. Notes well after the fact but this went over very well with our little group.
91+ pts.
Red
9/20/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
88 points
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and stewed cherries along with a little eucalyptus and tea on the nose and the palate, It's straightforward and very drinkable, but 92 points it is not. I suppose I could see someone throwing a 90 out there, but it's a bit simple for more than that. While I mentioned several different notes, it's all in one and not layered or complex. Jammy up front and a little drier on the finish, it's a very good wine for weeknights or a party but not that special dinner. Decent for BBQ, whether it be for burger or ribs. 88 pts.
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Red
9/17/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
89 points
Still very enjoyable. Had at an outdoor fire, and may have been at a little cooler temperature than I would've preferred, but similar notes to last time. 89-90 pts.
Red
9/8/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
86 points
Easy drinking bottle of wine for sure, but nothing stands out in this first bottle of 3 in my cellar. Dark cherry nose, a little cola, some spice, and very similar on the palate. Nice and dry, a touch of tea. A bit thinner than I’d prefer but very good nonetheless. Just not remarkable. Have with food because there are more quaffable wines to sip by themselves. 86-87 pts.
Red
8/2/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
90 points
See several previous notes. Held up great over time. QPR wine of the decade, this was for real. Less green pepper on this final bottle, still some nice blackberry fruit, a little tobacco, eucalyptus, and that dustiness of Rutherford. This wine alone would bring me back to World Market. 90-91 pts.
Red
8/29/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
If headed out to Amador, you HAVE to stop by Tanis for a tasting. This is a TERRIFIC family winery, and a wonderfully talented and friendly family. The art on the walls was fantastic, the live piano music and singing was incredible, and the WINES! Lots of time in the barrel, beautifully crafted, and true to each varietal we tasted. nice fruit, not too much oak, vanilla, a touch of acidity. It's all there. Tanis and Scott Harvey are your two BEST stops in Amador. 91+ pts.
Red
8/21/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
93 points
Superb. Detailed notes next time, but this one is worth buying at under $40, and a downright no-brainer at under $25. Wow. Plenty of time left to age, but beautiful now. 93+ pts.
Red
8/15/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
89 points
Very nice Zin here. Nothing jammy but substantial fruit and a good finish. The Petite Sirah makes a difference, adds some depth. Cherry, raspberry, vanilla, a little spice box, a little herbal. I'd buy another. 89+ pts.
Red
8/12/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
92 points
Delicious. Terrific mouthfeel. Blackcurrant, some leather, oak, black licorice, a touch herbal, and excellent length. 92+ pts.
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Red
8/22/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
89 points
corkscrews has this one nailed. I really enjoy Columbia Valley reds, but rarely do the Cabs measure up to Napa/Sonoma Cabs. Mouthfeel is a little thinner. 88-89 pts.
Red
8/12/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
LOTS of blueberry and eucalyptus, a little nuttiness, a touch of leather... it's got a great nose with just a little heat. The palate follows the nose well, and it's really quite good. The blueberry isn't too sweet, the new car leather isn't over-the-top, there's the hint of nuts (wish I knew my nuts better), and a smoky acidity that adds length. Picked this up on a whim at Total wine, have to go back for more. Nice QPR here, and great any day of the week. A big burger or anything off the BBQ would be a winner with this wine. 91 pts.
Red
8/6/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
90 points
What a great bottle of WISCONSIN wine! Marquette is the grandchild of Pinot Noir and the cousin of Frontenac. There's a smokiness to the nose and the palate, along with cherry and a hint of cola. This tastes like it has more age than an '18 for sure, and there's a lot going on. Depth, balance, a meatiness, some herbal characteristics, a little forest floor, it's just better than anything else that comes from around here. Do a blind tasting and this absolutely holds up to many West Coast wines. Could easily be a replacement for Pinot Noir at Thanksgiving, and the cherry on the finish would lend itself to being a dessert wine for creme brûlée as well. I'm into it! 89-90 pts.
Red
7/25/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
90 points
Keeping these wines only rewards you. What was first more fruit forward is now more refined. A little leather and the brighter cherry is riper and a bit more raisiny. Days 2 and 3 just keep getting better. 90 pts.
Red
7/25/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
91 points
Just great with NY Strip. Black cherry, a little cola, slight leather, herbal (dried tobacco, bit of menthol), and good length. 91 pts.
Red
7/11/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
91 points
Great Shiraz, had this the night my fiancée and I got engaged and have one more for when we get married. Wish I had better notes. Very enjoyable, I’d buy it again. 91 pts.
Red
7/23/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
90 points
This improved over the course of a few days. Plenty of blueberry and some black fruit, eucalyptus, and spice box. Very nice, not over the top but instead balanced with some complexity. Happy to have 2 more. 90+ pts.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
6/25/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
92 points
Probably just past peak at this point, but still some good ripe fruit... plum and black cherry. Plenty of leather, a little oak. This is big and very dry on its own which I really like, but it’s able to be tamed by some wood-fired pizza with special meats and cheeses. The balance was wonderful, and this proved to be a real treat. Great lasting finish. Give it 20-30 minutes after opening. Drink up and impress some of your better wine friends. 92 pts.
White
6/27/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
90 points
This is an excellent Wisconsin white! Honeysuckle and melon with great acidity, this is lively, refreshing, and absolutely perfect on a hot summer day. Unlike a lot of Wisconsin wine this is dry with 0% residual sugar. 90 pts.
Red
7/2/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
92 points
At or just past peak. Still some nice blueberry and black cherry, but some aged tasting notes coming across as well. A bunch of older leather, a bit of oak, a slight dusty/mustiness that blew off almost immediately. Really excellent. The mouthfeel was superb, and it wasn't too soft... still had a bit of spice left on the long finish. 91-92 pts.
Red
6/4/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
93 points
Outstanding. Scott's best Barbera to date. If given the chance DO NOT pass this up. Detailed notes next time. 93 pts.
Red
6/24/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
Cherry and a bit of black cherry cola, eucalyptus, oak, a little leather, dry and grippy, good length. Last vintage I had of this was the '01. It was a treat back then, and still remains a great wine today. Plenty of time left to cellar this. 91-92 pts.
Red
6/13/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
Delicious Shiraz for a steal. Big Aussie blueberry, menthol/eucalyptus, and a lasting finish. By day 3 the flavors are of a far more aged quality without mellowing. The blueberry becomes riper and the menthol more integrated, maybe a touch of leather too. I could drink this every week and never get tired of it. 89-90 pts. day 1, but 92+ pts. by day 3.
Red
6/14/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
87 points
Solid Cab and a good QPR. Crowd-pleaser but interesting enough to be quaffable to the aficionados. Cherry, a little raspberry, campfire smoke, and hints of tobacco leaf. 87+ pts.
Red
6/7/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
85 points
Best after a few days open, but a decent wine here. Blueberry and a bit of violet, a tad soft. It’s probably best with food just because it’s not interesting enough on its own. Got this at the winery while on a wine trip to Lodi, Amador, and ElDorado. This was one of our bottom 3 out of the 14 wineries visited. 85-86 points.
Red
5/28/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
92 points
Just a delicious example of what Zin can be. It doesn't HAVE to be big, jammy, and over the top. It CAN be this balanced and harmonious, with the cherry, spice, and truly elegant mouthfeel lending to the loooong finish. These are always a real treat... share with people that will enjoy the story of 1869. 92+ pts.
Red
2015 M2 Vintners Trio Sierra Foothills Red Blend (view label images)
5/18/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
89 points
Juicy cherry, some cherry Jolly Rancher, and a little cola on the nose (in that order when inhaling). The little bit of spice/oak/almost nuttiness is what adds some depth to it. Worth decanting, because the nose is more interesting after 30 minutes and even moreso the next day. On the palate this is slightly thicker/more viscous than your average red, giving it a bit of a jammy mouth feel and taste. Still plenty of cherry and black cherry but also some toasted oak. The backend dries out a bit, leaving a bit of a chalky character/cocoa powder that makes your mouth water and the notes linger quite a while. It's easy drinking and very tasty. If in or around Lodi this is a must stop. Layne the winemaker/owner is outstanding and so much fun, and the building is very contemporary. 89-90 pts.
Red
5/13/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
91 points
Really great nose here, especially on days 2 and 3. Some cocoa powder, pipe tobacco, spice box, and black fruit. The palate has black cherry cola, some cocoa, a little pipe tobacco, and some great chalkiness that makes your mouth water long after the wine is gone. A fantastic finish of 50-70 seconds. Nice and dry like a Petite Sirah from Paso should be, but not so dry that you can't drink it by itself. This is excellent. Can't find a ton of Petite Sirah on the shelves, and this will put most to shame. For a Wisconsin winery to have its label on this kind of wine is impressive. 89 points day 1, 91-92 points day 3.
Red
5/6/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy Likes this wine:
87 points
Lots of deep red fruit here— raspberry, cherry, and a little strawberry with some spice and a little oak on the alluring nose. Ripe fruit on the palate too, but with a slight tartness as well. Much more forward, with a fairly quick loss of flavors after the wine is down your throat. Slight minerality on the finish. It’s a nice wine that could be something more if it had an enveloping mouth feel and lasting finish. Still, a real nice effort and showing from Temecula. QPR not great, but that’s true of most wines from this region anymore. 87-88 pts.
Red
2014 Cambridge Winery Syrah San Luis Obispo County
4/28/2020 - MadisonWIneGuy wrote:
90 points
Blueberry, tobacco leaf/eucalyptus, dry, mouth left watering. Age starting to show. Big but not over the top. Great example of Cali Syrah being in btwn French Syrah and Aussie Shiraz. This one leans a bit toward the Aussie side. Excellent. 90 pts.
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