Comments on my notes

Red

2007 WineSmith Cabernet Sauvignon Crucible Napa Valley

2/2/2024 - SawgrassSteve Likes this wine:

94 points

They say, good things come to those who wait. I've waited since April 2016 when I purchased this bottle from Woot.wine, boy do I miss those days! Clark Smith regularly offered up his wines with CrAzY discounts. This was one of those purchases. I see it sells for over $250 currently, WOW?!

Wax top seal, tight cork, decanted for over an hour. Inky dark juice, no brown rim, outstanding aroma on the nose; blueberry and truffle are dominant. This Cabernet is so well integrated, atypical California Cabernet, rich in tannins, no oak and a lengthy finish. I rarely rate wines higher than 92, you just don't come across profiles that check all the boxes. My only regret, it's my only bottle! Cheers Clark, excellent wine. 🍷🍷🍷

manny651 commented:

3/28/24, 5:23 PM - yes, this was a wow! wine. Also bought from Woot back in 2016 and have been cellaring since. I got 2 bottles, opened one a couple of years ago and it was good but closed. We decanted this one and boy was it fantastic!

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White - Sparkling

N.V. Kirkland Signature Asolo Prosecco Superiore Glera

5/29/2023 - AD_jutant Likes this wine:

85 points

Honestly, it’s just a delight for the price and for what it is. Unsophisticated but clean and very enjoyable.
Surprisingly fine mousse, even though not persistent. Faint nose of apple and white table grapes. Very light on the palate with the mousse giving it very airy feel. Lemon and green apple peels with a surprisingly pleasant decent-length finish of the apple peels.
8-/18

manny651 commented:

8/11/23, 6:49 AM - Agree, can't beat the value. The wine is solid, we use it mainly for cocktails that call for bubbly, but nice on its own as well.

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Red

2016 Encantado Petit Verdot Oakville

6/11/2022 - TampaMark Likes this wine:

92 points

Blueberries and dark chocolate for days!!!

manny651 commented:

7/23/22, 6:35 AM - spot on! just had this with pizza last night
manny651 commented:

7/17/23, 7:36 PM - that sounds like a plan. not sure when next I'll be by RWC as we just got back for Paso and Napa and bought a lot! let me know when next you plan on going. best, Manny
manny651 commented:

8/7/23, 3:30 PM - Hi Mark - I swung by RWC today and the place looks really nice and their bar is open. You can pick any wine in the store, pay in minimal cork fee and drink at the bar. Let's find a time to meet up and share a bottle. My email is manny651@yahoo.com

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Red

2017 Hamel Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Nuns Canyon Moon Mountain District

7/10/2023 - HeavyPourWine Likes this wine:

91 points

Napa and Sonoma (Hamel, Jewell, Reeve, Enriquez, Wren Hop, Phifer Pavitt, Gamble, Markham, Amulet, Pride Mountain, Pahlmeyer, Arrow&Branch, Fait-Main); 7/10/2023-7/14/2023 (Sonoma and Napa): Tasted at the winery. Bottle opened that morning before our arrival with no decanting. 100% cab. Deep purple color. Balanced with light tannin. More elegant than power. 15 months in oak. The best red served at the tasting IMO.

manny651 commented:

7/12/23, 8:46 AM - Excellent cab, loved this a bit more than the Hamel Family Ranch which my wife preferred. Beautiful property too. We just visited 3 weeks ago and also did 5 days in Napa/Sonoma, I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time.

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Red - Fortified

1977 Quarles Harris Porto Vintage Port Blend

2/14/2021 - TampaMark Likes this wine:

94 points

This was delicious! From my birth year. Cork was in perfect condition. Used some to make a port reduction for dinner. Just amazing and delicious. Wish I had another bottle. Any one have an extra they are willing to part with?!?

manny651 commented:

9/20/22, 5:32 PM - I have 1 bottle left, also my birth year, but I'm waiting to open for my 50th.

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White

2019 Kirkland Signature Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc

5/11/2021 - mahmudn wrote:

79 points

White wine that is pale gold. Aromas of bell pepper, lemon, peach, tangerine, and gravel. Dry, acidic, medium minus body, and medium minus alcohol. Flavors of lemon, peach, grapefruit bitterness, and green melons.

manny651 commented:

5/12/21, 3:31 PM - Sounds like a good Sancerre!

Comment

Red

2012 W.H. Smith Pinot Noir Maritime Sonoma Coast

1/19/2018 - buffyst Likes this wine:

92 points

Complex and richly-styled, the 2012 Maritime has a coastal rhythm all its own. Violet-garnet. Ripened red fruit aromas (cherry, plum, strawberry) are backed by black tea, wet earth, mushroom, and rosebush bramble after a winter's rain. Nose is more pronounced the second day. Viscous, medium-plus weight, but light on its feet with agile acids that trace a round mid-palate. Beautifully balanced, this wine is sly, subtle, deep and funky (in a George Clinton way -- not brett, perhaps, but sensually delicious). Lip-smacking, with a so-long finish that tips the hat to winemaker Bill Smith. High QPR, despite some bottle variation. Last one: wish I had more. Anxious to try the 2013. 14.4% abv. Drink or hold.

manny651 commented:

2/25/18, 8:39 PM - spot on, nice review

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Red

2007 Col Solare Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend

3/20/2016 - mibuwolf83 Likes this wine:

93 points

We opened a bottle for Sunday family dinner and it was delicious. Did not take formal notes, but it paired really well with Roasted Lamb. Clearly, it is one of the best producers of Bordeaux blend in Washington and dare I say, anywhere else outside of Bordeaux. If you can fin on sale, it's a steal.

manny651 commented:

3/23/16, 5:08 AM - completely agree, best Bordeaux style blend out of WA.

Comment

Red

2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary Napa Valley

5/17/2014 - TEKinsider wrote:

94 points

Drank another bottle at Cellarmasters today with the wine crowd. Decanted for 1hr and drank across 3. Super sweet notes of caramel and milk chocolate. The longer the decant the more it tastes like a caramel chocolate milkshake. I know, I know a lot of you will poo poo it for that comment but it is strangely addictive and yummy!!!

manny651 commented:

5/18/14, 7:44 AM - I'm on the same boat, there's something about the Caymus cab that is so not what you would want from a high end cab, soooo fruit forward, but boy is it delicious.

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Red

2012 Belle Glos Pinot Noir Las Alturas Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands

11/28/2013 - Chrisinroch Does not like this wine:

79 points

Pop this wine and many folks will absolutely love it. What's not to love? You have huge yummy plums, a warm hug of cocoa and lip smacking vanilla on the finish. So why did I hate this sappy concoction? Well, for starters, it doesn't taste like pinot noir. It is not bright, nor interesting. It is just a big jammy milkshake with no varietal character. It is a well-made wine but it is terrible. How do you score such a wine?

manny651 commented:

1/25/14, 10:24 AM - Your review nailed it. Well made, but it's not what you want from a pinot.

Comment

Red

2008 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

12/5/2012 - Gustavo Brambila wrote:

83 points

Lots of sugar crystals on the cork. Decanted for 2.5 hrs. For the nose, musty veggies, green bell pepper. Pallet, I am at a loss?

manny651 commented:

12/29/12, 9:57 AM - Probably tartaric acid crystals, not sugar

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