1/27/2014 - la dut Does not like this wine:

One of the most over the top wines I've ever had. Ever present sweetness only barely contained by the deceptively smooth alcohol and fine grain tannins. Oily and jammy, a glass nearly made me sick.

1/7/2014 - la dut Likes this wine:

I, unfortunately, did not take notes, and this was a while ago, so my memory of it has eroded quite a bit.

The typical California Pinot, but unlike many purists, I enjoy this style. Opulent on the nose, with syrupy plum and dark fruit, vanilla and toffee.

Juicy on the palate, with off-dry notes of what's found on the nose. The sweetness was countered somewhat by a firm yet forgiving alcohol presence and moderate tannin levels. It finished shorter than I would've liked.

7/10/2013 - la dut Likes this wine:

There's no mistaking the nose for a new world Chardonnay: ample papaya, some guava, with a toasty, vanilla/caramel element and a well-balanced butteriness for the style. There is a slight yeastiness on the back end, and a Belgian beer-like funk, but nothing profound; the tropical fruits, oak, and butter overwhelm the very subtle yeastiness that the winemakers were going for.

Off-dry with balanced acidity and a great mouthfeel. Very fruit forward on the palate with a slight lees character on an otherwise weak mid-palate and a brisk, relatively clean finish.

I really do like this Chard, it certainly is good for those who like that New World buttery, oaky style; thought for me personally, the acidity left me wanting, and the promise of a highly complex, unique wine didn't quite meet up to my expectations. I'd like to try their other Chardonnays to compare. All in all this is a well-done Chard, and I will be buying this again.

Aged for 12 months in French Oak barrels, 11% of which were new, and 30% of the wine underwent malolactic fermentation.

6/11/2013 - la dut wrote:

Deep yellow hue, with grass, nectarine, peach, green apple, and some minerality, with an unfortunate ammonia-like undertones.

Medium to high levels of acidity and a medium body compliment the rich peach, nectarine, and honey, and slight minerality. Finishes short and clean, with a citrus element that is quite nice.

After reading others' reviews, I thought I'd comment on a couple of things: First, I find it highly probable that this wine underwent (at least) partial malolactic fermenation, because there was a definite buttery element. Unfortunately, Mer Soleil's website does not address this. Second, I can definitely see the comparison between NZ Sauv Blancs and this wine, if for nothing else than it's higher acidity, and grassy/ammonia (cat piss) aromas.

I enjoyed this wine, and I think the bottling is attractive and genius from a marketing perspective, but it's $30 USD at my local wine shop, and there are others that are as or more enjoyable for under $20. I am also a fan of traditional (oaked) Chardonnays, so unoaked isn't typically my style.

5/29/2013 - la dut wrote:

The bottle heavy, with a thick neck and an even thicker mouth, suggesting a monstrous wine within. Opened and slowly sipped on over several hours. One thing I noted was the sheer volume of sediment thrown: there was sediment in the neck, on the shoulder, on the cork (which also indicated that the wine was stored upside down for a time), and a small amount of tiny sediment particles were found at the bottom of every glass.

The wine itself was deep, almost garnet in color, and stained the glass when swirled. Even the tears had a dark red/orange hue, indicating at least some level of oxidation.

My nose was rushed with a slight ether-like aroma and some engine oil funk that quickly dissipated. Though present, neither were particularly overwhelming or distracting, and I enjoyed the deep forest fruit, gamey-ness, slight soy sauce, and floral undertones. I also noticed a little oxidation, giving the wine a balsalmic-like nutty/cocoa character (minus the acetic acid component, of course).

Full-bodied and grippy, this wine has yet to settle down, though it has a softer, chocolate-like tail. With moderately high levels of acidity, raspberry and blueberry stands out, and vanilla, wood smoke, and dark chocolate appear on the mid-palate, following to the finish (which is substantially long).

I would've pegged this as a Malbec, I may have even spotted that it was blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, but I never would've thought it almost half the blend. I don't particularly like this wine, but I don't particularly dislike it, either. It certainly has enough complexity to make you think, but there are some (what I would consider to be) blaring faults and balance issues. Though the tannins may soften in a few years, the solvent aromas and fusel alcohols won't, and this wine will never be rid of it's rough edges.

5/22/2013 - la dut wrote:

Pale strawberry in color, almost clear.

The most aromatic rose I've had this summer so far, but the nose is sulphurous (at least upon opening). There is the usual strawberry, with a little papaya and melon, with some unidentifiable floral notes underneath, and maybe passionfruit on the back end?

Yes, passionfruit it was, and strawberry immediately on the palate, followed by dragonfruit on the midpalate, finishing with mostly strawberry. Light to medium-bodied with a sourness but no great acidity, and finishing quickly and cleanly.

There's something funky about this wine and I can't quite place my finger on it. The sulfur aromas dissipated quickly, but there was a rough solvent-like component to both the aroma and right on the back of the tongue. It's enough of an issue to make this wine less refreshing and distract me from the otherwise pleasant flavors and aromas. There are better roses out there, and I probably won't buy this again if others are available.

5/20/2013 - la dut wrote:

Off-dry with medium acidity and a medium-full body. Quite refreshing, with pear and melon, but aromatically challenged with a weak finish.

5/14/2013 - la dut wrote:

Beautiful salmon color, and very refractive.

Persimmon, raspberry, tropical elements, and undertones of germanium and an unidentifiable herbaceousness.

Very light-bodied with raspberry, grapefruit and persimmon, leading into a crisp, slightly bitter finish.

Not as acidic as I had expected, and a little hot on the palate. Still, an enjoyable wine for $10.

80% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Cinsault.

5/14/2013 - la dut wrote:

I enjoyed this, though I wasn't thrilled. Were it not Vinho Verde, I would've been OK with spending $8 for it, but considering that I can find better for cheaper, I'll pass next time.

Beautiful label though.

5/14/2013 - la dut wrote:

Ample, medium-sized bubbles climb swiftly through a pale brassy wine.

Mousse, hazelnut, guava, and something oddly waxy or plastic-like.

Vivacious, full-bodied, and bright, with nice guava, lime, and other tropical notes, finishing with the flavor and mouthfeel of mousse.

I can't say that I love this wine, though it's pleasant. The parrafin-like element on the nose is disconcerting, and became more dominant as the wine evolved. The creaminess on the palate was nice initially, but stuck to my tongue for much longer than I would've liked, making it feel dull. I'd pass on this in the future.

3/18/2013 - la dut wrote:

Rose, a little papaya, and some peach hit right away on the nose, with a little lemon and river rock on the tail-end.

Juicy stone fruit, lime, mineral, and a slight something awkward highlight this medium-bodied white. With good acidity and a fuzzy apricot/stone finish, this wine is well worth the $13 I spent on it. I forgot how much I enjoy Gruner Veltliner, and this producer has yet to disappoint. Still, 2009 is a bit old for a wine of this style, and that awkward aroma definitely throws the wine slightly out of sync.

EDIT: I think I've identified the funk - both the nose and finish have a faint sake-like component. Not a lot, but enough to make the wine feel a bit weird and disjointed.

3/4/2013 - la dut Likes this wine:

Black cherry red with coffee tones, high opacity, and very little rim variation.

Rich dark cherry juice, sandalwood, tar, a slight herbaceousness, and hints of plum on the back end.

Great moutfeel: full-bodied with integrated tannins and flavors of game, cocoa, cigar, and nuts. Moderate finish with nice cocoa and spice, and a bit of heat.

I'm fairly certain this wine wasn't stored properly, and was oxidizing prematurely, but it actually added to the wine's complexity.

2/18/2013 - la dut wrote:

Like others have said, the nose was closed, the wine tight. Still, there was pleasant sweet mushrooms and pine resin, along with some bramble fruit. Pretty solid structure: decent acidity and near silky tannins. with blackberry, more resin, finishing with fried mushrooms.

There was nothing bad about this wine, per se, and it seems to have aged quite well; but it was nothing spectacular either.

2/15/2013 - la dut wrote:

Loaded with fruit with a medium to light body and soft on tannins.

Weak-structured, but I wasn't expecting much from it. My girlfriend picked it up last year during a trip to her parent's near DC. From what I remember, it was designed to pair with spicy dishes, but it was easily overpowered by the chickpeas curry we had it with.

I still like many of Fabbioli Cellars wines, but next time I'll pass on this one.

12/21/2012 - la dut wrote:

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to take notes, but I do remember a dominant smoky character and some tobacco. A good wine.

12/10/2012 - la dut wrote:

Very aromatic, with a slightly sweet nose of papaya, lemon/lime, floral notes, and hints of honey.

Moderate to high levels of acidity with a light to medium body and lots of citrus.

12/1/2012 - la dut Likes this wine:

Absolutely awesome. I wish I would've taken notes. Lots of ripe red and black fruits, coconut, and rich, black soil. Full-bodied and captivating with fine-grained tannins, integrated acidity, and a beautiful complexity. Creamy semi-sweet chocolate and berries dominate the moderate finish. The fruit is showing strong, though a few more years would've done this wine well.

My only complaints are that the wine wasn't quite totally captivating, and the finish left some to be desired.

11/20/2012 - la dut wrote:

My first Chianti Classico since I started drinking wine 2 years ago.

Opened and aerated:
- Very dark for a Chianti, almost Merlot-like in intensity and depth.
- Nice, full nose with cocktail cherry, cedar, and topsoil up front, leading into dates, coriander, and soft oak.
- Medium to full-bodied with powdery, bitter tannins and medium/high acidity. Sweet, fresh cherry and plum up front, helping to balance the acidity, leading into coffee and spice, finishing with a fair amount of coriander and other exotic spices.
- Very nice fruit and spice, rather clean flavors, decently balanced.

After two hours:
- I notice some leather and more spice (think sweet, pumpkin pie spices), and the fruit has become secondary to the strong oak notes. There are also delicate floral aromas that add a lot to the complexity.
- Definitely medium in body (the aerator was not as effective for this wine as it has been with others), with some anise, coriander, and sweet cinnamon (not that cheap, bitter, McCormick crap). Persistent but mild finish.
- Improved quite a bit in two-hours time, going from a little difficult and a little harsh to delicious and complex.

Info from website:
- 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot
- Aged 24 months in French Oak

11/13/2012 - la dut wrote:

Garnet with hints of violet.

Closed nose. Slight "chaptalized" character, hints of wild yeast aroma (which adds to the otherwise very simple wine), light berry skin, and clean, fresh blueberry.

Fruity with sweet juice up front, leading into a nice, tart blueberry, and finishing with fresh, wild blueberries. Thin in body, off-dry, nice acidity.

I'll need to work on the body. Otherwise, pretty good. Does very well as a dry wine.

8/15/2012 - la dut wrote:

Above average for the box wines I've tried, but nothing I'd write home about.

8/18/2012 - la dut wrote:

Toasted oak, cedar, a little vanilla, and game. Some fruit left, mostly blackcurrant and dark cherry. Great structure and balance.

Has a few years left in it, but it was never destined to last for decades.

8/15/2012 - la dut wrote:

Drank with my girlfriend to celebrate her new apartment. Also my first wine in two weeks.

Classic tropical fruits and citrus: grapefruit, orange, passionfruit, and gooseberry, with chalky minerality and hints of buttery biscuit.

The tiniest bit of effervescence was a bit disappointing. The name promised something with a little more fizz. Nevertheless, bright acidity, hints of green herbs, and currant/green grape flavors make this crisp and very refreshing. Finishes with grapefruit and chalk.

A good example of NZ Sauvignon Blanc. I was not disappointed.

8/3/2012 - la dut wrote:

If ever a wine was worthy of being described as "inky," it is this. Almost perfectly black with slight morello cherry red and an extremely thin rim of mahogany and royal purple.

The nose is not shy, with fatty, venison aromas up front that mingle with jammy cherry, and fresh blueberry and blackberry. There are nice licorice and sandalwood undertones, and a touch of sweet vanilla and chocolate on the back end.

Velvety smooth tannins with a slight grip on the finish, with moderate acidity levels and tart fruits on the front of the tongue. More meatiness, followedby licorice, spice, tart blackberry, cedar, and cigar on the moderate-length finish.

This is my first Teroldego, and by far my favorite wine from Chateau Thomas Winery. It tastes and smells like a fusion between the meaty, rich mouthfeel of a Malbec and the fruity, spicy, and oak-driven flavors of a Syrah.

8/2/2012 - la dut Likes this wine:

Straw with golden hints and a steady stream of large bubbles.

Lots of green apple and little else. Some faint sweet yeasty aromas and lychee are noticeable, but very minor.

Crisp and off-dry, with good acidity and a creamy peach meets very ripe green apple and pear. Good, not overbearing effervescence dances around the tongue, revealing hints of orange and papaya. Pear and peach are dominant on the back end, with a longer, tart finish.

Really a nice wine. I appreciate the attractive split bottles. A solid Prosecco for the price, though it is disappointingly simple.

7/31/2012 - la dut wrote:

Overwhelmingly perfumey and floral on the nose with a little citrus and some straw-like notes.

Medium body with musty, potpourri-like elements and good acidity. Paired very well with pan seared Mahi Mahi with olive oil and cracked black pepper.

7/25/2012 - la dut wrote:

Nothing but herbal, with lime and orange peel, tarragon, bitter herbs.

Semi-viscous with a semi-sweet feel. Fruitier on the palate, with lots of citrus, apricot, and ripe fuji apple.

I don't know that I could drink this in anything but a mixed drink. Something about a specific green note that makes me want to gag.

7/25/2012 - la dut wrote:

Brick red in hue with good transparency.

Pleasant and complex nose. Fruity aroma full of plum, cherry and other stone fruit. Bubblegum hints, cinnamon glaze, vanilla bean, and sweet chocolate.

Good acidic backbone, fine tannins, and a full, viscous body. Bursting with cherry and something more exotic, the palate is rather medicinal, like cherry Ricola. Finishes with clove, nutmeg, and vanilla bean.

7/21/2012 - la dut wrote:

Golden with amber hues.

Tropical fruits: Mango and papaya, honey and tangerine. Leesy aromas reminiscent of sweet buttered biscuit (sur-lie?).

Sweet white fruit, especially pear, with a solid medium body and a zesty acidity. The finish is long-lasting with green apple and mango, peppery cumin and Indian spices.

6/15/2012 - la dut wrote:

Red with pink/violet edges.

Violet, mushroom, river stones, strong blackberry and other berry aromas, and plum skins. Clove and nutmeg.

Highly acidic, with blueberry, cranberry, and a little plum. Transitions into pure cranberry with a medium body, and dusty, nuanced tannins. Clove and nutmeg, as well as grassy notes on the finish.

Well made with an intense acidity that begs for food. Nice balance of fruit and oak notes, and nearing it's peak.

7/21/2012 - la dut wrote:

A blend of old vines Carignane, old vines Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc.

A very deep pink, bordering on a light ruby color. Aromas of lime, raspberry, currant, lemongrass, tarragon, and cantaloupe. Brilliantly acidic with raspberries, blueberries and bing cherries, melon, and grassy notes. Finishes tart with some black pepper and green apple skins.

7/9/2012 - la dut wrote:

Red with violet hints. Closed nose with floral notes, cherry, raspberry, foliage and herbal notes. Dusty cherry and sour blueberries. Finishes with hints of oak. Nothing spectacular, and taught me nothing about the varietal.

7/21/2012 - la dut wrote:

Red in color, bordering on maroon. Overwhelming acetone with aromatic berry, olive, violet. Watery with young tannins and clove, vanilla, medium roast coffee. Short finish with cherry and mocha.

6/27/2012 - la dut wrote:

Orange creme, baked apple, cashew, ripe pear, nectarine, coconut water, lychee and tropical fruit, dill, hemp, butterscotch, butter, and floral notes.

On the palate, hints of pear, ginger, more buttery/lactic notes, and chalky minerality. Soft acidity, almost a bit flabby. Nice finish and fascinating complexity.

6/27/2012 - la dut wrote:

Maroon in color. Brambly fruit, whiskey barrel, and thick, glycerin-like aromas. Cherry syrup and vaguely chocolaty flavors, oak and vanilla creme.

Simple, artificial, and uninteresting. Primarily fruity and jammy.

6/27/2012 - la dut wrote:

Beautiful dark cherry hue with magenta hues.

Subtle, integrated, and authentic aromas: blueberry, raspberry, cinnamon, yellow morels, subtle cola, wonderful floral and sweet herbal (especially bay leaves) notes, lime, loamy soil, and very faint sanded wood on back.

Incredibly clean palate, with truly velvety soft tannins, nearly imperceptible alcohol, and moderate acidity. Lime with cherry, raspberry, and very delicate mushroom. Finishing with like, soil, and cherry.

6/27/2012 - la dut wrote:

Lemon rind, flinty, mineral, white fruits. Super acidic, almost too much without food.

My first Sancerre. I'd love to try another.

5/12/2012 - la dut wrote:

Dark cherry, bold currant, raspberry, game, mushroom, wood, and decay. The palate has some spice, is a little coarse, and has splintery tannins. The compost/earthy funk comes through strong on the palate.

5/8/2012 - la dut Likes this wine:

Cantaloupe, thyme, sage, tangerine, lemongrass, floral notes.

Grassy flavors and apricot, with a leesy/creamy chardonnay-like quality. Good acidity, but with 13.8% ABV, it comes across hot, and a little rough. Not a bad wine. I'd like to try another example.

5/14/2012 - la dut wrote:

Beautifully oxidized bouquet. Filberts, brazil nuts, pecans, & walnuts. Vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Slightly toasty and moderately sweet. Great acidity. Toasted almonds and honey-roasted pecans.

Considerable nutty and oaky flavors, and a nice, long finish. A little hot by itself, but amazing with toasted almonds.

6/4/2012 - la dut wrote:

Red with coffee-colored hints.

Peppermint and milk chocolate, peaches and pears, cooked prunes.

Palate has a green tea-like astringency, powdery cocoa, more stewed fruit (fig and date). The components of the wine are very well balanced, and the wine is at it's peak.

I should mention that the pear and peach were noticed by my girlfriend, who has no knowledge of wine theory and is not tainted by bias. The aromas are definitely there, however.

5/25/2012 - la dut wrote:

Mmm. Almost as good as I remember. Not as fresh and as a Gruner Veltliner could taste, but given it's age, it held together well.

6/1/2012 - la dut wrote:

Slightly above average sake. Pleasant when chilled, and worked excellently with ginger ale-based cocktails.

6/1/2012 - la dut Does not like this wine:

Brutal fruity nose of cherry, blackberry, mango, citrus zest, floral notes, cola, nutmeg, and vanilla notes. Lots of solvent and fusel oil notes. My girlfriend pointed out "nail polish remover" odors from across the room.

Hot, short finish with cola. Bitter, unpleasant tannin structure.

5/29/2012 - la dut Likes this wine:

Watermelon red with amber hues. Vibrant and active effervescence.

Strawberry cream soda, apple crisp, guava, a little papaya, bready/oaty flavors, toasted pecan, brown sugar, and cinnamon on the nose.

Nice, bright acidity with a medium body, a present yet subtle alcohol presence, and lots of yeasty, fruity flavors. Finishes long and very clean.

The combination of vivid acidity and intense bubbles makes this wine a little intense without food or if not well chilled. A little residual sweetness and a slightly leesy mouthfeel round this wine out and make it more sippable.

5/23/2012 - la dut wrote:

Straw with hints of moss green. Nice, viscous appearance.

Salty seawater, complex flinty minerality, a number of floral aromas (not unlike potpourri), cashew, mineral oil, a little pineapple, novel white stone fruit, asian pear, and buttery, custard-like notes. The nose is not unlike some higher end California Chardonnays.

Nice citrusy undertones, more custard, salty seaweed, a little pineapple, and something exotic I can't put my finger on (someone else suggested goji berry, but I've never tasted it before). Slightly sweet with an initial pineapple and lemon flavor that is enhanced by beautiful acidity and a massive presence on the mid-palate. Incredibly creamy and full-bodied, nutty and creamy flavors dominate, like cashew butter, butter, and a hint of mineral oil, which flow into the finish and meet back up with a little pineapple.

The alcohol is pretty well integrated despite being 15.5% ABV, though there is a little burn on the tongue. Overall, a much better experience than the last Mollydooker that I had. I would certainly buy this again.

5/19/2012 - la dut wrote:

To start, the color is really quite unique: murky, inky, almost like a very dark graphite gray with a brackish/maroon rim.

As dirty as it looked, it was not at all rustic or dirty: Plum, raisin, smoke, flint, leather, tar, cumin, and lilac and violet danced around the nose, creating a rich, complex bouquet.

On the palate I tasted rich, viscous cherry juice, cigar, mocha, and graphite. The tannins were silky smooth and the acidity perfectly counteracted the slight residual sweetness and very full body, making this wine both non-cloying and food compatible. A moderate finish of fruit preserves and mocha.

Decent complexity and balance. Highly extracted. Not my style, but very appreciable.

5/17/2012 - la dut wrote:

A bit closed on the nose, with graphite and red raspberry and tart cherry.

Cherry and cranberry juice with fleshy, oaky tannins and food-friendly acidty. Medium-bodied with a longer finish.

5/15/2012 - la dut wrote:

This is my first Sekt, and apparently a nice example at that. Drank from a champagne flute.

A pale golden color with lots of vigorous, fine bubbles. The aroma was complex, and evolved from sip to sip, glass to glass. Cantaloupe, coconut, pineapple, green apple, a little lemon, peach, pear, and hints of herbacious and yeasty/nutty notes.

Vibrant and refreshing with good minerality and a semi-dry profile, this wine finishes crisp a little short, but has an intriguing saltiness that accentuates the roasted almond and coconut undertones. Refreshing and delicious, I will buy this again.

5/10/2012 - la dut wrote:

Corked.

5/7/2012 - la dut wrote:

Ruby with distinct violent hues, giving this wine a velvet appearance upon swirling.

The nose is muted. The wine was forgotten in my car for some time, exposed to high heat and drastic fluctuations in character. Immediately after, it spent 10 hours in the hot trunk of a car. The cork was not bulging , nor was there leakage, and the wine does not appear to be cooked. I won't rate it due to the obvious travel shock, but I thought I'd put my thoughts down anyway.

Nice tart raspberry (not unlike the blue-raspberry Jolly Rancher), cedarwood, and some sort of caramel/chocolate thing going on on the back end.

Slightly coarse tannins and a medium to high acidity. Medium-bodied, and full of blue raspberry and cigar box, with a little leather and caramel. Finishes short and has a soft mid-palate.

This wine was rated 91 points in the 2004, '05, and '06 vintages, so the 82 point average on cellartracker seems low.