6/11/2023 - miadelt Likes this wine:

It has taken a long time, which is typical for this estate, this wine is wonderful. Smooth, deep, med+ body, and great flavors. Should be good for at least another 5 years.

2/2/2023 - miadelt Likes this wine:

One hour decant. Mature flavors showing. Great body and depth in the mouth. Recommend drinking now but this bottle had wine creeping up the cork and so maybe it was aging prematurely.

2/1/2023 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Decanted half hour. Enjoyed the flavors more on the first glass than the last glass. Towards the end it seemed older than it’s years. Based on some previous notes from others, the next bottle I will decant longer to see if that is what is needed.

12/19/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Fantastic. Fills your whole mouth with deep Barolo flavors. Decanted 1 hour.

8/7/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. Great wine all around. Will last for another decade but is very enjoyable now.

8/7/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Seems like it is aging quickly. Soft tannins, ripe fruit, medium bodied. Enjoyed the flavors; but does not quite have the structure of a typical GPL. Drink over the next few years.

8/7/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

A serious wine. Drinking really well after an hour decant. Dark, med full bodied, very tasty. After a few hours got some bitterness on the finish.

7/8/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Has gotten better over the years and still has plenty of life ahead.

7/8/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully right now after an hour and a half decant. A lot of fruit, good body, dark color, good depth, and tasty.

7/1/2022 - miadelt wrote:

Spoiled. So sad. Cork was wet and fell apart. Wine was prematurely aged with some unpleasant flavors.

6/20/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

From Magnum, opened in cellar for 6 hours and then decanted 1 hour. In a previous note, Xavier described the wine perfectly and much better than I can and so I am quoting him "This has everything. Power and finesse, precision and transparency, fragrance, amazing complexity, flawless purity, silky texture and rich but incredibly refined tannins, spices and tar and roses, dried fruits, amazing depth and elegance, slightly balsamic finish with amazing length. The essence of Barolo. Perfection."

6/9/2022 - miadelt wrote:

Same experience as some others where this bottle was exposed to heat and ruined. Received as a gift and so I am not sure of the source.

5/29/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

From magnum with a 1.5 hour decant. Typical Barolo flavors with a long finish and very good body.

5/1/2022 - miadelt wrote:

Another spoiled bottle from Vin Chicago.

2/22/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Great Chianti. More body, structure, and flavor then many non-riserva Brunellos. Give a decent decant and enjoy now but will last.

1/25/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Short decant. Great flavors, body, and finish. Drinks great right now.

1/25/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Good flavors but a little flat in the mouth and lacking depth.

1/8/2022 - miadelt Likes this wine:

From magnum. Opened 6 hours before consumption. One of the best Chianti's I've ever had. Great depth, good body, dry rustic flavors with tasty fruit.

12/24/2021 - miadelt wrote:

Flawed. It feels like it was exposed to heat. Such a disappointment.

11/28/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Had 3 2014 Chimney Rock Cabs side by side. The South Hill showed the best with more depth and more flavor. (93) The Arete was just a step behind but my feeling is that Arete needs more age (92). The Clone 7 felt thin and flavors were lacking compared to the other two (89). All three wines can age for awhile.

11/28/2021 - miadelt wrote:

Had 3 2014 Chimney Rock Cabs side by side. The South Hill showed the best with more depth and more flavor. (93) The Arete was just a step behind but my feeling is that Arete needs more age (92). The Clone 7 felt thin and flavors were lacking compared to the other two (89). All three wines can age for awhile.

11/28/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Had 3 2014 Chimney Rock Cabs side by side. The South Hill showed the best with more depth and more flavor. (93) The Arete was just a step behind but my feeling is that Arete needs more age (92). The Clone 7 felt thin and flavors were lacking compared to the other two (89). All three wines can age for awhile.

11/28/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Excellent Brunello. Medium bodied with intense, wonderful flavors. Decanted 1hour. Seems to be in a good spot but can last.

11/28/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

This pinot was representative of the Sonoma Coast region. Some nice savory elements to it. It is young and so might improve with a couple more years of age.

11/19/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Drinking great right now after an hour decant. Good body and flavors. Bargain.

10/31/2021 - miadelt wrote:

So fun to drink a 52 year old wine. I liked it best after it had been open for a couple of hours.

10/31/2021 - miadelt wrote:

Decanted 1 hour. The wine was uninteresting. I was hoping for better depth and flavors. It is possible that this wine needs even more time to fully develop.

10/29/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

In a good spot after an hour decant. A little on the modern side or maybe it is the vintage but this is a solid wine that was fun to drink. The reasonable price is nice too.

10/29/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

The QPR on this wine is amazing. Full bodied wine with really enjoyable flavors. Good with spicy food.

10/21/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Very tasty red blend that is drinking well right now with a short decant.

9/6/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Of the wine club bottles from Chimney Rock, this has been one of the best (but more still to be consumed). Had the 2013 and 2014 side by side. The 2014 had a little more structure.

9/6/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Of the wine club bottles from Chimney Rock, this has been one of the best (but more still to be consumed). Had the 2013 and 2014 side by side. The 2014 had a little more structure.

8/28/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Drinking so well right now and I prefer the wine without a decant. Great middle ground between old world and new world Bordeaux blend.

8/16/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Decanted for 1.5 hours. I am a fan of this producer but this bottle was not as good as I hoped. Solid all around but not spectacular in any way. There is a good chance that this wine just needs more time. Open next 2023.

8/6/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

I last tasted this about 8 years ago; the additional aging treated this wine well. It developed more body, a smoother finish, and the tannins settled down. This is a bargain when purchased in the $30 range. It should be able to go another 7 years.

6/20/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

It has taken a long time for the 2006 Brunellos to come around but they are finally starting to show their stuff. Really enjoyed this.

6/13/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

This was a solid wine and better than the 2013 South Hill. The touch of Merlot rounded out the feel and taste of the wine nicely.

5/31/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

A superb bottle of wine. Great Napa fruit flavors that are not overdone and comes with a balance of earthiness. Full bodied with a finish that goes on forever. Decanted about an hour, which was the minimum needed. It will last for a number of years; but highly enjoyable now.

5/28/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Has gotten better with age. Tasty, easy drinking Sonoma wine.

5/23/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Definitely a Napa wine. Full bodied, sweet fruit on the finish but not overdone and offset by other flavors. Smooth and long finish.

5/16/2021 - miadelt wrote:

Nothing special, just fine. Definitely not worth the price.

5/10/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

A gorgeous wine. It envelops your tongue with smooth fruit and balanced flavors and then the finish lasts forever. Great amount of body. It will last for awhile but after a 2 hour decant it is in a great place to drink right now.

5/2/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

No rush to drink this and would benefit from a good decant.

5/2/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

PNP and so I did not get the most out of this wine. Body was a little thin and had some bitter notes. Did flesh out towards the end. Will give it some air next time.

5/2/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Solid and tasty Napa Cab but was not showing any characteristics that would make it special.

4/15/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Great wine. Dry finish with a good balance of fruit and flavors. Lots of body with a dark color.

3/25/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Decanted 1.5 hours. In a great spot right now. Dry, rustic, but enough fruit to keep it balanced. Just so tasty.

3/21/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

This is the best showing for this wine to date. Decanted two hours. Not as great as in the best vintages but really enjoyed and seemed to have more body than bottles opened up previously.

3/21/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

The wine needed 3 hours of air before it really softened and opened up.

3/21/2021 - miadelt Likes this wine:

Wine continues to improve with age and it still has plenty of years left. Early on there was a vegetal note on the finish that I did not enjoy but on day two that went away. Pretty good body and substance for this price point.