Tasting Notes for ashults

Tasted like green wood. Underripe tannins or perhaps many pips were crushed or too many stems included. If this were bottled with natural cork or screwcap, I might be tempted to think some more age might help, but this is bottled under plastic.

Comment

Red

2005 Viña Cornejo Costas Malbec don Rodolfo Cafayate (view label images)

9/20/2007 - ashults wrote:

83 points

Not bad, but nothing special.

Comment

Red - Sweet/Dessert

2002 Ochs Blaufränkisch Beerenauslese Neusiedlersee-Hügelland (view label images)

6/29/2007 - ashults wrote:

82 points

Meh

Comment

Red

2001 Rotllan Torra Priorat Reserva Grenache Blend, Grenache (view label images)

8/26/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Producer reduced the proportion of Garnacha this vintage: 35% Garnacha, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Carignan. Very chocolate nose.

Comment

Red

2005 Feudo di San Nicola Negroamaro Puglia IGT (view label images)

8/15/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Plum, spice, and cherries

Comment

Red

2005 d'Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourverde McLaren Vale Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

8/5/2007 - ashults wrote:

86 points

Good, not great. Good QPR

Comment

Red

2005 Te Hira Pinot Noir Marlborough (view label images)

7/26/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Rich cherry-plum flavors with food-friendly acidity. Clearly a New World style pinot noir.

Comment

Red

2005 Di Giovanna Nerello Mascalese Sicilia (view label images)

7/15/2007 - ashults wrote:

80 points

Meh, unremarkable. Poor QPR too.

Comment

Red

2003 Caparone Nebbiolo Paso Robles (view label images)

6/26/2007 - ashults wrote:

92 points

Wow, a wonderfully complex wine with classic aromas of "tar and roses" with flavors of dark berries, plum, mint, and tobacco. Ample tannins balanced by zippy acidity. The perfect pairing for barbequed ribs in a tangy sauce (or spice rub for those who prefer their ribs dry).

Comment

Red

2003 Ferrari-Carano Siena Sonoma County Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)

7/5/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Food loving acidity. The Sangiovese isn't dominated by the other grapes in the blend.

Comment

Red

2003 Bodegas Estefanía Bierzo Tilenus Envejecido en Roble Mencía (view label images)

6/15/2007 - ashults wrote:

84 points

Cherry-blackberry, good but not great.

Comment

Red

2004 Vino de Eyzaguirre Cabernet Sauvignon Wine in the Sack Colchagua Valley (view label images)

6/5/2007 - ashults wrote:

80 points

Simple, but okay for the price.

Comment

White

2005 Bonny Doon Vineyard Riesling the Heart has its Rieslings Washington (view label images)

9/16/2007 - ashults wrote:

83 points

Sweet, sweet, sweet...almost to the point of being unbalanced.

Comment

White

2005 Curtis Viognier Santa Ynez Valley (view label images)

9/2/2007 - ashults wrote:

May have been good once, but seems to have lost its nose already. Drink up unless you want to gamble that something will emerge later. Not rated.

Comment

White

2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc Viognier Clarksburg White Blend (view label images)

8/24/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Lovely tropical fruit flavors. Good QPR.

Comment

White

2005 Dominio de Eguren Protocolo Blanco Vino de la Tierra de Castilla White Blend (view label images)

8/9/2007 - ashults wrote:

78 points

Blend of 60% Airen and 40% Macabeo. I can cross Airen off my wine grape life list, and I can't say that this wine has left me wanting more of it. At least it's cheap.

Comment

White

2006 Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontés Cafayate (view label images)

7/24/2007 - ashults wrote:

90 points

Intense nose, even compared to other Torrontes wines I've tried. Very gewurztraminer-like.

Comment

White - Off-dry

2005 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Satinela White Blend (view label images)

7/17/2007 - ashults wrote:

80 points

Meh, not bad but unremarkable

Comment

White

2005 La Chapelle de la Bastide Picpoul de Pinet Picpoul Blanc (view label images)

7/9/2007 - ashults wrote:

86 points

Crisp and fairly simple, but good QPR

Comment

White

2005 Bisson Bianchetta Genovese Golfo del Tigullio - Portofino Ü Pastine (view label images)

6/24/2007 - ashults wrote:

89 points

Full bodied and crisp, with apple, white flowers, and white pepper.

Comment

Red

2001 Markham Petite Sirah Napa Valley (view label images)

6/5/2007 - ashults wrote:

85 points

Big but rather simple.

Comment

White

2005 Pierre Boniface Vin de Savoie Apremont Jacquère (view label images)

5/31/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Nice crisp summer white

Comment

Red

2005 Saintsbury Pinot Noir Garnet Carneros (view label images)

5/26/2007 - ashults wrote:

86 points

Nice, but somewhat simple.

Comment

White

2005 Château Lamothe de Haux Blanc Bordeaux Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend (view label images)

5/23/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Both rich/full-bodied and tart. Grapefruit and floral. Good QPR.

Comment

Rosé

2005 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Rosado Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo (view label images)

5/21/2007 - ashults wrote:

85 points

Typical grenache-based rose.

Comment

White

2001 Domaine Albert Seltz Riesling Zotzenberg Alsace Grand Cru (view label images)

5/19/2007 - ashults wrote:

89 points

Petrol aromas and flavors starting to show nicely, lots of subtle complexity.

Comment

Red

2004 Conte Emo Capodilista - La Montecchia Cabernet Franc Godimondo Veneto IGT (view label images)

5/17/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Herbal with good acidity. Winery's website indicates "Carmenere" in parentheses after Cabernet Franc, and this reminds me a bit of both grapes.

Comment

Red

2001 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon Lost Vineyard Rutherford (view label images)

5/16/2007 - ashults wrote:

89 points

Lots of cassis. Not quite the complexity I expect at this price point, but still quite a nice Cabernet.

Comment

White

2005 Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Regional Collection Marlborough (view label images)

5/15/2007 - ashults wrote:

84 points

Not complex, but a true to type example of NZ Sauvignon Blanc at a bargain price.

Comment

Rosé - Sparkling

2003 Llopart Cava Rosé Brut Reserva Rosé Blend (view label images)

5/13/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Fruity, more depth of flavor than a typical rose.

Comment

Red

2005 Emilio Bulfon Piculìt-Neri Trevenezie (view label images)

5/30/2007 - ashults wrote:

87 points

Tart cherries and low-to-moderate tannins. Reminds me of a nice Valpolicella.

Comment

Red

2004 Bodegas Sierra Cantabria Rioja Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo (view label images)

5/10/2007 - ashults wrote:

82 points

Unremarkable

Comment

White

2005 Curran Grenache Blanc Santa Ynez Valley (view label images)

5/29/2007 - ashults wrote:

91 points

Grenache Blanc at its best.

Comment

White - Sweet/Dessert

2001 Domaine Rotier Gaillac Doux Doux Renaissance Loin de l'Oeil (view label images)

5/10/2007 - ashults wrote:

89 points

Lovely dessert wine. Honey, apricots, and a nice sweet-tart balance. Drinking well now and likely to hold up for some time.

Comment

White

2004 Château Bouscassé Pacherenc du Vic-Bilh Sec Les Jardins de Bouscassé White Blend (view label images)

5/10/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

100% Petit Courbu according to the label. Full bodied with peaches, white flowers, and a hint of spice. While not a bargain, it certainly earns the $19 pricetag.

Comment

White

2003 Wohlmuth Chardonnay Gola Südsteiermark (view label images)

5/8/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Nice crisp Chardonnay with good minerality. Unlike many chards these days, this one isn't overoaked.

Comment

White

2005 Hexamer Meddersheimer Rheingrafenberg Riesling Quarzit Nahe (view label images)

5/3/2007 - ashults wrote:

87 points

Semi-sweet and fruity with a good amount of acidic zing. However, it's not all that complex and doesn't have the best QPR. A "Tuesday night" riesling.

Comment

Red

2005 Bodegas Castaño Monastrell Yecla (view label images)

5/2/2007 - ashults wrote:

82 points

Unremarkable quaffer

Comment

White

2004 Welty Muscat Bollenberg Alsace (view label images)

5/2/2007 - ashults wrote:

84 points

Dry, typical Muscat flavors, insufficient acidity.

Comment

White

2005 Doña Paula Chardonnay Los Cardos Lujan de Cuyo (view label images)

4/26/2007 - ashults wrote:

80 points

Unremarkable, but not bad. Moderately oaked. Drank one glass and decided to use the remainder for cooking.

Comment

Red

2004 Château d'Oupia Minervois Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

4/23/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Dark fruit, slightly funky, well-balanced. Needs some time to open up. Lots of personality and great QPR.

Comment

White - Off-dry

1990 Bert Simon Serriger Würtzberg Riesling Auslese Mosel Saar Ruwer (view label images)

4/22/2007 - ashults wrote:

90 points

Deep yellow & light bodied. Nose of petrol, flowers, and apples. Petrol less pronounced on the palate, but still present--more apples and flowers with some nice minerality. Crisp acidity. Quite nice.

Comment

White - Sweet/Dessert

N.V. Rosenblum Cellars Viognier Late Harvest Lot 34 Ripken Ranch Lodi (view label images)

4/21/2007 - ashults wrote:

85 points

A blend of the 2003 & 2004 vintages. A good late harvest viognier, but poor QPR. I've had equally good ones (e.g. Eola Hills) for a lot less money.

Comment

Rosé

2005 Càntele Negroamaro Rosato Salento IGT (view label images)

4/20/2007 - ashults wrote:

88 points

Red berries with a yeasty fullness. Good pairing for sandwiches, especially as a spring/summer picnic.