Comments on my notes

Red

2008 DeLille Cellars D2 Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend

10/9/2020 - hiker_guy wrote:

The winemaker once said his style was "to get the fruit super ripe and oak the hell out of it". This tastes like the result. Big wine with lots of oak that thankfully showed some better integration than my last bottle.
Requires a big steak or other red meat.

D. Mitchell commented:

12/14/20, 6:54 PM - What? Chris Upchurch told you that? he is usually one of the earliest to pick fruit on Red Mountain.

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Red

2004 Achával-Ferrer Malbec Finca Altamira La Consulta

11/12/2018 - RickyT12 Likes this wine:

92 points

Nice wine, but not mind blowing. It could be because it was following up a 97 Insignia. Felt a bit flat in my opinion. Nice plum, and tobacco flavors and nose, medium minus body. I would like to try again by itself, but may be past it's prime in my opinion.

D. Mitchell commented:

1/2/20, 2:35 PM - tough for any wine to follow 1997 Insignia... Thats a great wine.

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Red

2016 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Amoenus Calistoga

12/8/2019 - BerkeleyBoy wrote:

90 points

Very un-exciting and a let down with all the hype. A wanna-be cab that fell short. Very disappointed considering the price. Other vintages have been far better.

D. Mitchell commented:

12/10/19, 6:28 AM - Wow, I wonder if this was bottle variation? As we opened one with a 2016 Carter OG, and we felt the Maybach was drinking better that evening, although most of us felt the Carter would have a longer life ahead of it, and higher ceiling in the future.
D. Mitchell commented:

12/10/19, 12:11 PM - Without a doubt all these wines need more time to be drinking at, or near peak, but sometimes I get a bit curious, and the wines I have larger quantities of like to try one early and see where it is at, and how the critics come up with those giant scores. ;)

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Red

2005 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley

11/16/2019 - KenK Likes this wine:

92 points

Iinitially this seemed a bit over the hill with a stewed brown leafy aroma and dried out flavors, but after giving it some air this really came a live and was quite classic for a bit of an older Napa can. Dark dusty black cherry fruits nice spice, depth, and textures. Suggest drinking up sooner vs later.

D. Mitchell commented:

11/16/19, 11:28 AM - Interesting note, I have a few of these left in the cellar, and last tried one a couple years ago... see tasting note by @Jimyeni 3-2017. You mention the end of the road is near, have you followed this wine, or your first bottle? I am just trying to figure out if there is some bottle variation, or if I need to drink up on mine? I recently oped a 2002 that was still very fresh, and actually drank a bit young.

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Red

2005 Clos Apalta Red Bordeaux Blend

4/16/2017 - D. Mitchell Does not like this wine:

This seems to be a very polarizing wine, some liked it and some did not in our group. I felt like it had a very hot nose, but if you get through the alcohol, there was some beautifully perfumed florals, and scorched earth, on the palette the alcohol was back out in force and I found it difficult to get clear notes. This is a massively big wine with a lot of alcohol present and strong oak treatment.

In our group 3/8 felt this was WOTN, while several others had it 3rd out of 4 wines. I am not sure if this one could use more time to develop, or if it is falling apart in the bottle. I have had other vintages of this wine that were much more enjoyable. No score as I just did not get it with this wine.

D. Mitchell commented:

11/15/19, 10:40 AM - Sorry to take so long to reply to your comment, I did not see it. Yes, all of the wines were decanted and tasted blind. I am getting ready to put this wine into another tasting and will try at least a 2+ hour decant this time. I also might play around with the serving temperature and see what affect that has.

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Red

2012 Sheridan Vineyard Mystique Yakima Valley Red Blend

12/31/2016 - MelM wrote:

85 points

Previous bottle was very good. This bottle tasted as if past it's drinking window.

D. Mitchell commented:

6/20/17, 3:35 PM - Interestingly, I had three of these, the first two were great, but the last one was obviously flawed... Damn... I am not sure exactly what was wrong, but seemed seemed a bit like a wet basement on the nose, maybe very slightly corked? Body of the wine was flat, and a bit sour. Strange!

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Red

1997 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill Diamond Mountain

4/14/2017 - jimyeni Likes this wine:

93 points

Served double blind by D. Mitchell, my wife and I thought it was an old bordeaux of high quality given the weight, acidity and alcohol (12%!). Vibrant acidity on the mid palate led into a long finish. Violets and slightly underripe cherry on the nose which was beautiful. There is some brett on this wine but it's the good kind of brett with forest floor earthiness.

I waffled between 93 and 94 on this wine. It has a number of good years ahead of it.

D. Mitchell commented:

4/14/17, 6:05 PM - That is a good review of this wine, the wine might have needed a bit more air, as the brett blew off as time went on. I thought this wine was great with the steak dinner and still had a lot in the tank. I would be 93+ on this and happy that I have 3 more.

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Red

1996 Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Sunshine Stags Leap District

4/7/2017 - Millennial Drinkers wrote:

94 points

Medium to deep garnet red with bricking on the edges. Stinky and savory on the nose straight from the get go. Opened up over the next half hour or so with stoney notes, a touch smoky and soft red cherries. Well integrated and smooth, moderate tannins (6/10). Beautiful aged characteristics on the palate with notes of dusty black cherries, a touch of chalk and dust, mushrooms, truffles, and also gains some aged red cherries. Medium plus body with a super long finish. This bottle has aged very well. Drink now if you like power in your Cabernet but this will keep for few more years. Drink till 2020.

D. Mitchell commented:

4/14/17, 1:02 PM - Thank you for the tip on your website, I picked up some bottles from Park Avenue!

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Red

2010 Fait-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras St. Helena

4/14/2017 - jimyeni Likes this wine:

95 points

Really enjoyed drinking this last night but would wait about 5 years before having another bottle. D. Mitchell decanted this wine, I believe for a couple of hours. At first, the nose had caramel and vanilla notes that were as powerful as the cherry, plum, and blackberry. Thankfully the oak notes subsided after a bit of swirling and the beautiful fruit, violets, and dark chocolate came through. Still quite primary although there was some nice sweet tobacco developing with a ton of upwards potential and thus the recommendation to wait. Fantastic wine. As my wife I like to simple put "it was yummy".

D. Mitchell commented:

4/14/17, 9:18 AM - I could not agree more, this was yummy bottle of wine, my first Fait-Main, and first from Las Piedras vineyard. I am excited to try the other vintages, and also other wines from Las Piedras vineyard.

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Red

2005 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley

3/19/2017 - jimyeni Likes this wine:

97 points

Amazing bottle in a great window right now. The nose is beautiful - rich fruit, flowers, sweet, dusty tobacco and anise. What a beauty. On the palate its soft, great through the middle and has a great combination of fruit and just a touch of grip. A bit of Napa powder on the finish. Great wine.

D. Mitchell commented:

3/19/17, 10:21 AM - This was an exceptional wine, thank you for sharing. I felt it was wide open and singing its beautiful song. We should have more of these in our cellars...

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Red

2004 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Rutherford

2/3/2017 - jimyeni Likes this wine:

95 points

Great wine. In a good spot although it has a lot of life left. Nice grip and fruit.

D. Mitchell commented:

2/4/17, 9:38 AM - I agree Jim, the fruit was still a touch primary. Incredible nose, I would love to try it again in3 to 5 years as I think it might gain a point or two. Thanks for sharing!

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Red

2013 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend

2/12/2016 - garambler Likes this wine:

92 points

My wife and I tasted this at the carriage house tasting room on 2/12/16. It had a tight, reserved bouquet of black currant, blueberry, smoke, burnt toast, mocha, cocoa, licorice and spice aromas. The palate was tight, dry and moderately astringent with flavors of black currant, blackberry, blueberry, cocoa, mocha, burnt toast, licorice and spice.

D. Mitchell commented:

3/13/16, 9:13 AM - I tasted at the Carriage house yesterday and was impressed with the 2013 lineup, they also had the 2013 Harrison Hill out yesterday which was a treat, a bit lighter, and old world in style. All of the wines in general were very tight and could benefit from years in the cellar, or at least a long decant.

Anyway, I enjoy your tasting notes... It seems like you frequent Woodinville quite often, hope to run into you sometime!

Cheers!

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Red

2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 40th Anniversary Napa Valley

2/29/2016 - dstraub wrote:

80 points

I'm sorry to contradict so many other opinions on here, but this wine is total crap. It is so doctored up that you really can't tell whether or not its a port or a cab. I would really love to see an ingredient statement from the winemaker, as there are so many chemical and color additives to this wine that it makes it undrinkable with food. Most of our group thought it tasted like crap, except for one member who only likes sweet dessert wines. Unfortunately I have 5 more.

D. Mitchell commented:

2/29/16, 5:17 PM - I agree with both of the comments here on the 2012 vintage. What a shame to put a special label on a wine that had obvious problems. On the other side I opened a 2007 Caymus Special Selection on Saturday night that after a 6 hour decant was wonderful, reminded me of Abreu, or Harlan in the style of dark fruit.

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Red

2008 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel Red Mountain

1/15/2016 - jsapping wrote:

88 points

Never opened up. Has me concerned about the rest of my bottles. Will try another in a few months and report.

D. Mitchell commented:

1/15/16, 4:43 PM - Might be going through a bit of a dead phase now. We are going to a vertical tasting in a couple weeks, will let you know if we have a different experience.

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