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Comments on my notes

(28 comments on 16 notes)

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White
2021 Lloyd Chardonnay Carneros
5/11/2023 - TastesGoodToMe Likes this wine:
93 points
If you like Rombauer Chardonnay then you will like this one too. Definitiely on the "buttery" spectrum. But not over done. Good balance. Baked apples, vanilla, cinnamon and pear notes. Enough acidity to offset the sweetness. Went well with Thai food.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    8/29/23, 6:54 AM - Comparing it to a Rombauer Chardonnay, mean sit is a terrible wine made for the masses that really do not drink serious chard.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    8/29/23, 1:56 PM - of course I have had the Judge, another one of Helen Turley's projects. Here is the last time i had a Rombauer: e
    2012 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros more
    Options
    3/21/2014 - I don't like this wine: 60 points (Edit)

    Yes, before I begin, I am a wine snob and I started years ago as a teenager being taught to drink great wines. My favorite for years was 1970 BV PR and Mayacamas 1968 and 1970- so that is a point of reference.
    ---
    The 2012 Rombauer is about as awful a chardonnay I have had in a number of years, beyond a bottle that might have been corked.
    Next to nothing in the nose beyond the smell of sawed wood a very mild entry of some cantaloupe or melon based fruit. (and actually that disappeared in about 5 minutes) Mid palate was fairly thin, high acid with a mild spritz and attacked my upper mouth. No low or high palate notes and finishes with a transition to a thin wood endowed wine that had a hot finish all the way down the throat despite only 14.5. It also left a persistent sour and metallic aftertaste that indicated a highly manipulated, mass produced wine.

    i have read comparisons and either someone is not experienced in wine drinking, smokes, or pops and drinks too cold or is not being honest and is working uncover for the winery- but to compare this wine to Peter Michael, Marcassin, Aubert, Dumol, Morlet or Martinelli does not hold water much less wine taste. This is like comparing a Kia (that has been wrecked) with a new Jaguar- humorous - if not sad.
    I will not bother with details, but this may be a great wine with food as the food can add the flavor that is lacking or cover up the lack of any structure or flavor, much less balance.

    As a lark. had a L'Oliveto chard from Brack Mountain and while that is an under $20 chard that I would not normally drink, it overwhelmed this mess of a chard that Rombauer wants to hold up as a wine of ANY quality. This is a great example of wines that people drink and then say- i don't like wine. If this is all I had to drink - I would say the same.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    8/30/23, 11:44 AM - why don't you check out all their winemakers and from where their knowledge/experience. came from. I am sure that you are the trumpher type and the idea of women succeeding at anything is alien to you.

    Regardless the best chards I have had come from Marcassin, Point Rouge and a 70's late harvest David Bruce (bone dry).

White
2021 Lloyd Chardonnay Carneros
11/22/2022 - Seirra79 Likes this wine:
100 points
Bought from total wine after a recommendation that it was as good as Rombauer chard. Smoith, long finish, flavorful. Classic chard
  • jazzwineman commented:

    8/29/23, 6:53 AM - Comparing to a Rombauer is not much of a 100 point recommendation. If it can not stand up to a Peter Michael, Aubert, Dumol, Marcasson, Martinelli- then is it just a run of the mill chard.

White
2018 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Private Reserve Napa Valley
1/29/2021 - Dennise Likes this wine:
96 points
Beautiful finish. I compare to Rombauer
  • jazzwineman commented:

    3/31/22, 3:35 PM - What a terrible wine to compare this to. This is my review of what you mentioned.

    Friday, March 21, 2014 - Yes, before I begin, I am a wine snob and I started years ago as a teenager being taught to drink great wines. My favorite for years was 1970 BV PR and Mayacamas 1968 and 1970- so that is a point of reference.
    ---
    The 2012 Rombauer is about as awful a chardonnay I have had in a number of years, beyond a bottle that might have been corked.
    Next to nothing in the nose beyond the smell of sawed wood a very mild entry of some cantaloupe or melon based fruit. (and actually that disappeared in about 5 minutes) Mid palate was fairly thin, high acid with a mild spritz and attacked my upper mouth. No low or high palate notes and finishes with a transition to a thin wood endowed wine that had a hot finish all the way down the throat despite only 14.5. It also left a persistent sour and metallic aftertaste that indicated a highly manipulated, mass produced wine.

    i have read comparisons and either someone is not experienced in wine drinking, smokes, or pops and drinks too cold or is not being honest and is working uncover for the winery- but to compare this wine to Peter Michael, Marcassin, Aubert, Dumol, Morlet or Martinelli does not hold water much less wine taste. This is like comparing a Kia (that has been wrecked) with a new Jaguar- humorous - if not sad.
    I will not bother with details, but this may be a great wine with food as the food can add the flavor that is lacking or cover up the lack of any structure or flavor, much less balance.

    As a lark. had a L'Oliveto chard from Brack Mountain and while that is an under $20 chard that I would not normally drink, it overwhelmed this mess of a chard that Rombauer wants to hold up as a wine of ANY quality. This is a great example of wines that people drink and then say- i don't like wine. If this is all I had to drink - I would say the same.

Red
2018 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif Suisun Valley Petite Sirah
4/15/2021 - gocatsnyc Does not like this wine:
83 points
Caymus was trying too hard on this wine as I find it overly processed and extracted. While there was plenty of fruit on the palate, it tasted artificial followed by biting tannins which led to its short finish. It possessed some of the characteristics we know in Petite Sirah namely the jammy fruit, pepper and pronounced tannins but it is over the top without the nuances one would expect. This comes across like a wine made by a very large commercial enterprise. This was a disappointment.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    2/8/22, 2:58 PM - trying doing a decant for 24 hours and get back to us.

Red
2011 Aubert Pinot Noir Ritchie Vineyard Sonoma Coast
11/22/2014 - Yagil wrote:
89 points
Sonoma Pinot Noir tasting (at Nurit & Asher Tishler, Mazkeret-Batya): this was my 4th CA PN - but the first to show some PN quality, though still cannot compare it to the real Burgundy PN, so I was quite generous with the score here….
  • jazzwineman commented:

    12/21/21, 1:14 PM - ha ha!~ As Helen Turley said: if we had started making PN in CA in 1840 then who would compare what to what? Clearly an Allen Meadows guy that uses 'subtle" to rationalize a lack of flavor.

White
2018 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte Knights Valley
12/16/2020 - OenoEd wrote:
92 points
As I critically taste this I think about my recent note on 2018 Rombauer chard, which is $50 cheaper. I liked that bottle a lot, despite its blowsy, fat, buttery CA personality. I asked myself how is this better; is its QPR two levels higher.? It’s certainly more refined and lighter bodied, with its tangerine and sweet lime acidity, and its white earth chalk stone minerality. Delicious. Superb Sonoma fruit; did it really need 12 months in new French oak? How about 6? I am troubled by dominant oak in the nose, and again on the finish, but the stuffing is terrific, especially with roast chicken, veal, or baked white fish. This should be quaffed before 2024; it will consistently deliver the goods until then, when I fear the oak will win.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/3/21, 7:37 AM - Are you sure you are not ill and having problems tasting? 2012 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros more
    Options
    3/21/2014 - I don't like this wine: 60 points

    Yes, before I begin, I am a wine snob and I started years ago as a teenager being taught to drink great wines. My favorite for years was 1970 BV PR and Mayacamas 1968 and 1970- so that is a point of reference.
    ---
    The 2012 Rombauer is about as awful a chardonnay I have had in a number of years, beyond a bottle that might have been corked.
    Next to nothing in the nose beyond the smell of sawed wood a very mild entry of some cantaloupe or melon based fruit. (and actually that disappeared in about 5 minutes) Mid palate was fairly thin, high acid with a mild spritz and attacked my upper mouth. No low or high palate notes and finishes with a transition to a thin wood endowed wine that had a hot finish all the way down the throat despite only 14.5. It also left a persistent sour and metallic aftertaste that indicated a highly manipulated, mass produced wine.

    i have read comparisons and either someone is not experienced in wine drinking, smokes, or pops and drinks too cold or is not being honest and is working uncover for the winery- but to compare this wine to Peter Michael, Marcassin, Aubert, Dumol, Morlet or Martinelli does not hold water much less wine taste. This is like comparing a Kia (that has been wrecked) with a new Jaguar- humorous - if not sad.
    I will not bother with details, but this may be a great wine with food as the food can add the flavor that is lacking or cover up the lack of any structure or flavor, much less balance.

    As a lark. had a L'Oliveto chard from Brack Mountain and while that is an under $20 chard that I would not normally drink, it overwhelmed this mess of a chard that Rombauer wants to hold up as a wine of ANY quality. This is a great example of wines that people drink and then say- i don't like wine. If this is all I had to drink - I would say the same.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/3/21, 11:20 AM - I have tasted other vintages as well from various people that will have them around. The tasting profile is the same as for the 2012. At least they are consistent. Unfortunately consistently bad.

    I might ask how long you decant your wines? I refuse to drink a quality wine without a minimum of a 14 hour decant, although I prefer a 22 hour decant.
    This was a tasting I was at and it was not close.

    https://www.graileysfinewines.com/marcassin-vs-burgundy/

  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/4/21, 8:27 AM - I will tell everyone that do not believe what I say, trust your nose and palate. I have yet to find a wine that did not benefit with the exception of a dinner for a charity where we had an 1898 Mouton, but we were drinking that in 1980. Read many reviews and on so many wines they will tell you on CT that the next day the wine was much better and they can't get the logic of the long decant into perspective even then.
    I do not drink burgundies and riojas. I have not intent of playing around with poor Spanish Reds and French burgundies live in a world of musky, green flavors that serve no purpose for the money you would spend.

    In the last year I have had BV 1970 PR and a Mayacamas 1974 that neither of the wines started to show until about the 16 hour mark.

    I will just refer yo to the #III item on this link https://drvino.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Marcassin.pdf

  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/4/21, 10:57 AM - I drank a 2017 Point Rouge last week and I tasted touches of the wine or put it in a glass to see where the nose was with the wine from opening to 22 hours of decant and it did not start to show until the 17 hour point.
    I will let you live with those "subtle" flavor excuse for a lack of taste on your French Burgundies and have no interest in a discussion of Tempranillo as a serious grape. I bought a number of Rioja in the 80's from a special wine store in Chicago that had some dating back to the 1912-1917 period. Quite a disappointment but the 1939 Simi Cab I got at the same time was quite beautiful but took in the 12 to 14 hour decant time to show.
    Apparently we have very different taste's buds

Red
2017 Ceritas Pinot Noir Costalina Sonoma Coast
10/16/2019 - rlove wrote:
Fully shutdown and impossible to assess.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    3/3/21, 9:32 PM - Have you thought of the strange idea of long decants. I have no wine: Chard, Cab, PN, Zin, PS without a minimum of a 16 hour decant. Do not believe what I say, trust your own nose and taste buds.

Red
2018 Martinelli Zinfandel Giuseppe & Luisa Russian River Valley
Retail $58. 100% Zinfandel. The first vines in this vineyard were planted by Giuseppe & Luisa Martinelli in 1880. That three acres vineyard came to be known as Jackass Hill and has been added to over the century-plus since that first planting. Martinelli picks their fruit on the ripe to very ripe side, which leads to big, rich, boisterous wines and this Zin is another example. It is big. It is fruity. It is rich. And you will need your big person pants for this one (16.4%). Boysenberry, blackberry, vanilla, tons of fruit on the nose and on the palate where plum is added to the bowl along with blueberry and perhaps peach. Basically, every fruit you can think of is likely in there, you just need to take the time to find it. If you can't tell, this is not really my jawn (Philly term), but I have to say it is *good*. And if you like the big, fruity, jammy, in your face kind of Zinfandel, this is *great* even approaching Holy Grail-like status. Whoa. thedrunkencyclist.com
  • jazzwineman commented:

    11/17/20, 5:15 PM - It is called optimum ripeness- not very ripe- per their winemaker from 1992-2005 and wine-making consultant from 2005-2010; Helen Turley. Helen’s Marcassin vineyard rests on the same ridge as the Martinelli’s Charles Ranch vineyard along the Sonoma Coast. They began working with Helen professionally, and she introduced new viticulture and cellar practices to the Martinelli family, and the new vineyards at that time were planted with the professional consultation and specifications of John Wetlaufer and Helen Turley.

    G&L vineyard was planted in 1994 per Helen and her husband. It is why Martinelli is often considered Marcassin Jr.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    11/17/20, 9:40 PM - of course not as you are not a winemaker, nor understand the science and art of wine making. Beyond the fact that she is probably the best winemaker in the planet, all of her protege's are doing what she would do at Martinelli. So you can demean her all you would like ( go join the Allen Meadows world of wine then), but checking your tasting notes, you have a minimal amount of her wines and the roots and limbs thereof. I would not even expect that you would know she was the winemaker for all those years at Martinelli.

    Sorry that you would not find support for such, at say, as an example of the UC at Davis, but then I am sure you know more than they do.

    Do you really like to eat fruit that is under-ripe or overly ripe???????????????

    So are you arguing semantics of terms or just don't like female winemakers.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    11/18/20, 7:39 AM - I will noye the fact that you have not drunk may of the wines, as I see you have not listed any, she is associated with and leave you to the murky, musty, soiled flavors of old world and tell me about their subtle tastes as an excuse for lack of flavor. Having been seriously drinking wine since 1971 and still hold in my cellar a 52, 58, 68, 70 BVPR and 1968, 1970, 1972 Mayacamas. We have a severe disagreement in taste buds and nose or lack thereof. I wonder how many wine tastings you have been in with Andre Tchelistcheff, but I assume you don't like him either as a properly decanted Les-Pavots with enough age reminds me of the aforementioned wines in my cellar.

    You very much sound like a trump version of wine tasting. I also see that you have only had one of the Peter Michael wines and if properly decanted that specific vintage is a much higher rated wine, but may be too complex for you.

    I assume therefore that winemakers like Mark Aubert, Erin Green, Brian Kvamme, David Abreu, Coutney Wagoner among many others are not your favorites and wines from Colgin, Bryant, Turley (have you had any from say 1992-2004), Martinelli, Pahlmeyer, Green & Red, Harrison, La Jota, Landmark, Peter Michael, Blankiet, Canepa

    Further that you disagree with the changes she made in wine: Turley was perhaps the first wine maker in California to use cold soaks.

    Turley was one of the first winemakers to focus on harvesting phenolically ripe fruit. Her goal was to try making the wine as natural as possible. To do this, she did not acidify. This went against the grain at the time. She did not clarify wine before placing it into the barrel and avoided fining and filtering during the bottling process.

    Her belief was that all those processes stripped a wine of its character.

    Apparently she is wrong and we need this under-ripe fruit from France with some soiled musky flavors and nose. I have had multiples of all the great growths from as far back as the 40's and know of what I speak.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    11/18/20, 9:11 PM - That is where you and I disagree. I am not taking a classic wine and mixing it with spices. I clearly make the distinction between a classic and a dinner wine. The more modest approach you speak of is not by design-- they simply do not have the growing season or the weather that CA, especially Sonoma has. So we agree to disagree.

    However I am in Dallas and have friends in Houston and perhaps we can share a bottle or two and see what we find.

    You might enjoy this and I was there for the night: http://graileys.com/blog/marcassin-vs-burgundy/

Red
2010 Marcassin Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard Sonoma Coast
10/24/2013 - Wine4Blood Does not like this wine:
80 points
Like it's white sibling, the Chardonnay, this wine is HOT. The Chard can take an ice cube and a chill to lessen the burning sensation while drinking. Pinot, served cellar temp HAS to be in balance- this wine is not. Way over-ripe flavors for Pinot and a mega-high alcohol make this a hedonistic wine for sure, but that's the same category as Mike's Hard Lemonade on a ski boat, right? Anyhow, for a "banker-style" of Pinot where a couple guys just threw down a couple Manhattans and then needed a red wine to rinse the steak down with, this is it. For people who want a fine Pinot, this is not it. 80 = B- perhaps I should have rated it a 79, or a C+ so as to not hold any punches? On the up-side, the fruit flavors are really bright, like neon bright. Also, the clarity is pretty good, this may actually cellar for a while, but I think it's made in the drink right now style which is fine.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    11/16/19, 8:11 AM - Come on Allen Meadows- use your real name to promote yourself.

Red
2014 Peter Michael L'Esprit des Pavots Knights Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
3/9/2018 - msuwine wrote:
88 points
I've been drinking - and loving - the L'Espirit des Pavots for almost 10 years now. I've always thought this wine over-delivered for the price - offering a rich but classy Cabernet that, even if it was a bit more rustic than PM's other reds, provided just as much power and character. Above all, this was a second wine that didn't taste like a second wine.

Unfortunately, the 2014 tastes very much like a second wine. Medium red in color, medium in body, somewhat muted nose of black cherry, graphite, and straw. Diffuse tastes of blueberry, eucalyptus, pepper, and cocoa, with a brief finish. Blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. 14.9% alcohol. It didn't change much over four hours of air.

This was the most disappointing wine I've had in a while - I kept thinking it would come around, and it just didn't. It's drinkable, but it's nowhere near as good as the 2010 or 2012 - quite good wines - and it's even behind the 2011. Lacking much concentration or intensity, this wine tastes more like a generic $30 Bordeaux than a $100 wine from a great CA producer.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    6/14/19, 10:03 PM - and how long did you let it decant????? None of these big boys will show without a long decant of at least 24 hours. It is what Nick does at the winery as suggested by Helen Turley and I will tell you not to believe one word I say bu trust your own nose and taste buds and try and prove me wrong.

White
2009 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast
5/5/2016 - chablis28 wrote:
87 points
Same btl as R&Ler. Its always fun to try an iconic producer and see how closely their wines match your palate and gage whether you agree with the critics or not. So, I was excited to try this wine and especially in the company of white Burg. This is my 3rd btl of Marcassin wine and I can say without out a doubt I was underwhelmed in all three cases. This is my first chard from them though and I had hoped to find something to admire about this wine but couldn't. Many years ago now I had tried to gain access to this highly sought elusive cult producer and never figured out how to get their attention. Then I got pissed and thought, screw them. Thankfully, I never made the list. Lots of material here but I'd much prefer to see this fruit and terroir in the hands of say Ted Lemon or the guys from Arnot Roberts. Personally, I'd much rather drink the less heavy handed, more ethereal Arnot Roberts chardonnays any day. Think my buddy Kevin was scratching an itch and I enjoyed the opportunity to check out this reputed producer's Chardonnay. Now we both know. Reminds me of Kistler Chards but those too are more in my wheelhouse than this. Scored for my palate, your mileage could be completely different. The wine, for me felt a little sluggish under girth of its oak treatment and lower acidity.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/20/17, 10:05 AM - Clearly an Allen Meadows clone who thinks that less flavor means "subtle" and please oh please let me fight thru musky, musty off flavors that are green due to under-ripe grapes used in French White Burg. and pay a very high price for their so-called name.

  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/20/17, 4:49 PM - no nerve hit, I am just sorry that the best growing areas are not in France and people have been raised to drink more expensive and lesser wines. You seem misguided about acid levels and aging. Having had quality chards from early 1990's recently and with many no one on the planet and I told Bob (Robert Parker) that when I wrote him and included him as one, would know they were 20 years or more in age. That included Marcassin, Peter Michael, Martinelli. Here is a little tasting of direct competition in Dallas on the wines we speak of. http://graileys.com/blog/marcassin-vs-burgundy/

  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/20/17, 4:53 PM - I would also be interested in point #III in her newsletter. She is giving some facts- so I would expect any counter view to have equal facts unless Trump has done more polluting in this part of the internet.

    http://www.drvino.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Marcassin.pdf

White
2009 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast
1/31/2015 - sdr Likes this wine:
89 points
While very good this is just too one dimensional and becomes tiring to drink after one glass. It's pineapple juice as wine. Still, very good tension and energy.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    9/20/17, 10:13 AM - very funny and you must have no idea as to what pineapple tastes like.

Red
2003 Martinelli Zinfandel Jackass Hill Russian River Valley
5/6/2011 - peterk wrote:
95 points
After the alcohol blew off (about an hour) this was a big, ripe, deep, luscious, full-bodied wine. I've not been enjoying Martinelli Zins lately because of their heat; however, this was just wonderful!
  • jazzwineman commented:

    5/18/14, 9:32 AM - May I suggest that you take some of the Martinelli Zins and decant them for 8-10 hours and see how they then taste like.

    Good drinking ahead.

White
2012 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay Carneros
Yes, before I begin, I am a wine snob and I started years ago as a teenager being taught to drink great wines. My favorite for years was 1970 BV PR and Mayacamas 1968 and 1970- so that is a point of reference.
---
The 2012 Rombauer is about as awful a chardonnay I have had in a number of years, beyond a bottle that might have been corked.
Next to nothing in the nose beyond the smell of sawed wood a very mild entry of some cantaloupe or melon based fruit. (and actually that disappeared in about 5 minutes) Mid palate was fairly thin, high acid with a mild spritz and attacked my upper mouth. No low or high palate notes and finishes with a transition to a thin wood endowed wine that had a hot finish all the way down the throat despite only 14.5. It also left a persistent sour and metallic aftertaste that indicated a highly manipulated, mass produced wine.

i have read comparisons and either someone is not experienced in wine drinking, smokes, or pops and drinks too cold or is not being honest and is working uncover for the winery- but to compare this wine to Peter Michael, Marcassin, Aubert, Dumol, Morlet or Martinelli does not hold water much less wine taste. This is like comparing a Kia (that has been wrecked) with a new Jaguar- humorous - if not sad.
I will not bother with details, but this may be a great wine with food as the food can add the flavor that is lacking or cover up the lack of any structure or flavor, much less balance.

As a lark. had a L'Oliveto chard from Brack Mountain and while that is an under $20 chard that I would not normally drink, it overwhelmed this mess of a chard that Rombauer wants to hold up as a wine of ANY quality. This is a great example of wines that people drink and then say- i don't like wine. If this is all I had to drink - I would say the same.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    3/29/14, 8:28 AM - I will let this speak for itself.

    http://ratings.jdpower.com/automotive/ratings/909201717/2013-Sales+Satisfaction+Index/index.htm

    However the wine is crap regardless of car comparison

Red
2009 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Right off the truck this had a bunch of undissolved sulfur and was spritzy. Shook it three times and it popped three times. A mess in the glass. Day two there was nothing fruit wise and I thought it was shot. Day three finally shows the Marcassin I know and love. Great nose of coffee grounds cinnamon and plums. The palate is oh so smooth and balanced. That's right, balanced. Hints of pomegranate cherries and a touch of coffee. Great acid on this makes it clean and mouth watering. I really like these wines.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    2/3/14, 6:08 PM - I am not sure about sulfur and spritz. Had zero problem with such and decanted for about 11 hours. Had it when first opened and it was not as evolved, but clearly no sulfur or spritz in the slightest. There are some that claim that is not a Burgundy, as if the only Pinot Noir that can be good has to come from the weedy growth and poor growing seasons of France. As to the Allen meadow's fans- I would pay to have you describe the burnt rubber that is claimed in these wines. Sound to me like someone got a burnt ego and made a conflation. And guess what- I seem to find myself disliking Meadows!!

    Here is an interesting piece of reading by Ms. Turley- I think the points make the section III are more than just opinion and speculation.

    http://www.drvino.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Marcassin.pdf

  • jazzwineman commented:

    2/3/14, 7:07 PM - Well, we come to the same conclusion about the wine in the end and hat is super. Few people have had wines of this quality ( since they are not the easiest to get)and we are lucky, even at a high price to find and enjoy and share. My point about meadows, is that, while he can have an opinion, he seems more bent on an agenda (perhaps he wants to be on Fox news) or almost a vendetta about Helen and group and his descriptions of wines like this are so far off, one wonders his real issues other than the pure taste of the wine. It is one of the reason why I always pour blind- I want people to taste wine, not labels. So thumbs up to your enjoyment of the wine!

  • jazzwineman commented:

    2/3/14, 9:25 PM - Sounds like Mr. Ed is talking about FKS (False Knowledge Syndrome).

    Just for the knowledge of other wine drinkers-we have a neat wine place with some very knowledge and people that have taste buds and certifications and last year they had Marcassin vs. their great french counter-parts. Interesting read.

    http://graileys.com/marcassin-vs-burgundy/

White
2009 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Zio Tony Ranch Russian River Valley
1/25/2014 - edwilley3 wrote:
84 points
On the open I enjoyed the nose, but found the palate somewhat disappointing. The finish was quite short and the transition from mid-palate to finish was quick and a shock with a certain sourness. Not a seamless wine at all and the nose and palate were not consistent. However, it was not bad. Yet with some decanting it worsened greatly; the finish became sour...and something else I cannot pin down. I would have been fine with it before it turned, even if not really excited. Oak? Not really much going on here in that department. Fruit was not particularly compelling, either. If anything, I'd say that the fruit was underripe (not just a sugar issue...a lack of maturity) and they didn't get the right acid balance. Not a wine capable of aging at all and don't bother decanting if you want it to be a pleasant drink. This is a rip off at 60 bucks. For the same money you can buy a Martinelli Zio Tony which does NOT have a nasty finish and shows serious focus and intensity. I'm struggling to see how anyone could find this wine "well made". One of the worst chardonnays I've had in the last 12 months. The nose probably fools people, but ultimately doesn't make it a good wine.
  • jazzwineman commented:

    1/28/14, 11:45 AM - Well Mr. ED, what do you expect for a restaurant wine these days. Lets us know how many more you will try and how they are.

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