3/19/2024 - stayhappy21 wrote:

Drank this at a wine dinner with my wine mates at Kam Boat Teochew Restaurant. Theme of the evening: Wines that start with the letter Y.

Another highlight of the dinner. Gold in colour with amazing balance and acidity. Sweetness countered by fruits, body in harmony with the elements. Apricot, peaches, nectar, honey wax.

What more can one ask from the wine? Amazing. Simply amazing.

12/26/2021 - 99tollap wrote:

It's been a lot of sweet wine since my last sauterenes. This bottle has made me strongly regret that. Wow, what a wine. This is seductively delicious, elegant, refined, complex and so well balanced. Everything here is in check. I don't know why you'd wait to drink this, because it is so delicious right now. Well worth it at CHF 49/750ml

4/17/2021 - 99tollap wrote:

The final wine of my Mosel Kabinett tour and probably my least favourite. I find this a little flat and lacking in flavour. Nice acidity and stoney minerality, with buckets of citrus flavours. Good balance with the slight amount of residual sugar. Clearly well made. Unfortuntely the mid-palette is cut short rather abruptly, leaving a fairly weak and forgettable finish. Perhaps this needs a bit more bottle time to develop some complexity. CHF 22

10/19/2020 - Riesling Brother Likes this wine:

The wine was amazing, so young, so fine, slightly salty, lots of acids like lemonade but balanced with the dry/sweet and salty. I chilled it in my freezer, then gulped it down. I think I need a few more bottles.

I need to revise my review (11-12-20), this week I drank both Zilliken and Willi Schaffer 2019 Kabs, and now I realized that F. Haag is way better than these two! I can now see why MFW has a high rating and gave this wine a amazing review, but the Zilliken also got the same score? I am not sure what it going to be like in 20 years, but this young, F Haag get's my love. Zilliken is more refined and balanced, but I love the energy and explosion of fruits/acid from Haag. Schaffer taste sweetest, but I honestly drank the whole bottle of F Haag in maybe 10 minutes.

2/3/2021 - 99tollap wrote:

Really enjoyed this wine, given the price and volume they're putting out. Nice dusty cherry nose. Lovely oak integraiton on the palette. The fruit does taste a little "fake" and sweet-shop like, but it's kept in check by the acidity and tannins. Just a solid wine.

12/21/2020 - 99tollap wrote:

I feel bad here, but this wine did absolutely nothing for me. Astringent on the nose and palette. Extremely tight and sharp. Some nice floral notes and a bit of cherry, but not much more. After a couple of hours of breathing, it had opened up marginally, but not much. The next day this was a tannin monster and difficult to drink. I would give this way lower than 86 based on this experience, but I'm sure that with (a lot of) time this can develop into something decent. Avoid this for now.
EDIT: I've marked this as "flawed" now, based on some of the comments and retrospective thoughts. Even if not flawed, it appears to have shutdown considerably and, in my opinion (!), should be left to develop a good while.

8/18/2020 - Benj wrote:

60% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. Screwcap almost popped open when unscrewed. Initial pop-and-pour revealed massive harsh tannin, VA, and funk - seemed like maybe this had some microbial activity in bottle. However, after a 1-hour decant all was well again, with some nice cassis, spiced wood, and vibrant acidity. The fruit was just a touch muddy, and the palate just a touch disjointed - perhaps elements of the wine itself, perhaps results of whatever was going on in this particular bottle - but this turned out to be a nice sip. Lacked the clarity of fruit or refreshing herbaceousness that makes some other Coonawarra wines sing at their price point, but decent stuff. Likely not a rebuy at $23. 14%.

8/9/2020 - 99tollap wrote:

Good wine, but I had expected/hoped for more. Indulgent and intense nose. Loads of brambly fruit; raspberries, blackberries mixed with Asian spices and a nice note of black tea. With air, earthy aromas of coffee and cocoa develop. In the mouth this is initially quite sweet and very fruity, but with air it settles down into a somewhat darker but very complex assembly of forest fruits and spice. It's well made with a lovely texture and suprising freshness. I find, however, that it is rather one dimensional. The flavours are certainly complex but quite overwhelming and show little evolution through the mid-palette and finish. It's also rather poor value for money at CHF 56. CHF30-40 would be more appropriate.

8/12/2020 - Benj Likes this wine:

Oh my god. Pure infanticide here. I know that these wines are immortal but I need more of this to see it to its peak. Nose is gorgeous, mouthwatering, with just-ripe blackberry, resinous dried mint, dill, nutmeg, pina colada, cigar box, cola. Palate has huge juicy acid, lovely medium leathery tannin, cherry, beautifully savory at the end. I'd suggest not even touching this for another 5 years - the oak still needs some time to integrate and the development of tertiary flavors will help round out the acidity. But, at this stage of its development, I think this is the best Viña Ardanza since 2001 - it has the same incredible vivacity of that vintage. It might even be better. I can't believe I only paid $25 for this - are you kidding me? Even at its normal retail of $30-40 it is a screaming QPR. 13.5%

11/23/2016 - Benj Likes this wine:

No rough edges. Creamy Apple nose, not very yeasty. Very even, measured mousse, pleasantly prickly. High acid is balanced well by rich body. Finish is warm, tart, slightly nutty, medium-plus length. Still seems very bright and young, a little tight. Excellent, if not mind-blowing. May improve with age - certainly has the legs. 12.5%. 91+

10/15/2016 - Benj Likes this wine:

For some reason, I always end up tasting Two Hands next to Mollydooker, which isn't really fair on Mollydooker. This is a big beauty. Liquorous plum, ripe blackberry, very dense and rich on the palate, with perceptible weight and viscosity. Long, well put together. I'd love to try this with some age on it. 15.8% alcohol is... a lot, but considering that, this has surprisingly little heat to it. Bravo. $75.

9/1/2016 - Benj Likes this wine:

Lots of pencil shavings, sweet warm dark red fruit. Gorgeous acidity, very bright. Tannins are definitely there but become supple, leathery with air. Tons of ripe fruit, good length, good alcohol integration. Rich and sumptuous without being overblown or too alcoholic. An extremely drinkable and lovely wine. 13.5%, $30.

2/10/2016 - Benj Likes this wine:

Candied citrus, woody honey, slightly drying mouthfeel, superb sugar/acid balance, clean finish. Not intensely sweet, this has some shared character with a teenage Auslese, though with a little more weight and sugar. I think this is drinking beautifully now and don't see any need to wait. Quite a delight. 12.5%

12/14/2015 - Benj wrote:

The Yulupa range appears to be aimed at the by-the-glass restaurant market, and given that restaurant prices tend to be hugely marked up, it's a good thing that this punches slightly above its price point. This is recognizably Cab, albeit a soft one. A little herbal. Decent. $13.

12/28/2015 - 99tollap wrote:

Hugely impressive wine. This is one to pour and enjoy slowly. Young still, but perfectly drinkable, especially with a bit of air. Very rich. Superb depth and complexity. I love the spices on the back end. Cumin seed, turmuric, orange peel... Acidity is fine for me. Would love to try this again in 10 years.

6/23/2015 - Benj Likes this wine:

Nose: ripe peach, papaya, honey and spice but also lemon-lime citrus. Smells like it should be very sweet. Palate: bone dry, excellent almost bracingly high acidity - but with plenty of mouthwatering citrus fruit. Some lovely tangy molasses/burnt caramel flavour but not sweet at all. Quite mineralic. Exceptionally well-aged, drinking beautifully. Medium weight. A superb example of how well Riesling can age, and an excellent value for what it is. £15, 10%.

4/10/2013 - 99tollap wrote:

Very viscous, dense and dark. Served chilled and it was delightful. The initial impression is not great. Heat from the alcohol and nothing particularly unique. The mid palate and finish though are wonderful. The heat from the alcohol disappears, leaving incredible smoothness and flavours of rich plums, chocolate, coffee and liquorice. Won't buy again at £26, but very interesting one off treat.

1/17/2015 - 99tollap wrote:

Faith in new world riesling restored.

This is a glorious wine! Very evolved nose... plenty of petroleum combined with honey, lime and wet stones. Much deeper and more intense than most at this price and youth. In the mouth this just explodes with sweetness, but so lively and fresh. Clean and precise. I'd say this is approaching auslese levels of sugar and general quality.

Fabulous stuff.

12/26/2014 - 99tollap wrote:

Second attempt at this wine. This time decanted 3 hours and drank slightly chilled and allowed to warm.

Much better! Impenetrable black. I mean, seriously opaque. Very intense, pungent nose. Beautiful smoked meats, black fruit and eucalyptus. An initial impression of sweetness which rapidly subsides. There is a wonderful streak of acidty which cuts through the richness and alcohol. Much more expressive, balanced and fresh than I remember. Showing a lot of evolution at this stage. Tannins are silky smooth.

Remarkable value at AUS$35.

12/24/2014 - 99tollap wrote:

Very dark amber given it's youth.

Such a disappointment, given this wine's reputation! Sweet and racy attack. Plenty of acidity and some nice caramelised orange flavours. Beyond this, the wine becomes bitter and flat very quickly. No intensity beyond the first second or so. You can get far better dessert wines at half the price.

8/20/2014 - Benj Likes this wine:

Quite remarkable depth and penetration for a Muscat. Quite grippy in the mouth, sweetness clinging to my cheeks. Lots of acidity keeps this quite fresh. Super.

8/18/2014 - Benj wrote:

From 375 ml. Dried apricot, mint chocolate and spice come through on the nose, but the palate comes in waves of flavor, with passion fruit, dried pineapple, more of the minty fresh but deep rich chocolate note, drying spicy botrytis, pure dried apricot. Very long finish. Ok, now stepping back a second - this is the only "young" Yquem I've tasted, so maybe it's just because it's young, but despite being totally wonderfully delicious, this isn't even close in complexity, power or finesse to the 1976 I had a few years back. £160/375 ml.

12/22/2013 - CotedeProvince wrote:

Ready to drink. A decent everyday wine.

3/9/2014 - 99tollap wrote:

Tightly wound. Full of citrus and honeyed pear, with some waxy, yeasty flavours adding quite a bit of complexity on the mid palette and finish. Quite light. There's plenty of acidity, but I find it a little overbearing at present and not balanced with the fruit. A little disappointing given the reputation of the wine, but still great value for money (in Australia at least). Should be better in a few years. Oh and 11% alcohol....great!

1/31/2014 - ColinR wrote:

Deep garnet-crimson; intense violets, cassis, kirsch liquor, strawberries, fresh soil; ripe blackberry/cherry, slightly gamey, slightly spicy, medium-full body, good acidity, excellent balance, firm grainy tannins, good finish.
Decanted 1 hr. Wow initial nose of flowers, black fruits and soil. Very Northern Rhone-like. As it opened, typical shiraz notes of smoked meat and black pepper appeared. All of this was elegantly balanced. Beautiful stuff with good life ahead of it.

1/23/2014 - 99tollap wrote:

Drank with patatas bravas. I was lucky enough to get an exceptional bottle of Musar, far better than my last '99. Light cherry colour. Extremely aromatic and complex nose. I could smell this just pouring into the decanter! Sweet berrys, apple cider, leather and general 'forest' aromas. Quite Burgundian. In the mouth the attack is also quite sweet and rich extending to a beautiful and almost piercing acidity on the mid-palette but never off-balance. The finish is warming, very, very long and mouth-filling. Tannins are there but resolving nicely. Stunning and unique wine. Best way to drink this? Slowly from initial pour. I drank this with a friend over 6 hours and it was insane. Worth a gamble I'd say.

1/17/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote:

Chicago Wine Flock..."Dennis Shares Spain" (Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL): Tasted double blind in mostly 2001 Rioja flight. Subdued black fruit with background spice on nose. Subtle and energetic but showing a bit of awkward structure and oak to start, with some caramelly, vanilla elements that were a bit too prominent. Better after a few hours, this would benefited form more decanter time. I liked this wine more a year ago when it had gotten more air time before serving.

12/16/2013 - Benj Likes this wine:

One bottle strongly corked, the other showing very well. Buttery oak and slightly unripe pear on the nose. Medium-high acid on palate - very refreshing. Quite some tannins from oak. Quite oaky but very delicious, full and long. Just a touch hot on the finish. Smashing stuff. $28. 13.5%

1/28/2013 - Benj wrote:

In Vino Veritas Session 3 (MIT): Wow. Beautiful nose - definite eucalyptus notes, strawberry Jolly Rancher - more red fruit than many Cabs. *EXTREMELY* juicy and fruity, plenty of oak. Warm, rich sweet fruit. Absolutely stunningly delicious, unbelievably beautiful, drinking perfectly. Handles its alcohol like it was nothing and sends shivers down my spine. What a wine. 14.5%, $50.

1/28/2013 - Benj wrote:

In Vino Veritas Session 3 (MIT): Yesssss. A gentle beauty. Soft, balanced nose. Excellent acid on the palate - very much on the lemony and tart apple end of the Chardonnay spectrum. Refreshing and delicious, as wine should be. Super food wine, and an excellent example of how well Chardonnay can perform when it isn't overwhelmed by too much oak. 13%, $29.

12/25/2012 - 99tollap wrote:

Amazing balance between sweetness and acidity here. Pretty much perfect. The wine is viscous but still refreshing and extremely well balanced. Just not that complex or 'interesting' in terms of actual flavour, although still completely delicious.