8/1/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Deep red and plush, this shows dark berry fruit and some gaminess on the nose and palate. Quite brushy/briary. Not much tannin left, and seems to drink best right now.

7/28/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

After about 30 minutes of aeration really opened up, and just kept getting richer and creamier. Plenty of fruit and balanced acidity. Drinking well right now, but probably needs 3 more years to peak.

7/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

A blend of 37% Granacha, 35% Carinena, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Tempranillo and 3% Syrah. Fully mature and drinks along the lines of a CNDP, but with a bit more acidity and "zing". Let it breathe for about 30 minutes to soften up. Delicious!

7/10/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Really bright red/purple color, translucent not opaque. Big fruity nose with only touches of vanilla and chocolate, and the palate has more fruit with mostly smooth tannins on the finish. A decent bottle for $15.

7/8/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

A really interesting WHITE wine from priorat, which is comprised of 50% Garnatxa blanca, 30% Pedro Ximenez, and 20% Xarel-Lo, shows a mature color and nose, but is by no means dead or dried up. Wildflower honey infused peaches and apricots with nuances of smoke and slatey/gravelly dust, and the finish is dry and lingers a bit. This still has some life in it, and will hold for a little bit, but I bet it was perfect in 2010. Look out for younger vintages of this wine if you see it around, and they could be in the 92-94 range.

6/27/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

A nice little wine with good color and just a touch of oak, which suits the level of fruit extraction perfectly. Will still improve for 2-3 years, but you can enjoy this right now.

6/20/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Beautiful deep ruby color and this to me has a nose of CNDP or a fine Gigondas, which is to say, some secondary aromas of burnt brush and roasted sage with a little barnyard and even some iron or blood. The palate follows through, and has a surprisingly long and persistent finish of 20+ seconds. I'm not sure how long this will age, but boy is is delicious right now!

5/29/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Nice red color and a nose really jumping out of the glass with lots of red fruit and some hints of balsam. The palate is rich and round and the perfume of the nose continues on the palate making this very pleasant drinking experience. Smooth tannins and enough acidity to balance the fruit. Will improve a bit over the next 2 years and then hold for another 5, but you can definitely enjoy this today with about 30 minutes of air time.

5/29/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Golden yellow with a nuance of greenish white tinge, this wine is steely and tight and needed 1 hour+ to open up and reveal the toast and caramel coupled with oodles of lemon curd acidity. Tasted like lightly toasted Wonder Bread with sweet cream butter. Need to revisit this in 2-3 years.

5/29/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

White/Green hues with plenty of citrusy aromas and flavors oozing out of the glass and on the palate. After about 30 minutes, gets a bit fatter and rounder, but keeps the lean, bright, citrusy notes throughout. Great with fresh asparagus and lemon butter.

5/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Lots of bright fruit on the nose with this still deeply colored wine. Has the right amount of acidity and fruit, but not as much secondary and tertiary aromas/flavors going on. Needs more time.

5/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Light golden yellow color with a bit of age, however, this wine is still very much alive and still crisp and lively on the finish. Good white fruit flesh and some mineral tinges add up to a pleasurable experience. Drink up.

5/7/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Bright red with a touch of brick. Still drinking fairly young and about 90 minutes of air time show the potential of this wine. Touches of anise and smoke coupled with massive depth on the palate and racy acidity. It's easy to see why Italian reds like this, with waves of flavor, bursting floral aromas, and boatloads of acid are so intriguing. Excellent!

4/25/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Deep red color and modest aromatics of berries and some underbush with a touch of burnt/charred wood, followed by a palate of dark red fruits and some more charcoal and beef blood notes. After about 30 minutes, the wine fattened up quite a bit. May improve a bit in the bottle, drink now through 2017.

4/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Light red color with a lot of fruit on the nose with touches of spice, vanilla, and classic mineral and herb notes on the palate make this almost like an Echezeaux, which is no wonder seeing how it basically is Echezeaux. A wine with excellent balance and the terroir speaks vividly here. Delicious now and why wait?

4/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Deep red color with a touch of purple still lingering. Nose was filled with lush berries and some smoke and the palate had more of the same with some mineral/saline notes popping in and out as well. Had at La Sirene in NYC and it was a perfect pair to the Potato dish with stinky cheese they serve. Drink now.

4/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Good deep color and a nose that speaks Merlot with notes of berries and earth, with a palate of smooth fruits and some chunky chocolate notes followed by a smooth finish with not a lot of tannins left. A nice Pomerol that has matured gracefully and is now ready to consume. Should hold for 3-5 years and may develop a bit more complexity on the nose.

4/4/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Deep lemon color and more lemon on the nose with loads of stoney minerals on the palate and some dry fruits as well, with a very full mouthfeel. Plenty of acidity will keep this going for 10 more years, and it may even get a bit a little better.

4/4/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Still ruby colored with a touch of brick. Plenty of currant and plum on the palate, with smooth tannins and a fairly persistent finish. Served at Easter Dinner with Lamb, which was a perfect pair.

4/4/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Dark red color with some reduction on the nose, and the palate has deep, dark cherries, bramble, and sweet spice. No tannins that I can taste, but enough acidity to keep the fruit in check. 13.5% ABV.

3/30/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Wildly smokey and seashore misty nose which immediately has me thinking of a campfire on the the beach at night, with burning sage brush and fruits on top of the fire!. Very strong and needs some water to round it out, and becomes more fruity with more water.

3/28/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Amber gold with corn, coconut, vanilla, fresh leather, and even a touch of syrup, with more of the same on the palate adding apricots and roast nuts. A touch of spice comes in on the palate and this is a big bold whiskey not for the faint of heart.

3/28/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Copper/Dark Orange color with loads of vanilla, caramel, and a touch of spice on the nose followed by more of the same on the palate with not as dry a finish as the regular Bulleit Bourbon.

3/28/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Golden color, lots of fruit, honey, and vanilla on the nose and palate and has a dry finish. Was told that the producer uses "Alligator Char" on the oak barrels.

3/26/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Light green tinged color yields lime, citrus, apricot, and stony fruits on both the nose and palate and a nice tight line of minerals and acidity run through the middle. Quite good.

3/23/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Really dark purple like a Zinfandel, but light on the palate like a Pinot, this is the first Lagrein I've ever tasted and it is fairly simple. Plenty of lush smooth fruit and a nice twinge of acidity make this interesting.

3/20/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Medium red with some signs of brick showing, the nose was fresh and with kirsh, berry, and hints of flinty smoke and dust. Really nice texture and weighting to this wine. While the color is on the lighter side, I'm not sure if its "time to say good-bye" to this wine, rather it will probably develop a bit more, especially on the nose, in the next 5 years.

3/20/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Still showing a mid deep color with very little sign of brick, the nose displays lots of perfume with ample berry notes and some vanilla/toast, this has plump fruit on the palate, modest tannins, and a 30 second finish. This needs about 5-10 more years to fully integrate and there is plenty of fruit there to hold for another 10 years beyond.

2/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

An interesting and quite chewy wine with some Amarone like qualities but lacking concentration. Lots of dark red fruits and hints of Almonds and cobbler, this went well with a hard cheese. Drink now through 2015.

2/18/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

From Magnum: A very power laden Krug with a crisp apple and bright citrus nose that has hints of honey, toasted bread, spice, and vanilla with a rich and smooth texture, and the flavors and finish linger for 30+ seconds. In 5-10 years, this has the chance to develop immense complexity, well beyond what it displays now. Drink now, but patience will reward.

2/16/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Really nice entry level Chianti with plenty of cherry aroma, touches of leather, anise, and a bit of nutty almond which follow through on the palate. Perfect with antipasto. This is good now and will hold for a year or two more.

2/12/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Already developing a middle aged Nebbiolo bricking color, this example was from a perfectly stored bottle, and showed its best foot forward. Spiced fruits and some brambly earth notes evolved in the glass and lead to a palate which is both pure and powerful. Not the most complex Barolo I've had, but non-the-less, quite good and will age for a least 5 if not 10 more years with some improvement including added complexity.

2/12/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Showing a bit of age, but with plenty more left in the tank, this was not as fruit forward as I was expecting and instead showed focus and structure. Lots of anise, tobacco, and at first a hint of lanolin, but this turns into pure Sangiovese fruit flavors that get chewier and chewier with time.

2/12/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

At Grimaldi's pizza in Dumbo, this showed very nicely with a deep rep/purple hue and loads of sweet dark cherry fruit on the nose. Anise, crushed violets, and some blueberry join in and follow through on the palate. Good acidity balances this wine and the tannins are now fully integrated. A good example of Italian Cabernet, and will hold for another 3-5 years.

1/17/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Really dark color and mostly mature notes exude from this. Loads of meaty, smokey, and toasty notes and a lingering follow through. Pretty good but now fully mature. Drink up.

1/16/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Very deep red with a touch of purple remaining, nose shows some heat, but gobs of fruits, cassis, and touches of vanilla and toast are present. Palate is dense and chewy with sinewy fruit and some meaty notes. With 20-30 second finish, this wine is bigger than I though it would be, and still needs 2-3 years to hit its peak. Quite decent, and if you can find a bottle, a good value.

1/11/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Color is a bit lighter than I thought it would be, and it's clearly fully mature. Nice barnyardy nose, if you're into that, and still some raspberry and ripe strawberry notes as well. Plenty of acidity, so it is still holding. Perfect with a nice chunk of aged Manchego. Drink up!

1/9/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Light golden color with an intriguing hint of orange is followed by lychee, rose petal, guava, and a touch of spice. The palate is not quite as dynamic, and only lightly sweet, but plenty of stuffing here and ample acidity to balance everything out. Paired with Apple Tart Tatin and Vanilla ice cream, which was a brilliant match.

1/9/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Dark purple color and loads of blueberry, blackberry, and roasted notes followed by some espresso. Touches of white pepper and some other spices are matched by enormous amounts of concentration and firm yet supple tannins. Smooth creamy mouthfeel rounds out this very interesting Shiraz which possesses surprisingly good balance. Will hold for 3-5 more years.

1/9/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

A dark purple color, but interestingly a reticent nose revealing only touches of plums and blue fruit, but with ample anise and hints of burnt dark toast. Some plummy fruit on the palate, but at this stage mostly brighter berries and cassis. A nice line of minerality streaks through the ensemble of fruits, followed by modest tannins, and this fine second wine should peak in 3-5 years.

1/9/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Medium garnet red, with touches of pink rust. Lots of tart red fruit and strawberries, with a touch of peppery tea. Palate is slightly less impressive, but time should add silkiness and refinement. Good now, try again in 5 years and the true Rioja character should emerge.

1/9/2013 - Squirrelled wrote:

Medium red with a touch of brick on this fully matured Sangiovese. Some cherry and plum on the nose followed by chunky fruit and some cream on the palate. Good acidity make this a nice food wine. Drink up.

12/13/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

A nice deep garnet color with a modestly expressive nose that oozes rather than jumps out of the glass. Plummy, deep fruits, whiffs of smoke, and a touch of char are followed by a smooth plush palate with soft tannins. This must be at its peak right now, but will probably hold for another 2-3 years.

12/11/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

This deep colored red from South Africa is fashioned after a left bank Bordeaux, mostly similar to a Pauillac. Lots of deep fruit and gobs of cherries and casssis. Plenty of depth of flavor and loaded with both fruit and acidity. The tannins are ripening, but by no means soft. As with most wines from ZA, I get a whiff of flinty smoke out of this, and it adds a bit of intrigue. Creamy and smooth on the 20 second+ finish.

12/10/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

This 100% Grenache has a medium dark red color with a touch of brick on the edge. Nice ripe cherry fruit, a touch of tar on the nose, and a hint of yeasty bread are followed by a medium weight and creamy palate with plums, cherries, and a touch of barnyard. A little short on the finish, but nice smooth tannins make for a pleasant quaffer. Excellent with a triple cream brie!

12/8/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

Nice deep color and clarity, this has an expressive nose of cassis, plum, and notes of blackened toast. The palate has elements of cream and plum with a modest dose of oak. Pretty forward and ready to go now, but will hold for at least 3 years. A nice entry level Pauillac.

12/6/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

My third experience with this wine, the first two being flawed bottles. This particular one had a very good color, a positive sign, and much clearer aromas and taste profiles. Lots of bright fruits and crushed berries framed by a lot of acidity and some tannins. Touches of tar and bacon, in a very light way. A really good terroir, and this wine gives a hint of the possibilities. Probably peaking right now, and will hold for 2-3 years.

12/5/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

Nice deep inky color, with no visible age showing yet. Dark plums and black cherry aromas with charcoal and some bramble notes. Lots of fruit on the palate, but also has some minerality and tarriness. Not a heavy wine, but has enough body, although acidity could be brighter. Pretty interesting for a $15 wine, and this should hold for another 2-3 years.

12/4/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

I found this to be a very aromatic Gamay with good concentration and a nice touch of spice. Fair to good acidity. Needed about 15 minutes of air to really show its best, and continued to round out and get more spicy with time. This is a fine example of what a well made Cru Beaujolais can deliver, even from a ubiquitous producer.

12/4/2012 - Squirrelled wrote:

Nice brambly nose on this Shiraz, which happens to come in at 13.5% alcohol. A little drier than many other Barossa Shirazes I've tasted before, but this offers a clean and crisp drink which I had with a rare Sirloin.