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Comments on my notes

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Red
1961 Château Latour Grand Vin Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
2/19/2016 - Pcrage Likes this wine:
100 points
At Robert Parker "Matter of Taste" Latour vertical dinner at Daniel in NYC. '03, '01, '00, '96, '82, '61 ex chateau. And the food wasn't bad either!!

What an evening. This vertical was about as good as it gets and enjoyed the evening with old friends and some new ones too. Robert Parker was as gracious as ever as was Daniel Boulud.

Of course each of these wines was outstanding I was particularly impressed with the '01 (for an off year) and the '82 was mind bending. But when '61 was served and compared it was an emotional experience to say the least. As Parker put it "this is an immortal wine". The only sad part of the experience is knowing that there is less of this in the world today and I wonder if it will ever be duplicated. You must search this out.
  • Pcrage commented:

    2/22/16, 8:10 PM - Wineotim

    Don't let go of those dreams. I did for years and they began to come true with a little hard work and some luck along the way.

    Cheers. P.

Red
2011 Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
12/22/2015 - Pcrage wrote:
80 points
First let me say that I am a big fan of Insignia and have a case vertical from 1997 though 2012. It is one of my favorite California blends and I always look forward to a special occasion to open this fine wine...except in the case of the 2011.

It pains me to say this but the 2011 is a real disappointment. Tasted out of bottle upon decant and it gave little indication of anything exciting. Aired for over an hour and then drank one glass (that's all I could take) over the next hour. Restrained nose, a bit of fruit up front then flat mid palate and nothing but a watery descent on the finish. This saddened me.

I realize this is a young wine but it has limited depth and tannin let alone fruit right now to hope for anything better.

I have had no less than 60 bottles of insignia over the years and this was a major bummer.
  • Pcrage commented:

    12/25/15, 1:59 AM - I guess I expected more from the Phelps brand but being a businessman understand the challenge scrapping a vintage can be. Not everyone can be like maybach and y'quem when it comes to quality above production.

Red
2005 Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
11/25/2015 - wren460 wrote:
90 points
Sorry, new world wines deliver much more bang for the buck than this over valued French wines. It was tasted blind and a Nicolas Catena Zapata beat the crap out of the Pontet. Nice wine, but for $125 I can definitely think of much more delicious options, specially new world beauties.
  • Pcrage commented:

    12/4/15, 4:16 PM - Hello Wren.

    May I humbly suggest giving a chateau and vintage such as this an additional 5 if not 10 years of proper storage to be ready to enjoy. Many times those unfamiliar with old world classic vintages from Bordeaux and burgundy drink them far too early. Here in the states wines are made for earlier consumption generally so this is a common mistake.

    Regards

Red
2010 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select Stags Leap District
6/30/2015 - qourtofsommelier wrote:
76 points
The wine has low acidity. It smells like black currant (cassis). The wine finishes short. The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. The wine has smooth texture.
  • Pcrage commented:

    7/1/15, 5:06 PM - Hello qourto

    Thanks for the notes but I am puzzled how you arrived at a sub 80 score on a wine I have tasted twice and thought was quite lovely. Young yes and needs several years in the cellar... but lovely nonetheless...

    Thanks. PC.

  • Pcrage commented:

    7/2/15, 5:40 PM - Tightlettuce

    Agree with you. The law of large numbers will ultimately rule here. That's why I like CT, it provides a deep and broad view....great point.

Red
2009 Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
7/20/2014 - Cuellar's Cellar Likes this wine:
89 points
Ok, so I have Insignia from all different vintages. I just feel that this is a good wine. BUT for the price it is over rated. I feel like the scores are high due to the name. I love Phelps, but I for the price.....this wasn't worth it.
  • Pcrage commented:

    6/19/15, 3:19 PM - Cuellarstyle....

    I am a touch curious about your note on the 09. Are you saying it deserves an 89 score because it is overpriced or regardless of price it is a sub 90 wine?

    Thanks. P.

Red
2005 Château Léoville Poyferré St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
5/30/2015 - Bob in NC Likes this wine:
93 points
A wonderful Left bank Bordeaux in it drinking window..
  • Pcrage commented:

    6/2/15, 5:58 AM - Bob

    Leoville poyferre is one of my favorite chateaux. The 2000’ 2003 and 2009 are stunners. Glad you enjoyed. Poyferre is located in st. Julien on the left bank of the Gironde in the medoc. Cheers.

Red
2009 Château Léoville Poyferré St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
3/26/2015 - floridawinedrkr Likes this wine:
94 points
First I have to say I dont drink a lot of wines from France. We drink a lot of high end Napa cult cabs.
Upon first sip its lighter in body, darker ruby red color, with light edges. The color is really amazing. A beautiful dark Violet color. Nose of black berries and flowers. Good fruit up front with a lighter mouth feel. Easy to drink. Not heavy what so ever. Flavors of raspberry candy, flowers, oak, dust. The finish just wasn't all together upon opening. It finished somewhat off from what a bottle at this price should deliver. Parker said it will drink best from 2018 on. So maybe it just needs time to come around. The potential is there for 100 points. Still spectacular right now though.
  • Pcrage commented:

    3/31/15, 5:07 PM - It's great to see you are dipping your toe in the old world pool. I, myself, was first a napa cab and meritage lover only to branch out and become an old world maven over the past 10 years or so.

    The 09 poyferre is about 6 to 8 years away from even entering its maturity window and will then likely improve over the following 15 to 20 years. If there is one thing I learned fine French Bordeaux and burgundy for that matter take time... A lot of it. The average American cab drinker who is used to accessing a wine that is three to five years old is often put off by French and old world wine of the same age....patience is the key....

    If you can get your hands on a 1989 lynch bages or a 2000 poyferre and allow them to decant for a few hours you will see what I mean...an emotional experience to be sure.

Red
2008 Château Pontet-Canet Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
2/13/2015 - georgenmil wrote:
78 points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
  • Pcrage commented:

    3/22/15, 3:28 PM - Now that we have dispensed with the other stuff has anyone gotten any more intel for the 78 score? I had a bottle of this a few months back and a 78 was the furthest thing from my mind.

  • Pcrage commented:

    3/22/15, 6:00 PM - Agreed That's why it usually makes sense to throw out the flyers at both ends of the spectrum and average the remainder.

    Cheers.

Red
2009 Château Pavie St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
12/13/2014 - MikeATL Does not like this wine:
72 points
Cloyingly ripe on the nose, short, tannic, and weedy on the palate, the best I can say for it is that it was better than the appalling 2005, which when tasted blind a couple of years ago was reminiscent of rotting grass clippings macerated with cough syrup and a few handfuls of powdered tannin. It takes real winemaking magic to get this much weediness and harsh tannin in a wine with this much ripeness.
  • Pcrage commented:

    3/1/15, 5:19 AM - Interesting perspective on these generally solid wines.

    Of the four times I tasted the 05 I never came across rotting grass clippings. Perhaps you were unfortunate enough to have a bad bottle.

    Cheers.

Red
2009 Château Palmer Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend
2/28/2015 - therussianalias wrote:
87 points
This vintage seems to have affected Palmer disastrously, decomposing the fruit to such a degree that any structure here seems to come only from the oak. The alcohol is out of proportion, wafting out of the glass amidst notes of cherry compote that was forgotten on the burner by an inattentive chef. I like high alcohol wines, but this completely lacked balance - it's not a matter of ABV.
  • Pcrage commented:

    2/28/15, 3:30 PM - I have had this wine twice since release and From my perspective this wine is certainly not integrated yet and the lack of balance is to be expected at this time. But just my 2 cents and 20 plus years of Bordeaux experience.

    Give it another 10 to 12 years properly cellared and compare notes. You may see a difference.

Red
2006 Avignonesi-Capannelle 50/50 Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend
2/11/2015 - BBickert Likes this wine:
95 points
I agree with the WS rating of 95 pts. WA only gave it 87. Silky tannins and great balance. I am not real good at describing the flavors. I tasted more sangiovese than merlot. Plenty of fruit with mineral flavors. Silky smooth and a long finish. I bought 5 bottles from the winery after a tour last summer. The wine is so delicious that I ordered another case from the winery. About $92 per bottle including freight. I do not get the WA rating at all, and I usually agree with RP's ratings.
  • Pcrage commented:

    2/12/15, 1:19 PM - after a while we all figure out that the pros are good but not perfect and whether the wine is in the 80's or 90's all that matters is whether or not we like it.....cheers

Red
2008 Continuum Proprietary Red Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
5/8/2014 - IGN WINESNOB Likes this wine:
91 points
Popped and V'd. Took a bit to open up. Interesting finish at the start. This is a confusing bottle of wine, but I think it needs paired with food. Have not had a Continuum that doesn't need a decant.
  • Pcrage commented:

    1/29/15, 3:52 PM - Your observation doesn't surprise me here. As all the great Bordeaux (and California wannabe Bordeaux style) ultimately require food to reveal their true essence. I would agree this 2008 continuum exhibits a rather nice Claret style. Cheers.

Red
2009 Château Gloria St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
1/2/2015 - Pcrage wrote:
Seems to be shut down completely. Unyielding in every respect. No discernible bouquet, flat front and mid palate and very little finish to speak of. Given the solid recent reviews I was expecting more at this point. Now let's be clear, I am a hack at best at identifying great structure but I couldn't get a bead on this at all. And all others who tasted agreed.

Will wait a couple more years to be fair. Hopeful but not excited.
  • Pcrage commented:

    1/2/15, 4:49 PM - Very good point. I was trying to be as forgiving as possible but you are right. I will delete numeric score. Cheers.

  • Pcrage commented:

    1/12/15, 6:47 PM - Wineguy

    Have several more bottles as I do with all wines in my cellar to follow them over time so without question I will be checking in on this wine for many years to come.

    My experience was that the wine was shut down and difficult to make a clear evaluation of its potential. While I do not have any reason to believe it won't develop nicely this is how it performed for my guests and myself. If this does not square with others experiences I cannot comment on that.

    Cheers.

Red
2010 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select Stags Leap District
12/26/2014 - RJurman Likes this wine:
95 points
Wow! This wine was truly spectacular even at this stage. It is young, and a bit tannic but I can't see this wine getting any better. Unfortunately, it did not last long enough to truly evaluate it over time, but I have three more and will not go near them for a least a few years.
  • Pcrage commented:

    1/3/15, 11:45 AM - Hi. Why don't you think this wine will improve with cellar time? P.

  • Pcrage commented:

    1/4/15, 7:21 AM - Thank you. The additional complexity will certainly be a nice development. Cheers!

Red
1989 Château Lynch-Bages Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
12/19/2014 - redknife Likes this wine:
94 points
End of year Friday lunch with Joe and Fern at Htons. unfortunately I had no time to decant this in advance as I was running late. first sip was at cave's temp. 55 F. As expected nose and the first taste was quite closed; it took around two hrs to start opening up and I think it needed more. Great stuff no rush, there are fine unresolved tannins and plenty of fruit to go for another decade.
  • Pcrage commented:

    1/2/15, 4:23 PM - I would be remiss if I didn't say I cringed at a pop and pour of such an elegant wine. No criticism just that this wine begs time in the air like a lovely gracious lady begs admiration and respect.

Red
2010 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve Willamette Valley
11/23/2014 - Pcrage wrote:
89 points
Somewhat disappointed. It almost felt shut down. Very thin at outset and seemed to be holding back much of heretofore mentioned qualities. The mid plate improved a touch but the finish was almost non existent. Have several more bottles so will wait another year and see what happens. I will keep the faith.
  • Pcrage commented:

    11/28/14, 5:34 AM - Bigtex. Decanted for about an hour then sipped for at least two. The nose was reasonably expressive from the beginning but it gave little up over the few hours. It wasn't bad by any means just thin and unyielding.

    I had a half glass left in the bottle the next morning and sipped...still unyielding but opened just a bit. I think its shut down. I keep my cellar fairly cool (55-57) which may have contributed to this.

    I am waiting another year to pop the next and see.

    Cheers.

Red
2011 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley
5/18/2014 - What I'm Drinking Now wrote:
85 points
Wine Spectator Grand Tasting Event (Washington, DC)

Jeff hit the nail on the head. One of the reasons I attend the Wine Spectator event is to try higher end wines that I would like to taste prior to committing over $100/bottle. I couldn't have been more excited about Caymus Special Selection since previous bottles have been outstanding representations of what Napa is capable of.

Unfortunately, this wine was not very good. Expanding on Jeff's points, the wine featured cinnamon, vanilla and even some nutmeg but there was not fruit to be found. It really did taste candied or like it was artificially flavored. I have stayed away from 2010 (personal taste preference) and 2011 due to the difficult whether and this tasting reinforced my stance. If Caymus can't make a great wine in the 2011 vintage....who can?
  • Pcrage commented:

    7/2/14, 5:13 PM - Most everyone else must have a different view of this wine. I certainly can understand a difference of opinion and taste preference. I for one am an old world classic Bordeaux lover and collector of burgundy. Consequently I am not a great fan of the overly extracted California product for the most part. But I can't say caymus 10 or 11 were bad wines by any stretch of the imagination.

  • Pcrage commented:

    9/23/14, 5:57 PM - Fair enough. That's the beauty of wine...

Red
2007 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate Calistoga
7/7/2014 - coltrane wrote:
88 points
Really disappointed in this wine. Weak tannins, lacking complexity and couldn't taste the fruit. Spent two nights drinking '07 cabs and relative to O'Shaughnessy Mt. Howell and Mt. Veeder, Honig Bartolucci and Hobbs To Kalon, this was a poor fifth.
  • Pcrage commented:

    7/7/14, 5:05 PM - Montelena certainly ain't what they used to be. They produced exemplary wines in the 1990's. not so much anymore. Good but not great.

Red
2011 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love McLaren Vale
I am utterly disappointed with this wine, nearly to the point of pouring it down the drain. First off the $60-80 price point is insulting when there are so many other wines, even from Mollydooker that are better. Compared to the 2005 vintage this is about as complex as Voss water. Compared to the 2010 Blue Eyed Boy this is about as weak as amusement park juice. So yes I am pissed I paid $65 for this wine but if if it's $35 there not much to be excited about.

On the nose it has beautiful fresh flowers and cherry pie. In the mouth this wines completely falls apart, fruit is weak, tannins are sloppy, and spices are nearly nonexistent. If you can find the 2005 or 2006 vintage of the Carnie BUY IT! If you like big fruity Shiraz go for the Blue Eyed Boy for about $40. This 2011 Carnival of Love is a huge passss.
  • Pcrage commented:

    3/14/14, 4:40 PM - I have to agree with you. You know several years back I was a huge fan of Sparky and Sarah Marquis (marquis phillips and the rest) but something bad has happened along the way. Their Shiraz and blends were my go to wines for fun occasions but I have been underwhelmed over the past couple years.

    Here's hoping they come around......

Red
2011 JM Cellars Longevity Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
12/22/2013 - Pcrage wrote:
87 points
PNP. Musty nose that was a little off putting. May decant for an hour or so next time. Otherwise decent with good fruit. Needs more time.
  • Pcrage commented:

    1/15/14, 6:13 AM - Teamenzo - it was a cork. I opened another bottle a week or so later and decanted for a few hours... Much better but still needs sleep for a year or two. Nice wine overall.

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