Tasting Notes for GraffCellar

A lot bundled up here ready to emerge one day, but juicy red fruits still wrapped up in brisk tannins and acidity that may take a few years to soften enough to allow full potential to shine.

4 people found this helpful Comment

Red - Sparkling

2020 Roco Pinot Noir RMS Red Brut Willamette Valley (view label images)

12/25/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

85 points

Better with mimosas

Comment

White

2012 Koehler Viognier Santa Ynez Valley (view label images)

12/8/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

Still enjoyable
Weighty mouthfeel, oily, unctuous!

Comment

Red

2006 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano Sangiovese (view label images)

11/9/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

90 points

Well built and structured.
But this bottle seems to have advanced in age more quickly than expected for a 2006.
Medium brick color.
Fully integrated elements showing exclusively tertiary flavors and oxidative aromas.
Throwing off a bucket of sediment.
Very mature with limited opportunity for improvement in bottle.

Comment

Red

2013 Casaloste Inversus Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend (view label images)

10/29/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

90 points

Cork dry and may have allowed a bit more oxidation tan like would expect from this wine. Brick red.

Comment

White

2021 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc White Rhone Blend (view label images)

9/30/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

93 points

Tropical fruits
Viscous mouthfeel

Comment

Red

2014 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (view label images)

9/27/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

94 points

Drinking perfectly now!

Comment

White - Sparkling

N.V. Colcombet Frères Champagne Éclat Champagne Blend (view label images)

9/4/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

93 points

House champagne in Club Room at Langham NYC
Consumed a lot
Enjoyed it all

Comment

Red

2016 Avignonesi Grandi Annate Toscana IGT Sangiovese (view label images)

8/28/2023 - GraffCellar wrote:

flawed

Bottle was off
Overly oxidized
Brickish red color
Little lingering fruit

Comment

White - Sparkling

2016 Lytle Barnett Blanc de Blancs Willamette Valley Champagne Blend (view label images)

7/29/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

89 points

This bottle lacked some freshness

Comment

White - Sparkling

1996 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram North Coast Champagne Blend (view label images)

7/27/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

93 points

No reason to hold longer

Comment

Red

2014 Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Zéphirine Eola - Amity Hills (view label images)

5/22/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

Some minor cork leakage due to some cork expansion/contraction but still drinking well.

Comment

Red

2012 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Sangiovese (view label images)

5/24/2023 - GraffCellar wrote:

flawed

This bottle appeared to be oxidized and a bit lifeless

Comment

Red

2016 K Vintners The Creator Walla Walla Valley Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend (view label images)

4/26/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

91 points

This bottle has a bit more funk and a touch more oxidization than others I’ve had.

Comment

Red

2014 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Bryce Vineyard Ribbon Ridge (view label images)

4/15/2023 - GraffCellar wrote:

flawed

This bottle was a bit overly oxidized and the fruit had receded quite a bit.

Comment

White - Sparkling

2020 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs North Coast Chardonnay (view label images)

3/7/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

90 points

Great sipper in the bathtub sans glassware

Comment

Red

2006 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta Corvina Blend, Corvina (view label images)

2/2/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

96 points

Oh my!
Amazing with an hour decant and savored over 2 hours. Beautifully integrated flavors. Drink now or save for another decade. Your choice.

3 people found this helpful Comment

Red

2017 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia Nebbiolo (view label images)

1/30/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

90 points

Sour cherry
Tight structure
Sharp tannins

Comment

Red

2019 Andremily EABA Santa Barbara County Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

1/29/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

96 points

Amazing
I caved in and popped one open!
It was incredible with only a 1-hour decant.
Drink or hold — it’s a crowd pleaser!

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2019 CrossBarn (Paul Hobbs) Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast (view label images)

1/23/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

87 points

I love Paul Hobbs wines.
I do not particularly care for this entry level PN — it’s like the Mercedes C Class of wines — a VW Jetta with a Mercedes hood emblem.

1 person found this helpful Comment

White - Sparkling

2015 Taittinger Champagne Brut Millésimé Champagne Blend (view label images)

1/14/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

Lanai

Comment

Rosé - Sparkling

2015 Il Borro Bolle di Borro Rosé Vino da Tavola Sangiovese (view label images)

1/14/2023 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

93 points

Lanai

Comment

White

2001 Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay (view label images)

1/6/2023 - GraffCellar wrote:

flawed

Way over the hill

Comment

Rosé - Sparkling

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne Rosé Champagne Blend (view label images)

12/31/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

96 points

Phenomenal
May continue to evolve over time but no reason no reason to not drink up now!

Comment

White - Sparkling

2017 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Noirs Brut North Coast Champagne Blend (view label images)

12/31/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

One of my recent Schramsberg favorites!

Comment

Rosé - Sparkling

2018 Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé Querencia Napa Valley Champagne Blend (view label images)

12/23/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

Excellent Christmas morning sipping champagne.

Comment

Red

2013 Romano Dal Forno Valpolicella Superiore Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta Corvina Blend, Corvina (view label images)

12/17/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

90 points

Overly oxidized
Reddish brick color

Comment

Red

2010 Tercero Syrah Larner Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley (view label images)

12/12/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

90 points

Drink now
Fully developed
Not likely to get any better with age.

Comment

Red

2011 Hubert Lignier Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots Pinot Noir (view label images)

11/5/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

89 points

Austere
Unyielding
Trying to coax fruit on the palate from this after several hours proved to be a challenge.

Comment

White

2018 i Clivi Brazan Collio Goriziano Friulano, Sauvignonasse (view label images)

10/30/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

91 points

Peach
Grapefruit
Light petrol
Leesy

Comment

Red

2012 Boars' View Pinot Noir The Coast Sonoma Coast (view label images)

9/15/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

91 points

A bit reticent at first.
Took a good hour to open up.
Needed cheese and fats to pair up well.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2016 Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir GV Collection Central Otago (view label images)

9/12/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

Really nice wine.
Reminds me of an Oregon Pinot.
Good sour cherry fruit.
Roasted meats.
Cedar.
Good acidity .
Well composed overall.

Comment

Red

2012 Petterino Gattinara Riserva Nebbiolo (view label images)

9/5/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

92 points

Opened up beautifully.
Funky earth and leather tertiary characteristics supporting high structured, delicate blue fruitw and plum. Style typical of a northern climate — paired well with tasting of three savory pasta dishes with ground sausage bolgense.

Comment

Red

2017 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée Red Rhone Blend (view label images)

8/22/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

93 points

Rhone Cruise

1 person found this helpful Comments (2)

Red

2020 Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis Vin de France Syrah (view label images)

8/10/2022 - GraffCellar Likes this wine:

91 points

Has all the right components, but a bit unyielding at this age. Hold.