4/16/2024 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Did not decant.
It opened up after 20 min in the glass, swirling occasionally.
From Coravin. First sample.
I think it might need a bit more air. Will update when we pull the cork.
From a bottle that was kept in the Wine Society cellars in optimal conditions in the last 8 years or so. Cork in top shape for a 16-year old wine.

3/29/2024 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

First Coravin sample mistook for past peak (faded within 10 min in the glass with no change in the first half hour). However, it probably needed more time to breath. When we opened the bottle a week later it was more open, and took just around 15 min.
BTW, I suspect Coravined wine do get some very minimal oxygen exposure in practice, something that improves the accessibility of wines that need to breath for a while, in some cases. The exact different between theory and practice for Coravin depends on temperature fluctuation, state of the cork, and more. As I get better at estimating the effect, I try to take advantage of this. Certainly, decant times shorten with every access (since gas/liquid ratio increases and the bottle becomes more susceptible even to small temperature fluctuations).

11/20/2023 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

Dominant passion fruit. I might have guessed NZ if I were to taste blind.
It was in the kitchen fridge at 5C or so. Allowed to breath and warm up in the glasses for 15-20 min. Consumed over the following 20 min, showing no significant evolution but no fading either. Overall matches expectations.
Fairly light body, ready and probably not suitable for further ageing. Drink up.
Perhaps should have opened it a year or two ago.

10/8/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Good value. Good minerality. Survives to the next evening.
Lovely example of Malagousia.

9/30/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Approachable after breathing for 20 min in the glass.
Drink now or in the next 3 years.

9/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Best to let it breath and warm up a bit in the glass for 15-20 min.
Fantastic value vermentino. Agree with other reviewers.
It may well keep a few more years, but seems at peak, so try it now.

8/31/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Seems at peak. Very fine and smooth. Everything is in place.
I noticed many a few here are finding too much green olive notes.
I found it quite balanced - but after more than 2.5 hours, I understand what they might have been talking about.
I found it to be ideal after about half an hour, and a pleasure to drink for another 2 hours. Then fruit fades a little and more green notes come to the front.
I'd drink this in the next 5 years if kept in ideal conditions (otherwise sooner).
May I suggest avoiding a long decant if you don't want to miss out.
I think I might actually prefer this over the riper 2012, or the 2009 which I suspect should have been kept for longer.
Out of curiosity I looked it up: I paid just £47/bottle (In Bond) for the 2011 eight years ago. Why didn't I get a whole case?

8/29/2023 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

Have to agree with the previous notes.
It does improve after breathing for half an hour.
It has some potential for further ageing and may become more interesting.
But right now, it's nice enough but not particularly interesting.

8/23/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Half bottle (screwcap), at Palmenhaus, Vienna.
This was not chilled but arrived with an ice bucket and took about 20min to reach optimal serving temperature of 8-10 degrees (the temperature that afternoon was 36 degrees - a challenge but we resisted temptation to add ice cubes to the wine).
The wine is ready but can be kept a few more years.
Typical white pepper notes, good minerality, some stone fruit notes. Developed nicely in the glass with no sign of fading during the meal. There's a good chance it could keep for a day if sealed with the screwcap or vacuum sealed, at least at this point in its evolution.

8/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

It's not dead. It's asleep.
Took over an hour to open up. Better on the second day actually.
I wonder how many people gave up on it before it opened up.

8/12/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Likely past peak, but still nice if allowed to breath and warm up about half an hour. It was nice on its own as well as with chicken curry.
I've tried a few vintages on release/on-primeur and always liked it.
This is the first time I drink this with 5-6 years bottle age.
Interim conclusion is drink within 2-4 years.
Given the time it takes to open up and that fact that it last another half an hour in the glass, I suspect it could age further, I'm just not convinced the result will justify the efforts. I might keep one bottle for a few years as an experiment (a different vintage; this was the only 2017 I had laid down).

8/3/2023 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

Quite ripe but superb balance. It should last another decade but I think this was a good time to open a bottle.

7/20/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Still young. Needs to breath for 30-45 min.

7/9/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

At peak! Needs a 30 min decant and develops nicely in the glass in the following hour (perhaps more, but nothing left by then).
This was the first Coravin sample from the bottle.
It's not young anymore, but still vibrant, and would last another decade easily if stored in optimal conditions (well, not this accessed bottle but others will).
One bottle left. Perhaps will we try the 890 from the same vintage when the 904 is gone.

7/10/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Developed nicely since en-primeur tasting 8-9 years ago. Accessible and rich but still in the early stages of development. Try again in 5-8 years. A good match for most fruit-based desserts / cakes (except chocolate). Works with blue cheese and will probably be a good match to foie gras.

6/13/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Probably best to wait another 2 years, no rush thereafter. Should keep another decade, likely more in ideal conditions.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

L&W Loire tasting. My favourite of the Rathfinny sparkling wines on display.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

L&W Loire tasting. One of the more impressive Sauvignons on display.
Slight preference for this over Les Denisottes, but liked both.
93-94

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

L&W Loire tasting. One of the more impressive Sauvignons on display.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

L&W Loire tasting. Need at least 4-5 more years IMO. Not as open as La Jalousie, and but comes across as more austere than the Papillon.
I wonder if the concentration of malic acid is higher.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

L&W Loire tasting. One of the most impressive Chenin Blancs on display.
Vibrant, and more open than the others from Closel; ready to drink now or over the next 4 years or so.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

L&W Loire tasting. Possible the most impressive Chenin Blanc on display. Clearly very young and meant for the medium-long term.
Probably to wait till 2028-2030 and drink in the next decade.
If you must drink it now, decant. Tasted next to La Jalousie - which was much more open and meant to be drunk while you wait for the Clos du Papillon.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

At L&W Loire tasting. The second most impressive of the Taille aux Loups line.
92-93.

5/17/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

At L&W Loire tasting. The most impressive of the Taille aux Loups line.

5/10/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Coravin sample. Begins to open up after 15-20 min in the glass but develops nicely in the first 2 hours. This would probably last for longer but the glasses were empty at this point.
Strong lychee aromas from the beginning, dead giveaway. Quite rich (see other notes for full spectrum). Perhaps a little too rich and sweet to accompany the Chinese chicken with mushrooms.
Better on its own.
If stored in ideal conditions, it could last another decade.
Would probably benefit from 20+ min decant.

4/29/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Benefits from breathing about 20 min in the glass.
Evolves nicely in the first 90 min, beginning to fade towards the end of the second hour.

4/29/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Needs a 40 min decant

4/16/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Developed nicely but still needs an hour and a half of decanting to open.
Drink or hold.

4/10/2023 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

At a pizza restaurant - this was a good match but would have benefitted from decanting. It started opening up after 15, but needed a full hour to express itself. At this point, it's better with food. It's OK.

4/8/2023 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

Great value Chardonnay, Greccheto, Pinot Bianco blend. Takes 15 min to open up. At Ahime, Bologna.
All four of us liked it. Worked well with the duck, and with the miso onion.

3/31/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

A well-crafted blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, with a touch of Viognier. Still plenty of life left.
Benefits from some aeration. Takes about 30 min in the glass to open up. Best at 10-12C or so.
Too bad its my last bottle of the 2014, and probably the last vintage I have with Viognier. If I understand correctly, the wild boar ate much of the Viognier.

3/30/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From a magnum.
Add to the list of English fizz you must try.
Good depth of flavour, thought the 2009 is approaching the end of its drinking window. Fades in the second hour.
Only made every few years. Perhaps it's time to seek the 2014.
92+

3/8/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin. Opens up only after 20-30 min with occasional swirling.
Chardonnay and Pinot Bianco. Obviously, most palates are much more used to 100% Chardonnay than to this blend, so probably best to try to set aside expectations based on white Burgundies and judge the wine on its own merit. I tasted fresher vintages of Batar.
Best with food.
Will probably keep another 2 years, possibly more. Initially I considered saving it for a special occasion, but I have no regrets about tasting it on an ordinary Wednesday evening.

2/28/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Seems at peak. A lovely expression of Grenache.
Precise, smooth, very balanced. Feels like a relative cool site for the South Rhone. Good depth.
Easy to forget it's 15%.

1/29/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin. Poured to the glasses through an aerator. Began to open up after 30 min. Otherwise, would probably benefit from a 1 hour decant.
Best slightly chilled 18C.
As expected it was a good match to lamb plov (with carrots/rice).
Acidity and tannins: Medium+
It's a Pinot Noir alright. Raspberry-dominated nose. Medium body.
For more flavour/aroma characteristics see previous reviews (DAGIJ is right on the money).

1/18/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin.
Surprisingly youthful in colour and flavour.
Probably needs about an hour to open up (a little less in our case since I used an aerator too when pouring to the glasses).
I think this would easily last another 3-5 years if stored properly.
My bottle was in professional storage until 3 years ago and in the flat the last 3 years (room temp - coolest spot/storage are). Thankfully, the cork was in good shape.

1/14/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin. Young but promising. Give it another 3 years, or more.

1/1/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

A very well made Gran Reserva. Still feels a little primary and I'm more confident now it would last another decade.
Having said that, it opens up nicely after an hour.
Classic profile, a crowd-pleasing gran reserva with a potential to develop more complex characteristics still.
Perhaps it needs to breath another hour or spend more time in the bottle.
This was a small Coravin sample (100ml). Will give the next one more time.

1/1/2023 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin. Quite nice; meets expectations, at least once allowed to breath for some 45-60 min.

12/27/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Good value.
Could keep for another 3 years or more (at least, if the bottle has been stored professionally. If it's been kept in room temperature, it will be safer not to age further)

11/27/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin.
Still very young, needs time, air, substantial food.
Recommend decanting 1hour or so.
92(+1 for good value).

10/1/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

A beautiful white Hermitage, entering the drinking window.
Tertiary aromas beginning to emerge. Almond + nutty notes but still retains a fresh feeling, despite low acidity typical of Marsanne.
This worked without food just before dinner and with simply-prepared first courses. Less suitable for richer main.
It can be drunk now or in the next 5-8 years.
Great value and one of the best examples from Colombier I tasted.

10/1/2022 - Herschel Krustofski wrote:

On one hand feels slightly oxidized, on the other hand take a while to open up (20 min decant) and actually better on the second day (part kept in a small bottle, filled to the top). Rather unusual style even compared to other oaked Condrieus. Probably too much new oak for my taste.
I liked FV's other Condrieus better. I will remain loyal to Perret's Coteau du Chery when I want to drink a six-year old one.

9/28/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

From Coravin. Needs a couple more years

9/13/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Similar to previous bottle. 50 min decant this time.

9/17/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Give it two+ more years

9/17/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

At present, I prefer this over the 2015. The 2014 is ready to drink now with a short decant. The 2015 probably needs more time.

9/14/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

As promised in the previous note 6 years ago, I kept the second and last bottle until now (the occasion was Lay & Wheeler South African paulée dinner in London, a chance to compare and contrast SA Syrah to an Israeli one).
This is fully mature now, and does not need a decant actually (decided upon tasting). Really beautiful in the first hour or so. The last glass poured 2 hours after opening already showed signs of fading. At present, it would be a good one to serve immediately to multiple guests with a single dish, not one to follow for a whole evening.
Conclusion: Drink up.
I would have liked to see more top-notch Syrah coming from Israel. When it comes to flagship wines, most are going for Bordeaux blends.

9/12/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Still young but promising. Needs a minimum of 1 hour decant and hearty food.
Best to wait another 3-4 years.
This is my first Martelo Reserva; it seems that like the Ardanza (another Reserva from La Rioja Alta), best to start drinking from the age of 12 or so.

9/3/2022 - Herschel Krustofski Likes this wine:

Hold for 2-3 additional years