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Tasting Notes for amauryc1

(190 notes on 145 wines)

1 - 50 of 190 Sort order
Red
11/12/2022 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
97 points
Great job by Michel Rolland. This wine has the richness of a Napa Cabernet but the finesse, balance and acidity of a Bordeaux. Dark cherries, dried flowers, currants and spices on the nose and similar palate with dark roast coffee on the finish. Probably one of the better 2016's I've had so far.
Red
9/24/2022 - amauryc1 wrote:
95 points
Probably the best Cave Hill I've had. Powerful and intoxicating nose of red fruit, spices hints of licorice and dried rose petals and cedar. The palate was lively with red and blue fruits, hints of vanilla, with nicely balanced acidity and fine tannins that led to a very long a flavorful finish.
Red
9/3/2022 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
95 points
This TOR Tierra Roja is exactly what an Oakville wine should be and taste like. Lot of mostly blue and some black fruits on the nose mixed with some graphite and expresso. The palate is an explosion of flavors with a huge mid palate and a beautiful and long finish. The are dusty tannins are there but really well balanced with high purity fruit and fantastic acidity. Drink now and decant for 60+ minutes or hold for atleast a decade.
Red
2010 Freemark Abbey Josephine Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
6/20/2021 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
95 points
Quintessential and traditional Napa Valley! With 11 years is drinking amazing and surprised by how young it drank. 2010 is proving out to be a great vintage.
Red
2009 Sloan Asterisk Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
6/7/2020 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
94 points
Tannins take over the very long finish, but it's probably at or entering peak drinking window. Very good
Red
6/5/2020 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
This is one of the most consistent bottles of wine in Napa. Nice blue, red fruit with a little bit of tobacco, nice and smooth, with very good acidity and fine tannins that lead to a fairly long finish.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1/25/2020 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
Very left bank in nature and another example of how 2011 IMO is turning out to be a very underrated vintage. Good producers made very good and elegant wines.

Earthy notes that turn evolved to floral notes with red/blue fruits, and tobacco after 1 hr inthe decanter. The tannins we're very well integrated and help fill out the mid long finish.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2015 Château Jean Voisin St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
1/12/2020 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
From an underrated vintage, this is a very good, affordable Bordeaux made in a slightly modern style. This wine definitely punched above it's weight class and really wish I had bought a case.
Red
1/10/2020 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
A little more ripe than normal but as always a very good Rutherford wine.
Red
1/6/2020 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
Make sure you give this wine air and decant in a wide base decanter of possible and let sit for a couple hours. Once it opens is a very nice Right Bank style with floral aromas, spices, cedar notes with palate full of red and blue fruit. This wine surprisingly has tons of fruit, acidity and tannins to easily evolve for at least 5 more years.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
12/15/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
Similar to prior evaluations, with zero initial green and funky aromas. Surprisingly more fruit and secondary aromas and flavors. This wine is definitely an over achiever with still lots of structure a fruit left. My daughters were born in 2011, hopefully my last bottle will last until their 18th bday.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
6/2/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
No formal notes....This is really drinking well right now! A little bit tart on the finish but a very good and well balance wine.
Red
5/11/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
This wine is entering nits sweet spot. Bright raspberry, strawberries, plums and roses on the nose. The palate has a nice frame of acid and tannins with dark red fruits trying to shine through but not quite there yet. After two hours of airs it fills out nicely and provides a pretty long finish. This wine will continue to age and evolve gracefully for the next 5 years.
Red
5/11/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
Beautiful wine full of lavender, dark red fruits, dry flower petals and nice citrus notes that add interest. Very good wine on an really good vintage that provides amazing QPR.
Red
4/21/2019 - amauryc1 wrote:
95 points
Didn't take any formal notes but this wine is singing on a high note right now. It was ready to drink at PnP but it got better after a 30 minute decant.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
4/14/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
94 points
No formal noted but took to Capital Grill, where it was splash decanted.

This wine was ready from the first poured but it evolved layers and complexity over time. Dark red almost back on the glass. Lots of dark red fruit, spices and leather. Really smooth and balanced with well integrated tannins and a nice chocolate covered strawberries finish.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
4/7/2019 - amauryc1 wrote:
93 points
Did a quick double decant and drank over 2 hrs.

Dark crimson/Ruby on the glass with medium/full apearance. Very deep and layered nose with blackberries, raspberries, red currants, dark cherries and oakie spices. The palate is smooth and fruit forward with a round exploding mid palate and well integrated tannins that over time became full mouth coating and lead to a long raspberry like finish.

If I had to guess by the nature of the fruit and tannins I would guess that there is a lot of round pond in this blend. Like I said in my 2015 Quivet LPV, Mike's Napa Valley blends are ALWAYS open for business. Really good wine and should have bought a case and it has a couple more point upside with 12-18 additional months in bottle.
7 people found this helpful Comment
Red
4/7/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
Decanted for 1hr and then poured back into bottle to take to a friend's house.

The wine is dark purple on the glass with full weight appearance. The nose is very fruit forward full of dark blue/black brambly fruit, toasted oak and hints of wet stones. The wine was very smooth on entry and like the nose, very fruit forward with nice mid palate but it wasn't as round as I'm used to from this wine. The tannins were very well integrated and the finish was good but again a little light.

I've seen Mike's single vineyards wines drink very well early and then decide to take a long nap. For some reason this is more prevalent, in my experience, with his single vineyard than with his NV's which seem to always be open for business.

Again, all the components are there but it just didn't come together for me. If I had to bet, this wine may be in a slumber dumb phase but has potential for another 2-3 points of upside.
3 people found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
3/31/2019 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
95 points
This wine is just entering it's drinking window. Slow Ox for 2 hrs and decanted for 1. Dark crimson on the glass with slight bricking around the edges. The nose is intoxicating with Puilliac like graphite and pencil shavings framed with abundant dark blue, red fruits, and new leather; after 2 hrs nice potpourri and violet notes started to emerge. The palate is rich with fruit on the front, round in the middle where it was exposed some interesting salinity and minerality. The tannins are well integrated but got a little grainy towards the end of the bottle.

This wine is only going to get better from here and it will have a long life. Randy Dunn's wines age at a glacial pace, but Man...do they reward patience.
3 people found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
2/8/2019 - amauryc1 wrote:
93 points
Very good value with deep aromas and flavors. Drinks well at PnP but gets better with additional air.

Ripe dark fruit, licorice and tar with racie acidity and fine gained tannins that lead to a slightly tart but long finish.

Should have bought a case.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2/3/2019 - amauryc1 wrote:
flawed
Must be a flawed bottle....I kept smelling and tasting canned/stewed tomatoes
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2/1/2019 - amauryc1 wrote:
93 points
This wine is beginning to show slight signs of being on the glass. The wine is very balanced and rich, showing coffee, chocolate covered strawberries, raspberries, cassis, with hints of tabaco and toasty oak. I believe this is drinking at peak but xouy gain additional complexity over the next 2 year.
Red
12/27/2018 - amauryc1 wrote:
94 points
Deep aromatics of dark fruit, Expresso, violets and hints of crushed rock. On the pallate this is a fruit driven wine with great depth and richness that is nicely balanced by gravely mouth coating tannins. The finish is fairly long but dominated by tannins. This wine has a couple more points upside but give it another 18-24 months in bottle.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 Dominus Napanook Red Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
12/10/2018 - amauryc1 wrote:
93 points
Similar notes as before, but this wine seems to be going through a sleeping phase as it took much longer to open than before. Give it a good 1-2 hour decant
Red
11/13/2018 - amauryc1 wrote:
94 points
Similar notes as before. The extra 3 months in bottle have helped balance and remove some of the rough edges. I would give this wine another 8-12 months in bottle. Anything earlier would require an extensive decant.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
8/26/2018 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
95 points
I'm rating this wine on Day 2.

Opened and Slow O2 for 2 hours at 64 degrees. Day one the nose was deep, and intoxicating, but the pallate was a little disjointed. The palate was a mixture of dark red and black fruit followed with acid and then tannins with long finish but it just wasn't cohesive.

I saved 1/2 bottle for day two....and Man, what a difference. Deep and more complex nose of raspberries, plumbs and black currants combined with nutmeg, tobacco and hints of flowers. The mouth feel was unctuous, with deep black fruit, tobacco, and leather flavors on the mid palate and a mid lenght savory finish. IMHO, the ratio of fruit, acid and tannins tells me that this is a fairly ageable wine and it showed a remarkable improvement from day 1 to 2, so either decant for 3-4 hours or simply let it sleep for a couple more years and you will be rewarded.
3 people found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
5/20/2018 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
93 points
Slow ox for 2 hours, decanted for 30 minutes and drank over 3 hrs.

At first the nose was prunny, hot and almost Port like. The palate was over ripe, very hot and thin. I'm glad Inlet it sit and didn't flush it because after another hour in the decanter it completely changed. The nose became a bouquet of species, dried flowers, with still a good amount of black/blue fruit and cedar in the background. The palate became full, ripe with lots of interesting undertones finishing with a semi sweet long finish.

Plenty of tannins and acid to give this wine plenty of life, bit if I had more bottles I would drink then in the next 1-2 years.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
4/17/2018 - amauryc1 wrote:
95 points
Slow Ox for 5 hrs and drank over 3 hrs I at the Oasis of the Seas

This is just a really good wine. Rich fruit with some nice complexity, licorice, Expresso, cocoa, baking spices...deep finish, with nice dusty and expressive dusty tannins.

Drink up. Probably on of my favorite 2014 Mike Smith wines.
3 people found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
3/31/2018 - amauryc1 wrote:
93 points
2hr slow O2 and a 1hr decant. The first bottle was a tight and never opened, the second opened after a lot of effort and it was pretty good. This one finally showed as I would expect, dark fruit, round mid palate, well integrated fine and slightly sweet tannins and a good mid length finish.

This wine seems to be turning the corner for the better, so if you have some left let it sit for another 3-5 months.
1 person found this helpful
Red
2014 La Dame de Montrose St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
3/2/2018 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
This is really good right now but there are a few points of upside.

Beautiful nose full of cassis, blue berries, rosemary, flowers, with nice round savory palate and pretty long finish. Acid dominated the palate a bit, but it just means that it has plenty of runway.
Very nice for an underated Bordeaux vintage.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2/19/2018 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
A little barnyard on the nose at first but it disipated after 2 hrs of slow O2.

Similar notes as before with great red fruits and some dark but still the characteristic strong Seavey structure.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
2/4/2018 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
90 points
Deep crimson on the glass with a nose dominated by red and some blue fruit with some cedar plank and vanilla. Really nice and balance with good extraction and weight. The tannins are medium and nicely integration, but the mid palate and finish are a little more light.
Red
1/14/2018 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
Slow O2 for 1 hour, poured through Venturi, and drank over the next 3.
On the glass this wine was deep purple in the core with dark crimson around the edges. The nose was full of blue and black berry, very topical to Howell MTN, hints of spice and a touch of heat. The palate matched the nose, but the tannins were mouth coating and BIG and with a medium and not very deep finish.

As time passes the nose muted a bit, the tannins mellowed out, but the fruit changed and it started to change from blue/black to red/black with slightly more mineral component and some iron notes on the finish.

It's almost as if this wine started in Howell MTN but ended in Mount Veeder. This is my first bottle of Outpost and you can tell it's nicely made and with good potential but in a funky/confused spot right now.

Like others have said, give it 6-12 months of bottle time.
4 people found this helpful Comment
Red
12/11/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
Opened and slow ox for one hour. This wine is Ruby/garnet in color with medium body appearance. The nose is full of black fruit, hints of red, graphite, and some leather and balsamic notes that are not very common in Napa offerings. The palate was velvety smooth, round with plenty of black fruit, sweet oak and leather that carries to a mid length finish.

As this wine opened the balsamic became more prevalent and the tannins really opened up. Neither was overwhelming but it leads me to believe that even though very good now, this wine could benefit by spending some more time in bottle. Classic old world elegance and complexity with Napa's ripe fruit and opulence.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
12/1/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
Slow O2 for 90 minutes and drank over 2 hours. This wine is dark ruby with medium body appearance. The nose is broad full of black and red fruit, with hints of smoke, wet earth and toasted oak. The wine has velvety texture, with red fruit, sweet oak, and mineral hints, but pretty hot at first.

As the alcohol settled, the tannins took over.....and they really took over. This tannins on this wine are much stronger than other Mike Smith wines. There is plenty of fruit and acid to balance the tannins, but they really take over in the finish. The finish was pretty long with some red fruit and bitter dark chocolate.

The wine is good now, but IMO it needs another year to soften those tannins.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Château Troplong Mondot St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
11/18/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
90 points
First time trying Troplong Mondot. Opened the bottle and let it slow ox for 2 hrs decanted for 1 he and drank over the next two.

The nose was initially a little muted but it eventually opened up showing lots of red currants, raspberry, licorice and hints of blueberry band plums that gained prevalence as the wine opened up. The palate was nicely balance with lost is red fruit, cedar, racing acidity and slightly grippy tannins.

The wine was very good and nice expression of St Emillion, bit the tannins became more grippy and astringent as the wine opened. Nice wine but seems to be in a slightly funky phase right now
Red
11/11/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
Needs lots of air...decant for 2-3 hrs.

Very fruit forward aromatics with a hint of milk chocolate on the nose. This vintage is more ripe than usual and starts out a bit flabby but after the decant the wine comes into its own with enough tannins and acid to balance the fruit. The finish is mid-long with a blue berry chocolate finish.

I wish the fruit was a little more restrained but it's still a good wine.
Red
11/6/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
Not very complex, but very delicious and probably one of the best Cab Frank's out there.
Red
11/6/2017 - amauryc1 wrote:
92 points
Slow Ox for 5 hrs and decanted for 30 minutes and drank over 2 hrs. This wine is ready to drink. Similar notes as before, but much more integrated, and softer.

Delicious
Red
10/31/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
No formal notes but the wine was very youthful at 10 years of age. Opened the bottle and let it slow Ox for 1 hr and drank over 3. Was very tight at first but it continued to get better over time. Sadly the best glass was the last.

Deep crimson in color with a nose of red currants, cedar, cocoa, and a citrus notes. The palate was round full of cherries, some leather and earthy notes. Very integrated tannins nice acidity and mid lenght finish. It drinks like a Yauntville wine...wonder if Malbec got some fruit from Blankiet and Kapcsandy for this wine.
Red
10/9/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
94 points
Haven't had Quivet NV in a while and decided to pull this bottle tonight. I love this wine and it's incredible QPR, but it's a little bitter sweet because as I drink this bottle many of my very good friends and acquaintances in Napa/Sonoma are in a battling this year's Napa fires.

The wine is a little darker and with stronger licorice notes than I remember but the nose is as expressive as ever the palate is round, the the tannins have soften some and the finish is a little shorter and slightly more acidic than I remember, but now I'm nitpicking.

In summary, beautiful wine, amazing QPR, and should have bought a case instead of a 3pack.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
10/2/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
Surprisingly aromatics...dark fruits with flowers mixed in. Really nice and round on the palate. The tannins were a little strong, but did not take away from the overall experience.
Red
9/16/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
This wine had been in hypersleep, but it is now begining to wake up. Make sure you give it plenty of air....at least 3 hr decant and it will reward you.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
9/13/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
Another good 2011 with a great QPR if you can find it in the secondary market.

Savory nose of tabacco, cedar, graphite and dark red fruit. The pallate is smooth, layered and frame nicely by well integrated tannins and juicy acidity leading to a medium finish.

Drinking very well now, but it still has plenty of runway
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
9/11/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
89 points
One of my Peterson "go to's". Fun drinking wine that mimics a high quality Core du Rhone Village or a Vaqueyras. Lots of energy for a 7 year old wine!
Red
8/22/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
90 points
No formal notes but the palate was dominated by cedar flavors for the first day. By day two the cedar had disipated making bit more balanced.
Red
8/20/2017 - amauryc1 wrote:
92 points
Slow Ox for 2 yrs and then tried my first sip. At this point if had tasted blind by looking at the color and density combined with a flowery, peppery nose with some hints of spice I would have guessed red Burgandy. I let it slow Ox for a other out and served through a Venturi. This was the trick. The nose changed completely, the peppers and any hints of green were replaced by red currants, back cherries, new leather, spice, cedar and some tabacco. The palate was smooth very balanced and it drank a lot bigger than the color and density in the glass would suggest.

Really good wine, that is another 2011 overachiever.
Red
8/19/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
90 points
Similar notes as before and this Merlot has a lot more going on than it's Cab brother, but still not a very good QPR. Unfortunately Pride has built a huge gap between their entry level and reserve.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
8/16/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
92 points
This wine is finally open for business!!!

I slowed ox for 2 hrs and then poured via a Venturi. I would recommend a 2-3 hr decant instead of my method.

The nose is full of red fruit, leather, coffee grinds, hints of leather and oak. The palate is round with a punch of black cherries on the attack, followed by a good dose of red licorice, tobacco, and some dark chocolate. This wine is pretty balanced and getting better. Drying but not harsh tannins dominate the finish but it is still very good! I'm actually pissed that I wasted two bottles before drinking it the way it is supposed to on the 3rd and now I'm out

Pop the cork and enjoy!! If you have multiple bottle it will be interesting to see how this wine develops over the next 5-8 years.
Red
8/11/2017 - amauryc1 Likes this wine:
91 points
Similar notes as before. Seems to be in the middle of a transition, but still a very nice savory, but still fruity Syrah.
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