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Comments on my notes

(22 comments on 19 notes)

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Red
2016 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
5/21/2019 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
90 points
Deftly balanced, the 2016 Columbia Winery Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 70% Horse Heaven Hills fruit with the balance coming from the Wahluke Slope AVA. This bottling is an excellent representation of tapicity for the varietal—the expression is classic Washington State Cabernet—it’s packed full of ripe blackberries, black currants, violets, mountain herbs, and dried mint. Fresh and vibrant on the palate, fine tannins lead into a wine that offers plenty of drinking enjoyment. 13.8% ABV | Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    5/22/19, 9:48 AM - Thank you, La Cave d'Argent! Washington State is where I learned to make wine, specifically in Walla Walla, and where I worked as a winemaker for ten years. Many of the AVAs are old familiar friends, I'm so glad you enjoy the notes. Best of luck on your son's educational endeavors!

Red
2016 Bledsoe Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Flying B Walla Walla Valley
8/27/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
92 points
From Bledsoe Family Winery, Flying B 2016 is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Syrah aged in 64% new French oak for 20 months. At this stage in its development—the nose is heavily laden in primary fruit—juicy blackberries, black currant, and black cherry precede lighter tones of cinnamon, vanilla bean paste, and sweet tobacco. In the mouth, ample black fruit fleshes out the core. Suave tannins and balanced acidity contribute to this wine's overall deliciousness and length. 14.5% ABV | Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    12/27/18, 5:53 PM - My pleasure, DuckfaninMT!

White - Sparkling
N.V. J. de Telmont Champagne Sans Soufre Champagne Blend
9/25/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
90 points
A rarity in the Champagne world, J. de Telmont's Cuvée Sans Soufre Ajouté Brut is crafted from biodynamically-grown grapes and is made entirely without the addition of sulfur—a practice that makes this former vintner a tad nervous. This bottle made its way back from Reims in my suitcase and weathered the trip well—and offers up a pungent bouquet of baked apple, poached pear, and wet shell. It's a broad-shouldered champagne, with wet dough at the core and a finish etched in limestone and nut skin. Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    11/1/18, 6:45 PM - Cheers, Skiver81 and thanks for reading!

Red
2010 White Rose Estate Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard Dundee Hills
9/4/2018 - Christine Havens wrote:
94 points
A breathtaking Oregon Pinot, the 2010 White Rose Estate possesses a graceful sensory arc of candied cherries, rose petals, sweet spices, and sous bois. It's elegant and nimble in the mouth, framed in fine, sweeping tannins that crescendo and submerge beneath layers of cinnamon bark, chokecherry, and rose hip. Whole-cluster fermented, from the estate's old vines—I am told the yield was only 1/2 ton per acre in 2010.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    9/15/18, 3:48 PM - My pleasure!

Red
2014 Château des Fougères Clos Montesquieu Graves Red Bordeaux Blend
2/2/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
91 points
An excellent Bordeaux value that will offer drinking pleasure over the next decade or so—this opaque beauty, the 2014 Château des Fougères Graves Clos Montesquieu, is richly perfumed with blackcurrants, blackberry jelly, cedar, juniper berry, crushed lavender, and dried mint. Grippy tannins gather at the fore-palate like storm clouds on the horizon, then dissipate, neatly segueing into an earthy undercurrent that terminates in a dusting of mineral splendor and bay leaf. Better with decanting.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    6/5/18, 5:31 PM - Motz, I suggest using wine-searcher.com to check where this is available, it's the red button on the right-hand side of the screen. Good luck!

Red
2013 Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes Syrah
1/28/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
91 points
Crafted from 60 year-old biodynamically farmed Syrah, Alain Vogue’s Les Vieilles Vignes Cornas 2014 is expressive, yet restrained. Blueberries and blackberries wind ’round earth, black olive, and pink peppercorn. As its opens, secondary aromas emerge: clove, cinnamon bark, cardamom, lanolin, spice, violets, incense. It’s poised, with all of the power Syrah commands, but there is freshness too. It ends on a decidedly mineral note, an arc of volcanic granite, long since decomposed. 13.5% ABV | Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    3/18/18, 1:34 PM - Cheers, Mattshank and thanks. Agree on the Alain Vogue!

White - Sparkling
2012 Juvé y Camps Cava Gran Brut Macabeo-Xarello-Parellada Blend
1/17/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
90 points
The color of onion skin, Juvé & Camps Cava Gran Reserva Brut 2012 unfurls at a leisurely pace. Smoky, autolytic notes rise above decadently layered aromas of dried fruit, molasses, baked apple, forest honey, and almond skins. As fine, cascading bubbles dart to and fro, springing forth from a core that is softly textured and clean, endowed with stone fruit and citrus. That beguiling smoky note reemerges at the close. 7 g/l RS, 12.0% ABV | Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    2/25/18, 11:35 AM - Thanks for reading, Killer Jones!

Red
2015 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuvée Domaine Cabernet Franc
11/8/2017 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
89 points
Sporting classic Bourgueil notes of red berries, underbrush, orange pomander ball, and an ethereal top note of delicate florality. The 2015 Domaine Guion Cuvée Domaine Bourgueil is angular and tight with high-toned acidity, like crushed raw cranberry—it has a definite edge and considerable tartness, with tannins perched on the fore-palate. An earthy, mineral note emerges at the close. Best enjoyed with food.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    12/5/17, 11:25 AM - Cheers, Fuz98112, glad you enjoy this wine, too!

  • Christine Havens commented:

    2/25/18, 10:36 AM - Cheers, jastekelenburg@yahoo.com. I'll look for it!

Red
2015 Château de Monbazan Grand Vin de Graves Red Bordeaux Blend
1/15/2018 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
88 points
From Garagiste, a classic blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec—in this case from a biodynamic producer (something of a rarity in Bordeaux), the 2015 Château de Monbazan Graves Rouge is plush on the nose and palate. The first impression is one of cherry pie, followed by vanilla, baking spices, and the merest suggestion of violets. It's easy going on the palate, with no hard edges. And while it lacks the earthy, leathery soulfulness that Graves is known for, it has charm. Drink now. 13.5% ABV
  • Christine Havens commented:

    1/16/18, 12:28 PM - Cheers, Bam_Man, I'll be curious to read your notes!

White - Sparkling
N.V. Larmandier-Bernier Longitude Champagne Premier Cru Chardonnay
12/31/2017 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
91 points
Pierre Larmandier's wines are pure and terroir-driven. This superb bottling of the Longitude Premier Cru Extra Brut is composed of 100% Chardonnay sourced from Vertus, Oger, Avize, and Cramant, with 40% of the blend coming from 2010 reserve. Poached pear, baked apple, lemon sorbet, and chalk are slowly released by a clinquant mousse. In the mouth—buoyant shards of fractal light—it's very subtle, with length held in suspension by limestone, seafoam, earth, and nuanced pear. Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    1/2/18, 12:40 PM - Hi r.o.man,

    Thanks for your feedback. I tasted this wine at the winery, with Pierre Larmandier—this is a newer bottling and the base wine is from his 2010 reserve.

Red
2000 Château Bellevue St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
11/25/2014 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
90 points
Earlier this year, I was invited to attend a dinner showcasing several vintages of Vieux Château Certan. François Thienpont was on-hand to explain the wines, and I felt lucky indeed to be seated next to him throughout the evening. Château Bellevue is managed by his brother, Nicolas and vigneron, Stephane Derenoncourt. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cab Franc, the 2000 offers up a bouquet of spring flowers, lavender, black currants, and minerals. Finely-hewn, with well-integrated tannins bolstering notes of leather, black fruit and graphite. It's just now entering its prime drinking window, with plenty of acidity to carry it forward.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    12/12/17, 10:27 AM - tward, thanks for your comment and an update on the blend!

White
2011 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett Nahe
4/24/2015 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
91 points
I have long loved Dönnhoff, and will continue to extoll its virtues. The Nahe Oberhäuser Leistenberg Kabinett Riesling 2011 is simply put, a pulse-quickening example, with complex aromas of white flowers, Asian pear, shale, mint, and clover honey. On the palate, a tensile, arching backbone interlaced with peach pit and white grapefruit pith adds tension to shale-driven minerality. It's got a wholly appealing, racy, slightly bitter edge delicately rimmed in sea salt. In addition, fantastic length.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    5/2/15, 11:23 AM - Thank you, Depechemoroder!

  • Christine Havens commented:

    10/9/16, 10:33 AM - Cheers, Coleman and thanks!

Rosé - Sparkling
2012 Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé North Coast Champagne Blend
9/25/2015 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
92 points
Ebullient and certainly not lacking in verve, the 2012 Schramsberg Brut Rosé 2012 is a testament to what cool climate viticulture in Carneros and the Sonoma and Marin coastal AVAs can achieve. As with the other Schramsberg sparkling wines I’ve sampled, this lovely rosé manages to be delicate and focused with pretty overtones of sweet cherries, raspberry brûlée, nougatine and mandarin orange. The mousse quite fine, with bright and brisk acidity bolstering pomelo and crushed shell notes at the close. 13.0% ABV Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    2/7/16, 6:08 PM - Thank you, Mattshank, and cheers!

Red
2001 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
11/26/2014 - Christine Havens wrote:
95 points
From Ovid Vineyards is Experiment EØ.4, a compelling blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot, 15% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc. As one might expect, the Cab Franc contributes an expressive, highly aromatic nose of blueberry crumble, butterscotch, Christmas fruit cake and star anise. Richly textured, with an intriguing creamy countenance that lends density and weight. Finishes with cedar, spice and the merest touch of green bell pepper. Nice acidity and intensity.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    10/19/15, 11:45 PM - Bordeaux John, how right you are. I'll fix it at the earliest opportunity. Thanks for letting me know.

Rosé
2013 Antica Terra Angelicall Eola - Amity Hills Rosé Blend
5/2/2015 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
91 points
A wine that begs the question, is it a rosé? The 2013 Angelicall from cult producer Antica Terra and is crafted using unconventional methods, including a week-long maceration on the skins and twelve months aging on the lees. While still translucent and ruby-hued, it shows astonishing, almost brooding concentration and insanely intense aromatics, evoking pastoral images of the forest—salmon berries still on the vine, underbrush and tatty climbing roses. On the palate, silky layers of rhubarb, tart pie cherries, hibiscus and spice. My only criticism is the price, which is around $90.00.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    8/23/15, 7:03 PM - Yes, it's not quite a rosé is it?

Red
2000 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
6/16/2015 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
92 points
Ruby-hued and breathtakingly fresh, with a deep perfume of black cherry and cassis, forest notes, cedar, graphite, violets and an unexpected top note of smoke and coal dust. In the mouth, the 2000 Beau-Sejour Becot is silk over sinew, with penetrating black fruit neatly framed by polished tannins and moderate acidity. There are decadent notes too—carmelized sugar and sweet plummy fruit at the center.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    8/10/15, 2:05 PM - Thanks! My feeling is that this wine is drinking beautifully now, but will certainly continue to age gracefully cellar.

White
2012 Bastianich Vespa Bianco Venezia Giulia IGT White Blend
2/26/2015 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
91 points
The Bastianich Vespa Bianco 2012 is a showy and rich blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Sauvignon Blanc, and 10% Picolit. Beguiling notes of bruised pear, ripe nectarine, dried mango and orange blossom honey lingers heavily in the air above the glass, like a warm day in mid-summer. Dark gold and luxurious, there is just enough acidity to add lift to its decadent, creamy texture. Finishes with a hint of fennel pollen and of a sprightly dash of minerality. 14.0 ABV | Sample
  • Christine Havens commented:

    2/26/15, 3:01 PM - Sure, why not, as in sprightly: full of life and energy.

White
2012 Bonny Doon Vineyard Picpoul Beeswax Vineyard Arroyo Seco Picpoul Blanc
Very interesting stuff. We chilled it for about 20 minutes before serving. On the nose it's got beeswax, floral perfume, and limes. The palate was somewhat confusing because the attack is quite nice, with fresh acidity and lively flavors. The finish though is odd, with a strange bitter, salty kind of sensation when you swallow. I liked every part of the wine but that.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    2/2/15, 12:48 PM - We felt the same way about it, Beau. I thought it was a decent bottle save for the finish. Do you have any theories as to why?

  • Christine Havens commented:

    2/2/15, 2:13 PM - Yeah, I wondered about that too, thanks. The ABV is 12%, I wonder if the funky aftertaste is due to acidulation?

White
2012 Giuseppe Quintarelli Bianco Secco Cà del Merlo Veneto IGT White Blend
11/2/2014 - Christine Havens Likes this wine:
92 points
Giueseppe Quintarelli has long been a favorite producer of mine, and this refreshing white selection from the Veneto is an affable blend of Garganega, Trebbiano Toscano, Savignon Bianco, Chardonnay and Saorin. Post fermentation this wine sees regular battonage, a technique of stirring the less which adds richness and texture. On the nose, ripe pear, white flowers, anise and minerally overtones. Medium-bodied, yet nimble at 12.5% ABV, with notes of wet stone, lemon zest and chalk on a medium-plus finish.
  • Christine Havens commented:

    1/23/15, 9:59 PM - Ack! Thanks for catching that. It is, however, imported by Kermit Lynch!

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