11/19/2016 - hehimm wrote:

I concur with both TJK and MXPBUY. I opened this wine Thursday and had a couple of glasses. I did like wise on Friday night and now I am finishing it tonight, Saturday. It is still going strong. This is Chateauneuf du Pape to me. Glad I have two left.

10/6/2016 - hehimm Likes this wine:

I really like and concur with NILOC36 notes. Do not think I can add anything to it. My wife and I really enjoyed this wine last night.

5/21/2015 - hehimm wrote:

Concur with PURSLANE on this wine. No way is it 88-89 points. Every bit 93. Purple/ruby color and slight brick on the edge. Cacophony of aromas and flavors. Add licorice to what PURSLANE had for flavors. All aspects in harmony. Nice long finish. Unfortunately my last one...

5/3/2015 - hehimm wrote:

Concur with EGH and STEADYEDDIE. Disappointing for Wm Selyem. Little to no acid; one dimensional and a short finish. My last one. If you have any left I recommend you try before it is too late.

4/3/2015 - hehimm Likes this wine:

Probably deserves a 100 from me. Just my wife and me on Friday night with salmon. A beautiful yellow gold with a slight greenish tinge on the edge. Wonderful aromas and flavors of citrus, green apple, pear, honey, and much more. Minerally with a very long finish. I think it has years to go but then what do I know! Nice to have there left...

2/6/2015 - hehimm wrote:

Ditto to Too Much Practice's notes from 1/21/ 15. Excellent Aussie Cab. If stored with proper temp and humidity probably have a few years left. Otherwise drink up. My last 02.

1/29/2015 - hehimm wrote:

Wow! What a pleasant surprise. Dark ruby to the rim. Loads of aromas and flavors: earth, meat/sanguine, cigar, dark fruit, strawberry. Soft tannins. Drank over several hours the first night and finished the second. Only got better. Only regret: I have just one remaining. Now the conundrum: when to drink my last Hacienda!

11/27/2014 - hehimm wrote:

An absolutely remarkable wine. To last 26 years in my uncontrolled cellar and be this good, it deserves a 100 point rating from me! Opened at 4PM Thanksgiving and to celebrate our 40th anniversary. Took maybe an hour to begin to open. Still ruby in the center and a slight claret on the edges. A symphony of flavors and aromas: earth, leather, cedar, berries. Very soft tannins and a slightly dry finish. Finished the next night over three hours. Just as wonderful.I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy this level of wine. One left!

3/9/2013 - hehimm wrote:

Took some time to open up but only got better throughout the evening. Had with beef tenderloin. Lots of blackberry, black cherry, leather. Loads of tannins and acid but all well integrated. All aspects in beautiful harmony. Mondavi at its peak with this wine. Years to go. Four left.

3/9/2013 - hehimm Likes this wine:

Absolutely delicious. Almost as good as the 2001. See my notes on the 2001 and duplicate.

10/21/2012 - hehimm wrote:

Ditto my notes from 10/24/2010 and tantotinto's notes from 9/19/12. If anything it is even better now. Deep, deep golden yellow. Concentrated aromas of citrus, green apple, grapefruit and much more. Lots of flavor(s) including honey. Very much in harmony/balance with lively acidity. The finish keep going. Years to go. Nice that I have 8 left.

7/7/2012 - hehimm wrote:

As usual very nice Montelena chardonnay. Took 20-30 minutes to open up and for the acid to become lively. Very well balanced. Complex nose of citrus, apple, pear and a little funkiness like earth in the background. Burgundian. Delicious with the crab cakes. 20-30 second finish. One left.

5/8/2012 - hehimm wrote:

See my notes from 10/08/2011. No need to ad or subtract to those notes. If you have any enjoy now or hold for several more years.

4/28/2012 - hehimm wrote:

Exceptional Chablis Grand Cru. See my notes of 11/29/11. It is only getting better. Two left. Can I hold off for a couple of years to see what it does?! All indications are will improve.

4/16/2012 - hehimm wrote:

As usual a very good Leeuwin Estate Chard. Golden color. Decant. Lots of floral and citrus. Grapefruit. Oily and buttery. Still lots of acid. Nice long finish. Maybe a year or two left to drink. Two left. If you have them enjoy soon.

3/11/2012 - hehimm wrote:

A nice, relatively inexpensive 2000. It took approximately 45 minutes to open up. Once it did, earth, leather, black fruit. Lots of licorice on the 30 second finish. Soft tannins. Maybe 2-4 years left; but what do I know?!

11/29/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Simply a superb wine! Four years ago I gave this wine a 93. It is even better today. Typical Chablis Grand Cru with a beautiful, deep golden color. Flinty, minerally as you would expect. Loads of lively acidity. Still years to go and should only get better. Three left; how long can I hold off?!

11/25/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Nose of earth, barnyard, funky, ie Burgundy. Bright cherry, tar, licorice. Soft tannins and nice acidity. All aspects are in harmony. A very well balanced wine. Just what I was looking for to go with Thanksgiving. This was a very nice wine. Unfortunately none left.

11/14/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Outstanding wine. Drank along with a 2007 Profile and 2002 DeLille Chaleur Estate. Had the 97 ten years ago and thought it was excellent then. Even better now. Needs time to open up. Drank over five hours and it only got better. Loads of aromas and flavors. Black cherry, coffee, licorice, red meat and more. Tannins, acids, aromas , flavors all very well balanced. Simply stated, a really good wine! Only one left.

10/23/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Pleasantly surprised that it was still holding its own after 15 years. Loads of aromas. Black currant, chocolate, cherry on the palate. Soft tannins and still some acidity. Good balance. Not sure it has a lot of time left, but it was my last 96 anyway. If you got'em, enjoy 'em.

10/8/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Absolutely delicious. Art Series is consistently my favorite chardonnay and this did not disappoint. My first 2004 in a couple of years and it is aging vey nicely. Beautiful nose of floral and citrus. Buttery but nor oaky or overpowering and balanced by the citrus, lemon, grapefruit. Lots of acid and still very lively. A very well balanced, harmonious wine. Should continue to age well and nice I have 9 left.

7/4/2011 - hehimm wrote:

A beautiful Sauternes. Still young and needs time to open in the glass, maybe decant and see what happens. Loads of aromas and a symphony of flavors: honey, citrus, apricot and lots more. Superb finish that goes on for ever. Be nice if I had the time left that this Rieussec does!

7/2/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Still young but delicious. Great Cab and will only get better. Give it 3-4 years. Wish I was 20 years younger. Inky in color. Aromas of earth, coffee, leather. Very well integrated, soft tannins. Black cherry, chocolate, licorice. All woven together nicely.

7/2/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Wow! Probably deserves 100 but what do I know. This is a wine extraordinaire. A symphony of aromas and flavors. It is all there. A very well balanced wine. As the Brits would say it is in perfect harmony. Do not pass up the opportunity to try this wine. 3 left...

4/10/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Second time I have had the 91 in the past year. What can you say? It's superb! It just does not get much better, from anywhere. Drank over 5 hours with prime T-bone. It simply got better, both aromas and flavors. Perfect harmony. No need to elaborate with fancy words. If you get the opportunity to drank this wine do not pass, but be prepared to give it some time to open up. My only regret. I have no bottles left. It's a sad day...

3/16/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Excellent Blanc. Seems to be in perfect condition at this time. Wonderful aromas of citrus and peach. Medium weight. Flavors of mellon, honey, apple. Very well balanced. Unfortunately my last one. This was a very good wine...

3/7/2011 - hehimm wrote:

Deep golden color. Beautiful aromas of citrus. Grapefruit, apple, pineapple. Lively acidity. Years of aging left. Very well balanced.

11/21/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Decanted and drank over 5 hours. Still dark ruby. Loads of flavors: leather, coffee, chocolate. Had with wild game meal along with 86 Pontet Canet. Held its own very well. Good soft tannins. Still years to go.

11/17/2010 - hehimm wrote:

An excellent wine now will be even better in 2-5 years. Loads of citrus, mellon, honey. Nice acidity. Paired very nicely with lightly sauted pompano. I will enjoy watching this evolve over time.

11/15/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Exceptional. Still deep ruby, black cherry color almost to the rim. Very aromatic: fruit, earthy, leather. Loads of flavors: anise, cedar, dark fruit. Drank over 5 hours. Had with grilled lamb chops. Paired nicely. Alcohol 12.5. Expected the tannins to be fairly tight/harsh but found them to be fairly soft and well integrated. This is an elegant, exceptional wine and very well balanced. Many years left but I doubt my remaining two bottles will get to the end of its life before I reach mine. Will consume in the near future to enjoy while I can.

11/6/2010 - hehimm wrote:

A remarkable wine and simply stated: Absolutely delicious. Dark ruby color. Multiple layers of aromas and flavors. Sweet berries but by no means cloying. Loads of well integrated tannins. Should prove to be age worthy. The finish simply goes on and on. This is a very well balanced wine. As the Brits say: perfect harmony. Lucky to have several more.

10/24/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Simply superb, as with most Art Series Chardonnay. Loads of aromas citrus, pear, grapefruit. Dittos the flavors. Medium weight, creamy. Almost honey. Still loads of acidity. Very well balanced. Years to go.

10/3/2010 - hehimm wrote:

One of the better/best Aussie Shiraz + Merlot and Cab to date if you like big boys. Decanted for about an hour, may need more time. Has it all and very well balanced. Big aromas of berries, meat, leather, pepper. Even though 15.5 alcohol it did not dominate. Had with filet stuffed with crab. Flavors, aromas, tannins, acidity all in harmony, as the Brits say. Glad to have 4 more but will give it a little longer.

9/19/2010 - hehimm wrote:

One of the best, if not the best , merlot to date. Had three time before and still just as good. Deep aromas of blackberries, chocolate and layers of flavors. Drank over several hours and it just got better. two left.

7/18/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Nose of earth, barnyard, maybe some leather. Opened up with decanting. Very similar to my previous 95s. Consistency. Tannins soft and silky with decanting. After 15 years acids are still there. Licorice and chocolate. gcarl only has 10 left; I only have 2. On to the 97s.

6/22/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Golden color. Nice citrus nose. Multiple flavors with citrus dominant and butter in the background. Still lots of acidity. Years to go. Another excellent Art Series chard but that's to be expected from Leeuwin.

6/18/2010 - hehimm wrote:

I still like this wine. Nice nose; earthy, barnyard. Licorice. Soft tannins (silky). Acidity still has life. Well balanced. 15 years now and maybe a few more to go. 3 left.

5/30/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Another outstanding Art Series Chardonnay. Light gold color with greenish tint. Multiple aromas. Nicely balanced with lively acidity. Light butter with almond notes. Loads of citrus flavors. Lengthy finish. Excellent with our homemade Chesapeake Bay blue crab cakes. Nice to have 11 more!

5/9/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Very nice. Not a New Zealand sauvignon blanc. Citrus, pear. Nice acidity. Well balanced. Yes I got some minerality. Be interested to see how this evolves. 5 left.

5/9/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Aromas of red fruit, spice. Soft silky tannins. Still some acid left. My last bottle.

5/2/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Great nose. Barnyard, earth. Loads of anise. Soft tannins. Drinking great now and may have another 2-4 years but I would drink. At $22.99 you can'y go wrong.

3/23/2010 - hehimm wrote:

For a wine supposedly beyond its prime, this was delightful. Outstanding aromas and flavors. Blackberry, black cherry, earth, mint. It just got better over the 3 hours. Soft, velvety tannins. A very pleasant surprise.

1/10/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Excellent Burgundy. Needed a little time to open up. Initial nose was funky. Then you got the earth, barnyard. Burgundy all the way. Light cherry and red berry flavors. Perfect with the striper. Did not overpower at all. With 5 left, will see how it ages.

1/1/2010 - hehimm wrote:

Another nice Profile. Not the 97 but very good. Aromas of bacon, leather, berries. Flavors of blueberries, chocolate, licorice. Had on a quiet New Year's Eve with prime NY strip.

12/15/2009 - hehimm wrote:

Layers of beautiful aromas. Drank over several hours. Reminded me of an aged Dominus. Only got better. Soft tannins but still had some tannins and acidity. Light and pleasing on the alcohol. Good food pairing. Had with marinated beef tip. Glad I have three remaining.

11/7/2009 - hehimm wrote:

Unexpectedly dry and little to no fruit forward or residual sugar. Good flavors of earth, blackberries, light vanilla. Maybe even a little coffee on the finish. Nice with marinated tri-tip.

11/1/2009 - hehimm wrote:

I always enjoy Twomey and this did not disappoint. Flavors of earth, leather, red berries. May be nearing the end.

11/1/2009 - hehimm wrote:

Quite a surprise. This '99 Merlot still up and running. Layers of aromas and flavors. Weighty and jammy. Lively acidity. Unfortunately I'm all out! Better than I remember.

10/18/2009 - hehimm wrote:

Excellent. Exceeded my expectations. Loads of flavors and aromas: tar, blackberries, earth, liquorice. Balanced throughout. Good tannins that were relatively soft. Nice to have 5 more.