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Tasting Notes for Nike-Raider

(263 notes on 196 wines)

1 - 50 of 263 Sort order
Red
6/3/2018 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
91 points
Very smooth and drinkable. A nice surprise.
Red
10/1/2017 - Nike-Raider wrote:
89 points
Pretty much the same as my July 1,2017 review. May extend into 2018
Red
7/1/2017 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
P&P. The nose was tight out of the gates and never did develop very well. Eventually I was able to coax out some black fruit and cassis.
On the pallet the wine was silky smooth, mouth filling, with dark fruit, green pepper, black spice, black coffee and tobacco.
There was a long lingering finish of anise & bakers chocolate.
Drinking very well now with soft polished tannins, but this is the end of the line.
Red
2008 Kuyam 13 Moons Santa Barbara Highlands Santa Barbara County Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
5/9/2017 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
91 points
Two years after my last review of this wine, finds the wine settling down and drinking very nicely. I expect this will still be doing well through 2018
Red
5/7/2017 - Nike-Raider wrote:
I wasn't happy with the wine. Having said that I didn't go to any trouble preparing the bottle, just P&P. Will reserve judgement.
Red
4/25/2017 - Nike-Raider wrote:
89 points
Still strong & consistent with previous tastings
Red
1/25/2017 - Nike-Raider wrote:
90 points
This wine is just hitting its stride. Very smooth, plenty of red and black fruit, with a respectable black spice finish.
Red
1/25/2017 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
Easy drinking red at a good price.
Red
2007 Three Saints Sixty-Seven Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Red Blend (view label images)
1/14/2017 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
As ready as it will ever be.
Red
1/12/2017 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
Decanted. A slight hint of yeast on opening gave way to a decent nose of tangerine, blackcurrant and wet stone. on the pallet the wine was smooth and full bodied with black fruit and lemon in the center. Finish was short and disappointing.
Red
Decanted and it took a good thirty minutes for the nose to open. Silky smooth with a core of plum and black fruit. Plenty of dark notes coffee tobacco and anise capped by a respectable finish. Drinking beautifully now and it may not show any further development, but I think it still has four to five years left.
Red
12/18/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
Enjoyable with prime rib. P&P but it was ready to drink. Somewhat one dimensional but worth the price.
Red
12/9/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
88 points
OK. Worth the money, but with all the press, I was disappointed.
Red
12/7/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
89 points
Last bottle of a fine case. Wish I had more.
Red
11/30/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
89 points
Very smooth & drinkable. Wish I had more.
Red
11/20/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
It took about an hour for the wine to open in the glass, presumably less if I'd decanted. Drinking very well now, but I don't think we'll see much further development.
Red
2010 Luiano Chianti Classico Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)
11/15/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
Solid bottle for everyday drinking.
Red
I should have decanted but didn't. A bit rough out of the bottle but it started to settle down after 30 minutes. The prominent nose has plenty of fruit but is starting to show its age.
The pallet has a bold acidity, black fruit and a respectable finish. Next time I will decant and do a more focused review. I withhold a rating but it would be a 90.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 Klinker Brick Tranzind Lodi Mokelumne River Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)
10/30/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
Big, dark, brooding & muscular. Liked it. Took about twenty minutes to open.
Red
10/27/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
Silky smooth with lots of black fruit forward. Finish is a bit thin but not a bad QPR.
Red
10/23/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
A great value. Full bodied, and well balanced.
Red
10/20/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
Enjoyable napa cab. Well made but not memorable.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
10/2/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
91 points
Decanted. silky smooth. savory roast meat, mint, pepper,anise. long finish - 90
Red
9/29/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
90 points
What a great value. Last tried in 2014, and its still going strong. That was my last bottle.
Red
9/8/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
94 points
I wanted an old bottle tonight and I went deep to get it. In 93 I laid in a case of 91 Robert Mondavi Cab Sav Napa. Tonight was the final bottle, a last tango with an old friend. The previous one, tried in 2014 had spoiled and I wasn't optimistic about this one.
After twenty in the decanter, I poured and sampled. There was significant browning, but the nose was true, without a hint of barnyard or funk. Just a whisper of fruit left, with plenty of coffee, tobacco and bakers chocolate.
The pallet was magnificent, elegant, justifying all the trouble we go to in aging these FKR's. Just enough black fruit up front to remind you that this stuff starts out as grapes. The rest is dark spice, minerals, leather & chocolate. The mid pallet extends into an endless finish of anise, tobacco, and hints of clove. Best bottle of the year by far. 94
Wish I had more,
Wish I was tall,
Wish I could share,
But I'm drinking it all.
SAYONARA.
Red
8/27/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
91 points
very enjoyable & drinkable. Served while entertaining so did not really concentrate on the tasting. Still it was excetional, lacking only a bit of complexity and depth.
Red
7/15/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
Last of them. Saying goodbye to an old friend.
Red
7/10/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
89 points
Decanted for an hour. The wine was enjoyable, and at first impression somewhat thin. The nose was respectable, but not memorable. It gained more substance on the midpallet and finish, but still a bit of a disappointment.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
6/26/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
89 points
Decanted and drank after twenty minutes. Went well with the ribs we served. The wine is well balanced and drinking nicely. Did not spend much time breaking down the flavors, just enjoyed with friends.
Red
2010 Château Hyot Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
6/3/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
88 points
Not a bad Bordeaux. I decanted and it took about 45 minutes to settle down. The nose was very unpronounced, but the pallet showed typical earth, pencil shavings, black spice, coffee, with a dash of acidic brightness and a touch of citrus. A decent finish with a soft tannic
buzz.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
6/3/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
Well made but unremarkable Napa Cab. Drinking well now.
Red
5/28/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
Ok But nothing special.
Red
2007 Castello di Querceto / Querceto Chianti Classico Riserva Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)
5/22/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
90 points
P&P but it didn't take long for it to present well. Nice full nose of red fruit, primarily cherries and vanilla.
The pallet is full and fruity with vanilla, black spice and a streak of acidic brightness. There's more of the same on the respectable finish. Tannins are firm and I expect the wine to last until 2019 at least but I don't see any further development. Drinking well now.
Red
5/15/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
Nice, simple, easy drinking Pinot.
Red
5/11/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
P&P. Medium color. Cherries and vanilla are prominent on the nose, with hints of orange peel. Good mouth feel with black spice flavors, coffee and hints of anise. Black and red fruit flavors are in the background with a nice streak of acidity.

The short finish shows some black currant and anise but is otherwise disappointing.
Red
5/7/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
Decanted, and removed the abundant sediment. The wine was pleasant but nothing special, about what you'd expect for this price point.
Red
5/11/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
A reasonably good value and a well made wine, but nothing really notable.
Red
4/28/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
88 points
Decanted for an hour. on the nose nose smoke, black currant, dried herbs.
Dark and brooding on the pallet with black flavors, coffee, pepper, anise, hints of fruit, more of the same on the extended finish. Let this decant for a good hour before serving with your meal.
Well made but still rough around the edges, and I have mixed feelings about this bottle, something I can't quite put my hands on.
Red
1990 Château Clerc Milon Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
4/29/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
91 points
The foil had been damaged or chewed and the cork was in a bad way, soaked black and crumbling on extraction. After screening and filtering out the sediment, the wine sat for forty minutes in the decanter, giving it a chance to blow off the considerable funk and barnyard that comes with a bottle this old.

Deep garnet color with the expected browning around the edges

With the condition of the cork, I didn’t expect much, but the wine was in great shape. Dark and mysterious with just a hint of mustiness to remind you of the pedigree.

The nose is about earth and herb, wood smoke, and hints of black currant if you look hard for it. The pallet is silky smooth, and If you like old, brooding bordeaux, this is it. There’s still a thread of acidic brightness, but little of the fruit that you’d expect to find with it. The rest is all black coffee, tobacco, bakers chocolate, anise, and black pepper. There are hints of Mint Oreo which, by an extraordinary coincidence, my son had just put in my mouth.

The finish seems to have lost some of its staying power since I last tried in 2013, but it’s still respectable.

I have one bottle left and I’m thinking autumn - before the last leaf falls.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
4/17/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
A lively bright nose of black cherry and vanilla. The pallet shows toffee, almonds, black cherry on the pallet, with a respectable finish of black coffee and anise.
A touch of acidic brightness and soft tannins should keep this afloat through 2018.
Red
4/15/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
89 points
Two years after I tried it last, I find much less fruit and more black spice, chocolate and tobacco. Still has some acidic brightness and tannins that should carry it through 2018.
Red
4/13/2016 - Nike-Raider wrote:
89 points
I left the wine in the decanter for an hour before trying. The color was dark and the nose showed black fruit and musty herb. The pallet was big and jammy with overbearing plum, black currant, dark spice and bakers chocolate. I thought the finish was too quick or I'd have given a higher score. Impressive for $9.
Red
4/3/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
87 points
A cut above the usual $9 Rioja. A good value
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
3/31/2016 - Nike-Raider Likes this wine:
90 points
Decanted and left to breathe for an hour.

The nose shows plum, stems, black currant, and cinnamon.

The medium to full bodied pallet hints of black currant and cherry up front, with black coffee, anise and other black spice dominating the mid pallet.

There is a big dry finish that adds pepper and bakers chocolate.

Hard to beat for ten bucks
Red
1990 Château Saint-André Corbin St. Georges-St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
Decanted. Cork broke on extraction but the top 2/3 was in fair shape, not saturated.

It took 10 minutes for the nose to arrive. More fruit than I would have guessed. Black currant, plums raisins, vanilla - no funk.

after 15 minutes, pallet still needs time to blow off some harshness, less fruit, more wood and leather, pencil shavings. In the mouth I’m seeing the darker flavors I’d expect from an old bordeaux. still a twinkle of acidic tartness, but not for long.

respectable finish of tobacco, black coffee, and a bit of bakers chocolate. NR
Red
This bottle is well past it's prime, and I decanted with low expectations.
The cork turned out to be in excellent condition, and the sediment was moderate. Right out of the decanter the nose was full with dark fruit and black spice aromas, and no funk.
On the pallet there is plenty of what you'd expect from an old bordeaux, with a hint of barnyard that I expect will blow off with airtime. The finish is deep and long, but a bit harsh and astringent.
Not a bad performance from a 22 year old middleweight. NR
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  • Tasting Notes: 263 notes on 196 wines
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