7/26/2022 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Loved this w/ oysters last night. Fresh and clean after 5 years since disgorgement the wine is really at a great point. No oxidative notes and those sharp edges from a few years ago have softened. Pretty wine with good fruit. All from a zero dosage wine. Bravo Benoit!

1/7/2022 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Excellent showing against a pair of ‘93 GCs: de Vogue Musigny and Dujac Charmes. Decanted and poured the wine has excellent acidity and a core of dark red fruits. Lacks the depth of its GC counterparts, but, let’s face it, you can buy 5 bottles of this for one of the others. A long life ahead.

12/23/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

From magnum purchased at $42. Second bottle of a case. Sure, the wine is a little thin and not as precise or energetic as the 2011 Raveneau I had for lunch thé other day, but damn it is hard to find much better QPR than this. These will provide another decade of easy drinking pleasure.

12/17/2021 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Pristine bottle. The wine showed very well against a highly diverse group of younger wines. For me, this is à point and unlike some reviews, I don't see it falling off for a long time. 1999 maybe not a top vintage, but I've had these back to 40 years old and they just seem to get better.

11/25/2021 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Fabulous bottle starting to open and reveal its true potential. The more I have from Rhys, I have realized the top bottlings don't even begin to strut their stuff for at least 7-10 years. Still somewhat bitter red fruits (think: sour cherry, cranberry) but developing secondary notes of herbs, darker fruits and some earth. Sadly only one of these beauties left which I won't consume before 2025.

11/6/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

First of a case. Pristine condition. At 20 this wine is on the front end of drinkability. Full and rich, but not over-extracted. Still primary red and black fruits with hints of secondary flavors (spice, cigar box, lead pencil and leather) punching through. A long life ahead this will only improve for 10-20 years.

11/4/2021 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

First bottle from case. Pristine condition. Wine travelled maybe 1/4" up the cork. Maybe I don't have enough experience w/ Arlaud, but this needs at least another 5 years to hit its stride. I would have said 2010, not 2002. Just not there yet. Even on day 2 the tannins only allowed very primary flavors of black fruits to show through and the nose remained rather muted. But the quality is there, I have zero doubt this will be a 93+ gem in 10-15 years.

11/3/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

Oh yeah! Absolutely stolen in a Bonham's auction a few years ago. Drinking beautifully though with many years left. Only 6% abv. Lovely acidic spine. Compared to many TBAs and Eisweins, this is an entry level wine that shows why German Rieslings are the greatest dessert wines in the world. Prove me wrong!

9/26/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

First of a case. I'm hoping this bottle was in a dumb phase as it was a little flat and lacking energy. Not seeing any other notes reflecting this so maybe just a bad bottle. Opened up a bit after and hour or so, but still was more restrained than I expected.

9/23/2021 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Fortunately brought a backup to dinner as first bottle fell flat. Bottle #2 was singing alongside an almond cake. Initially atouch shy it opened quickly to notes of honey, pears and stone fruits. Medium weight with good acidity, this wine will evolve for many years.

9/14/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

Last had a bottle 2 years ago that was advanced. This yesterday delivered on all fronts, though still showing primary elements of lemon peel, salinity and oyster shell. Solid acidic spine. This wine is only on the front end of drinkability. Will try to keep my hands off for another 5 years!

8/17/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

Badly corked.

5/30/2021 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Front end of maturity for a wine that will improve for 5-10 years and perform well for at least another 10+ beyond that. A perfect foil to stewed lamb w/ many varied side dishes. Full aromatics with a rich mouthfeel, it seems to me these Voge wines are underrated, even in an appellation that currently boasts a crowded field of excellent producers.

5/23/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

Gorgeous amber color. More developed than the same vintage of Climens I have in the cellar. Lovely nose but somewhat muted in taste. I prefer my Sauternes with a punchier acidity, which has somewhat faded here. Drink up!

5/23/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

First two bottles of a case. Good news, no bottle variation. Decanted for 2 hours. The wine is still developing. I will try to keep my hands off these for another 5 years before trying again. One day it will be a great bottle with 94-95 point potential and will certainly outlive me.

3/22/2021 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Nice bottle at the front end of maturity; think it should improve over the next 10 years. Suffered a bit as it came right after a 1990 Cos. The syrah in this wine is very much at the forefront and one could easily mistake it for a N Rhone. Trevallon for me is neither fish (cabernet) nor fowl (syrah) but when it comes together it is a great food wine with grilled meats and bigger flavors.

2/27/2021 - Burglover13 wrote:

Impressive. Beautiful color extending through the entire glass; no bricking whatsoever on a 60+ yo wine. Fully mature but not even starting to decline. Took an hour or so to fully open up, and still quite fresh with a wave of black fruits. Tasted alongside a pristine 1987 Heitz MV one would have though the Heitz the older wine. This is a small bit of California history from the glory days.

11/26/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

I love how these 2007s are drinking now. Perfectly mature. While a lighter vintage, this was very floral with a lovely perfume of cherry liqueur. Drink over the next 3 years.

5/21/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

Disappointing. Excellent color and reasonable fill on the bottle, the wine just didn't shine. Not really flawed but a bit dried out; I expected more. I have another which hopefully will have retained its fruit and won't fall flat.

5/21/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Purchased from the Stott collection. Wine was in excellent shape. Love these older Faiveleys!

5/21/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

Bottle in perfect condition. Drunk alongside the 2002 Batard, which was also in excellent shape. For the group, the BBM was the winner. Elegant and light on its feet, the wine showed nice acidity for the vintage. Very nice!

4/18/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Decanted for about 1 hour. Bright minerality that mellowed and evolved over the evening. By the last glass, the wine had opened nicely. At 10 years in bottle I'd say it is at the front end of drinkability and will improve over the next 10 years.

4/10/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

Really nice! First since initial tasting in 2014. No longer brash and tannic, but still youthful and fresh. As it opens reveals layers of cherry and earth tones. This is great now but I think ideal drinking window will be 2024-29. 93+ potential.

3/20/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Generally not a great vintage, but this wine has exceeded many of its peers (at least the few I've tried). Needed a solid hour or more of air and the wine bloomed nicely. Not a heavyweight, but very nice with grilled chicken. I paid less than $30 for it a few years ago, so great QPR imho.

3/8/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

Still a little tight, but with good freshness and energy. No real depth but an easy drinking wine perfect with grilled chicken or a greasy burger. A fine mid-week burg that will drink well for another 3-5 years. Not great QPR at the price point in the 50s, but I got these for a song in London 5 years ago...

2/4/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Really liked this. Short decant. The wine opened beautifully; very soft, medium bodied and approachable for a young Cornas. I guess some would say modern, but for me just a very pleasurable wine.

1/28/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Still in the earlier stages of development, this wine is very drinkable with a good decant and time to open. Dark fruits, tapenade and leather works very well with grilled meats. I suspect this will have a long life ahead and a few more years in cellar should bring it up to 93-4.

1/24/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

My first bottle of a case. Old school as I like it, these Fantino Riserva bottlings represent some of the best QPR in Piedmont. At 13, it is settling in nicely with a long life ahead. Classic tar & roses, anise and dark fruits. Happy to own a cellar full of Fantino!

1/24/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

Really like this, but unbelievably it is still young. Big and tannic, I expect this will integrate beautifully over the next 5 years and longer.

1/18/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

First bottle of a case, I look forward to watching this develop over a long lifetime (I also have some riserva which won’t be opened for another 5 years at leart). Huge wine that needed a good decanting to coax out the black fruits. Really beautiful color, too.

1/18/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Right on the front end of its drinking window. Out of .375 this is spot on. Crisp acidity and bright fruits this fabulous QPR bottle has a long life ahead, of my wife can keep her hands off!

1/18/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

I liked this more than the other posters, but it’s right up my alley. Very pale strawberry hue; except in the mouth you can barely tell this is a rose. Fresh with a firm spine and subtle notes of red fruits, this is drinking well now but in no rush. Except I agree the bubbles are a little light...

1/7/2020 - Burglover13 wrote:

The bottle and cork were in perfect condition, decanted for about an hour. A big Corton. Not much subtlety here, but the wine is still young by 5+ years. We'll see how it develops.

1/7/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

I like the '06 vintage is developing. Not super complex and brooding, rather fresh and opulent but, in the case of Rinaldi, still very structured. This will have a long life but shall be hard to resist younger.

1/7/2020 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Unlike some previous reviews, I find this about right for 2001 Barolo: big and rich, but still a bit tightly wound and in need of more cellaring. Much less New World than I'd been expecting, I look forward to trying my next bottle in 3+ years.

11/29/2019 - Burglover13 wrote:

The Sylvaner doesn't hit the thrilling notes as Riesling, but for a young Eiswein at this price point, the wine is delightful. I'd assume this will only get better.

11/29/2019 - Burglover13 wrote:

After a 2007 Scherrer last week and this one last night, I don't think I'm opening a Cali pinot younger than 10 years of age. This was excellent. All the baby fat melted away and the oak integrated. Still just a little sweet, but a lovely crowd pleaser w/ Thanksgiving dinner.

11/9/2019 - Burglover13 wrote:

PnP. Still young and in need of a good decant. At dinner by the last glass the wine and the nose started to come around. Not a great vintage by any stretch, full of dark fruits but a little short and thin on the back end. Not certain, but I hope it will improve over the next 5 years. Best case 91-2. Given the discount that 2006 trades, maybe worth a shot...

11/5/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. This beauty is at its peak. Its lost the baby fat and big fruit of youth (I last had this in 2011) and replaced with lovely subtle notes of cherry, mushroom and earth. Softened tannins but still a solid acid spine holding the wine together firmly. Should be on this lovely plateau for 5 more years. Really quite good and more elegant than so many Russian River valley pinots.

10/1/2019 - Burglover13 wrote:

From magnum. Great color and levels, though moist cork necessitated the Durand. Really nice hike through some rough bramble, blackberries and sour cherries. Age bringing out some lovely secondary earth tones. A very pleasant surprise given the bottle was not the flagship Howell Mtn. Bravo!

6/14/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

From Magnum. After about an hour of air the nose blossomed. A very fine wine not at all marked by the heat of the vintage. Very accessible now, this wine will only improve.

6/9/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

More advanced than I'd have expected. This bottle (with a chipped cap exposing most of the cork) was fully mature, and quite wonderful. Toasted oats, honey and lemon. Good balance but I could have used more prominent acidity. A little lack of freshness kept this score down. Will try another bottle soon.

6/9/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Lovely lift and freshness with a lengthy finish, positively reflecting its low 11.5% alcohol. Very nice wine with impeccable balance. Still a bit young. Needs at least 5 years to meet its 95-96 point potential.

6/9/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

My favorite so far of the 2012 Rhys Pinots. Rich cherry and black fruits, but not too sweet or hot. Well balanced with a savory salinity and faint herbal notes. Will doubtless improve over next 3-5 years.

6/8/2019 - Burglover13 wrote:

Was expecting better. Decanted 45 minutes and served slightly chilled, the wine never really opened up for me. Had good balance and acidity as usual for Santa Cruz Mtn Ceritas, but the finish was short and lacked a bit of density. Maybe a little age would help?

6/8/2019 - Burglover13 wrote:

Fabulous. The wine is dense while sill being light on its feet with lively acidity. This beauty has many years of wonderful drinking ahead. Sorry that I only have two bottles left; how did I drink the others so young???

6/8/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Dry cork issues (no cheese cloth or proper filter so we had to use a china cap to get out cork particles) but otherwise perfect condition. The wine shined after a solid 60 minutes in decanter. Unlike many '97 cabs which drank so well young, this still has good tannic structure and acidity. Well balanced with lively fruit this wine is really at the front end of maturity. Gotta love Ridge!

5/31/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

10 yr vintage anniversary 1st bottle from the case. Slow ox for three hours and then in a decanter for 2 hours. Still youthful and tight with big fruits underneath that want to come out. Not tonight but maybe in 3-5 years. Not as racy as the last few vintages (2014-16) but this will be a solid bottle of wine for many years to come. 93 point potential in 10 years.

5/28/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

I expected to be disappointed: producer, vintage, etc. However, this surprised to the upside. Fully mature, the wine is well balanced and still has a degree of freshness which belies the hot vintage. Rich fruits, but not stewed. A gsolid food wine that should be opened and decanted for 30 minutes or so. I will enjoy my last bottles over the next few years.

5/25/2019 - Burglover13 Likes this wine:

Still a little young. Will get better as the oak gets integrated and tannins soften a touch, probably 2-3 years. Otherwise very nice balance, dark fruits but not hot or overripe in any way. This will be a very nice wine and should last 10+ years easy.