7/4/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Med lemon color, med bubbles with fairly long persistence. Med intensity to the youthful nose of lemon, lime, ripe apple, mineral, slight notes of sugar cookie. Off-dry, med+ acidity, creamy mouse, med alcohol, med body, med intensity to the flavors of lemon, lime, mineral. Simple, slighty off-balance finish with med- length. A pretty good value as it a trad method sparkler with good flavor at under $15.

5/29/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Good value Cava with a fun name. Straight forward flavors of lemon, lime, green apple and a touch of coconut. The palate picks up a bit of mineral to go with it's bright acidity, and clean short finish.

5/1/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Clear, pale lemon core, water white rim. Med/sm bubbles with med persistence. Clean nose, med intense developing aromas f apple, pear, lemon, bruised apple, yeast. Off dry, med acidity, creamy mousse, med alcohol, med body, med intense flavors of apple, pear, lemon and cookie. Med length. Good quality Cremant de Limoux, nice mousse, fair complexity and good balance between acid and sweetness.

5/7/2010 - brianb8851 Does not like this wine:

Well, it's wine. It's not bad, it's just not good. Heavy nose of Welch's grape juice with a bit of cherry tossed in. Ok palate. I paid $3, and tossed it in a braise.

5/1/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Heavy aromas of eucalyptus and mint, with black fruits. Very soft palate with almost no tannins left. This one is past it's prime. Not by much, but drink now.

5/7/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Clear, pale gold core with water white rim. Small bubbles with med persistence. Clean, developing nose with med intensity. Aromas of lemon cookie, lime, apple, morning dew, almonds and cream. Dry, med+ acidity, creamy mousse, med alcohol, med- body, med flavor intensity. Flavors of lemon, apple, pear, cheese rind, almond. Med- length and med complexity on the finish. Overall, a good wine, but very lean and a bit flat for grand cru Champagne.

5/7/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Clear med ruby, with garnet notes. Clean, developing nose with med- intensity to the aromas of ripe raspberry, forest floor, oak, baking spice and warm bread. Dry, med+ acidity, med tannins, med alcohol and med intensity to the flavors of raspberry, cherry, mushroom and leather. Med- length and a fairly simple finish. Overall a decent wine, but lacking a more complex nose I'd expect of a pinot at this price point.

4/12/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby color, pale ruby rim, long med think legs with slight pigment. Clean nose, med+ intensity with developing aromas of currant, dark cherry, spice, sweet tobacco. Dry, med acidity, med tannins (grape, well integrated), med+ alcohol, med+ body, med+ flavor intensity. Palate of currant, black cherry, spice, sweet tobacco. Med length and med complexity to the finish. This spent 30 months in 45% new french oak. They have dropped there prices at the winery and are now selling this for $40. It's good, but I don't think it's worth the $40.

4/23/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Drank this along side a 1997 Barrelli Creek and was more impressed with this wine. Give the Barrelli Creek 88 pts. Great nose of dried current and cherry, tobacco, spice. The palate was still well balanced and had nice structure. Drink soon.

4/23/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Classic old Cali Cab. Nose of dried currant, tobacco, spice and cedar. Nice palate of currant, dried cherry and spice, with fine tannins. This was the last of 6 bottles of this wine I purchased for $17. Still one of the best buys I've ever found. That said, it's beyond peak, but holding well. Drink ASAP.

4/18/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby, leaning toward purple color. Medium intensity nose with developing aromas of black fruits, blackberry, granite and tropical spice notes. Dry, medium acidity and medium minus tannins. Tightly wound on the palate this wine needs some time to open up. Great wine for the money.

4/2/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Purchased off the clearance list at WA Frost restaurant in St. Paul MN, $38. Nice bottle of Gewurtz, but showing quite a bit of age. Not sure how well it was cellared, but I don't think it was in perfect conditions. Nonetheless, it showed spicy, honeyed notes of beeswax, clove, mace, ripe apple. If you have some of these, I'd drink them soon.

3/30/2010 - brianb8851 Does not like this wine:

This is really basic tempranillo with sharp acidity (acid has certainly been added) and aromas and flavors or raspberry, tart cherry and bit of green herbs. Was much better on the second day after the acidity had time to chill out a bit.

3/28/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

"smells like wood" was the first comment at the table about this wine. And that about sums it up. While there is some dark berry fruit to this wine, it seems a bit disjointed relative to the wood. There was probably more fruit several years ago, but as this has aged the oak has taken over. Frankly I just don't get this style of wine. And the scores people give them. I'd call this 85 as it's a pretty good wine, but lacks finesse, structure or elegance. It's a one noter.

3/22/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

If I was given this wine in a blind tasting I might have said it was gewurztraminer from Alsace. The nose has aromas of white flowers, melon, peaches and ripe apples. But, as the wine warms the aromas begin to pick up a spice note typical of gewurtz. The finish is med in length and warm. This wine shows the 14% alcohol. Good wine for the price ($11), but it's a bit atypical for a Torrontes.

3/11/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Tasted with wine maker prior to release. Aromas and flavors of current, dark cherry, warm sandy soil, cherry/vanilla cola, mocha and a hint of greenness. Well integrated, fine tannins and firm structure. Very elegant.

3/11/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Tasted with the winemaker prior to release. This is a fantastic wine, that reminds me of a white from Graves. Aromas and flavors of lemon, lime, grapefruit, pineapple, stone fruits, grassy mineral and a bit of white pepper on the long finish. Great mouthfeel that is soft and weighty but firmly supported by graceful acidity. While this may seem pricey ($65) for a white, and a sauv blanc at that, it's worth every penny in my opinion. It's every bit as complex and interesting as a great bottle of chardonnay.

3/9/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Med+/Deep garnet in color. Med intensity nose. Developing aromas of black fruits, black olives, loamy/dusty earth, violets, anise, tar, smoke. Dry, med alcohol, med acidity, med+ body, med tannins. Flavors were fairly consistent with the aromas, but the black olive was a bit more pronounced. Over a few hours this really evolved in the glass, loosing some initial stemy green notes and developing more fruit. Wonderful old world wine.

3/20/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Med+ dusty ruby color. Med nose of warm dusty raspberry, mocha, oak and loam. Dry, high alcohol (15.5%), med+ body, med tannins and med flavor intensity of ripe raspberry, oak and mocha. Pretty simple, short finish. Typical high alcohol, oaky zin. Suspect tannins have been added to this during fermentation.

3/20/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Was really impressed with this bottle. Great aromas/flavors of pineapple, ripe pear and apple, touch of oak creaminess. For the price, this is a great bottle.

3/18/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Deep ruby core with med ruby rim. Med intensity nose showing some development and aromas of ripe raspberry, dark cherry, mocha, oak and sweet baking spices. The mocha and oak were much more apparent on the second day. Dry, med+ alcohol, med+ body, med- tannins that are well integrated. Med flavor intensity consistent with aromas. Med length with a slight bitter note on the finish. Reminds me a bit of a well-made, restrained Argentine malbec. Good wine, great for the price.

3/13/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Med ruby color with a pale garnet rim. Med-, developing nose of tart cherry with mushroom, tobacco and a hint of sweet spice and oak. Dry, med alcohol, med body med- tannin and med- flavors of tart, slightly astringent cherry, red fruits and a bit of spice. Overall a nice easy drinking wine, nothing great, nothing bad. Still holding up pretty well, but needs to be drunk by 2012.

3/4/2010 - brianb8851 Does not like this wine:

The nose shows blackberry, chocolate, oak. The wine is very heavy and full bodied on the palate. Med+ tannins and med acidity. Flavors of dark fruits and oak. The finish has med length, with course heavy tannins. This is a big bold, ripe, oaky malbec. If that's what you're looking for, it's a good wine.

3/3/2010 - brianb8851 Likes this wine:

Med+ ruby with touches of garnet. Med+ nose with aromas of cherry, raspberry, baking spice, earth and a bit of funk in the background. Dry, med+ alcohol, med body, med+ acidity. Med intense flavors of cherry, raspberry, spice, vanilla. Med length with a nice finish. Overall a really nice wine. I bought this for $9 in Mar'10, and suspect it hasn't been stored in perfect cond. That said, it doesn't appear as though it was poorly cellared or exposed to heat. Will buy more at $9.

3/3/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Bought this wine on closeout for $3. The nose has typical aged riesling aromas of beeswax, petrol, lemon, lime, flowers and a bit of mineral. So far, so good. Unfortunately the palate is flat and boring. It has acidity, just no structure. If you like aged riesling, this is a great deal at $3. If not, stay away regardless of the price.

2/26/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Pale lemon color, youthful nose with med intensity, fresh aromas of lemon, lime, sea, and a slight floral note. Dry, med+ acidity, med alc., body and intensity. The palate offers flavors of lemon, lime, mineral and a drying, slightly viscous, saline finish.

2/25/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Deep ruby color, youthful nose with a med intensity, showing aromas of black raspberry and a herbaceous, balsamic quality, the palate is dry with med acidity, med alc and body, low tannins and similar flavors. This is a good wine for the price, but not for those looking for a fruity new world wine. These is a very rustic, local plonk quality to this wine that I enjoy.

2/11/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Nice strawberry fruit flavors, but not overly complex.

2/10/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

A really nice old world wine for the price. Nose of red and black berries, violets and mineral. Med body and med acidity. Great everyday wine.

2/7/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

This wine was still very alive after nearly 8 years. The nose on this wine is just packed with oak and vanilla. It really covers the fruit.

1/26/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Bought this bottle a few years ago on a trip to Buffalo, NY. Right out of the bottle I got a very unusual sharply acidic note on the palate. This went away after 20 min plus or min, but it was very strange. Med garnet color. Med nose of current, cherry, tobacco, leather and hints of spice, green pepper. On the palate the cherry comes through more prominently, and a bit of earthiness creeps in. Med body. Med- length on a med- complex finish. Overall I was impressed and pleased with the wine and how well it's held up.

1/23/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Pale lemon color with lemon, lime, peach, melon, honey and just a hint of floral and spice on the nose. The nose followed through on the palate with med acidity and a med- finish. A fine wine, but nothing special. This was more like a riesling with out the acidity than it was like a gewurtz.

1/17/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Tasted from a 375ml bottle. Nice nose of current, blackberry, spices, oak and dusty earth. The palate was similar in flavor but failed to follow through with the complexity the nose signaled. Finished short.

1/16/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

The wine had a fair amount of fizz, which remained after being opened for several hours. The nose has nice citrus and chalky minerality. On the palate the wine delivers a fist full of acid, which hits hard right way and carries though of several minutes. This is one of the most acidic wines I've ever had. The lemon on our oysters was slightly more potent. This wine needs food, and something along the lines of ceviche.

1/13/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Nice juicy zin with plenty of body to stand up to most things, but not overbearing.
Med+ ruby color, med legs
Med+ nose of cherry, raspberry, blackberry, oak and baking spice
Med tannins, med+ acidity, med+ finish, touch of mineral/iron on the palate

1/11/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Nice. Med body and acid. Good fruit with a little bit of earth soul. Would buy again.

1/9/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

real simple

1/5/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

I really like this wine. Apple, pear, spice with a nice floral frame. Med acid, med finish.

1/4/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Very tight with med+ tannins. Currants, blackberry, gravel. Could be a great value bottle with 5 years of age.

12/31/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Wonderful bottle of pinot. This wine is pushing into the "syrahish" pinot area, but doesn't get there. It's big without being over done. Decanted for an hour plus before dinner. Still tight but showing great cherry, plum, a bit of dark cherry and touches of earth and vanilla. Would give this several more years. Could go 10-15 years in proper conditions.

1/1/2010 - brianb8851 wrote:

Good and a very good value for Champagne. But the Kirkland label really limits its use outside personal consumption. I mean, are you really going to take a bottle of wine that effectively says "Costco" to someone's house or party?

12/31/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Round lush wine with flavors of pineapple, macadamia nuts, citrus. The finish was rather hot with alcohol.

12/31/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

This wine is gracefully showing it's age with some honey and wax showing up on the citrus fruit core. There is good acidity and minerality.

12/31/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Was very surprised by this bottle. Lots of smooth, round cherry mixed with a touch of oak. Very nice finish with good acid backbone.

12/30/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Quiet disjointed and a but astringent. There was just a little bit of cheery fruit when first opened, but overwhelmingly the flavors were of meat, game, oak and a bit of soil. Very tight with a lot of tannin for a wine of this price point and made to be drunk asap. Med- finish and acidity. Was better on day two, but wouldn't buy again.

12/26/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Great value Loire wine. Lime, gooseberry, grass and mineral on the nose. Bright acidity and a refreshing finish with wonderful minerality. Highly recommended for the price.

12/19/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Pretty good NZ sauv blanc. Nice nose that has a touch more richness than I would have expected. Citrus, bit of grass.

12/18/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Tasted from a bottle that had been open for 6 hours. Very soft, delicate style. Lacks acidity and complexity. The finish has little if any length to it.

12/16/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

Medium lemon color, no legs. Medium nose of apple, pear, honey, mineral and beeswax. The palate is well balance with aggressive acidity that attacks the tongue. There is just a bit of residual sugar.

12/13/2009 - brianb8851 wrote:

This is my last bottle of the 2003 Duboeufs. I had several bottles of several bottlings. I have consumed several in the past month as they are past prime. This bottle, however, has held up the best. Which isn't all that surprising given that it was one of the biggest of the bunch. The nose still has a fair amount of fruit...raspberry, dark cherry and a almost a bit of chambord. Palate is nice, clean with aromas following though. The finish however is a quite dry and lean. Drink these now.