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Comments on my notes

(21 comments on 20 notes)

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Red
2017 Sottimano Barbaresco Pajoré Nebbiolo
1/2/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
93 points
This truly is stellar Barbaresco. Goodness gracious I could drink this on and on and on. Had with a homemade, grilled margarita pizza. The basil, tomato sauce and cheese treated this wine like it was its long lost brother/sister. Spectacular.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    1/11/24, 8:12 AM - Does it stand on it's own..??? It does, but make no mistake, it is a fabulous 'food wine.' I guess what I am saying is that it is not one of those wines I open to enjoy by itself while watching a movie. But do not let that stop you. Buy it !

Red
2017 Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend
6/2/2023 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
93 points
Wonderful. Lots going on in this bottle. Most all of what we'd expect from this great wine. Open and drink.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    6/7/23, 3:35 AM - A little bit of airtime in the glass was all it needed. Enjoy.

Red
2014 Château Malescot St. Exupéry Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend
9/29/2022 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
93 points
Similar to my critique 2 years ago, the wine exhibited dark cherry, some eucalyptus, licorice, blackberry, floral notes, slight vanilla and earth. Earth on the nose along with tobacco and leather. Medium body. Medium, but smooth tannins. Acidity has dissipated since my last tasting. 2 hour decant also made quite a difference.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    9/30/22, 6:13 AM - Definitely worth a 2 hour decant to let it open a bit. Enjoy.

Red
2019 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape A la Gloire de mon Grand-Père Grenache Blend, Grenache
5/1/2022 - acyso wrote:
70 points
Vinetasters: 2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Sickly sweet, modernist, cough-syrupy, high-toned, astringent stuff. My 11th, group's 8th.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    7/25/22, 9:19 AM - While I have not had this, I can relate. As a 30+ year fan of CdP, I long for the traditional days and the style in which they were traditionally made. A few chateau remain, but the "California" style that seems to be the new norm is just plain sad.

Red
2018 Star Treatment Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
2/13/2022 - Omadobs Likes this wine:
93 points
Chopper's review frames this wine perfectly. On Superbowl weekend, we opened Juslyn's Perry's Blend, Hourglass HG III and this NDA. All are very good wines with absolutely no flaws, but this might be the best on Day 2. I do taste more black fruit than red and appreciate the mouth-drying tannins on the 30+ second finish. Cocoa and baking spices on the medium++ finish add to the interest. If I could buy another case, I would.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    3/27/22, 12:58 PM - Nice to know our tastes are aligned. Just opened my second bottle. My opinion has not changed other than to possibly agree with you that there's a lot to be said for your take on there being black fruit notes with nice tannins.

Red
2019 Wine Access Cabernet Sauvignon The Big Ticket Napa Valley
1/29/2022 - Rbhan12 Does not like this wine:
86 points
Opened in the glass for 2 hours.

The color is deep red/ruby but it's more transparent than I expected. Nose is pretty faint, but I would say dark red berries and cherries, maybe some oak support but nothing distinctly identifiable. Palate is medium full body, same dark red fruits, little bit of acid, no tannin to speak of. Finish is pretty lackluster but mimics the palate. Tails off quickly with dark red fruit and maybe a little bit of crushed rock over time.

Are you guys sure we're drinking the same wine? This isn't very good. Doesn't hold a candle to the other WineAccess NDAs like Yesterday 18, Concept Album 16, Radio Silence 17/18, Editorial 18, or even Phoenix 17. Reminds me a lot of the disastrous Ringer 19 but without as much residual sugar. Maybe I had an off bottle but I haven't had much bottle variation with the WA NDAs.

Drink now, I have no reason to believe there is cellaring potential here.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    2/22/22, 5:38 AM - I agree. This is a waste of money (and it is relatively inexpensive). As I wrote in my description, blueberry flavored maple syrup. WA should be ashamed of their right up for this garbage.

Red
2006 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
2/12/2022 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
94 points
Drank over 2 days. Nothing to add other than my previous comments remain on point. For vintage that was not considered "best," this sure is some very good CdP.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    2/17/22, 9:16 AM - Was "very good" to be sure. Just not among the "best."

Red
2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend
4/19/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote:
92 points
Bay leaf, scorched earth, black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, vanilla and smoke weave an arousing aromatic profile. The wine is concentrated, rich, silky and with good density of flavor. The fruit is ripe, soft and polished with freshness, blackberries dipped in chocolate, licorice and toast in the finish. I am quite certain this is the best vintage of Le Petit Haut Lafitte ever produced! The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and paired with 40% Merlot. 91-93 Pts
  • ChopperWine commented:

    11/3/21, 2:29 PM - YUP ! Agree 100%. This could well be the best vintage of Le Petit Haut Lafitte ever produced.

Red
2018 Château Pape Clément Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend
8/15/2021 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
92 points
92... Only because of its youth. But this is going to be one hell of a wine. Right now it is infanticide. Jeff Leve is spot on with his descriptive. My curiosity got the best of me so I opened a bottle of the many I purchased. This simply just must be put away for many years. Super tangy for the first several hours it was opened, but as the night wore on, it mellowed a bit but not even close to enough for it to be called, "ready to drink."
  • ChopperWine commented:

    8/18/21, 2:57 PM - No regrets. Since you picked up a case, I would open up a bottle. Take a look into the future. Worth taking note of your findings to compare at a later time. Definitely decant for a few hours.

Red
2015 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley
2/4/2021 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
94 points
Other than, "wow," there are not a lot of other descriptives. One of the best, well balanced, tasty wines I’ve had in quite some time. Blackberry, cassis, subtle smokiness and plum notes with medium tannins and very little acidity after about 1.5 hours of air time. Full bodied. Velvety texture.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    6/28/21, 6:27 AM - It is surely ready to go. Certainly time will not hurt it, but my feeling was that it just entered its long drinking window.

Red
2013 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Starderi Nebbiolo
10/25/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
93 points
This was truly something to behold. So refined. So delicate. Yet so bold as to stand up to a bolognese. Giorgio, this is one of your better offerings. Why I am the first to review this beauty is beyond me. Certainly this wine will stand up for years to come, but 7 years in, those who have it should start enjoying this wonderful Barbaresco.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    3/16/21, 10:24 AM - I am one that gets turned off by overly oaked wines. I have found none of La Spinetta's to be that. I genuinely find these wines to be well made and in the right zone of what I feel is a great Barbaresco. In other words, no manipulation needed.

Red
2015 San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino Le Lucere Sangiovese
2/14/2021 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
93 points
Wow. Totally can appreciate why it was #3 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 in 2020. Tasted after a 6 hour decant. Perfumed with intense fresh sweet red and dark fruits, tobacco, graphite, chocolate and dirt. Some mushroom and other spicy notes. Bright acidity, with just enough tannin throughout. Sage, forest floor, nutmeg and other cooking spices hold in the palate for just the right amount of time. Lovely.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    2/17/21, 7:18 AM - I surely do not take it wrong way. It's a great question. For me, I usually take it with a grain of salt when WS, JS, WA, etc. score over 95/96. To me that is more about marketing themselves. As I see it, to be in that league of numbers, it has to be aged (or exceptionally unique in quality as a young wine). My 93 here was based upon knowing it is young and it could easily go to 95+ in the years to come if it ages as expected. This particular wine just hit it on all cylinders and I gave it a point more. These days, as a general rule for comparison's sake, I subjectively find most quality wine (with good vintages) score between 90 to 92 - each having varying characteristics in aroma, taste and texture. Then, after 5 or more years, I try to be discerning and seek to find all those great qualities that make up a "fine wine."

    I get your point about being more philosophical on the point scales these days. I might even agree with you that perhaps you are just a bit of a "subjective sucker" for big points at times. Again, take it all with a grain of salt. The quality wines from quality producers will generally never let you down.

Red
2019 Domaine Dominique et Janine Crochet Sancerre Rouge Cuvée Prestige Pinot Noir
1/17/2021 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
92 points
This is a really good sauvignon blanc. Lovely pale yellow in color with a huge aroma of pear, peach, apricot and ocean air. Flavors of peach, faint lemon and super minerality that lasts. Acidity is well meshed with a generally smooth body. A simple wine which was perfect with chicken.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    1/20/21, 5:46 AM - You are 100% correct. Thank you for pointing that out. I shall correct it.

Red
2018 Wine Access Cabernet Sauvignon Yesterday Howell Mountain
11/7/2020 - BMWclarinet wrote:
95 points
-Plum, vanilla bean paste, vanilla sugar, rounded, concentrated, fig jam,
blueberry, over turned earth/leaves, black tea/smokey lapsang souchong, viscous, tomato leaf, prune
  • ChopperWine commented:

    12/5/20, 4:48 PM - Exactly.

Red
2016 Château Poesia St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
11/14/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
92 points
From a Coravin pour.... This wine is hitting it on all cylinders. Oak, red berry, tobacco and all the St. Émilion character one expects especially from a Grand Cru.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    11/22/20, 6:05 AM - A good hour definitely is worthwhile.

Red
2012 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
10/31/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
90 points
Good. Not great. I stand by my note from January, 2019. -- "I would be lying if I stated that this was a blockbuster of a vintage from Clos des Papes. It is not. Very earthy. Smooth in one-dimensional wrote someone below, and I would agree. I would also venture to guess that it is in its proper drinking window at this time. For those who know Clos des Papes, there really is not much point in mentioning the obvious characteristics other than to say it probably doesn't have a long life ahead, but certainly has a few more years with which one could lay it down."
  • ChopperWine commented:

    11/1/20, 4:56 AM - Hey WineGuyDelMar. You are echoing exactly what my GF said to me last night. She said it was burning alcohol on the back and "hurting her teeth" it was so sweet. I found it very fruity to be sure, more so than sweet, but both your points cannot really be argued.

Red
2017 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Hated Hunter Central Coast
6/21/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
93 points
Okay.. where to begin? Is this a wonderful wine? Sure. Should one be able to detect the craftsmanship? Yes. Worth the price? Absolutely not. While not over the top expensive like so many of the new "cult" wines (as in California offerings whose beginnings don't go much farther back than the 1990's) that people think are worth shelling out ridiculous sums of money to have bragging rights, this wine is still not worth the price in this man's opinion.

That said, this wine was big, teeth staining dark purple and closed enough to warrant a 6 hour decant. Floral, rich and earthy. Sweet and viscous. All the trappings of a Syrah wine that clearly is heavily extracted.

Dark berries, vanilla, syrup with a long finish that could not hide the high alcohol's (15.9%) heat. Glad I shared this with 2 other people. While tasty, it was too heavy to be able to drink more than a glass and a half.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    6/30/20, 1:50 PM - Definitely is a QPR issue here. And while that is a very subjective comment, I feel, as many else who have some decent wine knowledge and wine appreciation, that this is a colossal waste of money (which yes, I realize is also a subjective comment). But if these winemakers can get it, good for them. I just find so many Syrahs sweet to begin with that this extra over-extraction was just not needed. I will stick with Napa cabs for the "rich" wine experience and Bordeaux & old world Châteauneuf-du-Pape for my more preferred style. Hard to imagine that this Sine Qua Non will ever be considered a "classic" wine. "Unique," perhaps. But in the end, any wine experience is an experience worth having.

Red
2013 Calluna Vineyards Calluna Estate Chalk Hill Red Bordeaux Blend
4/22/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
91 points
Deep purple in color with a bit of fruit upfront. Dry finish leaving the wine without a lot of character but one is definitely reminded of a decent French, left bank Bordeaux. The nose is spicy with graphite and big berry. Stewed fruit taste with some earth. Pepper aftertaste.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    4/24/20, 7:03 AM - AFWE, by Napa blend, I meant a Napa wine which blends different varietals -a meritage. I only meant to distinguish it from a 100% Cabernet wine which many think of when they hear "Napa."

  • ChopperWine commented:

    4/24/20, 8:10 AM - Okay... Now I get it. Totally my bad. It is absolutely Sonoma. Point is still that it is a decent blend that does remind me of a Bordeaux.

Red
2017 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
2/28/2020 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
97 points
This is some absolutely superb wine. Crisp. Clean. Floral. Strawberry. Baking spices. This soft, elegant wine is a bit sweeter than one would expect from a CDP while also showing a soft, peppery finish. Flavors and scents of forest, tobacco, licorice, round out this wine. Best advice is to stay away from this for a few years. Let it come into itself, though it is hard to deny how wonderful it is already drinking.
  • ChopperWine commented:

    2/28/20, 3:12 PM - Yikes. I'm agast. Fix it, I will.

Red
2016 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend
10/23/2018 - ChopperWine Likes this wine:
95 points
95 is just for starters. Oh heavens what this kid will be when he grows up. Just received first 6 bottles and had to Coravin a glass. "Garrigue, thyme and oceanic notes create the nose, before you begin getting into the ripe, peppery, red fruits," wrote Jeff Leve. He could not be more spot-on. I will add that I found it already foretells insanely rich, chewy cherry on the palate while the moss, tobacco and leather incubate. The years ahead will be interesting to see it transform into one of those CDP's for the ages. If you are buying a bottle or two to lay down, great. But do buy an extra one just to enjoy this "look into the future." Superb. And to also make an another appropriate quote, I paraphrase the illustrious wisdom of Randolph and Mortimer Duke, "buy, buy, buy."
  • ChopperWine commented:

    11/14/18, 8:19 AM - Southfield59, now that was funny. And I totally agree with your assessment about landing on Wine Spectator's #8 spot. Availability and pricing will now soon change.

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