3/9/2023 - mellison Does not like this wine:

I rarely write reviews because I do not have the writing skills or the tasting acume to detect all the different flavors and describe them in intimate detail. However I can distinguish good wines from bad and all those along the spectrum. This wine was acquired direct from the winery and stored in perfect conditions. Despite the professional reviews at 96 + this is not a particularly memorable or even good wine let alone great. It tastes green like it was made from unripe grapes and has no character or anything memorable about it and even has a bitter component after sitting in the glass for like two hours. Just a HUGE disappointment. Happy I did not give as a gift!!

12/8/2018 - mellison wrote:

When first tasted this after opening was rather disappointed. Tasted more like a thin Pinot Noir then a Bordeaux.. As it opened up it began to express the typical Bordeaux tastes. However, if this bottle is any indication, it is time to drink this up as the fruit has begun to disappear.

9/14/2018 - mellison wrote:

This turned out to be quite the disappointment. There was no there there. Kind of flat, no character, flat on the palate with a little taste of green and unripe. No finish at all just kind of a slightly bitter aftertaste. Perfect storage conditions from winery to climate controlled storage.

8/23/2017 - mellison wrote:

This turned out to be surprisingly good. Blackberry, black current and black cherry flavors. Very well structured and smooth. Opened it not expecting much but was an excellent complement to grilled rib eye.

4/10/2016 - mellison wrote:

Maybe my expectations were just too high. Perfect setting with 25th wedding anniversary very nice piece of rib eye cooked to perfection, all to set up that "special" bottle of wine. This is not a great wine certainly not for its cost or value. Very intense purple color with lighter dark fruit tastes more dark current then blackberry. Relatively smooth but with no backbone. Fortunately did not decant since it has neither the structure or backbone for much exposure to oxygen. In a blind tasting with Philip Togni, Ridge, Quilceda Creek and similar wines would have been outclassed. Had a glass the next day and it tasted flat and flabby. Limited supply, great marketing, wining and dining reviewers seems the key to this wine's reputation.

3/16/2016 - mellison Does not like this wine:

Not a very enticing bottle. Kind of harsh and completely lacking in character. Fruit not there, little backbone and basically a very mediocre wine!

2/22/2016 - mellison wrote:

Very pleasant bottle that went well with slow cooked chuck roast with roasted potatoes. Seems to have softened considerably since last reviews. Nice fruit not heavy and tannin well integrated. Pleasant long finish.

12/25/2015 - mellison wrote:

What I have come to expect from Cayuse in general and Bionic Frog specifically. Fantastic wine with good color, dark fruit flavors overlaid with smokey, mushroom leather and earthy flavors. Just slightest hint of beginning to fade but still a refined and powerful Syrah.

3/19/2015 - mellison wrote:

A fine bottle of wine. Drank side by side with a 2003 Quilceda and a 2007 Leonetti. The Leoville was noticeably more complex with nice balance and a multiple of different flavors. Just way more interesting then either of the Cabs.

3/19/2015 - mellison wrote:

An outstanding wine from a great producer. Smooth with plenty of backbone. Perfectly balanced with great fruit but not at all "fruity". Kind of like drinking liquid satin.

11/21/2014 - mellison wrote:

This wine is completely undrinkable. Another of Garagiste's disasters. Tried all four bottles and each was as bad as the other. $60+ for drinking wine. What a rip off!!

5/24/2014 - mellison wrote:

Fantastic bottle. Decanted and drank over a couple of hours. Great fruit and balance. Classic Barolo flavors Extremely smooth with tannin acid and fruit exceptionally well integrated. One of those rare times when a bottle greatly exceeds expectations and drinks well above its price point.

5/19/2014 - mellison wrote:

Fantastic wine. Was ready to drink. Smooth and silky with outstanding balance and sophistication. Truly a great wine and wished I had purchased more.

4/18/2014 - mellison wrote:

See review of Galitzine for a comparison.

4/18/2014 - mellison wrote:

Opened this along with a bottle of the 2006 Palengat. Wines were both great but quite different. The Palengat was more fruity and full bodied while the Galitzine was sleeker and more refined with a hint of tannins and further aging. Both evolved and became more sophisticated as they opened.

4/2/2014 - mellison wrote:

This wine was recommended to me by some involved in the industry as a good crisp chardonnay at a good price point. He was right. Nice and crisp with the citrus flavors but with enough acid to make it feel alive and not flabby like so many CA chardonnays

11/22/2013 - mellison wrote:

Everything one would expect from Kongsgaard. Lively citrus tastes with perfect balance.

9/14/2013 - mellison wrote:

Really like this wine but this bottle was rather interesting in that right after opening it tasted well but a little tight. After that initial opening shut right down and never did really open up. Even my wife commented on it. Probably should wait awhile longer on it.

4/24/2013 - mellison wrote:

As usual Aubert does not disappoint. Classic chardonnay flavors with just the right amount of fruit and a hint of oak. Smooth as glass.

4/3/2013 - mellison wrote:

Second bottle I have drank with NY steak and it was fabulous just like the first one.

3/17/2013 - mellison Likes this wine:

Excellent wine. Difficult pairing with corned beef but it was a champ. Earthy with tastes of smoke, mushrooms and leather. Opened up nicely and everything kind of softened. Drank along with a Cayuse Syrah En Cerise and this was softer and more sophisticated. Great wine.

3/10/2013 - mellison Does not like this wine:

Big disappointment like all the Kistler 2007s'. Barely drinkable. Color like apple cider. Does not hold a candle to Aubert, Peter Michael Kongsgaard or Paul Hobbs.

3/7/2013 - mellison wrote:

This is a sad story. I purchased a case of 2007 Kistler from Hyde, Kistler and Vine Hill vineyards. So far out of 10 bottles they are either undrinkable or barely so. They were shipped to me directly and have been stored in a custom temperature controlled cellar since. These are not good wines. I contacted Kistler and no response. Kistler used to be my go to wine and the one I measured others against. No more. I have never had this problem with other high end Chardonnays. Konsgaard, Aubert, Peter Michael etc. Kistler has a problem with either corking or premature oxidation and they are essentially ignoring it. This is so bad I am going to remove myself from their mailing list. Very unfortunate!!!

3/4/2013 - mellison wrote:

This wine is spoiled. 6 out of 6 2007 Kistlers' all bad. Two Hyde and 4 Kistler vineyards.

3/2/2013 - mellison wrote:

Just another hot weather Aussie Shiraz. Had it w/taco salad and ok but too heavy and too much alcohol. A $15 wine at best.

3/2/2013 - mellison wrote:

I had 6 bottles of 2007 Kistler, 2 from Hyde and 4 from Kistler. So far 5 have been BAD. Either marginally drinkable or totally undrinkable. Either corking or premature oxidation. I have always touted Kistler as a standard that others must meet. However this experience is quite sobering. The wine was shipped directly to me and has been stored in a custom temperature controlled cellar. Kistler has a problem and I will be purchasing no more. Way too many $75 chardonnays' that do not spoil.

3/1/2013 - mellison Does not like this wine:

Wine is over the hill or nearly spoiled.

3/1/2013 - mellison Does not like this wine:

Wine is spoiled

3/1/2013 - mellison wrote:

This wine is spoiled.

2/24/2013 - mellison wrote:

This wine is over the hill.

12/23/2012 - mellison Does not like this wine:

Both bottles spoiled. That is batting a perfect 1000. Four bottles purchased all four spoiled. Had only tasted one or two other spoiled bottles in my life. These were all bad and came direct from winery and had perfect temp controlled storage. Me thinks Brewer Clifton has a problem.

12/21/2012 - mellison Likes this wine:

Decanted for over and hour but was still tight on first tasting. Continued to evolve and open up over the course of the evening. Pared with 2.5" thick rib eye, sliced tomato and edamame. Was a perfect complement. Nice balance and texture. Dark fruits of blueberry, black cherry and black currant. Kind of light but refreshing compared to the too many "fruit bombs" that the professional raters like.

11/17/2012 - mellison wrote:

Undrinkable bottle. Wretched, maybe "corked".

11/5/2012 - mellison wrote:

Fantastic bottle of wine. Structured with well integrated tannins. Black fruit tastes of blackberry and a mouth full burst of blueberry. Silky feel in the mouth. Like drinking liquid velvet or silk. Went exceptionally well with steak to celebrate wife's birthday. Even at the high price point still exceeded my expectations.

11/3/2012 - mellison wrote:

Dark purple, almost inky. Nice black fruit tastes of blackberries, marionberries, black cherry. with a hint of licorice Nice backbone smooth w/integrated tannins. One of the few bottles where one gets more then they paid for it. Great buy if you like Malbec.

10/28/2012 - mellison wrote:

Insipid is being generous.

10/28/2012 - mellison wrote:

Corked or oxidized bottle. Undrinkable.

10/17/2012 - mellison wrote:

Purchased this wine since had just returned from Spain and spent two weeks drinking their equivalent of vin du pays which was great. Heavy dark fruits of blackberry and black cherry. 15.5% alcohol, heavy tannins w/a pucker factor, no structure and tasted like the wine had been aged with rusty nails. BIG disappointment!!! Had a glass left over and it was worse 24 hours later. Avoid this wine at all costs.

10/6/2012 - mellison wrote:

This was an awful bottle of wine. The bottle was good the wine was not. Dark fruit tastes with no tannins, backbone, structure, balance or anything else. A classic "there is no there there". Flabby and like blackberry cough syrup but w/o the alcohol. I have had $10 bottles that put this to shame. Unfortunately have some more.

9/29/2012 - mellison wrote:

Rather heavy with blackberry and marionberry flavors. However, went very well with a casual dinner of black bean chili and homemade spicy salsa.

7/5/2012 - mellison wrote:

Great expression of CA Cab. Tannin well balanced great tastes of dark fruits but not at all jammy. Smooth,sophisticated and elegant. Kind of a Porsche Panamera or Mercedes AMG type of wine. Powerful but smooth as silk. Tastes like a Cabernet should and made to get the most out of the grapes and make them into real wine. Not made to grab the attention of some wine critic hoping to receive a high score. Absolutely puts other big name CA Cabs to shame that cost twice as much. Togni is definitely a master with a deft touch.

7/5/2012 - mellison wrote:

Just a stunning wine. Not a big fan of Syrah but this is a stunning wine. Almost opaque in its darkness. Earth with notes of mushrooms and earthy loam. Big feel in the mouth and a nice smooth finish. Can tell the vines are really coming into their own.

5/26/2012 - mellison wrote:

Kind of earthy. Drank over a 2 hour period and each pour was different as the wine opened and expressed itself. Quite complex flavors with leather, smoke, mushroom and earthy flavors. Went nicely with Italian sausage pasta and grilled asparagus.

5/22/2012 - mellison wrote:

Nice pleasant aged Bordeaux. Slightly thin and lacking in fruit but still quit pleasant. Becoming mature brick color.

5/7/2012 - mellison wrote:

Very dark purple. Decanted for about 2 hours then paired with rib steak. Black fruit tastes, nice body with integrated and structured tannins. Great example of 2000 Bordeaux.

3/5/2012 - mellison wrote:

Gave this another try since I still have 4 left and do not want to put $125 into cooking wine. Decanted for about 4 hours and it was drinkable. Not good but drinkable

2/27/2012 - mellison wrote:

On the first bottle of this I had a cold and my wife thought it tasted "medicinal". I no longer have a cold and so opened another bottle. The bouquet is best described as stale "horse barn". You have to have been around horses and the smells of stale sweat on harness or saddles to understand this. No flowery descriptions of leather, earth etc. This is "horse barn" which did not change over time or decanting. The wine was a little better but not much. My wife described it as "cough syrup". At best this is a $12 wine but unfortunately I paid $37 +. It is drinkable but unfortunately I have 4 more bottle so will struggle through. DO NOT SERVE TO GUESTS YOU WANT TO IMPRESS!!!

2/26/2012 - mellison wrote:

Accompanied with semi spicy Indian food which did not overpower the wine at all. Actually went about as well as one would expect. Did not decant dark purple color with dark fruit tastes. Smooth on the palate with well integrated tannins.

2/26/2012 - mellison wrote:

Nice dark color. Drank before dinner and was pleasantly surprised that the bottle was pretty good. Black cheery and current tastes with some leather and smoke. At $85 no bargain but at least was not a huge disappointment.

2/22/2012 - mellison wrote:

Three was not the charm for this wine. Pretty lame. A $15 wine at best.