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Comments on my notes

(21 comments on 21 notes)

1 - 21 of 21 Sort order
White
2019 Sanguis Handful of Ghosts Santa Barbara County Chardonnay Blend, Chardonnay
3/19/2023 - hrazdiiv Likes this wine:
92 points
Thanks very much to the previous reviewer, as they showed us the way on this wine. We are big fans of Sanguis and opened this shortly after getting the delivery. And we were also underwhelmed, especially taking into account that I actually prefer some of their whites to their reds. At that point, I would've rated it 89/90. So we took the advice and popped the bottle back in the fridge and opened it the next day and sure enough the wine had evolved substantially. The color is a medium/dark yellow, with an above average viscosity. Initial nose was really tight, lots of minerality, not giving much away. Day two nose was expansive, more Burgundian: burnt caramel, saline, lemon peel with just a very pleasant note of oakiness lurking. I love how the rousanne softens the wine too, all the while maintaining some bright acidity. So definitely lay these down, at least a few years. There's complexity to be had here under the right circumstances.
  • RPerro commented:

    3/19/23, 2:53 PM - Happy my note helped...Cheers!

White
2019 Alban Vineyards Roussanne Estate Edna Valley
3/5/2023 - RPerro Likes this wine:
91 points
On the pop this showed too much acidity and not enough of the oily/waxy texture...just acid and tart tropical fruits. Gave it a night in the fridge and it's a different animal on day 2. More round and oily-textured in the mouth, with delicious tropical fruit and honeysuckle. Acid is still there, just downplayed from the previous evening. Really nice on day 2! Drink now - 2028.
  • RPerro commented:

    3/8/23, 10:59 AM - @markydecker: thank you for confirming!

Red
2019 Rasa Vineyards Human[e] DuBrul Vineyard Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
5/10/2022 - RPerro Likes this wine:
93 points
Decanted 2.5 hours. Really open and ready for business, despite it's youth and origin (DuBrul!). Silky mouthfeel, with flavors of cassis, cherry, mint, and oak, with mocha on the finish. Surprised by the lack of astringent tannins normally present in DuBrul wine, but this is drinking incredibly well right now. Kinda wish I'd opted for more than a 6 pack! Drink now - 2029.
  • RPerro commented:

    5/11/22, 9:35 PM - You won't be disappointed! Great wine for sure.

Red
2014 K Vintners Syrah Royal City Washington
2/5/2022 - RPerro Likes this wine:
94 points
Decanted 2 hours. This is a massive wine! Full body, lots of structure and fruit, with a nice savory edge. Lots of black with this one too: Blackberry, black tea, black pepper...just a delicious wine that paired very well with pizza, but was amazing all by itself. Drink now - 2034.
  • RPerro commented:

    2/6/22, 9:17 PM - @I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Cheers!

Red
2013 K Vintners Syrah Rock Garden Walla Walla Valley
10/26/2021 - RPerro wrote:
87 points
2nd bottle out of 3 from an auction purchase. Definitely better than the first (corked) bottle, but not what I've come to expect from Rock Garden Syrah. Definitely muted in flavor from more recent vintages. More salinity as well. Flavors of fig, caramelized sugar, blackberry and an saline stand out the most. Hoping the last bottle of the 3 is the exception to this bunch. Drink now - 2023.
  • RPerro commented:

    11/4/21, 11:01 AM - @nbkat8: Totally agree. Quite possibly some bottle variation, as this didn't even get close to a 97!

Red
2017 Agharta Wines Syrah Central Coast
1/29/2020 - RPerro wrote:
84 points
Popped and poured. I was hoping this was the same caliber of wine as the North Coast Syrah, but sadly, it is not. Yes, it's identifiable as Syrah with blackberry fruit and some pepper, but the richness and body of the earlier North Coast bottlings are simply not present in this wine. A decent $8 (from Grocery Outlet) Wednesday night quaff, but nowhere near the Agharta wines I have known before. Curious what prompted Agharta to make this wine. Seems like they are killing off the brand to me...From amazing $80 North Coast Syrah to mediocre $8 Central Coast Syrah. Drink now - 2023.
  • RPerro commented:

    6/26/21, 3:18 PM - @tward Thank you for this information! I had no idea Agharta was no longer a Pax Mahle bottling. Disappointing, as I really enjoyed those older bottles. This newer version just doesn't stand up.

Red
2018 Rasa Vineyards Founder's Reserve Columbia Valley Red Blend
5/23/2020 - RPerro Likes this wine:
91 points
Popped and poured through an aerator on day 1. Oak seems a bit more pronounced. Flavors of red currant, cherry and tobacco. Nicely structured, with lightly drying tannins and a zip of acidity. I'd say this has some definite upside potential, likely 10-15 years. Not sure on the final blend but thinking bordeaux varietals + syrah. Very drinkable now, 3 days after my shipment arrived, but will definitely benefit from some cellar time. Drink late 2020 - 2030+.
  • RPerro commented:

    9/11/20, 10:13 AM - @sonic: I've not had the 2018 Occam's yet, but it's fairly similar flavor profile to the 2017. This probably needs to lay down for a bit, as it's pretty tight still. Pinto recommended a couple years of cellaring for best drinking. Huge upside for this one, and I think the OPR is outstanding. Cheers!

Red
2015 No Girls Syrah Walla Walla Valley
3/21/2020 - RPerro Likes this wine:
94 points
Decanted 1 hour. Deliciously funky, with great acid and tannin structure. Fruit is blackberry with touches of cocoa. Some umami aspects of blood, iodine and grilled beef. This is going to evolve well. Drink now with air - 2030+.
  • RPerro commented:

    3/22/20, 8:35 PM - @jenmermaidia: Just an hour. It was even better on day 2 (1/2 bottle stored in a 375ml).

Red
2013 Carlisle Syrah Rosella's Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
3/24/2019 - RPerro Likes this wine:
92 points
I need to lay my Carlisle wines down longer I think, as this was still pretty tight. Dark berry fruit, sharp acid, mouth-drying tannins. Secondary flavors of oak, vanilla, road tar/asphalt and tobacco leaf. This still needs time. Drink 2020+
  • RPerro commented:

    3/29/19, 10:21 AM - @dsimmons Thank you, that is a very helpful recommendation!

Red
2009 Agharta Wines Black Label North Coast Syrah
11/22/2018 - RPerro Likes this wine:
94 points
Decanted 4 hours. A massive Syrah. Gobs of plum and other black fruits, earth, black pepper, oak and dark chocolate. Continued to blossom through the night. This has the legs to be a 20 year wine IMO. Great stuff, and happy I have more. Drink now - 2029.
  • RPerro commented:

    11/26/18, 9:35 PM - Gents, agreed on all counts. The 2009 is finally starting to come around. Keep in mind this was in the decanter for 4+ hours and was still a beast. The wood wasn't huge and it was a joy to drink. I had the 2007 some months back and it was in a better place, so more time will definitely be rewarded. Cheers!

Red
2011 No Girls Syrah Walla Walla Valley
7/28/2018 - RPerro Likes this wine:
89 points
P&P. This started out deliciously savory, becoming more so as it warmed from wine fridge temp. Trademark Rocks Funk on the nose, with very little fruit apparent at all. Mostly savory umami notes, pepper, sage, coffee grounds and only a hint of plum. Day 1 this was a solid 93. Funneled half of the bottle into a 375ml and put it back in the wine fridge overnight.
Tried it again the next night and it was all prunes and stank. Intolerable and dumped. Day 2 was barely an 84. Split the difference on final score. Once again, I'm shown that the 2011s from Washington are falling apart quickly. Trying to rid my cellar of them in the very near term...thankfully not many left! Drink now.
  • RPerro commented:

    8/1/18, 9:00 AM - @nbkat8 - I'm drinking all of my WA 2011s very soon. Very few, if any, are holding up decently for my palate. There are probably a couple of exceptions in my cellar (Rasa's bigger Bordeaux blends possibly), but for the most part I've been greatly disappointed with my 2011s lately.

Red
2014 Rasa Vineyards Occam's Razor Columbia Valley Red Blend
12/3/2017 - RPerro Likes this wine:
90 points
Consistent with prior notes. Top QPR wine of the year for me.
  • RPerro commented:

    12/4/17, 9:10 PM - Hi Jake, no I haven't. I have enjoyed Stewart & Athena's wines in the past, but nothing in recent vintages.

Red
1999 Wellington Zinfandel Estate 100 Year Old Vines Sonoma Valley
4/27/2017 - RPerro Does not like this wine:
60 points
Yuck. Smells and tastes like stewed fruit mixed with soy sauce. Really cloudy, turning brown, definitely way past drinkable. Disappointed this was included in my Wellington "surprise pack" from Woot.com. Should have been drank about 10 years ago. Down the drain...
  • RPerro commented:

    4/28/17, 1:43 PM - @wnance Dang...I'm happy you got a good bottle. I was really looking forward to trying a zin that aged too!

Red
2005 Bodega del Palacio de los Frontaura y Victoria Toro Frontaura Reserva Tinta de Toro, Tempranillo
7/25/2015 - RPerro Likes this wine:
89 points
Decanted 30 min to open it up. Very nice, robust wine on day 1. BIG fruit, lots of structure, but very smooth though. Blackberry fruit, some earthiness, a touch of wood and a sweet vanilla finish. Funneled back into a 375ml and tried the next night...whoa, big raisiny nose. Just stewed, gloppy fruit everywhere, stinks like 2 week-old oxidized wine, and tastes about the same. Dumped the rest. Disappointing day 2 showing...don't bother saving any if you can't finish the bottle.
  • RPerro commented:

    4/24/16, 8:02 PM - +Halfeel, yep! Won't make that mistake again. ;)

Red
2011 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes Tinta de Toro, Tempranillo
1/18/2015 - Tim and Bonnie Likes this wine:
91 points
This wine tells you its gonna kick your a$$, it kicks your a$$, then it told you it kicked your a$$.

Not for the meek of heart, but if you want velvet violence...drink this.
  • RPerro commented:

    4/20/15, 10:32 AM - Probably one of the best tasting notes I've ever read! Bravo.

Red
2011 PB Wines (Rasa Vineyards) Mourvedre / Syrah / Grenache Walla Walla Valley Red Rhone Blend
2/17/2015 - RPerro Likes this wine:
92 points
Decanted 1 hour. This wine needs more time. Day 1 it was rather closed down, even after several hours in the decanter. High acid, fruit in hiding, but awesome structure and silky mouthfeel. Funneled it back into the bottle and enjoyed the rest on day 2 very much. A lot more open! The fruit had awoke, showing spicy blackberry, with tobacco and just a touch of vanilla on the finish. Hold this one for now, maybe try again in 2016...or else I recommend a lengthy decant.
  • RPerro commented:

    2/19/15, 1:41 PM - @PDX-S: I totally agree! I've been dying to try the 2011 PB Cab-Merlot, but Billo recommended a very lengthy decant or hold it for awhile. The agony...

Red
2013 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer South Australia
1/25/2015 - RPerro Likes this wine:
90 points
Did the "Mollydooker Shake" to release the nitrogen in the wine. Definitely a difference before and after the Shake. Massive bruiser of a wine...16% abv (and shows it), but strangely I really liked it. Abundant blackberry fruit, cracked pepper and sweet vanilla. Finish showing lots of milk chocolate. Very tasty if over the top. Would buy again.
  • RPerro commented:

    1/30/15, 6:13 PM - Never tried the Velvet Glove, but always wanted to...Blue Eyed Boy and Boxer are the only two so far.

Red
2008 Bunchgrass Winery Syrah Morrison Lane Walla Walla Valley
1/1/2015 - RPerro Likes this wine:
91 points
Awesome funkiness on the pop, smoothing out with air. Lots of cracked peppercorn, blackberry fruit, bitter bakers chocolate finish. Great stuff, sad it's my last bottle.
  • RPerro commented:

    1/4/15, 9:56 PM - Thank you, PDXinSEA!

Red
2007 Nota Bene Cellars Syrah Columbia Valley
5/15/2014 - RPerro Does not like this wine:
79 points
Mediocre at best. Overly hot, syrupy, and really harsh. Everything was too big: Fruit, acid, alcohol, oak. Don't know if this was stored improperly at some point, or just a chunky, disjointed mess. Recorked and let it sit in the wine fridge for a day, and it wasn't any better.
  • RPerro commented:

    5/23/14, 3:46 PM - Yeah...I've had previous vintages and loved them. I have 1 more bottle of this 2007, but will wait a bit to open it.

Red
2005 Garagiste Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
1/21/2013 - mmurry Likes this wine:
85 points
Lots of barnyard and black fruit on the nose, along with pepper and mocha, and a little vanilla at the end. Earthy and tannic on the palate, with black fruit, spice, and wood on the finish.
  • RPerro commented:

    3/5/13, 9:51 PM - What is the label/maker?

Red
2004 Kaesler W.O.M.S. Barossa Valley Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
3/10/2010 - RPerro wrote:
95 points
Decanted 1 hour. Lots of oak and dark berry/cherry on the nose. Very sweet fruit in the mouth, with mocha and wood on the finish. Nice acidity, smooth tannins, and a finish that lasts 30+ seconds. Love this wine! Looking forward to Day 2 notes.
  • RPerro commented:

    3/19/10, 4:45 PM - Day 2 was more of the same, but smoothed out even more. The actual "wood" notes were gone, replaced with just the espresso/mocha flavors associated with oak. Nice fruit, and very well rounded, with a finish that just makes me want another mouthful.

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