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Tasting Notes for ebpayne

(87 notes on 83 wines)

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Red
2000 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley Red Blend (view label images)
12/24/2023 - ebpayne wrote:
94 points
Even from half bottle with sketchy provenance, this wine is still singing after almost a quarter century. Funky, earthy, VA, for sure, but oh so complex and interesting. It started a bit sharp but mellowed and changed over several hours. Worcestershire and balsamic flavors, with deep dark plum and rhubarb notes. I'm sad this is my last of these!
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
White
10/5/2023 - ebpayne wrote:
95 points
Spectacular. Among the best dry Rieslings I've ever had.
Red
5/7/2023 - ebpayne wrote:
82 points
This wine was pleasant but had nothing in particular going for it. Definitely pinot, but with a muted nose and short finish.
Red
8/9/2022 - ebpayne wrote:
This is really good, especially for 14 bucks. Aromatically complex, medium bodied, classic Loire CF. Wish I had bought more!
White
7/31/2022 - ebpayne wrote:
Did the screwcap vs fake cork taste-off. Almost identical, some of us preferred one or the other, but essentially didn't learn anything. I wish the "cork" had been real cork to see if there was more difference. Great wines either was!
Red
6/13/2022 - ebpayne Likes this wine:
91 points
This is what CdR should be: juicy, fruity, and heady, but add to that some serious backbone and earth from syrah and mourvedre. There's more pleasure to be had here than too many CdPs and it keeps evolving in the glass. I don't see this going, say, 10 years, but this should prove to be highly rewarding for the next few years. At 14 bucks, I wish I had a case or three!
2 people found this helpful Comments (1)
White
1/26/2021 - ebpayne wrote:
90 points
Really nice. High acid, complex, not over the hill.
Red
2006 Clos l'Église (Côtes de Castillon) Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
12/17/2020 - ebpayne wrote:
Bold and assertive but has finesse. Tons of cassis and a bit of tabacco. Drink or hold for at least 5 years. Should have bought more!
Red
10/13/2020 - ebpayne Likes this wine:
88 points
Mellow and easy going. Seemed to gain a bit of body with some air. Nothing special but decent.
White
9/28/2020 - ebpayne wrote:
93 points
Simply awesome. Still young and fresh, could go for another decade. Deep and complex flavor. Why aren't more Cali chards like this?
2 people found this helpful Comment
White - Off-dry
9/2/2020 - ebpayne wrote:
Clearly past its prime, but still an amazing wine. Really can't assign a score, but glad I had a chance to have this. Still some sweetness, bracing acidity, and creme brulee nose.
Red
6/30/2020 - ebpayne wrote:
91 points
Drinking well. Power, earth, iron, tobacco.
White
6/10/2020 - ebpayne wrote:
Fully mature, a bit sweeter than many Kabs but well balanced with acidity. Very nice.
Red
1995 Ridge Lytton Springs Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)
5/30/2020 - ebpayne wrote:
Dead, past prime. It was once great!
Red
11/17/2019 - ebpayne wrote:
84 points
Wow, they blasted this one with oak. Great fruit underneath, but why ruin a good thing?
Red
11/17/2019 - ebpayne wrote:
75 points
Dumped. Vegetal, stewed, nasty
Red
8/31/2019 - ebpayne wrote:
91 points
Awesome wine! Almost black, intense blackberry and other dark fruits. Well balanced, drinking well now but no need to rush.
Red
5/29/2019 - ebpayne wrote:
90 points
Shockingly good. Huge black currant nose and palate, black pepper, blackberries. This was far from falling apart.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
3/14/2019 - ebpayne wrote:
88 points
This is a really nice lighter style Pinot. Definitely for burgundy drinkers.
Red
12/28/2018 - ebpayne wrote:
93 points
Beautiful wine! Complex nose, medium bodied, smooth, with a long finish.
Red
9/9/2018 - ebpayne Likes this wine:
91 points
From magnum. Beautiful red fruit, smooth, mature, great aroma. Wish I had more!
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
5/23/2018 - ebpayne wrote:
flawed
Oxidized all to hell. Brownish.
Red
12/30/2017 - ebpayne wrote:
87 points
Good wine, but nowhere near the level that the hype or especially the price would suggest. Sonoma fruit, heat, and cola, no real elegance. At $20 I would buy again, maybe, but $75 at release makes this perhaps the worst value of the year for me.
Red
10/21/2017 - ebpayne wrote:
Wonderful red fruit, ripe, balanced, classic Beaujolais. Drink or hold for a year or so.
White
12/28/2016 - ebpayne wrote:
89 points
Bright acidity, lime, good length, strong effort. Good value.
Red
11/26/2016 - ebpayne wrote:
83 points
Nice aroma, but a short astringent finish. I doubt it will go anywhere great.
White
3/12/2016 - ebpayne wrote:
94 points
Brilliant effort. Dense and viscous. Tons of tropical fruits, pineapple, white peach, coconut.
Red
2/9/2016 - ebpayne wrote:
91 points
Nearly black. Dense, firm, high in acid, and tannic. Dark fruits. Improved and opened up over a couple of hours. This one has a lot of life left.
Red
9/30/2015 - ebpayne wrote:
87 points
Classic Brdx: cassis, cedar, herb, a bit of nice funk. Damn fine $10 wine
Red
2/14/2015 - ebpayne wrote:
84 points
Hot and jammy, a bit harsh. Nice body. but lacking in complexity
Red
9/12/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
87 points
OK pinot, though nothing special. Well stored but started to fall apart after an hour. Quite drinkable, but no real depth. drink 'em up. Another WS offering that leaves me wondering about the hype
Red
7/30/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
87 points
Beginning to fade; a bit hot; great fruit but disjointed
Red
7/13/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
88 points
Full bodied, bright fruit. Oak more prominent than many other Ridge Zins. Drink or hold for a few more years.
Red
7/13/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
87 points
Decent wine though nothing special. Mature but will hold a couple of years.
Red
6/15/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
88 points
Quite nice. Bright red fruit, vanilla, not terribly complex, but a decent wine. Drink now or hold 2-3 years.
Red
3/18/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
54 points
Easily the most disgusting bottle of wine I've opened in years. A burnt rotten egg stench hung in the air for hours. I have 3 more bottles I have to deal with. I can't imagine the rest will be this bad. I'll make updates. The color was a nice ruby, so no 50 point rating.

Update: tried on day two. No improvement!
Red
3/7/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
Dropped on floor. Awesome aroma of blackberry jam. dark stain on basement floor.
Red
2/24/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
92 points
This has really gotten into a good place. Two years ago this was hard and didn't have much to offer. Much more open now, there are deep red and black fruits and a great earthy nose. This will hold for 5 years at least.
Red
1/19/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
82 points
Not much complexity and painfully oaky. A bit hot and some harsh tannins remain. Maybe this will improve with a bit more time, but i doubt it.
Red
1/3/2014 - ebpayne wrote:
90 points
Big, a bit rough and hot but great black currant and plums.
Red
12/24/2013 - ebpayne Likes this wine:
90 points
Consistent with comment a year and a half ago. Earthy, funky, and great.
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  • Tasting Notes: 87 notes on 83 wines
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