12/7/2023 - terry j wrote:

Corked. Nearly undrinkable. Tragic.

1/15/2023 - terry j wrote:

This wine never rose above its strength to show anything more interesting. Deeply extracted with a lasting finish, a bit overripe. Not much complexity on the nose. Holds up well to BBQ.

12/1/2022 - terry j wrote:

Never really rose above "pleasant" for me. Nice brace of acidity to hold up to fish dishes with lemon and butter. Minimal bouquet.

11/29/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

An aged beauty: faded, but still striking. The nose evokes flowers, between rose and peony in my limited flower aroma vocabulary. The palate is delicate but delicious. Tannins are still there, though very soft, and contribute to a reasonably long finish. Not much of a food wine any more: a wine to savor by itself. Drink it up though. It's not getting better from here.

11/26/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Intense, ripe style. Holds up well to the Thanksgiving feast. Nose lacked complexity. Didn't see a lot of development here to merit aging, though it's certainly fine and healthy at 11 years.

11/26/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

A beautiful, fresh impression despite its age: a distinctive peach note in the aroma. Very nice.

11/26/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

This wine stood out for me among other very good bottles at a recent dinner with sommelier friends, who not surprisingly knew about this unusual California wine as well as the Tyrolean archetypes. Nose hinted of blueberries and violets. Palate seemed very balanced. An excellent wine with grilled chicken or vegetables. Seemed perfect next to chicken adobo.

11/26/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Very big, very ripe, very tannic. Pleasant aroma reminded me of dried vanilla bean. Taste gives the impression of sweetness. Reminds me of an Australian shiraz. Still youthful at 9 years old. Will last a long time, though I'm less confident of improvement.

11/22/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

A powerful pinot noir: deeply extracted, on the very ripe side. Unsubtle, with a sweet impression.

9/4/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Excellent! Nose started out a little strongly, towards leather. A little time in the glass changed the bouquet to a high-toned spicey impression, like cinnamon. Other layers appeared over time, each very appealing: a slight flowery note.

Guests were eyeing each other and me to see who would get the next pour. When one glass was left with a few ounces in it, guests pounced to redistribute to eager sippers. Paired beautifully with a garlicky roast pork shoulder.

Drinking very well in 2022: can definitely hold up for years to come.

8/21/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Very gorgeous wine. On the nose, floral notes blend with a bit of spiciness like dried orange peel toward clove. Pallet is simply exuberant: ripe strawberry just right amount of acidity. Seems youthful: holding up very well in 2022. Should drink great for another eight years or so. Wonderful.

8/21/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

I'm intrigued by Chilean carménères , which provide an old-world flavor profile somewhat in the direction of Burgundies. This one is good but not great. I'm typically intrigued by barnyard aromas, which I learned are caused by the 4-ep output of brettanomyces yeast. IOW, these wines have brett, which some people like in moderation and some people hate in any form. Barnyard is particularly prominent in this wine (or at least my bottle), and dominates the aroma. There's just a touch of floral aroma in the direction of violet. The palate is drying, leaving the impression of a much older wine. It makes for a wine not everyone would like. I'd be glad to drink it again, but rather than seek it out will probably continue my survey of Chilean carménères if the selection allows.

8/15/2022 - terry j wrote:

If there's a pattern here, so be it, but I'll hope my experience is an outlier. Unfortunate, caramelized smell, and an eviscerated but not offensive palate. Lovely, deep ruby-port color does not reveal anything wrong. A head-scratcher. Here's wishing you better luck.

6/6/2022 - terry j Does not like this wine:

Deeply concentrated pinot, but to no good effect. Comes across as rustic and overripe. Maybe it just cooked too long. Not what I'm looking for from pinot noir.

5/19/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

This is a gorgeous and surprising wine. It's opened my eyes to what New Zealand Marlborough sauvignon blanc can be, and for that matter, what sauvignon blanc can be. The nose is simply awesome: guava and jasmine. I can't put it down! The palate leaves an impression of cream soda. Beautifully balanced acidity.

Has to be one of the greatest values I've ever seen. I don't expect to be able to get more 2018, but will certainly track this producer in subsequent years.

4/23/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Rustic, overripe, yet very tasty. Hedonistic but rather simple. I don't think it has anywhere to go, so pop the cork.

4/12/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Lush, beautiful wine. Striking appearance in the glass: a color between ruby and dark cherry, with flavor much like the best bing cherry you've ever had. This wine shines in the glass and on the palate. Pleasant enough but not memorable nose. Rich, balanced ... maybe I do like Brunello di Montalcino after all. Wow, this is a 2006!?! I'd peg it for a much younger wine. This is clearly capable of lasting another 10 years, which will put it up into the high 20's. If you've got a case, drink one a year with beef bourguignon or some other rich, deeply flavored, deserving dish. And pat yourself on the back.

4/11/2022 - terry j wrote:

Powerful, brooding wine: very rich and coating. That pairs it very well with some strong foods. Not a lot of intrigue here.

You might want to leave this one down for a long while and see what becomes of it.

3/26/2022 - terry j Does not like this wine:

Tried over successive nights on the nitrogen system. Never really rose above "ok". Powerful presence on the palate emphasizes tannins. Uncharming.

2/18/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Straightforward and hedonistic, this defines fruit-forward style in a California Syrah. Very, very tasty and showing some classic syrah backbone. I like wines that are _about_ something, and this one is about sheer pleasure, without seeming trivial.

2/2/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Pleasant enough, but not all that. Deep flavor, but oak seemed to dominate.

2/2/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

A powerful Côte Rotie: I suspect a very classic example of this limited appellation, and one that merits its price. The power is evident from the intense bouquet which will hit your nose well above the rim of the glass. Intensely barnyardy: I suspect too much for some folks, so I've not gone wild with the points. However, this earthiness will subside after time in the glass, and will drop down into balance with much more delicate elements of forest floor and violets. Palate beautifully balanced: tannin and acidity, but also a certain softness on the tongue. Santé

1/25/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

A very pleasant, food-friendly rosé. Not just a white wine with red coloring: the skin contact that gave it color from 100% Susumaniello leaves an impression on the palate, with a nice amount of grip. The impression is of slightly tart watermelon. A good amount of acidity will help it stand up to lighter meat dishes. Nice all by itself!

1/2/2022 - terry j Likes this wine:

Decanted and served with Christmas Eve prime rib, this wine stole the show. Consistent with my previous tasting note. If you have any of these, good on you. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

12/30/2021 - terry j wrote:

Sadly, mine was spoiled. Smelled a little corked, but also seemed to have oxidized. Had to pour it out.

Posting in case this is a pattern with this particular wine.

10/10/2021 - terry j Does not like this wine:

Nebbiolo is a high wire act. When it's good, it's sublime: very complex and very beautiful aromas, and lovely on the palate. And when it's bad, it's ... tragic. Here's one of my tragedies. 8 years in my cellar. Uncorked with great anticipation and hope. Studied over multiple nights (on the nitrogen tank, so no, that's not the problem), hoping my first, second, or third impressions are wrong.
No joy. No nose. With no pleasant aromas to bolster it, simply aggressive and quite oaky on the tongue.
I'd recommend cellaring it 10 more years if you have space and patient. In any case, don't drink it now.

10/11/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

Straightforward, easy-drinking pinot noir. Aromas are subtle, towards cherry with the slightest whiff of something more earthy. Very smooth and likable on the palate: soft and very slightly sweet. Stands alone very well, or drink with smoked fish or pork.

9/28/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

Wow. I've had wines from Talley before, but this is my first Talley Rincon pinot noir, properly aged. What an eye-opener! And nose and palate.
Bold aromas leap out of the glass. Classic Burgundian notes of barnyard and tar (in a good way), with prettier scents more in the direction of rosemary. Fabulous richness on the palate, with a hint of cherry still present in the broad band. Certainly the best Central Coast pinot I've had.

6/15/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

If you are still hanging on to this wine in 2021 and have stored it well, my congratulations: you have a jewel. Nebbiolo at its best can show this perfume: an ethereal mix of violets and anise. Just couldn't get enough of the bouquet. Palate was excellent, if overshadowed by the profound bouquet. Should last a long time, but I can't see it getting better. Share with your best friends.

6/13/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

Drunk in 2021, this wine fascinated me. Wafting bouquet of anise and ripe strawberry, powerful enough to leave me expecting a tannic punch on the palate. Not so. Very soft, surprisingly fruity palate, with an impression of sweetness, not over the top. I like surprises!

3/9/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

This Gorges carries significantly more acidity than the other Bregeon offerings I've tried. All are excellent. This is the one to pair with a lemon-caper sauce on your seafood dish, and is less so the one to sip on a long Zoom social gathering.

3/9/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

Clean and pretty, this Melon de Bourgogne is a very good example of a good Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine

3/9/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

The best melon de bourgogne I've tasted to date, which is saying a lot because I love this grape and M.Sèvre et Maine generally. A simply gorgeous bouquet of gardenia, seaside and winter melon will have you waving the glass around under your nose, trying to describe the indescribable. The palate is clean and broad with a pleasing richness and minerality. I'll place my order now ... I'm sure there's some left for you.

2/23/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

This was spectacular! Seems to have found its perfect age band. Complex, intriguing aromas of rosemary and cedar. Deep color, and long, lasting, satisfying flavors.

2/13/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

The first night I drank this wine, bright, crisp, tangy apple aromas jumped out of the glass. On subsequent nights, the aromas seem more muted. Well, that's easy to fix: enjoy it with friends all in one night. This will last a looong time in your cellar, and might even improve some with a bit more age (noting that it's already 9 years from harvest as I drink it!).

The palate is broad and tangy, with that flinty minerality I like from Muscadet S&M, but also a very rich fruit flavor with some acidity, certainly following through on the apple-like aromas.

The wine notes from vendor Kermit Lynch were interesting, but to avoid any risk of a copyright violation I'll paraphrase.

They can't actually call it a "sur lie" because it's rested TOO LONG on its lees ... more than the maximum 1 year. In fact, 40 months! (French wine laws don't always make great sense.) "..grown in the gabbro soil of Gorges ...Gabbro is an igneous rock most often found in the earth’s crust beneath the ocean". You can decide if you agree with the vendor that this is the best terroir in Muscadet Sèvre et Maine.

1/29/2021 - terry j wrote:

Extremely healthy and unflawed, but not much here at this age other than sweetness. Very pleasant as a confection; not impressive as a wine.

1/29/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

A pretty wine, everywhere you look. A straightforward, rich nose of ripe strawberry. Taste follows through: an impression of sweetness (without being sweet), yet some deeper notes to fill the back of your mouth ... maybe a bit of clove in your cherry cola. Just enough tannin to grip without cloying. I have a hard time matching this with food. Ah, I've got it ... smoked pork tenderloin with a sweet glaze such as mango ... or how about teriyaki salmon or chicken? That'll play off the sweetness just right.

1/5/2021 - terry j Does not like this wine:

An odd Chablis, with a profile more like a Sauvignon Blanc ... tart and grassy. Not what I'm looking for in a Chablis.

1/3/2021 - terry j Likes this wine:

Distinctive wine, deeply colored with exotic rosemary notes on the nose: not necessarily what I'd expect from a Bordeaux-style blend. Very rich, ripe flavor ... definitely seems like a wine from a warm climate, but is not inelegant or clumsy. Drinking very well in 2021. I don't think there's a lot of up side from here.

8/30/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

This will not be to everyone's liking. It's a Burgundian pinot noir. There are some very funky aromas in the nose, and fruit is not really one of them. But I found the nose very complex and intensely pleasurable: barnyard, rosemary, moss. Less pleased with the flavors: a bit tart and austere.

Drink it soon or give it to someone who will: I wouldn't expect it to improve from here.

8/19/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

A powerful, rustic Vacquyeras. The very aromatic nose is dominated by earthy barnyard aromas, with a pleasant undertone something like ripe black plum. The palate speaks to ripeness, following through on the black plum, with an iron edge. Not a shrinking violet. I like wines that declare themselves: this one certainly does. It won't go away for many years, but the ripeness suggests to me it may not get a lot better. It's a good value.

8/5/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

Simple, flavorful, pettilant, fairly low in alcohol at 12.6% ... goes down like soda pop. If you imagine a nice Beaujolais made into a sparkling wine, there you go. Has its place, with a summer burger barbecue or just about anything grilled.

6/12/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

Beautifully knit-together cabernet, with a lovely nose of mushroom and ripe blackberries. Elegant mouth feel and palate. This wine punched above its weight! I love when that happens. Perhaps I just caught it in a perfect drinking window.

5/17/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

An interesting chardonnay: powerful, rather rustic nose, towards nutmeg and wildflower. By contrast, a luscious, very soft palate. (Heavyweight, oversize 750-ml bottle didn't fit in my cellar racks. The bottle hints at that stout nose.)

5/14/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

Rich, earthy aromas of mushroom, wet moss, vanilla. Nice palate: bright without being tart; comfortable medium tannins.

5/2/2020 - terry j wrote:

You'd have to be a stu-pedaso (get it?) to stock up on this wine. On the other hand, if a friend buys you one, learn from my lesson and don't insult them by telling them that you get the wordplay in the name and don't appreciate it. Probably they didn't get it when they bought it for you, and instead were attracted by the appropriately low price.

4/20/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

Excellent, and drinking at its prime right now in 2020. Nose has knit together into a warm, rich, mushroom-box impression. Palate is rich and still a bit fruity. Finish is longer than I have a right to expect from a St. Julien. Really good.

4/8/2020 - terry j wrote:

Can't rate it ... after 14 years my bottle had an oxidized smell, not exactly corked. Pretty decent palate, but ultimately, most of it went down the drain. Sharing in case there's a pattern.

4/5/2020 - terry j Likes this wine:

This is very true to type for a Gigondas: nose a bit earthy, with ample dark fruit (think ripe plum), beautiful mouth feel, and a very good finish. Drinking at its peak right now (2020), but will remain excellent at least another 5 years. I'll be looking for more.

10/30/2019 - terry j Likes this wine:

If you've aged this wine for 14 years, you're in for a treat. This wine has great depth of flavor, and has developed a fascinating, complex nose. I found it outstanding. Age pays off again.