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Tasting Notes for rieslinghoarder

(715 notes on 655 wines)

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White - Off-dry
3/20/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
95 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour, followed over a week

8% ABV and oh so light. First opened for International Riesling Day then followed over a week. Some lovely spruce, minty herbs, and blackberry/cassis on the nose. Similar notes on the palate with a core of stone fruit and white flowers. After several days the wine maintains that cassis nose with wisps of blood orange and other citrus notes, and gains depth of flavor of the stone fruit and plum/cassis on the palate. Just a lovely and singular wine!
5 people found this helpful Comment
Red
3/10/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Glassware: Zalto Grassl Cru
Prep: Decant 4 hours before first pour

Beautiful nose of sous bois, raspberry purée, plum, purple flowers, pigeon, coffee bean, and black pepper. On the palate the wine is suave, with a nice core of fresh acidity and polished tannins, with flavors of ripe black cherry, raspberry, plum, and truffle mushroom. Such a delicious wine drinking well in its youth now with an extended decant, but I’m sure will get more interesting with a few more years of aging in the cellar. My only regret is not pairing this with food, as I was craving a steak au poivre to go with this.
Red
3/3/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Decant for 1 hour before first sip

Fragrant nose of ripe black cherries and black raspberries, dried blueberry, and a touch of coffee. Deep on the palate with black cherries, ripe plum, purple flowers, cacao nib, and a nice complexity of fresh organic earth. Kelley’s signature style shines through with this wine’s transparency, elegance, and precision, yet full-bodied on the palate with very fine tannins and fresh acidity. This needs some time to unwind.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Rosé
2/22/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
91 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Instantly I can see the connection between this and the Bracken Vineyard pinot noir in terms of its sensual character. Beautiful aromas of bing cherry, cantaloupe, and creamsicle on the nose. While the wine appears ripe and juicy from the aromas the palate is anything but, being dry, crisp, and savory with some subtle stone fruit and cherry notes that linger on the finish. Very refreshing.
White
2/18/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
95 points
Glassware: Glassvin
Prep: 4 hour decant

Brought to Rohit B’s place to prove you shouldn’t overlook 2020 as a vintage for WV chardonnay. Absolutely gorgeous wine that showed itself very well after 4 hours of air. Gentle reductive nose of lime peel, pear, hazelnut, cardamom, and saffron. On the palate there is a beautiful purity of delicate, underripe orchard fruit that is expansive on the palate, supported by chalky/wet stone minerality that provides a gentle grip and carries the fruit over a long finish. The refreshing acidity, dry extract, and some oak tannin influence are well balanced on the palate and provide excellent structure, brightness, and lift to the wine. Fine, fine juice that I’m sure will age gracefully.
1 person found this helpful
Red
2/17/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Decanted for 2 hours before tasting

Powerfully floral nose of rose petals, potpourri, cranberry, baking spices. Bright and lively on the palate with a lovely purity of Luxardo cherry, raspberry, and plum fruit notes with some underlying organic earth minerality that lingers on a long finish. The wine’s supple tannins and fresh acidity provide ample structure to the wine. It’s a fun wine to drink now with a bit of air, but no harm in giving it a few years in the cellar.
White
2/12/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour, sampled over several nights

First couple nights this was not that interesting or expressive, just some shy notes of reduction, minerality, and lime on the nose and palate. After 3 days in the fridge it has opened up very nicely. More aromatic flint and crushed rocks, seabreeze, lime peel, and a whiff of orange rind on the nose. Medium-bodied and creamy but with gripping acidity. I particularly love the texture coming from the pronounced rocky minerality on this wine that lingers on the finish. Peeking in are notes of ripe yellow apple, pear, lemongrass, and a touch of buttered popcorn. Will save my last bottle for a few years.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2/1/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour, followed over a couple hours

Opened this today to celebrate the 2022 vintage release.
Powerful yet inviting nose of flinty reduction and seashells, orange/grapefruit peel, spearmint, iodine, and saffron. On the palate the fruit straddles the line of yellow citrus and orchard fruit, with a nice backbone of saline minerality. There is a Graham cracker note and touch of vanilla on the finish from the oak presence, but this has settled down nicely compared to the first bottles I opened. Medium-bodied with great structure from its dry extract and mouthwatering acidity.

This wine can definitely benefit from further aging, to allow the oak to better integrate, but worth popping one open now if you have a few bottles. The somewhat astringent character the wine first had on release has dissipated, making this more open and enjoyable now without needing an extensive decant.
5 people found this helpful Comments (1)
White - Off-dry
1/31/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Same impressions as rieslingfans. Love the cooler green apple and minty herb notes on this wine. Delicious juice.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Papera Ranch Russian River Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)
1/31/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n' pour

Similar impressions as Rich. Starting to develop that claret-like character that zins/mixed blacks can get. Complex nose of dried black cherries, blackberry, orange zest, sandalwood, and baking spice. Medium-bodied with tannins and acidity nicely integrated. Perhaps lacking a little concentration on the midpalate, the black/red fruit notes are abundant on the attack but quickly give way to garrigue and a mineral finish of graphite and organic earth. For my palate this is in a great spot, paired nicely with pizza.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
1/27/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Decant 4 hours on day 1, followed over 3 days

Opened on BD15 Preview Day. Translucent ruby in color. Deep nose of red cherry, raspberry, potpourri, dusty/earthy minerals, and a touch of white smoke. On the palate the wine is bright and lively, with flavors of cherry, pomegranate, black raspberry, orange peel, and dried herbs. There is a subtle refined smokiness on the palate that nicely complements the soil mineral tones. Weightless, with fine tannins and fresh acidity to provide a nice frame for the wine.

After a couple days in the fridge the wine has gained depth and body with more tannic grip. The richness and purity to the fresh red fruit on the palate is even more apparent today and is gorgeous. This still feels like it needs some air but is showing so well now. Clearly built for the cellar.
5 people found this helpful Comment
White - Off-dry
1/7/2024 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Notes of grapefruit peel, orange blossom, white strawberry, lemongrass, and wild yeast on the nose. On the palate there is an attack of dry slate minerality with an undertow of citrus fruit (grapefruit, orange pith) and a touch of apricot. Creamy but light on the palate, not particularly mouthcoating in its minerality or acidity.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. The Bedrock Heritage Sonoma Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)
12/25/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour, followed in the glass over 4 hours

First of two bottles obtained direct from Bedrock this fall. I disagree with the recent comments that this is past prime and question storage/provenance of those bottles.

Just starting to show some secondary characteristics. Black currant, dried blackberry, orange rind, mocha, and wet soil on the nose. Perfectly integrated tannins, fresh acidity, and a nice concentration of flavors of black fruits, garrigue, dried smoky herbs, and a touch of citrus peel I get as a signature note from the Bedrock Vineyard Heritage wines. The wine has some body and weight to it on the palate, but isn’t heavy or jammy.

Will probably wait a few more years to open the next bottle, but this is in a nice spot with a little air. Paired well with homemade teriyaki meatballs.
2 people found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
10/21/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Needs little time in the glass to show itself. Complex, pretty nose of Luxardo cherry, black currant, licorice, rose petals, and a touch of smoke. Silky and sensual on the palate, with notes of raspberry, ripe strawberry, plum, dried herbs, and barrel spice. The fine tannins and acidity are well integrated already, not too ripe or dense which I love about the 2017 vintage. This juice should continue to age and develop nicely.
Red
10/19/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
89 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Purple and opaque in the glass. Ripe aromas of Luxardo cherry, plum, tobacco, wet leaves, and a fine note of black licorice with aeration in the glass. Polished on the palate, with fine-grained tannins that gain more grip with time in the glass, and good acidity. In contrast to the nose, the palate is dominated by organic earth and black pepper notes with only some subtle fruit, mostly plum.
White
9/27/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Decanted, first taste after an hour

Unyielding upon initial pour other than some matchstick reduction. After about an hour in the decanter the wine starts to unfurl with notes of key lime, chalk, and a hint of butterscotch on the nose with aeration. Full-bodied with juicy acids, along with nice dry extract that lingers on the tongue. Mostly green citrus and underripe tropical fruit tones enveloped in chalky minerals on the palate, ending on a slightly astringent mineral finish. This has less precision than the 2019 Richard’s, which I adore, but makes up for it with the depth of its minerality. Will check on my last bottle of this vintage in 5-8 years.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
9/24/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Prep: Decanted an hour before first tasting.
Glassware: Grassl Cru

A delicate and shy wine, with subtle flint minerality on the nose opening up to a core of green apple, white peach, kiwi, hazelnut, and white flowers. On the lighter end of medium-bodied. The wine is super elegant and lithe on the palate, which is all about the minerality, and carries some subtle apple and pear notes that linger on the finish. At 12.6% alcohol this is very easy drinking; I paired it with a chicken dish but a light seafood dish would’ve been a better choice.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
9/20/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
91 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

My first two bottles of this had TCA, glad I didn’t sink pour the remaining two. Slightly reticent nose of cherry cordial at first, but with time aromas of blackberry, plum, sage, white pepper, and a top note of smoke burst from the glass. Full-bodied and expansive on the palate, but not over the top. Though there is ripe black fruit on the palate, I appreciate how well it is balanced by the earthy garrigue tones and barrel spice notes. Compared to the 2018 bottling that I got to try last year, this is a more deep, focused, and complete bourgogne, and punches well above its weight at $26 smackers. Delicious juice.
White
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n' pour

Golden in color, with a developing nose of lemon peel, grapefruit, gooseberry, Golden Delicious apple, coriander, and lemongrass. The wine already has harmonious integration of its acidity, fruit, and minerality. The alcohol barely pokes out at the end of the long finish. It's like a speed skater gliding down the palate, super focused and precise, leaving in its tracks flavors of grapefruit pith, underripe pineapple and star fruit, dried apple, and a touch of whipped cream with undertones of dry slate minerals that stick to the palate once the fruit has subsided.

Pleasantly surprised this is not shut down, and happy to have more. If this is how one of Florian's entry level bottlings is showing from 2019, I can't wait to see what his top off-dry wines are like!
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Off-dry
9/10/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Love Florian’s off-dry wines, and this may be my favorite young Kern that I can recall. Subtle aromas of Meyer lemon, lemon blossom, white peach, and a little rubber on the nose. Nuanced flavors of white peach, green apple, and whipped cream on the palate, and a hint of slate minerals on the finish. Though mouth-coating, with a creamy body and good dry extract, the wine’s light spritz and focused, yet explosive acidity provide a nice balance that makes one want to come back for sip after sip. Such a gorgeous wine, can’t wait to see how this develops with age.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
9/4/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Very similar impressions as Tom. Boysenberry, dusty blueberry, ripe blackberry, and slightly stewed strawberry on the nose. Some subtle citrus peel, anise, and pepper. On the palate, more dusty yet ripe black/blue fruit supported by fresh acidity and nearly resolved velvety tannins. In a great spot now.
2 people found this helpful Comment
White
9/1/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
95 points
Opened side-by-side with 2021 Morgen Long Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills for educational purposes (separate TN posted) as that cuveé this year is 100% Koosah fruit as well.

Glassware: Riedel Burgundy
Prep: Splash decant, followed over 3 hours

Compared to the Morgen Long, this really needs air to show at its best this young. Quiet on the initial pour, with just some subtle wisps of lime blossom and mint enveloped by barrel spice. A bit thin and flat on the palate at first as well, with some vague yellow apple, white peach, and gunpowder/flinty mineral notes. After an hour of air this turns into a very different wine, gaining tension and grip on the palate while remaining lithe in body. I particularly love the precision this develops, and the energy brought by the streak of refined acids that is already well-integrated. The orchard and stone fruit recede slightly as flavors of mint, jasmine, black tea, and aloe start to take center stage, with persistent flint minerality that lingers over a long finish.

This is an excellent chardonnay that requires a little patience to fully appreciate this young. It is precise and understated, and will reward time in the cellar.
1 person found this helpful Comments (2)
White
9/1/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
95 points
Opened side-by-side with 2021 Walter Scott Chardonnay Koosah Vineyard for educational purposes (separate TN posted), as Seth’s Eola-Amity Hills cuveé this year has 100% Koosah fruit.

Glassware: Riedel Burgundy
Prep: Splash decant, followed over 3 hours

This wine has a complex nose of hazelnut, seabreeze, mint tea, mandarin orange, and lemon peel from the start. Medium-bodied but expansive on the palate, with brisk acidity nicely balanced by a silky/creamy texture. This wine has more oomph to it compared to some of Seth’s other bottlings, including X-Omni, with tremendous dry extract and dense flavors of lime blossom, minty herbs, aloe, and fine flinty minerals that linger over a long finish.

This is a lovely chardonnay and all the right components are there. I think it needs a bit more time to integrate and settle down, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this becomes a long-term ager.
2 people found this helpful Comments (1)
White
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Crystalline and straw-colored. Kaffir lime, green apple, lemongrass, and seashells on the nose. Medium body with focused, delicate yuzu and tangerine citrus initially on the palate followed by intense saline/briny minerals that linger on the finish for a few seconds. A very mineral-driven chardonnay, I’m a little less enthused as I’m drinking this without food but can imagine this wine pairing well with some oysters or other shellfish. Will see if it changes much over the next few days in the fridge but I don’t anticipate the fruit showing much more than today.
White - Off-dry
8/12/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Brought to a group tasting in Boston, after being kept in checked luggage during a flight and put in the fridge for 4 hours before opening. Despite the potential for bottle shock, this had a tremendous showing. Grapefruit, cantaloupe, tangerine, and a core of dry slate waft from the glass. The fruit is ripe but the wine is lithe and refreshing, on the drier side of off-dry. Though light in body there is a nice delicate grip on the palate from the dry extract and fine acids that lingers for quite awhile.

Such a good wine that is in a nice drinking window now, but could certainly continue to develop over the next 5-10 years.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
8/7/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
90 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n' pour

Ripe plum, violets, and some deep aromas of potpourri on initial whiff. More black-fruited on the palate, with ripe blackberry and plum flavors, but a little hollow on the midpalate with a touch of alcohol heat on the back end. Will follow over the next few days to see how it develops.
Red
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Opened to pair with meatloaf, a great choice overall. Though this is one of Bedrock’s base wines, there is nothing basic about it. Pretty and delicate, yet rich aromas of black cherry, plum, and barrel spice. The wine still retains its freshness from when it was first released but carries bit more depth than I recall. There is a lovely interplay of boysenberry, plum, cacao, and dried herbs intermingling with chalky minerality and tannins that linger on the palate. Always a solid bottle from the Bedrock crew.
4 people found this helpful Comment
Red
7/18/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Blackberry and blueberry aromas, almost like blueberry pie at Thanksgiving. Nice vibrancy and freshness on the palate, with similar blue/black fruit notes along with a touch of plum, and a nice streak of black pepper spice and a touch of smoke that glides across the tongue. The tannins are fine-grained and have a slight dusty character to them that makes this wine feel a little more rustic than on release.

I buy a couple bottles of Dolinsek each vintage, which is so delicious on release, but the more I buy from Bedrock the more wish I stocked up on this wine to see it evolve as it has. Pure joy in a glass, and goes great with smoked brisket.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
Opened for Bedrock Fall 2023 release day, wish I saw Rich’s note because it is spot on. This has nice, dusty red fruited aromas and flavors, and is pleasant enough to drink. However the wine comes off a missing midpalate density and has a shorter finish than I’d expect having had this wine in other vintages at a similar age. I still have one bottle, will hold it for awhile to see if anything changes with more time.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Papera Ranch Russian River Valley Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel (view label images)
6/16/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
No formal notes, but agree with recent notes. Short decant should do the trick.
Red
6/11/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Dark maroon color. Deep and brooding nose of ripe blackberry, black cherry, underripe blueberry, dried herbs, smoke, and gamebird. On the palate there is a nice density of fruit and smoky mineral notes complemented by fresh acids and a slight tannic grip. If this was higher in alcohol and a little more ripe it could be a ringer for a Bedrock Heritage wine, which I also love. While I had originally opened this for some sushi we were ordering, this begs for some tonkatsu or food with more heft in general.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
6/4/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Decant, 2 hours from first pour to first glass. Finished over a couple nights.

Nectarine, yellow peach, ginger, cardamom, sea breeze, and gravel/chalk minerals waft from the glass. Lithe on the palate, yet dense in flavor, with layers of nectarine, yuzu, peach pit, and sandalwood. Love the brightness of the fruit complemented by the balance of fine chalky texture and refined acids on the palate. Just a touch of vanillin and cardamom on the palate after a long finish. After a couple days in the fridge the aromas and flavors remain present but the wine is more harmonious.

People have asked me why I open Seth's wines (and other Oregon whites) so young. I don't doubt the best years are ahead and that they won't gain complexity with age, but it's hard not to try them in their youth. Through the veneer of the chiseled, acid-driven structure common to many of Seth's wines, I can already see what's in store.
3 people found this helpful Comments (3)
Red
5/31/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Opened after reading that some of the 2018 Goodfellows were in a nice early window.

Translucent ruby. Reticent, yet complex aromas with impressions of red cherries, raspberries, roast pigeon (yes, I know what it smells like), wood spice, moss, and a hint of aloe leaf. With more time in the glass, more floral aromas including rose petals come to light and intertwine with the red berry fruit notes. Weightless and silky on the palate, with juicy flavors of black cherry, plum, black tea leaves, and floral stems, with fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity lingering on the finish. Feels like this wine has a lot more potential, will hold for another 10 years.
3 people found this helpful Comments (3)
Red
5/19/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

I love checking in on the OVZs about 5 years out from harvest, but was a little hesitant to open this given the structure of the vintage. Did not disappoint at all and didn’t need a decant. Wonderful aromas and flavors of ripe black currant, blackberry, dried blueberry, and raspberry layered on a core of iron and graphite minerality. Lush on the palate, but not in an overly ripe/juicy manner, bolstered by fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins.

As much as I love the SVDs, the OVZ remains a stupid good value and develops so well in the cellar. Wish I bought cases of this.
5 people found this helpful Comment
White
5/17/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Decant, served after 1 hour of air

Light gold in color. Delicate aromas of lemon oil, underripe pineapple, ginger, spruce tips, and a touch of smoke. Vibrant yet poised on the palate, initially coiled up with yellow citrus, underripe yellow apple, Bosc pear, and barrel spice flavors. After an hour of air the fruit notes unfurl nicely in the glass. There’s a lovely core of sun-beaten slate and flinty minerality, complemented by fine acids, both which are already nicely integrated.

The elegance and finesse of this wine stands out, and I assume is representative of the 2021 vintage. Delicious juice as always, Seth!
2 people found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
5/12/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Pretty aromas of raspberry, tart cherries, blood orange, dried sage, tobacco leaf, and rose petals. Full-bodied, bright, and expansive on the palate, with a nice backbone of acidity and powdery tannins to lift up the raspberry and black cherry fruit notes on the palate. I prefer other vintages in Willamette to 2018, but this is delicious juice that makes me come back for more.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
5/5/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Few notes on this as I brought it to dinner with family. Fresh, bright, and translucent with red cherry, tart strawberry, and earthy aromas and flavors. Delicate but lively on the palate, with nice zesty acids and fine, fine tannins providing structure to the wine.
5 people found this helpful Comments (5)
Rosé
4/21/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Opened with family out for dinner last night, so didn’t have my usual glassware or decant.

Strawberries & cream, apricots, and a note of bubble gum/cotton candy with a core of slate minerals. Though the wine has complexity, it is simultaneously playful and dances on the palate with a good interplay of minerality and refreshing acidity.

As usual, this was another delicious bottle from Seth. It didn’t have the blood orange/citrus character that I remember with the 2019 Pink Label, which I thought was a more serious and chiseled wine on its release with a touch more acidity. Might need to open another bottle soon to see how it’s progressing.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
White - Sweet/Dessert
4/21/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
97 points
Saw on a dessert menu at one of our favorite restaurants and couldn’t pass it up.

Dark amber in color with an orange rim. Rich aromas of grilled pineapple and yellow peach, caramel, burnt brown sugar, and fig. There is so much going on in the palate, with a constant beam of orange marmalade and grilled pineapple with flavors of honeyed apricots, hazelnut, marzipan, fig, and almond cream woven in. While the wine is medium-bodied and rich in texture, it has racy acidity that allows it to glide across the palate effortlessly. So delicious!
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
4/12/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Green apple jolly rancher, white flowers, mint, and a touch of dill. Loads of green apple flavor on the palate, which is light and racy. Love how tangy the acids are on this wine.
3 people found this helpful Comment
White
4/8/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
94 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Double decanted

Ripe golden delicious apple, honeysuckle, curry leaf, and juniper berry on the nose. Delicate on first sip, but with a building intensity of minerality and spice, a touch delayed on the attack, as yellow citrus fruit unfurls. Predominantly lemon and lime blossom on the finish with a touch of coriander and vanilla. I haven't had X-Novo since the the 2017 and 2018 vintages but in comparison to those this bottling is a little less reductive and not as austere.
1 person found this helpful Comments (4)
Red
3/30/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
95 points
Glassware: Rieske Burgundy
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Opened a bottle after seeing Diane’s note and I agree with everything. Certainly has the stuffing to age, but in such a great spot right now with a balance of black cherry/blackberry fruit, dried herbs, and graphite minerality. Lovely stuff.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
3/22/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n' pour

Zippy lemon/lime, sweet orchard fruit, and gravel minerals on the nose and palate. Light and bright on the palate, with good acidity to provide freshness to the wine. I suspect this will gain some more weight and depth with cellar time, but it's so drinkable now and a stupid good value. Well done Saul!
4 people found this helpful Comments (1)
White - Off-dry
3/13/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
96 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Intoxicating and complex nose of Haribo peach, strawberry cream, lime peel, almond skin, prune, and clover honey. With some vigorous aeration in the glass I get more ripe red apple and pineapple fruit aromas. Creamy and layered, yet elegant on the palate owing to fine acids and a core of wet slate minerality. While there is some stone fruit presence on the palate with ripe yellow peach, I get more citrus and tropical notes including pineapple, Mandarin orange, and marzipan.

I adored the 2019 bottling of this wine, which had more aromas and flavors in the fig/prune/almond of the spectrum, but this wine just dazzles with its weightless intensity and complexity of fruit notes. Stunningly good auslese, can't wait to see how these develop in the cellar.
3 people found this helpful Comments (1)
White
3/8/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
92 points
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Pop n' pour

Pretty nose of ripe strawberries, yellow peach, lime zest, lemongrass, and a touch of cardamom. Similarly enjoyable upon tasting with lime peel and bergamot fruit upfront followed by lemongrass, vanilla, and wet slate. The prickly acidity and buoyancy of this wine on the palate leaves me going back for sip after sip, with lingering slate minerals and just a playful touch of whipped cream on the finish for some sweetness. Should age nicely and improve as it sheds some baby fat, but very delicious now.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
3/1/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
93 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n’ pour

Beautiful, pretty nose of plum, black cherry, graphite, and a touch of smoke. Dark-fruited on the palate with baking spice and inorganic earth tones that linger over a long finish. Fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins provide a nice frame to the wine. Elegant and weightless on the palate, yet with a great depth of flavor. Delicious stuff.
White
3/1/2023 - rieslinghoarder Likes this wine:
91 points
Glassware: Grassl Cru
Prep: Pop n' pour

Lime curd, graham cracker, Rainier cherry, aloe, and vanillin on the nose. Some whispers of citrus and underripe orchard fruit on the palate, but the flavors are not as prominent as I'd expect given the aromas. Medium in body, with a creamy texture complemented by crisp acidity. Easy drinking and delicious stuff.
Rosé
Drank my last bottle nearly 2 years ago to the day, still as fresh as a daisy and barely changed since my last note. Delicious wine as always at a great value.
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