7/19/2023 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Similar notes as last time.

7/8/2023 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Acquired this wine from Totalwine. I think this is a great QPR. Typical super Tuscan notes. I am surprised it's not as earthy as usual and missing that hint of green notes for a super Tuscan. The wine is more balanced the next day. I picked up more notes on the next day also. Hints of chocolate, tobacco, cigar, and vanilla, and cassis.

7/2/2023 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Decided to open this bad boy recently. It was extremely tight and a bit muted when it was first opened. Deep dark purple, very tannic, velvety. With 10% of PV, this probably explains why it was still exteemly tannic. About an hour in, it started to evolve and show its characteristics. Hint of vanilla, coffee, and notes of blue and black fruits. Had this over 5 hours and clearly it was getting better and better. Alcohol content is high, but it’s very well balanced. 2017 was a tough year for everyone in the wine industry here in California, but this winery pulled it through! Another successful vintage especially for their 50th anniversary!

1/14/2023 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

After 2 hours of decanting, and this bad boy was amazing!

5/11/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Typical Flower Chardonnay as i remember it.

5/2/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Drank this over a 3+ hour dinner. This one has lots of potentials still. Since I have a case of this left, won’t be touching them anytime soon. Initiallly, the nose, and pallets, did not have any BDX notes. 1
Hour in, I get cassis, vanilla, oak, leather, which are the typical BDX notes. Given it’s a 2002, good job!

4/23/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Lovely! Lots of fine bubbles. Interestingly, it was better when it was cool rather than chilled. Toasted bread, and hint of honey, crisp apple

4/9/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Had a line up tasting. Del Dotto 2006 made it to the top.
2014 corrison was a bit muted at first. Didn’t have much of the structure. After 3 hours+ decanting, the nose opened up, dark purple, long finished, long lasting tannins. Lots of black dark fruit profile.

3/12/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Very basic and light Sauternes.

3/12/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

This is a very simple and basic wine. I was hoping for more. Not much of tasting notes. Dark deep red, pencil shavings. For some reason, it doesn’t taste like a BDX.

3/10/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

lots of fine bubbles, golden yellow color. It smells better than it tastes. lots of toasted bread, and i get a lot of green pears.

3/4/2022 - RYANDOC wrote:

Very basic champagne. Nothing really special

3/1/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Needs lots of time for it to be ready. Taste better the next day. Going to hold it for the next 5 years.

2/26/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Very light champagne, got some toasted bread, green apples, color is a bit pale.

2/19/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Typical black and mountain fruit profile of Chappellet. I get cassis, vanilla, and oak/ leather notes. Silky tannins softened after 4 hours of decanting, still has that violet color- from the PV with a long finish. Given the fact that 2008 was not a spectacular year, but this one was outstanding.

2/19/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Similar notes like last time. Still clearly not ready. Wish I had opened it earlier before consuming.

2/9/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

I’m giving it a 94 points at the moment. This one is drinkable now but clearly not ready! Don’t open it maybe until 2024-2025. Truly a beauty, and can’t wait to taste it later in a few more years. This is clearly a modern style, very well structured wine. Lots of dark fruits and pretty fruit forward, long and lingering finish, violet color, cassis and vanilla on the nose, some tobacco. Couldn’t find the blends on this one, but I get CV, Merlot, and PV. From the taste to the color, I think PV is more than 5%. Stock up on this one if you can, 2018 is another great year ☺️

2/7/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Excellent wine for the price point! Cassis, vanilla, chalky on the palate. Paired great with steak. :-) More notes are coming.

1/23/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine which would require a few more years to evolve. Cassis, vanilla, lots of black dark fruits. Drank over 2 hours. The wine evolved wonderfully in the glass as we let it air. Straight forward CA wine with a BDX style, but missing that earthiness.

1/16/2022 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Similar tasting notes as before. This time, it has a hint of honey. Wonderful champagne.

11/25/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Wonderful champagne! Lots of crisps green apples, tart, and a bit of honey. Love the golden color!

11/19/2021 - RYANDOC wrote:

2002 was not a vintage to brag about. The wine is disjoint. Could not integrate, and very murky color. I got sour salted plum for some reason. I think the blend is a little off.

11/13/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Fantastic wine for the vintage! Well integrated! Fruit forward, full body. Vanilla on the palette, cassis and oak on the nose. Tannin has soften up already. This is the peak, but could be wonderful for another 2 years or so.

11/4/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Had it with pasta and meatballs, and I didn’t have a wow experience for this wine. Maybe it’s not ready yet? Seems like a very light wine, no depth, and not so much full body.

7/28/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

After a few hours of decanting, this wine was amazing! It's full body, long-lingering tannins. Tabaco on the nose, cassis, and a hint of vanilla.

4/5/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

We are going to give this a 92+ right now. This one has lots of potentials. Given then blend is 95% cab, and 5% PV. The velvety color definitely is showing here from the 50% of PV. Decanted for an hour to have it with oxtail soup. Long finish, acidic, cassis and vanilla on the nose. Oak, strong tannin, and long finish on the palate. There is some earthy taste to this. We decided to leave the other half of the bottle alone and corked it to see if it would evolve further. Definitely is a good wine, and worth to hold. Would love to see how this one would come out in 10 years! :-)

2/27/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Very floral, fruit forward. Very alcoholic. Good drinking window now, but maybe able to cellar it for another 5-10 years. Typical Sonoma wine.

1/16/2021 - RYANDOC wrote:

At Andaz Wailea birthday dinner

1/21/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

This is a very unique BDX style from Italy. It's very different than then usual BDX style from Tuscany. Interestingly, we were able to identify the green fruit immediately.

1/21/2021 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Just simply a beautiful 2nd growth BDX! Deep color, lots of ripe black fruits, plums, expressive taste on the palate, and on the nose. Decanted this for about 2 hours, had lots of sediments. It's finally and fully integrated together. Full body, structured. What can I say? It's just a wonderful wine and vintage. I can now slowly start opening the remaining of the case.

12/18/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

This is a great drinking window. Very much like BDX style. Great QPR for everyday drinking wine. Lots of dark fruit, smooth, and fruit forward. tobacco, and vanilla on the nose, long finish.

11/28/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

2016 is another marvelous vintage. Full body and full structure with lots of dark fruit. With the 8% PV, it provides the beautiful color-deep purple, and strong tannin. First sip after 30 min decanting, it was extremely tannic, literally stripped my mouth dry. Hardly can't taste or smell the Malbec at all. Don't drink this now, cellar it for another 5-10 years. We enjoyed this while pairing with a 4 course french-chef meal.

11/15/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted for an hour. Full body, velvety color, oak. On the nose, lots of oak, wet earth, cassis. Lots of dark fruits. This is an off vintage year but it was spectacular. I would hold this for another 3-5 years.

11/10/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

lots of fine bubbles, dry, and tasted the green apples.

10/13/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

The color is on the lighter side. Tasted the green apples in this one. Great QPR!

10/12/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Just like the first time we had it. Very good super Tuscan, structured, full body-BDX style wine. Love the velvety color from the PV. lots of blue and black fruits, leather, vanilla, casis. Will be better in 3 years! Just an amazing wine, great QPR!

9/29/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Not ready yet. Give it maybe 3+ years

6/26/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Very easy to drink, although nothing very special. wouldn't pay more than $40/ bottle for this.

6/17/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Shared the bottle among 4 people for dinner., it was a PnP. We paired it with grilled sausage. It was delicious, silky, very smooth, black fruits and oaky. I love the color, and the body! Drink now! Do no hold this any longer!

5/22/2020 - RYANDOC wrote:

Has anyone tasted this wine? I know 2017, Napa was heavily affected by the fire. I don't know if the fruits here were picked before or after the fire.

5/9/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Ripe mature notes of apple and strawberry. Easy on the palate with pleasant fizzles.

3/8/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Great wine, wait for another 3-5 years. Some tannin.

2/26/2020 - RYANDOC wrote:

Very good wine! Love it! Wish I had grabbed them all from Costco!

2/21/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

This is a good Bordeaux blend style as it's a super Tuscany wine! It is full body, smooth after 2 hours being opened. We did not decant. Hold for a couple years! Great QPR if purchase from Costco!

2/16/2020 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Tasted amazing. It's still a very young wine, and will be beautiful for years to come!

12/31/2019 - RYANDOC Likes this wine:

Had this to ring in the new year. We thought it was a bit young.