4/21/2024 - ElAzul wrote:

Had to try this very reasonably priced offering from Costco for two reasons besides QPR: my Mom's name was Paula and Suckling gave it a 92. Jammy dark fruit nose is combined with dark berry and red currant notes and solid acid backbone and tannins. Excellent with food first with rigatoni and beef/pork ragu then grilled ribeye next day. Has a lot of life, will age nicely in bottle for a few years and I will buy some more soon.

4/7/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Cork in pristine shape, bottle fill half inch above neck, color of medium ruby with definite orange on rim and body. Red fruit nose, prior note of camphor not present after six hours open. The fruit is more like a mix of baked cherry on the front of the mouth but then raspberry on the mid and back palate after 24 hours open but kept refrigerated overnight. The tannins are mellow now and anise notes are present and the finish is a subtle 30 seconds long. Just lovely nebbiolo fruit! The wine seems fully mature but probably has a lot more life left in it.

4/5/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

As others have noted this has excellent QPR given the red berry flavors and sturdy but not harsh tannin understructure. Some red fruit and slight herbal aromas and the wine improved with time in air. It was definitely tastier and more enjoyable after 48 hours open than at opening. Suggests a couple more years of bottle aging will enhance joy of consumption.

3/24/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

I opened this at 2 pm on Sunday, decanted and enjoyed for dinner at 6pm. Damp forest floor nose like a Bordeaux. Minerality and fully resolved tannins support delicious red fruit notes of raspberry and red currants. A wonderful vibrancy persists for half a minute to almost a full minute, somewhere between subtle and strong, but very pleasant. This was very enjoyable with sauteed lamb shoulder chops which were marinated in a mint-garlic-rosemary olive oil marinade. Chave syrah is as good as it gets. Addendum on Monday : the wine was still very good the next day at noon with the lamb. But to my surprise 8 hours later it had just died. Regardless I am keeping the high score since it was so massive yet delicious and well structured after 8 hours open and even after 22 hours. Suggests it would have been better to open at noon and drink till midnight!

3/24/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Dark fruit aromatics, palate dominated by spicy black currants and plums. A bit hot from high alcohol above 70F and 48 hours open and enjoyed it more at cellar temperature to about 65F. But a decent match for beef and chocolate. I would buy it for those who like upfront fruit and soft tannins.

3/20/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Dark brooding nose of black fruit and plum. No herbaceous or cedar or earth, just fruit. Initial tastes were of pure fruit, mostly blackberry and maybe blueberry and plum. After a couple of hours the wine seemed to go dumb with the tannin and alcohol prevalent so I corked it and let it sit overnight in the fridge. 24 hours later the wine woke up again after warming to room temperature of 70F. The aromas are still dark fruit but the wine has once again started exhibiting fruit on the palate as the tannin has integrated more firmly. Same dark fruit but now a nice 10 seconds finish is present, suggesting another year or two of bottle aging will improve this wine. St. Emilion merlot is so good.

3/7/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Bought a case of this last week directly from the distributor after trying a 2020 version that had been improperly stored. But this first bottle from this case is pristine and delicious. Beautiful nose of flowers and a hint of pineapple and the flavors of spice and lychee supported by a vibrant acidic backbone. There is even a hint of sweetness on the edge after the lychee melts away. Maybe not as good as a Clos Winsbuhl or other single vineyard ZH but a wonderful introduction to those wines.

3/4/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Cork in good condition with only a 3/4 inch run but to be safe I used a two prong ah-so and the fill was above the neck. So happy I opened this wine and so much better than the last bottle I tried in 2019, it is just as good as the bottle I tasted in 2018. A bit of cedar and damp forest initially and then evolved to dark fruit aromas. But though the blackberry fruit is a bit diminished it is still very present and wonderfully integrated with the underlying tannin and some minerality. Plus some intriguing herbal notes began to appear after four hours open. The finish is rich and satisfying.Drink it up but can last another 5-10 years in maturity.

3/3/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Solid offering again from Rhone Ranger Bonny Doon. Plenty of bright raspberry fruit as well as some red cherry. And nice acidic backbone to keep it vibrant. Excellent with a variety of food. And it was actually much more fun after 48 hours open with the fruit being well lifted up by the soft tannin.

3/2/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Been a while since I had a ZH gewurtztraminer. Found this at a Bay City Michigan liquor store. Store seemed a bit warm so I was a little concerned given the vintage was 2020 but on opening there were no weird aromas and the body was a normal looking pale yellow. This got better with time and swirling and was at its best drinking peak after 24 hours open. Some spice and gewurtz lychee but nowhere as tasty or complex such as ZH Clos Winsbuhl.

2/28/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Pale ruby, decent clean fruit nose.. Decent red fruit and cherry flavors. Best 24 hours open so can benefit from a decant. Finish was a few seconds long and very clean. Will probably not evolve too much but Ok for light drinking.

2/25/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

It took a bit of decanting and swirling to get this to open but two hours later it finally did. And even better the next day. Dark fruit nose and on the palate it has blueberry and blackberry fruit with some red cherry to boot. Very pleasant once it opened and the tannins are soft and nicely integrated with the fruit. It complements a nice grilled NY strip and even a homemade chocolate brownie for dessert.

2/20/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

This is actually the Central Coast vintage not Monterrey county but since Monterrey county is technically in the Central coast viticultural zone here goes: Red fruit nose, totally NewWorld. Sour cherry and cranberry fruit in the palate. Still a lot of oak not well integrated and maybe a little heat from the 14.5% alcohol. But a good price point and ok with a grilled steak.

2/18/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Damp earth and some cedar on nose but 48 hours later there was a nose of dark fruit and some herbal notes as well. On the palate the initial flavor was of okay dusty tannin even after a double decant. Fruit did not show at all until 24 hours after opening but once it did the wine was very good. The wine peaked after 48 hours open which I guess is a testament to the winemaker' s skill. At that point the dark fruit was much more evident and left a very nice vibrancy in the mouth. Wine is probably fully mature but given how long it took to fully open and integrate it will last another 5-10 years.

2/13/2024 - ElAzul wrote:

What a fabulous wine! Lychee and other tropical aromas are delightful and matched by the rich palate of lychee, some rose water and a terrific spicy mouth feel that just keeps on going. Zinc Humbrect is no longer distributed in Michigan but this wine will do just fine. Reminds me somewhat of ZH Clos Winsbuhl but at a much better price.

2/12/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Pristine cork, bottle fill 1/2 inch below the cork. Still the same blackberry fruit notes on the palate and nose but perhaps more restrained than the last bottle. Maybe a little too much heat from the alcohol content of 15.5% that tends to overpower the fruit. It did seem to evolve overnight to allow air to integrate all the elements of fruit, tannin and alcohol so that the fruit finally emerged. So i really enjoyed the last four ounces though i had to filter off quite a bit of sediment at the bottom. Next time I will decant twice before serving!

2/10/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Cork was pristine with only 1/4 inch run and bottle fill half inch above the neckline. Cedar, earth and dark fruit aromas. Even after 24 hours open and splashing back and forth the wine is still reticent but dark berry fruit is finally starting to emerge. Dusty tannin and acidity support the fruit. Not as thrilling as a couple of bottles I drank previously but still a positive testament to the vintage.

2/4/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Wine is drinking beautifully. Same plum notes on nose and palate but now some cassis and blackberry are evident. Tannins are resolved but dry and the finish after three hours open is not very long just a few seconds but there is good minerality and overall this is an excellent bottle of wine.

2/3/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Tasty Grenache and layered with syrah, lovely cotes du Rhone villages. Some violets on the nose, But otherwise Grenache dominates with raspberry and strawberry flavors and a mild hint of garrigue. I have one more and will give it another year or so in bottle . This was accessible after opening with decant it was actually more vibrant and complex after 24 hours open.

1/29/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

My last bottle of this PN. About the same as the last bottle 3-4 months ago: tart/sour red cherry fruit with a hint of raspberry. Delicious with a sauteed veal loin topped with a mustard and sage mushroom sauce. Drinking window is now to another 3-5 years.

1/26/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

I waited 3 years or so to open my last bottle of this Barolo and glad I did. The wine was much more accessible early than the previous bottle. There is quite a bit of orange on the edge. The cork was pristine and the bottle fill was a mere half inch from the cork. The nose is loamy earth, a hint of mushroom mingled with red fruit so very interesting. The body tastes of tart red cherry and raspberry, just wonderful flavors supported by vibrant acidity. A delightful note of menthol and camphor emerged and the fruit integrated with it nicely. This is in a wonderful drinking window so enjoy of you have any.

1/13/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Have had many Dona Paula malbec bottles, just because it is usually a pleasant wine with food but this is a very good blend of shiraz and malbec. Though the wine is 18years old it still has a lot of fresh red and black fruit backed by totally soft and well integrated tannin. I enjoyed it last night with a pappardelle and tonight with a nice patty melt of beef, cheddar and grilled onions. There is a little touch of chocolate that compliments chocolate desserts well. Drink this now, it is in a good drinking window that might not last too much longer.

1/8/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

I last reviewed this in2018. Still delicious ripe red fruit and tannins are smooth. Finish isn't as long as before but still it remains on the palate for 10-15 seconds. Blackberry fruit emerged after a couple of hours open. Wine is in good stage for consumption - still has youth but offers enough complexity to just sip on its own.

1/5/2024 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Wow this is wonderful Alsatian gewurtztraminer. Rose petal and spicy aromas, intense body of spicy yet slightly sweet gewurtztraminer underpinned by sturdy acid. Just love it reminding me of some Zind Humbrecht gewurtztraminers in the past. Sadly ZH no longer distributes to Michigan but this is a wonderful substitute. The intense sweet spiciness has me very happy.

12/31/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Last tasted this in 2016. Cork in pristine condition. Wine character has changed from red cherry to more raspberry flavors. Red fruit nose with a very subtle camphor note to add complexity. Wine was not decanted, just poured out with much swirling. It was immediately accessible with the red fruit more like red raspberry than red cherry previously observed. It is in an excellent drinking window and was a superb match to veal marsala. Nebbiolo is a fun grape! Happy New Year to all.

12/29/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Surprisingly yummy wine which I bought initially just to have as part of a Montelena vertical which never occurred. I like this better than the 90 Montelena I had last month. The fill was good and the cork was in beautiful shape with only a quarter inch run. The nose was of cedar and dark fruit, maybe plums. On the palate I tasted dark fruit and a bit of chocolate. The body is dense and chewy and the tannins are fully resolved and integrated with the fruit. I opened the wine about 6 pm and decanted through a Chevalier aereator glass.Wonderful with a Hawaiian style pizza and then some dark chocolate. Wine evolved for 5 hours and just got better and better.
Next day twenty hours open: wine is superb. Lots of fruit, completely integrated tannins and s smooth tingly finish of 15-20 seconds. Excellent with a small sandwich of grilled ham and a thick slice of cranberry-cinnamon goat cheese. I should be so lucky to have this as a lunch wine every day. 24 hours: still rockin'! Fruit is rich and dense, excellent with a feta-bacon-onion quiche. Life is good and this wine will make you happy. Drink now or wait five years.

12/21/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Crisp acidity, grapefruit and citrus, a little grassy. Ok for sauv blanc just not my favorite white

12/19/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Cork in pristine condition with a 1/4 inch run. Bottle fill just above the neck. Almost like a Bordeaux cab on opening with some damp forest floor cedar and tobacco notes. Delicious black fruit emerges after 5 hours open. Vanilla and cedar. Nose is all
dark plummy fruit after five hours open as well. Matched chocolate well. Next day: vacuvin and store cold. After wine warmed there was still a lot of black fruit but the thrill was kind of gone. It was still a good match for ravioli with a cheesy marinara sauce. This is still a good bottle but mature.

12/15/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Found this in my 2005 stash and so glad I stood it up a month ago.. Cork was in good shape with only a 1/4 inch run. Some bricking on the rim. Wine started out reticent with a nose of damp forest floor or damp leaves like some Bordeaux wines. This blew off with decant and swirling so that some dark fruit emerged on the nose. The tannin was a little rough initially but quickly smoothed out to let anise, tobacco and spice mingle with the dark plummy fruit. My wife tasted a raisin note as did I. It just kept getting better and more complex with air and leaving a 30 second finish on the mid palate. A bit of iron minerality appears after four hours decanted. The wine was a good match for grilled lamb for dinner and dark chocolate for dessert. This wine is fully mature but has a few years of life but why wait if you have some?

12/2/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Cork in good shape maybe a half inch run. Light red body no orange on rim. Tar. Damp earth, cigar box and dark fruit nose. On the palate sour cherry, lavender and a raspberry note on the finish after 4 hours open. Initial fruit was dark plums and a good match for veal marsala. The tannin is tart and somewhat drying with only a subtle tingly finish. Mature and enjoyable now. Next day update: apologies for description of wine as still red. Seen in daylight there is significant bricking.

11/29/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Similar to last bottle, lots of grapes notes on the nose. Red and black fruit palate. Takes about two hours to fully open up. Tannins are sweet and fully resolved butt the wine is a little disjointed as the fruit dominates and no additional comp!exit or tertiary notes have developed over time. Enjoy with food.

11/26/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Sorry i hit save twice so ignore but mostly this is to confirm the wine peaked after three hours open..cork in good shape, fill to 3/8 inch above the neck. My lips are tingling as I write this note. So impressive a wine 37 years in bottle and each one I have had has been an honor and pleasure to drink. The wine is at its peak. The black/dark fruit is still prominent, the tannin is sweet and fully integrated and I wish I had bought a few more of this beautiful creation. It is not the greatest wine I have ever had but it is the most consistently delicious older wine I have enjoyed over the last 5 years

11/25/2023 - ElAzul wrote:

Cork in good shape, fill to 3/8 inch above the neck. My lips are tingling as I write this note. So impressive a wine 37 years in bottle and each one I have had has been an honor and pleasure to drink. The wine is at its peak. The black/dark fruit is still prominent, the tannin is sweet and fully integrated and I wish I had bought a few more of this beautiful creation. It is not the greatest wine I have ever had but it is the most consistently delicious older wine I have enjoyed over the last 5 years

11/23/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Happy Thanksgiving to all and especially to me for this wine. Similar to a prior bottle with cedar and forest floor nose but instead of tobacco there was beef blood and a bit of classic barnyard Bordeaux funk. The latter blew off in half hour after splash decant. The wine is more complex after four years additional aging and by that I mean a little less of the blackberry fruit and more herbal, anise-licorice notes on the palate. The acidity is still good and the finish is subtle but lingers for 30 seconds or more. After two hours the wine really opened up revealing dark fruit on both the nose and palate. Plus the finish became more prominent, almost explosive filling the mouth completely with flavor. I had to make myself stop drinking this wine and save some for tomorrow. But based on the wine's evolution over the last two hours and because the last 4 ounce glass I tasted had minimal splashing I believe the wine is at its peak. Decant and enjoy now.

11/18/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Very similar to prior bottle in blackberry nose and predominant blackberry fruit. This time the fruit showed up almost immediately and the wine more or less peaked after a couple of hours open. Very enjoyable with a port salut and aged cheddar cheese plate.The wine is in a good drinking window so enjoy it now.

11/13/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Good fill, cork in excellent condition with only a 3/8 inch run. So after disappointing tastings of Ch. Leoville Bàrton 1990 and Ch. Montrose 1990 I had to try another 1990 Bordeaux and chose to stay in St. Julien with Las Cases and very glad I did. Cedar, tobacco and blueberry nose from initial pour and decant. Unlike the prior bottle this was delicious from start to finish but definitely more complex and satisfying after 24 hours open. Velvety smooth mouth feel, yummy dark fruit tinged with tobacco and subtle minerality. My faith in 90 Bordeaux is restored.

11/12/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

I stood this bottle up for a month to let the sediment settle. Fill was good above the neck and cork came out.nicely with ahso double prong puller. The wine has the same reticence as the previous one I opened and it took decanting, splashing back and forth for the tannin and acid to recede. Even after two days after opening this wine was unwilling to open up. But then it did and finally the dark berry fruit emerged. But it was not worth the wait of 30 plus years.

11/5/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Fruit forward Cab with plenty of blackberry fruit on the nose and palate. The wine has a nice tingly finish even after 24 hours open and the tannin is soft but supportive. Probably not one to age but it was excellent with grilled ahi tuna on a bed of mozzarella, tomato and red beets and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Drink it young and enjoy the balanced fruit.

11/5/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

The bottle I tasted claims to be a reserve from the stags leap district so if I am in error I apologize. This is very tasty chardonnay regardless. I like it because it is buttery without excessive oakyness. Also the flavors are of the tropical variety of melons, pears and even a hint of pineapple and almost no citrus notes. This wine paired well with a variety of dishes: baked brie, beet caprese topped with grilled ahi and even shrimp and grits.

10/28/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Easy drinking red with food. Some dried cherry notes, soft tannins and decent match for grilled fish and later a chocolate dessert. Drink it up.

10/20/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Delicious Oregon PN and with an actual cork LOL! Black cherry, raspberry and flowery notes burst from the bottle and glass. The same dark cherry, raspberry plus some sour cherry are on the mid palate and the satisfying acidity balances the fruit well. I like this pinot as the fruity acidity lingers for half of a minute and the sour cherry finish is provided by the crisp acidity. After 24 hours the nose and body are still dominated by the red fruit. I thought it was a little better coming out of the cellar but at 72F the alcohol is a little more pronounced. But overall this wine is excellent and a good representative of Willliamette Valley PN. Hoping to get a little more complexity with more air but enjoyable now with food such as grilled salmon and even chocolate thanks to the cherry fruit.

10/19/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

I had an option to say the bottle was flawed since the cork fell into it while using an ah-so puller and the fill was only to slightly below the neck line. But the aromas were classic cedar, forest floor and just a slight Bordeaux barnyard funk that disappeared in a couple of minutes. Eventually a dark fruit and currant nose emerged with a decant and several back and forth splashes between two glasses. The palate has the same blackberry fruit as before though not as flamboyant as the previous bottle. The prior comments are after four hours open.

Comments after open 24 hours: the finish is much more present with vibrant acidity and the tannin is very earthy, but not rustic. Thus the complex minerality of the wine has started to dominate the flavor profile, though the dark fruit is still present but has diminished a bit. I still like the wine despite the somewhat flawed bottle but I have to admit the wonderful experience with the prior bottle has most likely influenced me.

After 28 hours open: So four hours later I was surprised that the wine had evolved some more. Gone were the earthy tannins and they were replaced by sweeter, dryer yet sturdy tannin and acidity that now allows the blackberry fruit to re-emerge and with a finish lasting a full 30 seconds.

Now after 30 hours open the wine finally reaches its peak. The tannin is now fully integrated , the aromas are pure dark fruit and the palate is full of dark, brooding blackberry fruit that ends in a satisfying complex finish of dark fruit, cassis and anise.

So this suggests plenty of decant a d splash ing is required for this wine to show its true essence. I couldn't give it a 96 as before but the fact that the cork fell into the bottle may have influenced me to grade it a bit lower. Still, this is fine wine and I am happy to have fulfilled my duty to see it to its tasty end!

10/17/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

What Wineschlub wrote is excellent regarding the nose and palate. For me the citrus notes were a bit heavy hence a slightly lower score but a very easy to drink wine.

10/15/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Another wedding anniversary wine. I decided to buy a variety of 05's rather than a case or two of one or two wines and this is one I wish had bought 2-3 or more. Decanter for half an hour and went tight to using it for a roasted lamb chop and veggies. The merlot fruit was still reticent but present- blackberry, mocha and chocolate which is interesting given it is more merlot than CS or CF. Tannins are still sturdy and the wine has continued to evolve over six hours open. It was pleasant with some Vermont aged cheddar and chocolate covered almonds for dessert. Maybe a 15-20 second tingly finish in the front of the mouth. tannins got more earthy and more dry with air. This is in a good stage for consumption.

10/15/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Flowers and red fruit aromas. On the palate the tannins are sweet and fully resolved and integrated with the black cherry, blueberry, chassis and vanilla. Just a yummy merlot to enjoy sipping or with food.

10/15/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Lovely chardonnay, with the oak nicely balanced with tropical and peach flavors. My new "house" chardonnay. My son in law loved it.

10/11/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Flowers,cassis and black fruit nose plus some wet earth and cedar. The palate is boysenberry, blackberry and hints of anise and camphor. The tannins and acidity are sturdy but not too woody. Accessible already with some decanting this will be excellent for another decade.

10/8/2023 - ElAzul wrote:

Jeff Leve you are right about this wine, and Brett mostly murdered it. It recovered from the horsey nose and musty flavors after 48 hours open but not enough to give it even a 90 score. Out of a case of 12 I have had 2 100 pointers and 4 bretty losers. I guess I should be glad of the 2.

10/4/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Beautiful nose of dark cherry and spice, palate balances dark cherry, sweet tannin and a touch of acidity. The finish lasts 10-15 seconds with a pleasant tingly feel. Love Ken Wright PN. Still delicious after 48 hours open.

9/29/2023 - ElAzul Likes this wine:

Wine has improved, more mellow than in 2018 and has changed a lot in character from my last tasting. That last bottle was more dark fruit than red but now red is what I taste. Initial nose of red cherry and a hint of camphor, very interesting. Camphor dissipates quickly leaving only the red fruit aromas. On the palate the tannins are completely resolved and integrated. The red fruit of cherry and raspberry is dominant but the acidity and just enough oak beautifully balances the fruit and keeps it from being sappy. Love this wine. It is drinking well right now but still has a lot of life for at least another five years.