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Comments on my notes

(17 comments on 11 notes)

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Red
2019 Vietti Barolo Ravera Nebbiolo
2/15/2024 - oldwines Likes this wine:
95 points
Tasted at Wine & Spirits Top 100, NYC. More fully traditional in style than the previously tasted Castiglione. Fresh, mid-weight, elegant, classic. High tannin and acidity, energetic. Cherry fruit highlights good complexity, but this taste seemed still quite tight and in need of air. Finish? Seems shorter than it should be. Beautiful wine, but after tasting many 2019 Barolo over the last year or so, this does not rise to perfection (i.e. 100 points VM) like too many modern critics scores seem to be too generous producing. Certainly not a good QPR in my book. There are equally delicious 2019 Barolo available for half the price or less.

  • Handy1 commented:

    4/7/24, 2:50 PM - Oldwines which 2019 barolo have you tried that are equally delicious as this one for half price? Have a lot of 2016 barolos thinking of getting just a few 2019s

  • Handy1 commented:

    4/8/24, 11:27 PM - Thanks i see some of your reviews. I will look into some of them especially the vajra baudana cerretta

Comment (See all 8 comments)
Red
2016 Realm Cellars The Bard Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
9/9/2023 - Handy1 wrote:
94 points
Decanted for an hour. Nice dark fruit didnt have much finish. Think it was coming around toward end of the bottle. Recommend decant for 3 hours

  • Handy1 commented:

    9/9/23, 6:41 PM - Mark As the 2021 Realm Bard now being offered for $135 with recent Napa price increases seems like a good deal? However, 2018,19 Bard still available on secondary market for same price.

  • Handy1 commented:

    9/9/23, 7:06 PM - Mark
    Yeah prices are absurd. Value seems to be in Bordeaux these days crazy as that seems. I know of more than a few people that are refusing to continue buying Napa wines at these current prices they are asking. I know that most wineries lost the 2020 vintage but if u are a loyal customer and on their mailing list often you still dont get any good deals on the new releases as often the wine is eventually offered on the secondary market for same price or even cheaper than the mailing list price. Makes no sense.

Comment (See all 7 comments)
Red
2022 Château Léoville Las Cases St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
5/8/2023 - Jeff Leve wrote:
99 points
Inky in color, the wine is all about its full-body, intensity, levels of concentration, and sense of purity. The wine starts off with violets, cassis, blackberries, Cuban cigar wrapper, ash, smoke, licorice, and mint. On the palate, the levels of concentration are readily apparent. Yet, even with all its depth of flavor, there is refinement, lift, and complexity that requires time and effort to unfurl. The fruit is uncommonly rich in the mid-palate the tannins are strong, ripe and firm. The seamless finish, with its wall of rich, black and blue fruit hits the 60 second mark with ease. As always, Leoville Las Cases requires bottle aging. But, with 2022, my guess is the wine will start to shine after a decade of age, evolving and improving for 40-50 years with ease. Produced from a blend 83.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.5% Cabernet Franc and 6% Merlot. 14.25% ABV. 3.80 pH. Harvesting took place September 8 - September 30. Yields were 36 hectoliters per hectare. This is only the second time in the history of the estate that you find more Cabernet Franc than Merlot in the blend. Drink from 2030-2065. 98-100 Pts.

  • Handy1 commented:

    5/10/23, 7:30 AM - Hi Jeff
    Thanks for your work and all your time and effort for your reviews. Have used your reviews for some years in buying en primeur bordeaux. I was wondering being interested in the whole process of wine rating, and following the other people who right reviews for their occupation, if I could ask, as your reviews are always positive and you tend to score on the high end of the 100 point system are your reviews truly independent or are you paid in some way by the wine industry either in gifts or wine etc.? Does your web site generate income in some way? Thanks again for your timely write ups right before the wines come available.

Comment (See all 2 comments)
Red
2021 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Hill Ranch Heritage Sonoma Valley Red Blend
1/30/2023 - rieslinghoarder wrote:
Glassware: Zalto Universal
Prep: Decanted

Tighter than a camel’s ass during a sandstorm, even after 6 hours in the decanter. Dusty blackberry, plum, black pepper, and leather flavors but not giving up much else right now. Concentrated and brooding on the palate, in keeping with the theme of the vintage. Will see how it goes the next couple days, but this one is built for the ages. HOLD.

  • Handy1 commented:

    3/6/23, 3:45 PM - RH do u remember if this ever opened up over time?

Comment (See all 2 comments)
Red
2018 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Generations Napa Valley
11/16/2022 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine:
92 points
PnP. Quite viscous. Not showing a ton, but clearly there is fruit in abundance just waiting to bust out. Big wine. 5-13-16-8: 92/100.

  • Handy1 commented:

    12/13/22, 3:39 PM - Do u remember if this was overly sweet? Generally dont like that in a red. JD lofty 98 review first comments about sweet tobacco.

  • Handy1 commented:

    12/13/22, 5:02 PM - MTP thanks. Yes didnt think Suckling reviews could be any higher but JD out does him even. Wine advocate gave 97 to this and JJ Buckley has for $95 so was thinking of trying a few

Comment (See all 4 comments)
Red
2015 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Oakville
5/13/2021 - Handy1 Likes this wine:
98 points
98 points. Dark purple color with a nose of black fruit. The tannins are firm but already in perfect balance with the fruit. Long 45 plus second finish with chocolate, blackberry and plum.

  • Handy1 commented:

    7/7/21, 3:18 AM - We decanted the wine for two hours and although u could sense the tannins in the background they were not obtrusive and felt the wine was ready to drink

Comment (See all 3 comments)
Red
2016 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch Oakville
11/1/2020 - Myman24 Likes this wine:
98 points
Decanted for 6 h approx. This thing will be amazing!!! Obviously too young but so friendly at this stage. If I had this blind I would probably guess Bordeaux at this point. So laser like precise. Earth, wood, tobacco, and the fruit notes are so balanced. The minerality... I could stay here all day trying to describe the different notes as the wine opens up. Truly one of a kind. I had the 15 last week and the notes were similar but the 16 is just a notch above.

  • Handy1 commented:

    2/16/21, 5:27 PM - Any update on the 18’s. Worth the fare?

  • Handy1 commented:

    2/16/21, 10:51 PM - Thanks for all the comments and providing the AG review. I went for the 3 bottle allocation for the 2018 as trying to build up my New World cabs for the cellar as this vintage seems like it will need time to come around. I believe they will be great i am just surprised that the secondary market for the 2016, a great vintage, is going for just about the release price for the 2018 currently and 6 months ago i bought 3 bottles of the 2016 for $50 less than the current release price of the 2018. I guess prices have gone up and/ or the winery is charging too much for their release this year.

  • Handy1 commented:

    4/23/21, 7:48 AM - Myman, Old wines, yes have the same wine buying problem (not drinking i dont think??). Bit of an obsession.
    FRENCH Laundry in Napa Valley must have been tough choice for wines either local or Bordeaux. Sounds like u made the right choice with the old Calon. Had that choice a few weeks ago with an 1995 Calon Segur a friend brought to a dinner vs a Sassaicia 2016 (brought as a backup in case the bordeaux was corked). We chose the Sassaicia because i never had tasted one. Regretted it as the Sassaicia was way too young. Like my aged wines better and bordeaux especially.
    On another note has anyone had good experience with source for either retail or auction to sell their wines when they want to down size or palates have changed? I imagine depends on volume and quality one is selling?

Comment (See all 45 comments)
Red
1999 Vincent Bouzereau Beaune 1er Cru Pertuisots Pinot Noir
1/31/2021 - Handy1 wrote:
89 points
Odd smokey smell that persisted despite being open several hours. Fruit still present with residual acidity that seemed to come together and improve and complement the meal as night went on. Overall meh though as smell was distracting. Maybe will try to decant and air remaining bottles as previous notes suggest smoke smell lessened over time

  • Handy1 commented:

    3/5/21, 10:18 AM - Glad to know decanting helped. I have another bottle left. How long ahead did you decant before drinking?

Comment (See all 3 comments)
Red
2016 VHR Cabernet Sauvignon Vine Hill Ranch Oakville
1/18/2021 - Wine Warrior 1 Likes this wine:
96 points
Wine is outstanding and will get better as it integrates and the tannins soften. Try in 5 years.

  • Handy1 commented:

    2/16/21, 4:59 PM - Regarding the 18s just received an offer for them. Has anyone tried them? Any reviews yet. Seems like 2016s still available on secondary market with close pricing to 2018 offer.

  • Handy1 commented:

    2/16/21, 5:33 PM - Ok i am taking a leap! Thanks

Comment (See all 8 comments)
Red
2018 Patria Cabernet Sauvignon A. Price Vineyard St. Helena
1/31/2021 - Handy1 wrote:
90 points
Much too young. Grape juice and tannins and really short finish despite decanting for 5 hours. Hold long time

  • Handy1 commented:

    2/1/21, 4:02 AM - Yes had ordered 5 myself and wanted to try based on favorable rating. First 2018 cab for me. No way ready. Hopefully will come around but back in the cellar it goes

Comment (See all 5 comments)
Red
2019 Château Pavie St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
7/31/2020 - mactheknife wrote:
95 points
Decanted for 2 hours, returned to the bottle, and drank at dinner in a nearby French restaurant. This is such and interesting blend of traditional and new styles. A powerful wine, but still with finesse. Lots of dregs that were removed made the last taste just as good as the first. Black fruit, tar and earth. A hint of black olive and cigar box. This has a long life ahead. Can't wait to enjoy the next bottle.

Sorry; this is a 2003. Don't know how I managed to do that. I cannot find how to move it, but will copy and put in the 2003 notes.

  • Handy1 commented:

    12/2/20, 12:28 PM - Was this really the 2019 vintage?

Comment (See all 2 comments)
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