4/22/2024 - unc0rked wrote:

Was hoping for better. The fruit was not bright, tannins not silky smooth. Finish was rather astringent with a prune edge. At 15 years, I truly doubt this wine has more to show. If it were blossoming, I would see hints by now. I have another bottle so here is hoping to bottle variation. Disappointing St Emillion. I detected no merlot in this wine although obviously it is there. Stored in a stand alone cellar since arrival.

4/3/2024 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Great wine. With nice tangerine and cantaloupe notes. Good acidity. Definitely not your creamy Chardonnay but still nice mouth feel. The fruit takes center stage here and it really delivers. Nice lingering finish. Not sure if it was the 5 years of aging but I am glad I waited!

3/24/2024 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Tasted this in 2020 and the notes are very similar: Nice Napa cabernet with good structure and core dark fruit. Just a bit of heat on the slightly velvet finish that took about 2 points off. The tannins were shed and this wine seem to be drinking nicely. Still very youthful. A short decant but I do not think the heat goes away with a longer one.

3/2/2024 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Turley zins are consistently good but everyone once in a while, Turley hits one out of the park. Hard to predict so next year may not be as extracted. This wine has gorgeous plum and violet accents. The fruit bursts from the bottle but it is not all jammy or overripe. The balance is there and reminded me of Uberroth in other great years.

2/17/2024 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

3 hr decant. At 2 hours, the wine had gorgeous fruit but the finish had some edges of age. At 3 hrs, the wine was completely different. It took on weight and became full bodied. Nice mouthfeel with dark cherry fruit, nice finish. We enjoyed it with a filet at the 3hr mark. But by 5 hrs post decant, the wine became a tad less enjoyable. Overall a beautiful wine at 24 years. Feel fortunate that it showed well.

1/20/2024 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Wow. I had 3 bottles of this wine and drank all 3 in the last eight months. The 2013 vintage is one to drink sooner than later. The first two bottles tasted fine but nothing to write home about. This 3rd bottle was a whole different league. It really drank nice, no edges of age showing at all. Not disjointed like the other two. I still say to drink this bottle and hope you are lucky to have something like my 3rd bottle.

6/3/2023 - unc0rked wrote:

Dont get to drink too many Pomerols. Obviously not a great vintage but the wine was solid although not overly complex. Fruit seems singe dimensional but the start to finish was solid. Nice velvety feel on the palate. I have 2 more bottles. Better to drink sooner than later.

12/22/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Drank this wine last in 2020 and it is still going strong. Nice dark color and fruit, smooth and velvety on the palate, sweet long finish. This was a well made wine. The maturity of the wine must be on a nice slightly downward slope. 3 hr decant. Which is my standard lately after a visit to Bordeaux 2 years ago.

11/10/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Held this wine for 17 years or so. Enjoyable wine but its showing its age on the edges. 3 hour decant. Still, nice and round on the palate. Mid-palate, a bit earthy. Hard to describe. Maybe the tannins did not mature as gracefully as other Bordeaux. But is a $50 Bordeaux.. All in an all, I am very glad I opened it up. I tasted it previously in 2018 and wrote that it had many more years ahead. Not so sure anymore.

11/11/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nicely balanced with great acidity. More angular than round. Very enjoyable bottle with cedar plank salmon. Nice finish. Not on the creamy style. Plenty of life left.

9/15/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Enjoyed immensely with nice cabernet character and dimensions. Dark color and aromatic nose. Drank young so no rush but I think its drinking at its peak. I have enjoyed the same vintage in the past. I think this bottle was a bit better than the others.

8/4/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Big fan of Ramey chardonnays like many other people. This one has nice gorgeous fruit. Sweet long finish. Just a delight on the palate. Alchohol of 14.5% was nicely integrated. I would love to hold on to these wines longer but they take up sooooo much space in my free standing cellar. I have a 2005 Ramey Hudson that just sings so one can wait a while before opening. I think this wine will continue to evolve over the next 5 years.

6/4/2023 - unc0rked wrote:

Decanted a good 3 hours. Initially, showed very nice fruit but with a bit of mustiness. Eventually the mustiness went away but with edges of age on the finish. I was able to drink it very nicely during dinner. But with a few more hours, the wine faded. Sadly, this bottle did not make it past its 20th bday very well.

4/8/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Wow. This was one of the best zinfandels I have had in recent history and I drink a decent amount of zinfandel! Dark fruit, rich and fullbodied with a long sweet finish. So well balanced, there was no heat anywhere--the alcohol was finely integrated. On the palate, it was just rich with a velvety weight to it. Plums but not too much which can often take away from a good zin. I would say it is in a nice drinking window. I should have bought a case. I just bought two. Which means I have another one!

2/12/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Impressive fruit. I was expecting not much based upon other past reviews, but this cab is nicely concentrated and good focus. Fairly well balanced. Perhaps a touch of heat on the finish but easy from beginning to the end. I think it is drinking at max peak right now but expect to hold on for another few years. I have two other bottles so I am hoping they are all equally good.

2/10/2023 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Opened at restaurant with no decant. Nice color with bright fruit. Velvety tannins, decently long sweet finish. Nicely balanced and showing well. I think it is drinking well now but perhaps might shine more with a few more years. Everyone loved the wine!

11/14/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice Napa cabernet with good structure and core fruit. Just a bit of heat on the slightly velvet finish that took about 2 points off. The 2010 also seems to have this bit of heat. Decanted 3 hours plus. In the glass at 5 hours, it really started to sing. I do not think the heat will dissipate with time so rather than let the fruit fade with more age, I think its best to drink it sooner than later. Still, the bottle came across as youthful to me.

6/6/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice bright, tart and racy chardonnay. Do not expect a buttery full bodied experience. It is more vibrant and citrus. With time in the glass, as it warmed up, it became better and better. I did decant it and kept it on ice. I only got one glass. Need to research my bottles better before opening them up for company! :)

6/4/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Excellent cab. Decanted it 3 hours. Nice core fruit with great depth and balance. It drank like a 3 digit cabernet. Nice long sweet finish. Plenty of life left although I think it was at peak. I would expect a gentle slope downward but probably very nice over the next 5 years. If you have a bottle, no rush to open it.

5/29/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice wine. Long sweet finish with dark jammy fruit. Very well balanced as most Ridge Zin's are. Nice mouthfeel on the palate. I would say it is drinking very nicely and has quite a bit to go before any edges appear. Seemed very youthful.

4/29/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Decanted 3 hours. It showed well with impressive youth on the fruit. It really shined. Improved in the glass over time. Tannins shed. Sweet, pleasing finish. No edges to speak of. Nice color and no signs of aging that I could see. Will it improve? I leaning no but I have another bottle and may wait till its 20. At 16 it is drinking wonderfully. It was a very pleasurable wine perhaps not too complex but it delivered!

4/17/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

This wine surprised me. I thought it may have been past its prime but after a 2 hour decant, the glass showed nice hints of cherry and strawberry. Nicely balanced through the finish. A joy to drink. No signs of age that I could see. I bought this at the winery and remember enjoying it during the tasting.

3/24/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Brought this to restaurant so got to enjoy the wine as it decanted. Initially, a bit of heat got in the way but within an hour, the wine turned more balanced with a nice velvet mouthfeel. Solid cabernet with great color. Noticeable and enjoyable bouquet. Long finish! Drank this last in 2018. After 2 hours, the wine was even a touch better. Feel there is plenty of life left over the next 3 to 5 years.

2/6/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Ueberroth is my fav Turley and am very familiar with its profile. This one had concentrated fruit but it danced with being over ripe as in prunes or raisins. Someone below also commented on this. I am hoping with time, this flavor may re-balance. I have 5 left and will enjoy seeing how this wine evolves. I was not able to decant so next time I hope to do so!

1/24/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Solid Rhys Pinot Noir. Decanted over 2 hours. Soft and smooth on the palate, nice red fruit with bright acidity. Not overly complex. I tried to search for other dimensions in the wine but continually came back to just enjoying it. I have another bottle and plan to wait a year. I think it would be safe to wait another 2 to 5 years but doubt it will noticeably improve.

1/8/2022 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Decanted 3 hours which I recommend. A beautiful wine with absolutely no flaws. Nothing to nitpick at all. Nice dark fruit, smooth and velvety, full bodied with a long finish of fruit on the palate. I know the vintage was not great but this is a great example of a very accessible wine drinking at its peak. No edges or hints of age yet. I would say to drink this wine in the next few years however. Full disclosure: I have been drinking la Gaff for 30 years starting with 1990. One of my favorite affordable Bordeaux wines!

12/24/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Decanted a full 3 hours and the wine showed great! The highlight of the wine is the beautiful fruit with a very long sweet finish! The wine had nice focus and was full bodied. I drank an 05 in 2019 and those notes are below. This bottle was noticeably better due to the finish—i think a result of decanting longer. The wine seems at peak now but I bet will continue to drink well for another 3 to 5 years!

11/13/2021 - unc0rked wrote:

With a 3 hour plus decant this wine had a good beginning but the end faded with not such great notes (astringent). Should have drank this 5 years earlier. I would say drink this sooner than than later. Stored in a Eurocave wine fridge since 2003 when I it was released. Tried it the next day and no better.

11/13/2021 - unc0rked wrote:

First time drinking a Ridge MB. Decanted it more than 3 hours. Harmonious. smooth, velvety, with a long sweet finish. Very Bordeaux like. I have heard that MB is a bit different and then I realized why. It is the plum overtones that set this cab blend apart. It is very well done though. I think this wine is at its peak with a very slow downward curve for many years to come. Definitely not a baby unless stored in a larger format bottle. I have another one left!

9/25/2021 - unc0rked wrote:

Nice color and terrific nose. A bit of heat on the finish at first but mellowed after decant of an hour. Probably would have benefit from a longer decant but we were at restaurant. Nice velvety feel on the palate. Dark fruit. Tannins all gone. I think this wine is solid for another 5 years or so. Definitely ready to drink at 16.

5/30/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

My score seems high but it really drank well. Great color, nice cab fruit and structure. Soft tannins with a pleasing finish. I have had Sojourn cabs before and they always seem a bit disjointed. This one really sung and had a nice elegance to it for the price. I think it is drinking at its peak right now.

5/29/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

I am an Uberroth fan boy and its my fav Turley vineyard. But this 2017 was a bit lighter than previous vintages. Enjoyable enough with nice strawberry fruit but not quite the fireworks I often associate with this vineyard. I have another 2017 I think and plenty of 2018s.

5/29/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice cherry notes. All tannins shed. Nice round body with a pleasing finish that showed some edges of age. I think the wine is fully matured and just started to its downward trend. I would drink this wine sooner than later. Max 2 more years unless you enjoy wines with age like notes.

3/25/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Great cabernet as I expected with Paul Hobbs! Great color and depth of fruit. Nice long smooth finish. Balanced, full bodied, and structured. My only nit would perhaps not the laser focus of an awe shattering cab but then the score would be higher. I was tempted to go with 94 but I liked the cab too much! This was BYOB for gf's bday so no real decant. It drank well despite.

Tannins were shed. I would suggest that the wine is drinking very nicely now and for the next 5 to 7 years. Then it would start the gentle downslope. I was supposed to have six but only snagged two. I will drink my last one perhaps another year or two from now.

2/26/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice core fruit and a very enjoyable wine. Alcohol was well integrated which is typical of Turley zins. Nice red fruits. I imagine it might improve for another 2 years and then hold steady.

2/14/2021 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Excellent Pinot. Drank it way too young. Just starting to learn about Dumol wines. Great concentration and focus with nice dark fruit. Well balanced and polished. I forgot that it got a perfect score from Dunnuck and drank it too early. Will be buying more from Dumol in the future.

12/6/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Drank this in August of 2020 as well with notes below. Will not repeat necessarily. Good bordeaux, drinking nicely with nice depth of fruit. The wine is not as harmonious or silky as a better Bordeaux or from perhaps a better vintage. Not likely going to evolve further but capable of drinking well for the next 3 to 5 years likely.

11/28/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Wow. Did not decant due to lack of decanter at the house of consumption, but this wine continued to impress me with the purity of fruit, good focus, and sublime finish. It threw a nice sediment in my glass. I would gauge that the wine is drinking at its peak but will continue to reward for another 5 years without showing any decline whatsoever. Tannins were sweet. This wine definitely outperforms its classification (or lack of one:)). I purchased 4, got 3 left. I cannot wait to drink it again with better glassware and a decanter.

11/26/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Did not use a decanter but opened for an hour or longer. As hoped, this had nice cherry and strawberry overtones with no sharp edges. All tannins have mellowed out. It was a very pleasant wine to drink, sip and enjoy. Not overly complex and the finish although nice was not exceptionally long or notable. I would say this wine was drinking at its peak a few years ago and now gently sloping downward. I am sure you can wait another 2 to 3 years before you are rolling the dice.

10/20/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Great concentration of fruit. Dark fruits, mostly plum. Tannins were soft but slightly fuzzy on the palate. Considerable amount of sediment. This wine seemed very youthful. No rush to open it up although I think it is drinking splendidly now.

8/15/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Angelus is my favorite wine, hands down. I opened this up for a special occasion at an Airbnb with my gf, so not the best controlled situation with glassware and all. I did decant it but it had a nice 3 hour bumpy car ride hours before. Typical Angelus fruit and smoothness with a nice sweet finish. Solid body. A bit earthier or smokier/dense that I prefer and used to--which I attribute to lackluster vintage. After 2 hours, the wine did not improve so a shorter decant is probably best here. Drink this wine sooner than later.

8/20/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Solid Bordeaux. Not the greatest vintage of course but this is the type of Bordeaux that can turn on a new wine drinker to the region. Vibrant silky fruit, nice color, smooth tannins, nice finish. No flaws to really speak of. I do not see this wine evolving further but I would imagine it will continue to drink well for the next five years. It was drinking well immediately after opening and continued to get better within the first hour. It did not need a long decant.

7/29/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Velvet on the palate but felt the tannins never truly resolved as the wine was not linear in focus. Almost a bit briary. The finish was short and not too complex. All in a all, a nice bordeaux with dark fruit that still has some life left but I doubt it will improve. Would drink now and the next few years.

7/27/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Drinking exceptionally nicely. Nice body and fruit. Good balance, refreshing finish. Had this on a hot day and later at home. It is a beautiful zinfandel drinking I feel at its apex. Drink up!

7/17/2020 - unc0rked wrote:

Not drinkable. It did not seem corked to me but the color was light and fading. The fruit never appeared. Perhaps it was oxidized but the cork looked good. If you have this in your cellar, I would pop this yesterday! Do not wait. I purchased the wine at the winery and it has been in my Eurocave ever since. Oh well.

7/14/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice wine, mouthfeel with good concentration of fruit with citrus overtones. Bright and racy wine. I would have scored this a tad higher but the finish was almost too tart. The wine was drunk at a BYOB so no decant and it came up to temperature over time. I think the finish improved by end of dinner. Not that buttery or creamy which I do prefer in my chardonnays. Well balanced, oak was not pronounced as I prefer it.

6/4/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice Napa cabernet with good structure and core fruit. Just a bit of heat on the slightly velvet finish that took about 2 points off. The tannins were shed and this wine seem to be drinking nicely. It may improve over the next five years but I bet it is close to maximum enjoyment. Have 5 bottles left so going to drink another bottle a year from now.

5/17/2020 - unc0rked wrote:

Full disclaimer I am not a huge Pauillac fan. Decanted this wine over a 2 hour period. Nice fruit but I detected some edges and by no means was the wine smooth and velvet-like on the palate. I would have rated this 88 to 89 but bumped it up a bit to account for my unfavorable Pauillac bias. More time might help but alas, I have only 2010s left. I imagine that vintage is more accessible.

5/17/2020 - unc0rked Likes this wine:

Nice Bordeaux that is drinking at a mature state. Waiting any longer will not improve this wine. Every bit of the 2 hour decant helped it along. I had it alongside a 2009 Bordeaux Clerc Milon and by end of night was eclipsing that wine. Nice blackberry accents, velvet-like finish. The fruit was there but very subtle. Definitely past its apex and on the nice slope downward. So I would drink this wine sooner than later.

5/2/2020 - unc0rked wrote:

A nice chardonnay from one of my fav producers. Not as rich or full throttle as previous chards. More subtle, nicely balanced with tart flavors on the finish. Great mouthfeel, nice acidity, and definitely satisfied with overall quality. I would say the wine is not going to improve. I think I drank it at the top of the apex.