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Comments on my notes

(180 comments on 144 notes)

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Red
1978 Chateau Ste. Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard Columbia Valley
3/5/2011 - hutch wrote:
92 points
Some American Cabs at Roger's (Roger's House): This was the surprise of the night. I haven't had the best experience with aged wine from Washington, and I was shocked to even find a bottle from the '70's from Washington, especially on the East Coast. Upon further research, I found out that the vineyard was planted in 1973, and this may have very well been the first vineyard designated bottling of this wine. So the history is really cool, and finding it is really cooler, but even better, the wine showed quite well. No way I would have guessed this was a wine from Washington nearly 35 years old. This was still quite fresh, mature but showing some red fruits. It's amazing how well this wine showed when you think that it was part of the frontier of wine making in Washington, and the vineyard still endures and produces great wine. The Insignia was undoubtedly the better wine, but this is the wine that makes me so geeked out about wine in the first place. You can imagine the wine maker bottling this wine, which very well might have been the first single vineyard wine of the state. It's exciting to be able to try it all these years later and say "Good Job, and thanks for the wonderful vino!"
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    3/22/24, 4:56 PM - Hutch, nearly thirteen years later, this beauty was still intact. Check out our recent review. Yum!!!

Red
2009 Château Palmer Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend
12/24/2023 - TXRDW wrote:
97 points
Opened one of my two bottles of the 2009 Palmer, big decision given the opportunity cost of a better drinking window. The special occasion was Christmas Eve dinner with my 83 year old mother, who has a fondness for Walmart’s house Merlot. Actually kind of humorous as we started with a 2018 Sherwin Family cab before dinner, which she loved. As we had the pregame wine, the Palmer was decanting for just under an hour and the beef tenderloin was on the grill. Upon the first few sips my mother had a slight preference for the Napa cab, but once I had her pair the two wines with the tenderloin it was a game changer. The Palmer was absolutely amazing. Notes of blackberry & cassis, hints of cedar with a touch of bitter chocolate, the wine was at a different level. End result is that this world now has one more Bordeaux fan, much at the expense of Walmart and their wine department.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    12/26/23, 11:31 AM - Thanks for the great story, and glad to know this is holding up perfectly well... We have one '09 in the cellar. Enjoyed the '10 & '14 with James Sichel at a tasting event at Meadowbrook in Detroit (his & my pic w the '14 is on that vintages CT page.)

    So cool w mom too. We did the same with a 10 year old Penfolds Bin 389 for my mom's bday. As a 4 buck Chuck Girl, she opened her eyes and raised her eyebrows to what a really good wine can be, with that decade bottle.

    So much fun expanding loved one's understanding of what's good.

    Happy Holidays.

Red
1999 Col Solare Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
1/22/2023 - rice2002 Likes this wine:
97 points
Cork was perfect and only penetrated 1/8th of an inch. Color was still bright despite being 24 years old. Minimal decant only to sieve out the sediments that have collected over all this time. Classic Col Solare!
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    1/24/23, 5:32 PM - So glad to read this is holding up so well, RICE2002!

    Grabbed one many years back, and has been sitting in our cellar since, to share with some friends who were married in '99...

    Can't wait!

    Likely this year, we guess.

    Yum!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    11/10/23, 6:23 PM - Just poured and reviewed ours. Lovely vin indeed! Reviews like yours help us to know what to buy and/or when to crack. Thanks!

Red
2020 Migration (Duckhorn Vineyards) Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
7/16/2022 - BergerKing Likes this wine:
90 points
Really nice
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/1/23, 7:28 PM - BergerKing, we too like Migration,... and Bin 389, Bionic Frog, 8 Years in The Desert, Cornerstone. Seems like we have, perhaps, some similar palates.

    Although regular and recent Caymus we have found lacking, and Austin hope is a little bit in that realm...

    We wrote 10 paragraphs on the 2014 Caymus.

    Thibodaux, eh? Thank you for Eric Andolsek. RIP.

Red
2009 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate St. Helena
11/20/2016 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine:
97 points
Simply Amazing !! For me it doesn't get better than Spottswoode Estate. Super dark color, intense extraction and perfectly integrated tannins, acidity with perfect balance. Tremendous full mouth feel and a finish that lasts forever. This is my favorite Napa Cab by far.

This wine did battle side by side with a 2007 Chateau Montelena which didn't stand a chance. The Montelena was a good wine but not great and was truly outclassed by the Spottswoode. Glad I have several bottles left.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/28/23, 4:13 PM - I'm sorry, I just have to ask... you write, to you "it doesn't get any better than this" but then you score two reds higher... What gives? Maybe timing? I didn't look at note dates...

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/28/23, 7:20 PM - Color me shallow. When I check out good folks on CT, I look through notes and list them by score. So, when I checked on your tasting notes, I sorted by rating or score and then highest first. You gave two 98s out:

    To 2009 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoiseur's Series Colbert French Oak Vineyard 887 St. Helena AND to

    2013 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon American Oak Carved & Grooved Alain Fouquet Vineyard 887 Family Reserve St. Helena.

    But, yup, both were years later after this beauty. That explains it. And YES, timing IS everything. If you care to, check out our Bin 707 reviews, in which, yessir, timing was huge.

    Be well.

    Noroc!

Red
2009 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoiseur's Series Colbert French Oak Vineyard 887 St. Helena
5/7/2017 - WineGuyDelMar Likes this wine:
98 points
This is one of the best Napa Cabs I have ever tasted and I've had most of them. Super extraction, perfect balance, acidity and a finish that goes on forever. Wonderful chocolate, spice, vanilla, leather with full, round mouthfeel.

The only reason I didn't give it a higher score is because of the price. This is on the same level as a Spottswoode Estate which is my top dog for Napa Cabs & the one all others are compared to.

Is it worth the price ($175)? It's hard to say. Is it worth it? Yes but at the same time there are others with similar extraction for much less. Darioush, Kobalt, Pride Mountain, Larkmead all come to immediate mind.

I think if you are a serious Napa Cab, limited production fan that you should splurge for a bottle or two and give it a shot. I would be interested in your thoughts. Just don't tell your wife what you paid for it. Every Del Dotto wine I have tried is exceptional. Outstanding producer.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/28/23, 4:11 PM - Just don't tell the wife what you paid for it, LOVE IT!!! Or the ancient Hot Rod parts, or the Breitling, or the two week cruise, or........ Name it!!!

Red
2015 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Iridium Napa Valley
7/2/2023 - wren460 Likes this wine:
92 points
Solid cab. I think the wine is not going to be long lived, I will drink my other bottle soon.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    7/3/23, 8:14 AM - Thanks for the heads up, we have two as well. Maybe drop one this Summer w steaks on the grill... Noroc!

Red
2018 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
5/29/2023 - john thorne wrote:
89 points
There's really no excuse for opening this bottle so young. Little on the nose when it was first opened, dark purple, initially red fruits, cherry and blackcurrant, but a lack of balance of tannins at the moment. A big wine. Day two slightly softer but still very strong with too much acidity. I will try to wait another five years.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/31/23, 5:03 PM - Ha! No excuse. Love it...

    We hold our 389 in the cellar till it hits a decade. We're just cracking our last '13s and after, we'll bring up the 2014 case into the cooler. The comment that you've left simply reinforces the fact that 5 years in is just too young for these beauties.

    Yup, give'm ten..

    Noroc!

Red
2018 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
5/29/2023 - wmccone54 wrote:
92 points
Decanted prior to dinner; it took about 45 minutes for this to open. Perfect with the smoked, pulled pork shoulder, potato salad and macaroni salad. Unfurls with pungent violets, noticeable pencil lead, spicy black currant, juicy blackberry, ripe black cherry, chewy black licorice, creamy vanilla, and oak spice, underscored with emerging bacon fat, black pepper, taut leather, and crunchy earth. Full bodied mouthfeel. Seems to be in the early stages of development. Structural components are present, but it needs more time to completely come together. Strong finish. Drink now with food and decanting or hold and drink through 2033+ .
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/31/23, 4:57 PM - Great description, thanks for sharing! We hold our 389 in the cellar till it's a decade bottle. We're just cracking our last '13s and after, we'll bring up the 2014 case into the cooler. The comments that you've left simply reinforce the fact that 5 years in is just too young for these beauties.

Red
2001 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
4/22/2023 - ddemas wrote:
94 points
Exceptional. Opened two bottle with ribeye steaks. Decanted for 30 minutes. Fruit well integrated and very balanced on the palate. Great finish.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/22/23, 6:34 PM - Glad to hear this is still holding up. Thanks.

    Perhaps we'll crack ours this year...

    Noroc!

Red
2018 Beekeeper Cellars Zinfandel Hidden Hillside Reserve Sonoma County
11/19/2022 - RichEB1 Likes this wine:
93 points
96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah coming from GT Vineyard (56%), Montecillo Vineyard (34%) and Madrone Springs (10%). This is excellent and highly structured Zinfandel Zinfandel that is full of red fruit, pepper, and a long acid-driven finish. Medium + bodied with tannins present, but not overwhelming after a little air. Almost claret style and absolutely delicious now, but with a ton of upside. Hold or decant if drinking now. I absolutely love Beekeeper zin but wish it was priced a bit lower so that i could justify drinking it more often ($85 retail).
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/21/23, 12:30 PM - Sounds delightful. I just saw it for $47.00 so I'll grab a couple...

Red
1999 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 South Australia
1/1/2011 - belfast taxman wrote:
96 points
Wow - talk about leaving the best till last - two bottles on NYE night - tasted very similar although one was heavily sedimented whilst the other was very clean - dark colour with little obvious sign of aging, pine on the nose with underlying hint of chocolate, on the palate there was still a good tannic grip but perfectly in balance - dark fruits but not overtly plummy - excellent length and complexity

Last gasp winner of wine of the year award in our household - simply lovely wine
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/16/23, 5:26 AM - Penfolds Bin 707... Ahhh, vinous perfection!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/16/23, 6:08 AM - We enjoyed our '01s in '14 & '18... You may have seen our reviews... 98 & 95 pts, respectively.

    We STILL talk about that 2014 bottle...

    Don't feel like splurging for the bottle these days, but wow what a wine!

    Noroc!

Red
2013 Beau Vigne Cabernet Sauvignon Cult Napa Valley
3/27/2023 - mvande21 Likes this wine:
95 points
Purple/black. Rich, dense black fruits, blackberries, cassis and chocolate. A powerhouse cabernet. Balanced with grippy tannins and a long, long finish. Paired well with a juicy Delmonico steak. Lots of life left. Plan to open my remaining bottle in ten years (provided I still remain!).
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    4/2/23, 5:38 AM - Hey MVandE21, great note. We just cellared a case of the 2019s. Hope it rocks like your '13. Like you said, if we're around in six to a decade, we'll be blessed to find out! Be well.

    Noroc!

Red
2014 Recanati Wild Carignan Reserve Judean Hills
Get me to a rooftop. Time to once again yell to the masses about the greatness of Recanati Winery. I tell anyone who will listen to look no further than Recanati for consistently good wine across the spectrum of their offerings.

Recanati is the culmination of the dream of Lenny Recanati and Uri Shaked, founded in 2000, and utilizing the proper balance of Old World and New, classic and modern, finesse and power. Recanati and Shaked had the inspiration during a night harvest in 2007 to produce wines focusing on Mediterranean varieties such as their beautiful Wild Carignan. Additionally, they began to produce native Israeli varieties such as Marawi, first commercially produced in 2014, and Bittuni, released just a few years ago.

These Mediterranean varieties are far better suited to Israel's climate and head winemaker Kobi Arviv has become a master at getting the best out of every grape, whether indigenous to Israel or not. Carignan, the focus of this note, can be harvested later in the growing season due to its naturally high acid, allowing for great fruit character with good tannin while maintaining its acidity.

The true greatness at Recanati is the consistency at each price point entry. I rely on great quality from the entry level Yasmin line, both Red and White in each vintage. Priced at just over $10, it's difficult to find better value. The Reserve line showcases precisely what a mid-level priced wine should - quality, depth, beauty. If only this were the case at every winery.

For the first Shabbos of the new Year, I pulled a nicely-aged Recanati from the cellar, the Reserve Wild Carignan, 2014. It was near perfect right out of the bottle. I wouldn't say this is a great impossiblity for an Israeli $30 wine, but it's another feather in the cap of Recanati how great this wine is now.

In the glass, dark red-to-purple. Pronounced nose of jammy, brambly raspberry, pipe tobacco, some smoke and cedar. On the palate, cranberry, raspberry, very nicely integrated fruit showing austerity. The acid is fresh and lively with nicely rounded tannins. Wow. A big winner for me. Beautiful wine showcasing the best of Israel.

$42, 14%ABV, non-mevushal
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    3/25/23, 4:12 AM - Good day, did you see Lettie Teague's WSJ On Wine article today? All on Kosher wines, this beauty was mentioned. Check it out.

    Best to you.

Red
2013 Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve Stags Leap District
This leathery, opaque, peppered, complex juice is going to probably be near epic at a decade! It offered the layered, structured, solid backbone to smooth out the large tannins over time.

Issue for us was, on this night an Anniversary no less (so why not try a Heart Well- right?), the bite never left. Over three+ hours open, the grippy tannin dig was there, in a distracting way.

On the nose this beverage is inviting you to step right in..., big, rich, nearly heavy. It says there'll be a lot to me, I have a lot to say!

We paid "only" $63 each for a few of these on Vivino with a discount, but from what we read we thought it'd punch way above its weight (price) even right away.

And it did.

Give that tannic streak another couple-many years, and this will hit like those aged, cellered RWT Penfolds.

Enjoy, un tre mai ani.

We'll hold our next one for at least that.

Be well.

Noroc!
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    3/9/23, 7:06 PM - CabLover, saw your 97 pointer this month. OK, we'll try our second bottle. Thanks!

    Hope we can find good grapes this time of year and that gorgeous Stilton cheese in our photo...

Red
2017 Edge Hill Mixed Blacks Field Blend St. Helena Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel
Unique blend. Smooth, dark fruits, nicely balanced with a medium-long finish. Drank over the course of 4.5 hrs. Will purchase again
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    2/18/23, 8:44 PM - PatProvost, love your note, and we even scored ours a little higher for the 2014 vintage (and wrote about it on CT)... You mention "will buy again" but gosh, these rare beauties are hard to find, and have nearly doubled in price since we bought our '14s a couple years back. Enjoy if you have more!

    YUM!

Red
1983 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains
3/21/2017 - michigan dogs Likes this wine:
94 points
Amazing old cab at Aureole in Vegas. Probably the only place in the country you can get a bottle.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    2/15/23, 4:55 PM - Hey Michigan Dogs, I just bought part of a cellar and put 2 of these into mine!

    These 2 reviews are amazingly high, but they're from 2017. Hopefully the juice has held up well.

Red
2018 Markham Merlot Napa Valley
4/17/2022 - tenorselbow wrote:
82 points
I really don't like sugar in red wine so my low score may be an overreaction. It may be made for the American palate, which seems to have sugar in all sorts of food (pizza crust?). I think adding sugar to savoury food or dry wine is like adding glitter to a drawing - it might make it stand out but in the end that's the only thing you remember. I'd love to try this wine without the sugar. I think it might be impressive but it's impossible to tell.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    12/19/22, 4:04 PM - I thought you were reviewing Caymus!

Red
2017 Belharra Syrah Las Madres Carneros
4/16/2022 - rbrater Likes this wine:
92 points
This took some time to fully develop on the front palate. Initially there was an olive tapenade feel with a great ripe berry finish. With time on air, the balance on the palates developed. A great wine at an amazing price.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/14/22, 4:03 PM - Vivino right now has this for $25 and I got 6 based on your review. Thanks!

Red
2017 Belharra Syrah Las Madres Carneros
12/6/2021 - WineJ2019 Likes this wine:
91 points
My 2nd try w this wine -> the 1st was a 2018 which was corked and a bummer. This one was really good -> complex, full bodied, long finish, not over the top.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/14/22, 4:03 PM - Vivino right now has this for $25 and I got 6 based on your review. Thanks

Red
2019 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
7/11/2022 - Edeon Likes this wine:
94 points
Big dense balanced wine with no annoying euc. Reasonably approachable now. I'll pass on more at that price, though. Not quite the right value for me.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/6/22, 7:07 PM - Edeon, $41.25 per on Vivino at Yannis right now... Case, w 10% discount price...

    We got 12 at this price. A steal here.

    These beauties need a decade down, we're drinking our 11s & 12 Bin 389s now. Hit at 94+/- points at that age. Awesome!!!

    Noroc!

Red
2015 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri South Australia
8/24/2022 - Romz Likes this wine:
94 points
21082022 - prepared this overnight. Popped, decanted, rebottled and kept back in the chiller. Revisited the next day over lunch. Nose; perfume fruit medley, currant jelly, some mint and violet notes. Palate; shone brightly here - full bodied, balanced acidity with polished & velvety tannins despite its youth. Superb tensile from front to mid and end palate. Lively & very complex finish + pairing with our lamb rack today
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/28/22, 6:48 AM - Sounds 100% yum. When you say "...back in the chiller..." do you mean you put it back in a wine fridge, uncorked? Or did you vacum-vin, or how did you set set that up?

    Thanks.

Red
2017 Cantine San Marzano Primitivo di Manduria Riserva Anniversario 62
Story goes, that 30 years ago 19 growers made a collective to attempt to improve the wine from this region – their rep for ‘bulk wine’ being well known. Now, the group has over 3000 members & this wine tastes bulk like yet again.

The color is suspect here and the nose emits over-baked fruit & spice - but a weird aroma of dill pickles.

Big, jammy, & rustic on the palate, with elevated alcohol, chewy tannins, and a cloying sweet, almost syrupy finish. Might be happy to have this handed to me at a large BBQ, but could not finish the bottle here.

Luca Maroni gave it 99 points? Perhaps…if the scale went to 114.

The special bottles are heavy, and so black that one can hardly tell how much nectar is left. I hate thinking one spent more for the bottle than the wine. Faulted bottle maybe...but not my 'cuppa.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/7/22, 7:28 PM - Thanks for warning us off, KJ.

Red
2013 Cyrus Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain
4/16/2020 - mflesh wrote:
94 points
Tempted to give this a 95 like the other 2 folks. Definitely not one to miss though. This one would be easily passed up by those searching for the big label cabs. Thankfully, there are these really awesome cabs like this for the rest of us. Clone 4 cab grapes, this one has a slightly different rounded character compared to the Dyers and Diamond Creek wines that tend to be a little more raucous. Blackberry and some espresso on the opening. Lots of limestone in the middle as this one dries out to an herbal character to the finish. I still believe this is going to show another dimension in a couple of years which is consistent with my previous rating from 2016. Good now but will be better. Too bad this is my...umm..last one.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/3/22, 9:13 AM - The fact that people will pay $90 for Caymus before $40 for this beauty, is stunning & ridiculous. But, like you say, more for the R E S T of us. Let the lovers feast!

    Noroc!

Red
2012 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
7/25/2022 - cincybt Likes this wine:
92 points
Really enjoyable after a decant. Not a Pop & Pour as it was disjointed after opening. But at 10 yrs it still has a lot of fruit and lovely finish. Sadly my 2 adult sons and a friend drank most of it while my wife and I were cooking. (Note to self: access control!)
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    7/31/22, 4:43 AM - Well, CincyBT, that's probably better than "minor sons" drinking it... lol...

    Enjoy!

Red
2012 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
7/3/2022 - Rote Kappelle Likes this wine:
92 points
Clearly this is going to be a lot about your preferences in wine. It is Penfolds, so there will be big fruit and loads of oak. If you don't like 1970's Boogie, don't go there. Ted doesn't play the synth and this brand is all Wang Dang, Sweet Poontang (although I think the race baiting, misogynistic, wacko right wing identity politics are optional). Let's be clear - I love Boogie, I love guitar breaks, I love wah- wah and I am an unreconstructed swine. I love Penfolds, the wine version of true Boogie.

This is a cooler vintage (relatively speaking) and I am not convinced that Penfolds (or Ben Folds, as I like to call them) have got this quite right. The fruit is plummy and avoids jamminess. There's a nice hint of blackberry and blackcurrant. The acid gives a bit more life than is sometimes the case with Penfolds and all of that is great. What isn't so great is the oak. Actually, the oak is fine, it is the oak on top of the oak and then the additional wall of oak, all seemingly at high char and double live gonzo. But this is more a wine that is in the "Together" (from Free For All) vein than the baroque splendour of, say, "Paralysed' or 'Stranglehold". I really wish they had dialed the oak back a bit - had I mentioned the oak? The thing that is distracting to me is that I hate mocca and pencil shaving oak in my wine. I can live with vanilla and even coconut (just).

This wine has years and years ahead of it but after 2 full days open and sampled from both a Shiraz and a Cabernet glass I am sceptical it will ever fully come into balance. Now, that won't matter if the oak doesn't bother you. It is a quality wine - length goers on forever (or the road goes on forever to quote the Triffids), there's all the intensity you could want and if you have steak with this, cook one extra to feed to the wine, because it will just eat it up. I can't do more than a glass at a sitting but if it works for you all power to your arm (and your Gibson ES335 through a Marshall stack). When Penfolds get it right the wines have a strange balance, but in this wine I think it is missing. "I Loved You So I Told You A Lie"?
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    7/4/22, 12:06 PM - Ahhh, ROTE, what you missed in your brilliant vocals about this decade-beauty vin, it it's all played through the best, high end, A/D/S system ever plugged in. As long as it's racked at least a decade, we hear instruments with Bin 389, not speakers, in its vanilla oak purity.

    And loudly. The instrumentality hammers through Black Sabbath's Heaven & Hell, while the acid backbone vibrates like the bass notes supporting the exemplary composition, in that heavy metal piece.

    Listen,
    Taste,
    and
    Enjoy.

    Noroc!

Red
2016 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer South Australia
3/6/2022 - Marais wrote:
Delicious and fruit forward but very alcoholic and very big. A bit much for this lover of Rhône wines and Bordeaux.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    6/19/22, 7:11 AM - Ah yes, big, bold, buttery reds; like our CT handle says, we especially love Penfolds Aussie broad shouldered Bin 389 as a go to... Give it a decade before cracking, and the rewards of patience are many and rich.

    We have a '07 Velvet Glove in our racks, and look forward to that beauty, maybe even this year!

    Great comments, CT friends.

    Noroc!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    6/20/22, 3:58 AM - OK, we'll hop on a puddle jumper and land in Kyoto, and be on our way!

    Really love to hear, whether that '93 is still fresh, after nearly 30 Big Ones.

    We put birth-year 389s down for our boy's 21st, the closest still a decade away, hoping they hold up for that long...

    Be well. Enjoy those old grapes!!!

    Noroc.

Red
2014 Psagot Peak Jerusalem Mountains Red Blend
11/26/2020 - Dave Mac wrote:
90 points
Excellent surprise here on the road from Jerusalem, the holiness of this wine was evident but not without the sanctity or aura of too many angels singing
The legs are medium. It tastes like black pepper, dill and stoniness. A harp of dill with some floral flutes wafting above in unison.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    6/15/22, 4:31 PM - What a GREAT NOTE, loved reading it. Hopefully some sleepy hedonistic pagan peeps read our notes and enjoy as well!

    Not Divine, but inspired by Truth indeed.

    It spoke to us in a voice not sweet, and we heard no shuffle of Angel's feet.

    A ton of sediment in this Fig Tree vin. 88-89 for we sheep.

Red
2002 Newton The Puzzle Spring Mountain District Red Bordeaux Blend
3/12/2022 - bgriffi1 Likes this wine:
91 points
Really nice. Lots of life left in this one. Hints of eucalyptus and cedar
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/14/22, 1:03 PM - Celebrating 20 years tonight, glad to hear this beauty is holding up!!! So looking forward to it!

    Noroc!

Red
2018 Porta Vita Delle Venezie Rosso Red Blend
1/25/2021 - Motz wrote:
79 points
By swill standards, this would be top end swill. Quite good for cooking though.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    4/3/22, 7:58 PM - Thanks for protecting us at tonight's restaurant. We'll pass on this Swill... LOL

Red
2018 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis Napa Valley
2/14/2022 - The Magician Likes this wine:
93 points
Nose and first tases provide a mix of blue, black and red fruit with ripe cherries taking the lead. That is followed by a perfectly balanced oak flavor with moderate tannins and moderate alcohol. A solid Cabernet Sauvignon.

Served with an Italian Charcuterie board for appitizers with a main course of grilled veal chops with Rosemary butter, saffron risotto and broccoli.

Perfectly met my very high expectations for this wine.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    2/18/22, 1:51 PM - Wow, wonderful Valentine's! Should have posted a photo with that invitingly descriptive meal!!! Thanks for the TN.

    This is a favorite steak wine, with its life, girth and heaviness.

    Enjoy.

Red
2012 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor Puente Alto
2/12/2022 - Iceman503 Does not like this wine:
85 points
Not good. As others have mentioned, price to value ratio is terrible. 85 is being gracious
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    2/15/22, 7:07 PM - Iceman, this must have been a dud bottle. This is grand juice. We've cracked one of our '12 Melchors, in our cellar since Sept 2017... Every 15 minutes it opened more, expressed more, offered more. We should have decanted and aerated for three hours. It was outstanding. To us this is a 93 pointer... Come on by when we crack our second of 6, we'll see if it persuades you! You're a ways away (LOL) but maybe the Ambassador Bridge from Windsor here will be open by then...

    Be well.

Red
2018 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
Master of Wine Konstantin Baum featured a sampling of Penfolds wine in one of his YouTube videos: the 2017 Penfolds Bin 2 Shiraz Mataro. He gave it quite a good review, saying it would be perfect for a holiday dinner as everyone at the table would like it. He also added that, due to its high alcohol content, if you do not like your relatives it can help you get through the evening. Certainly a bonus! This intrigued me, so I sought out some Penfolds at the nearest Total Wine & More. Maybe I should save some for when the relatives come over?

This particular bottle advertises itself as a wine in which “the structure and definition of Cabernet Sauvignon coupled with the richness and depth of shiraz align, courted by the Prudent use of American oak.” Evidently it combines wines from several different regions to include Barossa, McLaren Vale and others. Regarding the 2018 vintage, it states: “Relatively dry conditions coupled with near long-term winter/spring temperatures indicated an early start to the growing season… Warm and sunny weather prevailed throughout spring providing optimal conditions for flowering and fruit-set…Late flowering and the delayed onset of veraison throughout the south-east slowed harvest by a few weeks. The warm, dry weather carried into autumn, setting up an Indian summer with favourable conditions for ripening grapes.” So overall, from the sound of it one can expect big, bold fruit dominating this wine.

Somewhere between a deep ruby and a deep purple in color, this wine is strikingly aromatic and can be smelled even when the glass is sitting on the table. Indeed, it presents a rich nose full of red and black fruits, under which lie an interesting combination of cedar, forest floor and whiskey barrel with a subtle touch of vanilla extract. Upon sipping, one is met with a full-bodied wine with a supple body, medium acidity and beefy yet velvety tannins. The attack offers ample blackberry and black cherry flavors, which are soon joined in the midpalate by quite a bit of black pepper, black plum, and tobacco. These in turn lie over a substrate of oaky vanilla and an earthy note that as difficult to pinpoint. The finish goes on for days! It starts off with ephemeral notes of cocoa, after which the blackberry and black raspberry linger for quite some time, fading gradually into nothingness. After a few sips, a vague menthol character builds up in the finish. Eucalyptus, anyone?

Unfortunately my wife wanted nothing to do with this bottle. I guess I'm enjoying it on my own...oh darn.

This is wonderfully complex! A solid choice and I can see this wine ageing very well; it certainly has the tannin structure to support it. It is, however, quite drinkable right now. But for now, this is a beefy wine that needs your time and attention. Recommend sitting down with it and some aged gouda (I find Old Amsterdam is a good choice). Enjoy!
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    2/7/22, 6:06 PM - Snoot, what a great TN. Thanks for the contribution to CT. You are absolutely correct that Bin 389 is a lay down wine. We don't touch ours for a decade. We just pulled some 2012 up from the cellar, cuz it's just too good to wait any longer.

    Do yourself a favor, and find some aged. Or, if you've got the patience, put some down for ten.

    Enjoy, and keep writing!!!

    Be well.

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    2/12/22, 7:04 AM - The Migration Pinot's from Duckhorn are very well put together and drink larger than a typical Pinot. We have a Center of Effort we might crack this weekend. It has great reviews, but we've never had it...

    Chicago, eh? Go to BINNY'S and try the Moschioni Schioppettino (if you care to, see our review of the '08)... How we wish we were in the Windy City to grab more...

    As to the Penfolds, like our handle indicates, the Bin 707 for us was drinking heavenly juice, created by the Soil God for our palate and noses...

    We got 4 Bin 149's recently, those are Cali and Aussie fruit. 2018, so we'll let ya know how they are in 6-10 years, (or our kids will)...

    Be well!

Red
2018 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
12/14/2021 - Les Raisins Du Aron Likes this wine:
89 points
After watching all of the negative comments here, I feel like for me there is a happy medium. Does the wine lack depth? Yes, the tannins do not distinguish, in my opinion. I get dark berry notes, the typical Napa ones. The only thing, is for me, it wasn't a fruit bomb. Maybe I have drank too many Paso cabs over the years? Probably, but I don't care. For me, this was enjoyable, but I believe you can find a $30-$50 bottle that outperforms this one.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    12/20/21, 4:23 AM - Love the TN. The flavor is good, despite lack of place or varietal. No sophistication or complexity to speak of... But somehow yet still enjoyable. Not a bad $22-$24 bottle. Since it's somehow $70+/- we'll enjoy it as a gift or at a party. Too many better bottles available (in our own cellar) for far less...

Red
2013 Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve Stags Leap District
11/1/2021 - sean7711 Likes this wine:
93 points
Quick notes - bottle opened on a whim Monday night, paired with homemade pappardelle Bolognese to celebrate my birthday after getting home from a long weekend in the Bahamas.

Bottle threw off a ton of sediment. Had a slight burn. But overall enjoyable and think this could be even better in 3-7 years as it has plenty of life in it. It was my last bottle, but well worth the discount I got it for late last year!
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    11/3/21, 5:33 PM - A celebration bottle after a long Bahamas weekend, ohhhh, life's so tuf! LOL!!! ENJOY!!! Good for you. Good review. Yes, a lot of sediment indeed.

    Anyway, your home page says Cali vins, and suggestions...

    Here you go...

    Try:

    Gundlach Bundshu;
    Juslyn Vineyard Select;
    And Palmaz Gaston

    Cali beverages, all.

    You're welcome! LOL

    Noroc

Red
2013 Rodney Strong Symmetry Alexander Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
10/20/2021 - wino121 wrote:
91 points
Unfortunately I can’t remember anything other than it was terrific.
Ugh…
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/21/21, 3:39 PM - Glad to hear it's holding up. A very versatile vin ineed.

Red
2012 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis Napa Valley
10/12/2021 - BBoulais Likes this wine:
92 points
This was my last of 6 and I wish I had waited this long to drink the other as I really think it is now at it’s peak! Velvety, full of currents and plum. We paired it with a fire pit grilled steak and it was magnificent! Merci my friend Rolland L for sharing this great buy with me back in 2015!
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/14/21, 11:41 AM - Our FAV steak wine indeed! Thanks for sharing!

Red
2018 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
10/5/2021 - MCrawford wrote:
92 points
Amazing wine!! All kinds of complex goodness even on first pour. The deep rich color as it poured into the decanter was beautiful. Should benefit from aging the next 5-10 years, but surprising approachable after an hour of air time. Nose has plum and currant fruit with cedar and tobacco under tones. Medium to full body on the palate. Would love to see this vintage pop up again on my wine feed.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/6/21, 5:42 PM - Great note, MCrawford of Wooster!!! We're in the Motor City, just a few 9 irons (ha) NW of you... Perhaps some day our peeps & your peeps'll break bread & crack 10 year old Bin 389s together as well... Your thought of holding 389 is SPOT ON and we're drinking our 11s and 12s now. A decade is when this regularly excellent vin really hits its stride! Keep on keep'n on! We're gonna go read more of your notes, looks like you've got just a few here on CT! LOL! Glad we saw this.

    Be well!!!

Red
2015 Migration (Duckhorn Vineyards) Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
12/18/2017 - Russocaster Likes this wine:
90 points
Opulent red fruit from the start. Warm and rich. Very smooth and drinks easy. Hold for a couple of years to let it settle.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    10/3/21, 9:59 AM - Russocaster, we took your advice and let it settle... Today it's no higher to us than the 90 you gave it back in '17, but it is smooth and tasty. Your note was spot on! We had it w stuffed peppers and home baked bread (and left pics too). Yum.

Red
2012 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
Pretty much everything we have ever come to expect from 389. It is downright nearly an Outstanding bottle. The nose was so rich and opulent, it could a been wine thrice the price. We're so glad we have a full case of this vintage in the cellar.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    5/21/21, 5:55 PM - No doubt a superb vin!!! If you have not yet tried Bin 707, do so... At 15 years, it is beyond magical!

    Ever read about their 1962 Bin60A.?. There's one we wish we could get our hands on...

    Bin 389 was our gateway entry to fine wine.

    Enjoy & be well!!!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/29/21, 8:53 AM - Wow, SRH, those are some amazing Bin 389 scores in the article you shared. Thanks for doing so!

    Keep posting, CT friend!

Red
2016 Orin Swift 8 Years in the Desert California Zinfandel Blend, Zinfandel
Just like me, this is getting better with time. :) Deeper and richer even without food. Raspberry and plum notes. Doesn’t have a big smell. Had with red pepper shashuka sauce. See you for my 40th 😱
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/27/21, 1:52 PM - Is this from the 8 pack gift set for sale a few years back?

    If so, and if you've cracked others from said pack, what's the trend? Anything more to add along with "getting better with time?"

    Always, thanks for contributing!

    Saluti

Red
2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo Nebbiolo
The 2013 for me is a more classic tasting nebbiolo from Barbaresco. Starting to show a brick red colour, great acidity, tannins are softening and the fruit favours are beginning to become more pronounced. Flavours of tar, leather,raspberries and tobacco. There is a dryness on the palate initially from the tannins with only a slight sweetness from the fruit. This is starting to show balance. Opened from the cellar at 60 degrees F. This opens up after the first glass as it warms in your hand and begins to show more weight on the palate and sweetness from the fruit. This becomes a great tasting wine as you let the bottle open up. I will decant or let the next bottle sit for a couple of hours . This will age well.
Tried the left over wine the next day. Softer and way more fruit forward. Excellent
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/25/21, 5:12 AM - Pinot Peter, congrats on being mentioned in Lettie Teague's WSJ On Wine column this weekend. She exactly agreed with your review of this vin - so much so she re-published your review in the WSJ today. Too cool. Now we're going to have to go grab a bottle or two of this 2013!!!

    Keep it up!

    Saluti

Red
2015 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Iridium Napa Valley
6/30/2021 - GQG Likes this wine:
93 points
A lifted, floral nose is followed by red fruit with mocha and notes of oak and graphite that expand over 2 hours of decanting, and there's a nice push across the palate from the acidity. Very round and dusty tannins are well balanced by the red fruit that turns a bit darker over time in the glass. I sorta get why some other reviews mentioned a green element but it's not bell pepper, herbal, mulchy, or anything objectionable for me. Instead it comes across as a part of the "Rutherford dust" kind of, sort of... in a non-descript way... and may be from a fraction of whole cluster grape stems used in the fermentation. The floral nose and the freshness both support my whole stem guess. Anyway, the green element is not strong and will diminish further over time in the bottle.

First bottle for me, sub $100 price, and it's drinking well after a 1 hour decant.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/13/21, 4:56 PM - Great comments folks, sorry we didn't chime in earlier. As soon as we saw the governor's name, it clued us in; as we mention on our CT profile page, we're in Michigan as well and love connecting with cool vin drinkers! Stories, travel, bottles and memories all flow together like decades-long friends!

    As far as this beverage goes, we grabbed a couple bottles from Vivino at about the $90 price range as well.

    For that price we're expecting it to be even more complex and bigger than Penfolds 389. We'll see...

    We were thinking of holding them for much longer, but with these recent CT scores this Summer, maybe it really is in a good spot now.

    Cheers! Hope to meet and share beverages some day!

    Noroc

Red
2018 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 149 Wine of the World USA/Australia
8/28/2021 - LiteItOnFire wrote:
Hasn’t budged one ounce since a coravin 5 months ago. Would hold for min 5 years before even thinking of opening.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/2/21, 8:55 PM - Right on, we don't even look at Bin 389 for a decade. These we thought we'd hold for at least ten... Thanks for the reassurance!

    Noroc!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/3/21, 5:53 AM - Come on now, it's NOT that! You're just anxious to get to some more of your REALLY GOOD stuff!!!!!! As you are fully aware, however, said stuff has its own plans for its development, and those ole grapes aren't on OUR timeline, they have their own... So, "sir, step away from that bottle in the cellar" and just, simply... grab another... Enjoy!

    Lite, let's compare notes on these 149s at the end of the decade... Maybe at the same table while we often winter in Casa Grande, or maybe y'all want to get out of 116° in August...

    Our next expected wow Penfolds is a Bin 60A to crack at 20, in 2024, for some anniversaries... The other one we have, we'll save for the kids college LOL!!!

    Noroc

Red
2004 Shafer Relentless Napa Valley Syrah Blend, Syrah
8/31/2021 - davidandrose Likes this wine:
92 points
Coravan’d 3 glasses the first night, uncorking the remaining 2/3 of the bottle 3 nights later. There’s good fruit to this with a dry, flavorful finish dominated by syrupy graphite, w dark fruit that could one day develop into port but isn’t quite there yet. While this wine delivers a lot of flavor, the finish is disappointingly brief.

As it warms up and breathes in syrah stems, the wine picks up more weight and the finish lengthens, but there’s a negative trade off with a bit more alcohol as well.

Was hoping to to enjoy this even more, I’m pleased w it’s condition after 2 cross country moves
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    9/2/21, 8:52 PM - Glad to hear the bottle's holding up. We have one which we targeted for a next-Spring 2004 anniversary event...

    Thanks!

Red
2017 Opus One Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
8/16/2021 - bsumoba Likes this wine:
94 points
Had at Elway's in Denver for a friend's "Bender in Denver" Bachelor party. Paired with a Petite Fillet. This was open for business. I wonder how well those devices that pour for restaurants do for the wine and if they degrade the wine at all. In any case, my glass was singing. Was it transcendent? Not even close, but went very well with the steak I had. Red fruits galore. This wine carried a soft, feminine feel to it. I almost wanted to give this thing a hug and embrace its motherly like feel. I have a love hate relationship thing with Opus One though. It can be good and it can also be the worst value wine in Napa Valley. Would I buy this for $350? Meh...For $200? Yup!
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/21/21, 11:20 AM - Great stuff MJP & Bsumoba. On 5/20/2018 we left TN for the 2008 Opus One; uninspired it was...

    CSimm is indeed a great oenophile writer, check out some of our vinified notes, if you can't sleep one night. We're gonna check out more of both of your scribing...

    Noroc!

Red
2018 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend, Red Blend
8/2/2021 - mpsocal Likes this wine:
92 points
Excellent stuff, very fruity and tons of flavor.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/5/21, 6:42 PM - Think it's good now? Imagine it in a decade! This is a 10 year racker, for sure!!!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    8/5/21, 9:35 PM - We got a cellar of 12s and random others from 11 to 14... Come on by for a try!!! At a decade, this beautiful 389 juice just begins to show its worth!

    Be well!

Red
2013 Hartwell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve Stags Leap District
2/7/2021 - Mark1npt Likes this wine:
92 points
A nice bottle, no real hint of being 8 years old. Fruit still very strong and dark, color dark, however the nose just a bit restrained overall. Not nearly as perfumed or floral as the bottle of '14 from last week. This'13 seems to be missing something, can't quite put my finger on it. It's very good but a good 2 or 3 points less than the '14 right now. Open to room temp and consumed over 3 or 4 hours with HMC on SB Sunday. It stayed consistent with no drop off over time but didn't improve further either. A very nice wine overall.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    7/24/21, 9:58 PM - Another great review! Thanks for sharing. The follow up comments are terrific assistance as well. This for us WANTED to be more impactful, more memorable, but something was holding it back. Still really good juice, but it seemed to be poised for an epic 93+ yet never got there for us... We'll try the next one in many years to see if it smooths out and into that AMAZING world (and score). Be well.

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    7/25/21, 6:32 AM - Cab, thanks, you say that yet you noted you really enjoyed your '10 in 2021...

    Maybe we're just novice (yup) but we set up these beauties in reference to our Penfolds-love. Bin 389 we don't touch for pertineer a decade. Even Bin 707 Cabernet racks over 15 years for us. And these Hartwells are taking $199.99 per on Vivino today.

    This juice is as well or better built than 389, the punt is deep, bottle heavy, scores high, and all the drinking windows on CT, vintage after vintage, seem to be 6-15 years...

    So, yeah, we'll keep our other two-vivino-bought 2013 beverages (for $63 each) for another year or more each, just to see...

    Maybe you'll come on by in 2023 and try it at a decade!!!

    We're really looking forward to seeing where these go!

    Thanks! Love this site and all the conversations.

    Noroc.

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    7/25/21, 7:49 AM - And hope you dig the pics we added, w our grapes & Stilton cheese, and w our corkboard...

    BTW we also pulled the trigger on those Sterling Iridium bottles for $90 with Viv when we got this Hartwell juice...

    Enjoy, all!

    Noroc.

Red
2001 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
3/16/2021 - brianofthevine Likes this wine:
94 points
Oh wow...right up my alley and still going strong after 20 years. Has a little funk on the nose with red/black cheery and cassis up front. Mostly, though, it has given way to the tertiary notes of leather, tar, earth, and dark chocolate. Still has great structure and balance to the wine with dusty tannins and a wonderful long finish. Great now but can easily go another 5-10 years.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    3/17/21, 7:32 PM - Thanks! Great to hear this is holding up so well. We may join you soon in cracking this 20 YO beauty.

Red
2018 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 149 Wine of the World USA/Australia
Again opened at 10 am and decanted around 5:30 and drank over the course of maybe 4ish hours. Interesting to me since this wine was my clear favorite upon first tastes when everything was a bit tight and still opening in the glass. The 600 and 704 had a greater evolution during the night. Going back to this at last sips and I'm not sure it was giving much more than it gave originally. There is depth there, but it's still quiet and shy and of the three this felt like the one that needs the most aging. Still well structured and more blue fruit in nature and balanced with a kindof woodsy feel to it. We've got two more bottles and will leave them to rest for 10+ (maybe 20) years.
  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    3/6/21, 4:37 PM - Great comments, folks! While we missed the tasting, and have nothing to offer on Bin 149- yet, we were introduced to these wines by an email invite and immediately went searching for them. We put 6 bottles of Bin 149 on order, which we're hoping to see next week.

    With something as "starter" as Penfolds' 389 not being touched by us for a decade, we would think something like this 149 would be glorious after, say, 15+/- years...

    Who knows if we'll be alive that long, but we'll leave them in the cellar for a while... Maybe the kids'll crack em...

    Anyway, two bottles of Bin 60A await, and will hit 20 years soon, so... Those first!!!

    Enjoy your Penfolds! Patience has its rewards!

    Noroc!

  • Bin707LoversDetroit commented:

    3/8/21, 4:41 PM - NO, Coravin a glass and let it air...

    That's what we'd do...

    Well,... realistically, guess we'd just crack the older ones already well simmered in the racks...

    Enjoy!!!

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