Comments on my notes

Red

2016 Tenet Wines Syrah The Pundit Columbia Valley

8/11/2020 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

90 points

Nice value. Certainly intriguing. Not fruit forward at all. Not a very typical WA syrah in that regard. Very, very dark. Peppery. Blackberryish. Some tannins and good acid. Probably better with food.

Kustjagr commented:

3/6/21, 8:30 AM - Same comments, maybe now at 91 instead. And improving still.

Comment

Red

2018 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

2/13/2021 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

90 points

Rock solid WA cab. Dark druit, olives, coffee, oak and a hint of pencil flakes. Promising moderately zippy tannins. Decent acidicity. Obviously still a baby wine but likely with OK cellaring potential for up to a decade. Likely to reach at least 92-93 range over time. Hard to beat at this price point.

Kustjagr commented:

2/19/21, 9:34 AM - There is a bit more to it. Used to live in Sammamish, WA for like 5 years. Visited Charles in Walla Walla many times. But, yes, this is for sale in Europe as well.

Comment (See all 3 comments)

Red

2013 Bodegas Protos Ribera del Duero Reserva Tempranillo

9/6/2019 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

92 points

Hello other raters? This is a standout Ribera del Duero Tempranillo. Just a standout. Old world classiness. Stellar acidicity. No fake oakiness. Well integrated tannins, sophisticated bouquet and earthiness. This is a class act. You rate this below 90 and it just shows that you are a clueless hick. Got a Grand Reserva of this aging in my cellar.

Kustjagr commented:

1/16/21, 8:15 AM - Had another one. What I said before. 92/100.

Comment

Red

2017 Columbia Crest Merlot H3 Horse Heaven Hills

12/6/2020 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

91 points

My default wine in this world. Have had like maybe 20-30 bottles of this vintage. Some 50 in the car still. Want to order more. This is the standard, against which I compare other wines. There of course are far better ones,.but the QPR is phenomenal
.

Kustjagr commented:

12/11/20, 10:02 AM - Car = cellar. Was drunk.

Comment

Red

2015 Tommasi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Corvina Blend, Corvina

12/31/2019 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

93 points

Unmistakably an Amarone. Delightful aromas on the nose. Medium tannins, subtle oak and well rounded fruit. Coffee. Black tea. Hints of chocolate. All well integrated. Not a huge Amarone fan, but have to admit that this beats the Brunello yesterday (Banfi, Brunello di Montalcino 2013).

Kustjagr commented:

6/14/20, 8:45 AM - Another bottle, second what I said earlier.

Comment

Red

2017 Bodega Garzón Tannat Maldonado

8/28/2019 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

90 points

A pleasant surprise. Never had any wine from Uruguay before. This one was a little pushy at first, but on the second day...very nice. Super well rounded and very well developed for such a baby wine. If this has any aging potential, this might be a steal. The fruity is there, yes, blueberry, but not dominating. As are the tannins. Really impressed. This winery was rated THE top new world winery in the New World in 2018 by the Wine Enthusiast. New World of course covering all of the US, South Africa, Australia, South America and so on. This quality, at this price point, at this baby stage for the wine ... I believe that. Try a bottle!

Kustjagr commented:

5/30/20, 7:44 AM - Second bottle. Nicely and affordable. Deep garnet color. Nice tannins and some oakiness. Subtle fruit, dark cherry and blackberry. A little too much towards red fruit fruit, almost like sangiovese, to my liking. But at this price point, an absolute winner.

Comment

Red

2013 L'Ecole No. 41 Merlot Estate Walla Walla Valley

2/17/2019 - Kustjagr wrote:

92 points

Lovely merlot. Have visited the winery in person too. Yummy straight out of the bottle. A bit uneventful on the palate, but the acidic finish with fruit and tannins is a delight. Super solid merlot. Not a fruitbomb. Elegant. Better and longer finish than almost all cabs. Preiswert!

Kustjagr commented:

10/11/19, 10:36 AM - Second bottle. Agree with all I said above.
Kustjagr commented:

3/19/20, 10:52 AM - Third bottle, still agree with the above.

Comment

Red

2016 Substance Cabernet Sauvignon Washington

1/30/2020 - bobadopolis Likes this wine:

92 points

I'm feeling a little euphoric tonight, so perhaps I'm unable to be objective, but I am absolutely loving this wine. Perfectly young, unabashedly fruit forward, but with a modicum of restraint that forces you to take this wine seriously. Well balanced, and there is an underlying earthy backbone that holds everything together. The QPR on this bottle is frankly absurd. I am extremely impressed.

Kustjagr commented:

3/1/20, 6:42 AM - My thoughts exactly. 91/100 for very little money.

Comment

Red

2014 Columbia Crest Merlot H3 Horse Heaven Hills

2/16/2018 - pavinee.paulsness@gmail.com wrote:

89 points

My review is pretty much the same as the fellow from Finland, where could you have so much fun for $10

Kustjagr commented:

1/24/20, 7:09 AM - Amen.

Comment

Red

2014 K Vintners Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard Wahluke Slope

11/19/2019 - citizen1 Likes this wine:

87 points

Agree with prior poster that it needs time to open up. Odd because last time I tried it (over a year ago) I did not think that - perhaps it's in a closed phase?

Kustjagr commented:

1/17/20, 9:20 AM - Had the same exact observation. Going through teenage tantrums on the way to adulthood?

Comment

Red

2013 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese

12/29/2019 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

89 points

As a huge Brunello fan, as a huge Banfi guy and having visited even the Banfi castle repeatedly, I must confess...this one is a little devoid of character. Super well rounded and nicely done. But with no edge whatsoever. The tannins are there, but depth is still missing. No fruit and very little of that Brunello "brownness". Too well rounded for a brunello. Though still beats even the best of Chianti.

Kustjagr commented:

12/30/19, 11:16 AM - A little better on the second day. More accessible. Yet, still missing some character.

Comment

Red

2015 Klein Constantia Estate Red Blend

1/19/2019 - Kustjagr Likes this wine:

94 points

All those centuries of history show. This winery was established in 1685. And you can taste it. Super well integrated tannins, no excess oak at all. The fruit is present, but not offensive. Something complex, like sandalwood. Really long velvety finish. A winner.

Kustjagr commented:

3/22/19, 1:28 PM - 2nd bottle. Also, really nice ... "minerals" actually. Would normally say that for white wine. Truly great value.

Comment

Red

2014 Gran Moraine Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton

12/17/2017 - TheMounty Likes this wine:

87 points

Good fruit, nice mouth feel, a little flabby. Good but forgettable, non-descript.

Kustjagr commented:

1/6/18, 10:49 AM - Forgettable was my operational word too.

Comment

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Search

Report a Problem

(14 comments on 13 notes)

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Kustjagr commented:

Search

Report a Problem

Your report has been submitted!