6/19/2022 - sbbulldog wrote:

Fathers day selection. For my tastes, I loved it, Rate? 93. At first it could have been almost any grape. With air, the lineage became more clear. Very nice blend, Bothe power and fruit.

12/14/2019 - sbbulldog wrote:

Dry to the point of sour. So disappointing. I'm leaving it in the decanter and saying a little prayer. Day 2 was no better. Unlike almost all Stolpman

11/28/2019 - sbbulldog wrote:

I'm guessing that this Lauren has been about a dozen years in bottle. And yet, it seemed young with basic but not extravagant profile. I've enjoyed may Aubert Chardonnays over the years and the Lauren has usually been my favorite. The oak was quiet, the grass was barely noticeable and yet the balance was serene. Frankly, it could have been steel aged.

10/12/2019 - sbbulldog wrote:

A wow wine experience. Fruit dominates but there is a backbone. Wish I had a gas! Fantastic as a sub for a young Bordeaux with braised duck sumo.

9/5/2019 - sbbulldog wrote:

The color is off a bit to the orange side but the fruit is fresh. It does not come across as hot, despite the high ABV. I hope I have some more in my cellar! Aubert takes a fair amount of battering, I suppose from Burg aficionados. It's not Burgundy but it is drinking very well right now.

8/4/2019 - sbbulldog wrote:

Sad corked and reductive.

12/26/2018 - sbbulldog wrote:

Credible wine for a small group Christmas prime rib dinner. Deep purple color, spicy and chocolatey finish.

7/16/2018 - sbbulldog wrote:

Really ready o go. Delicious, vibrant, and rich. Borderline plush, berry packed, long finish.

6/15/2018 - sbbulldog wrote:

Backbone tannins indicate a long future. Never the less, a wonderful wine right now with a careful decant and enough air. Great way to celebrate a 30th. At Pane e Vino, the hands down best restaurant in Santa Barbara.

7/23/2017 - sbbulldog wrote:

I'm guessing that storage accounts on the different reviews of this Bordeaux. I found it quite typical, fresh, alive, and more than just "quaffable". Then again, it was purchased on release and impeccably stored since.

6/30/2017 - sbbulldog wrote:

If I want Burg, I'll buy Burg. Nice but not great. Ripe fruit, almost pruney but the tartness of acid keeps it in the range. Like not love. Maybe a Christmas wine.

5/10/2017 - sbbulldog wrote:

Totally exceeded my expectations. Dark blood red, fruit compote nose, and berry/slate/graphite palate with a very long finish. I have one other. Could enjoy now, but expect several more years, even if it may not get better. Great now!

3/21/2017 - sbbulldog wrote:

Young and beautiful to the eye (dark and royal), nose (rich berry with violets), and palate. Soft tannins and long finish. 93-95

6/30/2016 - sbbulldog wrote:

Dark in color, full dark fruit nose. Everything falls into place including a long finish. Lots of dark fruit and firm back bone.

6/5/2016 - sbbulldog wrote:

Took a little air to open to a rose scented nose. On the palate, it is a Goldilocks wine, not to big on fruit (but it's there in spades, and not too acidic. In other words, balance and beautiful. Loving it.

6/2/2016 - sbbulldog wrote:

I'm finding this lower alcohol wine fresh and young. Kirschy cherry on the nose, opaque dark purple, way more fruit forward than I expected, and a slightly astringent but not unpleasant long finish.

1/3/2016 - sbbulldog wrote:

Amazingly fresh, full of dark fruit, resolved tannins, and nice finish. A complete surprise!

11/17/2015 - sbbulldog wrote:

Still rocking'! Plush, mouth coasting, intense cherry, nice tart edge to an otherwise sweet character.

11/13/2015 - sbbulldog wrote:

Dark color follows through the tasting profile. A winner at first whiff. Dense, almost granular, but chocolatey cherry goodness abounds. Tight initially but evolves in the glass to reveal lots to like. Long finish.

8/9/2015 - sbbulldog wrote:

Definitely black in nose. Fruity, grapey, but delicious.Nicely balanced, hint of tannins that fades away with air, long finish. Alcohol is a tad noticeable.

4/19/2015 - sbbulldog wrote:

A pretty great wine. There is some controversy due to multiple releases. This was from the first. Fruit, grip, finish, it's all there. I don't know how you discern one release against another. but this one was a delight.

3/1/2015 - sbbulldog wrote:

Just where it ought to be, no sharp edges, pure, soft tannin, fruit, black cherries of course, but something extra, red fruit

11/17/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Exceeded my expectations. Live fruit, mellowed tannins. Finally!!!!

10/3/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Nice.

9/7/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Not over the hill, but I wouldn't advise a decant. Pop and pour. Intense black fruits and chocolate. Lingering finish, with a hint of licorice/charcoal. Prime bone in ribeye ready to go!

8/1/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Wonderful blend magically showing the best of both grapes. Deathbed request. Double yum.

7/13/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Still rocking'. Lots of elegant fruit. Cherry nose, grainy, kirschy, long finish.

6/21/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Held up well. Plenty of fruit, a little funk but more than I expected. Oddly tart given the dark fruit, and a bit of not unpleasant bitter. Long, lingering, finish. Still, it's probably now or never!

5/7/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

My nose is weak but this broke through, wonderful black cherry, spiced only slightly. This was like drinking silk, sweet cherry jam, lingering finish. I probably drink more Dehlinger than anything else, so I believe that I can discern the different bottlings pretty well. Just had the 04 Estate a few days before, and, while lovely, it was a bit long in the tooth, kirsch. This Goldridge held up well overnight and it was bittersweet to finish it. Just spectacular.

5/2/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Maybe I'm just a Dehlinger cheerleader, but I love this. The '04 is a fully matured gem. The color is deep purple and opaque. It's probably my nose, but it isn't giving up much, which then leads to a gorgeous medley of fruit flavors, mostly dark, kirsch, and baked. Just wonderful.

4/7/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

These get better. Northern area, Demuth, is home to some great vines. Still a more tart Pinot, with good aromatics and a young affect. Red berries, good acid, hard to imagine that these Adrian Fog wines ever die.

4/7/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Full on color. No bricking. Seductive nose, primarily black fruits, but briary. Smooth, resolved tannins. Not over the hill. Wish I had more.

3/19/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Surprise, I'm alive...and well. Burgundian style with a bit of a kick for a finish. Beautiful bouquet of red fruit, followed by a balanced palette, but an odd, almost chocolaty finish. Sadly, last bottle but better than those consumed before.

3/15/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Much younger than I expected, huge sweet and spicy nose. Firm tannins holding outrageous fruit in place. Medium finish. I look forward to the next opportunity to try 1147.

3/9/2014 - sbbulldog wrote:

Solid color, great balance, reticent nose (maybe my equipment) but the flavor and mouth feel are wonderful. Kind of a cross between clear Jolly Rancher fruit and that serious grip. All I can say is that it is hard to imagine that it could get much better. Loving.

11/24/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

Rich in fruit but low in acid and alcohol. Wish I purchased more!

9/21/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

Shared with Table 18 in Ojai last night. Alive, alive-o with spritely acidity after all these years. No notes at the time but there was plenty of stuff left to like. No one would have guessed the age.

8/25/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

Surprise! Beautiful garnet color, reticent nose but there is some red fruit and a bit of cinnamon there. Silky mouthfeel, cherries, bramble, a bit of granularity and a little espresso on the long finish. I had no idea this wine could reward extra patience.

8/17/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

Deep purple color, beautiful cherry nose, if a bit muted and an explosion of red and black fruits on the palate. Not tired, last one, though.

7/23/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

I gave this an extra point because it improved in the freezer! We enjoed this in the winery, when it was you, sharp, and tannic. It was hiding some dark fruit. Opened it a year and a half later and found that it had rounded and softened. The fruit was there, decent red and black cherry on the nose, but none to exciting. I stuck the remaining half bottle in the freezer and thawed it yesterday. I don't know what happened, but it emerged better than before, more fruit on the palate and quite enjoyable with some Copper River salmon.

6/30/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

Wheezy, breezy fruit, faded, but fragrant. Fairly bland pallet but not gone. Solid, not vibrant, muted but enjoyable. Frankly, finding this buried in the cellar I had no expectations but it was quite serviceable with halibut tacos and very mild homemade salsa.

4/20/2013 - sbbulldog wrote:

Reticent nose, some red candy, bountiful mouthfeel, strawberry, cola, black cherry, very smooth, long finish. In balance. A delight.

12/8/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

Still rocking after all these years. Not giving up much fruit on the nose, but the color is still youthful. All elements in harmony and nothing stale. Just soft fruit, medium finish, impressive under the circumstances.

12/2/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

A somewhat briary nose led up to a potent melange of red and black berries, well balanced and long finish. Yum.

11/13/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

Enjoyed with mushroom pasta. Light color, hard candy nose, sour cherry taste with some sparkly notes. Pleasant, long finish. Should be over the hill, but isn't. I'll sample the second half tomorrow.

11/11/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

Solid, dark color: no bricking. Not what I would call an expressive nose. A subdued palate on a silky, smooth backdrop. Blackberry, some chocolate, and yet at the same time, Bordeaux like. Very nice if not memorable.

11/3/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

Rockin juice. Still there after all these years. Viscous, tropical, and long. I think this is the last of them. Sniff.

10/14/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

At the zenith still. Drink rather than regret. Fully resolved and elements (including alcohol) in check. Full of fruit briery, black and sweet. Wonderful with daube.

9/28/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

Surprise! Not at all dead, even if there is a little bricking. Expressive nose, promising somewhat more than it delivers...but...tannins fully resolved, yes, maybe some will find a bit of bitterness, but I found plenty of mellow black fruits which paired really well with lamb chops and had a very nice finish. Shocked but pleased.

9/19/2012 - sbbulldog wrote:

From magnum. Not much on the nose but drank more like a Santa Barbara Pinot. Big, sweet, red cherry. Served with 3 other opened bottles at a dinner party with 12 guests, everyone switched to this until the bottle was dry. I was shocked, as I expected AF funk and earth and got Cherries Jubilee instead. Nice, long finish, to boot!