4/3/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Decanted off fair amount of fine sediment. From auction, cork in very good condition. Slightly dusty nose. Dark fruit, blackcurrant, with just a bit of earthy barnyard and leather. A bit claret like, not exactly old, but lacking a bit in intensity. Drinking well for a basic Bordeaux of this age, I enjoyed it, but I suspect it is fading. Drink now.

4/2/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP. Drank over the evening. Blueberry, raspberry a bit of bramble and vanilla. Full bodied, low tannins, enough acidity to provide some drive to go with the voluptuous flavors. 15% ABV, well managed, only a little heat on the finish.

4/1/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP, needed 30 min to open up and blow off some of the matchstick. Lemon, pear, green apple and a hint of honey. Very crisp, medium- body. 13% ABV. Drinking nicely.

3/30/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP, followed over the night. Open from the get go, cassis, plum, sweet tobacco. Early maturity, slightly chewy tannins, nice acidity. Maybe not made for old bones, but very enjoyable now and over the next 5+ years.

3/29/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

From auction. PNP. Blackberry. Black cherry. Cocoa. Chewy tannins. Medium acidity. Well made in the modern style.

3/29/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Much better showing than the previous bottle. Nice red fruit, balanced with background earthy notes. fresh acidity, enough tannin for structure, but ready now.

3/28/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Splash decanted. No formal notes, nice weekday value wine, in the leaner style of 2014. Dark fruit, bit of a rustic character.

3/29/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Jan ‘18 disgorgement. 100% Pinot Noir, 4gr/l dosage. apple, strawberry. A bit richer and more brioche than I was expecting, with nice acidity and minerals to balance.

3/17/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Splash decanted off small amount of sediment. Cassis and blackcurrant, some earthy tobacco. Comes off a bit rustic, medium+ acid and chewy tannins. Drinking well now but no rush.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

tropical grapefruit and melon. Perfectly fine, but I think slightly past peak, missing a bit of freshness and energy.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Decent, but surprisingly advanced and muted, especially compared to the brilliant 2005. I suspect poor storage.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Past prime, perhaps flawed. Lovely aromatics, and early attack, then went thin and flat by the finish.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Very nice wine, a bit on the bigger side, but deftly made and flat out delicious.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Wine of the night, besting the brilliant 2005 Clinet. Perfect aged BDX, lovely aromatics, perfect balance of ripe red fruit, earthy notes, silky mouthfeel and enough acidity for lift.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Nice wine in the luncheon claret category.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Not surprisingly, best wine in a flight of 2000, 2005, 2012 and 2019 Clinet. Very early maturity, with the lovely fruit complemented with background earthy notes. Drink now and over the next ten years with short decant.

3/16/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

No formal notes. Good stuffing, but so young, will be great in 10+ years.

3/9/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

Lemon, green apple. Nice acid and minerals, balanced by buttery notes in the background, adds a bit of creaminess to the mouthfeel. Straightforward, refreshing and delicious.

3/1/2024 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP. Library purchase from winery. raspberry cherry pomegranate, a bit candied. Really digging the blend, the 12% Viognier adds nice floral elements and lift to the traditional GSM varieties. Ready to go, fully resolved, still mostly on the fruit side of the spectrum. I think Larry is one of the more interesting winemakers in CA, and this shows me his stuff can age too. Drink now and over the next five years.

2/23/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP. Very similar to the 2020 last year. Aromatic, ripe fruit, stone fruit and some tropical fruits. Lychee and some honey. Medium+ body with nice acidity. Yum.

2/22/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

1st of 2 bought at auction. Pristine, soft cork. Splash decanted off minimal sediment. Nicely aromatic. Black cherry. Raspberry, cola, cloves and some earthy notes. Comes across as a bigger wine, full bodied, glycerin with some heat on the finish. 30% new oak, 14.9% ABV. Drink now and over the next five years.

2/10/2024 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP. Ripe tree fruit, pear, apple, lemon. Just a hint of honey. Medium+ body, mouthwatering acidity, this is the first SVD Chardonnay I’ve had from R-M and I really like the increased tension and focused flavors. 13.8% ABV. Definitely a cut above the Sonoma county in quality, but also in price.

2/9/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

From auction, pristine cork. Decanted off small amount of fine sediment. Cherry, raspberry, bit of blackberry on the aromatic nose. Same on the palate, along with cigar notes. Still comes across somewhat youthful, as in the fruit is still primary, but the tannins are resolved and silky. Nice acidity rounds out a delicious, energetic wine. Ready now, no rush.

2/2/2024 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

Decanted off sediment. First of five bought at auction. Perfect cork. In a delightful spot. blackberry and blueberry, some white pepper. The fruit is perfectly ripe, yet elegant, and well balanced with notes of black olive. Fresh acidity, but not crunchy. Tannins fully resolved. I expect this will last another 5-10 years, probably at peak for me.

2/1/2024 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP followed over the evening. From auction, 1st of 5. Some bricking. Nicely aromatic, red fruit, cherry, earthy hints and balsamic, same on palate. Chewy tannins, medium acidity, very approachable on opening. The riper, somewhat roasted fruit came across as more advanced than I would have expected, perhaps an artifact of the vintage. Drink now and over the next 5+ years, unsure if this is a long term ager.

12/31/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Blackberry, plum, olive, some chocolate and a touch of pepper. Concentrated ripe fruit. Big wine, but well balanced, ready now, no rush, but I don’t see this developing further.

12/30/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP off moderate sediment. Drank over several hours. Really all you could want in a Napa cab, that beautiful balance between dark red fruit, black cherry, cedar and early tertiary notes of leather. Ripe fruit, medium+ body, silky mouthfeel, slightly chewy tannins, 14.8% ABV but not hot at all, rather fresh with good acidic drive. $50 at auction, tremendous value for what I think was a special selection bottling. Bravo.

12/30/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Peach, apricot, some honey, stone and citrus, marmalade in the background. Rich fruit, medium+ bodied. Sweet toned thanks to the residual sugar, but nicely balanced by the acidity. It all comes together with polish and focus, at this stage both wonderfully layered without feeling aged or tired at all. I have no reference points for this wine, but glad to have another bottle, and would seek out more.

12/29/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

1st of two bought at auction. Cork soaked halfway, decanted off decent amount of sediment. Needed 30 min to blow off a bit. Best at cellar temp, where it shows a nice balance of the ripe fruit, sweet tannins and enough acidity and background earthy notes. Mostly cherry, black cherry. In a great spot between late primary and early tertiary flavors. Drink now and over the next 5+ years.

12/28/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Auction purchase. Decanted off moderate sediment. Nose and palate of ripe plum, other dark fruits, some earthy leather and a bit of oak. Medium bodied, fully mature. Would have liked a bit more concentration from a 1998, but this is a nice right bank pomerol.

12/27/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP. Beautiful aromatics, black cherry. Same on the palate, also red currant, ripe fruit, vanilla, medium+ bodied, enough acidity, silky mouthfeel. Lovely Napa cab, perfect with a wagyu steak. $50 at auction, great QPR.

12/26/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

Dry rose, light salmon color. Slightly reductive flint. Acid driven, strawberry as well as some savory notes. Adam makes some of the most interesting and unique wines in CA today- I mean, high quality white zin?! Great value to boot.

12/25/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP. Dark cherry, raspberry, unobtrusive oak, early leather notes. Tart acidity, chewy tannins, medium body. Accessible now, but this is a serious wine for $50 that should develop nicely over the next 10-15 years.

12/25/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

Settled into a very nice phase. Traded some of the energy for more complexity and an excellent balance of stone fruit, some citrus, brioche and ginger. Classic and good value at just under $50.

12/24/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP drank over several hours. Translucent gold in color. Needed 30 min to blow off and deepen. Tropical fruit on the aromatic nose and palate. Also, crème brûlée, some honey, Meyer lemon. The acidity is almost too much, perhaps the ripe fruit profile is fading. The pieces are interesting, just seems disjointed for my preference. I mostly drink my Chardonnay younger and from Oregon, so YMMV.

12/23/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Auction purchase, firm cork 2/3 soaked. Splash decanted off moderate fine sediment. Showing slight bricking. Red cherry, raspberry. A bit of minerals and ash. 14.5% ABV, nice mouthfeel, silky, even with the medium body and tart, juicy acidity. Very fine.

12/22/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

54/20/20/6…Riesling/Pinot Noir/Pinot Blanc/Gewurtztraminer. Nicely aromatic, lychee, citrus fruit. Same on the palate, lean body, sweet and tart, along with a nice vinous character, I assume from the pinot noir. ~12%abv, crushable in the best way.

12/21/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP followed over the evening. Bigger bodied, flavorful pinot, black cherry, savory spice notes and rhubarb, adding nuance to the profile. Nice acidity, the alcohol does peek through. Delicious in that CA way, no rush but drinking well now.

12/20/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

From auction, pristine cork. Splash decanted off minimal fine sediment. Blackcurrant, some tobacco, beginning to move beyond the primary stage. Nicely balanced fruit, fresh acidity and integrated tannins, slightly bitter on the finish. Nice mid weight BDX, just lacking that extra gear right now.

12/8/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP followed over the evening. Needed a couple of hours to blow off/fill out. Then what emerged was a beautiful, flavorful, but balanced wine. Lemon and citrus fruit, just a bit of honey in tue background, tart acidity, medium+ body, somewhat round and full in the mouth. 14.5% ABV. I’ve been drinking a lot of lean, laser focused Oregon Chardonnay recently and this was definitely California sun kissed, but it was in no way flabby or overdone. A fully ripe white wine that can be enjoyed by itself for its layered flavors. In a perfect place for me, but I think this has 5+ years easy.

12/1/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Bought from auction. Decanted for several hours. Blackberry, violet, tobacco some orange notes, and a bit of pepper. Primay fruit has subsided, putting this in a nice balance with the more savory elements. Still some chewy tannins, nice acid. 14.6% ABV, no heat. A serious wine, would be good with food drink now with decant, this has many years to go, although my personal preference is <7 yrs.

11/24/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP followed over the evening. Nice entry level N Rhône Syrah, classically made. Dark fruit, some anise and olive. Medium- body, nice acidity, 13% ABV.

11/23/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP. Drank over several hours. Needed some air to open up. Nice aromatics, matched by the palate. Dark red fruit, raspberry, cranberry, cola, vanilla. Ripe fruit, bit of spice from the alcohol. Accessible now with short decant. Nicely made in the modern style, if a bit pricey for what it is.

11/23/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP followed over several hours. No formal notes. Tart red fruit, strawberry, just shy of juicy. Enough structure, approachable now, went well with traditional thanksgiving dinner.

11/21/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

First of two bottles bought at auction, followed over several hours. Splash decanted off minimal fine sediment. No formal notes, this came across as less fresh and structured than other xinos I’ve had. Not bad, but not interesting either. If representative, drink now. Hope my other bottle shows better.

11/17/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Splash decanted off small amount of sediment, drank over several hours. Blackberry, cassis, leather and tobacco. Bit of a scorched note. Medium+ body, tannins resolved, but not quite silky. Comes across a bit brooding and rustic. Still relatively youthful. Drink now with decant.

11/9/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

Drank over three hours. Visually still youthful, dark magenta, clear rim. Not getting much on the nose. Palate is ripe cherry, raspberry, pomegranate, some mild baking spices and menthol. Medium bodied, tart acidity to balance the fruit. Integrated tannins provide a bit of texture and structure. Very nice, good spot to check in, should continue to evolve over the next 5+ years and hold for many more.

11/10/2023 - Maphill01 Likes this wine:

PNP, followed over a couple hours. Needed about an hour to open up, then just plain deliciousness. Juicy red and dark red fruit, black cherry. Medium body, slightly chewy tannins to frame the fruit. 14.9 ABV, but you can’t tell, great balance and layered flavors. Boisterously good now, it might gain more elegance with a few more years, but I doubt my other two bottles will last that long. Good now with short decant.

11/3/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP. Raspberry, black cherry, leather and some gravelly minerals. Characteristic earthy funk on the nose and palate, but it doesn’t dominate. Nice density of flavor, in a medium light body, 12.5% ABV package. Slightly grippy tannins. Medium+ acidity, finishing with a bit of cranberry. Drinking great now with a bit of air.

10/30/2023 - Maphill01 wrote:

PNP. Drank over the evening. Cherry, raspberry, black cherry, good flavor, a bit of graphite. Bright, nice acidity, medium body, tannins present but the wine is quite accessible today. A very fine entry level BDX.