4/16/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

About what you'd expect from the huge swathes of Bordeaux's middling chateaux. Nice nose, cassis, strawberry, a little leather. Plummy, wishy-washy palate with a bit of fruit and a bit of tart, stringent tannin and a shortish finish of something slightly bitter and woody.

3/30/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Very intense nose of wild strawberry and raspberry (maybe some blueberry?) with rose petal and a hint of cigar box. Big and sweet on the attack with lovely ripe berries, medium acidity and delicate, smoky tannins. Long, warm finish of spiced ripe fruit and a touch of tobacco. This is big and juicy but charming.

3/23/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Easy, rounded nose of strawberry, cassis, spice and a little bell pepper. Medium bodied, sweet and rounded palate of red berries with a hint of grainy, slight tarry tannin. Medium finish of spiced plum and a bit of forest floor. This is juicy, perfectly serviceable and quite ready to drink, but don't expect anything too dynamic.

3/19/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Final tasting note but the first wine of the night at Alinea in Chicago. This was stupendous and was exactly like a white Hermitage and at the same time something completely otherworldy. Vanilla, honey, beeswax and caramel ice cream nose with a super spiced, clean palate with surprisingly crisp acid and a long floral finish. This accompanied some of the more intricate starting dishes admirably and was excellent.

3/19/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Another CA Rhone from the presumably reference-level list at Alinea - clearly stored in pristine condition as the cork came out cleanly and proudly. If the Saxum was like a Beaucastel, this reminded me of a ripe Cote Rotie. Plummy with a meatiness and filigree red and black cherry acidity. Excellent structure at 27 years old. The only thing that really gives away the new world origins of this wonderful Syrah was the warm, sweetness on the finish which the steep and stern banks of the Rhone don't offer. Incredible experience, and absolutely delicious.

3/19/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Tasted on an extraordinary night at Alinea in Chicago, if blind I would have thought this was a Chateau Beaucastel in prime drinking window. Huge power and concentration, with delightful sweetness balanced by fine, structured acidity. This was so incredibly long. I'm shamefully lacking in knowledge about California's Rhone Varietals, but based on this, I'm a total convert.

2/26/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Distinguished, warm nose of bright red and rich maraschino cherry with tarry, leathery elements and a little tobacco. Vibrant, tangy palate of red fruit, fine acid and a warm, spiced, dried herb and cooked fruit finish. 91-92

2/22/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Tawny and clear in the glass, in great shape. Nose of nutty, figgy caramel without any spirity alcohol. Smooth, clean palate of fig, dates and hazelnut with a long, warm butterscotch and christmas cake finish. Very nice, Taylor quality shining through in a so-so vintage.

2/11/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Light, perfumed, red cherry and rose petal. Lively palate, sour cherry and wild strawberry with mineral acidity and a tart, slightly vegetal finish. Fine, pleasing, food needed.

2/7/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Leather, tobacco licorice and plum on the nose. Palate is a fine interplay of elegant cherry and fine acidity with a long, warm, earthy finish.

1/23/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

This was wonderful. Intense dark cherry, plum, warm earth and a touch of dried herb and cedar with a Chateauneuf-like palate of rice ripe fruit and peppery spice. Long, warm ripe finish with some smoky liquorice and stewed fruit. More intense than plenty of AOC Rhones I've had in my time, well in drinking window and very delicious.

1/21/2024 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

I really enjoy how well these Village/Cru CdR's hold up from Tardieu. This one was slightly jammy with some spirity acetate on the nose, but in great shape at nearly 20 years old. Dark fruit, licorice and a warm, provencal herb finish. Good stuff.

12/31/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

This bottle came from a rather dubious source and lacked labels. Although the cork was clearly from Taylors, I am not sure about the wine itself. This was muted on the nose and at the same time extremely spirity, making it a bit of a tough slog. Shame!

12/31/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Really (overly) tannic and austere. Even with a 24hr decant these showed little signs of letting up. Quality is clear but there was little drinking pleasure to be had here. These will need time and a bit of luck if they are to live up to their promise...

12/19/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Declining gracefully, but still absolutely delicious. My last of 9 bottles and each was wonderful.

12/15/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Incredible depth of flavour. Nutty, shimmering warming deliciousness. Tonnes of caramel and dried fruit on the attack with fine sweetness and acidity followed by the most wonderful, minute+ long finish of christmas spice, roasted nuts and good times. One of those wines where the unwashed glass from the night before fills the whole kitchen with a delicious aroma. Superb

11/25/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

The power of ageing - this had lovely dark fruit, dried herbs, tobacco and earthy, leathery goodness on the nose. Fruit still holding up well, small black cherries, strawberry with integrated tannin and acidity and a long, warm spiced finish.

11/19/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Golden amber in the glass. Nose of fresh peach, green apple, melon and a little vanilla and a nutty element. Lush, rounded palate of sweet apricot, orange peel and yellow apple with medium acidity and a long peppery, spiced peach finish. Really delicious.

11/16/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Savoury, herbal, spicy. Hints of blackcurrant leaf and dark fruit. Reminded me of Blaufrankish. Definitely a food wine but tasty.

11/12/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Completely disgusting. Not corked, but definitely spoiled. Such a shame.

11/7/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Nose of baked earth, red cherry, dried herbs and black olive. Smooth, silky palate of red berries with grippy tannins and a long, smoky, tarry, spiced plum and liquorice finish. Beautifully balanced, and right in its drinking window.

11/7/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Gorgeous, elegant, vineous nose of delicate pear, hazelnut and a really deep, toasty, yeasty aroma with a hint of chalk. Extremely light, precise palate of citrus, green apple, cream with very tiny, fine bubbles and a mineral acidity that dances across the tongue. Long, nutty, saline finish. May be produced by the million, but damn this stuff is good.

11/7/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Bought in an Intermarché in the middle of nowhere in France (i've said it before and I'll say it again, French supermarkets are often a treasure trove!). This has a beautiful caramel colour. Nose of of dried apricot, raisin and almonds. Feather-light palate of orange marmalade, apricot and prune with lovely fine acidity and a medium finish of Christmas spice and burned sugar. Lovely, easy drinking, great value Vin de Paille

11/4/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Nose of green apple, apricot meadow and wet laundry. Crisp, precise palate of tart apple, kiwi and tropical fruit flavours with lively acidity and a persistent, spiced pear and wet stone finish. This stuff punches waaay above its price point.

11/4/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

We selected this out of about 10 other deutsche Winzersekt wines to be our wedding bubbles. For a 20ish EUR sekt, this has incredible finesse and balance. Nose of fresh citrus, with a decent amount of brioche on the nose from the 36 months on lees. Tart, vibrant palate bursting with crisp fruit and citrus with fine acidity, vivacious perlage and a lovely mineral, slightly yeasty finish. We got through about 56 bottles of it, and the feedback was universally positve! Many thanks to Katharina Raumland for coordinating the purchase :)

11/4/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Intense nose of spice, plum, red cherry and well integrated oak. Lush, tannic palate of spicy red cherry and plum with a long finish of liquorice, spiced fruit and cola. Really elegant, tasty Ribera.

10/25/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

This stuff is really excellent. Slightly orange, pure, mineral, long. A really wonderful expression of Pinot Gris.

10/19/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Nose of plum, red cherry, leather and vanilla. Rich, slightly bitter red cherry and plum palate with mostly integrated tannins and an earthy, tobacco and pepper finish. Nice, well aged Ribera.

10/16/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

This wine was produced right around the time that a cabernet sauvignon scandal was doing the rounds in Montalcino. I have to say that this Banfi tastes suspiciously Bordelaise. Nose of plum, ripe black cherry with earthy, leathery notes. Rich, ripe and balanced palate of red and black stone fruit and a lovely long finish of stewed plum, tobacco and liquorice. Whether or not this wine was made in accordance with the DOCG, it was still excellent.

10/16/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Brought this to St John in London so serve with whole suckling pig. This 5litre bottle easily served all 21 guests who enjoyed the ripe berry flavours of this pleasant Madiran. Grippy tannins still, but otherwise a pleasant, easy drinking red that went with pork extremely well.

10/8/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Amber in the glass, nose of honey and minerals with a touch of mushroom and wet stone. Delicate palate of peach and yellow apple with gentle acidity and a slightly unbalanced finish due to the age with some spiced pear and bitter orange peel. Still holding on after 23 years, but only just.

10/8/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

6th from this case and a much weaker bottle. Lovely nose but palate thinning and austere. Long, spiced finish but a weaker bottle, despite clear quality from this chateau in this vintage.

10/6/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Revisiting this after three years and notes remain very similar. Lovely spiced, honey nose. Clean, slightly waxy palate with yellow stone fruit and medium acidity and a medium slightly mineral finish. Once again great accompaniment to curry.

10/6/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Another bottle from the 12 halves I have bought. This one much less balanced. Very spirity, nose of boiled sweets and a slightly off target palate. Hope next one better.

10/4/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Dark purple, brooding and bricking in the glass. Nose of red cherry, marzipan, wet slate and a hint of caramelised apple. Spicy, peppery palate of bitter cherry and spiced plum. Very very long finish of warm earth, white pepper and herbal, medicinal elements. Clearly stupendous but still youthful (dare I say brutal) and tightly coiled. Needs a longer decant than it was given tonight (24hrs feels like it would bring out its best side).

10/4/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Drunk from and magnum and wowzer - this was an experience. Deep dark garnet in the glass. Nose of leather, floor polish, cassis, plum and stewed cherry. Dry, rich, leathery plum and red cherry on the palate. Extremely long finish of eucalyptus and dried herbs. This was wonderful both in character and flavour. Hugely long.

10/1/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Bright nose of rose petal, plum, black olive and wild strawberry with a slightly medicinal, acetate element. Round, meaty, tart palate of bitter plum and red cherry with a long, warm, earthen finish of white pepper and eucalyptus. Complex and still somewhat austere, this was more interesting than fun.

10/1/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Ageing gracefully and still full of character. Nose of wild berries, red cherry, leather and dried herbs. Tart palate of old red cherry, strawberry and plum with resolves tannins and a long, slightly bitter medicinal finish.

9/19/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Really interesting dry Madeira. Nose of marzipan and orange peel with a rich, enticing burnt-sugar note. Attack of bitter pineapple and rum-raisin but dry, with tart acidity and a long nutty, slightly acetate finish. Delicious and interesting.

9/19/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

I've been a huge Darting supporter since I got to know the wines during Corona. This had a nose of oaky, ripe black cherry and some strawberry with a rich palate of red fruit with smooth tannins and a medium finish of spiced red fruit and some slightly slatey elements. Nice, simple lush Spätburgunder.

9/14/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Lovely nose of cherry, wild strawberry, some rosehip and a little earthy forest floor. Palate still quite taught and tannic but with good depth of fine fruit and a long, precise finish of black fruit and slaty minerality. Already quite elegant, this will improve.

9/14/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Big, Napa chardonnay nose of bananas and cream, beeswax and key lime pie with a very buttery crust. Clean, precise palate of yellow apple, cantaloup melon and lemon peel with a medium long finish of spiced yellow fruit and slightly nutty yeastiness. 90-91

9/8/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Lots of butter and beeswax on the nose. (perhaps overly) Tart palate of citrus with a yeasty, almost sherry like element. Quite pleasant - not much more to be expected of an Intermarché Meursault.

8/26/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Previous notes still stand - this is a bit green from a wine one might expect more from. Perfectly drinkable nonetheless.

8/25/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

A EUR 15 Pouilly Fuissé from Super U - what more could you want from life? Simple, but all the right notes in the right places. Citrusy with a hint of butter and a pleasantly fresh, spiced pear palate and a slightly yeasty finish. Perfect, for the price.

8/21/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

We tried the most recent vintage of Sela at Roda this last May and found it quite charming, but this 2012 vintage was anything but. Nose of jammy cherry and alcohol with a very bitter and green tannic palate. Not pleasant to drink and was tipped into the cooking. Possibly flawed?

8/8/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Incredibly intense nose of caramel, raisin, bourbon soaked cherries, with hints of almond and winter spice. Huge, mouth watering warmth on the palate with incredible depth of flavour - caramel, prune, marmalade and a little chocolate but with excellent balance and really fine acidity - so fresh despite nearly 50 years of age. Minute long finish of caramel pudding infused with nutmeg and cinnamon. Absolutely stunning - the best Colheita I’ve tasted. 94-95

8/8/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Having purchased a bottle of this it is in all seriousness disgusting and could easily have been the basis for the hilarious “wet dog” descriptions in Succession.

8/8/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Declining gracefully - lots of spiced plum and dried herbs here with a sense of this becoming a little tired. Long, warm, baked earth finish.

7/28/2023 - Weinberg Falls wrote:

Green-gold in the glass. Grassy, ripe nose of cantaloup melon, apricot and a touch of plastic. Very round and sweet on the attack with marmalade, honey and sweet apricot but with a fine balanced citrusy acidity which keeps the freshness running through. Lovely, light, relatively simple Kabinett which at 16 years old seems absolutely ageless. 90-91