4/21/2024 - Brad T Likes this wine:

The two preceding notes are quite accurate. The chocolate and cherry or raspberry notes are propulsive, yet this wine has been softening and is in a beautiful place now. This wine has been steadily growing more complex with each bottle I’ve opened, and its future remains equally open. This is an unusually well made Napa Cab. Wish they were all made with such a judicious touch.

3/11/2024 - Brad T wrote:

Hoping this is just a bad bottle as I’m a Dragon lover and this one had a bitter and awkward finish.

2/19/2024 - Brad T Likes this wine:

I write only to say that Aagrawal’s note is spot on.

2/15/2024 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This lovely wine looks like a Pinot Noir but it’s all Brunello, with an earthy nose, and dark red fruit with leather on the palate. Elegance in a glass.

2/11/2024 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This makes a big impression and strikes a nice balance between what people who know what to expect from a Nebbiolo might expect and what people who might not know what to expect might love! Yeah, I love my ridiculously old leathery Barolos and Barbarescos and I love this too. Flawless execution whether you can appreciate the style or not, and that’s a tremendous value alone.

1/10/2024 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Outstanding!

1/10/2024 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Drinking perfectly now even on pop and pour but even better with some air. Too many wines to take notes but against the heavy hitters this was WOTN

12/25/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

A unique sensory experience and one I would like to repeat! The vivid golden yellow color is stunning. The recent notes capture this blockbuster Sicilian white better than I would, and I would add that this has an elegant acidic presence that reminds me of an old Chardonnay yet this is very fresh. More precisely, an old German Chard masquerading as a Burgundy. The minerality is equally intense and borders on savory, yet sip after sip, this is a clean, young wine. Perplexing. So is Catarratto my new favorite Italian white grape? Ciao!

12/23/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

I agree with Vinnut’s recent note.

12/9/2023 - Brad T wrote:

Similar to the other recent notes, this was not enjoyable on opening and decanting, an hour later, or several hours later. Even for an aficionado of very old wines, this seemed well past its prime. I corked it up and left it in the dark corner for a day. For those with a bottle of this still sitting in the cellar, the good news is that after a full day, this became quite drinkable, and even mildly pleasant. Perhaps a hint of fruit was peeking through, and the and unpleasantly “off” qualities I associate with old, spoiled wine had dissipated. But I’m like a reasonably decent old Barolo or Burgundy, there is no magic, and certainly not something that I would’ve expected. So, if you have some, drink up, but decant and then wait a day first, and you’ll have something to enjoy, even if for the academic curiosity.

11/14/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This is Howell Mountain in a glass. Deep dark black fruit, tobacco leaf and fall herbs on full throttle. First stop on a Turley Zinfandel flight.

11/11/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

The final bottle of a Turley Tasting Extravaganza, and this does not disappoint! While many 2020's are sub-par, the ridiculously low yields are evident here. After the blast of black fruit perfume, I tasted a concentrated and heady mix of boysenberry and sweet, dark plum, with impressions of fres cut wildflowers on the finish. This one needs some time to reach its potential, so trat it right and give it more time than I did here!

11/11/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Starts off with the typical swoooosh of big aromas that you get from Turley Zinfandels, and really delivers on the palate, with big red and black fruit that leans to tart cherry and ripe red plum. The old leather and flowerpot earth notes begin to show with a few hours of air, and cocoa nibs emerge on the lovely finish.

11/11/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Wow, this is now hitting on all cylinders! Indistinguishable from the slammin' Syrahs I love from Bedrock, sporting sweet licorice, dark plum, tart cherry and leather, with a lightly roasty toasty finish. THis should be in a wonderful place for at least a few years.

11/11/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This Lodi vineyard always delivers something special, and here you are greeted with the characteristically hedonus aroma of big, dark fruit. On the palate, I was struck by the fascinating interplay between the bright red cherry against white pepper, exotic mint, and sage notes. After a feew hours of air, the finish gained a sense of burnt orange peel that I do not recall tasting before in any wine. This one is for contemplation.

11/11/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Explosive from the nose on pop and pour, this is a killer Turley Zin from a hillside vineyard that delivers a luscious, dark fruit offset by a softv halo of charred cedar, with layers of flavor that play on the finish.

10/21/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This mineral driven, medium plus bodied white starts with crisp pair and impressions of dark bronze crust of challah bread and apricot pits. The texture begins to feel a little heavy with some air and finishes with an interesting, smooth, and pleasant lime pith and melon halo that coats that mouth. There’s a very light sour backdrop here, but a surprisingly minimal acid structure. I would quaff this lovely wine over the next two years while it’s fresh and snappy.

10/5/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This is my preferred style of New World Pinot Noir which means no cola, no bell pepper, no cloying cotton candy ripeness, and no green stalky bitterness. What you get here is an etherial color that’s transitioning from ruby to garnet, beautiful translucence and clarity, and the scent of new leather and spice. The roasted coffee beans immediately stand out on the palate, with phalenoosis potting medium (yes I am serious about that), tart red fruit leaning towards strawberry that’s part of the mix without being dominant, and gentle tannins that manage to balance the acidity quite nicely. The finish is particularly long for a pinot that isn’t meant to be sipped from a straw, which is a big reason to admire this enchantingly delicious wine. More of this, please!

8/28/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Amerique's note is spot on for me. After the initial acid pop receded, the flavors came together nicely over a few hours. This is a unique style of Mourvedre that shows a different expression from many Mourvedre based wines from other regions.

8/28/2023 - Brad T wrote:

This wine is so neutral, so muted, so nondescript on the palate that it's like drinking a well-made facsimile of wine that contains no wine. It's not in any way over the hill, spoiled, overly reductive for a Rioja, just lackluster. My 90 score reflects the lack of flaws I can detect, but this has failed to live up to its promise.

8/26/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Pretty nose with sour cherries galore, red fruits and a very subtle sanguine note that some will taste as mineral. I noted a very lively touch of zesty acid that almost suggested citric acid but could have been a bit of carbon dioxide dissolved in the wine (carbonic acid), though I noticed no bubbles on the interior walls of the glass. Could be at peak, but my experience with Turley Zins doesn't go much before the 2011 vintage. No signs of decline, and I feel this can go 3-4 more years before any possible decline. I'm unsure if the Turleys of this decade can age like the Ridge Zins of the 80's, 90's and 00's.

8/5/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This is in a beautiful place, quite mature and nearing the end of its prime drinking window. The juicy O'brien red and black Merlot fruit remains, but has receded in proportion to the gentle tannins. The finish is moderate but gentle on the palate. Selected for friends who enjoy red wine but don't often have older reds, and they loved it. I will drink my last bottle by 2024.

8/3/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Reminds me of the Lewis style and ages in a similar manner, almost endlessly and big. A unique Napa wine from a unique winemaker.

7/3/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This became much more interesting with some bottle age. Well made in the classic style that Cloudy Bay is famous for, with a subtle additional ripe honeydew melon complexity. While not high on the Juicy Fruit Gum index, its a solid and respectable 5, since any JFG is good.

7/3/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Out of the bottle it’s all silky textured grace on the tongue that splashes across the mouth with everything in the right proportions, and no rough edges. Sour cherries dominate and then it’s all dark red fruit, finishing with a touch of spice and a fine saline fade. The fruit has aged gracefully, leaving an impression of freshness with not a hint of over-the-hill oxidation. The supple body and very dark purple color are impressive. If there were more complexity or an extended finish this would easily be a 95+ point wine. Yet this was was only a good, not great vintage of RothH. For an average vintage, this bottle way overdellivers. As it is, it’s delicious and once agan proves that Obrien reds are vastly underrated in a sea of very, very expensive and often unimpressive Cabernet based blends.

6/12/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Very drinkable out of the bottle with nice up front Nebbiolo notes and some supple dark fruit on the finish. Great price for such a lovely bottle.

5/23/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Many, many years ago, a neophyte tried a very, very old Ridge Zin from the 70's made by The Master. It rocked his world and made him rethink Zinfandel and the field blends made from old vines planted by Italian immigrants before WWI. That magic is here! If you want to experience what happens when pristine old vine Zinfandel from heritage vines is lovingly tended, judiciously harvested, given the "Master Treatment" by a new Master, and set down to rest a long time, this is you bottle. The Big Fruit is here, but the elegance is now at the forefront, so beautifully expressive and graceful on the palate. I am saving my last bottle of this vintage to share with a neophyte who may be open to the experience as a means to pass it forward.

5/20/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

The first whiff has some “old juice nose” but after that blows off, it settles into a more typical waft of bottle aged Brunello, with that telltake caramel, old leather and dusty book aroma that often gets chalked up to “rose petals.” In the mouth there’s sour red cherry, strawberry and mos def fresh cut ripe blood orange. The acid is still present and nicely compliments the bracing sanguine finish, which is nice but one-dimensional, sue to the persistence of angular tannins which I’d have expected to be more elegant at 11 years of age. If I has to guess, maybe the oak treatment was a little too intense in proportion to the fruit and that has led to a heavier overall feel. This is a very good Brunello to me but it may be off putting to those who love the gentle tannins that fade into burnished leather that one finds in older Brunellos of good pedigree. I’m on the fence and to whether this will improve over time, as extended air only led in the direction of stewed fruit.

5/15/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Foglia Tondo is an ancient Sienese grape that has traditionallybeen used as a blending grape, similar to Colorino. Lost to the ages, rediscovered in the 1877, then lost again and rediscovered in 1970, now made in sufficient quantities for varietal production. Deeply pigmented with a unique purple-brown color, it seizes the nose with plush violets and new leather. But the surprise is in the mouth, as this full-throttle wine features notes toffee, cinnamon, and very dark black fruits, without any heaviness or sweet fruity flavors. The finish is long, with beautiful caramel and kiss of brine.

5/13/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

I totally disagree with Russk. JUST KIDDING! As usual he’s correct. With some additional age and a couple of hours after opening, this Chianti Superior is now taking on some “super Tuscan” notes of black and red fruit, olives and loamy earth. The finish is now emerging with burnished leather. This is the best Chianti Superior I’ve tried.

4/26/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Reminded us of New Zealand SB with the tart gooseberries and bright acidity, which leans towards crabapple, with a luxurious mouthfeel. Excellent American SB, and I will mos def buy again.

4/5/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This moderately Aussie-styled GSM is now open for business. It’s big and bold, with pitch black fruit and licorice.

1/25/2023 - Brad T Likes this wine:

There’s nothing like a beautifully aged Obrien sitting in the glass and showing off the very best that’s Napa has to offer. These wines are uniquely built to enjoy very early but reward extended age. Right now the fruit is in a stunning spot, the young exuberance having yielded to voluptuous elegance. The fruit has receded but the wine remains plush and generous, resplendent with violets, leather and dusty earth. Not my last 2007 RotH, and I’m looking forward to the last one in a couple of years.

12/3/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

By far the best 2010 Brunello I’ve tasted (out of about 15 or so) and easily one of the best Brunelli I’ve experienced on pop and pour. And it gets better with some air! A showstopper with best-in-show pedigree. But don’t take it from me. My wife, who adores Brunello and has a far better palate (yes I’m jealous), feels this is equal to any Brunello she’s ever tasted. This is why we love Brunello so much. Amore!

12/2/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Acquired a case from Wine Watch many years ago and after I pulled my last bottle from storage, they found a few more cases. This is the first bottle from the new lot and good gosh, it’s stunning! A study in the age worthiness of Sangiovese, this 25 year old Chianti Classico is a burnished beauty. It’s almost syrupy on the nose, and you get a rush of lovely glove leather, dried berries and rose petals in the mouth. I suspect that many of the reviewers had bottles that were somehow damaged, though the purveyor that some previous tasters noted has an excellent track record and I buy their wine regularly. What I can say after drinking 13 bottles so far is that if you love what can happen when a Chianti Classico is made to age and given the opportunity to blossom, you’ll find that this wine is a steal! It has peaked but it’s been in this phase for years and it’s got a few more years to go.

9/28/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Reminds me of a nicely aged CDP, inasmuch as it’s quite soft and supple on the palate with pretty burnished fruit and ends with earthy notes. Would have scored higher but for a touch of stemmy tannins in the finish. That aspect is minimal but does linger, and likely accounts for some of the reviews. Gotta love Bedrock because these wines are always well made and express the vineyard.

9/19/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

In a word: Plush. This mature wine is dripping with freshness. Red fruited, impeccably graceful, round and beautifully expressing tertiary flavours without a hint of overipeness or raisined fruit. This magical beast is basically drinking perfectly now.

7/25/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This amber coloured nectar is still going full-throttle with dried peach, citrus, and lavender honeyed notes. Sadly my last bottle--this could have gone on for another ten years.

7/19/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

The clear, light garnet hue and the green tobacco scented French oak spilling from the glass after a one hour decant nearly conceal a wine of elegance, balance, and studied nuance. This could be mistaken for a young, energetic Burgundy from a hot year, but ahhh, the tar and rose petals emerge and play out on the finish, with some smoke and fine leather, making this unmistakably Barolo. My experience is weighted in deeper, darker Barolos from strong vintages, generally at least ten years of age, so this beauty surprised me. I doubt most would be put off by the light but omnipresent oak here, as it's done with a deft touch and adds a unique texture to the sensory experience without getting in the way of the fruit, which finishes on a very slightly sanguine cherry note. I was a fortunate guest at a lovely little tasting group, where everyone got this right away and these outstanding tasters are buying it. I don't see this as a 30-year Barolo, but watch this space as I'll be posting during its evolution. Served recently at my son's wedding and plan to gift them more at their 10th and 20th anniversaries, so we shall see! WA94, JD93, AG91 (though he still extends the drinking window to 2035 so he sees this as an 18 year wine).

7/24/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

A nice but undistinguished CDP (97 Grenache, 7% Syrah) with some mildly reductive notes that land on sage and old leather, but really, the flavors are not particularly sharp or distinguishable. I doubt this will improve.

7/24/2022 - Brad T wrote:

Vinturi double decant into bottle + 2 Hrs. Good but not notable, lacking any special secondary notes of aged Sangiovese Grosso. Balanced and not a hint of overripe of stewed fruit, so a little disappointing for such a laudable wine. Agree with Pavel_P's February note. Not sure this will get better.

7/4/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Lucious blue and purple fruits burst out of the glass on initial impression, dominated by lilac and boysenberry aromas. While big out of the gate, the tannins are fine, the fruit is not overblown, and the 15.8% alcohol (wow!) does not overpower. The blend of Syrah and Cabernet is rounded out perfectly by the Petite Verdot, which brings a unique minerality. A mash-up of what I love in Bedrock and Turley. I love this wine!

6/26/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

This huge Cabernet delivers a wallop of juicy black fruits with fine notes of dust, new leather, and sambuca, but fear not as it's just so balanced and round that it may be one for the ages. Watch this space as 14 more will be ated all for the sake of science.

6/18/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Nice Brunello, which drank well on opening but improved with hours of time in decanter with some polished leather, dark cherry skin essence, red berries. Mature but not even close to end of drinking window. Well made, but my socks are in no danger of being knocked off.

6/12/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Generous and round with no rough edges, impeccably balanced, soft and plummy with distinct milk chocolate notes. Insane QPR for a wine that aged beautifully and opens up nicely with a good decant. Good but not great grapes treated to excellent winemaking resulting in the best expression of the grapes possible. Best Cote de Francs wine I've ever tasted. Bravo!

6/12/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Stewed fruit on the nose initially, moderate bricking, and a disjointed (almost chalky) texture on opening. Better after an hour, and best with a few hours of air. Some nice tertiary notes on the middle, but not much of a finish. I view this is a "drink NOW" wine, but maybe this was an imperfect bottle.

6/12/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

MCLANEW's note is spot on, so I write only to add my score.

6/12/2022 - Brad T wrote:

Many will like this for its Grape Kool-Aid formulaic punch, but for those looking for something a little more viniferously subtle that tastes more like Cabernet Sauvignon and less punchy, you may be as disappointed as I. To be fair, at 12 years, this juice was drinking nicely in its style, the "Big Oak" has mellowed out, the fruit is still present, the sweetness is just a tad less than cloying, and there are no signs of being over the hill. Likely it's at its peak. I do love big, bold, fruit-dominant Cabs, but when they are so over-the-top that they take on candied flavors, they lose me.

6/6/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

Sour green lemon tanginess jumps out of the glass and goes “zing!” on the palate, following through with savory persimmon, kiwi and notes of orange zest, with a minerally finish. Showing some of the signature Greco "oiliness" in the mouthfeel. Reminds me of a tangy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc with minerals and a more complex groove.

6/4/2022 - Brad T Likes this wine:

As with previous bottles, this lovely wine needed some air to open up and display all the classic scents and unique flavors of Brunello. I love the faded French oak accents that remind me of Bordeaux, juxtaposed against the old leather, understated red berries, and earth. This is well made and will not be at peak until maybe 2024 but those who love the tertiaries like me might say 2026.