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Comments on my notes

(21 comments on 17 notes)

1 - 17 of 17 Sort order
Red
2002 Domaine Y. Clerget Volnay 1er Cru Clos du Verseuil Pinot Noir
4/17/2020 - chablis28 wrote:
95 points
Far better still than last btl 18 months ago and now, a full on head turner! Test sips found it a bit lean so slow oxed in btl and Burg glasses for 2 hours prior to dinner. Wow, has this improved! Fullly mature and surprisingly complex and layered vs previous btls. Semi translucent brick red color with further color loss on the edges. Light sediment did not require clearing. Enveloping aromas of faded red fruit, spice and autumn leaves. Gorgeously resolved with placid rainier cherry, red raspberry, damp minerally underbrush, mushroom and spices. Poured a shot glass's worth left over in Nita's glass into mine. Do not waste a drop! Dang it, my last btl! 13% alc. What a bargain this was for the $36 I paid for it.
  • marka commented:

    10/4/20, 2:56 PM - Having it tonight with Sockeye. Fingers cross for as good of an experience as you:)

  • marka commented:

    10/6/20, 8:49 AM - I liked it. Earthy, soft, mellow. It didn’t change much, if at all, during the evening. I suppose that means it is in its prime? :)

Red
2014 Domaine Robert Chevillon Bourgogne Pinot Noir
3/8/2019 - chablis28 wrote:
91 points
Exactly, what I seek in bourgogne. This cuvee' has never been a behemoth. At least with my btls going back to 2008. Its deceptively pale in color as always. Possibly leading to the perception it might be a bit thin or lacking concentration. I may also be the benefactor of patience as this is my first of 3 received fall of 2017. Bourgogne is often characterized as "intended for early consumption" but, I find them to have plenty of shelf life from great producers like Chevillon. Yes, this is not in the same strata as Chevillon's 1ers but I find it consistently terroir driven and fascinating. An auto pilot buy for me so far, if the price remains sub $40.

PnP 90 minutes prior to dinner and found it immediately accessible and aromatic. Spicy earthy red berries on the nose + a little light funk. The palate fruit is a stony mix of rainier cherry & red raspberry wrapped in earth, spice & light sous-bois on a weightless, elegant and energetic frame. Loved it, and need to find more if possible? Alc 12.5%
  • marka commented:

    5/15/20, 3:52 PM - Hello Craig:) Sipping one now with pizza. Very lightweight upon opening. Had RaNae sip as it seemed too light. However, it is putting on weight. Indeed a good value.

  • marka commented:

    5/16/20, 5:45 AM - Craig, It was good. Did a nice job of putting on weight. When I first opened it, I thought nothing was there, so I came to CT to find the window and saw your note. I think I have more. Certainly “weightless” and earthy.

White
2014 Les Héritiers du Comte Lafon Viré-Clessé Chardonnay
4/26/2017 - chablis28 wrote:
93 points
PnP Light gold color. Effusive floral and mineral with semi tropical but fresh aromas. This wine punches way above its price point and that is likely reflective of the producer and very very old vines reputed to be approaching 75 years in age. Major depth here! Citrusy lemon, apple, orange zest and fruit cocktail combine with an expansive mouth coating minerality. Terrific balance, concentration and intensity. Blind I'd guess this to be Ler Cru Meursault. Outstanding value at just $30.
  • marka commented:

    7/18/17, 1:56 PM - I was putting these away, didn't realize I had them, looked to see what they were and for a TN on CT and low and behold yours is the most recent:). I have one queued to open soon.

  • marka commented:

    7/18/17, 3:58 PM - Thanks, but I already have something tomorrow night. Would be fun.

  • marka commented:

    8/8/17, 6:45 PM - Opened my first one tonight. May, your note is spot on. After being opened a few hours, I'm picking up some acidity also.

Red
1996 Château Cos d'Estournel St. Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend
2/19/2017 - chablis28 wrote:
96 points
My hands down WOTN and dam, wish I owned some of these! This is in a very nice spot with zero signs of slowing down. There is still some upside here. Do I play roulette and buy some now? Tempted. This had a terrific tobacco leaf nose, perfect balance and weight with a cornucopia of flavors. An excellent wine! Thanks Kevin! See R&Rlers note for more details.
  • marka commented:

    2/20/17, 4:22 PM - I agree, my WOTN also.

Red
2008 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Diversite Willamette Valley
11/20/2016 - marka wrote:
92 points
Based on the acidity, I'd say this has at least 5 years left. Very much enjoyed it.
  • marka commented:

    1/10/17, 8:35 AM - Oooops. Just saw this. My favorite tasters are the friends whose notes I check. Some guy in PL is one..............

Red
2008 Le Cadeau Pinot Noir Côte Est Willamette Valley
3/18/2016 - chablis28 wrote:
91 points
PnP This is drinking nears its peak. Or, at least my btl is,which never made it into my temp controlled cabinets. I never viewed this as something I was going to age past 10 years and decided not to afford it valuable cabinet space. This bottle rested passively under my lower level stairs in a small cardboard six pack at mid 60s temp it's whole life. Darker ruby typical of most 08s but with amber rim. Initially,typical unexciting domestic PN aromas of cola and dark fruit. Based on the early nose I was prepared for a ho-hum experience with a not ready 08 but, after 30 minutes or so, this turned much more interesting with earthy mushroom and tart cinnamon / dark fruit / currants flavors. The earthiness and mushroom carries over to the nose. This went from an 88pt start to nearly a 92pt+ wine for the last couple glasses. Thankfully, the cola disappeared early on! Not awesome but intriguing by nights end.
  • marka commented:

    3/19/16, 6:00 AM - Hey Craig. I've got 3 of these. Based on your bottle, how would you spread them out for drinking. Thanks. I'm not sure I have had any of Tom's 08s that I have downstairs. Maybe one.....

Rosé
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Ode to Lulu Old Vine Rosé California Rosé Blend
2/21/2016 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine:
88 points
I much preferred the 2013 rose. This one just seemed light and watery, lacking flavor. However, it did also have less of the herbalness of the 2013, so that was a positive in my book.
Hopefully the remaining bottles are better.
However, my wife enjoyed it (90 pts).
  • marka commented:

    2/21/16, 5:54 PM - If you have any more, consider letting them sleep. I loved the 2012, didn't like the 2013 right away. However, a year later.......it was quite good.

Red
2000 Château Cantemerle Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend
11/27/2015 - Bobc7had Does not like this wine:
84 points
Off Bottle?
Decanted for 60 minutes and consumed over 2 hour period and the wine never opened up. Totally dry, fruit fully faded. Hoping it was the bottle. Will try another in a few weeks.
  • marka commented:

    11/27/15, 8:56 AM - I had a bottle a week ago (didn't post a TN) that was much like what you describe.

Red
2010 Cadence Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
11/1/2015 - ben2e Does not like this wine:
88 points
Lean and fruity. I found it lacking structure and concentration. Almost sweet. I expected a bit more for the cost. I can see my opinion is an outlier but I wasn't alone in my opinion at our tasting.
  • marka commented:

    11/1/15, 7:47 AM - If you have any other bottles of this, leave them alone for another 5 years. Cadence just might not be your style, but they are agers. My 2010s are sleeping for several more years. If I did open one, I'd give it lots of air time.

Red
2009 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County
3/15/2015 - rocknroller wrote:
87 points
This wasn't working for me tonight. Nowhere near the '10 . Seems to me to be OTH and showing too much heat and spice now.
  • marka commented:

    3/16/15, 12:54 PM - I agree. That was my bottle and I had a small pour. Way too much heat on the finish. Brad B liked it though:) ha!

Red
1985 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley
2/7/2015 - chablis28 wrote:
91 points
Opened this, mainly for fun,to celebrate my daughter's 30th Bday. I had hoped this might be great but realized at 30yrs old it could have slipped just past its peak. Very enjoyable but not a wow wine. In very good condition but showing significantly less complexity and power than a recent '91. I popped & poured and put the cork back in between pours as it really didn't need a lot of air. The fruit was a velvety cherry dominated profile. Lovely fruit aromas. An elegant old dame that should be drank up.
  • marka commented:

    2/21/15, 5:46 PM - You must be pretty old if your daughter is 30:)

Red
2001 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo Nebbiolo
1/24/2015 - marka wrote:
93 points
I can't explain why I liked this so much as I don't know much about Barolo. But this had fruit, structure, and was just really nice. Went fantastic with both grilled roast beef on night one and then bone in ribeye the next. I need to explore Barolo. For those reading this that are into Barolo, sorry for the poor TN.
  • marka commented:

    1/25/15, 5:21 PM - Chablis28; Not exactly sure where I got it, but I really liked it. I've reached out to Dave M and Brad B for suggestions to match this wine. If you have some in the 30-60 range, please send me an email. It was a really good wine. CT drinking window ends in 2014? Ha. Not for this wine.

Rosé
2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Ode to Lulu California Rosé Mourvèdre
10/17/2014 - marka wrote:
86 points
Disappointing, big time. This bottle was dead. Not flawed, just dead. Too bad as it was my last 2012 and I loved these. They are much better than the 2013 at this point.
  • marka commented:

    10/17/14, 2:39 PM - Morgan, I have sent you an email. To those reading these comments, I am, and always have been, a happy Bedrock customer. ~MarkA

Red
2004 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District
4/12/2014 - chablis28 wrote:
96 points
Stellar Cabernet! Decanted for 2 hours then back into the btl for another hour. Very aromatic! This is focused and fresh. Blind I'd guess a fairly highend $125 plus ready to drink Paulliac. This has the assessability of a CA wine but then diverges to a largely BDX styled wine. Terrific depth with lead pencil, licorice, tar, red fruit and other expansive flavors. Long and facinating. Never fat, sloppy or over oaked like too many CA Cabs. Paid $75, drinks more $150+. This will accomodate more btl age no problem but is a real pleasure now too. Cork was very tight and showed only about 1/32" soak. Modest amount of sediment. In amazing condition at 10yrs old.
  • marka commented:

    4/13/14, 5:25 PM - Since when did you start measuring "cork soak?" :) I would guess Nita loved it.

Red
2009 Château Larruau Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend
Cedar, spice box, tobacco leaf, with cherry hand candy and a good finish. With wines like this, showing these distinctive taste/sensory markers, I can remember the wine very clearly a day later.
  • marka commented:

    1/26/14, 4:29 AM - How much air did you give it?

Red
2009 Monte Antico Toscana IGT SuperTuscan Blend
8/21/2013 - chablis28 wrote:
89 points
For around $10, one of the top 10 values in red wine. Always balanced, never over the top and always pretty fruit. A very nice sangio dominated blend!
  • marka commented:

    8/22/13, 5:29 PM - Dang it Craig. This is just what I was talking about on Saturday as far as you drinking "inexpensive" wines that are good and encouraging me to do so. When I first got into wine I really liked this. I need to continue buying it. Or, re-continue :)

Red
2009 Turley Zinfandel Cedarman Howell Mountain
7/18/2012 - marka wrote:
87 points
- Aromas of raspberry, black pepper and violet. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of raspberry and black pepper - Perhaps I consumed this too soon. This was not particularly enjoyable. Too much inbalance for what I was expecting (considering it was a Turley). It was ok. Only one I had.
  • marka commented:

    4/7/13, 11:43 AM - I didn't write that TN properly. It was out of balance and that really doesn't come across when I write "inbalance." My fault. :)

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