8/20/2021 - mn_horn wrote:

Sutton Bay Rattlesnake 2021

5/4/2012 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Tasted non-blind after a 2hr decant.

The nose previewed how big this wine was going to be. Expressive nose of mocha, coffee, and blackberry, with the expected cedar and vanilla. On the palate it was much more lush than anticipated. It's starting to lose the rough edges and the tannins are smooth. Tons of blackberry and dark fruit with a strong 60 second finish.

6/10/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

A cab lovers merlot. Plenty of dark fruit (plum, blueberry) and a healthy dose of oak. The tannins are smooth and not overpowering even in youth. not sure this has the heft to last another 10 years, but it is quite enjoyable now and for another 5.

3/13/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Decanted for 3 hrs

Nice nose of red fruit, oak/vanilla, but still a touch of heat.
Medium bodied, with flavors of red cherries, currant, and spice.
Towards the end of 2 hours I picked up more of a floral note.
Nice finish and the cab franc came through nicely.

1/30/2011 - mn_horn wrote:

Nice prototypical Napa cab. Good fruit with a healthy amount of oak. A touch of spice and herbs give this wine some interesting characteristics.

1/26/2011 - mn_horn wrote:

The grenache in this blend is evident and a nice touch. Dark fruit, smooth mouth feel, and a nice finish make this an excellent effort from Paso. I'll need to find more.

1/22/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Medium red in color. The nose is somewhat musty with sour cherry and herb. A great old world nose. I am definitely enjoying the traditional style Riojas, like this one. There is plenty of acid and minerality to make this a great food pairing wine. The flavors are light red fruit, a bit of caramel, and herbs. The wine finishes with a nice sherry note. A fun change of pace from the predominant style.

1/21/2011 - mn_horn wrote:

Popped and poured, then drank over the course of 4 hours. Nice dark red color with a nose of dark fruit and chocolate. There was a noticeable meaty flavor along with the tobacco notes. A short-medium finish

1/22/2011 - mn_horn wrote:

no formal notes taken for this mid-week pop and pour. decent concentration, nice fruit. for $10, this is a good buy.

1/14/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Dark purple color with a strong nose of dark fruit, a bit of smoke, and some spice. This was an easy drinking wine with soft tannins, and the fruit was in abundance on the palate. This is a bit flabby, but would definitely be a crowd pleaser for most palates.

1/11/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Nice red color that you could see your hand through. The nose was red cherry and floral notes. The taste was also good, strong red fruit, but with old world acidity. The tannins were soft and the finish was quite long and smooth. Nice wine for what the price.

1/11/2011 - mn_horn wrote:

Normally I am not a fan of the extra dry sparklers, but at least on the nose, this showed some greater complexity than expected. This had a nice bit of citrus on the nose, with undertones of spice.

It was not as complex on the palate, but enjoyable. The citrus carries through and not much else. The acid wasn't enough for me either. However, for ~$20 this is a serviceable champagne.

1/4/2011 - mn_horn Does not like this wine:

Popped and poured. The nose was unique, with a spritzy fake red fruit smell that was very candy-like. The taste was a bit better, but too fruit-forward for my tastes without the heft to back it up. The wine was thin and un-exciting.

1/3/2011 - mn_horn wrote:

As expected, it was over the hill. Initially for about 15 minutes after opening, you could get cedar and red fruit on the nose, then it started to fall apart. The wine had a definitive tired taste, especially on the finish. (NR)

1/2/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Decanted for 3 hours and then tasted over 2 days.

A 4-6 hour decant probably would have been best, since this was showing well at the end of the first night. The nose is fairly heavy on the oak, and evident on the palate, but not overwhelming. The taste is heavy with dark fruit and firm tannins. Hints of tobacco and dark chocolate. The tannins softened on Day 2 and the wine showed even better. It's drinking well now, but should be even better in 3-5 years.

1/1/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

French Laundry Dinner #2 (Maple Grove, MN): This seems to be holding up better compared to some of the recent notes, even though I do see the aging difference with the Silex out-living the Pur Sang. Dagueneau wines are always a treat for me and is what good Sauv Blanc should taste and feel like.

Extremely light yellow color with a strong minerality on the nose and notes of an herb flower blend. Amazingly smooth on the palate even with high acid. Flavors of stone fruit and a touch of granny smith apple. Paired extremely well with a homemade version of Thomas Keller's Peas & Carrots, as well as pan fried tilapia and sea bass with a saffron vanilla sauce.

1/1/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

French Laundry Dinner #2 (Maple Grove, MN): Deep dark gold color. The nose was filled with honey, hints of lemon, and maybe some orange zest. The mouthfeel was coating, but not cloying and delivered the mild sweetness with honey and peach flavors. I long finish made this an enjoyable wine with a lemon tart. I will look forward to the next few bottles over the next 10+ years.

1/1/2011 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

French Laundry Dinner #2 (Maple Grove, MN): Light yellow/straw in color. The nose is yeasty with nice apple notes. Tart apple on the palate and medium-strong acidity that hangs in the mouth. Nice champagne that I would buy again at ~$30. I feel it would pair with a wide variety of dishes from bready appetizers to fried chicken to creamy desserts.

12/13/2010 - mn_horn Does not like this wine:

Not varietally correct and has a predominant fake fruit characteristic. It is not offensive on the palate, has a decent cherry nose, but from the mid-palate to the finish it is not recognizable as merlot.

12/11/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Nice acidity, so a decent pairing with food, but otherwise a mediocre bottle of chianti. The finish was short and it seemed much lighter weight than I recalled.

12/9/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Incredible Spanish Priorat wine. Opened and followed over 4 hours. Drank along with braised beef short rib.

Dark purple in color. A nose of mostly dark fruit, with hints of raspberry, vanilla, earth, and some funkiness. Dense, but not jammy, fruit with strong tannins and nice acidity. This wine is big, complex, and maintains balance.

Drinking incredibly well now, but still has plenty of years left (2020?)

12/9/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Popped and Poured. This bottle could have used some air to open up, but it was a spur of the moment decision.

The color was a nice dark ruby and the nose was dark fruit with undertones of tobacco. This wine has a big mouthfeel with strong dark fruits and coffee notes. The tannins are firm, but in no way bitter. I would have enjoyed tasting this the next day.

This wine should easily age for another 5-8 years.

11/22/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

You know what to expect when you put your nose in the glass...bold and ripe dark fruit with a heaping does of oak. This is not a subtle or elegant wine, but is tasty. This is not the best food pairing wine, but was okay with chicken fried steak. It needed the fat and the beef to be partnered with the food, but this is better to drink on its own.

11/14/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Tasted over the span of 3 hours next to their basic Valpolicella.

The color was a dark ruby with lighter red along the edges. The nose was red fruit, cherry, and beef jerky. On the palate, the cherry comes through and it has good acidity. The tannins are evident, but fairly soft. Nice mouthfeel. The finish is fairly long at 15-20 seconds.

Tasted next to the basic Valpolicella Rio Albo, this is worth twice the money of that wine.

11/7/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Popped and poured. Dark fruit and vanilla on the nose, which translated onto the palate. While the vanilla was evident, I did not feel it was over-oaked at all. A finish in the 15-20 second range. It opened up nicely over 2 hours and showed more red fruit with cream than earlier. A nice Alexander Valley cab in the $40 range.

11/1/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Nice earthy character, which gives it a rustic appeal. The acid was also a good component. The finish is a bit short. All in all, this is a nice dolcetto from a good producer. At only $10, I could add this into weekday rotation.

5/9/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Excellent dark fruit flavor that is also on the nose. A bit of alcohol on the nose, but this started to blow off after about an hour. The mouthfeel had sweet and soft tannins but held up well with the bacon-wrapped filet mignon. A bit of mint or menthol was a nice touch on the palate and the oak was in check. Nice bottle.

5/7/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

A nice mid-week bottle of Grenache for $15. Extremely fruity with a light red color and body.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Popped the cork 7 hours prior, with the last 3 in the decanter. A wonderful Margaux. Incredibly dark purple, with a classic perfumed nose. Well balanced and extremely elegant, smooth mouthfeel. Good acidity and lovely long finish. This is tasty now with a long decant, but I am looking forward to following this over the next 10-15 years. At $50, this is a great classified Bdx QPR.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Excellent CDP that will only get better over the next 10 years. Popped the cork 6 hours prior, with the last 2 hours in the decanter. Dark in color with a nose of kirsch, meat, and some earth. Plenty of dark fruit on the palate and the alcohol is in check. Long finish.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Nice dark purple/red color. Nose of vanilla, mint, and chocolate. The tannins are rounding out, and there is a well-balanced mouthfeel.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): The nose was a bit muted. Dark purple in color. Firm tannins and oak on the palate with a good amount of dark fruit. Medium finish.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): A nice, simple CdR. Dark ruby in color and nice fruit on the palate. The surprise was the smoother mouthfeel and the alcohol being in check. For $10-$12, this is a good mid-week wine.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): This bottle did not show as well as a previous bottle. The acidity and alcohol were somewhat overbearing. However, the concentration of dark fruit flavors were consistent as before.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Maybe the score was influenced by my low expectations, but this was a beautiful, smooth, medium-bodied Burgundy. Smoked cherries on the nose with cherry and red fruit on the palate. A well-balanced wine that just kept getting better over the 4 hours.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Bright strawberry and raspberry nose to go along with the brighter red color. The fruit is abundant on the palate and teams with fantastic acidity. This will be a fun wine to follow for several years.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Golden in color with a fantastic smokey mineral nose. The mineral notes flowed through on the palate and paired nicely with the grilled chicken.

4/17/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Ryan's Wine Tasting #002 - Compare and Contrast (Blaine, MN): Nice golden color with a bright fruit-driven nose of stone fruit. The mouthfeel was rich with a touch of buttery oak. Overall, a nice CA Chard, even if too young.

3/28/2010 - mn_horn Likes this wine:

Big, ripe dark fruit. I definitely see the differences from the more subtle '04, and understand how people can feel this is over-ripe and extracted, with stewed fruit. I however felt it was delicious, due to the combination of the acidity, meat notes, herbs, and overall balance. I suggest you let it sit in a decanter for 2+ hours, as it definitely opened up later in the evening.

2/7/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Nice, easy-drinking Zin. Dark fruit, vanilla, and tad bit of spice. Nothing complex, but a solid effort.

1/29/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Birthday Dinner - Restaurant CRU (Blaine, MN): More expressive on the nose than I remembered and not cloying. This paired very well with the caramel and cinnamon in an apple tarte tatin.

1/29/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Birthday Dinner - Restaurant CRU (Blaine, MN): A classic yeasty and nutty nose with flavors of green apples and almonds. Nice acidity. Overall a pleasurable sparkler.

1/29/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Birthday Dinner - Restaurant CRU (Blaine, MN): Popped, poured, and at slightly less than room temperature. The color was a deep red/ purple. Dark fruit, herbs, and meat on the nose. The smoked meat and dark fruit are in abundance on the palate, with notes of licorice. It was fantastic, but am looking forward to see what is in store after 3-5 more years.

1/29/2010 - mn_horn wrote:

Birthday Dinner - Restaurant CRU (Blaine, MN): Served at room temperature. Light yellow in color with a nose of melon, some floral notes, and wet rocks. On the palate, it showed great acidity and the minerality you come to expect from Dagueneau. More pear and apple than melon flavors. The finish had incredible length and the wine continued to show better throughout the 4 hrs it lasted.

12/13/2009 - mn_horn wrote:

COLOR: Ruby - no bricking NOSE: Meaty, licorice, red berries, and a hint of mint TASTE: Superb mouthfeel, rich, with the typical kirsch and meat notes. The tannins were still firm, but refined. FINISH: 30-40 seconds OVERALL: Not as funky as other Beaucastels, but this was youthful with plenty of time left. Outstanding effort. I will enjoy opening my remaining bottle in a few years.

12/6/2009 - mn_horn wrote:

I don't have much experience with albarino, but this was an enjoyable bottle. The color was light gold and the nose was vibrant with notes of stone fruit, some tropical fruit, and wet rocks. It was medium to fuller bodied on the palate with strong flavors of the wet rocks and a hint of citrus and petrol. Medium finish.

11/27/2009 - mn_horn wrote:

A well done Oregon Pinot. Cherry and cola on the nose that transfers to the palate as well. Tons of dark fruit, but enough earthness to keep it interesting. Paired well with herb and bacon crusted turkey.

11/22/2009 - mn_horn wrote:

This was a test bottle to see if I wanted to purchase more for the cellar, and it did not disappoint. Tasted after a 4 hour decant and over the course of 4 hours. Dense and rich, with spice and floral notes. The tannins were definitely tough, as expected, but this classicly styled Barolo should age nicely over the next 10 years.

11/17/2009 - mn_horn wrote:

All fruit and no spice. It is delicious, with loads of red and black fruit on the nose and palate. Thick mouthfeel and a medium-length finish.

11/17/2009 - mn_horn wrote:

Good acid and minerality, but maintains enough sweetness to pair with spicy cream sauces. Not much depth and somewhat one-dimensional, however for the price it is an excellent $10 mid-week Riesling.