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Tasting Notes for MIRick

(233 notes on 168 wines)

1 - 50 of 233 Sort order
Red
3/25/2024 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
Drinking nicely, but would suggest decanting prior to serving. Definitely several more years of life
Red
3/23/2024 - MIRick wrote:
88 points
Concur with Peyersol. We let decanted back and forth between glasses to give it air and it began to show what lies within.
Red
3/18/2024 - MIRick wrote:
90 points
Struggling with this wine. Out of the bottle was big and didn't seem integrated. Inerted the bottle and on day 2 was a little better integrated, but not up to what I expect from a Long Shadows wine
Red
3/18/2024 - MIRick wrote:
87 points
Likely spoiled by Willamette Valley Pinots, but this misses
Red
2013 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
3/17/2024 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Score was for day 2. Wine was still tight and finally opened up beautifully on the 2nd day. Would suggest decanting
White
3/1/2024 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Taste like a wonderful older Chardony should, notes of melon and vanilla. Still enough acid to fest the rich mouth feel.
Red
2/28/2024 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
The wine maker Lewis has made a beautiful Pinot that will age for many more years. While out of the bottle it was good, but tight.
Red
2/27/2024 - MIRick wrote:
94 points
Fully agree with the last review. The wine was beautifully balanced
Red
12/6/2023 - MIRick Likes this wine:
92 points
needed time to open up - decant first
Red
2012 Figgins Estate Red Wine Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
12/5/2023 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
took a while to open up, but the wait was worth it. Thanks Chris
Red
11/12/2023 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Another great wine by Lewis
Red
11/10/2023 - MIRick wrote:
91 points
Still very big, did not have the opportunity to decant. We will next time
Red
10/20/2023 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
A very approachable Grenache at at very approachable price. Have tasted a vintage from 10 years ago and ages very well,
Red
9/4/2023 - MIRick wrote:
85 points
the bottle started out better, but went considerably down hill.
Red
8/9/2023 - MIRick Likes this wine:
93 points
Still very big will go many years past 2025. Wine was unapproachable on the first night. Two nights later w/vineration was showing its promise. Score is for the 3rd day of being open.
Red
7/29/2023 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
After 3 plus days the wine finally came around. For a short period the fruit finally came through and was spectacular, but then it again became dominated by acids and tannins.
Red
7/28/2023 - MIRick wrote:
87 points
I love Ben's wines, but this is the first time that I didn't like the wine. Lots of acids and tannins, but even on day 2 there was no fruit (less acids/tannins as would be expected). The wine was not balanced. We have one more bottle and will let it sit a bit longer. Also talk to Ben as to what he thought about the 2013 vintage.
Red
7/11/2023 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Drank over 3 days and lasted well. Assessment was day 1, but still good on day3 with inerting.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
7/9/2023 - MIRick wrote:
flawed
Not balanced 3 separate components seemingly dominated by acids and tannins with sourish froluit
Red
2014 Cadence Tapteil Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
6/25/2023 - MIRick wrote:
91 points
Agee with GMBDDS that age has done this wine well. It was a little big on day one and perfect to begin with in day. More bottles in cellar and will ask the winemaker for his opinion and will post on the next bottle. I do know that they are meant to age.
Red
2009 Sparkman Cellars Stella Mae Yakima Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
6/5/2023 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Nicely balanced to start, but faded as the evening went on.
Red
5/27/2023 - MIRick Does not like this wine:
86 points
It wa far from balanced being dominated by harsh tannins and acids. Do not think it will get better
Red
5/22/2023 - MIRick wrote:
90 points
Undrinkable the first day (dominated by acids and tannins), but good the 2nd day (inerted).
Red
2012 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill Yakima Valley Snipes Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
5/22/2023 - MIRick wrote:
80 points
Past it’s prime
Red
5/23/2023 - MIRick wrote:
84 points
Way past it’s prime
Red
5/8/2023 - MIRick wrote:
Wine was off
Red
2013 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
4/30/2023 - MIRick wrote:
88 points
Fresh out of the bottle a decent wine. However air was not kind to the wine and acids ended up dominating the wine.

Will open another bottle soon and hope for the better. Gilles, Long Shadows wine maker, makes spectacular wines so we were very surprised by this one bottle
Red
2012 DeLille Cellars Harrison Hill Yakima Valley Snipes Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
4/25/2023 - MIRick wrote:
83 points
Drink now it has not weathered time well
White
4/14/2023 - MIRick wrote:
90 points
A beautiful expression of an older Chardonay
Red
2012 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
4/1/2023 - MIRick wrote:
94 points
beautiful balance of fruit, acids and tannins - spectacular. Maybe another year or 2 of life, but hard to see how it would get better. Drink now
Red
12/17/2022 - MIRick wrote:
89 points
There were some good qualities when we started, but actually needed some air. However it quickly declined, as did the remaining wine in the bottle. My recommendation is to drink now and with a group that consumes the bottle on first pour.
Red
2011 Figgins Estate Red Wine Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
11/24/2022 - MIRick wrote:
87 points
At first taste it was pleasant, but quickly began to be dominated by ugly acids and tannins. Inerted the wine, but second day was not better - nor worse. Will try one of the last 2 bottles in the near future.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
11/10/2022 - MIRick wrote:
90 points
This is the first time I have not thoroughly enjoyed a Long Shadows wine. Given the age the wine should have been better integrated, it wasn’t. The acids and tannins were a shade unpleasant and opposing (?). I’m not sure how to describe it. If I can find another bottle I would like to retaste. This was

I can honestly say that this is only the second bottle of theirs that I have not enjoyed. The first was the original vintage Sequel Syrah well after it had any chance of being passable. This also intended to be a toast to a great visionary and gentleman, Allen Shoup
Red
11/19/2022 - MIRick Does not like this wine:
87 points
This was a noticeable improvement from the 2014 tasted a couple of days previously. However the traits were similar in that the acids an tannins were objectionable and the fruit passable
Red
11/18/2022 - MIRick wrote:
flawed
The wine was an unpleasant mix of acids, tannins and fruit. Given the cellar tracker postings I was looking forward to drinking the wine.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
11/19/2022 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
I think it is finally coming into its own, still a little more settling of the acids would be nice. Fine tannins, nice fruit. Surprisingly it went very well with tuna on the salad nicoise and held up beautifully to the capers. It went even better with the flourless chocolate cake. And as a tip of my hat to the wine maker Ben Smith and his love of music, it went fantastically with Taj Mahal!
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
11/15/2022 - MIRick Likes this wine:
91 points
I agree with the previous 2 reviews, it needs more time in the bottle - promise is there for something greater that what I tasted.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
10/26/2022 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Beautiful wine, but believe it need either aeration or a few more years in the bottle
Red
10/27/2022 - MIRick wrote:
91 points
We got this bottle from a friend when he left the country. It started out nicely, but then became dominated with acids and tannins, with little fruit.
Red
10/11/2022 - MIRick wrote:
90 points
I agree with the previous post. Day 1 aeration required, day 2 more interesting. However I would let them mature another 2ish years, acids, tannins and fruit are balanced. Just need more time.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
10/9/2022 - MIRick wrote:
90 points
At times we thought the wine was past its prime, but would then redeem itself. Flipping back and forth throughout the evening. This is the first disappointment we have ever had from Long Shadows, though they have set their bar very high for us.
Red
10/5/2022 - MIRick wrote:
94 points
Nice old world funk. Went great with Elk burgers
Red
9/9/2022 - MIRick wrote:
94 points
Another beautiful wine from Ben Smith’s Cadence Winery. Wine required decanting and tasted beautifully offer the course of the evening. Even though it was 89% Cab Franc it didn’t count across with that grapes normal green pepper flavors. I would say it was more along the li es if a right bank style. Spectacular Ben!
Red
9/7/2022 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
This bottle was as equally as nice as the last, but seemed to open up more quickly.
Red
8/25/2022 - MIRick wrote:
88 points
Disappointed, generally Betz Syrahs age well. This one wasn't as balanced/integrated as I expected it to be given the relatively young age.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
8/2/2022 - MIRick wrote:
93 points
Rating was for 2nd day as it needed time to open up. I recommend decanting or wait another year or two before opening
Red
2017 Saviah Cellars Une Vallee Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
8/3/2022 - MIRick wrote:
87 points
This bottle of Une did not come across as equal to the quality of wines from Saviah Cellars. There was fruit and tannins, but no acids to help round out the wine
Red
2012 Betz Family Clos de Betz Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
8/4/2022 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Wine stated out like a typically well crafted Betz wine. A little tight on opening bet mellowed quickly with bright red fruit, nice tannins and some tannins. Towards the end of the bottle the wine started to dominated by the fruit and some tannins. Will try another bottle shortly, but it may be time to drink up.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
6/21/2022 - MIRick wrote:
91 points
Drinking nicely right out of the bottle with balanced fruit, acids and tannins. However after about 40 minutes, bottle being inertted, the fruit disappeared and was dominated by acids and tannins. Not sure whether I believe it would last as long as the drinking window suggests, but do think it has some life left.
1 person found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
6/16/2022 - MIRick wrote:
92 points
Opened up 2 days ago and decided to inert and try the next day. noticeably better - beautiful and exactly what we expect of Chris' wines.
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  • Tasting Notes: 233 notes on 168 wines
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