4/7/2024 - bsbrown05 wrote:

Unfortunately past its prime. I was hoping it would improve with air but it did not.

4/7/2024 - bsbrown05 wrote:

Past its prime. Very heavy. Alcohol didn’t burn off with air.

2/1/2024 - bsbrown05 wrote:

Last 750, consumed over 2 nights. Lacked most of the typical MRR bouquet and flavor profile. No real difference between first and second nights.

12/24/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Opened 9/23/23 with friends while our kids were at their homecoming dance. Flawless in every way—I’ve never tasted anything like it but could not think of one thing about it I did not like. Tasted monthly thereafter (while being stored at 55 in our wine room) and did not change its flavor profile at 10/23 or 11/23 at all. Head and shoulders above any other young-ish d’Yquem I’ve ever tasted (and we opened a 2015 375 on 11/23, Thanksgiving Day, and had a 2009 375 earlier this year). When re-tasting, and finishing the bottle, this evening, it had taken on the orange flavors consistent with the recent 1967 (750ml) and 1975 (375ml) we have opened, and it’s primary sweetness had faded somewhat. I have yet to try a ‘29, ‘37, ‘45 or ‘59, but this ‘01 has set an awfully high threshold for us!

12/1/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Opened Friday, finished the following Thursday. Faded when we finished the bottle but excellent bouquet upon first opening, and not overpowering.

11/3/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside ‘16 Aubert Hyde, Sugar Shack and UV-SL. Solid Chardonnay.

11/3/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Tasted alongside ‘16 Aubert Eastside, Sugar Shack and UV-SL. Excellent and I agree with other recent TNs.

11/3/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Tasted along with Aubert ‘16 Hyde, Eastside and Sugar Shack. Far and away the best of the four, with the caveat of the Sugar Shack having been maderized.

11/3/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Slightly maderized. Blinded tasting with Aubert ‘16: Eastside, Hyde, Sugar Shack and UV-SL. Definitely an off bottle with other bottles we have recently tasted having been top-notch.

12/2/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Served at work holiday party. Excellent SB-based wine.

12/2/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Work holiday party at our house. Tasted throughout the evening and was superb. Glad to have more of it!

12/25/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Late entry. Served with ‘97 Harlan and ‘82 Mouton for Christmas lunch/dinner. Lighter color. Our first bottle and am glad to have more bottles to enjoy of this legendary vintage.

12/25/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Late entry. Served with ‘97 Harlan and ‘67 D’Yquem for Christmas lunch/dinner. My first bottle and it did not disappoint. Quite the contrast to the Harlan, but I now understand why this vintage is rated as highly as it is.

12/25/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Late entry. Best California Cabernet I’ve ever had, bar none. Glad to have had the opportunity to try one. Served with ‘82 Mouton and ‘67 D’Yquem for Christmas lunch/dinner.

11/22/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

It’s hard to not enjoy any Aubert Pinot, and this was no exception. Worthwhile to have in reasonable amounts for the long term.

11/18/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Opened 11/18, finished 11/22.

My first of the allocation! Definitely had the Colgin bouquet out of the gate. On 11/22, the wine was as good, if not better, than on the first day. I did not drink any between 11/18 and 11/22. Dark fruits on 11/22 were prominent. The tannins had resolved on 11/22 as well. This is an excellent second wine, and is better than lots of wineries flagship releases! Ample years remaining.

10/20/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Plenty of life remaining in this wine, as it was equally drinkable on the second day. I am very happy to have been offered an allocation of this wine, given its prices in the secondary market!

9/9/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Opened towards the end of the evening tasting other 2012s: Gargiulo OVX, Colgin Tychson Hill, IX Estate and Cariad. Solid wine, but was not to the level of the others we opened that evening. I’d be interested to see how later vintages compare in the years ahead.

9/9/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Opened while finishing a blind tasting of Colgin’s Tychson Hill, IX Estate and Cariad of the same vintage. The OVX held its own, but lacked a bit of the strength compared to the Colgins.

9/9/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Blind tasting with Tychson Hill and IX Estate of same vintage. My #2, with the fruit shining through but not overpowering.

9/9/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Blind tasting with Tychson Hill and Cariad of same vintage. Strong showing with it being the most Bordeaux-like of the trio.

9/9/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Blind tasting against IX Estate and Cariad of same vintage. It took about 30-45 minutes to open but outshone the others once it was ready. Agree with other comments on cherry/red fruit prominence. We later opened a Gargiulo OVX and TVH that were drinking well, but not to the level of the three Colgin.

Overall:
1. Tychson Hill
2. Cariad
3. IX Estate
4. OVX
5. TVH

10/26/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Better the first night than the second. Somewhat lacking on the finish compared to other vintages.

9/22/2023 - bsbrown05 wrote:

A bit disappointing, opened 9/22 and finished 9/23. Definitely tired on the second day. Maybe just a faulty bottle. Not corked, though.

6/2/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Superb bottle. Agree with other recent TNs.

5/27/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Excellent, crisp SB. First foray into Woodbridge’s newer project, and it didn’t disappoint.

5/26/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Consistently one of our favorite Rose’ and this bottle was no exception.

5/20/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Consumed over 3 days, and it was somewhat tired on day 3.

5/19/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this bottle and feel the wine could go another few years. Dark fruits, smooth palate. Not fading after being open for 3+hours. I’ll save my magnum for a few years!

4/29/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Excellent. No decant needed. Less dense when compared to 2014 Vecina but outstanding nonetheless. Highly recommend. Could go another several years with ease.

4/29/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Excellent. Drank after 2004 Vecina. Better after short decant. Slightly more floral.

4/20/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Excellent out of the bottle. Not overpowering. From 375.

3/22/2023 - bsbrown05 Does not like this wine:

I agree with other recent notes. Lots of smoke, with no improvement on day 2. Received as a gift, which was purchased from Buckley somewhere along the line, given the sticker on the bottle. Not sure how many time this bottle changed hands.

2/28/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Opened after I got the new release offering. Good wine, and finished 3 days later without it having lost too much of its verve—but was a little on the heavy side. Even with low production, and not wanting to count out TRB’s winemaking ability, it is not a good value, however, when compared to Marcassin and The Judge.

2/24/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Excellent Rose’. Crisp. Highly recommended.

2/17/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Pretty reasonable wine that is ready to consume without further delay.

2/11/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

A little closed at opening but improved to showing outstandingly well after a 1 hour decant. I can not say enough good things about Cariad. My only regret is not having enough of it in my cellar!

2/3/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Held its own—better than expected—over the 5 days we drank the bottle. It was better the last 3 days, so I believe this will drink well for another few years at least.

2/4/2023 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Held up well over the three days we gradually drank it, even as an off year vintage.

1/28/2023 - bsbrown05 wrote:

Much better day 2 (1/28) than day 1. I believe well-stored bottles have a few years remaining.

11/26/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

I had partially forgotten why I was willing to pay such a premium for this vintage of Cariad. This bottle reminded me, and would be hard pressed to not purchase more if the opportunity presented itself!

Complete perfection from start to finish, with no decant—and I didn’t feel it needed it. It didn’t last long enough to see how it would have held up on day 2…

12/3/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

From magnum. Great wine—still showing well.

12/3/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

From magnum, at work party. Definitely ready to drink from large format. Began to fade after some time in glass.

10/23/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Drank this over 3 nights (opened Friday, finished Sunday) and this bottle showed absolutely no decline between the first day and this evening, when we finished the bottle. As such, I believe this wine has lots of years remaining. Agree with other recent TNs. This wine is hard to surpass.

8/25/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Consumed this over 1 week, opening 8/25, finishing 9/3 (we were out of town last week) and this bottle held up incredibly well. Had some concerns it would be almost maderized, but it was not at all. Bravo to the winemakers for a well made Chardonnay.

7/30/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Excellent Pinot. I agree with previous TNs. Needs time to open and has several years remaining.

7/16/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Purchased from winery as a library release, in May 2020; opened bottle, no decant, recorked bottle between servings, on its side to minimize sediment.
5:10pm: Very tightly wound upon opening. Sludge at the cork.
6:00pm: Much more expressive bouquet of red and black fruits. Tannins remain very strong.
6:40pm: bouquet remains strong. Tannins resolving.
7:20pm: bouquet less pronounced.
8:15pm: seems to be losing steam. Finish fairly truncated but well integrated secondary characteristics.

7/15/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

Similar to prior comments, it’s difficult to not drink the CIX! The usual spiciness of younger Aubert, complex as ever.

4/16/2022 - bsbrown05 Likes this wine:

More restrained than other Aubert Chards upon opening, but excellent nonetheless. It did quite well, becoming more expressive with additional air, over the ensuring 2 hours we drank the bottle. Another outstanding offering by Mark Aubert and his team!

11/25/2021 - bsbrown05 Does not like this wine:

Slightly maderized, similar to a bottle we consumed last spring from the same vintage. Both bottles were from the same lot from auction. Disappointing to say the least. I would have liked for the first bottle to have been a one-off. It seems as though 20 years is too old for a California Chardonnay, even when crafted by a master winemaker.