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Comments on my notes

(22 comments on 19 notes)

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Red
2000 Carruades de Lafite Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
9/26/2023 - brianngibson wrote:
95 points
I am so pleased that 5 years after my last bottle, bottle #9 of 12 (originally purchased as futures) is still drinking much like my 2018 tasting note. There is only a faint bricking on the rim.

I still get plum, cigar box and graphite. I am now picking up some tertiary flavor of mushrooms. The tannins are still silky and the finish is long.

I wonder for those with such different experiences if it is storage conditions over 23 years, or such a drastic difference in style (greater ripeness including higher ABV) compared to younger vintages.

Nothing about this tells me this wine won’t go to 2030.
  • brianngibson commented:

    12/17/23, 9:33 AM - Should have been 2018! Corrected.

Red
2000 Carruades de Lafite Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
9/20/2023 - Hubble Shire Farm wrote:
96 points
Reading some of the comments below, I just don't get it.... The 2000 Carraudes is absolutely lovely upon opening--gorgeous nose, silky tannins which is what Lafite is all about. Cedar, bergamot, tart cherry all emerge after 30 mins. Much more than just a classic Pauillac! Can't wait to see where this goes over the next few hours and in a few years!! Wonderful value for a second wine.
  • brianngibson commented:

    9/26/23, 6:41 PM - I’m with you in this one. I wonder if some of it is lack of familiarity with older vintages that are less ripe and lower in ABV. This is 12.5% and going to drink very differently than more Modern styled recent vintages.

Red
2015 Cayuse God Only Knows Walla Walla Valley Grenache
9/21/2020 - SICILIAN-SOLE wrote:
90 points
I want to like this wine more than I did. I love the clarity and weight of this wine as well as the bright acidity, but at the same time I think it's those same qualities of finesse that are it's downfall, as it doesn't hold up to the overwhelming Cayuse Funk like the syrahs do. I believe the the power in the syrahs are able to make the funk an interesting tertiary flavor whereas in the grenache the funk is pretty much all I got. I waited until day 2 to write this note hoping some of it would blow off...but nope!
  • brianngibson commented:

    10/21/20, 7:52 PM - Totally agree

Red
2013 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Napa Valley
8/20/2019 - brianngibson wrote:
97 points
Stunning. (Totally shocked to see recent reviews that differ from my experience.) First bottle of 4 stored perfectly in the cellar since release. This offered a perfumed nose with crushed berry, currants, and oak. Tannins were velvety and smooth. On the palate the fruit was bursting in the mouth with soft oak influence. I just wanted to keep pouring more ...
  • brianngibson commented:

    8/21/19, 5:44 PM - Only about 30 minutes before first service then consumed over the next 2 hours. Review was from the end but really thought it was great from first pop to last drop.

  • brianngibson commented:

    8/25/19, 3:33 PM - Well I have a personal preference for Napa Cabs in the 6-12 year age range, though certainly it could go longer. So I think it is entering its prime window. If I only had one to drink, I would probably target 9-10 years.

Red
2010 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Oakville
4/13/2019 - brianngibson wrote:
99 points
I haven’t decided what perfection tastes like. But this has to be close.
  • brianngibson commented:

    4/15/19, 7:08 AM - Didn’t have an opportunity to decant, but it was open a little over an hour before pouring. Drank just over 1/2 the first night and the remainder the next. Both nights it wa exquisite. A couple of hours in the decanter might have helped but it wS so good i can’t complain.

    This was my second and last of two bottles from my second vintage I received an allocation from. My allocations have gone up over the years since, though it is still a challenge because you mostly get a bootie or two of more of the wines produced. I appreciate that I am now getting almost all the wines (including Old Sparky) but it is really impossible to taste a single vintage label over multiple points in its life cycle. Ultimately I think give them 5 years and maybe pick some point before 15 to enjoy. They will age much longer, but probably more risk and less upside.

Red
2011 Quilceda Creek Red Wine Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
1/14/2018 - jshufelt wrote:
92 points
Decanted one hour before service. In the glass, opaque red shading to dark maroon at the core. On the nose, currants, plums, and a faint hint of cedar. On the palate, a very soft texture with no discernible tannins, with cassis, currants, and a bit of oak in an uncomplicated but quite pleasant mixture. Given the lack of tannins, I don't understand a drinking window that runs out to 2034(!), but I don't understand a lot of things these days. In any case, try a bottle now and see what you think.
  • brianngibson commented:

    1/19/18, 7:16 PM - Assume you are referring to the Wine Advocate review by Jeb Dunnuck regarding 2034. I have always thought that was a typo ... maybe 2024. It isn’t even consistent with the text of the note which says it will evolve nicely “upwards of a decade” which sounds like 2024 compared to the start of 2014.

    That 2034 drinking window would be more consistent with the Estate Cab than the Columbia Valley Red (CVR).

    Either way, I am drinking my last bottle now ...

Red
2013 Horsepower Vineyards Syrah The Tribe Vineyard Walla Walla Valley
4/6/2016 - TGOT Does not like this wine:
87 points
Not getting this wine at all right now. Way too young perhaps? Deep flavors of tobacco, leather and smoke, but like a brisket that's been on the smoker a day too long. Maybe this will change with time? Will try again tomorrow to see if it opens up.

One day later: It did not get better. Was actually undrinkable. Will have to open another bottle to see if there was something wrong with the first one.
  • brianngibson commented:

    7/4/16, 1:56 PM - Webb Dunnuck originally called for cellaring this wine until 2017 when tasted before release. Now he has revised that to 2020. I imagine you popped this way too early for the tannins to resolve.

Red
2012 Cirq Pinot Noir TreeHouse Russian River Valley
4/3/2016 - brianngibson wrote:
94 points
One of the better bottles of Pinot Noir I have had in a while. Bursting with cherry and raspberry fruit. The finish was elegant, and leaves more than a hint of baking spice on the back palate. I found this to open pretty quickly for me, though a decant would have been worthwhile.
  • brianngibson commented:

    4/4/16, 5:32 AM - If I had time, I would. But I didn't and I didn't regret it.

Red
2012 Roy Piper Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
12/8/2015 - brianngibson wrote:
93 points
Blueberry, plum, cassis, soft toasted oak, a little vanilla. Classic Napa Cab profiles, with juicy fruit, sweet tannins, nice acidity keeping it light and lively on the palate. Roy's best effort to date.
  • brianngibson commented:

    1/14/16, 10:42 AM - From memory, perhaps slightly darker in profile than prior vintages. Not drastic, however. Not dark ripe blueberry and blackberry profile.

Red
2011 Robert Foley Claret Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
11/18/2015 - brianngibson wrote:
Not rated. Not sure, but this bottle may be off as my experience doesn't resemble existing notes or my past experience with the wine in previous vintages. Perhaps vintage variation is an explanation, but beyond that, there is a mustiness to the wine that is obscuring the fruit. I taste a lot of extra acidity in this wine. And it has green olives and violets that I don't consider typical. The cork had tartrate crystals, which are not a flaw per se, but may indicate this wine got very cold at some point. This has a weird combination of slightly corked and slightly volatile acidity. Totally unique in my experience with this wine
  • brianngibson commented:

    11/21/15, 7:57 PM - Thanks for the reply. That has been my experience as well. Though often I will wait for a second bottle to see if it might have been me ... Or s single bottle being off. Though even if it is a single bottle, at the price point it is worth reporting an experience.

    The worst thing is I opened this side-by-side for a friend with a 2011 Figgins as a neat horizontal and it didn't show well at all. Not the full throttle big fruit Foley I expected.

  • brianngibson commented:

    11/22/15, 11:24 AM - Figgins is a great label produced by Chris Figgins, second generation winemaker and owner of Leonnetti Cellars (http://www.figginsfamily.com). After years of Leonnetti being one of the pre-eminent labels in Washington state -- particularly for Cabernet -- Chris decided to create a separate label for their first estate wine. It is a Bordeaux style blend. More finesse and elegance than over extraction and ripe fruit.

    Highly recommend.

Red
2011 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard Walla Walla Valley
2/18/2015 - brianngibson wrote:
95 points
Mineral, funk, smoked meat, and slightly floral. I think some people just don't get this wine, and it still clearly has a lot of developing to do. But if you get it, it is a beautiful thing.
  • brianngibson commented:

    9/13/15, 11:02 AM - I tend to ere on the side of drinking too early to too late. But I think 7 years is a good point to assume this wine is entering its peak period of development. I will probably have my 2nd of 3 bottles about then and the final around age 10. Could not go longer? Probably. My guess is it won't get substantially better thereafter.

Red
2005 Château Talbot St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
8/12/2015 - brianngibson wrote:
91 points
Black currant, tobacco, smoke, cedar. Softening tannins and a medium finish. Classic Bordeaux; enjoyable even if not mind blowing.
  • brianngibson commented:

    8/13/15, 5:39 AM - I think it sort of depends on how many bottles you have and your preference for drinking early in the drinking window or late. I didn't find it to be shut down at all. I think it is ready to drInk but would be fine to wait too. I only had two bottles and was willing to give it a go, and probably will hold the next one 4 -6 years. I like to put some age on my Bordeaux, but at some point I get anxious to pop the cork. If I had a case, I wouldn't hesitate to start drinking and finish over the next 15 years.

Red
2009 Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate Santa Lucia Highlands
3/31/2014 - brianngibson wrote:
92 points
Sour cherry, cherry pie, cranberry, a bit minerally, moderated oak. Silky finish, medium in length. First bottle opened of the 3-pack, and it is showing very well.
  • brianngibson commented:

    4/4/14, 7:59 AM - Frank, I really didn't find this overly rich. Not sure if it was my palate that particular night, what I have been drinking lately, or the fact that I took my note after a couple hours of sipping on it.

    I have a vertical of 2007 - 2011 going, and I recently purchased a Coravin. I am actually looking forward to doing a little vertical tasting of this wine in particular, something I have never really had a good chance to do. Should be a good one to educate myself more not he vintage variations.

Red
2010 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa / Sonoma
1/5/2014 - brianngibson wrote:
93 points
Looking at the WA review, I get everything but the drink window. I get that this wine might go on a long time ... But start drinking in 2020? I would agree that 2014 is early I its window, but this wine is already singing. I don't agree with the starting pint, and wonder how much risk there would be at waiting 10 years for the beginning of this wine's drinking window.

Whether you hold or drink now, just know this wine has beautiful violet, licorice, cassis, and blackberry showing. Gripping tannins, but not so powerful as to make a second glass undesirable.
  • brianngibson commented:

    1/19/14, 3:25 PM - When I consumed this bottle in early 2014, I had missed that I referenced the Wine Advocate review from Antonio Galloni's original 93+ point review, but there was a more recent review from Robert Parker on October 31, 2013.

    First off, Parker's review includes a drinking window ending in 2021, whereas Galloni's had the window beginning in 2020. I find that very odd and makes me wonder if Galloni's was a typo. Second, surprising to me that Galloni would end up being the one more generous with point rating, with Parker only giving this wine 89 points.

Red
2005 Continuum Proprietary Red Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
11/8/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote:
94 points
Colgin, SQN, SHS, Saxum, Bevan, DP ++++ (GHT): Gorgeous way to start off the reds. A nose of red berries, and cassis. On the palate, young but integrated. Soft smooth tannins. Layered red fruit with a charred under layer. Elegant. Lovely balance. Nice finish.
  • brianngibson commented:

    1/10/14, 9:01 PM - Loren I have one bottle left of the 2005 and a vertical through the most recent release of the 2010. I am holding off on finishing out the 2005, but am always in favor of erring on the side of drinking early to past past maturity. Suspect I will have the last 2005 in the next 1-2 years. Thanks for reporting on your taste.

Red
2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
11/14/2013 - brianngibson wrote:
94 points
Open for about 4 hours. This is showing really nicely. Dark cherry, raspberry, river stones, and a bit of spice on the finish. Seems much more complex than about 14 months ago, and not sure if that is because it has been open longer (not sure if it has) or if it was just a bit close down back then. This is ready to drink but has the structure to stick around int he cellar a while if you want it to.
  • brianngibson commented:

    11/15/13, 8:39 AM - I only have one bottle left, and will probably wait 18 to 24 months to open it up. I generally like my Cali Pinot in the 3 - 7 year window from the vintage year.

Red
2010 Epoch Estate Wines Estate Blend Paderewski Vineyard Paso Robles Red Rhone Blend
9/24/2013 - Ex-Ray Likes this wine:
92 points
Very tasty wine, even better the second night. Juicy and succulent, nice cabernet aroma and flavor, very round and approachable with tannin in the background. Only problem is...there are wines I'd like just as much (or even prefer) for half the price! Why are so few tasting notes mentioning price-quality comparisons?
Ric
  • brianngibson commented:

    10/17/13, 8:17 PM - Internationally I think there are good alternatives at lower price points . . . but in terms of California, I find it hard to find many options better than this at $40. There are some Carlisle and Turley alternatives I like, but little else in the sub-$40 range.

Red
2011 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Cargasacchi Vineyard Sta. Rita Hills
7/7/2013 - MattMauldin wrote:
Sta Rita Hills tasting- Sunday 7/7: Big and opulent, with notes of baked plum and black cherry with lots of baking spice and hints of earth and medicinal-herbal notes. Aggressive fruit and spice paired with a velvety and rich mouthfeel, with a full finish.
  • brianngibson commented:

    9/18/13, 6:24 PM - Was this on a 90 pt scale, or the more typical 100 pt scale? I have a hard time seeing this as an 85 pt wine. Your note doesn't sound like an 85 pt wine. I only picked up on one negative descriptor, medicinal, which if this tastes like medicine, drug me! Clearly you don't prefer a more extracted fruit driven Pinot, and I can only assume you prefer a more acidic version, but I find this to be well balanced and delicious, earning more respect than an 85 implies.

  • brianngibson commented:

    9/19/13, 5:30 AM - Thanks for taking the feedback constructively. And I thought your note was spot on. I would still contend it was relatively well balanced, simply leaving more heavily on a riper fruit style driven in large part by the vineyard.

    I know we have "point inflation" issues in reviews, but I would never have quibbled with an 87 or 88. The 85 just stuck out to me, especially compared to the tasting note.

    I sometimes wonder if CT should have some algorithm for the CT average that drops both high and low scores outside of a standard deviation or something.

Red
2010 Epoch Estate Wines Tempranillo Paso Robles
3/12/2013 - rcg62 wrote:
86 points
Nice, flavorful, probably more fruit forward and ready to drink than a young Rioja. A nice effort but nothing special. From Epoch, the far better value at this lower price point is their Estate Blend.
  • brianngibson commented:

    9/6/13, 7:46 AM - Are you sure you have reviewed the correct vintage? This wine hasn't been released yet.

    From their Facebook page: "... the 2010 Tempranillo is slated to be released this fall! Keep an eye out for an email from us in the next few weeks." -9/1/2013

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