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Tasting Notes for wineracquet

(142 notes on 126 wines)

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Red
9/27/2022 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
91 points
This bottle showed very well. Almost no air needed. Dried dark fruit, good balance of tannins and acidity. nice long dry finish. A perfect match with grilled steak. Wish I had more! Somewhat of an unsung hero of the fantastic 2006 vintage.
Red
4/27/2022 - wineracquet Does not like this wine:
83 points
I've enjoyed 2 other Jumilla Ego wines in the past; The Infiito was excellent, The 18M quite good, but The Gold isn't near the quality of the previous two. On the plus side, it has decent structure and complexity. On the minus side, at this point in time, it's too fruity sweet and it has an odd off putting taste. It tastes to me like the 3 different varieties' percentages make for the odd taste. I generally respect WS reviews more than most and have sometimes been surprised in the past, that with more bottle age, some seemingly overscored wines do come close to measuring up to their reviews. Who knows with The Gold?
Rosé
2019 Sleeper Rosé Sonoma County Rosé Blend (view label images)
6/10/2021 - wineracquet Does not like this wine:
60 points
The Sleeper Rose represents everything I used to dislike about rose wine until I wound up tasting some beautifully dry roses and realized all roses are not soft, sweet, and flabby. Unfortunately, the Sleeper Rose IS soft, sweet and flabby. Some Sleeper cabernets are very good qpr wines but their 2019 rose has no redeeming qualities unless you're into wine coolers!
Red
5/26/2021 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
89 points
Rated this poorly a couple of years ago. at that time it was very harsh and unyielding. I was pleasantly surprised at how much it has developed since then. Still a big tannic wine, but no longer overly so. A very good match with linguine with homemade meatballs in tomato sauce!
Red
5/1/2021 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
88 points
I have to agree with Scorbett on this wine. Great value sangiovese. Enough structure to hold up to classic tomato sauce and cheese Italian dishes while not too aggressive to have a bit of it on its own. Great pizza match!
Red
2010 Château Haut-Nouchet Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend (view label images)
Agree with Epiphany. Similar experience. This was an old WTSO steal that has only gotten better with time. It has integrated well without losing it's backbone. Was an excellent with grilled top sirloin steak. Glad I have one left!
Red
3/17/2019 - wineracquet wrote:
80 points
Drinkable, but for Aglianico, it's mediocre. Deficient in everything I look for in this variety. Lacking body, fruit, and tannin. The better wines of this variety are quite powerful and show why Aglianico is sometimes referred to as "the Barolo of the South."
Red
11/27/2018 - wineracquet wrote:
2/3 of the reviews on this wine are by the same taster. That makes the average score quite questionable. What makes someone review the same wine 8 times, with basically the same notes and exactly the same 90 pt score each time? Does this have ant benefit? I certainly don't see any.
Red
2012 Castellani Chianti Classico Riserva Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)
11/15/2018 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
87 points
Good bargain Chianti classico. Many have commented on its nice smooth taste. That smooth taste does come at a cost imho. There is a lack of acidity that I do look for in a Chianti when pairing with tomato sauce- based Italian dishes. With some additional air time, the acidity did improve a bit. Still, for $10, I can't complain.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
Red
10/28/2018 - wineracquet wrote:
16 reviews with 14 of them coming from the same two people really skews the average score on this wine. What benefit do these two see in writing so many reviews on the same vintage of the same wine?
5 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Tres Lunas Toro Tinta de Toro, Tempranillo (view label images)
5/4/2018 - wineracquet wrote:
First bottle of 3. Not rating this bottle. Hoping it's just too young.The acidity in this bottle simply overwhelmed everything else. Never experienced such high acidity in any type of Tempranillo wine. The fruit is certainly driven home by the acidity and the tannins are certainly there, but everything is disjointed. Aired the bottle for at least an hour and drank half the bottle over a 3 hour period. Acidity remained dominant, fruit remained primary. The tannins, which I had hoped would come to the forefront, actually subsided. I had poured the remaining half of the bottle in a 375 ml screwtop bottle, with high hopes for a positive change. Tried half bottle 2 days later. It was still overly acidic and disjointed. Maybe with time this wine will come together and come close to the WS 92 rating. Perhaps this bottle was just off. But I know I won't be trying either of my remaining 2 bottles anytime soon.
Red
1/9/2018 - wineracquet wrote:
88 points
Good for what it is. Just don't expect a very traditional Italian red. New world fruity sangiovese and cabernet flavors are appealing but it lacks the backbone I enjoy in most Italian reds around this price point. I've had several bottles of this and I believe it has improved over the years but it's just not really my style.
Red
12/8/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
87 points
Nice smoky cherry and raspberry flavors when drinking alone. However, with sauce- based Italian food it seems to lack the acidity/ tannin necessary to complement sauce and cheese dishes. More than likely would go better with white meats and lean red meats. Rather unusual for a Chianti in that respect.
Red
12/3/2017 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
91 points
Outstanding qpr on this beautiful Veronese! This truly tastes like a baby Amarone. Smooth, but well structured with nicely balanced tannin and acidity. Flavors of dried cherry, fig, and spice, with a touch of earthiness round out this delicious Corvina blend.
3 people found this helpful Comment
White
12/1/2017 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
89 points
I wasn't that impressed with the first bottle I had of this on the p'np. That bottle was rather inexpressive: quite dry and crisp but lacking fruit flavors. This time around, I decided on a short decant, and it made a huge difference. The wine was quite elegant, with expressive apple and pear flavors that came across as crisp, subtle, and not at all cloying.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
11/29/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
First impression is the taste is pleasant and fruity. However, the next thing you realize is this tastes like a watered down version of what could have been a good wine. lastly, you notice this is very much lacking in structure. Probably best as a wine to have before or after a meal because the taste is pleasant but it lacks the concentration and structure to stand up to food.
Red
9/3/2017 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
92 points
This Super-Tuscan blend is still holding its own. Excellent depth and well integrated tannin, acid, and dark fruits. I'd guess that sangiovese is the dominant grape in this blend, with some merlot in the mix as well. Well balanced combination of old and new world characteristics.
Red
3/24/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
86 points
I waited awhile to write a review on this wine. At the time that I tried a bottle, I could not believe the unanimously positive reviews on this wine. I figured maybe I'd better wait to have the next bottle because my first impressions were that the wine was an unbalanced fruit bomb that was especially cloying without food. Now, months later, I see similar comments. I'll try another bottle, and see if my first impressions still hold true. I certainly hope not, because I have 5 more bottles left!
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
8/13/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
Agree that this is definitely on the sweeter side. I can see the high rating by WS for those who like a new world, fruit forward style. The wine gets high marks for complexity and depth for its price point, but for my palate it's just too sweet to seek out. One bottle was all I had and that was enough for me.
Red
6/27/2017 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
88 points
Tough to beat the qpr on this cab. Nice dry well structured wine with cassis and plum flavors and a slight green pepper edge. I usually splash decant this to help bring the fruit flavors to the forefront. A steal for around $10.
Red
5/15/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
82 points
92 points from James Suckling, of course! I wonder if JS has ever tasted a wne he did NOT consider rating a 90 or more. QPR aside, this wine is 10 pts or so lower than his score. Simple and thin and nowhere near an exceptional wine at any price!
Red
4/23/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
I agree with those who feel this wine needs more bottle age. I"m not sure why WS did not recommend holding this for a year or so instead of starting the drinking window immediately. At this point in time it is difficult to tell how this wine will develop. It certainly has the stuffing to age, but it is presently quite disjointed.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 El Escoces Volante Bullas Syrah Blend, Syrah (view label images)
1/17/2017 - wineracquet wrote:
87 points
Not sure how WA supposedly rated this a 93. Odd mix of flavors that just don't come together very well. Syrah and monastrell, but somehow tastes like neither. Main flavor seems to be caramel. A WTSO buy gone wrong.
Red
12/23/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
88 points
Gotta agree with "wine ratings" on the pronounced tannin at this point in time. Certainly not a Parker fruit bomb! Seems odd to decant a $10 wine, but this needs it, and remarkably, stands up to it. Certainly drinkable now with beef, lamb etc. but some time in the bottle should help integrate fruit, tannins, and acidity, resulting in a more rounded wine, but even now for the $, I like it!
Red
12/17/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
On the plus side, nice extraction and structure. Tastes like a more expensive wine. On the minus side, quite heavy on the new barrel French oak. This, admittedly, is something I find off-putting in many Chilean reds, while some may not. Everything else about this wine screams great qpr!
Red
2006 Villagiachi Chianti Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)
9/20/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
87 points
Interesting story. Just got this yesterday from a guy who was gifted this by a house guest, but the guy doesn't drink so he gave it away to me. I was expecting a cheap 10 yr old Chianti that wasn't cellared to be a throw-away, but was pleasantly surprised. It was quite drinkable and not bad at all. Lacking the acidity and structure of a more expensive Chianti, but paired with roasted chicken, it went surprisingly well. I guess it's a testament to the very structured wines of the 2006 vintage in Tuscany that even a cheapie Chianti withstood the test of time, and probably improved!
Red
8/9/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
86 points
I have to agree with those reviewers who have called this wine both "smoky" and "over extracted". That combination makes this Chianti difficult to match with food, which usually brings out the best in the vast majority of Chiantis. This was actually better with chicken than with a tomato-based dish which is a rarity for a sangiovese.
Red
6/18/2016 - wineracquet Does not like this wine:
80 points
Barely drinkable for me. Like Welches grape juice. Cloyingly sweet with little structure. WS continues to over- rate Columbia Crest wines. A 91? Very disappointing.
1 person found this helpful Comments (1)
White
5/24/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
90 points
Great qpr for an under $10 chard. Score indicates the value and hopefully helps balance the extremely low 80pt review on this wine!
Red
4/29/2016 - wineracquet Does not like this wine:
83 points
A cheap wine that tastes even cheaper. Light, fruity and almost structureless. If someone presented this to Kevin O on Shark Tank, he'd dismiss it as swill, and yet he tries to present this to the public as a decent wine. It really isn't, and for that reason, I'm Out!
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
4/23/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
90 points
85? Fugetaboutit! WS says 90 pts and I agree. This has ample structure and near perfect balance of fruit, tannin, and acidity, plus an excellent qpr! What's not to like? I'm partial to good Italian reds and this did not disappoint!
Red
4/7/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
89 points
With a very short decant to tame the acidity a bit, this wine shines. For $15 you get a structured Bourdeaux, 50/50 cab-merlot blend, that complements hearty dishes very well. The cab comes through nicely when paired with red meats. Excellent QPR.
Red
3/24/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
This received a 94 point score from the increasingly generous wine critic, James Suckling. None of the past 8 vintages have received even a 90 on CT, so let's say I'm sceptical of a 94 rating. Cellaring mine for at least one year.
5 people found this helpful Comments (3)
Red
3/16/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
90 points
Agree with Nike-Raider. This IS a dead ringer for a dry Santa Barbara pinot. At $10, this is a wine that actually fits the "no-brainer" moniker.
Red
2/26/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
91 points
This has developed nicely sinc my last tasting, about 18 months ago. The acidity and tannin complement the mostly blackberry fruit well. Some leather, spice and licorice and to the complexity. The oak is well integrated. Very close to the WS 92 rating.
Red
2/22/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
5 user reviews and 4 by the same person (who keeps thanking the distributor of this wine) doesn't make the 90 overall rating appear to be all that convincing. I'd like to see a VARIETY of reviews on this wine.
Red
2/14/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
92 points
I'd had this bottle buried in the cellar for several years, and, finding it, decided to bring it up for Valentine's Day dinner. I actually wasn't expecting that much due to the rather lukewarm recent reviews on this wine on CT. But I was very presently surprised! This cab had a wonderful balance between fruit, tannin, acid and oak. The structure complemented the complex blackberry fruit very well. It was a great match for our beef tenderloin dinner!
Red
2/8/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
This is not a pinot purist's pinot, but not being a pinot purist, I liked it. To be sure, it is a pinot on steroids at 15% alcohol. Who ever heard of a !5% alcohol pinot? Oh my! Despite the high alcohol content, it does have ample structure and nice pinot cherry notes. I liked this just slightly chilled to subdue the high alcohol and the extroverted personality of this wine a tad.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2/8/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
91 points
This continues to improve with age as it adds complexity and becomes smoother, but still maintains its structure. A Douro that is built to please for many years to come!
Red
2/6/2016 - wineracquet wrote:
James Suckling gave this wine 93 points. Not sure what James was smoking or why he gave an 86 pt wine a 93. When did "drinkable" translate into a 93 review from a wine "expert"? Guess he doesn't worry about his credibility. This is a very average wine at a good price. It is nowhere near outstanding.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Viansa Reserve Sonoma County Red Blend (view label images)
1/26/2016 - wineracquet Does not like this wine:
85 points
Too much of a new world, fruit forward style for my palate. This, and the lack of balancing acidity and tannins definitely says "California", not Italy, even though this is a sangiovese based blend. I was surprised that the CT scores were so high on this wine.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1/16/2016 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
89 points
Very nice with ribeye steak. Pretty classic Alexander cab profile with dark berry notes with some complexity. A bit more structure would push this to a 90, but certainly can't complain with the excellent qpr on this cab.
Red
2010 Fattoria Rodáno Chianti Classico Chianti Classico DOCG Sangiovese Blend, Sangiovese (view label images)
11/4/2015 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
90 points
Pleasant dried cherry and earth notes with ample supporting tannin and acidity. A very good traditional Chianti that complements Italian tomato- based food especially well. excellent QPR too!
Red
10/23/2015 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
89 points
Classic nebbiolo flavors in a 15 dollar wine? What's not to like? Doesn't need a decant imo, just a little air and it's ready to go. A great match for tomato- based Italian food!
Red
10/10/2015 - wineracquet Likes this wine:
89 points
I was not expecting much from this wine after viewing the somewhat mediocre CT notes, but I was pleasantly surprised. I found it to be an elegant Napa cab that has classic dark fruit flavors. It was more restrained than some CA cabs, but for my palate that's a plus, not being a "new world" wine fan.
Red
8/16/2015 - wineracquet wrote:
89 points
Find it humorous that JS gave this a 95, outdoing JH's 93, who is usually the overblown ratings champion. JS is becoming less and less reliable since leaving WS imo. This cab is quite shiraz- like, as one other taster noted. If you keep that in mind and match with lamb, red meat, etc. to counteract the fruit forwardness, it works well.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
8/9/2015 - wineracquet wrote:
Very much a fruit bomb right now. Some tannin and acidity, but not nearly enough to balance the extremely ripe fruit. Even though it has a screw top, I'm hoping some short term cellaring will help to add some balance to the one bottle of this I still have left.
Red
On the pop and pour this showed primary cherry fruit, hot alcohol, and a green streak. However, after a half hour decant this came together nicely with bracing acidity, good tannin structure and mostly sweet red fruits, spice and leather. The green streak disappeared and the 15% alcohol subsided. I'd give this a bit more time in the bottle to integrate more, even though with a decant, it's certainly approachable and rather enjoyable now.
Red
I'm in the camp with SRH on this wine. Yes, it's cheap, but you pay the price in drinking a thin, fruity, unstructured, boring wine. Better to pay a few more bucks for something decent. The Wayne Gretzky 2013 cab at $13, for example, runs circles around this. On the upside, The CC Grand Estates did do the trick as a main ingredient in a wonderful Bolognese sauce my wife made. I'm actually saving the other 2 bottles I have for the next sauce! Bon appetit! Life's too short to drink bad wine!
Red
7/1/2015 - wineracquet wrote:
Not nearly as bad as the 78 rating and perhaps a little better than the 85 rating so far. It is nowhere near as good as the 2005 vintage which was a steal at $10 on WTSO a few years ago. I've had 3 bottles of the 2012. Yes, one was way too fruit forward, but not quite cough syrup; The other two were slightly too fruit forward but certainly drinkable and about what you'd expect at the $13 price point. It's not any worse than the Columbia Crest 2012 Grand Estates that WS somehow rated a 90, probably a bit better.
1 person found this helpful Comment
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