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Comments on my notes

(19 comments on 19 notes)

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Red
2011 Écluse Cabernet Sauvignon Lock Vineyard Paso Robles
11/3/2015 - ptm Likes this wine:
85 points
This, as usual, is a very well-balanced wine by Steve Locke. The nose is a bit lacking, but you are rewarded with a very satisfying and rounded experience. I don't think this will hold much beyond the next year or so, but is definitely worth enjoying now.
  • Ed B commented:

    2/19/24, 8:18 PM - 85? That rating does seem to fit with your description. I just had this Cab in 2024 and it was spectacular. I have one more bottle, and I may save it 3-5 more years.

Red
2014 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley
10/5/2021 - Ed B wrote:
90 points
Drank as part of tasting of 16 Shea Vineyard Pinots from 7 producers over 6 vintages. It finished 15th with an average of 90
  • Ed B commented:

    12/8/22, 6:41 PM - Thanks. It was great fun. What would you call such a tasting?

Red
2012 Vallo Reale Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Sangiovese
12/11/2021 - Cool_Hand_Luke Likes this wine:
92 points
WOW! Drinking spectacularly right now. Drank with crostini made with French sourdough baguette toasted slice lengthwise, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, rubbed with garlic, cover with fresh mozzarella and prosciutto and broil watching closely! This is such an amazing combination! The wine itself was so elegant it literally stood by itself! Decanted 5 hours.
  • Ed B commented:

    5/15/22, 4:12 PM - And they say modest wines aren’t worth aging. So glad I saved a bottle. So wish I had more.

Red
2012 Shea Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Homer Shea Vineyard Willamette Valley
10/5/2021 - Ed B Likes this wine:
92 points
Drank as part of tasting of 16 Shea Vineyard Pinots from 7 producers over 6 vintages. It finished 7th with a average of 91.67.
  • Ed B commented:

    10/11/21, 5:30 PM - Yes. I have a PDF of a spreadsheet with all of the scores. If I can figure out how to put it into CT I will. I did post the results in a tasting note on each of the 16 wines.

Red
2006 Cascina Adelaide Barolo Cannubi Nebbiolo
7/19/2019 - ItsNotMe wrote:
Opened and sampled. At first was concerned this might be an off bottle. Licorice, stewed raisin and something abnormal.. Decanted for a couple of hours and experienced a dramatic change, with cherry and sweetish tannins coming through. Whatever I picked up initially was gone. Nice wine. The last of 3 bottles
  • Ed B commented:

    7/26/21, 6:59 PM - Thanks for your note. When I first tasted it, I too was a little concerned that it was off, but after 90 minutes it continued to open up and evolve. 3 hours later it was fabulous.

Red
2010 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard Paso Robles
8/10/2018 - Winedog1 Likes this wine:
94 points
Dried fruit. White pepper. Plum. Black tea. Cumin. Menthol. Sweet and tart Port finish.
  • Ed B commented:

    7/22/21, 6:55 PM - Yes. White pepper was the spice I didn’t ID. You nailed it.

Red
2008 Écluse Cabernet Sauvignon Lock Vineyard Paso Robles
5/30/2011 - pocchia Likes this wine:
88 points
Popped and poured and served with prime rib. Deep red color, balanced bouquet, very smooth and easy to drink. Stems up!
  • Ed B commented:

    10/27/20, 4:35 PM - I’ve waited 9 years, and it has gotten even better. I’m saving my last bottle for 2025+

Red
2008 Écluse Cabernet Sauvignon Lock Vineyard Paso Robles
2/2/2020 - jishmael wrote:
93 points
Based on the drinking window I was afraid this one had gone past its prime & might be a bit tired. Couldn't have been farther from the truth. This 08' decanted for roughly 90-minutes and was just fantastic. The Lock's continue to produce great Central Coast wines.
  • Ed B commented:

    10/27/20, 4:33 PM - I’m thrilled to have two bottles. Well, now one. Enjoy!

Red
2009 Villa Creek Mas de Maha Paso Robles Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo
Drank easily once open for 15 to 20 minutes. A bit lightweight, has plenty of fruit - somewhat dark but with lots of acidity - not quite plum but close. Tannins are integrated but not completely smooth.

In its drinking window. Would drink in the next year maybe two.
  • Ed B commented:

    9/6/20, 3:05 PM - Took this wine to a party last night. PnP. WOTN. Aged beautifully.

Red
2009 Villa Creek Mas de Maha Paso Robles Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo
11/29/2013 - Jdubb1123 Likes this wine:
90 points
Agree with previous note, could use more time, good now, i'd bet its even better in a couple years
  • Ed B commented:

    9/6/20, 3:04 PM - Took this wine to a party last night. PnP. WOTN. Aged beautifully.

Red
2009 Villa Creek Mas de Maha Paso Robles Tempranillo Blend, Tempranillo
11/30/2012 - Redguy wrote:
90 points
Double decanted then brought to restaurant and consumed with steaks... probably 20-30 minutes air time before first sip. Moderately tight at first but relaxed a bit over the course of dinner. Not surprisingly this came across as somewhat simple initially. Black cherry fruit profile, white smoke, and a nice overlay of dark cocoa to begin with. With air the mourved seemed to come to the fore with blueberries, damp earth, and some mildly gamey meat joining in. Good concentration, bright acidity, refined tannins, and a smooth, polished marble like texture. Would have liked a bit more flesh but that will come with time (or additional decanting). A well made wine of good quality that needs a few years yet. 87-90 over the course of the evening though I can see this in the 91-92 range with a few more years.
  • Ed B commented:

    9/6/20, 3:04 PM - Took this wine to a party last night. PnP. WOTN. Aged beautifully.

Red
2007 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley
9/15/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine:
93 points
Screwtop Enclosure. Raspberries, blackberries, currants, licorice, minerals and floral in the nose. Black raspberries. licorice, and hints of spice in the flavor. Full bodied wine with a medium to long finish. Drinking very well now.
  • Ed B commented:

    5/28/20, 1:48 PM - This bottle was from a pair. Carlisle sold matching cork bottle and screw top bottle together. I tried at 5 & 10 years and couldn’t tell the difference. I have one set left for 2022 or 2027.

Red
2007 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley
Purchased days ago at a wine shop, 30m decant to help with sediment. Cork was dried and crumbly. Very savory: black olive, cured meats, black pepper, smoked meat. Was exactly the style I was looking for tonight, but this was not a balanced wine. Delicious.
  • Ed B commented:

    5/28/20, 1:47 PM - This bottle was from a pair. Carlisle sold matching cork bottle and screw top bottle together. I tried at 5 & 10 years and couldn’t tell the difference. I have one set left for 2022 or 2027.

Red
2007 Carlisle Syrah Cardiac Hill Bennett Valley
Screwtop enclosure. Twisted, poured then consumed over 2 nights. Raspberry, boysenberry, hints of olive juice, herbs and bacon fat. Tannins are still evident though not harsh at all; nice balance with the acids up front. Had the cork enclosure last year and felt this more fruit. Nice test of screwtop vs cork enclosure.
  • Ed B commented:

    5/28/20, 1:46 PM - This bottle was from a pair. Carlisle sold matching cork bottle and screw top bottle together. I tried at 5 & 10 years and couldn’t tell the difference. I have one set left for 2022 or 2027.

Red
2010 Ken Wright Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
8/21/2014 - MemorialWineFan Likes this wine:
89 points
I don't agree with the drinking window. Having had the first bottle two years ago I can tell you this is much better now four years old. Still another three years left so I would say 2017, but Cellar Tracker says 2015. Good fruit on the nose. Now it's much more balanced than two years ago. Happy with the bottle now was not two years ago at that price point.
  • Ed B commented:

    5/16/20, 6:41 AM - Unfortunately, most CT users don’t change the drinking window after they post a note. You read the texts and the wine has 4 years left, but the indow has already expired. We all need to take the time to change the window.

Red
2010 Carlisle Zinfandel Sonoma County
4/17/2020 - rldixon Likes this wine:
92 points
This likely wasn't meant to last ten years, but it has done so, very admirably. Subdued fruit, nice spice, this is clearly modest compared to its peak years, but still holds up very nicely against bison chili I made today: both are better with each other. No hint of the 15.5% -OH. People who decry Zin for being "over the top", whether fruit-bomb or alcoholic, should try this, right now.
  • Ed B commented:

    4/27/20, 10:14 AM - I’m with you. There is nothing I like better than a well-made Zin with 8-12 years on it. Great, subtle flavors.

Red
2009 Mazzocco Zinfandel Briar Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
2/7/2012 - ecola Likes this wine:
90 points
Dark aromas of blackberry and blueberry with a decent amount of oak. Very similar flavors on the full body with an added vanilla creme feel. This wine is all about fun. Juicy upfront fruit. Drink now or over the next year or so.
  • Ed B commented:

    11/21/15, 5:04 PM - This is another example of how wines change with a few extra years in the cellar. Four years later it is much more interesting.

Red
2009 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Balcombe Vineyard Dundee Hills
Decanted thru an aerator and strainer, and drank over next 4 hours. (Moderate sediment.) Brownish-red. Medium density, i.e., a little denser than many Pinots. Complex berries and spices, with moderately long finish.

I want to like her wines; I have bought quite a few based on the consistently great professional and consumer reviews. I get why wine geeks love them; lots of stuff to talk about. My problem: I just don't like the taste. And, I don't know why. It is not that I am a California Pinot guy; I am not; I do not like most of them. I much prefer Oregon Pinots. I love their tart minerality. Her wines? Don't like them.

Thought a 2009 might do the trick. Easy, early-drinking vintage. No good. This wine was like the rest. Must by something in my DNA, but I find the minerality in the finish [after-taste?] just plain unpleasant.

Given that I am an outlier, I will not rate this one.
  • Ed B commented:

    1/22/15, 10:42 AM - No. First, there were no unpleasant odors to blow off; the aroma was fine. Even so, I thought aggressive decanting of the early-drinking 2009 would give the wine its best chance for me to like it. It didn't work. To my pallet, there was an extreme level of minerality which took it to the level of medicine.

Red
2009 Mazzocco Zinfandel Maple Vineyard Dry Creek Valley
8/21/2012 - pritters001 wrote:
85 points
Always loved the Maple Zin however tonight the sweetness came through a bit too much with the menu. Thought it would pair well with a demi glazed beef tenderloin well however the fresh Iowa sweet corn threw it off a bit. Still a great bottle of wine that my dinner companions agreed was one of the best Zins they had tasted.
  • Ed B commented:

    3/3/14, 7:43 PM - Rated 85 but was a "great bottle" and was "one of the best my dinner companions had ever tasted." IMO, the number is too low and the prose to high.

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