4/23/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

As before, fuller but not flabby. Good acidity and at this price point, respectable length on the finish.

4/17/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

On the simple side but a nice overall polish to this. Lots of acidity, tart berry fruit, hint of cedar, minimal oak. Good QPR.

4/13/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

As before, a big wine but with balance and elegance. Top notch.

4/11/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Previous bottles have been substantially better. Not exactly "off", but just mediocre and generic.

4/2/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

I drink a lot of wine but I rarely drink Gamay noir so.... in a nut shell, I really like this. If guessing blind (I'd guess wrong), I would have said this was a ripe red burgundy. However, I find a distinct savory/meaty element to this wine, ala Rhone valley. Either way, this is some much better than the occasional barely palatable Beaujolais nouveau I've run across.

3/31/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Top notch. I have the fortune of having Peter Michaels and/or Aubert Chardonnay most Friday nights (thanks J&S!) and this is right up there with them. A bit fuller than a previous bottle. Tropical fruit, caramel (after warming up), good acidity.

3/24/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Still holding up nicely. Surprisingly in a primary profile.

3/24/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

More elegance than power. Very dry, plum and cassis fruit, cedar, minimal oak. Good QPR.

3/22/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Upon opening, the brown color was not very inviting. Nor was the rather brown flavor. Surprisingly, this improved with air but its still not right.

3/23/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

No detailed notes but I was only generally pleased with this. Grand Cru and BdB should do better than that. Not very good QPR at $49USD.

3/21/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

White Rhone blends are not a favorite of mine but this was quite nice. It had that glycerin/oily texture (enjoyable) but it had enough acidity to not be flabby. Lots of floral notes and stone fruit. Good length on the finish.

3/21/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Comparable to a bottle from a few years ago. Top notch!

3/19/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Wonderful again. On the fuller more modern style but balanced and elegant. Mouthfilling, long finish.

3/18/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Slight preference on '08 Orsi vyd over this.

Still vibrant color, nose of spices, ripe berry, cherry, fair amount of alcohol coming through. Overall leans toward a larger, fuller wine.

3/18/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Slight preference on this over the '08 Windsor Oaks Vyd.

Still vibrant color, nose of spices and cherry, fair amount of alcohol coming through. Overall leans toward elegance. Very nice.

3/10/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Splits the difference very eloquently between an old world wine and a new world wine.

Medium body, red fruit, a bit of spice. Very harmonius.

3/9/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Another good one for a saturday night.

3/7/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

A mystery bottle from my cellar.

I'm not a big fan of White Rhone blends but this is quite good. There's an element of something different as of late but.... this is quality.

Very light gold color; nose of white flowers and peach; high acidity (for a white Rhone blend) and flavors of stone fruit, lemon oil, pineapple. Listed at 13.4.% abv but seems higher.

3/5/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Technically, I'd guess you'd call this a cocktail. Made from Eau-de-vie and fresh grape juice, this is labeled as 17.2% abv.

I think what make this very good is the same characteristics of Sauternes/Barsac. There's bright acidity but also an oily element as well. This is the love child of peach schnapps and a Languedoc white wine.

A drink for your geeky wannabe Sommelier buddy and your Aunt Elda.

3/5/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Labeled as "100% Chardonnay" but does not come off as a blanc de blanc. Simple, fruity, med+ acidity, strong effervescence.

2/29/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Continue to see a bit of bottle variation from a single case purchase. This was a good one, with lots of lemon as before.

2/23/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Elegant. Plenty of fruit in here but spices, forest floor stand out as well. Excellent balance, good finish. Reasonable QPR @ $60USD.

2/23/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

I'm calling this the best bang for your buck in rose champagne.

2/19/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Still impressing us.

2/19/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Ok, previous bottle was likely flawed as this bottle was wonderful. A bit full and large for Bordeaux but no syrupy fruit bomb here. Loads of ripe red and black berry along with cedar, green grippy tannins, and pleasant astringency.

2/17/2024 - Racer117 Does not like this wine:

Very ho-hum. Reminded me of a $4/bottle auction purchase Chard I recently opened. Medium body wine and everything about this seemed adulterated (added acidity, cheap oakiness (chips, sawdust?)).

At 4 bucks, thumbs up. At $34, 2 thumbs down.

2/17/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

An excellent showing of this wine last night. More new world than old, with lots of mixed berries(red, blue, black). Hint of cocoa, moderate oak, med- tannins.

2/17/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

I'm surprised by the mediocre reviews. I found this to be a decent wine and a great value ($10.99USD from Trader Joe's for 375mL). I drink quite a bit of champagne and this might become my mid week wine.

Large bubbles, moderate mousse, simple flavors of apple and lemon along with a hint of yeast.

2/14/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Another excellent bottle.

2/14/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Disappointing. Not a bad wine but primarily strong tannic structure with some hints of red fruit. Showed no improvement over a 2 hour period.

Edit: about 2 weeks later I opened another bottle of this and it was excellent. Assessing this bottle as flawed.

2/6/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Like a bottle in April of '22, this is a 2017 vintage wine. And like that bottle, this was very good.

2/8/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Not overly complex but very pure and delicious. Aromas and flavors of orange marmalade and boytritis spice. Good acidity, moderate length finish.

2/5/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

A bit on the fuller side regarding color and body. Nice ripe cherry and berry fruit, some dark spices, moderate oak. Reasonable QPR.

2/4/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Fuller, oaky chard. Tropical fruit dominates.

2/3/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Much better than some bottles a few years ago. Still fresh fruit(cherry) but age is showing nicely.

2/4/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Still impressing us. Great QPR.

2/2/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable. Good balance of red fruit, spices, leather. Minimal funkiness. Seems to be in its drinking window.

2/3/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

A straight forward and varietally correct Pinot. Still holding together nicely though I wouldn't wait much longer to consume.

1/28/2024 - Racer117 wrote:

Subsequent bottle scores are not trending well.... decent but something I'd expect to pay $15 from Trader Joes's.

1/26/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Continues to impress me.

1/19/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

A simple yet proper Pinot. No over ripe fruit, no 15% alcohol, no ridiculous price. $10 from Trader Joe's.

1/18/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Good again and still surprised no maloactic fermentation.

1/13/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Very nice again.

1/15/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Light gold color; nose of citrus zest, unsweetened butterscotch, hay; moderate acidity with flavors of citrus, stones, hay. Finishes with... a long finish. Very good QPR.

1/10/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

I'm surprised by the mediocre ratings. I found this very nice. First pour from fridge is reticent. Just 15 minutes in the glass and this is blossoming quite nicely! Loads of minerality along with citrus zest and a bit of brown butter. I'll probably follow this tonight to the last drop.

1/4/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Quite full bodied will ripe red berry and yeast. Not delicate but not clumsy either. Good QPR at $40USD.

1/4/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Simple, juicy pinot. At auction price a great deal. At community price, still a good deal.

1/8/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Enjoyable again.

1/3/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

Another nice bottle. As before.

1/3/2024 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

A solid wine though seems younger than 13 years. Mixed fruit, dough, moderately acidic.