- 2008 Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (10/7/2015)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. On the first night, there was oak, oak and more oak - quite unbalanced. It improved a bit the second night, but still too much medium quality oak notes prevailed, despite the nice texture overall. Disappointing wine for me. (B) - 2001 Faustino Rioja I Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (10/3/2015)
Interesting to see the range of opinions on this wine. My bottle was very good, but not great. Didn't take notes, but this was a classic, traditional Rioja, with well integrated wood, smooth texture, some complexity with both redfruits and oak related flavours on show. Improved with air, as it was a bit acidic at first. (B+/A-) - 2009 Celler Burgos-Porta Priorat Mas Sinén Coster - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (10/1/2015)
I brought this back from Priorat a couple of years ago, after a wonderful tasting at this beautiful winery. This is their top wine (50/50 grenache and carignan) from very old wines. I didn't take notes last night, but it had a lovely, deep floral nose and it was a typical 'big' Priorat, though not clumsy. Rich and ripe, with concentrated red fruit flavours. Still youthful, but I don't know if this will really improve all that much. A healthy decant is recommended. An impressive wine in a big but not over the top style. (A-) - 2004 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Cuvée Guy Moreau - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (10/1/2015)
My last bottle. Didn't take notes, but this was still quite youthful. Give it a good decant if you open a bottle. But there was good power and intensity to the wine, with classic mineral, ripe fruit and butterscotch notes. This will last a while yet! (A-) - 2000 Chereau-Gunther Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Comte de St. Hubert Château du Coing de St. Fiacre - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (9/19/2015)
Light golden in colour. Minerality plus on the nose, with some lemon as well. Very dry on the medium-full bodied palate, with the minerality (or whatever it is) at the forefront, but there's a nice richness and slight lemon notes. Somewhat chablis like, as its like sucking on a rock, quite refreshing, and yet rich and broad as well.Still young for a 15 year old Muscadet. Quite tasty and nice QPR for a 15 year old wine! (A-) - NV Michel & Damien Pinon Vouvray Brut - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (9/19/2015)
I've had a couple of bottles of this excellent QPR wine. What sets it apart from the normal sparkling wines at this price point is 1) the chenin blanc characteristics clearly evident in the wine and 2) the the depth of the body and intensity in this wine. It has a nice richness that marries well with the slightly funky chenin flavours (wet wool, lanolin) and bright acidity. (B+/A-) - 2012 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (9/18/2015)
Didn't take notes, but had a couple of glasses of this last night. Pretty closed, but this had more oak on the medium bodied palate than I was expecting. Interesting to read all the notes on CT on this wine - I didn't get any heat at all, and agree that this is a different kind of cab than many CA cab drinkers are used to: much lighter and much lower alcohol. But it certainly tastes like a cab, if a very young, closed down one at the moment. I'll wait another 5 years to try one... B+ right now. - 2012 Signorello Seta - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/13/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. A solid wine, but there was a bit too much oak and not enough acid or restraint for me to like it too much. A big, powerful style with little elegance or complexity (). (B) - 2001 Château de la Dauphine - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac (9/12/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. This was in a nice place now, nicely mellow and nothing sticking out. Nice nose on this medium bodied wine with blackcurrant and plum notes. Just shy of outstanding to me. (B+) - 2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/10/2015)
Damn, this was spoiled in some way; oxidized I guess, as the colour was very dark golden and there was a burnt rubber note on the nose and palate. I waited 24 hours and tried it again and it tasted better, but there was still something weird going on. Not rated. NR (flawed) - 2006 Majella Shiraz Sparkling - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (9/8/2015)
Always a fun drink. Lots of froth when pouring - its a fairly course rather than refined bubbly - but there are nice aged shiraz notes on the not too sweet finish As usual a solid but not top notch sparkling shiraz (B/B+). - 2005 Collazzi Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (9/6/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. I enjoyed this, a modern but solid Bordeaux blend from Tuscany. A nice nose, and a medium-full bodied wine with classic blackfruit and smoke flavours on a rich but still slightly tannic palate. Ready now but will last a few years easily. (A-) - 2009 Pertimali (Livio Sassetti) Rosso di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Rosso di Montalcino (9/6/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. Lovely floral nose on this wine, and lovely red berry fruit on the light to medium bodied palate. Very pretty wine, high acid, slight tannins, great with a roast chicken dinner. This is ready now. (B+) - 2009 Sheridan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (9/6/2015)
For me, this is a classic example of a 'Parkerized' wine. Very ripe grapes lead to a low acid, low tannin wine without a great deal of varietal characteristics. Very velvety and somewhat sweet and simple on the medium to full bodied palate. Not rated, not my style. - 2008 Tahbilk Marsanne Museum Release - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Nagambie Lakes (8/31/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. Didn't take notes, but I really enjoyed this wine (as usual). it had a very good intensity, thanks to the ripe acidity, and there was also some development and secondary notes of honeysuckle and toast emerging. But this still has years ahead of it. I was glad to see the screwcap, which will ensure no cork taint (as happens in the older cork sealed bottles). Well worth the extra $5 or so they charge here from the normal release wines. Great QPR as always. (B+/A-) - 2004 Loimer Riesling Seeberg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal (8/24/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. This was a lovely bright gold in colour, had an intoxicating nose of pears, pineapple and a variety of stonefruits, and a medium-full bodied dry palate with great intensity. This was open for business pretty much from the get-go, but still tasted fresh and youthful. No hurry here, but lovely now (A-). (A-) - 2005 Domaine du Roncée Chinon Couteau Des Chenanceaux - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (8/9/2015)
Fairly deep coloured with only slight bricking: it still looks youthful. There is a deep, rich nose of blackfruits, tobacco and earth. The richness persists on the concentrated, full palate, with more blackfruits, tobacco, ash, milk chocolate and healthy but ripe tannins at the back end. No greenness at all here, from this very good producer and vintage. This will last another 10 years, I would think, and will be better in 3-5 years. It was not a crime to open it now but be sure to decant if you do pop one soon. Very impressive. (A-) - 2001 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile - France, Alsace (8/8/2015)
Didn't get to spend a lot of time with this one, but it was a classic dry Alsace reisling, with citrus, mainly lemon, notes and minerality predominating, but it was the great intensity and concentration that took this to the next level. Lovely golden straw colour as well. Still tastes young, but certainly excellent now (A-). - 2005 Ojai Syrah Bien Nacido Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley (7/22/2015)
Dark in colour, and with a very nice, deep nose of redfruits, olives, smoke, iron and meat. Fairly full bodied and with a concentrated palate reflecting the nose. A nice viscous and veltvety texture to the wine adds interest. Still seems youthful at year 10, but ready now with some decanting. (A-) - 2001 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (5/23/2015)
Well, so much for my previous note, which suggested this wasn't going to be a long ager like normal for this wine. At age 14, it's still almost youthful! But definitely some secondary notes here and the wine is certainly more harmonious. Only slight bricking on the deep red colour, with a lovely blackberries, earth and slightly minty nose. Medium bodied and elegant on the smooth palate, with more blackberries, earthy notes, leather and just a hint of mint.No green notes at all. Slight, but smooth tannins at the end. This was impressive and I was sorry it's my last bottle. (A-) - 2011 Domaine de la Taille aux Loups Montlouis-sur-Loire Sec Les Dix Arpents - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (5/17/2015)
hazy notes from last night. Very nice chenin blanc here, with telltale funky flavours once it warmed up a bit in the glass. There was a slight sharp grassy note in the background that slightly detracted for me, but overall a very nice QPR wine. (B+/A-) - 2000 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Crianza Viña Gravonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (5/4/2015)
Is this the most chameleon-like wine ever? This was the best bottle yet, so I lucked out. No oxidation here (although a little doesn't bother me). A wonderful, fascinating nose: rubber, smoke and honeysuckle might not sound too great, but the sum are greater than its parts. The medium bodied palate is quite creamy and delicious, with lanolin, honeysuckle. lime and slight oak notes. A long, intense finish, as nice acidity kicks in and merges with the creamy texture. (A-) - 2006 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis 1er Cru Beauroy - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (4/29/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. No oxidation, thank goodness. A great chablis just entering the zone. Nice rich flavours, good concentration and intensity, with the butterscotch secondary note making its presence felt. (A-) - 2005 Peter Lehmann Riesling Wigan - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley (4/29/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. A lovely dry riesling. with intense citrus flavours, good concentration, and a long finish. Great now, but should last quite a while too. Great QPR. (A-) - 2008 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills (4/23/2015)
Hazy notes from two days ago. This was an impressive but too young wine. Lovely nose and a powerful, complex and tight palate. This was popped and poured, which was a mistake. Give a long decant or better yet wait a few years. It should have a great future. (A-) - 2006 Sheridan Vineyard L'Orage - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (4/23/2015)
This had a weird acidic bite to it, and it tasted like there were some bacterial issues. Not rated. NR (flawed) - 2007 Waters Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (4/19/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. Quite different from what I remember tasting several years ago. The fruit had moved to the background and the oak very much to the foreground. Nobody else seems to mention this excessive oak, so maybe this was slightly corked or otherwise flawed in some way? No score just in case, but this particular bottle was at a B/B+ level to me last night. - 2010 Sacred Hill Chardonnay Riflemans - New Zealand, North Island, Hawkes Bay (4/12/2015)
Had this two days ago. This was quite impressive, having aged into a nice place, with well integrated flavours of pears and butterscotch. Nice concentration too. Dare I say rather Burgundian too, like a village or 1re Puligny. Drinking well now, but should last several years as well. (A-) - 2009 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos de Saint Yves - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières (4/10/2015)
Consistent with my other notes, this was a medium bodied, elegant expression of Loire chenin. Great QPR and still evolving. (A-) - 2008 Buty Rediviva of the Stones - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (4/7/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. Popped and poured, this drank very well again, similar notes to the last bottle. Very suave, polished and plush, but not too modern or too smooth, with some nice funky and earthy notes on a concentrated, nicely structured.long finish. Lovely now, but will last years. (A-) - 2004 Domaine Ostertag Riesling Muenchberg - France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru (4/4/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. It's a lovely golden yellow colour, and there was stone, honey and citrus on the nose. Dry on the medium bodied palate, with some petrol, pear, apricot and lime. Good intensity and a medium length finish. Very nice now, a well integrated, harmonious wine, but it should last several to many years yet. (A-) - 2006 Craggy Range Sophia - New Zealand, North Island, Hawkes Bay, Gimblett Gravels (3/25/2015)
Notes from the second night. Deep purple in colour. Nice rich nose full of mainly red fruit, oak and cedar. Medium-full bodied on the slightly soft, velvety palate; there's more red fruits, plums and sour cherry and a hint of oak. Slight green tannins at the back end. There's not a lot of complexity here, and it's rather modern. It was a little less disjointed last night, but both nights it wasn't as impressive as I had hoped. (B+) - 2009 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/21/2015)
Didn't take notes, but I've had this twice, and both times its been rather disjointed and slightly hot. Some nice classic OR pinot notes of cherry and Asian spice, but thinner much than you'd expect for a 2009 Shea. Slight browning already too. The touch of heat at the end detracts too. I'd drink up. (B) - 2012 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (3/16/2015)
Had this last week; didn't take notes, but I was quite impressed. Very well balanced, with spicy red fruits on the medium-full bodied palate. No heat at all, oak already well integrated, a little complexity already but still quite fruit forward now of course. Tasty now, but it should improve and last for many years (A-). - 2006 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/14/2015)
Hazy notes from last night. A solid wine that still needs time. This was pretty tannic still, and didn't seem to be very open at all (B+). - 2001 Castelgiocondo (Marchesi de' Frescobaldi) Lamaione Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (3/14/2015)
Will the tannins ever soften in this wine? I'm starting to wonder. There was a beautiful, earthy nose on this, and red fruits and smoke on the medium to full bodied palate, but on the finish the tannins were still pretty aggressive, even after about 14 years. I decanted about 2 hours, but maybe a longer decant would help? A very nice wine certainly, but not harmonious yet to my mind. (A-) - 2001 Petaluma Coonawarra - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (3/7/2015)
Decanted for an hour before trying. Didn't take notes, but I was very impressed with this powerful yet elegant wine. It had a beautiful nose and a balanced, complex, concentrated palate including blackfruits and cedar. Showing very well indeed now, but still seemed somewhat youthful, so there's no rush. This was very impressive, a classy, world class wine. (A) - 1995 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Grand Cru Le Mesnil - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne Grand Cru (2/25/2015)
Didn't take notes, but this an elegant, restrained wine. Not a lot of mousse left, but some nice pear, butterscotch and toasty notes on the light-medium bodied palate. Not as much concentration as I had expected, and I think this needs to be finished soon, but a pleasant aged champagne. (A-)
It's the best QPR sparkler I've found in years up here.
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