Recent Tasting Notes
| Rating | Reviewer | |
|---|---|---|
| 85 |
mouton cadet Bordeaux 2010 This is my first Bordeaux. I am definitely enjoying it. The nose of this was very inviting, throughout the glass. It held my interest until it hit my palate with its strong aromas of dark fruit and mild spice. This is a deep red wine. It tastes of dark red fruits, subtle flowers, and undefined... |
HopeM |
| 87 |
Five Rivers Winery Pinot Noir 2010 This was a great find, once it completely opened up! This young grape had a lot of POP, even well after it was consumed. The difference was astonishing, side by side a red wine glass and a Pinot Noir glass. The spice and complexity of fruits became apparent when using the Riedel's Pinot Noir... |
HopeM |
| 92 |
If You See Kay Red Blend 2010 A Cabernet Sauvignon blend balanced black fruits with touch of acidity of Petit Verdot e Primitivo by artist winemaker-owner Jayson Woodbridge and partner Hundred Acre. At open there's a soft, slight bouquet of black raspberry. Smooth as liquid mercury, it flows as round edged like lush... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Vina Concha y Toro, Puente Alto, Chile Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 This 2006 Don Melchor vintage is like the 2005 crew left the building and left someone else to carry on? Has a nose sharp acrid cran. After 2 hrs open in the glass, still the inky black oily viscous fluid of the monster power-house vin 2005, but tastes differ much. Strong bouquet in glass of... |
gtv_john |
| 91 |
Garnet Vineyards Pinot Noir 2010 And in the interest of full-disclosure, I am a friend of Alison's (Garnet Vienyards) and work for a company that powers her website. That does not mean I blindly plug our client's wines; only the ones I feel are deserving. For anyone who likes good Pinots that have a high QPR, I'd... |
mmeisner |
| 90 |
Domaine Sainte-Anne Red Blend 2010 Red lush blend from 30-50 year-old vines. Grenache 60%, Syrah 30%, Mourvèdre 10%. Ease y-peasey, nothing harsh, fresh, fruitful, e vivacious with intensity yet still accessible and soft with much to age potential from strength. Fresh yeasty bread nose. Tastes pomegranate, toasted soft fig, plum-... |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Inspiration Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 Edna Valley 2009 Cabernet. This Paso Robles Cabernet from San Luis Obispo County was, in one word, FABULOUS. Very rarely does the actual taste compare to the claims on the back of the bottle, but this time the description was spot on. "Blackberry pie with chocolate and coffee overtones... |
winestomp |
| 90 |
OwenRoe.com Zinfandel 2010 LUSH red blend named "ABBOT'S TABLE", regardless of shortcomings of this site! Close clone sister of (2009) Red blend nearish to '09: blend 25% Zinfandel, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, Grenache 13%, 7% Blaufrankish, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec,1% Merlot... |
gtv_john |
| 96 |
D 66 Vin de Pays Des Cotes Catalanes Orin Swift Grenache Noir 2009 Haleine fantastique de l'intrigue sombre de la France, par l'intermédiaire de Californie Orin Swift, merci! Region in France is Catalanes,ignore 'region' from drop-down on website, and is made in Maury, France. Blend of stout but accessibly soft 80% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 8%... |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Château La Tour de Bessan Bordeaux 2005 Cru Bordeaux, Margaux appellation; This is a rich perfectly balanced vintage that requires patience; I double decanted and removed sediment that had dropped out of suspension, so wait for proper opening of this well-made vintage. Though wine showed deep magenta youth, note also the care taken by... |
gtv_john |
| 95 |
Felton Road Pinot Noir 2008 Gez Friday night wine. |
Brad Prescott |
| 89 |
Orin Swift Cellars Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot from five different lots sourced from California regions: Howell Mountain, Oakville, Rutherford, Saint Helena, and Spring Mountain. Ruby colored blend with nose of raspberry phosphate and Fig Newtons. Thin light mouthfeel with clear flavors of cran-... |
gtv_john |
| 95 |
Clark-Claudon Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Fantastic wine. A cab has to be great for me to like it and Clark-Claudon hits the mark. |
Brad Prescott |
| 89 |
Frog's Leap Winery Zinfandel 2008 Organic Vineyards, traditional, dry irrigation techniques, producing clean, concentrated classy elegant but accessible vins is Frog's Leap. This is 80% Zinfandel, 19% Petite Syrah, 1% Carignane blend. Bright black raspberry and cherry nose, tastes ginger, black Loganberry, plummy mid-palette... |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Bacio Divino Cellars PAZZO Sangiovese 2006 "Call me crazy" and I think thats about right for me also? A fantastico blend of a majority Sangiovese, Petit Sirah, Cabernet and a smige of Viognier. Initial whiffs of rising bread dough, faint Pomegranate with deeper inhale of Kirsch notes, all inviting reassurances. In the glass... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Viña Las Perdices Syrah 2008 An intelligento accessible vin of a blend of 93% Syrah and 7% Viognier, by Juan Carlos Muñoz of Viña Las Perdices Winery. A nose-full of currant e blackberry fruit bouquet, tastes of lush mulberry, unctuous black raspberry with a meaty, solid and fleshy palette feel, slight white spice out to soft... |
gtv_john |
| 88 |
Castello Banfi Cum Laude Red Blend 2004 Actually from the Montalcino region of Italy, this Sant' Antimo Rosso is a blend of 25% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 15% Syrah, aged 14 months in French oak barrique style barrels, still, it comes across as under-developed? Fragrances of cranberry and pomegranate in the... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Courtney Benham Merlot 2009 California Wine Club shipment. Glad to see a Merlot after so many Cabs and Syrahs. |
Brad Prescott |
| 89 |
Thacher Zinfandel 2005 Smooth, Spicy, Tastey |
|
| 86 |
Anciano Gran Reserva Tempranillo 1998 By winery Domaine Valdepeñas, south of the Castilla-la Mancha region of Spain, 1998 aged 10 years in oak barracks then bottled, just reached market for sale vin shops 2009. Nose whiffs toasted vanilla oak. Tastes nice enough velvet green raisin, with uncomfortable almost watery light weight feel,... |
gtv_john |
| 85 |
Robert Mondavi SOLAIRE Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Mondavi SOLAIRE: Not often I want to pour wine down the drain -But this one I wanted to, and so I did with the whole bottle short a 4 oz. tasting glass. Initial bottle whiffs cran-raspberry with pronounced green notes (beware) like another junky organic vin. In the glass notes big fruit blackberry... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Alden Brook Old Vine Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2004 Alder Brook, Dry Creek Valley, Terlazo Family, Heraldsburg, California. Initial nose of green crushed leaf and raisin. Tastes of soft spice, full body, smooth and refined as silkiness black current, Black Berry, huge mouthfeel presence. Nice acid balance to perfect equilibrium balance to slight... |
gtv_john |
| 92 |
Lodi Vineyards EARTHQUAKE Petit Sirah 2005 This petite sirah hails from Lodi, California, north of Stockton, south of some town named 'Sacramento'. You may know that area, but I'll never ever be in CA so you know better than I. Nose of pure prosciutto. Tastes of bacon, ripe plum, Bing cherry, soft almost Almond oak, compliant... |
gtv_john |
| 94 |
Columbia Crest Valley Walter Clore Private Reserve Red Wine Red Blend 2004 The Private Reserve named for Dr. Walter Clore, who was a pioneer in Washington viticulture of Bordeaux "Le Peite Chais" methode and techniques for wine making, is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Merlot. It was aged in new French oak for 24 months. Initial nose of Medoc... |
gtv_john |
| 92 |
Domaine Bourillon-Dorléans Vouvray Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (Domaine Bourillon-Dorléans, a Vouvray, another region, France not on list) Bright pear and lemon peel nose of heavenly dangerous goodness. In the glass has lovely restrained grapefruit, Meyer lemon custard tastes, also Anjou pear, tad of mineral water flair in this balanced medium body wt. of... |
gtv_john |
| 87 |
Sanguineti Super Tuscan Sangiovese 2007 Nessun Dorma, Rossetti, SRL; Cerrueto, Guisi, Italia. (Many Italian regions missing from list) Initial nose whiffs grass-cranberry. First glass opened to taste notes leather, boysenberry with watery body, light weight-less mouth feel. Total offset and equilibrium tannin/acid for x-ray Man impact... |
gtv_john |
| 82 |
Querciabella Mongrana Maremma Toscana Sangiovese 2007 Greve, Italy. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with initial nose of fresh trimmed yew and forsythia, with slight touch of earthworm in mud. Tastes of woody stems, fresh cut Hyacinthia and yew trimmed, but no fruit except raisin after taste. Medium viscosity with slight comfort... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Di Maio Norante Sangiovese 2008 Dry red wine of Molise, Terra Degli Osci, winery in Campomarino, Italia. Tart black currant, licorice, cigar box, Alum powder, coriander, Date-Fig-Asphalt, charcoal grill, slight tannin background, faint spice light-weight on the palette, terrific acrid crispness in the finish. Tastes delivered... |
gtv_john |
| 88 |
Spelletich Cellars Zinfandel 2005 Bright raisin, Boysenberry, and Date fruits, mid-weight solid mouthfeel, Acai and yew acid green notes, and (really diff) cabbage tastes. Elegant liquor prescience well crafted special occasion Vin, albeit with sad synthetic cork. |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Folie à Deux Zinfandel 2007 Really quite quality and silkiness expected from this dependable producer. With a soft approach to big fruit focus, quiets down to a rare Zin 'deep vat-like effect' of flavor depth that few wineries achieve, slight mature spice edge, lush background deep black currant, solid but non-... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Vitiano Sangiovese 2007 Really a very well oaked and massaged blend of Cabernet sauvignon, Sangiovese, and Merlot produced by Az. Vinicola Falesco, in Montecahino, Italia. This is a true value driven gem that begs to buy a case. Initial bottle whiffs rich, ripe blackberry and cassias fragrances -yum! Tastes of lush de... |
gtv_john |
| 86 |
Valley of the Moon Zinfandel 2006 Initial bottle whiffs of black asphalt and bursting blueberries. Watery weight mouthfeel, shiraz-sharp spice edge thru to back pallet, date, cardamon, nutmeg blueberry faintness, short finish. |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Treasure Hunter Petit Sirah 2007 By Dark Horse Stable, Hopland, CA. Bottled from High-End Winery forced to unload spectacular vino they can't sell at regular big-name price point....hence> Treasure Hunters moniker. Initial bottle whiffs of ripe black raspberries fragrances. Grenache and Petite Syrah like Rhone blends of... |
gtv_john |
| 94 |
Domenico Clerico Ciabot Mentin Ginestra Barolo Nebbiolo 2004 12 noon, 9/05/10 Initial opening has fruits like Black Raspberry literally engulfs the room like a vino fruit bomb air freshener! Just spectacular aromas...20 minutes later, whiffs still fill the room of lush aromatica deep Blueberry ~ Boysenberry nose to luxuriate in. >> (yet 2004 needs... |
gtv_john |
| 85 |
Teanum ÒTRE Negroamaro, Cantine Teanum SRL Negroamaro 2007 100% varietal Negroamaro with initial bottle whiffs of gardenia e golden raisin fragrances. In der glass nose of anise spiked with clove buds, yes. Tastes of sprightly bright, somewhat bothersome, super razor-sharp tastes of red currant, spicy cracked cardamon, scraped flint like mineral edge like... |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Louis Guntrum Riesling 2006 Another great wine from Broadbent Selections. |
Brad Prescott |
| 90 |
Louis Guntrum Riesling 2006 Another great wine from Broadbent Selections. |
Brad Prescott |
| 90 |
Praxis Lagrien Lagrein 2006 Holy Lagrein! Whiffs of sanguine, mortuary experience plasma-like and anchovy coming from first opening. Open? Is closed-up like lock-down might have been on The Rock! Four hour extended opening required to fully bring out this gem. Tastes and nose in the glass of green quince skins, rose pedals;... |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Château du Moulin~Rouge Haut-Médoc Merlot 2005 This Cru Bourgeois from Cussac-Fort-Medoc, France I bought early on in phase #1 personal vin edu journey, and tucked it away into one chill cellar 2 yrs ago; recently opened, breathed for 3 - 4 hours and promptly got wacked upside of the head with flavor profiles that normally, anyone of which,... |
gtv_john |
| 90 |
Zinfandel, North Coast, Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel 2006 From well experienced zinfandel craftsman, Rosenblum Cellars, from Alameda, California. Small lots of individual fermented, aged 14 months in American and French oak casks. The final blend a gossamer layering of warm and cool climate fruits. Initial bottle opening whiffs of bright quince,... |
gtv_john |
| 85 |
Chateau Le Galion Cotes de Bourg Merlot 2005 'Grand Vin De Bordeaux' blend 60% Merlot, 30% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Initial bottle whiffs of bread dough ala rising...always a promising start? Tastes: Sadly, an empty watery mouthfeel let down; in the glass faint cranberry, near non-descriptive fruit. Acrid tannin but... |
gtv_john |
| 91 |
"FRANC", Crystal Valley Cellars, M. Cosentino Cabernet Franc 2006 M. Cosentino what a total fantastico effort with your whole range of varietals and blends, is pure astonishment this Cabernet FRANC singularity. Initial bottle whiffs plum crazy black cherry. Rich full fruit tastes, ala fruit-bomb, but restrained no jamminess or pectin chewiness, blackberry black... |
gtv_john |
| 82 |
MATSU Bodega y Vinedos Ecologicos Tempranillo 2009 ARTSY, HIP Label, Cool fad ecologico B.S., slick Metro presentation, a total puffed up MARKETING WINE; tiny substance, no craft behind it, raw rough, totally green product, big advertising $$$ dollars to Wine Spectator, inflated review from Robt Parker (what the hell was he thinking?...oh yeh, is... |
gtv_john |
| 92 |
Château La Nerthe Syrah 2004 This Vintage is 2005. Der Casa du Pope once again and I can only hope for the Fireworks of the 2004? Initial bottle nose crescent roll and rhubarb stalk. Tastes of smokey pomegranate, kirschie, dark black fruits liquor-like legs coat glass and mid wt elegance on pallet. Silky mono block... |
gtv_john |
| 84 |
Golden Kaan Shiraz Shiraz 2007 Unbalanced. This wine tastes like a mass production wine made with little care for anything other than bottling a serviceable wine for mass distribution. This is a wine you serve if you need to serve a passable wine in plastic cups to a lot of people at some event. |
Brad Prescott |
| 90 |
Black Opal Shiraz 2008 My first experience with a Shiraz was quite welcomed. Personally, I had mine with a Veal Florentine dish, perhaps not the best pairing, but both were delicious. The Shiraz is a nice middle ground between a Cab. Sauvignon and a more fruity Pinot Noir. |
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| 85 |
Carmen Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 A nice affordable Cabernet with a good flavor. |
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| 88 |
Cline Ancient Vines Zinfandel Zinfandel 2007 Ancient Vines Zinfandel from Cline's wide selection of historic Zin vineyards located e Contra Costa County, California more than 100 years old. That be ancient, yes? And a fine effort & source it is. Initial whiffs green juneberry and petrol rusty resin from a Fiat 500 or Dirty Kiwi... |
gtv_john |
| 89 |
Leone Rosso Toscana Syrah 2006 60% Siran, 20% Sangiovese, 10 percent Canaiolo, e 10% Ancellotta deserving proud from Barone de Renzis Sonnino, Montespertoli, Italia. Has initial bottle whiffs of ruby grape and blackberry. In the glass notes of a de cassis and kirsch-ie, with intense raisin nose, swirls of oil dredged legs of... |
gtv_john |
| 88 |
Bodegas Osborne SOLAZ, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla Tempranillo 2006 Synthetic cork, but one of stand-up performance, longevity e quality, with easy sliding pull. Bright blueberry initial whiff. Tastes so soft as to be nearly invisible with round shouldered mild mannered tannins. Small faint cranberry notes in medium body mouth feel, chalky mineral structure, slight... |
gtv_john |
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