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| 2007 - Yellow Tail Merlot |
| Yellow Tail Merlot - Best taste for the money |
| Jan 30, 2010 |
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| Best Merlot for the money....fruity flavor without comprimising the kick of a merlot |
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| 2005 - Mission Haut Brion, La |
| Giant from the Barrell |
| Dec 10, 2009 |
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 One of the highlights of the Barrell Tastings in 2006, the entire Domaine Dillon was stellar. This is a monumental wine; a cornerstone of any serious cellar. I buy to enjoy and this is one of the most reliable purchases you can make. $399.00 per bottle at Bordeaux Specialist, www.mndfinewine.com |
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| 2004 - Maybach Materium |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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3 hour decant.
A quiet beauty. Deep and dark with nary a sign of demise. The nose is all camphor, cassis, creme de kirsch and framboise. The palate has the cassis with a soft but firm mouthfell. There is the kirsch and the creme, but there is also some tar, and leather. Some black plums with a hint of super black cherry, This has surely quieted down since my last taste. A decent acid level keeps this lively and fresh. A long and exact finish beckons more.......and I'm glad to have more in the cellar. (94 pts.) |
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| 2003 - Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr Crane Vineyard |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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| 30 minute quadruple splash decant. Dark and brooding. The nose is fragrant with black cassis notes, black cherries, and crème de kirsch. The palate has a silky and pure mouthfeel that is lush and elegant. Totally open for business. There is the crème de kirsch with some cocoa, black currants, black cherries, super black plums and pomegranate. Amazing intricately weaved tannins with a lilthy acidic 'bounce'. A very long and poignant finish that goes minutes, not seconds. A fantastic showing indeed. No rush, but no need to postpone enjoyment either. 94 points |
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| 2002 - Gemstone Proprietary Red Wine |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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| 76% cab, 12% merlot, 9% cab franc, 3% petite verdot.. Time treats these Gemstones well. The last time I had this it was nice, but surely not monumental. Today, 4 years later it has added weight and class, but more importantly, structure. A very deep and dark reddish black color, this was very fragrant on the nose: cassis, flowers, and black cherries. On the palate there is a very concentrated mouth feel that I don’t really remember this having previous time while sampling. Great structure with some great lushness. The black fruit profile is my playground. Great black currant, plums, blackberries with some kirsch notes, tar, and a hint of soy. A bit of leather and a hint of cedar box. The tannins are still noticeable but did not negatively affect his showing on ounce. It was decanted 4 hours (I believe), which surely was advantageous in this showing. A real elegant classy and uber balanced wine, with a long creamy smooth finish. (92 pts.) |
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| 2005 - Clos Saint-Jean Chateauneuf du Pape Deus Ex Machina |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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| The nose was all exotic spices and black cherries. The palate reveals some silky and uber-ripened black cherries, black pepper, soy, cedar, vanilla and some crushed pebbles. That rich exotic quality is sure present through-out. A medium weight mouthfeel with some deftly balanced tannins, which were just slightly angular, and a moderate acid base. A long finish of 90+ seconds. This wine needs at least 5 more years to show itself as it was surely holding back about 50% of what I believe it could be: A wonderfully elegant but powerfully possessive character-filled Châteauneuf. It really has it all, it just needs to come together. |
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| 2005 - Jones Family Vineyard The Sisters Proprietary Red |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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| and dark as usual, this one needs a minimum of 1-2 hours to really show itself. Great creme de kirsch and cola on the nose. The palate has chewy black and dark red fruits of currant, blackberry and black plum pudding. The mouthfeel is plush and elegant. A wonderful balanced wine, this has all the hallmarks of a full-breed Napa cabernet, at half the price. The tannins are intricately weaved and spun to help create the great mouthfeel. The finish is a minute plus, and the fruit never quits. (93 pts.) |
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| 2004 - Rockledge Cabernet Sauvignon The Rocks |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
30 minutes decant. This is one of the darkest, densest wines I have had in months. Swirling coats the glass with a ruby tint. The nose has some cherry cola, creme de cassis and black currant jam. The palate shows a wonderful explosion of black fruits: Currant, black cherries, black berries, black plums. There is some soy and a hint of vanilla. All this is engulfed in a blanket of chewy textured tannins. Pure and clean, this is huge! A wonderful acid reminder-note toward the finish. A very powerful cabernet that begs for a grilled steak or chops. I think time will soften this, but its so enjoyable now with an extended decant (My third bottle). A super finish that I can still taste after 2 minutes while typing this. Wow.
(93 pts.) |
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| 2007 - Dain Wines Syrah The Smart Set, White Hawk Vineyard |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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If there had been a single best $20 STEAL avalable ANYWHERE. I would like to try it. Until then, I say this is possibly the best deal I have made all year (And I made some good deals).
Medium garnet in color, the nose is all white pepper, forest floor, cranberries, cherries, and pomegranate, all intense. All in balance. The palate reveals a lush mouth feel of cranberry, pomegranate, Bing cherries, red plums, raspberries, fresh grated white pepper, wild lowers and wow. The balance is incredible. Perfect acidic conveyor belt whisping this forward to nirvana.
Unbef-ingbelievable. A super long finish and Dain's your uncle. (95 pts.) |
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| 2004 - Oakville Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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| Medium garnet in color. A beautiful nose of cherry cola, pencil shavings, and flower petals. The palate shows off a very showey and structured cab style I rally appreciate. Lots of red/black fruits: currants, blackberries, black cherries, red and black plum. Amazing showing of some dimensional traits of leather, pencil shavings, and spring showers on river stones. The cherry-cola notes never really end. This really opened up after about 30 minutes in the glass revealing a deft backbone filled with meshy tannins and bounded acid. The cola note remains long on through. The finish is 90 plus seconds. I really love this one's showing tonight. If you love a plush chewy, but not unruly cab, this might be the ticket. (93 pts.) |
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| 2005 - Outpost Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Nov 30, 2009 |
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| The nose on this was all blackberry and blueberry, something akin to a Cali Syrah. The palate had some great fruits of pomegranate, blackberries, black cherries, red plums, and a hint of creme de kirsch. Some soy, scorched earth, fresh rubbed leather and forest. The mouth feel was pure, and plush. A medium weight wine with tons of goodness packed deep within. Some dryness on the midpalate, the tannins still need some resolving. A great bright 'acid bounce' is present. A very balanced cabernet with tons of upside in the future. Not an in your face or flamboyant wine. A super long cherry filled finish. Would have scored higher had not it remind me of Syrah so much. (90 pts.) |
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