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Comments on my notes

(9 comments on 4 notes)

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Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel California
2/5/2016 - Xfactor wrote:
90 points
In the Old Vine Zin shootout, Bedrock, Carlisle, and Turley, this was a close third for me on profile, but QPR is higher than the other two. This really has a field-blend feel, as it should, and if it wasn't wintertime here in the Northeast, this is a late afternoon porch sipper with a plate of finger foods. Kind of like your best friend, the fruit is solid, approachable tannins, and plenty of balance to get along for everyone. Bedrock never disappoints.
  • Xfactor commented:

    2/5/16, 7:54 PM - Yes, Carlisle '13 (91), Turley '13 (92), Bedrock '13 (90) in there too. YOY for me, Carlisle is most consistent for OVZ, but Turley puts out gems without pattern IMHO.

Red
2010 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vines Red Blend
11/12/2013 - Xfactor wrote:
94 points
Last two authors have really put great descriptions on this offering; tkoby11 has very close notes to my markings this night. Very suave, composed, yet despite this it shows very good muscle especially when paired with chicken or pork or red sauce dishes. I loved the '09; this effort is even more outstanding. 50/5/13/9/9/8
  • Xfactor commented:

    11/13/13, 10:01 AM - I will be searching for more too. This will be hard to hang on to at this level of QPR.

  • Xfactor commented:

    11/13/13, 10:12 AM - I have found with a lot of these new world types from the old world, especially mixed varietals, when drinking young a run through a Vinturi or similar device does enough for me that I can approach it in the glass immediately and still see some nice evolution. I did this last night as well (bottle-mounted Vinturi), so I am not sure how it evolved right after PnP. Old vines in my estimation can show that characteristic when young.

    I do agree, because I saved some to try today (cool preservation), that I will likely not find this one went the distance overnight. But honestly, don't care - I rarely have bottles left over.

  • Xfactor commented:

    11/14/13, 6:13 AM - Had some decent longevity, slowly brought back to room temp, vinturi to glass. slightly muted fruit, but developed a prominent anise note, pronounced minerality. Would say you have about 26-30 hours on this bottle with careful rest overnight.

  • Xfactor commented:

    11/26/13, 8:22 AM - I would put it higher than 81 looking at that list. If the Passadouro gets slotted at 37, this is at least a notch above that, even with the price difference.

Red
2007 Caves Saint-Pierre Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Mitre Red Rhone Blend
4/29/2012 - Xfactor wrote:
88 points
Started in mineral and finished fruit forward. Not as complex as anticipated or wanted. Nice tempered dark fruits and schist minerals, short finish. There is better to be found at the level this bottle wants to play.
  • Xfactor commented:

    3/14/13, 10:58 AM - Appreciated much. I favor interesting or memorable blurbs to balance the sometimes monotonous technical analysis.

Red
2008 Elena Fucci Aglianico del Vulture Titolo
3/11/2013 - Xfactor wrote:
NR - I am pulling my previous review until I can find another bottle. Despite no evident flaws - environmental, storage, or shipment, I can only believe my two samples were impacted, possibly excessive heat exposure at some point. I have opened a few other '08 and '07 from Vulture and Taurasi in the last two days and cannot explain the issues I previously had with the EF '08. (6/27/12 - Bitter red fruit, tannins dominated despite aeration. No depth or balance. Acidity overwhelms palate. 79)
  • Xfactor commented:

    3/9/13, 9:25 AM - Saw the reviews for this offering - a driver in purchasing 2 bottles. I was disappointed with the first bottle that evening, so I opened the other. Both were similar enough with no evident bottle or environmental flaws, that I provided my grade as above. I agree the tannins and acidity are certainly exacerbated by it's youth, but too much so.

  • Xfactor commented:

    3/10/13, 7:09 PM - I take umbrage at the gross assertion I might only be versed in more globally known varietals, such as those from Bordeaux as you exclaimed. I do not discount that others, and possibly you, have rated this bottling higher than I did; I can only craft an opinion with results of my tasting, whether they be surprising or not. Considered with other Aglianico I have consumed both stateside and in country, these bottles as purchased did not excel comparably – for your reference, offerings from Bisceglia and Mastroberardino, generally more Taurasi than Vulture.

    While we may not share the same opinion, this is a subjective forum and I am entitled to my own views. Instead of disparaging my observation of this powerful and unique varietal, it would have been more productive for both our time to have a frank, respectful discussion of how we arrived at our conclusions. We may have found these bottles to be impacted. I have already acknowledged this was a young sampling point for this potent varietal and tried to account for that, but as I said previously these were monolithic bottles that reached my table.

  • Xfactor commented:

    3/14/13, 10:44 AM - I should have been more humble myself and I do apologize. I was probably a bit bristly because I had to defend that review with friends of mine previously - they had anticipated a better rating too. I appreciate your passion for publicly lesser-known wines. Relating to my favorite wines, one in particular is similarly lesser-known, powerful, and for some of my ancestors a familial wine - tannat. I would certainly like to see that wine's unique characteristics considered in any review dealing with a serious producer's vinification. If I can procure another bottle, I will certainly revisit my comments here. Salute!

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