5/16/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

The magic of Hartford Court is that they make very affordable wines in small quantities. They his is a great example. Popped and poured. Blue fruits and pepper on the nose. Medium bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and medium minus tannins. Great Syrah for a great price.

5/13/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

At first, chilled, opened, poured into a decanter for 20 minutes before consuming. It was still too cold in the beginning to get much. After another 30 minutes, aromas of citrus peel and wet stones dominate. Maybe some white flowers in the background. On the palate, medium minus mouth feel, medium + acidity. A tinge of phenolic bitterness and significant salinity on the finish. Paired with grilled swordfish, grilled potatoes and salad. I enjoyed it, but I think it would go better with something briny.

5/12/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

This is a lovely Fleurie. Still smells youthful, despite 3+ years of age. Dark fruits on the nose. Doesn’t have any carbonic markers. On the palate. Well -balanced. Acidity sticks out a bit, but that makes it a good food wine. Paired with a garden salad. Ready to go now, but not the least bit tired

4/30/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Showing well. Popped and poured. Rich red fruits on the nose with just a touch of earth. It smells “whole-clustery”. Week-balanced on the palate, with medium fruit, medium tannins and medium acidity. Paired with grilled cheeseburgers and salad, and went beautifully.

4/23/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

As I said in my previous note, this is a shy wine. Medium to medium minus aromatics, medium minus acidity, medium minus tannins. To be fair, I decanted it and started dinner quickly, and I will taste again after I leave the wine stoppered at cellar temperature. Tonight I probably would have called it Malbec in a blind tasting because it has a Bordeaux variety character, but fairly non-descript. As it opens up there is some pyrizine character but it is subtle. 2018 was a warm vintage in the Loire and it shows.

4/21/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I have not tasted much Roussanne. Chilled at first, but opened the bottle and warmed a bit before dinner. Nose of candied lemon, honey, wax and some apricot on the nose. Balanced on the palate, with medium ++ acidity, but good mid-palate richness and a very long finish. Paired with grilled tilapia. I would order more if I could!

4/20/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

A bit shy this evening. After a short decant and the meal, it never really opened up. Not much on the nose, really. As I’d expect from KB, the wine is balanced on the palate with medium acidity and medium tannins. Paired with sautéed chicken with a tarragon cream pan sauce, a vegetable risotto and garden salad. There is a long finish. I don’t know if California Pinots go through a dumb phase, but this one may be in it

4/17/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Very pretty wine. Popped and poured. Cherries, pomegranate and flowers on the nose with a touch of earth in the background. On the palate, medium + acidity and medium, fine tannins. Long finish. Paired with stuffed shells and pomodoro sauce. A real treat, this young (I was a bit surprised), and very good value.

4/16/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Very expressive. Cherries and spices jump from the glass. On a he palate, medium acidity. Medium + tannins, but not in the way at all. Very long finish. The wine is hot - at 15.5 ABV, there is no way around it. I don’t think this will change with time, so best paired with fare that can stand up to the alcohol.

4/13/2024 - jkvedar wrote:

It took about 30 minutes for this wine to show itself. Poured into a decanter at 40 degrees F. Underripe apple dominates the nose. There is some wet wool in the background. On the palate, high acid all the way through. Some mid-palate fullness. Others have suggested this might be from some RS, but there is no perception of sweetness. The finish is all Granny Smith apple. Paired with sautéed veal cutlets with mustard,cream pan sauce, mashed potatoes, and garden salad. This was a great pairing!

4/7/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I was warned that these wines might be funky. This bottle is. Light colored - more like a dark rose than a red. There is some volatile acidity on the nose, as well the fruity “bubble gum” character that suggests carbonic maceration. Light bodied with high acidity. Paired well with grilled salmon, rice and salad. Overall a fun wine, but not what I would describe if asked to describe Beaujolais.

4/3/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

30 minutes after opening, it changes by the minute. Herbs and wet rocks predominate on the nose, with sour cherries in the background. Medium plus acid, medium tannins, but well-integrated. Long finish. Paired with vegan chili. The acidity was a good match for the tomato-heavy chili.

4/1/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Really interesting wine. I don’t have a lot of experience with Carricante. Took some air and warmth to show itself. I poured it into a decanter about 30 minutes before dinner and it still took the length of the meal to show itself.mostly lemon and lemon zest on the nose. Some river rock in the background. Medium + (almost high) acidity on the palate. Initially, there was an interesting mid-palate richness that went away with time. Finishes with a stony/salty minerality. Really complex. great value. Paired with shrimp + a sort of buerre blanc made with a stock from shrimp shells and some herbs. Very food-friendly.

3/30/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Fabulous wine. Popped and poured. Aromatically lifted. jumps out of the glass. Initially, floral with red fruit and just a touch of mushroom/sous bois and some steely minerality. Over time (30 minutes), all of the secondary stuff (forest floor and minerality) came through more strongly. The finish was consistently long. Paired with grilled salmon, rice and salad. I purchased this on a whim (who thinks of Pinot noir in the Uco valley?), and it over-delivered!

3/28/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Thin-skinned variety. Pleasant enough. Very primary. Not very helpful, I’m sure, but this one is “Grapey” to me. Light-bodied. Minerality is dominant. Medium + acidity. Low tannins. Medium finish.

3/25/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. A great example of vineyard-specific Malbec from high altitude. Almost reminds me of Syrah. Floral nose with some rocky elements. Medium bodied with medium acidity and dusty, medium tannins. Long finish. Will pair well with most fare.

3/23/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

In a great place right now. Did not need a decant, but I decanted it for 3 hours at cellar temperature.

Blackberry, cassis and a bit of graphite on the nose. There is a hint of oak in the form of baking spice. Medium-bodied, medium minus tannins and medium acidity. Paired with braised beef, mashed potatoes and pan sauce as well as salad. Long finish.

3/22/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Such a pretty wine. I was worried about the 15% ABV, but it was not the least bit hot. Essentially popped and poured at 40 degrees F. Such complexity on the nose, with a sweet spiciness- mixture of citrus peel, oak, hazelnut , and white flowers. The palate is unique too, with slight phenolic bitterness. Very long finish. I fear I would have guessed viognier on a blind tasting because it is so aromatic. I see some recommendations to wait until 2025, but to me it’s ready now.

3/19/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

A great everyday drinker with great QPR. Decanted for about 30 minutes. Nose is a bit shy, but with roses and sour cherry predominating. Paired well with tortellini in marinara sauce. Medium mouthfeel, medium + acidity, but what makes it drinkable now is the medium, fine-grained, integrated tannins. Long finish too.

3/12/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Licorice, roses, earth on the nose. There is a sweetness on the palate to go along with the high acidity. The tannins are soft and quite tame. Very long finish.

3/12/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Beautiful! Still some mouth-filling fruit! But surrounded by menthol, garrigue, spice and “old library “ on the nose. The palate is rich, but balanced and the finish is long. Popped and poured and it did not need decanting.

3/11/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

This one took a while to open up. I took it out of the fridge and opened it 30 minutes prior to consumption. Initially, muted nose with a bit of reductive character. With warmth and air it comes alive. Baked apple and some lemon and lemon peel on the nose. There is still a whiff of sulfur. A minerality (river rock) comes through on the palate. A long finish. Paired with barbecued shrimp and fried potatoes+ salad. A good match. My opinion of this wine changed pretty dramatically as it opened up. In the end, I would say great QPR.

3/5/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Echoing others who note how acidic this wine is. You might say out of balance, depending on your taste. Popped and poured, at 40 degrees F. Paired with an Asian-themed salad. The nose has a bit of fruit and a whiff of petrol. On the palate, it is all about acidity with little fruit at all. Finish is decent. I have one more bottle and will think more carefully about pairing.

3/3/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

This is a subtle wine all around. I opened it 4 hours prior to drinking and left it at cellar temperature. No decant. Paired with grilled salmon, rice and salad. It is medium all the way around. Medium intensity of aromas, with tea and cranberry dominating. Medium mouthfeel. Medium tannins. Medium acidity. Medium finish. Well-integrated and there is nothing wrong with this wine, but as I mentioned in my last tasting note, I kept waiting for something more because it is premier cru.

3/2/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable. Poured at around 50 degrees F and paired with haddock and rice in a buerre blanc sauce. As it warms, it demonstrates more typical Chenin markers, most notably, apple orchard. High acidity, but there is a nice mid-palate mouthfeel. Moderate finish. I didn’t know what to expect from Chinon blanc, but this one is a hit!

2/29/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Popped and poured this classic Rioja. Dark cherries, raspberries, coconut and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied. Medium + acidity medium minus tannins. Decent finish. Paired well with a vegan tagine. The CellarTracker drinking window said up to 2024, but this bottle suggests a few more years of life.

2/27/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

It has evolved in 6 months. Some tertiary notes coming through. Paired with Tagine. A good match. Showing well right now right out of the bottle . The finish lingers for a ver long time. In addition to the dried fruit character, the is a “church basement “ smell as well. Very charming!

2/18/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 3 hours at cellar temp. Showing very well right now. Red fruit, mint, smoke, a touch of baking spice on the nose. Medium acidity, medium + tannins, medium-bodied on the palate. I paired this with braised pork short ribs and it was delicious.

2/15/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Same feelings as last bottle. Pleasant and serviceable. Popped and poured and it was ready to go with no aeration. As it opens up there’s a bit of funk on the nose. Earth, mushroom, sour cherry with barely a hint of oak on the nose. Medium tannins, high acidity on the palate. Very good finish. Paired well with a pasta, basil, soluble-dried tomato dish

2/13/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Really pleasant! Popped and poured. Paired with Lentil stew. Mostly dark berries on the nose with a touch of oak in the background. Medium-bodied, medium acidity and medium tannins. Respectable finish.

2/6/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

This is a beautiful wine. Popped and poured at refrigerator temperature. The color is a bit dark, indicating the few years of bottle age. I don’t have extensive experience with Alsatian Riesling but what a pleasant bottle. Pear, apricot , lemon zest, river rock, and possibly a hint of petrol on the nose. At 13% ABV, it must be dry, but the mid-palate weight is beguiling. A bit of phenolic bitterness as well. Paired this with a pesto-based salad and it matched well. The finish is long. I have one more bottle but I wish I ordered more!

2/4/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2 hours at 60 degrees F. Blackberry, cassis and a bit of graphite on the nose. There is a hint of oak in the form of baking spice. Medium-bodied, medium minus tannins and medium acidity. Paired with braised beef, mashed potatoes and pan sauce as well as salad. On some sips there was a bit of a burn, but overall outstanding and best with hearty food. Long finish.

1/25/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

There is a lot of complexity here, but I am pretty sure I would be flummoxed to identify this as Chardonnay on a blind tasting. Lots of minerality and herbal notes. No oak character noted.

1/21/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

All fruit and California sunshine. Decanted for about an hour before pairing with beef and potatoes in beef gravy. This is a rich, fruit-forward wine but even at 15.2% ABV, it is balanced and not hot. Cassis, black fruits, menthol and chocolate on the nose. There is a minor earth component too. Rich, full-bodied on the palate. Medium tannins and medium minus acidity. Long finish does have a touch of a burn when enjoyed without food.

1/19/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I compared this to a recent vintage Condrieu and it held up very well. All flowers and apricots on the nose. I always miss the acidity of Viognier on the palate and this one is no exception. A good pairing with a peppery vegetable soup

1/16/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Apricots, white flowers and some citrus peel on the nose. Medium to full-bodied on the palate. Paired beautifully with a peppery, coconut milk-based corn chowder. Phenolic bitterness shows on the finish, in a pleasant way

1/14/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Showing very well right now. Still has “California sunshine and stuffing “ but some tertiary notes such as earth and mushroom are emerging.

1/13/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Grand cru, indeed. Lovely, complex champagne all the way around. Toast, citrus peel, lemon and wet rocks on the nose. Palate starts off with a mid-palate roundness, but finishes rich and fruity. Paired with tilapia in a buerre blanc. I othered more.

1/11/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Spicy Chardonnay. Ripe. Medium acidity. Long finish

1/8/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I liked this one just fine, though I think the 98 from Decanter is a bit overstated. Black cherry and wet rocks on the nose. Clean and vibrant on the palate with medium acidity sand soft tannins. Medium finish. Drinking well right now.

1/7/2024 - jkvedar wrote:

A year ago, I was head over heels. This bottle is clearly on the back nine. The fruit is all but gone. It has good acidity so when paired with braised beef and mashed potatoes, it did well, but alone or with the salad it came off as unbalanced.

1/6/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 5 hours and still needed food. That is not a criticism but rather a heads up. Light bodied. Translucent, orange , clear color. Great pairing with a high-acid, pancetta, mushroom-based tomato sauce and porcini tortellini. Even after 5 hours, not great on its own.

1/2/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Decanted at 62 degrees F for 2 hours. Earth, flowers and cherry, pomegranate on the nose. Lean on the palate.medium + acidity, medium minus tannins. Medium finish. Not blowing me away for a premier cru. I have another bottle.

Day 2, half bottle stoppered and left in the cellar. Much better on the second night. This suggests more time needed.

12/31/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Very distinctive champagne. More fruit, less lees character. Citrus peel, some apricot on the palate. Long, minerally finish.

12/29/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Fruit and spice! Classic Zin. Hartford produces great Zins.

12/27/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Possibly going through a “dumb phase”. Poured into a decanter and after an hour or so, the nose showed the faintest hint of Nebbiolo markers, I.e roses, tar, etc. nothing wrong on the palate, but nothing terribly exciting either. Tannins are softened and the acidity is w touch less prominent than I would expect. I don’t have any more but if I did, I wouldn’t know to drink or hold

12/26/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Showing well right now. Decanted for 2 hours at 65 degrees F. Earth and neutral oak on the nose. This wine is very clean and precise. Medium + acidity. Medium, well-integrated tannins. The finish goes on and on.

12/26/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Showing very well. Decanted for 2 hours and served with rib roast. Cedar, earth, graphite, some mint on the nose. Beautifully balanced - medium + acidity. Tannins refined. long finish.

12/25/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Served with poached lobster. A bit shy at 40 degrees F, but as it warmed up, the complexity came out. Lemon peel, lime peel. Taut in a good way. Won out in a comparative tasting of several chardonnays, including a Corton Grand Cru.

12/25/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Distinctive herbal aroma - I don’t think I have ever had that before in a Chardonnay. Lean on the palate - sort of Chablis -like. Mineral finish. Held up well in a comparative tasting with a premier cru Meursault.