12/3/2022 - bronww wrote:

Not corked, not heat damaged, but nonetheless tasted dead and stayed that way over about 2 hours.

10/28/2022 - bronww Likes this wine:

Sean Tay's note nails it and this is just about as good as old Bordeaux gets. My previous bottle was good but this bottle is a definite step up.

2/24/2022 - bronww Likes this wine:

Stunning right now and perhaps destined to be a Spinal Tap wine?

8/22/2021 - bronww Likes this wine:

Wow!!!

6/5/2021 - bronww wrote:

Showing oxidation

12/9/2018 - bronww wrote:

Bad bottle

10/13/2018 - bronww wrote:

Corked

12/31/2016 - bronww wrote:

Corked. Not bad corked but corked.

12/17/2016 - bronww wrote:

Bottle was flawed. Oxidized?

1/2/2016 - bronww wrote:

Corked bottle.

9/5/2015 - bronww wrote:

Corked bottle.

7/20/2015 - bronww wrote:

Bottle was clearly stored improperly.

2/17/2014 - bronww wrote:

Defective bottle.

12/31/2013 - bronww Likes this wine:

Undoubtedly one of the finest Champagnes I have ever had. This was disgorged in May 2013 after being on the lees for 23 years. Incredibly rich and complex. This is on a par with much more expensive vintage luxury cuvees. An unbelievable value.

12/29/2013 - bronww Likes this wine:

Originally tasted this at Pappa's Bros. tasting. Wonderful, rich, off dry Prosecco. Top notch.

10/12/2013 - bronww Likes this wine:

Always a crowd pleaser. Lots of fruit. Dialed back tannins.

10/12/2013 - bronww wrote:

Some red fruit but slightly masked with acid and a touch of fingernail polish remover. Bad bottle?

9/2/2013 - bronww wrote:

Very strong nail polish remover/ethyl acetate aromas and flavor. Defective bottle.

6/30/2013 - bronww wrote:

Bottle was cooked. Obvious signs of past seepage and heat damage.

2/10/2013 - bronww wrote:

Color - pale straw yelllow with a slight green tint. Nose - aromatic, slightly aged aroma with rich, melon and tropical fruit. Palate - some citrus and lemon but has more of a sense of crisp, fresh acidity with intense tropical fruit. Very well balanced with an intense, flavortul, long ifinish. Summary - Almost a tropical fruit, buttery new world chardonnay with a lot of acid for a chardonnay but less than a sauvignon blanc. Strangely enough for such a hot climate sauvignon blanc, it is not in the super sauvignon category. Not terribly varietal specific but nonetheless a delicious wine that is probably a good match with food.

1/31/2013 - bronww wrote:

Classic Pinot Noir and at $15/bottle, it is one of the few regularly priced sub-$20 Pinot Noirs I have had that actually is pleasingly drinkable. You would not mistake this for a top end Burgundy but at this price point, I would rate this with a fairly substantial QPR.

1/31/2013 - bronww wrote:

Color - pale, clear bing cherry red. Nose - aromatic and youthful with dark cherry, mushrooms, some cola and a whiff of "burned tire". Palate - dry, medium-full bodied with fresh acidity and low, soft tannins. Well balanced and flavorful. Cherry fruit driven attack then the mid-palate transitions growing to a long, strong finish. Burgundian character with definite new world fruit.

12/30/2012 - bronww wrote:

Opened and decanted. Color - Deep ruby with no evidence of bricking as of yet. Nose - Immediately upon decanting, a classic, but not overwhelming Paullic nose dusty with cassis, tobacco, and some leather. Within 30 minutes, the leather had virtually diisappeared and and the tobacco was receeding with the fruit dominating and becoming more aromatic. Continued to develop over the course of the next 3 hours and perhaps it might have continured longer if there were any left. Palate - very good fruit driven beginning, mid, and finish with not a hard edge to be found. Tannins were smooth and round. Long lingering finish that would be absoultely dellicious with roasted lamb.

12/30/2012 - bronww wrote:

Color - medium depth greenish gold. Nose - youthfully aromatic with lemon, butter, and creme. Palate - dry, medium-full bodied with crisp aciidity. Well balanced with a moderate flavor intensity and a long finish. Concentrated citrus that transitions to butter with a crisp acid finish that lasts for 20 seconds.

11/17/2012 - bronww wrote:

Not bad and a decent amount going on with the palate for a $14 wine.

10/28/2012 - bronww wrote:

A very nice Sancerre. Good cut grass on the nose along with citrus, maybe grapefruit. Good palate with sharp acidity, minerality and complex citrus flavors. Good attack and mid-palate with a nice finish. Overall, I liked this slighly better than the 2010 Cloudy Bay that I tasted at the same time.

10/24/2012 - bronww wrote:

Somewhat closed on the nose when it was first opened but as it warmed up, white flowers and a touch of citrus appeared. On the palate, good acidity, lemon and mineral. Nice overall balance and a good wine.

9/15/2012 - bronww wrote:

Citrus, mildly floral nose. Creamy, full mouth feel with a citrus and melon palate. Good but not overwhelming acidity. The finish is incredibly balanced, nuanced and complex, and lasts forever. This is one of the best white wines I have ever had and is a terrific food wine.

9/15/2012 - bronww wrote:

Good acidity, mild yeast, creamy mouthfeel. Nicely balanced and overall very drinkable.

8/25/2012 - bronww wrote:

Strong cassis, gravelly, dusty classic Pauillac. Still strongly tannic. Could have used more time in the bottle.

8/25/2012 - bronww wrote:

Flowers, white peach and a touch of honeysuckle. Mineral component and good acidiity. Quite tart.

7/31/2012 - bronww wrote:

I tasted this bottle expecting to be disappointed given the fairly negative opinions of the professional reviews from more than a decade ago. I say that I must take issue with their low ratings. Yes, this is past its prime but it is not "falling apart" as I read from one well known professional critic. It is quite good and I say that it still holds together well despite its age. I think that PSirah Tampa's review pretty much nailed my tasting experience as well.

2/18/2012 - bronww wrote:

Decent enough wine and a little bit interesting and different but a horrible QPR.

12/15/2011 - bronww wrote:

Terrific floral nose followed by citrus and tropical fruit. This is a huge QPR.

7/20/2012 - bronww wrote:

A touch oaky and definitely a modern style of Chianti. Overall, not bad for $20 a bottle from Costco. I agree with another comment that the 93 WS rating seems excessive.

7/12/2012 - bronww wrote:

Toasty, nutty, and mild yeast flavor with nice citrus finish. Not bad. Has a comfort food quality about it.

7/8/2012 - bronww wrote:

The color is actually a light, brick red more like a pinot noir than a Zinfandel. On the nose, dark red fruit with a little bit of bing cherry crossing over into hints of dark fruit. Not a classic smelling Zin. On the palate, it is quite good with a lingering finish. A slightly hot finish with a touch of alcohol as well. This is not a typical full throttle Turley and is just a touch more restrained. All in all, quite enjoyable.

7/8/2012 - bronww wrote:

I really enjoyed this wine. It lacks a little bit of concentration compared to its big brother or other grand wines from the 2009 vintage but everything else is spot on. Good attack, mid, and a delicious lingering finish. This wine is clearly able to be consumed now without overly aggressive tanins and it will get better with a little bit of time. Fantastic 2nd wine from a good vintage. Classic Graves.

7/3/2012 - bronww wrote:

Immediate, strong yeast on the nose. Very yeasty, bread flavor on the palate.