3/14/2024 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

About twenty years ago, when I was newly getting into wine, I went to a Christie's pre-auction tasting at the Jonathan Club in Los Angeles. There I was introduced and fell in love with my first tastes of old first growth Bordeaux, like Lafitte and Haut Brion. This Cos took me right back there from the second I smelled it--scents of autumn leaves, tobacco, pencil shavings, and cedar. I really enjoyed this and it reminded me why and what good aged Bordeaux can be. It gradually changed but didn't diminish over the evening, with its long after taste, earthy secondary flavors, complexity, nicely integrated tannins with plenty more life left for further aging, and beautiful balance.

12/24/2022 - djdaqm wrote:

Plenty of life left. Spices and warm. Good concentration. Very good nose. Starting to get the tertiary flavors, but not quite there yet. A pleasure to drink.

3/15/2022 - djdaqm wrote:

Cedar notes on the nose. Earthy. Low alcohol, great balance. Fruit subsiding, but there is plenty of stuff to show. A bit of tannin but not too much. Long finish. Complex. Delicious to drink. Classical old school French Bordeaux. Wines like this is why I collect and age wine

5/8/2021 - djdaqm wrote:

Everything is in place. Nose of cedar and violets. On the mouth plenty of acidity. Accompanied with home made levain bread and charcuterie. Perfect Saturday night!

10/14/2020 - djdaqm wrote:

Cross between good Bordeaux and Napa. Really well balanced and restrained, yet with a lot of bouquet and flavor that developed across the palate. Still lots of life left, with at least another 10 years of good development.

10/8/2020 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Great wine for the money

2/29/2020 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Some oxidation on the nose and fairly dark in color. First taste reminds me of a mild dry sherry, but with much more fruit, freshness and acidity. I'm not sure if it's meant to be this way or there's some pre-ox, but I quite like the wine. Smells like it will be a heavy unctuous wine, but on the palate it's fairly light-bodied. While there is a lot of acidity, it doesn't leave you puckered on the back end. Lots of fruit smells, particularly roasted pineapple. Really easy to drink, with a nice long finish.

2/12/2020 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this wine. A bit of funk when first opening, but this subsided. Scents of leather, spice and earthiness. Initial palate very full, but drops off on the back end. Tends towards blackberries and decent acidity.

11/19/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Grassy style of sauvignon blanc. Crisp, fresh and bright on the nose. Nice balance of acidity and concentration. Lingers in the mouth. 13% alcohol.

11/17/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

I mostly agree with Ex-sommelier's note from last year. Not much on the nose for the first hour, and quite acidic out of the bottle. Softened and introduced some bitter notes over the next hour. Not particularly long or complex, and a little pricey for what you get.

11/11/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

For their price Kabinetts have to be one of the most enjoyable wines around, and this is a great example. Piercing acidity to balance out the mild sweetness. Bright and bracing, and so easy to drink. Not complex or deep, but something I could drink every week.

11/13/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

For the price this is a really solid wine. The nose shows some spice and earthiness along with cherry. Fairly low tannins, but good acidity and fruitiness make this enjoyable without much aging. Shows its character as a pinot noir. Enjoyed a lot as a daily drinker.

11/7/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Very big wine that builds across the palate to a very punchy and rich finish. Nice acidity to help balance the 14.5% alcohol in this wine. A little over-the-top for my taste. Tannins are starting to become integrated. Much more fruit (rich dark berry) than forest in flavor, with secondary flavors still somewhat lacking. Still showing its oak.

10/28/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

This wine really fell flat for me. We served it at the end of a blind tasting, and expected it to have a bit more umph, given it's 14.8% alcohol and Napa origin. On the nose there was some plum. On the palate, it didn't have much acidity, and the tannins were gone, but without leaving behind any complexity or character to the wine. It just came across as a soft, bland, and cheap wine (and compared quite evenly with a $20 cabernet from Lodi that was served before it).

10/28/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Really bright and fresh with tons of lovely acidity. Nice body to round things out.

10/23/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Nicely integrated now with really good balance of acidity, fruit, and smokiness.

6/19/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

While I enjoyed this wine, it was clearly oxidized. It reminded me of a fino sherry, but with a little more brightness.

6/19/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Man I like this wine. Good acidity to balance the sweetness, but now showing some roundness, caramel and fuller body with the age. Really delicious and great with some spicy Thai food.

6/19/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Bright, clean and dry. Shows the varietal. Nice balance and good acidity.

4/3/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Generally unimpressive. Shows the slightest bit of age, but there doesn't seem much to work with. I don't see this improving with more age either.

2/6/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Starting to show some signs of premature oxidation, but nice round palate and balanced acidity. Some burnt sugars on the back end.

2/6/2019 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Fairly subtle wine with some easy hints of white pepper on the palate. I didn't get the sense that it could benefit much from more aging. Decent but overall all a bit flat.

12/15/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Great wine that is in a good place right now. Touch of vanilla, but not overwhelming. Shows some secondary notes that integrate well with dark berries and a little spice. Soft and well integrated tannins, yet with enough acid. Nice balance and delicious with a simple steak.

12/15/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Big wine with lots of dark berries, luscious oak and spice. Seems to me this is a wine better drunk young (5 years) when the berries, oak and spice are lush rather than when it's a little older and the alcohol comes through more.

11/12/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

After having a previous year and really enjoying the wine, I really wanted to like this, especially given it's higher acidity and lower alcohol content. However, it was just too acidic without much complexity or depth. The look of the wine is quite nice--clear, with a touch more brown than some wines, and fairly translucent. Alcohol is 13%. A little more time in the bottle may help, but it's not very tannic or concentrated, so I don't see much to work with.

11/10/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Better than the last time I had it with a little age. There is still lots of acidity and tannins left, so it should continue to improve with age. Not particularly complex.

9/7/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Compared to some of my favorite Kabinett wines, this one was a little more bitter, with less brightness and sharp acidity. I would not describe this as racy, which is what I generally like so much in good Kabinett.

8/15/2018 - djdaqm wrote:

Outstanding balance. A pleasure to drink. I wish I could have contemplated this wine a bit longer. Layered. Good acidity. Complexity and simply delicious.

8/6/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Very nice wine. Lemon-lime, caramel, butterscotch. Creamy yet acidic. Great everyday drinker.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Bright and crisp with a hint of grassiness.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Dark and rich, with some toughness left still. Drinking well now, but could continue to age without problem. Lots of dark fruit concentration with decent acidity, and still some tannins remaining. Nice example of Pomerol from a good year at a reasonable price.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Really like this wine with it's original personality. On the nose there is pine needles and red fruits. Nice acidity, balance and freshness on the palate. Quite interesting to drink. 13% alcohol, pignolo grape

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Straw color. Spicy on the nose with a little oxidation, but I don't mind that generally speaking. Full bodied and much deeper in personality than the Puligny we had with it. Enjoyed quite a bit with a crab dish.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Barrel 1, Bottle 217/577. Thanks Chris and Scott. Really enjoyed the wine. Unfortunately we didn't decant/aerate it prior to drinking. Oak comes across
a little on the nose, especially after drinking Valdicava just prior. As a barrel 1 bottle I think this had the newer oak and less concentrated flavors. Really enjoyed the lower level of alcohol and acidity in this wine. Look forward to tasting it again in 5 years.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Cherry on the nose. Quite concentrated and fruity on the palate with tastes of cola and cherry. More fruit forward than earthy. Reminded me more of a new world style of wine making.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Pleasant, bright and fruity.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Bright, light, and fruity. Drank from a magnum as an aperitif. Great presentation.

3/27/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Quite a different smell than I would have guessed. Doesn't smell like Napa Cab or taste like it. Brighter with red fruits. Mild tannins and decent acidity. A touch of bitterness on the back end. Decent concentration but without much depth or complexity. Overall somewhat disjointed. 14.5% alcohol.

3/24/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Decanted and aerated for about an hour before drinking. On the nose there is dark berries along with some eucalyptus and Napa chalkiness. Juicy, rich and very drinkable. Decent acidity to balance the fruitiness. Not particularly complex or nuanced. Good wine for steak.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Decanted and aerated 2-3 hours before consuming. Wonderful wine with balance between the acidity, fruit concentration and integrating tannins. 14% alcohol that didn't come across as over-powering. Scents of charcuterie and dried meats with some dark fruit. Long and complex palate. Really enjoyed, and could continue to improve with aging.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Decanted and aerated for 2-3 hours before consuming. Beautiful nose of forest floor, cedar and some tobacco. On the palate it's on the lighter side of what I'd expect from Latour, and it's still evolving and integrating. I would guess this wine has another 10 years before being at it's best.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Decanted for 3-4 hours before consuming. Like the last bottle 5 years ago, the cork was dry and disintegrated when opening, but the bottle seemed sealed. Delicious and unctuous port that is showing well now, but will improve with another decade or two. Still tastes young, and while I enjoyed it now I'll wish I still had it in 20 years.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: Brighter, lighter, and cleaner than the 2000 Meursault we had alongside this wine. Nicely balanced fruit and acidity. Touch of bitter on the end-palate, which I liked. 13% alcohol.

3/17/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Don's 50th: 14.5% alcohol but seemed like more; this probably summarizes my feelings best. This is a big wine, full of concentration and dark fruits. Would like to see more acidity to balance out the richness. Not particularly complex or nuanced.

3/14/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank over the next few hours. The look shows signs of age, but still has color and not too brown. On the nose it is true Pauillac, with some char, cedar, and tobacco. Long and complex across the palate, with a really nice balance between the acidity and fruit. Tannins are still slightly present, but starting to get silky in the mouth. Flavors of sour cherry, tobacco and charcuterie. Revisited after several hours in the decanter, and it had relaxed and softened. While it was a little stern at first, it developed into a gentle and delicious wine. Really well made wine from a great year drinking beautifully now. Could withstand more aging as well.

3/11/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Drinking very well right now. I was pleasantly surprised. On the nose there's some cherry and meaty smells. Secondary smells are nicely developed. Good concentration, but not over-the-top, with nice acidity to balance. Still some tannins left, but in a really good place right now. Overall a really well made wine with good balance and complexity.

1/28/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Bright, floral, fruity, and complex across the palate. Such a good wine regardless of the price, and for $10/bottle this is just fantastic. I'd go so far as to say one of the best values in wines I've ever had. As good as the previous year, but different in character, with this one being a little more floral.

3/7/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Decent vintage champagne, but not as complex or nuanced as I had hoped. Somewhere in the middle of a bright, clean, fruity champagne and a yeasty, full-bodied champagne. I think I'd rather tend more in either direction rather than middle-of-the road. Could probably benefit from additional bottle time to develop more.

3/7/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Good solid Kabinett. Crisp green apples. Lots of tartness. Not quite as vibrant as the great 2015s that have now been released, but still quite enjoyable.

2/19/2018 - djdaqm Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank over next 2 hours. Really pleasantly surprised about this wine. It's in a good place right now, showing some age, but with a few years left. On the nose there is candied dark cherries with some meatiness--like homemade salumi--and fennel. It is perfectly balanced with decent acidity, well-integrated tannins, depth and concentration. Alcohol at 14.5% is not too high. Old-world style of Barolo that may not be great when it's young, but that is fabulous with 20 years of age. Gentle yet complex and interesting on the palate.

I want to second what vinoviking wrote earlier about the cork. Mine was soft and reaching it's limits. It broke when removing and was stained to near the top. Better to drink this soon.