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Comments on my notes

(7 comments on 7 notes)

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Red
1997 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages Sonoma County
8/7/2022 - rmcnees Likes this wine:
94 points
Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, smooth polished, complex but balanced and nicely integrated black berry plum, currant and black cherry fruits with notes of mocha, toffee, spice, cedar, aise and herbs with a smooth finish. The fill level, foil, label and most importantly, the cork were all in prime condition. At twenty five years this was at the apex, in its prime drinking window, showing no signs of diminution from aging whatsoever. This exceeded my loftiest expectations and showed even better than earlier tastings.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2022/08/pour-boys-wine-dinner.html
  • wconnolly commented:

    8/15/22, 4:12 PM - I definitely opened the 2013 too early. It was good but pretty heavy on the tannins still. Great potential though. Glad I still have another bottle.

Red
2016 Lagier Meredith Syrah Mt. Veeder
6/24/2022 - wconnolly Likes this wine:
92 points
Blueberry, blackberry, pepper, stony granite on the palate. Plenty of tannins left. Full bodied with a long finish. Great with our barbecue dinner.
  • wconnolly commented:

    6/29/22, 6:03 PM - I would let it breathe for at least an hour. Enjoy!

Red
2014 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
10/4/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine:
90 points
A consistent favorite. Deep indigo color. Ripe Strawberry and alcohol on the nose. Blackberry, boysenberry, cassis and oak on the palate. Medium bodied with an oaky finish. This still needs a few years. This was open and decanted and it was still 3 hours before it really revealed its fruit.
  • wconnolly commented:

    10/7/20, 5:14 PM - I think it will go long. The CT window is 2019-2025 but I suspect this will be just hitting its stride in 2025.

Red
2010 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
7/4/2020 - wconnolly Likes this wine:
89 points
I learned my lesson with the last bottle I tasted 4 months ago. At ten years of age, this needs to be a pop and pour. Right out of the bottle this exhibited dark cherry, plum, cassis, licorice and an underlying note of mint. Full bodied with well integrated but still noticeable tannins. A medium finish with a hint of oak. Time to drink up as this is unlikely to improve further.
  • wconnolly commented:

    7/6/20, 7:21 AM - RayT...You raise a valid question. Freemark Abbey has long been a favorite of mine, in part because they have consistently offered great value and in part because of consistency of profile with Ted Edwards as winemaker since I think 1985. Both of those factors are changing. The value is OK but not what it used to be since the acquisition by Kendall Jackson. Ted Edwards is slowing down and turning wine making responsibilities over to Kristy Melton.

    But back to your question. I still think Freemark Abbey is an OK value. Maybe a little lower priced than Lede but as you point out, pretty close. I very much enjoy the differences between the Stags Leap and Rutherford profiles so I will continue to acquire both. I may dial back the wine clubs a bit as I do not really need the additional AVA production from either producer. But the core Cabernet, Bosche and Sycamore from Freemark and the core Cabernet and Rock Blocks from Lede, I will likely continue to acquire. A long winded answer but thanks for asking.

Red
1989 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
8/10/2019 - rmcnees Likes this wine:
90 points
Tonight was consistent with my notes from a decade and a year ago. Garnet color - medium-light delicate body; floral perfume, black cherry and berry fruits with layers of anise, tobacco and black tea and a hint of leather, with floral continuing on a modest tannin finish.
  • wconnolly commented:

    9/13/19, 1:06 PM - A real treat. Thanks for sharing.

Red
1984 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
5/3/2015 - wconnolly Likes this wine:
89 points
While past prime, this wine is still interesting for someone who has experience with older wines. This still retains its indigo color but is showing some bricking. On the palate, while there's still some fruit present, leather, tobacco and cedar flavors are more apparent. Tannins have given way to glycerine. Still this was very approachable, reasonably priced, better than the last bottle. A fitting birth year wine in recognition of second sons impending wedding and the wedding shower given by friends Rick and Linda.
  • wconnolly commented:

    7/5/15, 9:32 AM - I seem to recall decanting through a Vinturi at least 60 minutes before drinking. May have been as much as 90 but probably not. I have a few bottles of '82, '84 and '89 birth year wines and I tend to stay on top of these as too often these older wines have a short window between opening and shutting back down. I will say that '84 California Cab's have done surprisingly well. Best of luck and congrats the the MoH. Hope you get to try the '84 with her.

Red
2003 Château Haut-Batailley Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
9/22/2013 - wconnolly Likes this wine:
89 points
Deep garnet color. Moss, mushroom and some dark fruit on the nose initially, giving way to sort of a metallic, terroir based aroma. Currant, plum and dark berry on the palate with a bit of oak. Well balanced with integrated tannins. This is drinking very well right now. Will certainly last 10 more years but why wait? Don't believe it will get much better. Served as part of a flight of 10 2003 Bordeaux at a gala wine dinner hosted by friends
  • wconnolly commented:

    9/22/13, 3:32 PM - Harley1199 I agree with your 3 bottle approach and your appreciation for well aged wines. The 10 bottles represented a cross section of the left bank plus Pomerol and Pessac-Leognan. Margaux was the only major appellation missing. There was very little evidence of the heat to which you refer. I also expected it, having tasted an '03 Beychevelle in 2008 when it was essentially undrinkable. As much as I prefer the older Bordeaux, I did not identify the backbone that would suggest further improvement and long life.

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