10/23/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): I am a fan (probably bigger than most) of the 2012 vintage. These wines started out very open, and have remained there ever since. The closest vintage to 2012 has been 2016. Although I think 2016 is likely the superior vintage, right now, for my palate, the 2012s are drinking better. Don't get me wrong, 2016s are drinking fabulously, but you sense they will get better. 2012 is also drinking fabulously, and will also keep improving (for now, showing more tertiary flavors), but they don't seem to have the depth of the 2016s....I think VHR is no exception!

TN: Purple flowers, cedar and spice with notes of forest floor, leather and earth. Palate shows plenty of red and dark fruit (dark and red cherry, red currant, black raspberry) with notes of earth, tar, tobacco and toasty oak. Tannins are velvety and plush and finish is medium-long. Balance between fruit and tertiary flavors is more on the fruit side of the scale, so this should get even better in the next few years. Of course, nothing wrong with how it is drinking now! 96+ to 97 today, and should improve!

10/22/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): Very nice Pinot, but not a "wow'er." This Pinot has all the components and is drinking really nice. As WBW said, very "quaffable" and quite enjoyable.

TN: Nose shows red fruit and some cedar notes. Palate shows classic Dundee cherry with hints of chocolate, bramble and spice. Everything in balance. A great wine to sit back and enjoy. 93+ for my palate....no hurry to drink, but don't see it improving much.

10/21/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): This was a wine that lived up to the hype of the vintage! Delicious! This wine is in a perfect place for my palate.

TN: Nose shows some floral notes surrounded by earth and tobacco with hints of spice and leather. Palate starts with silky smooth tannins that glide over palate. Mid-palate shows cherry, red currant, earth and sweet tobacco, with hints of Mocha and spice. This wine shows a great balance between fruit and tertiary goodness, i.e., a perfect spot for my palate. Will likely drink the next bottle sooner than later. Easy 96 for me! Glad I opened this one!

10/20/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): Amazing wine for a 2008 white wine....of course, it is SQN, and therefore a Rhone blend. I like this wine; it is a nice alternative to Chardonnay! Every bit as good as last bottle!

TN: Nose shows plenty of citrus, stone fruit and honeysuckle. Palate shows lots of rich, unctuous citrus oil and stone fruit (apricot and peach) with hints of honeycomb and some spice. Nice medium-long finish....love SQN! 95-95+ for my discerning palate! Drinking extremely well right now...I will likely drink my last bottle in the next 1-3 years.

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): OK....so trying to decide what to open, and Marvin suggested a Dana.....because Lotus is my favorite, and 13 is one of the "older" vintages, I decided to try it! I confess some apprehension due to how tannic the 13 vintage was, and thought rough tannins and possibly still closed down. However, I was pleasantly surprised!

TN: Lots of blue and black fruit on the nose with some white flower, chocolate and tobacco, coupled with notes os mocha, graphite, earth and cedar. Palate exploded with blue, black and red fruit in a cornucopia of flavors, add dark and milk chocolate, some vanilla, some earth, sweet tobacco and hints of leather, pencil and oak, and you have an awesome tasting experience! 95+ and certainly no hurry...in fact, it should improve as tertiary flavors become more pronounced and more balanced with the fruit (which dominates at the moment!)

10/18/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): I love this wine! Pulled this bottle because my niece joined Marvin (WBW) and I to prepare for the wine dinner scheduled the next day. My niece and I fell in love with this wine at a James Suckling tasting in Miami a few years earlier. Definitely one of the best, if not the best, Malbecs I have tasted! A Paul Hobbs wine, masterfully done!

TN: Nose showed dark fruit, bramble, earth and mocha notes, with hints of spice and cedar. Palate was great with dark fruit and some dark cherry with notes of cocoa, tobacco and some leather. The wine also showed hints of mushroom and toasted oak. The tannins were fine and smooth, and provided a nice mouthfeel, which I love in a wine. Easy 94+ and a very good bottle! I don't think I will ever tire of these!

10/18/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): One nice thing about friends is that it is a great excuse to open up some nice wines! Today, I picked the bottles! We started the day with this wine, and it was every bit as good as I remembered!

TN: Nose showed plenty of perfumed flowers, blueberries, and spice. Palate was glorious, with plenty of blue fruit, turning to red fruit with time and air. Also, notes of earth, sweet tobacco, some bramble, and toasty oak. Tannins were pure silk and lead to a rich mouthfeel that begs you to keep sipping. Solid 96! May get better, but so good now! No danger of falling off....drink or hold!

10/17/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): Decanted, but can't remember how long....After quaffing on a 2013 Marcassin Pinot, Marvin a.k.a. WBW, requested to open this wine. Of course, I obliged him! I had not tasted this wine yet, and was very curious after reading CT reviews, and also knowing how highly Michael reveres this wine! I believe this wine will get even better, but no regrets drinking now!

TN: Violets, cherry, cedar and spice on the nose. Palate echoed the violets and cherry, but also added some dark fruit, earthy notes, tar, tobacco and some toasty oak.

Do I get the hoopla? Yes, I do! It is very tasty now, and improved the whole time we drank it. Like the Immortal we had, this too was delicious now, but will definitely get even better. One of the best VHR bottles I have tasted. I personally think the 2018 has the most potential, followed closely by this wine. However, IMO, the 2012 is drinking best right now (and likely in the next couple years). This wine is a 97 now, but will likely flirt with perfection down the road! Wish I had more of this!

10/17/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): This is what you open when you put a Wombat in charge! WBW came for a visit and to help me inventory, and a guest, friend and volunteer, he requested this wine be opened....and so it was! Of course, he didn't need to twist my arm!

TN: Nose shows classic cherry, cigar box and spice. Palate is chalked full of dark and red cherry, some chocolate and cream notes, some baking spices and some hints of cedar.

Easy 95 and excellent now....not sure how much better this will get, but certainly no fear pf fading in the near future.

10/16/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Marvin (WineBurrowingWombat) Visits Minnesota; 10/16/2023-10/23/2023 (Jason's House): WBW was visiting, so I had an excuse to open this! I figured this exquisite wine would be squarely in his wheelhouse, and I think I was right! Regardless, it was squarely in mine!

TN: Nose showed a cornucopia of scents, including lavender, dark berries, earth, tar, anise and spice. The palate was equally compelling with loads of dark fruit, cocoa, tar, earth, rich tobacco and toasty oak all wrapped in silky tannins. This improved throughout the few hours we drank this. It has years ahead of it, and should improve on an already awesome flavor profile!

Easy 96 for me! Drinking great now, but should get even better with more time in the cellar!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): PnP....this wine was a treat! A perfect ending to an awesome night! It has been over 20 years since I last had this wine, and it is still stellar! The wine showed impeccable balance, as expected, between sweetness and acidity. I will admit, I expected much more caramel, which was present, but not dominant. However, there was a burnt sugar taste present, along with orange marmalade, some dried apricot and some toasted coconut. A very flavorful, well balanced wine, and a super way to end a stellar tasting! Easy 96 for me! I gave the rest of the bottle to a friend and attendee as this was his birth year wine!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This wine had a 3-4 hour decant.....This wine was pitted against a 2008 La Violette Pomerol. The showing was a little disappointing, but I believe can be attributed to two factors: First, the wines that preceded the flight were older wines (see story); and second, there should have been a palate cleanser between the older wines and this flight. I was kind of surprised, even though La Violette is one of my personal favorites, that it beat out this wine, as I enjoyed my last bottle so much! Admittedly, I did think it would be a great match up, but both wines suffered greatly from my lack of thinking this through in terms of flighting all the wines. In retrospect, I should have had two different tastings....one with older wines and one with newer wines....sometimes, it is difficult to go from apples to oranges!

The nuts and bolts: The wine was very good, but not as stellar as the last bottle. Several reasons could be responsible, and I can't even venture a guess as to which one(s) could be responsible: (1) Bottle variation (but doubtful); (2) Second time drinking this and expectations may have been unreasonably high based on how much I enjoyed this wine the first time (still doubtful, but possible); (3) This wine followed much better wines (unlikely the reason); (4) Our (my) palate(s) was synchronized to much older wines, and relative to that, nuances and tertiary notes were lost, which would otherwise have been detected (my best guess). Regardless of the reason, this wine did not show as well as it should have.

Nose was floral and full of red cherry, spice and bramble. Palate was chalked full of chocolate covered cherries, some baking spices and some cigar box. Even with the disappointment, this wine was still a 94 for me, which is a great score, but this wine was likely even better than that! I think it is harder to be totally objective when you are drinking it with other wines, especially, as in this case, much older nuanced wines. Also, this wine didn't feel like it had those velvety tannins of the first bottle, but I attribute that to a tired palate.

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This wine was pitted against a 2012 Blanket Rive Droit. First, as others have noted, this flight may have suffered because everyone's palate was well intrenched in older wines....I know a 10 and a 14 year old wine is not exactly young, but everything is relative, as we just drank several 30 to 40 year old wines. In retrospect, I should have had a Champagne palate cleanser right before this flight to refresh everyone's palate. Oh well, live and learn! Between the two wines, the La Violette was the class of the flight, which was semi-amazing in that the Blanket showed so well just a few weeks before. I chalk it up to timing and pairing. But isn't this one reason we drink wine....to keep learning?!

The nuts and bolts: This wine was drinking nicely, but the nuances of the tertiary flavors were lost due to the more nuanced wines that preceded it. The nose was perfumed and spiced with hints of earth and bramble. The palate showed classic violets and gobs of red and dark fruit and some chocolate along with hints of earth and leather. Still a 94 for me, but likely would have scored a point or two higher if drank at a different time, or following different wines.

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This wine was pitted against a 1983 Haut Brion....a very tough challenge! The group was divided, but this wine came out on top, barely! For me, it was no contest, even though the Haut Brion was drinking quite well, and of course, has the pedigree! I know when it comes to older bottles, bottle variation can play a major role, but I must say, both this and the Haut Brion came across as pristine bottles. I can honestly say that this was not only the best Insignia I have tasted, but one of the best wines, period, I have tasted!

The nuts and bolts: The nose was equal to the Haut Brion, showing some perfumed notes, earthy notes, old leather, some dark fruit and some spice. On the palate, this showed plenty of dark fruit with silky tannins, and perfect balanced with tertiary notes of earth, leather, tobacco and baking spices with hints of anise, tar and toasty oak. For my palate, this wine is in the zone where the fruit and tertiary flavors share the stage! I can't imagine this wine getting better, or it being better younger...it is in a perfect place right now....I just others have as much luck with their bottles! Solid 97 for me (and 98 is my benchmark for reds) My WOTN!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): Slo-O for about 2.5 hours....This was pitted against a 1997 Insignia. This was the best red flight of the night for my palate and featured two outstanding wines that finished a nose apart in a photo-finish, as far as the group was concerned, with the Insignia barely edging this wine out! Of course, for my palate, the Insignia was the clear winner! Still, this wine was a joy to drink, and how often do you get to drink an outstanding 40 year old First Growth Bordeaux!?

Nuts and bolts: The nose was slightly floral and perfumed (purple flowers) with earth, leather spice, cedar and tobacco. On the palate, this was classic Haut Brion showing plenty of gravelly notes, earth, leather, sweet tobacco and, of course, an equal amount of dark and red fruit! Haut Brion is always fun and pleasurable to drink! 94+ to 95 for me!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This wine was pitted against a 1993 Mouton, and for my palate, was the clear winner! A stellar showing and a classic MV!

The nuts and bolts: The nose was sublime, with the tell-tale sign of eucalyptus, earth, red fruit and some spice. Palate was equally up to the task, with plenty of red and black fruit, mushroom and forest floor, eucalyptus, anise and tar, with notes of forest floor and sweet toasted oak. The tertiary flavors were more toward the forefront than with previous bottles, sharing the spotlight with the fruit.....just where my palate enjoys wine the most! This bottle was in a perfect spot for my palate! Easily 95+ and I don't see it improving, but I also don't see it fading any time soon.

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This was pitted against a 1996 Heitz MV. I enjoyed this wine, as it is always a pleasure and a privilege to drink any First Growth Bordeaux! However, for my palate, this wine was bested by the 96 Heitz MV.

The nuts and bolts: This wine showed the thinness of the vintage, and although it developed some decent tertiary characteristics that helped carry it, the fruit, while still present, came across as thin and diluted. Lots of earth and mushroom, with some leather and some hints of cherry and currant. Not sure this would have been better earlier in its life, and my best guess is that it would have still been pretty thin earlier, but likely improved now through the development of the tertiary flavors. 91 and still fun to taste! This wine is a true reminder of how spoiled I am and what a privileged life I lead! I mean how many people get to drink 30 year old First Growth Bordeaux?!?!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This was pitted against a 2013 Marcassin, and held its own! The group was divided, with the 2013 Marcassin barely edging out this wine! I was in the Marcassin camp, because quite frankly, for my palate, they make the best Chardonnay! Having said that, this wine gave it a run for its money, even for my palate!

The nuts and bolts: I loved the nose on this wine....white flowers, spice and some baked apple pie, as well as some gunpowder and sea shell notes in the background. On the palate, their was a slight creaminess (which I liked) and some pear tart apple and slate. It was fun tasting the wine unfurl in the glass as it started out a little tighter (but not too tight) and loosened up with some time and air. A very enjoyable wine that I could kick back and sip all night! Easy 95 for my palate, and always a pleasure to taste a nice Burg!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): PnP....What can I say....Marcassin is my favorite Chardonnay producer. I still cannot pay secondary market prices for it, but Marcassin does totally rock!

This flight paired this wine against a 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne. Both wines were stellar, and favorites likely came down to individual palates. For me, Marcassin was the better wine, but it was pretty even for the group, with the 2013 Marcassin edging out the 2010 Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne.

The nuts and bolts: Creamy mouthfeel, with baked pear, apple and some citrus and stone fruit, coupled with hints of saline, butterscotch and toasted oak. Always a pleasure to drink and never disappoints!
97+ tonight!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): This was drank along side a Substance. While it from the same mold as Substance, i.e., reductive and oxidative, this retained some of the freshness of a younger Champagne, but also lost some of the complexities of Substance. It was fun to see which one people preferred, and the crowd was divided! I was clearly in the Substance camp, but I could understand why others would prefer this more traditional style (not really traditional, but more so than Substance).

The nuts and bolts on this Champagne: Had the fine bubbles, but a little more visible than the Substance, and not as deep of a golden color. Not sure of the disgorgement date on this wine, but would guess more recent than Substance. For me, the freshness came across more in this wine, but it slightly lacked in the finish, which wasn't as long as as Substance. This wine had some brioche notes, some citrus, saline and some stone fruit, but not as much Unami and lacked the ginger and honeycomb notes. As previously stated, the finish was medium (compared to the long finish of Substance). A very pleasant wine that would have undoubtably shown even better if not drank along side the Substance. Solid 95 for my palate, and a pleasure to drink!

10/19/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Judgement of Eagan Wine Tasting (Jason's House): Not sure if this bottle was a hair below the last one, or if the "WOW" factor was slightly less having had this wine before. Still, an excellent wine for my palate and I am a big fan of this style. Not sure I can put my finger on why I love this wine, but probably because I find it so different from many others. Yes, I have oxidative and reductive Champagnes in the past, but this is different, while it is totally in that style, it still retains some youthfulness and a lot of complexity, minerality and fruit. This is what I imagine a top aged white Burgundy with a little effervescence would taste like.

Nuts and bolts: This wine was golden in color, showing its age...2010 disgorgement. The bubbles were so fine, they were hard to observe, but very present on the palate, albeit, it came across as a delicate Champagne. Plenty of baked apple, citrus, Unami and saline, with hints of fresh ginger and honeycomb. Just as delicious as I remember. An expensive Champagne, but worth the money in my book. Wish I had a lot more! Easy 97 for my palate!

9/30/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Opened upon arrival (5:30) and consumed at 9:00. (3 !/2 hour slow O for those keeping score!)

I love ports, but one glass is enough! I should bring these to bigger tastings or decant and consume over a few days! This was drinking quite well! Fruit was still present to hide the alcohol, mostly dark and red fruit with a slight prune and Chambord flavor. Also, plenty of mint, tobacco, earth and vanilla notes. Rich and decadent, and in a good place, IMO. I would probably decant rather than slo O for 3-4 hours. Easy 94 for me!

9/24/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Drank this with Laura's Homemade Pizza (which was excellent)! PnP through an aerator.

This is an elegant and soft wine that is drinking quite well now, but still in its infancy. This wine showed plenty of red and blue fruit on the nose with lavender, exotic spices and some earth. The palate showed chocolate covered dark and red fruit, bramble, earth and tobacco, with hints of anise and sweet toasted oak. The tertiary flavors, while present, were still mainly in the background. The wine is plush, and seductive. No hurry to drink this, and it did improve throughout drinking. If opening soon, I would recommend a 2-3 hour decant. or if you have the patience, wait until 2025 to 2035 to drink this. 95 points today, and should improve.

9/23/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

WOW! This is what I love in a wine! Hitting on all cylinders for my palate! Plus, if the fruit holds up (and no reason whatsoever to think it won't), and the tertiary characters become more pronounced, this could easily flirt with perfection!

Nose showed perfumed purple flowers with sweet dark fruit, some anise and lavender notes as well as some forest floor, earth and baking spice. Palate shows black, blue and red fruit in a kaleidoscope of flavors, with dark and milk chocolate, along with some tobacco, tar and earthy notes, all wrapped in a soft, velvety mouthfeel (that I love). Decanting Queen, a fellow CTer, once said "This is why I drink wine!" and that statement holds true for this wine! Easy 96+ for me, and should improve on that!

9/22/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

My super-cute friend brought this for dinner at Persimmons in Providence, RI. It was a welcome addition to a very nice dinner! We decanted upon arrival, waited about 30 mins, then drank it over the next 2 hours.

Nose showed classic dark fruit, bramble and spice with hints of tobacco, tar, bark and cedar. Palate showed lots of dark fruit and some tart cherry with some cocoa, pencil lead, and river rock. Toward the end of the bottle, hints of earth, tobacco and leather were lurking in the background, but not fully developed yet. I think this is great now, but will be something special in another 5 to 6 years. Will hold my bottles for a while, or will give a 3-4 hour decant. 95+ now, but will very likely improve!

9/23/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

I typically enjoy Kistler Chards with 6-8 years of age on them, but when someone offers one earlier, I definitely won't say no! Went to a seafood restaurant in Newport RI, and a good friend brought this for us to drink!

Nose showed sweet fruit and citrus, with some honeysuckle, orange peel and notes of butterscotch. Palate showed lots of pear, citrus, stone fruit and melon with notes of toasted oak and butterscotch and a hint of salted caramel on the finish. Solid 95 now and will likely improve slightly. Drink or hold....I will likely wait another couple years to start drinking these, but admittedly, they are pretty darn good now!

9/17/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

This was a treat! Typical SQN texture, i.e., viscous, honey-like mouthfeel that coats the tongue. A Rhone blend that features lots of Roussanne and other white varietals. Cork was saturated and crumbly, but wine was superb!

Color was medium golden yellow. Nose showed white flowers, tropical fruits and some mild spice and spring rain. Palate showed lots of tropical fruits (pineapple and honeyed mango seemed prominent). Wine had a hint of sweetness, but enough acidity that it was more of an after-thought. The wine also showed layers of beeswax, some bread dough and some mild cedar notes. All in all, a pleasure to drink, and squarely in my wheelhouse!

95, and likely peaking right now! I would suggest drinking up in the next year or so based on this bottle. A very pleasant surprise for an American white wine with this kind of age on it!

9/17/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Let me start by saying I am not a big Rose fan, but this one was awesome! Definitely not your typical Rose! In facts, this drank much more like a red wine than a Rose, which is probably why I liked it!

Color was dark for a rose, but light for a red, almost like a light colored Pinot. Nose showed lots of red fruit, some hibiscus, and some spice and bramble notes with underlying hints of anise and beef blood. Palate was divine with plenty of red fruits, some darker fruit (blackberry) and some earth, tea, and forest floor. A real pleasure to drink!

Yes, it is quite young and still fairly primary, but so good now. Will it get better? I think it definitely will.....probably a couple points better as it gains more tertiary flavors. Plenty of fruit, so I wouldn't worry about holding for a few years. My only concern would be tannins due to the fact that it still is a Rose, and therefore skin contact was limited. However, based on the color, I would say more skin contact than your average Rose. I have two more bottles, and will likely open another in two years. 94 based on how it is drinking today....potentially 96 in the future!

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): Decanted at 5:00 and served at around 10:00 (approx 5 hour decant for those who hate math)

I typically do not decant Sauternes, but I thought it would be interesting to try it....after all, it is like a 100 year wine, so what could it hurt? Unfortunately, in my haste to prepare for the tasting, I forgot to take a taste at the time of the decant. So sorry, no comparison notes for before and after the decant.

First, let me say, this wine has Yquem like balance between acidity and sweetness. Far from cloying, yet rich with just the right amount sweetness! A brilliant job by Climens, and as good as Rieussec and Suduiraut were in 2001, this surpasses them, and even Yquem (in certain vintages). Note: This wine is 100% Semillon and does not contain Sauvignon Blanc, thus providing a different profile than Yquem or Rieussec, for example.

Nose showed honeysuckle, apricot jam, and saffron, with hints of citrus oils. Palate showed lots of creamed honey, stone fruit (peach and apricot), with hints of butterscotch, orange oil and caramel.

Solid 97 for my palate right now. I may increase the score if gains some rich caramel character with additional age. So good now! Wish I bought more instead of some of my other Sauternes/Barsac wines!

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): Decanted at 5:00; served at 9:30.

This wine rocked tonight! I think Napa wines from the 1994 vintage are drinking remarkably well right now! This is certainly no exception! I can't imagine it improving, but I also don't see it on a downward trajectory for quite a few more years.

Nose showed plenty of earth, perfumed purple flowers, some cigar box and some fine dust. Palate showed a nice balance of tertiary flavors and dark fruit, i.e., blackberry and black currant, with earth, tobacco, baking spice and toasted oak. The palate also showed shades of coffee and dark chocolate. The balance is remarkable between the fruit, tannins and acids, all in perfect harmony. Definitely a kick--ass wine! 96+ for me (my benchmark is 98).

Groups WOTN, my #2 (by a hair)

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): Decanted at 6:00 and served at 9:30.

Let me start by saying I was looking forward to drinking this! Also, let me state you can throw out the CT drinking window based on this bottle! This was my WOTN!

Nose was remarkable with lots of different things going on...one of the scents someone mentioned was KC BBQ sauce, which I found pretty appropriate! It had the spiciness and sweetness of BBQ on the nose, along with notes of spice, red fruit, leather and mushroom. The palate leaned slightly toward the tertiary side of the spectrum, but still showed plenty of red fruit (mostly sweet and tart cherry) with enough acidity still present to keep it lively, but not overwhelming in the least. Tertiary character was led by earth, old leather, bramble and notes of tobacco leaf, anise and mild baking spices. Toasty oak also loomed in the background. Each sip begged you to take another. A real pleasure to drink! Easy 96+ for me (and that. may very well be conservative...even with my top score for a red at 98 points.

Groups score had this tied for #2; my WOTN! Thanks Steve!

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): This wine exceeded my lofty expectations! Why were my expectations lofty? First, Las Cases just begs for time in the bottle no matter how old it is! Second, it is 1982! This wine definitely did not disappoint! The wine is totally in my wheelhouse, displaying that perfect balance between fruit and tertiary flavors!

First, the color was dark and rich with no real bricking, which surprised me...based on looks, I would have thought this much younger than 40+ years!

Nose showed lots of earth, leather and dark fruit, with hints of purple flower, anise and oak. Palate showed red and dark fruit (mostly red and black currant) but with integrated earth, tobacco, tar and some forest floor, with spice and toasted bark in the background. A real pleasure to drink! Unfortunately, I didn't get an opportunity to follow this throughout the night because I kept going back for another sip and the glass didn't last terribly long! Seamless integration! 95+ to 96 without hesitation! Thanks James!

Tied for groups number 2 wine.....my number 3.

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): This is the second time I have tasted this wine, and this time my expectations were not quite as lofty. I thought this wine was better than 2 years ago.

Nose showed some cherry, violets, leather, a little funkiness and some spice and cedar. Palate started out red fruited, bitter chocolate, and old leather with some tar, tobacco and spice. Later, some black and blue fruit started to emerge, although still in the background. This wine exudes elegance, but completely lacks power. Will it improve? No idea, but drinking fairly nicely now. Still a little disappointing given the pedigree and vintage (yes, I have sky high/First Growth expectations for this wine). 94 to 94+ tonight. Thanks Joe!

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): Wow! I actually get to be the first to review this wine! Hard to believe around 150 bottles in cellars of CTers, and no one has cracked one open and written a note!

This was the only Pinot at tonight's tasting, and no one had ever tasted this. Based on previous experiences with 00 wines, I expected a solid wine, but nothing special. This wine far exceeded my expectations!

Nose showed some funk (in a good way), some cherry, tar and some spice. Palate was rich and showed plenty of cherry, but also a nice dose of earth, old leather and baking spices. Drinking very well now and doubt it will improve for my palate (I like the nice balance between fruit and tertiary flavors). Solid 95 for me, and one of the better Pinots I have tasted. Thanks Dan!

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): I typically (and by typically, I mean never) do not decant white wines. However, because I expected this to to be pretty big, and because it is fairly young, I double decanted this wine for an hour before guests arrived and then another hour went by before we actually poured this wine. The bottle was kept chilled in a cold metal holder the whole time after a double decant.

I am surprised by some of the scores CTers are giving this wine. Is it young? Yes. Does it have a fair amount of oak? Yes. However, I thought this wine rocked! Of course, it could be because of the decant time, as I thought it initially came across as disjointed, but came together with some time in the glass and as it warmed.

Nose showed white flower, lemon oil and oak. Palate also showed quite a bit of oak, which calmed down after a few minutes to reveal layers of pear, honeydew, apple and citrus, and some lemon zest. I thought the wine was tasting very good, but could also sense that it will improve with more cellar age. Will likely not open another for a couple years. 93+ today for my palate, but should pick up a point or two with additional age.

9/14/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Guys Night - Wines with a story behind it! (Jason's House): This was a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed more recent releases at the winery, and thought they were surprisingly good, so I purchased one of these to bring home to the states.

I opened this at a wine tasting event, and it was well received by everyone, including me. Very reminiscent of an aged Champagne. Lots of brioche, saline, chalk, pear and apple. In a word, "Delicious!"

Solid 94 for this beautifully aged Aussie sparkler! Actually wish I had more!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): What can I say....Climens is my second favorite Sauternes/Barsac, and along with Rieussec, I find them the most consistent in quality right behind Yquem.

I opened this bottle because I was in the mood for a nice young Sauternes/Barsac, and it did not disappoint! Remarkable balance, and I am extremely happy they utilize biodynamics and are 100% organic.

Nice acidity to balance out the sweetness, especially in such a young wine! Honeycomb, stone fruits, lemon curd and vanilla cream! This wine is awesome if you like your Sauternes young, and I would fully expect it to continue its awesomeness as it ages, perhaps gaining another couple points as caramel notes start to emerge.

95+ to 96 for my discerning palate, and will likely improve with more cellar time, but drinking quite well now!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): I think this wine received a 3-4 hour decant.

This wine is young, but still quite tasty! I didn't get the green notes some others commented on, but rather I thought it was nicely integrated for such a young wine, but still a little tight. Showed plenty of dark fruit with some black pepper and roasted meat undertones. I think this will gain a point or two with another 4-5 years in the cellar, as I would expect it blossom and show more of everything!

92-93 points today, but should improve!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): Excellent QPR, IMO! This was my first Sparkman wine, and I thought it was more than adequate! I would serve this to mixed company of wine drinkers and non-drinkers, as it seems well integrated at 10+ years, and offers a good value.

Nose started out with strong alcohol, but that blew of after several minutes in the glass, revealing notes of cherry, funk, black pepper and cigar box. Palate was nicely integrated with lots of red fruit, spice, black pepper, thyme and sage, along with notes of cedar, olive tapenade and graphite. Some noted alcohol on the palate, but I couldn't taste it. 93+ for my palate, and a totally different type of Syrah, which was a nice change!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): This wine was tied for my WOTN! I don't know why I don't own any of these, as I thoroughly enjoy them every time I have an aged one! The wine is well integrated and showing quite well!

Nose shows lots of sweet dark fruit, some black pepper, some baking spice and hints of menthol and cedar. Palate is awesome with plenty of creamy dark fruit, wrapped in some red fruit, with spice, eucalyptus and toast oak.

No hurry to drink these, but drinking quite well right now! I don't see this going down hill any time soon...the drinking window mentioned on CT is a joke! 95+ for my palate, and my co-WOTN!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): Decanted 2 hours, poured back into bottle and pushed in cork. Removed cork at tasting and slo-O for another 2-3 hours before consumption.

Its been two years since I last tasted this wine, and what a difference! This was my WOTN! Drinking extremely well. Everything was nicely integrated. Nose was remarkable, with sweet dark fruit, roasted meat, perfumed flowers, sage and bacon fat. Palate was equally nice, showing red and dark fruit, Australian pepper berry, spice and cigar, with hints of anise, olives and stone. The mouthfeel was luxurious and creamy. This wine was totally in my wheelhouse and, IMO, offers a nice qpr and alternative to SQN-esque wines. Definitely an outstanding Syrah! 95+

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): Still have a few of these in my cellar....thankfully!

3Daywinereview nailed the description! Lots of creamy blue and dark fruit, spice, stone and roasted meat, etc. This wine is clearly in my wheelhouse, and was the groups WOTN (although I placed it number 2) Solid 95 for my palate! No hurry to drink, but will likely be happy if you decide to open one!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): Received a few hours decant (I assume 2-3...was not my bottle).

I think I prefer Charles Smith wines to Reynvaan. At least at this tasting, my palate definitely resonated more with the K Vintner wines.

Nose showed eucalyptus and cigar notes, with cherry and some spice. Palate showed some red and dark currant, with anise. There were also notes of alcohol in this wine, but no heat, if that makes any sense, with hints of roasted meat and black pepper. This was drinking quite well, but should improve with more time in the cellar. 93+ to 94 now. Best wine so far, but not for long! (see tasting story)

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): Received a 1 hour decant.

I agree with Carole and Jay, that this wine is drink remarkably well right now. I agree it will likely not get better, but it should hold where it is for a while longer, and I anticipate a very slow decline afterwards.

Nose showed cherry blossom, red fruit, some funk and a Vicks or eucalyptus note. Palate was cherry and cream with some baking spice and some pepper notes. Nice, creamy mouthfeel, which I enjoyed. 93+ for my palate, and a very pleasant surprise! Or, should I say....a beautiful wine!

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): For my palate, this wine was better than the 2013 Contender (which I found a little thin), but not quite as good as the regular Rocks bottling. Everything was similar to the 13, but just not as thin on the palate. I was surprised I liked this better than the 13, and thought it was drinking remarkably well for such a young wine! Solid 93.

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): I enjoyed this wine better than the 2013 Contender. Nose showed even more sweetness with purple flower and cedar dominating, along with some roasted meat and plum notes. The palate showed lots of red and black fruit, with quite a bit of spice (mostly asian spice and baking spice) coupled with toasty oak. I didn't notice any heat, and a more velvety mouthfeel. Solid 93+ for my palate.

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): I have not had a lot of Reynvaan wines, so was looking forward to this tasting! I like the Rocks AVA, but was just not as enthused about this wine as others. It was good, but not great, IMO, and I liked other Reynvaan wines better (as well as some other Washington wines).

Nose showed dark and red fruit, some funk and some bacon fat. Palate showed red fruit, some earthy notes and some roasted meat. Overall, the palate came off a bit thin, and I liked the nose better than the palate. Nose - 93+; palate - 91...score 92+.

9/9/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Minnesota Valley Wine Group Syrah Tasting (Amy & Scott's - Eagan, MN): Similar to last bottle (pear, apple and brioche), although this showed a little more minerality (in the form of slate), thus the extra point. This may even gain an additional point or two with more bottle age. Will be curious how this ages! Still adore the creamy mouthfeel! 93+ to 94.

8/25/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Similar to last bottle, but a little more tart apple and citrus, some extra creaminess and some slate and saline. Very nice wine....would buy more, especially anywhere near the Wine Searcher price of $55....Paid $100 AUD and worth every penny! 93 now and should improve with bottle age....but if you like your Champers acidic and vibrant, drinking quite well now! (I like them either way, so easy to please!)

8/21/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery - Not sure about others' experiences with this wine, but I thought it was very good and showed enough fruit and acidity to hold here or improve over the next few years. Lots of citrus and tart green apple, some brioche, some spice and some creaminess. A very enjoyable sparkler now, and should further improve with a few more years of bottle age. Drink or hold. Easy 93 points for me.

Note: Wine Searcher says it is available for $55....at that price, this is a total steal!