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 J-Sho Wine Reviews
1947 - Cheval Blanc Bordeaux Blend |
ONCE IN A LIFETIME -- 1947 CHEVAL BLANC |
| Mar 12, 2009 |
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750 ml bottle authenticated by Christie's auction house. Upon cork removal, cork was dark and aged. Cork, label, and capsule absolutely authentic. First pour tasted like it may possibly be oxidized. Decided to pour through coffee filter into decanter and re-pour. Wow! Not oxidized. Color was similar to tawny port but with more red notes. Nose was unbelievable with buttered pumpkin bread, fruitcake, slight floral note and a hint of cumin. The nose was so unbelievable, it was hard to stop smelling and begin tasting. Tremendous weight especially on midpalate. Similar to sucking on a spoon full of honey as it just sat on the palate. No acid whatsoever with subtle but tremendous complexity. Could taste the volatile acidity slightly on the hindplalate though my friend did not perceive this as much. Finish was neverending -- 5 minutes or more. This bottle was unlike any other wine. Not classic bordeaux, cali or anything I can think of. It was just tremendously otherworldly and fabulous. Two things stuck out. Absolutely no acid on the palate making it completely mouthcoating and wonderful. The second was the finish. I could still perceive it even after starting a new bottle -- it just kept hanging onto the midpalate in a ethereal sort of way. One other strange thing, well I expected it to fade in the glass, it continued to only improve with time in the glass despite its age. We followed with a 2005 Scarecrow and 1999 Lafite. Both were wonderful but suffered from being tasted after this monumental, ethereal, and transendent bottle of 47 Cheval Blanc.
I get the feeling this was not a perfect bottle of 47 Cheval as most accounts have the wine with a darker, more intense color but it was still a 99 point wine. It just had something wonderful about it that came through despite any faults in the storage or bottle. It was awesome and would likely be even better from a magnum. |
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2005 - Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Original Tokalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon |
2005 Schrader -- good as 2004? |
| Jun 21, 2008 |
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| Beautiful nose of brown spice, graham cracker, current, and dark fruit. Full on the palate with caressing tannins. Nice finish. If anything, it was slightly less complex than I expected. Maybe it was a bit closed. (0 views) |
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2004 - Peju Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
A good Peju? |
| Jun 21, 2008 |
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| Yes this was a very good Peju that I give 93 points. Seductive and writhe, this wine has a wonderful nose of soft dark fruit, cedar, and a touch of cinnamon. Beautifully complex on the palate though not overpowering. Nice finish that maybe had a touch of alcohol present. |
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2005 - Crocker and Starr Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Blanc |
Thirst quencher |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Straw color with tropical fruit and perhaps cream on the nose. Somewhat full, rich palate and finishes nicely with a beam of acidity |
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2004 - Anomaly Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon |
Napa Gem |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Dark color with current, mocha/vanilla on the nose. Complex full bodied palate with supple mouthcoating palates. Beautiful finish |
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2000 - Chateau Clarke Baron de Rothschild Bordeaux Blend |
Affordable Bordeaux |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Drinking lovely right now and an example of the bargains available in a great vintage like 2000. This wine had a nose of sweet currant and mineral with a medium bodied, complex palate. Classic bordeaux. |
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1995 - Ducru Beaucaillou Bordeaux Blend |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Nose with quite a bit of mocha along with cassis and dark fruit. Initially on the palate was grippy and tight. Slowly this opened (after decanting and waiting) into medium density palate with nice complexity and minerality. Still found it lacking some overall depth. Finish was moderately long. Given the hype and cost this was somewhat disappointing. Maybe just needed to decant longer. |
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2002 - Ducru Beaucaillou Bordeaux Blend |
Yummy and affordable |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| In a era when top bordeaux go for a small fortune, this wine is a steal. Classic bordeaux with dark fruit and minerality/slate on the nose. Medium bodied with wonderful complexity and mouthfeel. Tannins add backbone but not overpowering. This is an affordable, beautiful, ready to drink bordeaux |
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2004 - Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon |
well made mountain wine |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Ruby colored. On the nose with dark berry, cassis, earth and a bit of sweetness. Full supple palate with nice complexity and finish. |
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2005 - Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot Merlot |
Finally a merlot worth drinking |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Robert Foley typically makes a polished restrained style of wine. I was absolutely surprised when I took my first taste of this as is was not restrained but bold/boisterous. On the nose was a majestic rush of dark, ripe fruit with a hint of mocha and sweetness. On the palate, it was full bodied, layered, and mouth coating with present but well integrated tannins that added a nice backbone to this wine. Finish was long and elegant |
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2005 - Testarossa Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Really a bit of a disappointment from such an established vineyard. Sweetness and berries on the nose. Mouthfeel was flabby and really was just too simple. Good wine just too simple |
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2005 - Serene, Domaine Pinot Noir Yamhill Cuvee Pinot Noir |
wonderful pinot from Oregon |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Wonderful pinot. Nose with blackberry but also with something sweet....maybe graham cracker. Medium bodied and mouth coating. Nice finish. |
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2004 - Crocker and Starr Stone Place Proprietary Red Wine Proprietary Blend |
Elegant cab |
| Apr 22, 2008 |
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| Crushed black fruit, raspberries, and mocha on the nose. Full bodied and rich on the palate with beautiful complexity and and soft yet well structured finish. Well integrated tannins. |
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2000 - Haut Bages Liberal Bordeaux Blend |
Ready to drink bordeaux |
| Apr 21, 2008 |
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| This wine is in perfect drinking window. Crushed flowers and fruit on the nose. Silky tannins help create a mouthcoating experience on the palate with a nice soft finish. |
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2005 - Anomaly Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Apr 21, 2008 |
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| Drank at Dillon Beach. Beautiful nose of crushed dark fruit and cassis. Mouth coating and smooth on the palate. Still young with some present tannins. This is really a new find in Napa. Price affordable via Napa standards. |
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1999 - Hess Collection Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon |
Mountain fruit in its prime |
| Apr 07, 2008 |
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| This Hess has really come into its own. Still wonderfully dark in color with a nose producing dark fruit, cassis, and earth. Well structured but not overwhelmed by its tannins with soft, full palate. Nice complexity and moderate length on the finish. Drink now or in the next 2-3 years. |
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