Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Scott E.

This was my first "Northern" Rhone (I dunno, maybe St. Joe is "mid" Rhone?). With 3-4 hours of air, it really blossomed. This wine has a dimension that you can't get from a domestic Syrah. So enjoyable! I got in on the 2011's and 2012's before the big price hikes, but that was it. I'm saving one 201...

Scott E.

This will be my 3rd offer. How many years does it take to get an offer for Booker and is it summer or winter usually?

Scott E.

I'm a little north of $1500/yr on Zin now. Since I got priced out of Napa Cab several years ago, I decided to start buying more good Zin - and for considerably less money. Cheers!

Bedrock $400
Carlisle $650
Wilson $350
Pezzi King $300

Scott E.

Nice note - I'm really looking forward to tasting these 2018 Zins. I concur that this producer/vineyard usually shows very well. I don't recall the last vintage that I drank, but it was very good and I'm always on the lookout for some older vintages when I get the chance to prowl some of the better ...

Scott E.

Thanks for the note. I remember stopping by Quivira when we used to participate in the barrel tasting in the Dry Creek Valley area. After tasting Zins all day long, their Sauvignon Blanc and Grenache were always a treat. Don't think we have purchased any in quite a few years - will need to fix that....

Scott E.

We opened all three side-by-side about 7 months ago. The #1 was the unanimous favorite in our family group. I decanted for about 3 hours, but I remember how that nose popped and how fresh the fruit seemed. Made me sorry that I hadn't been purchasing Weill Syrah up to that point. Cheers!

Scott E.

Yeah, I'm always evaluating the value of the bottles I purchase and lay down. Over the years, I think we have liked the Sonoma Coast more than the others, but sometimes there is a surprise. Even these appellation wines are getting kind of pricey though... Were you checking in on the 2013 vintage too...

Scott E.

Sometimes you stumble upon the perfect match for a wine. In this case it was a takeout from a local joint called Rio Grill - a house smoked chicken with chili butter, artichokes and roasted potatoes. The house speciality. Really to die for. Alone the Broken Stones was a solid 96. With this dish - a...

Scott E.

Sorry haters, this was pretty darn good! I think what I like about these wines is the depth of flavors that can develop with cellaring. This was a PNP and it was ready to go. Deep scents of red fruit, a bit of spice and savories on the nose. On the palate, very deep flavors of raspberry, black cherr...

Scott E.

G. Bienstock wrote: ↑
June 3rd, 2020, 2:18 pm
Seghesio

+1 - even better with a couple of years of age on it. Cheers!

Scott E.

2012 Hudson T&S Syrah - I've had a lot of the Hudson Syrahs and this was the first one where I didn't get some nice savory notes. The fruit was definitely there, but it had a real exotic side - spicy too. Not quite as floral as usual either. Very tasty and extremely balanced, but the exotic mix of f...

Scott E.

In the past two weeks I bought a mixed 6-pack to see what the fuss is all about. I wonder if I was only seeing a few of their wines? I detest wine clubs that give you no choices and have a minimum of more than one case per year. We popped the cork on their entry level chard and pinot and thought the...

Scott E.

This is just one man's unscientific opinion. Basic sparkling "Champagne" is one of CA best values when you measure quality vs price. I go mostly France & Italy for everything else when seeking great value. Plus I prefer lower Alc and more zip in my wines in general. I drink very little CDP though:)...

Scott E.

2013 Monte Rosso Zin - quite enjoyable!

Scott E.

2013 Monte Rosso- the best of the trio. No heat, great fruit, lingering flavors. Most restrained of the three -"feminine" if you will. Wish I had more. Yeah, that Monte Rosso was really good, although on its own, I would not call it restrained. I usually open one along side a Bedrock M-R, but didn'...

Scott E.

AD Northup wrote: ↑
April 17th, 2020, 9:27 am
Shake Ridge Barbera

I was thinking the same thing, but you always wonder why it was not released if it was that good??

Cheers!

Scott E.

2012 Reynvaan Stonessence and 2012 Rudius Panek with leg of lamb roast. Can't wait... Cheers!

Scott E.

2013 Dry Creek Valley Zin - drinking very nicely. What a great value! Cheers!

Scott E.

I would add Sojourn to your list of "must try" West Sonoma Coast Pinot. Sojourn makes fantastic Pinot from the Walala and Ridgetop vineyards. Cheers! Thanks Scott. I agree! Only tried the 2017 Walala so far with tasting - and it was excellent (a bit similar to but not exactly like Three Sticks Wala...

Scott E.

I recently opened a 2013 version. I evidently thought I liked A-B (last one was over 15 years ago), but this was definitely not in my wheel house anymore. I don't think there was anything wrong with the wine, but who knows... Pretty bummed since I had been sitting on this one for awhile. Cheers!

Scott E.

Love the Walala, Ridgetop and Gaps Pinot. We've been buying for a few years now. After a couple of trips to their tasting room, we quickly branched out into the Cabs and Chards too. I don't think you could go wrong with any of their wines. Cheers!

Scott E.

Has anyone tasted the 2017 Lewelling Cab yet? Offer just came out. Would like to hear your impressions. Thanks in advance.

Scott E.

I'm a long time buyer of Wilson and Pezzi King. I also like Mauritson and Carlisle. Cheers!

Scott E.

It's pretty funny reading an old thread, not realizing as you read that it's an old thread, then coming across a reply from yourself, which is the moment you realize this is not a new thread and confirm that by looking at the posting date. You read it with a mixture of curiosity and dread - I didn'...

Scott E.

You are correct sir! The snorts on me!

Scott E.

I would add Sojourn to your list of "must try" West Sonoma Coast Pinot. Sojourn makes fantastic Pinot from the Walala and Ridgetop vineyards. Cheers!

Scott E.

2012 Littorai Pinot Noir Cerise Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (12/19/2014) An early and successful check in for this wine, where there was lots of fresh, red fruit and a surprising amount of complexity. Licorice, earth and spice tones all came through, especially as the w...

Scott E.

Whoa! If you are buying off of all these lists, you must be spending some serious change! Do you have amount budgeted for wine? I don't think anyone can tell you which lists to dump and which lists to stay on - you will have to make that call based on your taste and the perceived value of those purc...

Scott E.

I'd be curious to know people's experiences with Mount Eden! I'm relatively new to cooler-climate California pinot and recently purchased my first bottle of '15 from them - would be really interested to hear about their evolution. Not a lot of experience here, but we did consume a 2010 a couple of ...

Scott E.

Any wine can be aged. Does the wine evolve into something better? The answer depends on your taste and your taste alone. Historically (100+ years ago), wasn't a certain amount of aging almost necessary to produce something that was even close to enjoyable? Perhaps climate change and wine making impr...

Scott E.

Received my shipment of 2018's from the recent winter release and I noticed that the Dry Creek Valley Zin is now bottled under screwcap. Is that a first for Carlisle?

Scott E.

I would probably not share, but then I don't normally (ever?) taste with an owner or wine maker either. I'm curious, when you share, do you still get charged for the tasting fee? Cheers!

Scott E.

I know exactly where you are coming from. I don't have an appreciation for musty wet leaves, mushroom soup and little to no fruit either. I drink 90% of my wine before it reaches 8 years of age. I think it is natural to think there should be a direct relationship between age and complexity. Now, the...

Scott E.

Didn't all of the Skyline Syrah get grafted over to Pinot a few years ago?

Scott E.

Still sitting on my 2013 Bedrocks, including Pagani, though I hope to pop at least one of each later this year. Even at 6+ years of age, I always give the Bedrock Heritage wines a couple of hours of air time too. Cheers!

Scott E.

Never had one last longer than one day! I'm into the 2012's already. Opened a Foothills Reserve yesterday that seemed way too heavy on the green olive juice (covered up the fruit more than I would like), but did have a nice smokey finish. Cheers!

Scott E.

I'm going way out on a limb and pick the Chiefs... We opened a 2013 Turley Ueberroth and a 2012 Denner Mother of Exiles (35% petite verdot).

Scott E.

Glad to hear this. I bought a couple of these based on the winery's description, but won't be popping any corks for 2-3 years. Have you tried any other 2017 R-M Chards? Cheers!

Scott E.

Tuck Beckstoffer's 75 Cab. Agree this is a solid. Isn't this a newer project? I had this wine multiple times over the years and always thought it was decent. However, I tried the 2016 last year and was really turned off by a strange taste - seemed like something artificial. May have just been me, b...

Scott E.

2013 Carlisle Alicante Bouschet Pagani Ranch - BIG wine, heavier body than a Petite Syrah (in my experience), Black Raspberry, maybe a little plum - no tannins to speak of - an immediate teeth-staining experience. I was getting some kind of off-flavor on the finish, but cannot describe it. Interesti...

Scott E.

Nay. I have only been buying the CVR for several years now. The cab is well made, just not enough value there.

Scott E.

17 Vintage Port or various 16 Bdx.

Scott E.

I bought Littorai for several vintages based on multiple positive sources of information. I don’t get it. I keep trying to like the wines, and I just don’t get it, especially at the price points. Same here. I can't make up my mind whether to put my remaining 2013's and 2014's on Commerce Corner, or...

Scott E.

Consumed this a few months ago. Your note is spot on regarding little to no funk and more elegant; however, IMHO, I don't think there is a big upside to additional years sideways. I've got a 2012 Cailloux that I need to open this year - I think I prefer the Cailloux to the Chamberlin, but to each hi...

Scott E.

This was very aromatically complex on PnP. Very dark colored, black and blue fruited, rich and complex on the palate. Hard for me to describe, but this was very much in a style and flavor profile akin to Alban. I couldn't pick up much in the way of an olive profile. Very enjoyable wine. In the past ...

Scott E.

The only 2013 I have popped so far is the Monte Rosso - it was fabulous! Looking forward to the rest of them. Cheers!

Scott E.

Ryan Gilmour wrote: ↑
January 7th, 2020, 9:05 am
Doubleback, haven't seen much about them here, any fans?

A decent, very drinkable, but somewhat monolithic Cabernet - IMHO the price is not worth what is in the bottle. Cheers!

Scott E.

+1 on Ramey, Sojourn, Mount Eden and Rivers-Marie.

Scott E.

Compulsive buying was my problem and this place, along with random e-mail offers is where the bulk of this compulsive buying begins. Get serious about which wines you really like and your actual consumption rate. Set a realistic budget and make a list of the wines you really want or need to buy on a...

Scott E.

Thanks for the note. I have a couple of these in the cellar, but probably won't open any for another three years or so. I have not consistently purchased these every vintage, but I have enjoyed all of them I have consumed. I think your description of "solid" is spot on (and sometimes very, very good...

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