WineAccess Thread - Wines, Tasting Notes, Deals, etc

Michae1_P0wers · March 6, 2021, 4:16pm

Did anyone else order the Cerbaiona NV VdT from WA? I suspect that there was a bit of a bait and switch with this wine, whether by WA or perhaps the estate. The advertisement said (or strongly suggested?) it was the highly regarded 13/15 which I believed contained all of the estate’s '15 Brunello juice due to the sale of the property and some ensuing dispute. However, I’m highly skeptical that is what is in the bottles received. For one thing it has a lot number of L. 8/19, so presumably bottled in August of 2019. There are reports on this board of at least one bottling between the 13/15 and that date. Second the wine just doesn’t taste like a wine that contains a great deal of declassified '15 Brunello. It’s an okay wine but seems a bit too light and tart for that, and I don’t often think that. Another oddity on this wine, though unrelated to the vintage/lot question, is that the back label says 13% while the front says 14,5%. At this point I’m basing my statements on one bottle, and it is entirely possible it just wasn’t a great bottle. However it was paired with homemade pizza, a forgiving pairing for most Italian reds, and consumed over several hours, so I can’t fault the food or the treatment. Also no obvious flaws which would cause an off showing. Curious as to what others think about this.

In the interest of being fair, the 2016 Pertimali rosso from WA was fire the other night. Of course, the Canonica CCR I mentioned in a recent post was trash, so definitely hit and miss with their Italian suggestions so far. I know they offer refunds if not satisfied but I’m loathe to use this feature for sound wines I just don’t like. I’m still considering it on the Chianti, which is egregious IMO.

I bought this last year and sent an email making the same points (wine was non bene). They credited me the value of the cerbaiona so can’t complain. I would reach out especially since you also did not like the wine. They will make it right. Their CS is pretty unimpeachable

Thanks Daniel. That’s the reason I asked, because there seemed to be a clear disconnect between what was offered and what was received. I really don’t think it’s the 13/15.

Kevin_Patrick · March 8, 2021, 10:50pm

1998 Chateau Musar up on Wine Access at great prices for 6x and 12x

1x for $70 per bottle

6x for $65 per

12x for $56 per

Combine any of the % off links floating around this thread and you won’t find a better price anywhere.

Of course you can always sign up with my link below and put a $50 credit in your account for future use
Register at Wine-Access using this link: Friendbuy - Forwarding To Destination

Max_S1 · March 8, 2021, 11:22pm

That is an awesome price! Their sort by Newest kind of bugs me though, I feel like the newest bottles are never at the top…

Pat_P · March 9, 2021, 1:01pm

So I had 2 packages leave WineAccess the same day last week both for a Friday delivery. Both got to New Jersey at the same time. From NJ, one went to MD as expected and the other went to MA (thanks FedEx). My concern is the box that went to MA spent from 10:30pm Friday until 1pm Monday in Chicopee MA and looking at the weather, it was very cold all weekend. What should I look for when I get my package today to maybe see if they’ve been frozen (other than moved corks) and if so is it a big deal?

Edit: all wines are white if that makes a difference.

YLee · March 9, 2021, 2:03pm

What was the temperature over the weekend?
The items are in the warehouse. It should be warmer in there.

MatthewT · March 9, 2021, 4:57pm

Someone else told me this wine is a must buy at these prices - said had in Jan and it was amazing. I bought a case w/ one of the 15% off coupons.

Dav3_Dyr0ff · March 9, 2021, 5:23pm

I already have a couple of the '98 Musar and I have no room in the cellar, or else I’d be all over that case deal, with a coupon.

Max_S1 · March 9, 2021, 5:31pm

Yea, I haven’t seen pricing this good on a decent Musar vintage with the perfect amount of age. From what I read, it’s truly in the sweet spot and will live for another couple of years at least.

Kevin_Patrick · March 9, 2021, 5:32pm

If you are less familiar with Musar it is one of the more unique wines among mass consumed top wines. There were Zoom tastings with Musar about a year ago hosted by WineBerzerkers and I believe VinConnect that were really fun and educational. If you haven’t see it I encourage you to check them out. Properly stored the wines can aged for decades on end.

There are some wine drinkers with developed palates who admit they “don’t get” Musar. That’s unfortunate because its aromas, flavors, structure, and body can be divine. The complexities of the wine can do amazing things when properly paired with Middle Eastern fare.

There are a great many tasting notes on Cellartracker demonstrating a diversity of opinion on how best to treat and serve the wines. My decants range from 2 - 4 hours on 20 year old Musar but there was a recent note on the 2001 where it was decanted for 12 hours before serving. Each person has to decide for themselves when the wine is ready to best appeal to their sensibilities.

Enjoy!

Max_S1 · March 9, 2021, 5:35pm

[*]1998 Chateau Musar - Lebanon, Bekaa Valley (25.10.2019)
The vintage 1998 started off quite normally but the temperatures remained relatively cool until June. Quite typical, warm and dry summer. The blend is quite typical aka. one third of each Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Cinsaut, although the Cinsaut portion is slightly higher this vintage. 13,5% alcohol. Decanted for a few hours before tasting the wine.

Developed, pale brick-orange color with a light golden-yellow rim. Dry, dusty and savory nose with aromas of earthy spice, lingonberries, some appley tones, a little bit of crunchy cranberry, light smoky tones, a hint of bretty funk and a touch of sweet nail polish VA. Perhaps slightly lacking the vibrancy I’ve normally seen in this vintage. The wine is medium-to-moderately full-bodied, juicy and quite savory on the palate with flavors of brambly blackberries and boysenberries, some beef jerky tones and tangy soy sauce salinity, a little bit of phenolic smoke, light pruney tones, a hint of ripe forest fruits and a touch of smoky minerality. Nicely structured feel for its age with high acidity and still rather grippy, firm and textural tannins. The finish is quite grippy, complex and somewhat tertiary with flavors of wild strawberries, some pruney dark fruits, a little bit of salty beef jerky, light stony mineral notes, a hint of fresh, brambly blackberry and a touch of phenolic smoke.

An attractive, juicy and complex vintage of Musar, but also a classic example of the bottle variation in Musar: I’ve had this wine twice before and the first time it was somewhat awkard and perhaps slightly off and the other time it was among the best vintages in a vertical tasting. This time the wine was neither, but just an enjoyable example that didn’t reach the heights of the best vintages, but didn’t really feel off either - well, perhaps not counting the smoky tones that don’t seem that typical of Musar. This was a nice and somewhat aged effort that is exhibiting some tertiary developed flavors of beef jerky and soy sauce, suggesting that the wine is either at its plateau of maturity or very close to it. Probably will keep for many more years, but I have a hunch there won’t be that much development here anymore. Priced according to its quality at 39€.
(92 pts.)

Rodrigo_B · March 9, 2021, 6:29pm

98 Musar has been my favourite 90s vintage from Musar. Definitely a case (or at least 6+) purchase if you don’t have any (or want more of it)

K_N_Haque · March 9, 2021, 7:03pm

2018 JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Kabinett up at $35. After discount, a good buy on a style that has been receiving a lot of love on the board.

Pat_P · March 9, 2021, 7:30pm

Low 30’s day, low 20’s at night.

Chris_Crutchfield · March 9, 2021, 8:14pm

The wine will be fine

Pat_P · March 9, 2021, 8:17pm

Ok, thanks!

Jeff_M1 · March 9, 2021, 8:46pm

Had a 21% off birthday code. Don’t really need the excess wine but in for 9.

Mike_R1 · March 9, 2021, 9:54pm

I bought a few of the Musars. Haven’t tried it before, but that seems like a great deal. I wish I could taste it before committing to a case, but such is life - only bought a few.

DanielP · March 9, 2021, 9:55pm

EDIT: removed, wrong thread

Musar went fast. Only 14 bottles left. There were over 100 less than an hour ago

MatthewT · March 10, 2021, 1:29am

The case price is so ridiculously better than buying 6 or 3 I can’t help myself. If it was a few bucks cheaper I wouldn’t have bothered with 12.

Rodrigo_B · March 10, 2021, 2:05am

Honestly, you should buy a case regardless. I can’t say enough good things about the '98 Musar. It’s a delicious wine that is in a great spot right now. Been standing another bottle up for a while with the intention of drinking it soon. Serve it closer to cellar temp than room temp and it’s so god damn gulpable.

At the moment with all the winter hold wines incoming I’m in a bit of a buying hiatus, if not, I’d buy another case in a heartbeat. Still might give into temptation if I’m not careful