CW 19. A little tight the first night. The second night it is fruit forward with decent complexity and tannins. — 3 years ago
You can really taste the plum & blackberry. Very interesting Shiraz, but very tasty. — 5 years ago
My new favorite CW. — 6 years ago
I guess I should probably add this now, since I brought it up in the Featured User section. I think this would be a tough wine for some to like, mainly due to reduction and the high whole bunch used, but I thought it was brilliant. Fine and concentrated. I like the reduction on this - very Mersault-like according to AA. Floral perfume, spice, bunch aromatics, pomegranate. Palate's very light yet intense. Juicy red fruit, flinty reduction, earthy mineral undertones, hints of green herbs and tea. Lengthy and focused. A very sexy pino!
NB: A generous open by CW. The 2010 Roch's have been quite hard to come by for me. Years ago, the 2010 Pinoterie, a cuvee made from grand and 1er cru berries that fell off the sorting table due to their ripeness, totally blew me away. Till this day, I've been trying to find another bottle, so it's nice to be able to see another wine from the vintage in recent times. According to CW, Prieure Roch totally nailed 2010 and so far, I tend to agree. The domaine's one of those producers where vintage variation's huge - don't get me started on the 11's 🤮 — 7 years ago
3.4. Very tasty, dry, Austrian White, won at silent auction at CASA. Look for it at CW. — 8 years ago
Bought at CW, loved it — 10 years ago
Lovely deep red. Subtle berry flavour and nice balance. $30 well worth it. — 2 years ago
CW 16. Dry stone fruit with beautiful acidity and balance — 3 years ago
“Perfectly rounded” was what first came to mind when I drank this. Rich and opulent, yet incredibly seamless. Even in its youth, the mealy and creamy vanilla oak character did not feel out of place, especially against the preserve-like fruits ranging from lemons to apricots. Expectedly long with a dense glycerol-like texture, savoury finish, and energising acidity. Not typically a style that I’d rave about, but credit where credit’s due, the concentration, texture, and oak quality were all remarkable. CW even went so far to say that it was Monty-like, and I’m certain he isn’t the first nor last person to make such a claim. However, we too noted that the warmth and lack of verticality in structure was a dead giveaway of its Napa origin. A contemplative wine of great presence at this point, but probably needs another decade or more to be truly digestible. — 4 years ago
Now this I paid attention to. Mainly because I was forced to - being paired with the duck course - but also because it was quite brilliant. Needs a decant though to open up that nose. Very rosey, red cherry driven, with some spicy, savoury intrigue (balsamic vinegar, mint, rosemary, liquorice, mushroom, a little game) and maybe some oak (hint of vanilla?). Like the other Nebb's in the dinner, the palate's elegant, but I guess that's the only way CW would have it. Some might call it light even, but for me, it's got great presence and makes it the more drinkable Nebb during the night. Again red fruits, orange oil, smoke, earth, tabacco leaf, mineral. Long finish with a very refined structure.
NB: From BBR - Mario decided not to make a Barolo del Comune di Castiglione Falletto in the 2014 vintage, so this is very much a “super-Barolo”, with a higher percentage of Castiglione Falletto (75 percent) than in 2013 when it made up 60 percent. The remaining 25 percent comes from their La Morra Giachino vineyard. — 7 years ago
3.5 A lovely Cotes du Rhône, and a great buy. Recommended by CW. On sale for $14.24, regularly $17.99. Buy. — 8 years ago
Dinner party at house with Chef CW. Gift from Stan. — 11 years ago
CW 15. Well balanced with a medium body and tannins — 3 years ago
CW 10. Fruit-forward initially more balanced once aerated. Best to drink the first night — 3 years ago
Imperial Treasure GWC w CW, Ritchie, Andy and Jen Han.
“More restrained than its Chassagne sibling, the 2015 Puligny-Montrachet Villages displays a classic bouquet of peach, white flowers, blanched almonds, citrus zest and a subtle framing of toasty new wood. On the palate, the wine is glossy and textural on the attack, with excellent cut and length. A few years in the cellar are in order here.” RP88, 2015, drink 2020-2030 — 4 years ago
Wish I could tell you that I tasted the TBA, but silly me (and CW) decided we'd wait until we've tasted all the drier wines before moving on to this... then poof! None left. Sigh. Heard that it's amazing though and the hammer price seems to indicate so - 1020€ 0.375L, 2750€ 0.75L, and 18000€ 1.5L. Insane!
As for the GG, that I did taste. Again, take my notes with a grain of salt given how brief the occasion was. Very fruit driven, ranging from yellow stone fruits to exotic fruits, both on the nose and palate. Nose is beautifully touched by herbal notes. Noticeable sweetness on the palate. Excellent acidity, but I felt the finish was somewhat muted by a touch of warmth in the finish. Needs time to bring more balance. I thought it was a good GG, but trumped by the 18' ADL that it was tasted with on both occasions. 200€ 0.75L
NB: The usual suspects (at least for me) delivered the best dry rieslings at the Nahe VDP auctions. Some brief notes and in order of my favourites:
1) Emrich-Schonleber 18' Auf der Lay: My wine of the auction. Such a beautiful nose - Stone fruits, citrus, just the right amount of greenness (fresh cut herbs and grass), and a real chalky feel. The palate is just so saline, intense, deep, and balanced. Amazing drive. Almost as good as the 17'! 270€ 1.5L and 720€ 3.0L
2) Philipp Kuhn 18' Philippsbrunnen: Wow wow! Surprise of this auction. Precise, elegant, juicy, and so mineral. The nose is airy and cool. Multi-layered palate with sufficient extract. Gentle power comes to mind with this wine. I absolutely adored it and definitely one of the best buys this auction. 105€ 0.75L
3) Keller 18' Pettenthal: What can I say? The terroir is just so strong (taste any producer producing Pettenthal and you'll know) and KP does a great job at turning up the dial to 150%! Admittedly, the doesn't have the electricity of the 17' :( 800€ 0.75L
4) Wagner-Stempel 18' EMT: Better than the 17' I feel, but definitely still on the austere side. Some noticeable phenolics on the palate, but the density and depth is just plain impressive. Excellent value if you ask me. 100€ 0.75L
Lastly, something needs to said about the Wittmann La Borne and Battenfeld-Spanier Zellertal Kreuzberg - I don't get why people are paying so much for these wines (270€ and 210€ respectively). — 7 years ago


Bold with a nice CW Feriozzi nice finish. Very drinkable with a good New York strip. — 9 years ago
3.1 Not bad for an inexpensive Bordeaux. Some nose, but needs to breathe. Then it becomes smooth and tasty. Exceptional value at $9.49, regularly $12.99. Best seller at CW. — 11 years ago
sasha
CW. A bit tight the first night, a clean and pure representation of torrontes the second night. — a year ago