todd10

Beringer The Waymaker Paso Robles Red 2016, Paso Robles

The aroma that stuck out the most for me was chocolate, followed by cherry and oak. I loved the taste of the wine. The same chocolate and cherry that I smelled I also tasted. This was a nicely balanced wine with some dusty tannins on the finish that I enjoyed.
Throughout the evening, it did not evolve anymore so I see no need to decant.
Tasted January 2021

St. Hallett Faith Shiraz 2017, Barossa, South Australia

I tasted the 2018 Vintage.
I was pleasantly surprised with this wine. The nose had herbal perhaps earthy aromas. I can best describe with aromas of bay leaf and sweet tobacco.
It was a nice balanced wine with a nice finish. I found the tannins very smooth considering this is such a young Shiraz.
Nice taste. Without being sweet it was like candied dark fruit (if that makes sense).
No need to decant.
Tasted July 2020

Morambro Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, Padthaway

The first aroma I had I was thinking some kind of meat roast. I went through my herbs and realized my wife makes my roast with rosemary. I have read "hints of rosemary" before but this easy to detect for us not professionals. I highly recommend those that want to experience other things besides dark fruit and oak to give this a try.
Flavors of dark fruit and rosemary. Nice tannins (but not to powerful) that can hold up to a a nice beef dinner.

Throughout the evening, it did not evolve much, so no need to decant.

Tasted September 2020

Ontañón Reserva 2011, Doca Rioja

This wine had aromas of tabacco and oak. I was hoping for more complexity for a wine that is 10 years old. This wine did have a nice long finish. I found the wine had a nice balance.
Over the few hours that the wine was opened, I did not find any improvement so I see no reason to decant.
Nice wine but I was expecting more complexity.
Tasted February 2021

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Colchagua Valley

I see that I loved and rated the 2017 vintage a 91. 2018 did not dazzle me so much. I did enjoy the raspberry that was on the nose, but the tannins were so strong that my mouth dried out on one sip. With that said, the tannins did smooth out as the night progressed, so I would recommend to decant to calm those tannins. A long finish with taste of dark fruit. It is an okay wine, but nothing too special (unlike the 2017 vintage that I was very happy with).
Tasted April 2021

Huff Estates South Bay Vineyards Chardonnay 2019, Prince Edward County

Before I swirled this wine I was getting buttery notes. Swirling produced some citrus notes with some minerality.
This wine has a nice touch of acidity and a long finish. I enjoyed the oak influenced flavors.
Tasted March 2022

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Aromas of grapefruit hit me first. That was followed by aromas of cut grass and dill. I was surprised that this wine did not have the crisp acidity that I was expecting. I was disappointed at first that it was not the crisp wine I wanted but then I began to love the nice tropical fruit flavors with a refreshing lime finish.
Tasted February 2021

Piekenierskloof Shiraz 2020, Wo Piekenierskloof

Aromas of cherry, and dried herbs. The main issue with this wine is I felt it was too tannic and too acidic. It did smooth out a bit after about an hour but I still feel that this wine needs more time. Perhaps 3 more years before it starts to become more balanced.
Tasted September 2023.

Megalomaniac To Be Frank Cabernet Franc 2018, Twenty Mile Bench

Aromas of lack fruit and oak. This wine has firm tannins and a nice heat on the finish. Speaking of finish, this wine does have a long finish.
Tasted July 2022

Auntsfield Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Southern Valleys

Nice aromas of pineapple and grape fruit. Nice citrus flavors in the wine too. The only thing that would improve this wine for me is just a little more acidity but overall I really enjoyed this.
Tasted November 2024