Money Talks
G.D. Vajra
Albe Barolo Nebbiolo 2008
Very good barolo for the money. Like it a lot! — 9 years ago
Cannonball Wines
California Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Love! $149.00 it is not! For the money great notes! Chocolate, berry. No disappointment.9.5 — 10 years ago
Château Lynch-Moussas
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 2004
Classic all star Pauillac: what not to love: body, color, strength maturity best value for money when considering this plays in the 300-800 euro league of left bank Bordeaux Giants! — 10 years ago
Money Talks
World's End Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Delicious Rutherford dust — 11 years ago
Feudo di Santa Croce
Primitivo di Manduria 2010
2010 vintage. Fruit forward, mineral on the nose, developing into candy with a hint of vanilla. Very nice wine and well worth the money. — 11 years ago
Belle Glos
Meiomi Pinot Noir 2013
Very nice bottle of Pinot for the money. This is an excellent value. Very drinkable. — 11 years ago
Poggio al Casone
Casone Toscana Sangiovese Blend 2009
Great for the money! — 11 years ago
Dominio do Bibei
Lalama Ribeira Sacra Mencía
The best expression Mencia and best wine in Ribera Sacra for my money. Like mulberry scented red burgundy. Galicia. 30 euros rest. £20 UK retail. Cart Blanche Wines. 9/10 — 13 years ago
Château Mouton Rothschild
Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
Will preface this review with saying that I had a healthy tasting but didn’t share a bottle, or eat any food with it. It’s composition is predominant Cabernet. Without looking at the price tag, it’s a great wine. Smells of freshly picked berries. It’s colour is almost black. Very velvety, royal dark fruit that is balanced extremely well with medium tannins. It’s silky smooth. But it lacks a certain “forte” characteristic that I look for wines (if you haven’t noticed yet). If this was a somewhat more affordable wine to buy on special occasions, I would nearly be in love. For the price (2012, $500 euro), and my own personal tastes, I truly think you can save yourself a handful of money and enjoy your best personal favourite wine and not have any fear that you are somehow missing out. Because of the reasons mentioned above, my rating is good, but not breaking 9/10 — 8 years ago
Most quality producers of Bordeaux and 1st Growths are the rule not the exception to my point but, they are simply not that appealing this young.
When you consider the critical drinking window of this wine is from 2027-2060, this may speak to your disappointment. It’s only been in bottle around four years and It’s likely in a shutdown cycle of its evolution.
Additionally, I find even drinking a number of first & second growth producers on the early side of their drinking window distasteful. The general rule of thumb is you don’t open first growth Bordeaux for 20 years even a good vintage, longer for grand vintages. I realize of course this is a Chateau tasting and you not opening your own bottle.
I tasted the 1995 Lafite at the Chateau after it was in bottle for ten years. I found the experience just as disappointing. Maybe, more so.
My long story short, these kind of wines don’t reveal their true beauty for decades. You can judge them on, tannins, structure and acidity etc. for quality while they are young but, your palate isn’t likely going to do the happy dance.
I’ve tasted this vintage while it was in barrel...while it was still fresh and not closed down. From that experience, I would say there are much better experiences down the road for this wine.
@Mark Flesher If the 82 was well stored, you are in for an experience you won’t forget. Cheers all! 🍷
Château Mayne Guyon
Blaye Red Bordeaux Blend 2014
I've been told you get more for your money with the French reds. Kind of agree. — 10 years ago
Silvio Grasso
Barolo Nebbiolo 2010
Light red color. Roses and leather on the nose. This is very very good for the money! If you like Barolo buy this and put it away for 6-10 years. Black cherries first. Obviously tannic now green tea leaves. Very well put together. — 11 years ago
d'Arenberg
The Money Spider McLaren Vale Roussanne 2011
One of my favorite whites over the last couple years, faintly sweet but packed with melon, white flowers and minerals. — 11 years ago
Domaine Costal
Vaillons 1er Cru Chablis Chardonnay 2012
Crazy good and way young. Just gonna get better. The best I've tasted for the money this year. — 11 years ago
Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona
Toscana Sangiovese Blend
2012. Honestly for the money, this is great. A killer house wine. Classic Sangiovese framework with some modern highlights from Cab, Merlot and Syrah. — 11 years ago
Pierre Amadieu
La Grangeliére Vacqueyras Red Rhone Blend 2011
great for the money... Fruit forward and balanced. CDP little brother — 12 years ago
Cresta Velia
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Another great California Cabernet, dark purple and violet in the glass. Fantastic initial nose, plenty of blackcurrant and mushroom as well as leaf and oak. It takes 30-45 minutes in the decanter to soften and smooth out a little. Taste is blackcurrants and spices with caramel, vanilla and lavender. After an hour there is a distinct rosemary addition to the nose. This wine will age further but current tannin levels are not too intrusive.The price at $80 is good value for money in my opinion. Will get some more to store. — 8 years ago
La Rioja Alta
Gran Reserva 904 Rioja Tempranillo Graciano 1998
Everyone knows I’m a fan of LRA but I’ve not had the 98 for a long time!
As I just found some @ £68 I had to try & it’s lovely for the money with lots of life left 👍
🍸 Perfect in Zalto Burgundy 😎
🍷 Garnet ruby w/ brick edge
👃 Smoked dark balsamic oak in spiced black cherry w/ vanilla cocoa cream, herbs, smoke, leather, coconut & caramel
👄 Med creamy smooth body of dark cherry bathed in balsamic & vanilla cocoa w/ red berry tones
🎯 Long chocky cherry w/ touch tart balsamic thick linger — 8 years ago
Marqués de Murrieta
Reserva Finca Ygay Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2011
Amazing rich red robust rich good deep glavor best money focal i.e. For me in years — 10 years ago
Josh Cellars
Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Aromas of blackcurrant and plum are forceful enough, and the accompanying oak spice is sweet yet pungent. There is a strong cedar and cigar component with a bit of black pepper thrown in. On the palate, the berry flavor is a little on the tart side, and spice notes meet some fairly dark earthiness. It’s a complex wine all the way around, and the tannins are big enough, but not too big. That tart, earthy feeling lasts into the long finish. It may not be exactly what you want in a Cab, but for a $16 wine, you get pretty good value for your money.
— 10 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Special Selection Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
It was good. But I wonder where all the money eyes goes. — 11 years ago
Arterberry Maresh
Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2013
If Drouhin thought that Dundee Hills is a great place to make pinot noir, then save yourself a lot of money and get other producers from the region — 11 years ago
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Le Petit Haut Lafitte Red Bordeaux Blend 2010
Great nose and balance. Great value for the money. — 11 years ago
Aalto
Ribera Del Duero Tempranillo 2010
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
As I evaluate my wine purchases over time, I consider; quality, pleasure and the price of the bottle of wine. Specifically, how good is the wine vs. the price and others that I’ve had that are certainly better wines but cost over $70-$500 more? In this case, are they worth 3 to 14 times more money? I find the answer more often than not, no. I feel this way about the Heitz & Joseph Phelps regular Napa wines over their higher priced wines for sure. And, many other high end producers. This wine was under $35 and it’s delicious without having reached its peak.
On the nose, stewed; blueberries & black plum, strawberries, ripe black raspberries & dark cherries. Black cherry cola, black licorice, limestone minerals, vanilla, cinnamon, light clove & nutmeg, dark rich soil, understated mint with red, dark & blue florals.
The body is medium full, rich and elegant. The tannins are round, fine and nicely resolved. It’s seamless wire to wire. The structure, tension, length and balance are starting to really jell. stewed, ripe; blueberries & black plum, strawberries, ripe black raspberries, creamy raspberries & dark cherries. Black cherry cola, black licorice, limestone minerals, vanilla, cinnamon, light clove & nutmeg, dark spice, dry stems, used leather, tobacco leaf, graphite, touch of mocha & caramel, dark rich soil, understated mint with red, dark & blue florals. The acidity is near perfect. The finish is beautiful and last minutes. Still a lot of life in the 08...another 10 years plus.
Photos of; the side of their tasting room, transiting Winemaker David Heitz. Still disappointed a Napa pioneering family sold to a corporation. Tasting room terrace, old school basket press and a wide shot of the winery & Estate vines. — 8 years ago