It is over a decade I created the 3 Day Wine Review Experience and proud to be the leading expert in the world doing it. These mainstream critics that pop and pour $500 wines are not giving the wine the attention it deserves and just popping out scores to appease the masses and especially the industry. Here are my top 2 transformations of the year starting with the best winery for the money out of Napa Valley Anderson’s Conn Valley (shout out to the Todd).
- 2017 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank – USA, California, Napa Valley (12/14/2023)
Natural cork. 56% Cabernet Franc/44% Merlot
Day 1: First off thankfully only paid $46 with shipping. This is an oak monster. Also some bell pepper, spices, paint thinner, searching for noticeable fruit and vanilla. I am a big fan of Anderson’s Conn Valley but this wine is terrible on day 1 and would return this to a wine shop I purchased this at if they recommended it. 80 points
Day 1.5: Love it when a wine completely changes and for the better. This is one of them. Floral, spice, dark fruits, stone, scorched earth, oak and dust. A mega transformation. Very drinkable and should improve over 3 days. 90 points
Day 2: Rose petals, spice, pepper, minerals, dark fruits, scorched earth and tobacco. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. Complex offering and continues to improve. 92 points
Day 3: Absolutely completed the transformation of the year. At party would not have gone back for another glass on the pop and pour. The wine is much more balanced on day 3 and features perfume, rose petals, mild spice, dried herbs, earth, plum, cherry, white pepper and tobacco. Medium plus finish and a great lesson to never assume that first pour is the representation of any wine. 94 points
Recommendation: Transformation of the Year. This will benefit with 5 plus years in the cellar or a good 6 hour decant. (94 points)
Next up one of my favorite Syrah producers in the world rocked it on day 1 and 2 but the wine completely fell apart on day 3 which is the worst differential of all time in the 3 Day universe. 95 points to a 50 pointer in 3 days. Consume these now.
2017 Pax Syrah Sonoma Hillsides – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/26/2023) Day 1: One of the better under $50 wines of the year. Had these two other times and off the charts. The best of the 17, 18 and 19 tastings this past week. Gravel, tar, black olives, blueberries, stone, white pepper and forest floor. Super complex wine and drinking well with a long finish. 95 points Day 2: Solid when with gravel, tar, white pepper, raspberries, blueberries, stone and forest floor. Rustic wine and complex overall. 93 points Day 3: Really not good and sour fruit, spice, floral and Brett overload. This is not drinkable on day 3. Can’t even score it and such a contrast from the day 1 experience. If I did 50 points. Recommendation: Pop, pour and consume now and don’t wait on these as they are good without a decant. (95 points) |
