During June, I wanted to see how many wines improved, maintained or declined over 2 or 3 days. Here are the results:
Wines that improved
These wines improved a significant amount over 3 days and need cellaring.
- 2016 Carlisle Syrah Papa’s Block – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (6/8/2022)
Day 1: Dark purple. Dust, wood, spice, blackberries, plum and chocolate. Big style wine and on the pop and pour a bit over the top. Rating held at this point.
Day 1.25: Had to give this a good decant as a bit over the top on pop and pour. Blackberries, mild heat, spices, wood, dust and dark chocolate. Certainly not my preferred style and too big for me. Not flawed but just not into high octane Syrah. 88 points
Day 2: Wood, spice, blackberries, tar, black pepper, minerals and red currants. Better on day 2 and no heat like day 1. Still not a wine I am running out to get but solid. 90 points
Day 3: A little better but big style Syrah. Blackberries, black pepper, spice, tar, wood and dark chocolate. Medium plus finish. 90+ points
Recommendation: For sure needs more time in the cellar. Would not touch these until 2026 and beyond. (90 pts.) - 2018 Shaw and Smith Shiraz – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills (6/10/2022)
Day 1: This wine has turned out to be a winner on every occasion. Fragrant wine with floral, raspberries, mint, roasted Chesnuts, white pepper and underbrush. The anti in your face Aussie Shiraz. Love it. 93 points
Day 2: Better than the previous for sure. Floral, raspberries, spice, white pepper, minerals, underbrush and dust. Very nice wine and under $30. 93 points
Day 2.5: This is even better than earlier. This has picked up some weight and features plums, raspberries, black pepper, minerals, roasted meats, soy and spices. 94 points
Day 3: Roasted meats, blueberries, raspberries, spices, underbrush, black pepper, mild soy and dark plums. This is a steal for $28. 94 points
Recommendation: Get some if you can. One of the better Aussie Values out there. (94 pts.) - 2018 Château Marjosse – France, Bordeaux (6/2/2022)
Day 2: Continues to be a great value at $13.99 with dark fruits, Chesnuts, spice, mild oak and minerals. Solid effort.
Day 3: Patience pays off. This wine is singing on day 3 and one of the better values anywhere in the world for under $20. Roasted Chesnuts, perfume, blueberries, minerals, exotic spices and sour cherry. Super complex wine for the money and would do some damage in a blind Bordeaux tasting. Drink now to 2032. 93 points
Recommendation: Buy and get at least a six pack but a case would be better as this will cellar for a while. (93 pts.) - 2016 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (6/2/2022)
Day 1: Better day one showing than the last bottle. Mild funk, earth, tobacco leaves, raspberries, plum and stone. Short to medium finish but for under $20 not a bad deal. 90 points
Day 2: Better than day 1. Raspberries, minerals, earth, funk, tobacco, mint and rose petals. Spot on acidity. Medium plus finish. Great value. 91 points
Day 3: This is for sure a wine that will drink well through 2030. Vibrant acidity along with a nice rustic finish. Leather, earth, minerals, sour cherry, raspberries, tobacco leaves and floral notes. Medium plus finish. 92 points
Recommendation: Decant 4 hours if consuming now or cellar through 2030. (92 pts.) - 2016 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (6/5/2022)
Day 1: Minerals, dust, sour cherries, leather and bacon. Not as concentrated as the last time I sampled this. Might need some time. NR
Day 3: This has taken a few days to properly evaluate so hold on these bottles until 2026 or later. Leather, spice, rustic, pepper, raspberries, tar and minerals. Much better than day 1 by quite a bit. Still should evolve and not as good as the tasting a few years back. 92 points
Recommendation: Hold unitl 2026. (92 pts.) - 2011 Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Sandown – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon (6/7/2022)
Day 1: Funk, bell pepper, minerals, saddle wood and sour cherry. Rustic finish. For sure not a stellar bottle compared to others. The bell pepper is overwhelming on the finish. We will see if it blows off on day 2. 88 points
Day 2: Another transformation in a positive direction. The bell pepper quality that detracted is not as present and this offers more blueberries, minerals, cherry, dust, mild funk and coffee beans. Medium plus finish. 92 points
Day 3: Holding form of day 2. These wines will drink well for a few more years but honestly they are drinking wonderfully right now. 92 points
Recommendation: $27.99 Not going to too many better wines for under $30. (92 pts.) - 2017 Kevin White Winery Syrah En Hommage – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (7/2/2022)
Day 1: Wonderful on the pop and pour. Grilled steak, minerals, raspberries, mint, floral and pepper. This is in a wonderful place right now and probably will still age but if you have one enjoy now. 92 points
Day 2: Even more concentration than day 1. Grilled steak, charcoal, black pepper, dark fruits and earth. A hint of mint on the finish. This will age for a long time. 93 points
Recommendation: NO hurry to drink these but they are really good right now. (93 pts.)
Wines that held form
These wines were good on all the days sampled.
- 2016 Tercero Grenache Blanc – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (6/9/2022)
Day 1: Now this is a cool wine! I love the Delille Chaleur Estate but this might be even better. Stone, lemon drops, floral, orange rind, minerals and unripe peaches. Super finish and concentrated wine. The best white wine I have tasted this year. 94 points
Day 2: Stone, floral, flint, lemon drops, orange rind, honey suckles and unripe peaches. Nice acidity and gorgeous wine. Can’t believe this is under $25. 94 points
Day 3: Flint, minerals, orange peel, spice, unripe peaches, floral and lemon. This wine has not missed a beat from initial opening. 94 points
Recommendation: Buy! One of the better under $30 wines in recent memory and will drink well through 2028. (94 pts.) - N.V. Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (6/12/2022)
Day 2 Review: This bottle is stellar and as good as the base bottle Champagnes: Veuve, Piper, Roederer, Mumm and many others. This has been a rockstar purchase. Disgorgement of 9/2020. Lemon, spice, floral, minerals, orange peel, chalk and sour apple. Complex effort and medium plus finish. Outstanding value. (92 pts.) - 2011 Clarendon Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Sandown – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon (6/13/2022)
Day 1: Here comes the funk again! Perfect bottle featuring funk, blueberries, minerals, mild spice, dust and plum. Medium plus finish and a steal of a wine for $27.99! 94 points
Day 2: Similar experience and funk still present. Nice fruit and earth elements. Medium plus finish. Again best wine for under $30. 94 points
Recommendation: Still at WTSO for $27.99 and they hold for fall shipping. I will be buying more this fall so maybe don’t buy it please. (94 pts.)
Wines that did not improve
These wines need to be consumed on day 1 or in the near future as they will not benefit from cellaring.
- 2014 White Rock Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley (6/4/2022)
Day 1: Funk, sour cherry, minerals, spice, dust and damp earth. Another stellar bottle. Two left. 93 points
Day 2: Not as good and a bit sweet. Dark fruits, like the funk on day 2, floral and mild spices. Just not as solid as day 1. 89 points
Recommendation: Drink now. I am not impressed with the decline of this wine over day 2. (93 pts.) - 2015 Descendants Liegeois Dupont Cuvée Marcel Dupont – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (6/12/2022)
Day 1: Lots of wood on the initial pour that blew off quick. Beautiful wine with blueberries, Bing Cherries, dust, mild oak, vanilla, spice and minerals. Concentrated and so much better than the Carlisle I had a few days ago. 93 points
Day 2: Significant decline in quality. A bit bitter and lost the nice fruit. More earth tones and not as concentrated. Don’t need a decant and just drink them up on day 1 unless there is some memorizing transformation on day 3. 86 points
Day 3: Just not bringing it so a 3 day failure on this one.
Recommendation: Pop and pour and enjoy in the near immediate future. (93 pts.) - 2013 Spring Valley Vineyard Frederick – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (7/1/2022)
Day 1: This is by far the best of the Frederick’s I purchased at closeout pricing. Cherry, blueberries, menthol, spice, pepper and cigar. This is drinking really well now and should be consumed in the next few years. 92 points
Day 2: Not as intense as day 1 and features tobacco, plum, cherry, menthol and spice. Still solid and medium finish. 90 points
Recommendation: Pop and pour and enjoy. Drink now. (92 pts.)