Purchased at WTSO which has had some highs and lows of late. See below for some good wines and some not to purchase.
A big disappointment.
2015 Eola Hills Wine Cellars Pinot Noir Winemaker’s Reserve – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (7/28/2019)
Day 1: Sweet would be an understatement with this wine. Ripe strawberries and raspberries, spice and dust. Seriously a fruit forward style in the style of Meiomi. Not a fan and even worse than the last bottle. 81 points
Day 2: Slightly better but that is not hard. Ripe plums, strawberries, dust and heavy perfume. Short to medium finish. Lacks acidity. 82 points
Day 3: Undrinkable. Stewed fruits, chalk and pepper. No Pinot character left. 64 points
Recommendation: Do not buy this wine. (81 points)
Unlike Bill Ward and John Thorson, I actually post the bad wines too so you don’t buy them. They are too worried about corporate drying up their endless free sample parade.
Highly Recommended if they appear again:
2014 Boedecker Cellars Pinot Noir Athena – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (3/30/2019)
Day 1: My friend Brian Bangs (RIP) was the one who introduced me to Boedecker as their distributor in MN. Great QPR. Wood, spices, Rose petals and smoked meats. Medium finish and good balance. Solid. 91 points
Day 2: Wood, strawberry, floral, spice, and smoked meats. Showing some weight today and moderate acidity. This would go really good with grilled meats. 90 points
Day 3: To quote Nature Boy Ric Flair, “Whoooooo!” This is one of the great transformation over 3 days of all time. Beautiful fruit featuring cherry and strawberry. Perfume, underbrush, rose petals, bacon and smoked meats. Concentrated much more on day 3. Medium plus finish and the only minor flaw is acidity which is above average. This is a long time ager. Wow!!! 94 points
Recommendation: If you bought four like me do the 3 day wine review on this one. You will be amazed. If you have one bottle drink after 2021. (94 points)
Price: $16.99 (normally $18.99 on WTSO) Also highly recommend the Stewart Pinot Noir which is the same price point. You will be pleased with the purchase.
2010 Ardal Tradicion Ribera del Duero Reserva Selección Especial – Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (3/9/2018)
3 Day Wine Reviews that Rock!; 2/12/2018-4/15/2018: Day 1: Wanted to experiment with a bottle that was shipped and how it would drink next day. Well yes wine can taste great right after being shipped. This has a wonderful nose of menthol, blueberries, spices, wood and dust. Palate is solid. Nice fruit and earth featuring blueberries, cherries, dust, wood and spices. Medium plus finish and concentrated. This wine should evolve over the next 15 years. Excellent value for only $22.99!!! Outstanding WTSO offering. 92 points
Day 2: Really in a dumb phase. The fruit elements are not as present as day 1 and certainly day 3 after the review. 88 points
Day 3: Really nice fruit emerging that was not as present on day one. Cherry, strawberries, floral and menthol. Much brighter wine and really is a Newer World offering from Ribera del Duero. I am wondering if since this wine was just shipped it needed some air to really open up. There will be a reward for 3 to 5 years of age or a day 3 hold. 93 +. (93 points)
Price: $21.99 (While you will not get the $12 deal I did at a local wine shop. Sign up for my private email blast for all local deals. Email me at [email protected] to get on it.
Not Recommended
2015 Casalforno Opera Rosso Toscana IGT – Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (4/2/2019)
Day 1: I had to try this as Luca Maroni gave this 98 points. Well to no one’s surprise this is not even close to 98 points nor did I think it would but if it is a solid 90 win for the price. Nice overall with cherry, spice, floral and dust. A bit sweet on the palate. Certainly drinkable and not bad. 88 points
Day 2: This always exposes these cheap wines. This wine is terrible on day 2. Sweet fruit, dust and some spice. Weak on the palate and finish. Really a wine that should be consumed on the young side. Again 98 points by Luca Maroni is an insult to the great Bordeaux wines from the Left Bank. 80 points
Day 3: Flat and undrinkable.
Recommendation: Drink these on the young side. No upside on this wine and great scam in terms of a 98 point wine. Had to try it just because someone who claims to be a critic gave this 98 points. (88 points)
Price: $12.99 (The reason I would not recommend is Luca Maroni gave this 98 points and while I gave this 88 points on day 1 I hate false advertising. This wine fell apart on day 2 which means drink now and it would be a good party wine. Not too complex.
2014 Ghost Hill Cellars Pinot Noir Bayliss-Bower Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (11/18/2018)
Day 1: Light color. Spice, light fruits, dust and under brush. Picks up some floral notes on short to medium finish. Very light wine overall. Similar to an introductory Burgundy wine. Maybe this will surprise over the course of 3 days. 84 points
Day 2: Nose is light however the palate has evolved into much more. Vivid fruit featuring cranberries and strawberries. Floral, underbrush, bay leaves and dried leaves. Medium plus finish. Acidity levels have increased. This is not a drink alone wine and requires food. Much better than day 1 is always a plus. 87 points
Day 3: Showing some heat on day 3. Fruit not as vibrant. Thin on the palate. Not very good. 83 points
Recommendation: Don’t buy this wine. It is a poor example of Pinot Noir from Oregon. A to Z base bottling is better. (85 points)
Price: $17.99 Does not deliver as much as the A to Z Pinot Noir for less.
This Oregon pinot noir was supposed to be amazing, but I am afraid to say that wasn’t the case, at all. I was extremely disappointed when I drank this pinot noir, and I hope to never have that experience again.