'Never has one goblet contained you': Leo Doc reviews wines
02-20-2014
, 12:40 PM
Last edited by DougL; 05-25-2015 at 09:31 AM.
Reason: thesilverbail summarized reviews up to 5/25/2015 with links
02-20-2014
, 01:19 PM
02-21-2014
, 08:30 PM
Let's start with the Torbreck.
I know, I know, I've already remarked on the wine in the LC thread. It's just that this bottle deserves more attention because it is a memorable and gargantuan wine. There is nothing subtle, hidden or mysterious about the contents of that bottle. It is what it is.
And what it is, is a testament to the winemaker's art. The nose is straightforward and the aromas are almost visible, like steam emanating from a freshly poured cup of coffee. The color was a black-purple and passed the leo doc "not-seeing-is-believing" test.
(What the hell's that doc?)
Here's your first visual clue that a red wine just might be good. Pour a glass and sit it on a white napkin in a normally lit room. Hold two or three fingers beneath the glass while looking thru the wine onto the napkin. If you can't count your fingers, you should start counting your blessings. (Don't worry if you can count them 'cause it doesn't mean the wine's not gonna be good.)
I took my first drink of the RunRig about ten minutes after de-corking it. I took the second swallow five minutes later when the initial drink was fading. This wine was bold and brilliant and complex and evolved on my palate. It wasn't just an experience in wine drinking, it was one of those, "Why am ordering food with this?" kind of nights. I'm tellin' y'all boys, that stuff was jammy, loaded with fruit and had a finish that just went on and on and on.
It's pricey at $150/bottle so maybe get four or five enophiles together and splurge.
Rating (1 to 5
):
Taste:
Value:
I know, I know, I've already remarked on the wine in the LC thread. It's just that this bottle deserves more attention because it is a memorable and gargantuan wine. There is nothing subtle, hidden or mysterious about the contents of that bottle. It is what it is.
And what it is, is a testament to the winemaker's art. The nose is straightforward and the aromas are almost visible, like steam emanating from a freshly poured cup of coffee. The color was a black-purple and passed the leo doc "not-seeing-is-believing" test.
(What the hell's that doc?)
Here's your first visual clue that a red wine just might be good. Pour a glass and sit it on a white napkin in a normally lit room. Hold two or three fingers beneath the glass while looking thru the wine onto the napkin. If you can't count your fingers, you should start counting your blessings. (Don't worry if you can count them 'cause it doesn't mean the wine's not gonna be good.)
I took my first drink of the RunRig about ten minutes after de-corking it. I took the second swallow five minutes later when the initial drink was fading. This wine was bold and brilliant and complex and evolved on my palate. It wasn't just an experience in wine drinking, it was one of those, "Why am ordering food with this?" kind of nights. I'm tellin' y'all boys, that stuff was jammy, loaded with fruit and had a finish that just went on and on and on.
It's pricey at $150/bottle so maybe get four or five enophiles together and splurge.
Rating (1 to 5
):Taste:
Value:
02-21-2014
, 10:55 PM
Great review. I especially liked hearing about the "not-seeing is believing test"...what's the reason behind it? Also, what does it mean to say "nose is straightforward"?
I think this format is quite good, "Value" is relative to the price I assume? Also I guess you're also going to be reviewing some cheaper wines
I think this format is quite good, "Value" is relative to the price I assume? Also I guess you're also going to be reviewing some cheaper wines
02-21-2014
, 11:10 PM
Leo, here is my feedback on your first review:
Style:
Description of wine:
Describing your drinking experience:
Made me want the reviewed wine:
If I win 2 funtix this weekend I'll see if I can get some and impress the wife.
I think this style is great. I agree with SilverBail's post.
Style:
Description of wine:
Describing your drinking experience:
Made me want the reviewed wine:
If I win 2 funtix this weekend I'll see if I can get some and impress the wife.
I think this style is great. I agree with SilverBail's post.
02-22-2014
, 02:20 AM
02-22-2014
, 09:38 AM
Quote:
I especially liked hearing about the "not-seeing is believing test"...what's the reason behind it? Also, what does it mean to say "nose is straightforward"?
I think this format is quite good, "Value" is relative to the price I assume? Also I guess you're also going to be reviewing some cheaper wines
I think this format is quite good, "Value" is relative to the price I assume? Also I guess you're also going to be reviewing some cheaper wines
A straightforward nose (at least in my vernacular) is one in which you're primarily smelling the grape, as opposed to other elements contained in the wine.
02-23-2014
, 12:18 AM
02-24-2014
, 12:17 AM
Couple of things:
I think I need to give my "tasting" scale some additional breath. I'm gonna expand that to a 1-10 scale. Overall "value", I think, can be left at the 1-5 scale.
But something's missing here and, while it's difficult to define, I think I'm gonna call it the "wine experience" (WE) scale. My intent would be to amalgamize the overall enjoyability of a wine.
I have a new review to post tomorrow and I'll give this a shot.
Also, when you guys try a reviewed wine, post your thoughts itt.
I think I need to give my "tasting" scale some additional breath. I'm gonna expand that to a 1-10 scale. Overall "value", I think, can be left at the 1-5
scale.But something's missing here and, while it's difficult to define, I think I'm gonna call it the "wine experience" (WE) scale. My intent would be to amalgamize the overall enjoyability of a wine.
I have a new review to post tomorrow and I'll give this a shot.
Also, when you guys try a reviewed wine, post your thoughts itt.
02-24-2014
, 04:56 PM
02-24-2014
, 06:41 PM
Let's go here for our second review.
Obviously, this is a Syrah and it's made from the same grape that goes into the Mollydooker, "The Boxer." But the Yakima Valley isn't in Aussie-land so the two wines bear virtually no kinship, except in name only. Both wines do, however, uphold the reputation that Syrah is a grape to be reckoned with and is more than capable of standing alone (i.e., not blended as it once was).
The Black Tongue almost passed the "not-seeing-is-believing" test. As I mentioned earlier though, you shouldn't necessarily hold that against the wine. The nose is refined and blended and borders complex. Some reviewers have attributed a bit of a smoky aroma, but I didn't find/detect it. (No surprise there.) What I found was grape and something of a floral, plum-like aroma. It also developed over time (about 30 minutes) and I enjoyed it very much.
On the palate: Intense, but medium bodied which I found to be somewhat anachronistic but in a pleasant sort of way. The initial blackberry and plum fruit yields seamlessly to supple tannins and some other phenols/esters that Calli will have to ID for me. The finish was long and satisfying.
At $35 a bottle, here's what I think:
Taste: 9.2/10
Value:
Wine Experience (WE): + 1/2
Highly recommended.
Obviously, this is a Syrah and it's made from the same grape that goes into the Mollydooker, "The Boxer." But the Yakima Valley isn't in Aussie-land so the two wines bear virtually no kinship, except in name only. Both wines do, however, uphold the reputation that Syrah is a grape to be reckoned with and is more than capable of standing alone (i.e., not blended as it once was).
The Black Tongue almost passed the "not-seeing-is-believing" test. As I mentioned earlier though, you shouldn't necessarily hold that against the wine. The nose is refined and blended and borders complex. Some reviewers have attributed a bit of a smoky aroma, but I didn't find/detect it. (No surprise there.) What I found was grape and something of a floral, plum-like aroma. It also developed over time (about 30 minutes) and I enjoyed it very much.
On the palate: Intense, but medium bodied which I found to be somewhat anachronistic but in a pleasant sort of way. The initial blackberry and plum fruit yields seamlessly to supple tannins and some other phenols/esters that Calli will have to ID for me. The finish was long and satisfying.
At $35 a bottle, here's what I think:
Taste: 9.2/10
Value:
Wine Experience (WE):
+ 1/2Highly recommended.
02-24-2014
, 11:46 PM
02-26-2014
, 09:36 PM
Can't find black tongue anywhere 