You've had plenty good experiences with the Paloma Merlot, while I just remember the furor over their 2002, where everyone was trying to buy it, then nothing!
BTW, today, the finest California Merlot IMO, is the Kapcsandy Roberta's Reserve. Thick, rich, lush, but with old world structure. It's outstanding!
You've had plenty good experiences with the Paloma Merlot, while I just remember the furor over their 2002, where everyone was trying to buy it, then nothing!
BTW, today, the finest California Merlot IMO, is the Kapcsandy Roberta's Reserve. Thick, rich, lush, but with old world structure. It's outstanding!
Shhhhhhh!!! Let's hope they never end up anywhere the WS 100 list!!!
Posts: 304 | Location: LALALA, CA | Registered: May 23, 2003
I think it's great that many of us still like these wines....Neal, Viader, B&H...etc.
However...I have to disagree with Haggis. Neal is dead right now as far as being "in the spotlight". It was all over this internet board, and others 3 years ago. While I'm sure there are still plenty of buyers...it's simply gone and/or getting no love from the press (here and in any other publication).
And...only one good scoring vintage, 2002, means.....one hit.
Originally posted by dr.darkrichandbold: I think it's great that many of us still like these wines....Neal, Viader, B&H...etc.
However...I have to disagree with Haggis. Neal is dead right now as far as being "in the spotlight". It was all over this internet board, and others 3 years ago. While I'm sure there are still plenty of buyers...it's simply gone and/or getting no love from the press (here and in any other publication).
And...only one great score means.....one hit.
Which leaves me to wonder....
OK, let me try this one more time. But first, just for the record, I have not bought Neal since the 2003 vintage, so I have no skin in this game.
I'm not sure what you mean by "one great score." For all the talk about "point chasing" and not putting too much stock in one vs. another reviewer, we spend a lot of time on this kind of talk.
So that said, here are WS scores for Neal wines in each vintage they have "rated":
With the exception of the poor showing of two wines in the 2004 vintage, it looks to me that there is a lot more than "one good score." Hardly a one-hit wonder. Going in the wrong direction? Maybe. A "one hit wonder?" Not.
******** "But, if ye wish her grateful prayer, Gie her a haggis!" -Robert Burns
Posts: 1078 | Location: Paradise (or 2400 miles from anywhere) | Registered: Feb 28, 2004
I have not paid attention to the scores for Neal. And...I stand corrected...there was not just one good score. I was trying to get at what Latour67 said, and I am correcting that to say "one good scoring vintage...2002".
Which, IMHO proves my point. 2002 marked their change in winemakers. 2003 saw Gove's first full year and full vintage at Neal. And, since then....?????
So much wine.....so little time!!!
Posts: 6824 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: Jun 20, 2002
I have not paid attention to the scores for Neal. And...I stand corrected...there was not just one good score. I was trying to get at what Latour67 said, and I am correcting that to say "one good scoring vintage...2002".
Which, IMHO proves my point. 2002 marked their change in winemakers. 2003 saw Gove's first full year and full vintage at Neal. And, since then....?????
Fair enough...methinks enough said on this topic. Let's get a drink!
******** "But, if ye wish her grateful prayer, Gie her a haggis!" -Robert Burns
Posts: 1078 | Location: Paradise (or 2400 miles from anywhere) | Registered: Feb 28, 2004
How about Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay? 97 rating in 2005, no 06 produced, and the 07 wasn't reviewed as far as i know (althogh getting good ratings on CT).
Originally posted by Zonk: How about Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay? 97 rating in 2005, no 06 produced, and the 07 wasn't reviewed as far as i know (althogh getting good ratings on CT).
Shaferguy91 brought some to a recent off-line and it was outstanding! If Shibumi keeps this level of quality, I think the "hits will just keep on coming"!
Originally posted by Zonk: How about Shibumi Knoll Chardonnay? 97 rating in 2005, no 06 produced, and the 07 wasn't reviewed as far as i know (althogh getting good ratings on CT).
Shaferguy91 brought some to a recent off-line and it was outstanding! If Shibumi keeps this level of quality, I think the "hits will just keep on coming"!
I've had the '07 twice so far. The first bottle I thought was on pace with the '05 (a 93 to me), but the second didn't show well. Hoping it was just an anomaly.
Posts: 1779 | Location: San Diego, CA | Registered: Nov 19, 2005
I've had the '07 twice so far. The first bottle I thought was on pace with the '05 (a 93 to me), but the second didn't show well. Hoping it was just an anomaly.
SD-Wineaux
I had no expectations, as I had never even heard of Shibumi, and as I said, I thought it was outstanding.
