Rick's Picks Wine Ratings

Sorted by Variety, descending by Rating


This table, automatically generated, is best viewed as wide as possible. Widen your browser window to full screen width if you can.

Winery Variety Year Label Info Rating Comments
Lichine Beaujolais 1986 4 Nose: no nose
Taste: flat, thin, short
$6.00
Drouhin Beaujolais-Village 1986 7-8 Nose: good nose
Taste: smooth, fruity, not acid
$6.00
Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Village 1986 5 Nose: med nose
Taste: thin, little fruit
$5.75
Drouhin Beaujolais-Village 1988 4 Nose: good nose
Taste: very acid, short, thin
$6.15
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 1989 Alexander Valley 7-8 Nose: big, fruity cabernet nose
Taste: enormous taste, v berry
Color: dk red
General: almost overpowering
$30.00
Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 Diamond Mountain Ranch 7-8 Nose: very fruity, tannic, slightly peppery
Taste: long, dry, berries in the middle, almost overwhelming fruit and spice
Color: dark purple
General: closed when cold, almost overpowering when warm
Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 Diamond Mountain Ranch 7-8 Nose: intense fruit, hi alc
Taste: intense, long, low tannin
General: wonderful, one of my favorites, bought several cases
$11.95
Saint Morillon Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 Chile 7 Nose: big nose
Taste: good middle taste, sl acid, fruity
General: great value
$3.80
Beaulieu Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 Rutherford 6-7 Nose: good nose, like merlot
Taste: dry, tannic, lt taste, grapy
General: smells like merlot, but 100% cab
$8.15
Beaulieu Cabernet Sauvignon 1984 6-7 Nose: little nose
Taste: med taste, dry
Color: purple, grapy
General: good value
$7.30
Girard Cabernet Sauvignon 1983 Napa 6-7 Nose: great grapy nose
Taste: dry, tannic, sl acid
General: opens up a lot in half hour
$9.85
Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 Diamond Mountain Ranch 6-7 Nose: great, sharp, berries, cherry, high alcohol
Taste: very dry, closed
Color: v dark red
General: 1 ton tannic
$13.79
Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 Napa 6-7 Nose: med nose, fruity
Taste: big taste, berries, acid
General: half ton
$10.25
Gordon Grant Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 6 Nose: oaky, citrus
Taste: a little flat
General: nose like a chardonnay, believe it or not
$7.20
Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 6 Nose: lt nose, opened after 1 hour
Taste: soft, flowery, no tannin
Color: dark, inky purple
General: won't last
William Wheeler Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County 6 Nose: med, sl fruity
Taste: some fruit but some dirt, too, tannic, heavy, v dry
Color: v dk purple
General: past its prime, sorry to say; this was killer when young
Beaulieu Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 Rutherford 5-6 Nose: good nose
Taste: v dry, tannic, lt taste
$8.15
Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 5-6 Nose: med nose, some cab
Taste: v dry, sl closed, little fruit
Color: purple red
General: past its prime
Neyers Cabernet Sauvignon 1985 Napa Valley 5-6 Nose: good nose, spicy, berries
Taste: closed, tannic
Color: purple
Glen Ellen Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 Proprietor's Reserve 5 Nose: lt clean nose, fruity
Taste: short, sour late
General: 1/2 ton
$5.50
Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 1982 5 Nose: smoky, raisiny
Taste: dry, earthy, tannic, grapy
General: 1 ton tannic
$12.00
Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 5 Nose: cloves
Taste: sl tannic, med long
Color: inky purple
$15.15
Sterling Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 Diamond Mountain Ranch 4 Nose: closed, woody, musty
Taste: wood, no fruit
Color: v dark purple
General: 3 tons tannic
$12.99
Beaulieu Chablis 1985 Napa 6 Taste: smooth, med dry, lt taste, not acid
General: great for price
$4.40
Sterling Chardonnay 1985 Napa 7-8 Nose: big flowery nose
Taste: acid, buttery, thick, long
$9.80
Cuvaison Chardonnay 1989 Napa Valley 7 Nose: med, oaky
Taste: smooth, even
De Loach Chardonnay 1992 Sonoma 7 Nose: oaky, hi alc
Taste: smooth, long
General: v typical Calif chard, alc 13.5%
$9.99
Raymond Chardonnay 1993 Amberhill 7 Nose: apple, grape, sweet fruits
Taste: oaky, chardonnay, sl sour late
Color: sl green
$9.99
Robert Mondavi Chardonnay 1989 Napa Valley 7 Nose: big nose, fruity, sl citrus
Taste: clean taste, sl sweet, long finish
$12.95
Sterling Chardonnay 1986 Napa Valley 7 Nose: good nose, rich
Taste: smooth, lt taste, not over-flowery
General: overall very good
$10.20
Villa Mt Eden Chardonnay 1984 Napa 7 Nose: v good nose, grassy
Taste: v dry, late taste
General: good balance
$6.90
William Wheeler Chardonnay 1984 Sonoma 7 Nose: big nose
Taste: big taste, sl too acid
General: sour aftertaste when warm, dandy at 50-60 deg F
$10.65
Black Opal Chardonnay 1989 Southeast Australia 6-7 Nose: lt nose
Taste: lt taste
General: almost sauvignon blanc
$8.75
Buena Vista Chardonnay 1989 Napa Valley 6-7 Nose: sl nose, toast
Taste: good, clear taste, long, citrus late
$10.50
Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 1989 Columbia Valley 6-7 Nose: lt nose, sl veggie, hi alc
Taste: sl sour, sl astringent
General: more like sauvignon blanc
$10.50
Cuvaison Chardonnay 1987 Napa Valley 6-7 Nose: medium, oaky, a little butter
Taste: good chardonnay, acid finish, long
Color: gold
General: past its prime, used to be sweeter
Cuvaison Chardonnay 1987 Napa Valley 6-7 Nose: med
Taste: acid, sl sour, grassy
General: end of life, last bottle of case
Dry Creek Chardonnay 1992 Sonoma 6-7 Nose: big nose, citrusy
Taste: grapefruit, good acid
General: sl like fume blanc, alc 13.5%
$11.99
Lindemans Chardonnay 1987 Australia, bin 65 6-7 Nose: good nose, butter, oak
Taste: sl sweet early, tangy when warm
Mark Swann Chardonnay 1986 Australia 6-7 Nose: med nose
Taste: big fruity taste, sl sour
Color: sl green
$7.30
Turning Leaf Chardonnay 1994 California 6-7 Nose: good varietal chardonnay nose, oaky
Taste: med taste, smooth
Color: gold
General: great value, fine for sipping with appetizers; grocery store instead of wine store, surprisingly good
$5.99
Vichon Chardonnay 1986 Napa Valley 6-7 Nose: good nose, buttery
Taste: long, sl cloying, low acid
General: serve warm, won't last
$13.10
Buena Vista Chardonnay 1987 6 Nose: oaky
Taste: good acid, but sl sour
Color: sl green
Carneros Creek Chardonnay 1987 Los Carneros 6 Nose: lt nose, flowery
Taste: long, good acid, like chablis
$8.20
DeLoach Chardonnay 1993 Sonoma Cuvee, Sonoma County 6 Nose: oaky, grassy
Taste: sweet at first, vanilla, long, sour late
General: good bargain
$10.00
Mark Swann Chardonnay 1986 Australia, Barossa Valley 6 Nose: great nose
Taste: tangy, not super-long
$7.95
Matanzas Creek Chardonnay 1993 Sonoma Valley 6 Nose: wonderful chardonnay, oaky, vanilla, a little smoke
Taste: long, acid, slightly sour
General: taste disappointing after the aroma
Sterling Chardonnay 1992 6 Nose: good chard nose
Taste: good acid, some citrus aftertaste
General: very complex taste
$12.99
Sterling Chardonnay 1990 Diamond Mountain Ranch 6 Nose: grassy, citrus
Taste: grapefruit
Color: sl green
$13.79
Vichon Chardonnay 1993 Coastal Selection 6 Nose: good, strong, oaky
Taste: acid aftertaste
$8.99
Rutherford Hill Chardonnay 1985 Napa, Jaeger Vineyards 5-6 Nose: med nose, oaky
Taste: lt taste, sour late
General: okay
$8.25
Wolf Blass Chardonnay 1987 Australia 5-6 Nose: good nose
Taste: smooth, not v flavorful, okay acid
$7.95
Buena Vista Chardonnay 1989 Carneros 5 Nose: lt nose, oaky
Taste: lt taste, smooth, buttery, some aftertaste
$10.35
Fetzer Chardonnay 1989 Sundial 5 Nose: nose sweet & German
General: v peculiar but not bad
Franciscan Chardonnay 1991 Oakville Estate 5 Nose: smoky, oaky
Taste: long, sour late
Color: gold
$9.90
Franciscan Chardonnay 1991 Oakville Estate 5 Nose: smoky, oaky
Taste: long, sour late
Color: gold
$9.90
Rosemount Estates Chardonnay 1992 South Eastern Australia 5 Nose: v light, a little oak
Taste: some fruit, sl sweet, sour late
Color: gold
General: adequate for appetizers
Wyndham Estate Chardonnay 1986 Oak Cask, Australia 5 Nose: good nose
Taste: long, sour taste, sl sweet
Brown Brothers Chardonnay 1987 King Valley 4-5 Nose: big nose, oak, butter
Taste: acid, sour undertaste
$8.00
Chateau Ste Michelle Chardonnay 1983 Reserve, River Ridge Vineyard 4-5 Nose: lt nose
Taste: tart, sharp
Montrose Chardonnay 1987 Australia 4-5 Nose: like sauvignon blanc
Taste: tangy, fizzy, acid
$6.90
Neyers Chardonnay 1987 4-5 Nose: strong, smoky nose, hi alc
Wyndham Estate Chardonnay 1987 Australia, oak cask, Hunter Valley 4-5 Nose: woody, oak, butter
Taste: steely, like chablis, acid when cold
$9.15
Beringer Chardonnay 1985 Napa Valley 4 Nose: good nose, sweet grass
Taste: very sour, flat
Burgess Cellars Chardonnay 1985 Napa Valley, Vintage Reserve 4 Nose: very slight, closed
Taste: sour, thick
Color: gold
General: way past its prime, we let it go too long
Mirassou Chardonnay 1992 Monterey County 4 Nose: cabbage, woody
Taste: flat, sl sour
$9.99
Villa Mt Eden Chardonnay 1987 Napa 4 Nose: musty, old socks
Taste: acid, sour
Wyndham Estate Chardonnay 1987 Bin 222, Hunter Valley, Australia 4 Nose: simple
Taste: short, v light, greenish taste
Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay 1986 Vintner's Reserve 3-4 Nose: weak nose
Taste: sour, long sour aftertaste, acid
Color: green
$9.80
Conn Creek Chardonnay 1986 Napa Valley 3 Taste: short, sour, bitter
Vichon Chevrignon 1985 Napa 6 Nose: med nose
Taste: sl sour
Color: sl green
$8.80
Roo's Leap Fume Blanc 1987 Barossa Valley 7-8 Nose: wonderfully smooth nose, toward chardonnay, sl grassy
Taste: long, complex
General: great value
$6.90
Turning Leaf Fume Blanc 1994 California 6 Nose: med nose, not sour
Taste: more like chardonnay than sauvignon blanc, oak, not citrus, not grass
General: another great value for sipping;
$5.99
Robert Mondavi Fume Blanc 1992 Napa Valley 5-6 Nose: grapefruit, vanilla
Taste: sl sweet early, sour mid
General: okay for sipping
Dry Creek Fume Blanc 1992 Sonoma County 5 Nose: sl citrus, oak
Taste: acid, sour mid, not long
Color: v pale
General: in Bordeaux-style bottle
Penfolds Fume Blanc 1986 Australia 5 Nose: good nose
Taste: flat, sl fizzy
$6.00
Beringer Fume Blanc 1987 Napa Valley 4 Nose: musty, smoky, vegetables
Taste: sour late, moldy, sweet blackberry when warm
$6.55
Chateau Ste Michelle Fume Blanc 1985 2 Nose: nose like a sewer
Color: green
General: swill
$6.55
Wente Gamay Beaujolais 1985 3-4 Nose: no nose
Taste: thin, little flavor, short, not sour
$5.60
Leclerc Gevrey Chambertin 1981 Combe aux Moines 7 Nose: light, less than expected
Taste: classic burg, sl flowery
Color: dk red
General: less wonderful than 3 yrs ago, maybe past its prime
Murphy-Goode Merlot 1992 Alexander Valley 6 Nose: good, medium
Taste: very dry, strong, tannic
Color: purple
General: un-Merlot taste
$13.00
Louis Jadot Moulin-a-Vent 1986 5 Nose: big fruity nose when warm
Taste: flat
General: disappointing on the tongue
$8.35
Heitz Pinot Noir 1982 Napa Valley 2-3 Nose: closed, almost none
Taste: sour, veggie
Color: lt red-brown
General: way past its prime, if it ever had one
unknown Pommard 1982 Clos des Epenots 7-8 Nose: lt nose
Taste: v burgundy, sl spicy
Color: dark red
General: distinctly better than the '80 now, but not better than the '80 was
unknown Pommard 1980 Clos des Epenots 6-7 Nose: closed, unfortunately; used to be very open, spicy, flowery
Taste: v burgundy, v spicy
Color: dark purple-red
General: prev bottle was fabulous 5 yrs ago
Sterling Sauvignon Blanc 1986 Napa 7-8 Nose: med nose
Taste: long, well-balanced taste, med acid
$7.10
Caymus Sauvignon Blanc 1987 Napa Valley 7 Nose: good nose, citrus, grass
Taste: not dry, long, grapefruit late
$8.30
Kendall-Jackson Sauvignon Blanc 1989 Lake County 7 Nose: like a riesling
Taste: sl sweet
Color: v light
Rutherford Hill Sauvignon Blanc 1985 6-7 Nose: good nose
Taste: acid when warm
General: good value
$6.50
Sterling Sauvignon Blanc 1986 6-7 Nose: nice med nose, hi alc
Taste: sl sour, long, dry, grassy when warm
$8.00
William Wheeler Sauvignon Blanc 1985 6-7 Nose: great nose, grassy
Taste: sl acid, long aftertaste
$8.10
Robert Pecota Sauvignon Blanc 1987 Napa 5-6 Nose: good nose, like chardonnay
Taste: smooth, sl acid, sl sweet
$9.80
Beaulieu Sauvignon Blanc 1987 Napa Valley 5 Nose: good nose, clean, lemon
Taste: tart, simple
Robert Pepi Sauvignon Blanc 1987 4 Nose: med nose, smoky
$7.15
Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc 1986 Napa 3-4 Nose: med nose, grassy
Taste: very sour, acid, sulfurous
$9.45
Mark Swann Sauvignon Blanc 1987 3-4 Nose: chardonnay, toasty
Taste: v sour, citrus finish
$6.00
Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc 1987 2-3 Taste: raw, grassy
Color: extremely green

Copyright (C) 1995,1996 Richard Landau. All rights reserved.
Extracted from database on 1996/03/27