Well anyone that thinks you need to consumer under wines (10 within vintage) on day 1 is a fool. I created the 3 day wine approach over 10 years ago and have the most notes in the world by far and while someone probably talked about this prior I have perfected the approach. I can’t tell you how many wines either improve or stay at consistent quality. If you have a day off go through all my cellar tracker notes and pick out the great transformations. Here are a few recent improvements.
My cellar tracker notes: LINK
2020 Germano Ettore Barolo Prapò – Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (10/30/2025)
Day 1: Tannic and not showing much on the pop and pour. Leather, earth, minerals, spice and mint. Not worth the price. 85 points the clown reviews are in the 90s. NO
Day 2: This is getting a little better for little chance to reach 90 points. Hopefully save some tracker users the money on a bottle. Tannic wine and unpleasant on the palate. Leather, wood city, water, spice, tar and dirt. A wine I would not enjoy drinking often. 85.5 points
Day 2.5: Well 3 day does it again. This wine went from harsh and tannic to very drinkable and enjoyable. Cloves, tar, earth, raspberries, mint, rose petals, leather and spices. Medium plus finish. For sure will not be a 94 pointer but now solid 90. 90 points (90 points)
- 2021 Frog’s Leap Chardonnay Shale and Stone – USA, California, Napa Valley (10/30/2025)
Day 1: Had to try as closeout deal. Well for sure mineral driven here. Not much oak which I am cool with. Spice, minerals, lime, chalk, dust, white flowers and stone. Interesting take on Napa Chardonnay. Ok but not great. 89 points
Day 2: Well this improved on day 2 and really like it. Spice, shells, orange peel, white flowers, chalk, dust, minerals and lemon zest. Medium finish and nice balanced wine. Very good value under $30. 91 points (91 points)
- 2021 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (10/16/2025)
Day 1: This for sure needs some air. My initial reaction was not good but now showing pretty well an hour later. Cherry, plum, spice, floral, wood, earth and dark chocolate. Medium finish. 90 points
Day 2: Terrible. Too much oak and not enough fruit showing. Earth, dark chocolate and heavy oak. Very much not pleasant to drink. Woodward dial back the oak. 80 points
Day 2.5: Wine changes so people try them over time. This is so much better than earlier in the day. Dark chocolate, wood, cherry, floral, earth, spice and minerals. That heavy oak has left us. 90 points
Day 3: Well day 3 much more developed wine and interesting than the first two days. Cherry, plum, baking chocolate, pencil lead, minerals, spice, earth and wood. Much more balanced and once again 3 day reviews rock. 92 points
Recommendation: Historically the Woodward wines need lots of time and air. (92 points)
2021 Reininger BDX – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (10/14/2025) Day 1: Oak, dill, dark currants, dark chocolate, spices, leather and floral notes. Medium plus finish. Very tasty wine and will improve over time. 92 points Day 2: Here is another example of a wine that was tight on day 1 and too much dill/oak. This has softened and revealing a wine that would rival Quilceda Creek at a 1/4 of the price. Wood, dark currants, rose petals, cassis, spice, leather, baking chocolate and minerals. Has a bit of that rocks funk. Very solid Bordeaux blend. 94 points (94 points) 2023 Morgen Long Chardonnay Willamette Valley – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (10/14/2025) Day 1: While not the single vineyard offerings one of the better Willamette Valley designations out there. Wood, spice, lemon, white flowers, dust, orange peel and golden delicious apples. Nice acidity and medium plus finish. 92 points Day 2: These are good on day 1 but better over time. No exception. Wood, flint, orange peel, white flowers, lemon, spice and sour apple. Nice acidity and medium plus finish. 93 points Day 3: Holding form and these could go a few more days. Matchstick, flint, wood, orange peel, white flowers, spice, sour apple and lemon. Very complex offering and Seth just makes great wines! 93.5 points Recommendation: Seth Morgan Long at another level in the domestic Chardonnay department. (93 points) 2018 Abbott Claim Pinot Noir Abbott Claim Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (10/10/2025) Day 1: Perfume, spice box, rose petals, mushrooms, wood, bay leaves, cranberry and dried strawberries. Wonderful nose and palate good but not as good as the nose otherwise more points. 91 points Day 2: More open with perfume, pine needles, rose petals, cherry, cranberry and spice. Rustic style and nice acidity. 92 points Day 3: So much better and when sampled at the winery they held all wines for me for 3 days! This is a very similar experience to that. Funk, strawberries, cranberry, minerals, floral notes, earth and spice. Super concentration that was not there on day 1 or 2 and much more enjoyable as the fruit is now the star here. 93+ Recommendation: This are like a $100 plus Burgundy that requires aging to show its true stuff. (93 points) |
- 2022 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (10/4/2025)
Day 1: Nothing special on this one on day 1. Floral, strawberries, spice, minerals and dust. So many better for less. 88 points
Day 2: Picking up stem. Cranberry, stone, rose petals, dust, earth, mint, mushrooms and forest floor. A dense offering overall. This might be one of those 4 day wine reviews. 90 points (90 points)
- 2020 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Alberdi Reserva – Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (10/4/2025)
Haskell’s Fall Grand Tasting (Bloomington, MN): Day 1: So much better showing than on Wednesday. My friend new this needed a five hour decant so a lot of the dill/oak blew off. Still dill and oak but also blue currants, chocolate, dust and earth. 89 points
Day 2: Some left at the shop and no brainer a wine that will improve over a few days. That massive dill/oak has faded and now reveals more blueberries, spice, dark chocolate, rose petals and leather. Another winning vintage. Needs time however. 91 points
Recommendation: Try over 5 days. (91 points) - 2019 Thomas Fogarty Pinot Noir Windy Hill Vineyard – USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains (10/1/2025)
Day 1: Sweet not quite like a Belle Glos but too much for my preference. Second glass improved but not enough to enjoy the wine. Sweet strawberries, cherry, mild spice and floral notes. Short to medium finish. Pass. 83 points
Day 2: Well hello as I love Thomas Fogarty wines and thank you patience. Still a fruit forward effort but not so ripe. Cranberry, strawberries, cherry, cola, spice, floral and forest floor. Much more complex and balance and more enjoyable to drink. 91 points
Day 3: Well this wine needs time. Finally where I like these wines. Vibrant wine with nice acidity. Cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, cherry, cola, rose petals, spice and forest floor. Nice complexity and finish. 93 points
Recommendation: Great value via auction. (93 points)
- 2016 Buty Rediviva of the Stones Cailloux Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (9/26/2025)
Day 1: Well nothing great to report so far but that could change. Cheap via auction so no loss. Watered down fruit, spice, green olives and white pepper. Not bad but certainly glad I didn’t buy a second bottle. 85 points
Day 1.5: Well Cailloux Vineyard you would hope it would improve and it did. Green olives, stone, white pepper, minerals, roasted meats, floral and tar. Concentrated effort. Never give up. 92 points
Day 2: Well what can I say. 3 Day Wine Review. This is the biggest change from a pop and pour of the year. Left the cork off all night and bottle just sitting out. Super complex wine and now we are talking Cayuse being from the Cailloux Vineyard. Roasted meats, green olives, cracked pepper, lavender, tar, blue currants, stone and crushed flowers. Long finish and satisfying. You won’t believe what I paid for this with shipping. 95 points
Day 3: Maybe not at the level of day 3 but close. Much better than day 1 on the pop and pour. 94 points
Recommendation: Get some via auction if you can find it. (95 points)