Tasting Notes 51 found

Too old (37 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Nice floral nose. A bit sweet and jammy with nice chalk and tannins. (47 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Ripe red berries, tar, dried herbs (43 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

This bottle is disappointing with minimal nose and too much acid, some promising chalk and tannin. Second day- showing signs of being Madeirized. (161 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Similar to the 2018 but more tannin and chalk so may age better. (166 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Good musky nose. A bit acidic but big for primarily Grenache and Carignan. (98 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Moderate fruit nose. Not as impressive as the last bottle. Big tannins but a bit too much acid. May mellow with age. (106 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Modest nose. Lovely full bodied wine with big jammy fruit and chalk. Big for a Grenache. Very well made. (123 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Sat, 03/10/18, $2 Tasting + 4 Shared Bottles (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): N: Slightly closed; Earth, smoke, berries; Notes of iron with addt'l air/swirling?

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with almost swtish frt met by a puckerish astringency which morphs into a LONG, bitter/swt choc finish (& poss increasing swtness) to the dusty tannins. Might still improve through the remainder of '18, then at least APPROACH its 10th? My VG-/VG; [As of late Mar '20, wine-searcher shows no sources for this vintage.] (663 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Sat, 02/15/20, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Apparently, 50% Grenache, 44% Carignan, & 6% P.S. fermented "traditionally" in open concrete tanks, then aged "11 mos in FR & AM oak barrels of several uses."

N: Barnyard atop RIPE berries, the funk SOMEWHAT evolving into forest floor

P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which transitions into a LONG finish with a BITTER/swtness (70:30) to the DUSTY tannins. Seems disjointed or, at the least, in a bad phase right now. MIGHT 12-18 mos of addt'l cellaring help? IF so, my VG-/VG would be low. [I found no other U.S. source with which to compare this vendor's now $14.95.]

Note: For whatever reason (POSS "off" bottle?), CLEARLY the poorest showing of my now 4 samples covering a span of ≈18 mos. (575 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Private Preserve after Day 1

92% Grenache & 8% Petite Sirah; 14% ABV

N: Grn olives, raisins emerging with air

P: Med, poss MF, body; Nice, almost swtish frt balanced by acidity; Somewhat tannic/astringent finish, with POSS just a touch of heat?
// Day 3: Both N & P ≈ to the above, with perhaps a bit of oxygenation? ∑: For whatever reason, NOT as enjoyable as when tasted on 10/22/16. (311 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Sat, 07/13/19, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Apparently, 50% Grenache, 44% Carignan, & 6% P.S. fermented "traditionally" in open concrete tanks, then aged "11 mos in FR & AM oak barrels of several uses."

N: Fairly attractive, RIPE berries beneath a bit of barnyd, which hangs > than such aromas normally do

P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.) met by an astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG finish with ult a pleasant bitter/swtness to the fairly innocuous, DUSTY tannins. Deserves another yr or so, then drinking into, poss through, '23. My VG+/EXC-; [I found no other U.S. source with which to compare this vendor's now $14.95.] (744 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Sat, 11/17/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Typically, 55% Petite Sirah & 45% Merlot fermented traditionally in open concrete tanks, then aged 12 mos in used FR & AM oak barrels.

N: Attractive, Very RIPE, poss jammy, brambleberries; Allspice with swirling?

P: LM body; RNDISH wntry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which pretty much maintains into the LONG, pleasant finish with a tangy/swtness (40:60) & only OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of a very, VERY slight bitterness to the dusty tannins. Ok now with food, but deserves/needs through '19, then drinking through '22. Nicely done in a style NOT atypical for the appellation. My VG+, poss more. [I saw no other sources with which to compare this vendor's $12.95.] (393 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Sat, 10/20/18, $2 Tasting (Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA): Apparently, 50% Grenache, 44% Carignan, & 6% P.S. fermented "traditionally" in open concrete tanks, then aged "11 mos in FR & AM oak barrels of several uses."

N: Smoke slightly atop RIPE berries with a note of something sharp (lemons?)

P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by some astringent pucker which evolves into a LONG, bitter/swt (35:65) finish to the very, VERY fine tannins. Deserves another 6-9 mos, then drinking for the ff 3 yrs or so. My VG+/EXC-. [I found no other U.S. source with which to compare this vendor's $12.95.] (690 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $

Sat, 09/15/18, $2 Tasting: Apparently, 50% Grenache, 44% Carignan, & 6% P.S. fermented "traditionally" in open concrete tanks, then aged "11 mos in FR & AM oak barrels of several uses."

N: Ripe, by with a sharp, quasi medicinal note?

P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringeny which transitions into a LONG, VERY slightly tangy finish with a bitter/swt tinge to the few tannins. For now with food, & should hold for 3 yrs more, + I can see the potential for improvement over the next 6-12 mos. Discounting the potentially troublesome N, my VG+. [I found no other U.S. source with which to compare this vendor's $12.95.] (654 views)

$ FIND THIS WINE on WINE-SEARCHER.COM $