| Community Tasting Notes (average 90.6 pts. and median of 91 pts. in 76 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by EPounds on 5/1/2016 & rated 90 points: Not what I expected, but this Grenache seemed very young. A ton of pepper and mint showed, it was balanced, and still well put together. It was a fun wine to drink. (2227 views) |
| | Tasted by Nanda on 4/17/2016 & rated 92 points: Gorgeous red fruit, spice and toast perfume. Elegant and lithe on the palate. Sexy fruit and spice. Drinking beautifully. (2190 views) |
| | Tasted by VinoDiver on 8/8/2015 & rated 92 points: This needed about an hour to open up and it continued to improve over the few hours after that. Really wonderful wine. (2159 views) |
| | Tasted by Nanda on 1/3/2015 & rated 90 points: Light translucent ruby. Lifted and focused nose of raspberry, strawberry, dried herbs and spice. Aromas a ringer for basic CdP. Palate is light-to-medium bodied. In an elegant style - fruit is very light on its feet. Good balancing acidic structure. Medium finish. (2512 views) |
| | Tasted by Mrbuzz on 10/12/2014 & rated 93 points: Still lovin this! Little fume....but the black pepper/earthy/raspberry/Pinot-ish makes it! Still remember drinkin and spittin this in the cellar with TRB at Outpost! Have always loved this wine, with fun memories! (2791 views) |
| | Tasted by kcarter on 7/24/2014: Fully matured and falling fast. I think I waited too long.... Drink up! (1663 views) |
| | Tasted by Knicksfan on 6/8/2013 & rated 92 points: Three tasters and we all got the same flavor: grapefruit. Not even sure how that is possible but it was a fun treat. GOing to try it again blinded with some other grenache and CdP and see if we can pick it out. (2224 views) |
| | Tasted by tomlee on 5/21/2013 & rated 91 points: Brick red in color. 15.3% ABV. Figs, pepper, plums and fresh tomatoes on the nose. Raspberry, kirsch, asian spices, strawberry, tea, garrigue and leather on the palate. This wine appears to be fully evolved. Since I tried my first bottle of this almost five years ago I still think this about as close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape as California Grenache can get. Drink over the next year or so. (2335 views) |
| | Tasted by marka on 3/28/2013 & rated 89 points: I don't remember much about this bottle from last week. I had it over two nights with a couple of different meals. It was nice. Nothing out of sync. Good mountain fruit. Need to remember to get more. Certainly this is not going to get any better. (2140 views) |
| | Tasted by Grape_ape on 10/1/2012 & rated 92 points: Drinking very well right now... deceanted about 45 mins, lots of pepper and spice on the nose, red fruit, strawberry, cherry. initially a touch flabby but the acidity seemed to come out with additional air. Surprisingly well balanced and no trace of heat despite the 15.2% abv.. (2784 views) |
| | Tasted by AllRed on 8/7/2012: Dinner with xhoser (billhike's): Deep ruby red color. Cherry, red currant and spice notes dominate the bouquet; shows a bit of heat though too. The palate follows the bouquet, with red fruit, spice, cherry and pepper flavors. Nice. (3409 views) |
| | Tasted by thelostverse on 8/7/2012 & rated 93 points: Brought to dinner with xhoser and the locals at Bill's house. This was decanted for 30 minutes prior to leaving the house, so it had been opened approximately an hour and a half by the time it was poured. I tried a sip upon arriving so that I could follow it through the evening. Very surprised at how open it was upon first pour, and it continued to open during the evening. Wonderful nose of red and black fruits and black pepper. I do not find the pepper overpowering as some others have indicated. This clearly is not for everybody, but I loved it last night. Best bottle yet, with one to go. I think I will hold for another year just to see what happens. (2221 views) |
| | Tasted by JFish on 6/29/2012: Quick TN. From memory. Still shows predominately ripe raspberries and black pepper - the black pepper was almost overpowering the fruit. No heat noticed. Good pairing with pepperoni pizza. (2406 views) |
| | Tasted by Mrbuzz on 3/11/2012: Still love the flavors in this wine...but I'm just not digging the texture and the alc. burn. (2364 views) |
| | Tasted by vordo on 9/17/2011 & rated 92 points: really good on the third day. (2878 views) |
| | Tasted by JFish on 9/3/2011: Quick TN: This is my 3rd bottle and it had a killer nose - ripe raspberries and some pepper with a bit of funk. But once in the mouth it was a big, hot mess. Was hoping for more given the improvement noted with my second bottle as compared with the first. (2647 views) |
| | Tasted by JFish on 6/10/2011: Quick TN. My first bottle of this since 2008 and time has certainly helped this wine. Slightly candied strawberries are the predominant fruit flavor, supported by freshly ground black pepper and menthol/eucalyptus. If tasted blind, I would have thought it a lighter version of a Thackrey Orion. Great wine with grilled burgers on a Friday night, post martini. (2892 views) |
| | Tasted by Loren Sonkin on 3/23/2011 & rated 88 points: Gretna Green, Outpost, Saxum, Jonata: Light ruby in color. The nose was very nice with strawberries, raspberry kool-aid and a slight warm, musty funk that was very nice. On the palate, it was nice, but lagged behind. An upfront attack of raspberries was good. The mid-palate was hollow. Then the finish was just ok. A fair amount of heat that never really went away. It went well with roasted vegetables and rice. Good if not great. (3593 views) |
| | Tasted by thelostverse on 3/10/2011 & rated 92 points: This just keeps getting better. Popped and poured tonight. This bottle was still very dark purple showing no visible signs of age. Wonder about some bottle variation since my last bottle was bricking. Beautiful red and black fruits. Pepper notes still present but not as prevalent. (3349 views) |
| | Tasted by JOJ on 12/5/2010 & rated 86 points: Mrbuzz had this one right -- black pepper galore. It is almost as if someone held a pepper mill over the glass and gave it a few turns. For me, it was simply too much -- the black pepper notes on the nose overwhelmed what seemed to be some delicate nuances of lavendar and flowers underneath. On the palate, the pepper almost burned, and obscured notes of raspberry and white chocolate. Fairly tannic. I can see how some would like this - not to my palate. (3482 views) |
| | Tasted by Mike Dildine on 9/29/2010 & rated 90 points: 15.3% alcohol. Medium ruby red. An expressive, herbal, red fruit nose. Cherries, rasberries, forest floor and herbal flavors. Well balanced, good acid backbone. Lingering aftertaste.
I first tasted this wine several years back and was frankly unimpressed. Very light, thin and closed. Little sensory interest of any kind. This wine has filled out and grown up nicely. Still subtle, but very pleasing. (3703 views) |
| | Tasted by MarkC on 6/30/2010 & rated 82 points: Decent enough wine, but not what I prefer in a Grenache. Was very light colored, and the nose and palate both had distinct notes of ruby red grapefruit. May have been an interesting rosé, but kind of fell short for what it was. (PE: 80) (3865 views) |
| | Tasted by SLOPPYdeCHAO on 3/14/2010 & rated 91 points: Very silky and candy-like; strong note of strawberry; medium bodied with nice finish. (4184 views) |
| | Tasted by Mrbuzz on 3/1/2010 & rated 93 points: If you like black pepper....you will LOVE this wine! Again, as I have stated before....this is CdP meets Ca. Pinot Noir! Very Ca. in fruit....raspberry, cherry, wildberry.....little cocktail fume, but I think the earth tones, spice, and sweet fruit work well with it. But you have to be ready for the style.....or it might throw you. This is Ca. Grenache at its peppery best! Fun drink! (4039 views) |
| | Tasted by thelostverse on 2/6/2010 & rated 91 points: Popped and poured, but still needs time to open in the glass. The color of this is starting to turn to a brickish orange, showing visual signs of age. The nose really showed some sweet red and black fruits, with no hint of alcohol as others have indicated. This bottle was showing better acidity than my last bottle, which was more viscous and jammy. I don't know if it was bottle variation or if the almost two years has been kind. I'm in no hurry to drink the remaining bottles. (4047 views) |
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