4/24/2024 - 560 B&W Likes this wine:

L.012. Amazing blanc de blancs. 12%

4/24/2024 - Munklunk wrote:

Tannic and not drinking great. Needs bunch more time.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

Blackberries and creme de cassis dominate the core of the concentrated palate. Licorice, clove and herbs follow. Ample acidity to lift the dark, brooding fruits.

This could use more time in cellar, but I personally like where its at. Maybe a few more years so it can hit the magical point of balance between the primary and secondary.

4/24/2024 - DfwCabLover Likes this wine:

Just an easy drinking bottle of Napa cab. Balance is there, it can go for a many more years but it’s definitely something designed to drink in 3-5. Laughing at the person below comparing to Caymus. Very hopeful he’ll be able to enjoy real Napa wines moving forward.

4/24/2024 - jj0902 Likes this wine:

Slightly acid. Oak and heavy earthy notes. Full body.

4/24/2024 - moega Likes this wine:

I'm a bit conflicted with this wine. I wanted to like it more than I did, and I eventually got there on the 2nd/3rd day. I left it open in the bottle for the first 6 hours or so, but it was still quite closed on day 1 - 90-91 at best. Nice deep purple color, not as rich as I hoped or expected either. Smooth and well made, though.

4/24/2024 - Jason Wu Likes this wine:

Med lemon
Med+ intensity, elderflower, gooseberry, pastry, hay, rice, pear, melon, passion fruit, white roses, developing.
Dry, high acidity, med intensity, elderflower, dough, pastry, nectarine skin, salted plum, med body, med finish.
Overall, this is a good wine. Drinks well now.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

A well structured presentation of lifted red fruits supported by the sweeter elements of the cooperage. The inclusion of the cabernet fruit adds intensity and heft on the mouthfeel. Light savory herbs emerge with more air in glass.

This is drinking great now, though I'm not sure if this has much upside to develop in cellar.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

Oaked strawberry compote with a silky finish. Drinking well after a few hours of air.

While inoffensive and a crowd pleaser, I personally found nothing of interest in this wine. This is indeed a solid pinot noir, but perhaps a bit too aggressively priced.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

Ripe cherries and strawberries with cola spices and light earth. Sturdy, ripe tannins add structure to the whole package. Light herbal tones emerge with more air.

A very nice, enjoyable American pinot noir. This is drinking well already with a few hours of air.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

A natty presentation of brambly fruits. Floral undertones and tart strawberries makes this a fresh, quaffable drink.

Nice if you like the more natty presentation of fruits.

4/24/2024 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:

Glistens like a ruby jewel as you pour it out. Has an almost Morey-like blue fruit character, along with a pomegranate note. There's aniseed spice and some violet florals too. It is bright, silky and accessible. There's saline minerality and good cut to the expansive finish.

4/20/2024 - Dr S Likes this wine:

This strikes me as representing the mid-way point between the ‘old Wendouree’ and the new. The cool long 2002 and mild undervalued 2004 vintages presaged the more refined wines seen in the 2010s on (including the elegantly powerful 2009). The hot, unforgiving 2003 season shapes what the winemaking team could work with it, but the absence of astringent drying tannins, overripe characters (raisins) and heat (it’s 13.2%) tell you they picked at the right time.

Brick rim to faded red, then dark core. Once you let it breathe (an hour or so) and work through the secondary walnut, caraway seeds and aniseed, surprisingly fresh fruits appear - chopped dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries - then a sprinkle of brick dust. Distinctly Wendouree that tastes 20 years old plus, yes, but gnarly or burly, no.

Palate continues the theme. Sinewy tannins snake their way through more cherry, plum, raspberry. There’s an understated darker, dry vintage port note too, reminiscent of the 03 Shiraz and older Wendouree - it complements, not dominates the other characters. Hints of beef brisket, or is that my belly saying feed me brisket with this wine? Only upper medium bodied at most that carries itself well. No heat, no edges, no teacher, but guru, yes (apologies to Van Morrison).

The 2003 Sth Australian vintage is one at this point I’d be wary of, but this is an exception. I searched for signs of decline but found none. It’s still vibrant. The road may not go on forever but the party has yet to end (thanks Robert Earl Keen).

4/24/2024 - Bunny Motel wrote:

Interesting and tough to judge because I really like the aromas (unmistakeably Oregon pinot, appealing) and it has good initial fruit/freshness and mid palate but something about the finish just doesn't quite come together. Can't put my finger on it, but ends a little disjointed instead of a pure, elegant Pinot-esque finish. Trying alone, so perhaps better served with food?

4/24/2024 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine:

Retail $65. Heavy Bottle. 75% Mourvèdre (35% whole cluster), 25% Grenache (30% whole cluster). When it comes to red wine, I can count on one hand the number of times I have said "I could really go for a Mourvèdre." It tends to be heavy, very fruity, and dark. Well, perhaps not "heavy" but the other two attributes are certainly here as it is on the dar side and there is plenty of dark fruit (blueberry, blackberry), a touch of earth, and more than an ounce of brood. What sets this wine clearly apart from other Mourvèdres (at least for me) is that the driver here is clearly the tartness. Holy cow. Lip-smacking goodness from the jump and it carries all the way through to the finish. Yowza.

www.thedrunkencyclist.com

4/24/2024 - Mrodriguezcpo Likes this wine:

Very good

4/24/2024 - redz wrote:

Nice aged zin flavors. A little acidic, might mellow more.

4/24/2024 - grizzlywine wrote:

It's obvious what this is going to taste like before you pop the cork, and honestly I don't know why I picked it up. Nose is a bit mousy, and I would drink these asap if you're so inclined. High toned cranberry juice and natty funk, tolerable just below cellar temp but only barely. Throw an ice cube in it and serve it to your alcoholic aunt so you can open something better.

4/24/2024 - UPGRAYEDD_4570 Likes this wine:

Very smooth and very tasty

4/24/2024 - df1962 wrote:

PnD let air for 30mins

Consistent with previous note and it got better.

4/23/2024 - rrscellar Likes this wine:

As others have said, tremendous value. More earth than I would expect and really balanced fruit…more balance than I’d expect at this price.

4/24/2024 - wine eng wrote:

Nose has aromas of blackberries and raspberries. Palate needs to open up. It is tight with flavors of cedar and dark berries.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

Honestly, a pleasant surprise. I usually am not too fond of these celebrity wines, but this one had enough tannic and acidic structure to not let the sweet fruit and oak overwhelm the palate.

A reasonable wine at an acceptable price. I enjoyed drinking this with a charcuterie board spread.

4/24/2024 - blip wrote:

Recessive taste, medium to short length, smooth, on nose alcohol, coal, some sharpness and and freshness not picked up on palate, didn’t drink. Balance?

3/22/2024 - Julien D Likes this wine:

Wow I haven’t had such a great champagne in a while. Powerful yet elegant nose offering a plethora of flavors, lemon curd, golden apple, honey, vanilla. After 30min notes of starfruit, pear and cream joined the party. Mouth is rich and intense, with fine bubbles and balanced acidity. More beeswax, baked stone fruit and lemon peel flavors lead to a long and complex finish. Just a hint a green notes mid palate keeps it from 97pts in my books.

4/18/2024 - SH Wu wrote:

Fresh green apple with a toasty and creamy body. Fresh citrus acidity gives this a refreshing lift.

Great start for the night type drink.

4/17/2024 - LorenzoIlMagnifico Likes this wine:

Rich, aromatic red. Structure is strong tannin at the start with solid middle. Complex in the mouth. Blending of several grapes.

4/24/2024 - cdy4ddy wrote:

PnP with a chicken dinner at home. Didn't like it nearly as much as I did at the winery a year ago, maybe it will be better tomorrow? Perhaps it just needs more time in the cellar; will revisit the second bottle in another year or two.

4/23/2024 - WetRock wrote:

This is real subdued still. Dark, forest floor sort of vibes with a strong raspberry thing coming alive on the second night. The palate shows a dark fruited skin quality. Strongly tannic yet. A more bitter citrus feel on the palate is very present. Hard choice between somewhat closed or just without the power to express itself fully. Again though, for the normale SC bottling this is quite dark, structured and shy. Not as generous as one might usually expect from this bottling but that could also mean its a step up in terms of depth. Time will tell.

4/24/2024 - Coolluke01 Likes this wine:

Color- red, strawberry, ruby, brick, slightly translucent

Nose- strawberry, dark fruit, apple, tart cherry

Palate- dry, drinkable, high acidity and tannins, med. bodied, high alcohol, flavorful, tart, blackberry, tart cherry, cranberry*, spicy in the tongue.

4/19/2024 - the player Likes this wine:

Perhaps too much air perhaps having drunk this bottle outdoors may have impacted the wine but this was a little disappointing and reminded me of the regular DP04. Deep golden yellow color, fine bubbles, lots of brioche, ground almonds, golden apples and some honey. A little less complex on the palate than what I was expecting and a decent finish but lacks a little of the fatness I like about DP especially given this was a P2. Will try again under different conditions and see.

4/24/2024 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:

Under diam closure. Similar notes to my previous tasting notes. Dark fruited, minerally and suave, fine grained tannins. Elegant with decent, fresh acidity. Unoaked. The alcohol at 14.8% ABV is a surprise - no sense of excessive heat on palate. Not falling over - drinking similarly to four years ago - but probably at its best before around 2029.

4/24/2024 - jbal4 Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this though it didn’t jump out of the glass for me.

Bready yeast and apple on the nose. On the palate this presents round but not flabby, definitely not linear in my experience or definition. Some apple, brioche, very little citrus. A mellow, lingering finish. Medium body and medium to light acidity.

(Drank from 375)

4/24/2024 - oldwines wrote:

Brought by a friend already double decanted and tasted over several hours. Nice fully mature bottle, perhaps a touch past prime but really complex and delicious, hints of florals and earthy, stony and spicy elements surrounding a a cherry fruit core. The nose was quite captivating early on but got a little more rustic later. Nice long, slightly chocolatey finish. Warm vintage and resulting in 14.9% ABV which was not really noticeable.

4/22/2024 - Winesn0bs wrote:

With Pete and Esther

4/23/2024 - pgm wrote:

Probably at peak, it’s well developed but still has fresh notes of flowers and mint over the currant and berry notes. Lovely. Drinking great now and for at least five more years, likely ten.

4/24/2024 - MR7 Likes this wine:

Good solid everyday drinker. Goes well with or without food.

4/24/2024 - Montesquieu wrote:

As a Monte Bello collector since 2001, I normally don't open bottles until they're mature - 15+ years in good vintages, 10+ in an off one. I made an exception in this case to assess the smoke presence and whether these should be consumed younger as a result. My palate isn't the most sensitive, but I do believe I detected smoke, which challenged the otherwise good MB core. The wine was still a good wine, though not for the price, for the first 60 minutes. After that, the smoke became more prominent relative to other notes. Consequently, I'll plan to consume these younger than normal and without long decants.

4/24/2024 - oldwines Likes this wine:

Wonderful, old world styled chard. Bright crisp acidity, nice mineral undertones. Lovely nose that shows lots of peach, apple and pear along with nice light floral notes. Palate is more citrus oriented but very focused and precise overall. Rather saline and lime zest dominant on the finish. This is my first bottle of the Mae Estate Chard from Tyler. Impressive but if my information is correct this is the first bottling from a vineyard planted in 2016, so the fruit is quite nice and bursting with energy, it does seem to lack a little depth which am pretty sure will improve as the vines mature. This vintage could score higher in the future and I would think future vintages will be weightier and with more depth of fruit flavor over time while remaining true to its style.

4/24/2024 - diffwine Likes this wine:

This continues to be one of the best values out there for me. Oyster shell and saline qualities, tension good acid. Just enjoyable to drink and something I’d never say no to opening.

4/24/2024 - Burgundy Al wrote:

An off bottle, muted and seemingly stripped of fruit, just lackluster with a tinny note on the front of the tongue.

4/24/2024 - pupaes Likes this wine:

Agree with elegant and smooth. Went very well with smoked pork.

4/24/2024 - Lazerlar Likes this wine:

My 3rd bottle in as many years and each one getting better, looking forward to the rest but I’ll try to be patient

4/24/2024 - Brian Glas Likes this wine:

Tasted after 90 minutes of air. Tasted against 4 other Washington State Bordeaux Blends. This was my favorite. Some of the others cost twice as much as this. Muted nose. Dusty cherry fruit. Plenty of grip. Firm tannins. Excellent balance. Very interesting spice on this. Just hangs on the palate. Excellent finish.

4/24/2024 - RGCM Gananda Likes this wine:

Prior bottle was 3 years and four months ago and this wine continues to show quite well. Nose was quite similar with lots of black cherry and floral notes with a good backdrop of tar, earth and spices. Like my prior bottle, the nose was quite pretty and more expressive than previously. Full bodied with lots of rounded and pretty black cherry notes upfront. Mid body has retains the silkiness and added some darker plum notes to go along with the dark black cherry. Red cherry and red berries on the back along with tannins, acidity, tar, minerals and spices. The biggest improvement here was in terms of integration. The fruit profile is much the same, but as the structural notes come into better balance, the nuance of the fruit are better expressed. Has several years in front of it and still has the potential for slight positive evolution, but is drinking so well at present, no need to wait.

2/20/2018 - Mike Kopanski wrote:

At first my palate thought it senses a little sweetness, especially since the viscosity is rich for a Pinot. But further research categorized this as one of those wines so balanced it does seem to be sweet when totally dry. There is a lot to like here. Some Christmas spice. More wood than usual. Crisp upfront cranberry, red raspberry and cherry. Some metallic flavors. Black pepper and exotic spices and herbs. Just brings layers and complexity.showed a pretty decent pizza who was boss.

4/24/2024 - mrooney wrote:

nose: medium typical merlot fruit; palette: medium fruit with a little less oak and a slightly acidic lingering finish

4/24/2024 - SawgrassSteve Likes this wine:

Was recommended by the store owner. Has interesting note of floral and a green garden. The taste is full bodied garrigue, definite herbaceous notes. It's good, don't get me wrong, probably not my kind of wine. I'm enjoying nonetheless because it's different from what I normally drink. I struggle to rate higher due to lack of complexity.

4/24/2024 - VAGenius wrote:

Funky nose shows muddled black raspberry fruit, sage, wet tarragon, and rubber aromas. Black plum, blackberry, loamy earth and savory herbal notes on the palate. Slightly sour plum on the finish with coffee grounds and some bitter chicory and oak. At this tasting, it was missing the fruit and zest one usually finds with this bottling.

4/24/2024 - bergkamp10 wrote:

Very enjoyable. Straw yellow in the glass, deep color. Delicate nose, cut apples with some pear with a hint of tropical fruit. Round and mouth filling on the palate, lemon zest, apple and pear with a smoky almond note on the finish. Rich and quite long. There’s a refined oxidative character combined with a textured mouthfeel that makes this a pretty interesting and complex wine.