I was not expecting this to be as good as it was. More than just solid. Dark ruby in color. The nose has cherries and some anise. On the palate, cherries turning slightly sour on the finish. Nice texture. Nothing green. A bit of depth to it. I don't recall trying this but I do remember not that great notes on it. At least the bottle showed quite well. Nothing austere or thin about it. Certainly not a fruit bomb, but it holds its own.

Others seemed to like this better though the room was split. Nice solid cherries on the nose. On the palate, I found this thinner than the 2011 which surprised me. Raspberries on the palate. No licorice or anything else. Its a fine although pretty monolithic. Not a ton of depth. Nothing wrong here, but nothing exceptional either. I was told this cost $40. Plenty of Cotes du Rhone this good for half the price.

This is a couple of steps up from the Manus Dei. It needs time or air but the pieces parts are here. Deeper ruby in color. The nose has dark cherries, some black raspberries and spice. On the palate, pretty fierce tannins at this point. Darker fruit; dark cherries and black raspberries. Tight. Unwinds int he glass, but really needs a few years. Is this what used to be Cuvee de Vatican Reserve Sixtine?

Pop and pour and wait thirty minutes. A very nice showing for what this is IMO. Ruby in color, clear and bright. Clean nose, slightly candied cherries with hints of raspberries. Simple and straightforward on the palate. Not as much complexity as I might have hoped for with 15 years, but not drinking old at all. Well worth the $19 price of admission on release though I don't know that it got much better, certainly over the last ten years. Drink up in the next few.

This is certainly a love or hate it wine. It can be very ripe and this bottle certainly is. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, figs and slight raisins. On the palate, this is drinking well with no signs of being too old. It does have a port like note: Black cherries, slight raisin, slight fig. Layers of complexity. Mild tannins. Nice finish. A very slight warmth that I would not call heat but some would. Most seemed to like it.

Ruby in color. The nose has cherry cough drops. Maybe some garrique. On the palate, this is very ripe but over ripe IMO. Lots of cherry fruit, some dark cherries. Not a ton of complexity, but very tasty. Nice finish. Nice texture.

A Brett Bomb. This was approaching my outer limits and I like Brett. For some, it was too much. Of course, each bottle will be different. Still, I would not be buying this on the open market. The nose, besides the primate cage at the zoo notes, has some cherries. On the palate, the brett is there but less noticeable. Cherries, slightly drying tannins. It also has a nice complexity to it at this point. Plenty of structure. I would think cleaner bottles of this would show a few points better. A wine with plenty of faults but lots of good stuff going on as well. It averages out, but I will take this over a generic 88 point wine.

A Cal wine that is a GSM blend. The Grenache completely dominates the blend IMO. Ruby in color. The nose has cherries and raspberries. On the palate, there is some depth. Cherries. Nice easy finish. Drinking well but not sure it gets any better. I got the impression this is around $25 and if so, that is a nice solid value.

A nice CdP and possibly the most classic in the room despite being so young. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, slight leather, violets and spice. On the palate, juicy acidity. Black raspberries with spice notes. Not a ton of fruit but solid and well done. Depth. Nice finish. drink or hold.

My first time trying this producer IIRC. A lighter in style but nice CdP. Ruby in color. The nose has cherries and slight spice. A bit of violets. No tannins to speak of. Drinking well. Mostly cherries but slight complexity. Nice enough finish.