2/27/2024 - phandel Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable, but slightly over the hill. Ironically, a bit of air really helped it open up. Wonderful character.

1/24/2024 - phandel Likes this wine:

Surprisingly enjoyable for a Pinot - no salt!

6/25/2022 - phandel Likes this wine:

Drank at Matterhorn SF, with J&N/M&R. Excellent mouth feel, medium+ length of finish, nice complexity - interesting things going on here.

4/6/2022 - phandel wrote:

Friends preferred the 2017 to the 2016 of this wine.

4/6/2022 - phandel wrote:

Friends preferred the 2017 to the 2016 of this wine.

4/6/2022 - phandel wrote:

Drank the 2015 and 2016 side-by-side (from magnums): the 15 was singing, markedly older than the 16. But the 16 had more going on, hidden under the youth.

4/6/2022 - phandel wrote:

Drank the 2015 and 2016 side-by-side (from magnums): the 15 was singing, markedly older than the 16. But the 16 had more going on, hidden under the youth.

3/1/2022 - phandel Likes this wine:

Enjoyable- nice texture

3/1/2022 - phandel Likes this wine:

Wonderful weight

12/25/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Enjoyed on Christmas with Beef Stroganoff. Wonderful weight & character in the mid-palate. Medium+ finish. Definitely enjoyable - more finesse than power. Very slight touch of green.

11/29/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

So refined and flavorful!

11/7/2021 - phandel wrote:

Very refined example of an earthy style of Pinot. Tons more fruit the next day.

11/7/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Lots more character than the Italo's. Nice structure, good flavor profile.

11/7/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Wonderful structure, currently slightly closed. Tasted a bit empty, but was much less 1-dimensional even a few hours later. Displayed nice character the next day!

11/5/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Nice sweetness, almost turning tawny at this point. Not a ton of tannin left, but still enjoyable. Plenty of menthol on the nose. Surprisingly light mid-palate for this sweetness.

10/12/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Nice, light, enjoyable.

10/11/2021 - phandel wrote:

Striking dirt & tannin notes. Needs a pepper steak to compete!

10/8/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Fairly dry, but a very slight creaminess that indicated a nicely refined wine.

9/28/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Bells 9/28/21: Menthol menthol menthol! Refined & enjoyable nose, but palate is a bit disjointed (likely due to PnP). Really love the character of the mountain fruit!

9/28/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Bells 9/28/21: Incredible depth and concentration, but not enough tannins for me - needs more structure. Wonderfully long finish. Very enjoyable.

9/28/2021 - phandel wrote:

Anniversary weekend, PnP over board games. Enjoyable, but not as much tannin as on release.

9/28/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Anniversary weekend, over board games - we both loved it. PnP, even the first sip's finish went on for minutes. Definitely entering its long drinking window.

9/1/2021 - phandel wrote:

Creamy, ok, smooth

9/1/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Wonderful layers of complexity… time in the glass allowed the nose to develop. Very enjoyable, lots more life in this.

6/30/2021 - phandel wrote:

Light and delicate. Not much flavor or depth; medium acidity.

6/13/2021 - phandel wrote:

Not my favorite, although this may be due to inexperience with the varietal.

6/13/2021 - phandel wrote:

Favorite red from Germany trip so far - full-bodied.

6/6/2021 - phandel wrote:

Enjoyable!

6/6/2021 - phandel wrote:

Pleasantly fruity and light - very enjoyable.

6/6/2021 - phandel wrote:

Ok, lighter and not much character, but not offensive.

5/17/2021 - phandel wrote:

Ok

5/17/2021 - phandel wrote:

Surprisingly dry.

5/4/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Wonderful leather on the nose. Not too heavy on the palate. Nice.

5/3/2021 - phandel Does not like this wine:

Very dry

4/13/2021 - phandel wrote:

Really nice! Fun nose, full mouthfeel.

4/13/2021 - phandel wrote:

Drank the 2011 next to the 2017 - the 17 was vibrant and fun, whereas the 11 had depth, complexity, and an unctuous quality.

4/10/2021 - phandel wrote:

Nice weight, drinking fairly well now.

4/3/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Nice jammy flavor, without the jammy texture. Surprisingly dry for the flavor profile - nice tannic structure. Definitely a winner & crowd pleaser at this price point.

4/3/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Drank the 2015 and 2016 side-by-side, and the 15 was the clear winner - it had much more depth, whereas the 16 was brighter cherry.

4/3/2021 - phandel wrote:

Drank the 2015 and 2016 side-by-side, and the 15 was the clear winner - it had much more depth, whereas the 16 was brighter cherry.

3/25/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Wonderful weight! Very enjoyable.

3/24/2021 - phandel Likes this wine:

Wonderful flavor - good structure. Enjoyable & traditional.

3/24/2021 - phandel wrote:

Not as sweet as expected- very enjoyable.

3/24/2021 - phandel wrote:

Not bad, maybe a touch more acid.

3/10/2021 - phandel wrote:

Not bad.

3/10/2021 - phandel wrote:

What is going on here?!? Under $7 at TJs, yet this is a nice clean & straightforward port, no funky nose / aftertaste? This is a really good entry-level port!

Port is really undiscovered - bottles like this (and even a top-of-the-line '17 Taylor Fladgate VP under $100) are really revolutionary.

3/10/2021 - phandel wrote:

Wonderful floral + mango nose, engaging on the palate with food-friendly acid. Surprisingly enjoyable. Need to drink more SauvBlanc?

3/2/2021 - phandel wrote:

This was so good! Wonderful depth and complexity even on the nose. Drank this next to a WS-Top100 wine, and this blew it away. So much character!

3/6/2021 - phandel wrote:

Nice structure, but tasted slightly straightforward next to a 2012 Ridge Lytton Estate Syrah / Grenache.

1/31/2021 - phandel wrote:

Great stereotypical Napa cab - nothing stands out.