9/13/2018 - wffinn Likes this wine:

A subtle bouquet previewed a silky, smooth wine more complicated than one would predict from the 'juvenile' label.

11/3/2017 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Enticing bouquet, smooth and well balanced with notable long finish. Paired with filet mignon - each enhancing the flavor of the other.

3/15/2017 - wffinn Likes this wine:

With a 2 hour decanting, this turned into a very drinkable, sooth wine with a touch of a complex finishing note.

1/12/2016 - wffinn wrote:

It was hard to recognize this as a malbec. It is perhaps best suited as a general table wine.

1/12/2016 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Excellent pinot grigio with exceptional quality-price-ratio.

1/11/2016 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Fruit forward with velvety mouthfeel.

11/11/2015 - wffinn wrote:

Decanted for two hours; consumed over three hours with and without accompanying food. Muted earthy bouquet with sour cherry predominant. Little to no evolution over time and consequently somewhat unidimensional. Much different from earlier note. Willh try again in several months.

9/21/2015 - wffinn wrote:

Complex bouquet, more mineral than fruit, short palate.

2/17/2015 - wffinn wrote:

Muted nose with earthy notes. Cherry hints carried through mid-palate followed by subdued finish. Enjoyable but nothing special.

1/28/2015 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Restrained bouquet, notable sour cherry, early finish. Kept waiting for it to evolve and/or change in character - but did not happen.

1/3/2015 - wffinn Likes this wine:

This is simply a luscious malbec!

12/21/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

This was a unidimensional wine - fruit intense without any of the complex structure usually associated with pinot noirs in this price catagory. Consumed over several hours without much change from first sip to last.

10/24/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

smooth, elegant pinot noir with subtle bouquet but bursting with cherry flavor with a lingering finish.

10/18/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Paired with roasted pork tenderloin, apples and onions. This was a perfect match with complementary aromas and flavors. I can't imagine any better combination.

9/24/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

A complex bouquet of dark fruit and spice with predominant cherry flavors. Smooth and well balanced. A perfect pairing with chicken cordon bleu.

9/14/2014 - wffinn wrote:

Drank with cod and shrimp with fennel (Anne Burrell's recipe). Despite the presence of chardonnay and anisette in the seafood stock, this pinot noir was a perfect match with complementary flavors and aromas.

8/30/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

This was the perfect pairing with boiled lobster claws and mustard sauce.

8/28/2014 - wffinn Does not like this wine:

Compared by a group to a local rose wine from the Rosemont of Virginia Winery in La Crosse VA, the local wine won hands down!

6/22/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights. 1st night a pleasant fruity wine with a simple pasta meal. 2nd night more complex with a deeper mid-palate.

6/18/2014 - wffinn Does not like this wine:

Decanted for 2+ hours. Light red with neutral nose; acidic, hard to distinguish fruit flavors before tannins took over. Paired with Giada de Laurentis' recipe for Chicken Milanese with negative impact. Much too soon to drink - perhaps not at all.

5/24/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Paired with pork chops and teriyaki sauce. Decanted for 30 minutes. Before dinner, subtle nose, smooth palate. With dinner it started to open up as it saw the teriyaki sauce as a competitor. The Melville won with a burst of fruit. After dinner, the tannins took over. 90 at the beginning - 92 at the end - a solid pinot noir.

4/17/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

This is a complex wine with earthy flavors that can be paired with more robust foods that those usually recommended for a pinot noir.

4/24/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Smooth, supple, well balanced.

1/28/2014 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Asked to pair a wine with a roasted chicken dinner. Not a night for a white wine (a cold, snowy day in North Carolina). Found a recommendation for a syrah and chose the "Lady Rosa". The association of the wine with the chicken unlocked hidden flavors in each. It reminded me of a Thanksgiving meal with cranberry sauce ladled over oven hot turkey! No need to say any more.

1/23/2014 - wffinn wrote:

An interesting, once-a-year, mid-week spaghetti or pizza wine.

1/22/2014 - wffinn wrote:

- It's unbalanced with a medium body. Narrow texture with a medium finish.

12/26/2013 - wffinn wrote:

A bit of sour cherry on mid-palate makes this an interesting - although not compelling - wine.

12/15/2013 - wffinn wrote:

Nicely paired with spare ribs. Decanted for 90 minutes. Subtle bouquet with delayed burst of dark cherry and a smooth finish. Not a powerful cabernet but seemed to entwine with the food.

12/9/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Typical Oregon subtle bouquet with dark cherry flavors emerging over time. 89 points with first pour, 91 at the end. Perhaps would have benefited from an earlier decant.

10/21/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights. Somewhat tight on night one with a muted bouquet. Smooth with cherry flavors and a short finish. On day two much improved in all regards. I'll wait a bit before pouring the second bottle.

8/12/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank over several hours. A somewhat subdued bouquet did not predict the initial taste of cough drop-like cherry. Mid-way through more complex elements with a smooth finish. Some loss of character at the end reflective in the final rating.

8/3/2013 - wffinn wrote:

Muted bouquet, understated fruit, noticeable but not unpleasant acid. Price-to-quality ratio appropriate.

7/17/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Complicated nose; restrained fruit; balanced finish.

6/2/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

On the nose, a premonition of dark fruit and mysterious spices. Although I had read the comments of others, I did not anticipate its finesse and complicated structure. The transition from the initial fruit to the muted spice at the end was well choreographed. A day later, it is still in my mind.

5/18/2013 - wffinn wrote:

Consumed over two days. Day 1 typical PN bouquet although somewhat muted. Satisfactory fruit with smooth but short finish. Day 2 everything a little less intense. In sum, a good but not excellent sipping wine. Looking forward to bottle #2 in the future.

3/4/2013 - wffinn wrote:

Had with a home made pizza. Very nice. Held up despite tomato and sweet Italian sausage. Very nice balance.

2/14/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

This is a gorgeous wine, full of dark fruit and a long elegant finish with sleek tannins.

2/4/2013 - wffinn wrote:

Somewhat muted on the nose but with a mixture of flavors that slowly evolve and conclude with a subtle finish.

1/16/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Served with a cheese fondue. Decanted for two hours prior to pouring. Deep barnyard bouquet followed by a burst of fruit. Nicely balanced with a lingering finish.

1/16/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

Paired with beef tenderloin and a blueberry reduction sauce. Decanted for two hours prior to pouring. Fit the menu like a key to a lock opening up flavors of both wine and meat.

1/16/2013 - wffinn Likes this wine:

The excellent bouquet suggested a complex wine but not entirely so. The fruit - while not intense - was multi-layered but lacked an equivalent finish.

12/2/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Heavy fruit up front that lingers a bit and displays some complexity of flavors.

10/23/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Decanted and poured. Enticing bouquet with hints of tobacco and anise along with more raspberry than cherry. Lighter on the palate than expected. Perhaps did not give it time enough to open up.

10/2/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Decanted for an hour and drank slowly over several hours - with and after salmon and salad dinner. Had a pleasant but not remarkable bouquet with the initial sip matching the bouquet. Eventually it smoothed out and finished quite nicely as a few complicated flavors emerged.

9/30/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Paired with a recipe from "the seduction cookbook" (Gorgonzola cheese and walnut stuffed chicken breasts with roasted grapes). Just a spectacular wine from beginning to end. Our guests thought it was one of the best wines they had had in some time -so did I.

10/1/2012 - wffinn wrote:

I remember the hype associated with the release of this PN and my immediate disappointment with the first bottle. Apparently this was shared by other as there was a prompt 30% price reduction.mild bouquet, Now with the third try it was no better-maybe worse.

9/17/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Decanted with a Vinturi. More sediment than I usually see was a preview of several waves of unusual flavors that evolved and lasted till the end. Not a surprising finish but a very interesting wine.

9/20/2012 - wffinn wrote:

A seductive bouquet followed by a load of rich fruit that lingers a bit before slowly fading away. The tannins are simple and smooth. Quite a good bottle for the price!

8/8/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Somewhat of a restrained bouquet followed by a burst of thick fruit with an almost smooth finish interrupted by a little tartness.

7/30/2012 - wffinn wrote:

Pleasant bouquet matched by initial fruit but interrupted by a brief sour wave and concluded with a short finish. Will wait another year for the second bottle.