2/27/2023 - halfred Likes this wine:

Amazing that this wine has held up so well for 19 years. Still firm and intact (with excellent cellar conditions). Whiffs of the cab franc led with some grassy jalapeño that integrated quickly into the cab sauv with some air. Still rich, solid, and good grip.

11/20/2021 - halfred wrote:

Drink now

1/4/2021 - halfred Likes this wine:

This bottle was amazing. Perfect blend of fruit, acid, tannin. Complex that kept us talk about it for hours after the bottle was empty. Best wine I had in 2020.

2/9/2020 - halfred wrote:

Tragically corked.

11/15/2019 - halfred wrote:

Awesome. Perfect balance of cab fruit, tannin and wood.

9/8/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

An excellent wine, bought at the winery

8/30/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still super amazeballs.

5/28/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Great wine, aging beautifully. Still plenty of life, fruit, tannin left.

5/18/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Great! Perfect! Drink now.

5/18/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Earthy berries on the nose. Spice and slate with berries on the palate. Tart.

4/19/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Silky and soft now, but not faded. Drink now, it's at the peak after perfect storage since arrival.

4/19/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still standing strong. Well integrated, firm tannins. A tartness and firmness on the finish.

3/16/2019 - halfred Likes this wine:

Drinking great. Could go much longer.

7/22/2017 - halfred Likes this wine:

Out of a line up of 20 Pinots, this was the winner.

3/19/2017 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still crazy after all these years.

3/19/2017 - halfred Likes this wine:

Mighty tasty. Still great fruit and body after well cellared aging.

12/10/2016 - halfred wrote:

Still going great!

8/14/2016 - halfred wrote:

Bleh. Plastic cork. Did not last. Skanky after 10 yrs.

12/31/2015 - halfred Likes this wine:

Doing great in the bottle. Handling the age fine.

12/31/2015 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still hanging in there well. A little Burgundian with earthiness showing through.

5/16/2015 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still great, will last.

5/10/2015 - halfred Likes this wine:

Delicious, holding well. Could have waited another couple years easily.

5/10/2015 - halfred Likes this wine:

Very nice wine, held firm with the age and developing nicely.

1/23/2015 - halfred Likes this wine:

Great with burgers at Square 69!

11/14/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Just right, balanced and still with plenty of life. Franc character shows through with good cab backbone. Ageing well, could keep going.

6/14/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Out of a half bottle. Excellent. Supple and layered. No issue with the age, an excellent bottle.

6/7/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Gifted out.

6/7/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Rich golden. Showing some age, but still excellent, rich, and complex.

6/7/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Was very good. Refined, almost burgundy like. Probably at the tipping point on age. It was still perfect, but I will definitely be checking another bottle in 12 months to make sure they are holding.

6/7/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Was EXCELLENT. Still strong and rich, well balanced fruit, tannin, and acid. Could still rest another couple years.

6/7/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Holding nicely, well balanced. Could last a little longer, but definitely getting time to drink

6/7/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Fading a bit, but still tasty. Drink up.

3/22/2014 - halfred wrote:

Excellent wine, no issues with proper aging, very nice

3/22/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Excellent wine, no issues with proper aging, very nice

3/22/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still holding but definitely time to drink.

1/31/2014 - halfred wrote:

Unfortunately, the bottle had faded dramatically, despite being well stored. While not flawed, it was faded so much that we opened an 07 from the same vineyard with the same result. All fruit had fled, leaving not much of anything left in the bottle. A shame.

1/31/2014 - halfred wrote:

Bottle had developed a lot of nutty, sherry, oxidized flavors. Not undrinkable, but more a curiosity.

1/4/2014 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still a great wine. Holding in there with no dramatic age issues. Great tasting wine mow or could have held another couple years.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

One of the highlights of the evening. A very delicate zin, fruits have shifted to perfume.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

Rich and strong at front, but true to cab franc, not a lot of finish. Very tasty, but somewhat less impressive than the 05 Pride Merlot we had with it.

1/1/2013 - halfred Likes this wine:

A rich and classic Montelena. Good structure and depth and more time left in the bottle.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

Faded a bit. We had a lineup of excellent wines and this one didn't quite match up.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

Held together well given the age. Had some funk on the nose that blew off when we decanted softly. Plenty of character left, firm but delicate and aged.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

Still deep and rich, drinking just fine with a couple years left, but ready to go now.

12/31/2012 - halfred wrote:

Ready now. Plenty of fruit and structure left but turning the corner, so drink up.

12/31/2012 - halfred wrote:

Rich and toasty, almonds. Plenty of life left.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

I loved well aged Chard and this one has done just fine. Deep and rich.

12/31/2012 - halfred Likes this wine:

Really outstanding after being cellared for several years. Tannins softened but plenty of body, finish, and fruit left. Will keep another couple years.

10/28/2012 - halfred wrote:

Bottle had gotten funky with a little dog and newspaper when opened. Somewhat blew off when decanted, but definitely past its prime. Bottle was cellared correctly.

10/26/2012 - halfred wrote:

Very, very good. After a night of tasting Bordeaux, opened this with dinner; excellent. I think it is a perfect time to drink this. Still a touch of tannin and plenty fruit. Hit it.