3/31/2024 - perlasteve wrote:

Delicious. PnP. Very good from nose to finish. Good balance and fruit Probably be good more several years if stored right.

6/17/2023 - perlasteve wrote:

Disappointing. Would not open up, even with 2 hour decant. Just flat without any real personality. Stored well underground cellar for ten years. Auction bought. Bottle looked good. Great recent reviews.
Either too late or too early. Tend to think too early. Hints of things, like balance and hidden tanins. I feel that if could have waited two days, it would be revealing itself. At restaurant, should have recorked and taken home. Carry backup wine.

5/5/2023 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Lots of dark fruit, full bodied, long finish. Only distraction was high alcohol, took away from the taste but in day 3 it was less. Very hedonistic and good although not my favorite style.

2/16/2023 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Still beautiful. Dark fruit on nose. Smooth, full bodied, chocolate, savory notes and brambles came to mind. No decant although probably will next time. Evolved in 30 min in glass to dark fruit, mild tannins and mild alcohol. Very balanced. Just plain delicious. I think it has several good years left.

1/19/2023 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Initially astringent but turned beautiful after 45 min in glass. Prominent bouquet, medium body with earth tones and good fruit. Last bottle. :(

1/7/2023 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Delicious, esp after 30 minutes in glass. Maybe benefit by short decant but I like experiencing the evolution in the glass. Very balanced with prominent mild fruit and mild tannins. Smooth. Nice lingering finish. Not very complex although we’ll see what happens over next several days.

11/24/2022 - perlasteve wrote:

Smooth, delicious, hidden tannins that came out after an hour or so. Ready to drink but definitely decant for 1-2 hours. Rating may have been higher given the changes that were occurring.

8/27/2022 - perlasteve Does not like this wine:

Very flat without character. No prominent fruit or savory note. No complexity. Not going to finish it. Will not get better. However, did taste 3 blockbusters first so the wine was maybe not that bad. Drink up.

11/7/2021 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Had this 5 years ago, huge disappointment. Watery, thin, and no taste. Opened it again few weeks ago and again hardly any fruit, nose or palate taste but a little more than 5 years ago. Long story short, kept tasting and removing air in between since opening it. And wow. It has become one of the best medium to light body pinots I have had. Was light with some complexity, beautiful fruit mainly of cherry, very soft tannins with lingering red fruit on the finish. Flavor became more prominent and delicious with each tasting. Two more bottles. Will plan on open, decant and put back in bottle before consuming.

7/16/2021 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

I love Cayuse and this wine was a sterling example. Earthy, funky and dark fruit on nose and palate. No decant needed. Pop. Medium to full body. Good tannins and adequate acid. Ready to go. Enjoy

7/11/2021 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Absolutely delicious in it’s savory, funky way. No need for decant. Drinking great now. Drank two more bottles.

3/14/2021 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Had Sicilian sautéed calamari, focaccia and the Poggio, last of my bottles. At 17 years of age, the cork was perfect, minimal nose, perfect brick color without much fade at edge, not much on the palate but underlying hints of fruit and savory were there. Decantered for 30 min before dinner and it started opening quickly. By the end of the meal, a nose of cherry and sandalwood, a palate and dark cherry, leather other savory flavors and tannins. Good acidity and alcohol level. Very balanced, very Brunello. Took a glass to the tv room to watch Stanley Tucci “Searching for Italy:Tuscany” (highly recommend to Italy food, wine and culture lovers). Have a third of a bottle left and I can tell it will be a blow out tomorrow. Will let you know. I think this wine is drinking great now and would last for a few more years in it’s window.

2/19/2021 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

It has been a number of years since I opened one of these. It was closed the first day but knocked our socks off day 2. This one knocked our socks off out of the bottle. Beautiful fruit with dark cherry on the nose and stunning fruit and body on the palette. Not jammy but just well integrated dark fruit, medium complexity with little savory notes and decent finish. Good balance of flavor, alcohol and tannins (hidden) One of the more delicious and enjoyable full body pinots I have had. I decanted it but not sure that was necessary. Would think it has surely a few more years for the fruit, so if you have a reason to open a pino, go for it. (An aside, a few recent notes below talk about the fruit being gone, which is why I decided to try it. But my experience was totally different)

9/21/2020 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Birthday party with delicious tomahawk steaks. Decided to have fun and open a bottle of the Staglin 2002 and of the 2007. In the past a number of years ago the 2002 was bomb (as my kids would say). Delicious. Smooth, chocolate flavors etc.Now the flavors were apparent up opening and faded with the dinner. Decanted but wish I hadn’t, did not need it. The 2007 on the other hand was so much better. Did not need decant. Mild tannins present. Besides the secondary core salary flavors including the cocoa, there was abundant fruit which was delicious. The palate flavors did not perish throughout the dinner. Decent but not overwhelming nose and finish. Went beautifully with the steaks. So, in summary, the 2002 should be drunk now without decant and the 2007 has a few more years and probably does not need decant. Points for the 2007 above.

9/21/2020 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Birthday party with delicious tomahawk steaks. Decided to have fun and open a bottle of the Staglin 2002 and of the 2007. In the past a number of years ago the 2002 was bomb (as my kids would say). Delicious. Smooth, chocolate flavors etc.Now the flavors were apparent up opening and faded with the dinner. Decanted but wish I hadn’t, did not need it. The 2007 on the other hand was so much better. Did not need decant. Mild tannins present. Besides the secondary core salary flavors including the cocoa, there was abundant fruit which was delicious. The palate flavors did not perish throughout the dinner. Decent but not overwhelming nose and finish. Went beautifully with the steaks. So, in summary, the 2002 should be drunk now without decant and the 2007 has a few more years and probably does not need decant. Points for the 2002

6/8/2020 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Fabulous. Opened Friday. Initially funk, earth on the nose. Thought it was a Cayuse. However the palate was a little disjointed but not bad. Some fruit, minerals, tanins. Would have given a score of 90. Saved enough to drink a little over the next 3 days. What an evolution. Wine has lost the funk and is smooth, medium to full body, very balanced with delicious dark fruit and complex savary flavors. Nice finish. On day 1, opened bottle for several hours, then decanted for 1 hour. Prior comments suggest a long decant (5 hours) and I have to agree based in my experience with this bottle. Lots of years left, will revisit a bottle in 5 years
.

2/10/2020 - perlasteve Does not like this wine:

Much different from how i thought it would be from tasting it 5 years ago. Had lots of tannins, mow mostly dissipated. Very one diminesional and very cherry, almost like Luden cough drops. Did not detect a heavy herbal nose that others describe. Medium body bordering on light. Not much finish. Will try it over several days but not expecting it to improve. Maybe an off bottle, hope so.

11/29/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Nice wine but wasn’t great. Other’s with better reviews. PNP and probably should have decanted earlier since one comment stated a few hours to open up. Mixture of dark fruit and savory, medium body and alcohol not an issue. Will decant further bottles

11/29/2019 - perlasteve wrote:

Very good. Lots of tasty fruit, but not over the top. Did not taste much in the way of savory stuff. High alcohol but not really that hot or noticeable. Went well with Thanksgiving food. PNP, did not need decant although possibly would have possibly picked up non-fruit tastes.

11/25/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

1.5 liter at June Baby, Seattle (incredible southern food). Nose initially closed but palate of mostly ripe fruit, ganache dominant. Lighter body than most notes said. Most noticeable aspect was the alcohol, 15.8%. Usually pasa robles high alcohol is noticeable but not bothersome. Bottle opened for 4-5 hours, then decanted at restaurant over a 2 hour meal. With food the heat was mostly well integrated and/or dissipated. Was a delicious, moderately complex and medium body. Decent finish. Given other’s comments, i wished i would have decanted for 5 hours rather than just had bottle open. Elements definitely started building during the meal/ decant. My rating would have been 95+ if decanted earlier. So bottom line, decant for good period, especially larger format bottles stored well.

9/22/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Lush dark fruit, little heavy in the alcohol, balanced tannins. Nose of the fruit, medium-full body. Little thin in the finish. But all in all a very good wine drinking well now and for some time into future. Did not decant, but maybe that would diminish the alcohol some but it wasn’t that bothersome. My wife really liked the wine.

8/24/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Upon opening, initial delicious dark fruit, some savory then nothing. No persistent palate flavors, body, complexity or layering. Felt most likely it needed long decantering (chosen just before going to restaurant so no time for decantering), in its dumb phase (possible) or past prime (no way). As the 3 hour dinner progressed, so did the wine in the decanter. At the end it showed promise of what it could be. So bottom line, this needs long decantering, swirling and it may get close to mid 90’s in scoring if kept in correct cellar conditions. Unfortunately no more in my cellar for me to find out.

7/17/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Beautiful Tempranillo. Ready to be consumed. Did not need to decant. Very balanced with medium dark fruit, some savory notes, mild tannins. Medium-full body. Decent finish. Great with paella and tapas.

4/16/2019 - perlasteve wrote:

Poured at Hattaway’s in Walla Walla. DELICIOUS. Nose and palate with dark fruit balanced with savary notes, moderate intergrated tannins and nice finish. Medium-full body. Good complexity. DeOverall a very balanced wine. Was drinking beautifully. Has years left i believe. Benefited from short decant.

3/27/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Delicious. Went great with rib eye and sweet onions. POP. Floral, fruit and earthy notes on nose and palate. Full body, decent finish. Small amount tannins, becoming more predominent with time. Would probably hold iver next several years. Maybe losing somw if the fruit and displaying more of the earth. Just speculation. Will save last bottle for few years and share with wine buddies

3/8/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Much more fruit forward. Delicious. Time in glass let more earth elements to appear. Obvious full body. Went great with chicken larb

3/1/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Phenonmenal. Essential at this point for long decant. Decanted from 4-5 hours, occ swirling. Completely opened. Color dark red with rusty ring. Nose full of red cherry. Medium-full body. Dried red cherry, leather and straw and finishes with tannins and some acid. Excellant with food, homemade pizzas, many varieties, and meatballs in marinara sauce. Have one left but will look for more. Years still left. Ciao.

2/27/2019 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Delicious. Mild and mellow. Does not need decanting. Full body. Very balanced. Very singular malbec varietal on the palate. Bought in Mendoza for cheap. Had an Argentina steak night with Chimichura. Will probably be good for 5 years or so. Can see why this is a blending wine.

12/25/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Delicious. Big. Lots of black fruit. Paso Robles at its best. Alcohol has settled down it seems but still powerful. One of my favorites along with Herman Story from PR. MY 3 favorite varietals in a PR blend: syrah, ganache and mouvedre. Did not decant.

11/26/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Very good but did not knock my socks off. Tasty dark fruit and balanced on palate but not a lot of complexity or savory/mineral notes. Medium nose and finish. Medium to full body. Decanted an hour before. Better 2nd and 3rd day. Not sure it wil age better, have a few 750s which I will start hitting.

10/19/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Medium nose of balanced fruit and savory notes. Medium - Full body. Palate also well balanced with nothing overpowering, a little less complex than I was hoping for but still quite good. Medium length finish. PnP. Went well with several very different pasta dishes and lamb. Ready to drink but can still go years.

10/18/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Agrodolce in Seattle with Dr Demento, Captain Avalanche and Perla. Incredible pasta, better than Tavolata, our favorite for years. All earthy notes on the nose opening up (described by others as brambles which is accurate) with savory and hints of fruit. Fruit became more prominent and was delicious on the palate. Medium finish. Moderate to full body. Excellent balance. Opened 1 hour prior, did not decant. Opened fully in glass within 30 minutes. Last bottle

9/8/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

At Manolin, Seattle. Earthy notes with dark fruit flavors on both nose and palate. very well balanced. Medium body. Fine tannins. Delicious. Enjoyment even better than last bottle notes. Decant not necessary. Great vintage for Willamette Valley.

8/28/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Primo Grill. Tacoma. Sandy and Judy from Memohis. Only mildly barnyard stuff on nose and palate. Mostly dark fruits but not jammy. Good levels tannins, alcohol and acidity. Very balanced. PnP, could use short decant but not necessay. Went well with varieties of meat and pasta. Probably wait few years till my next.

8/11/2018 - perlasteve wrote:

Dinner at Finistere in Port Townsend. Pinot was good out of the gate. PnP. Aroma and palate the same, savory notes with sage and dark fruit, smokey cherry. Medium to full body. Finish ends dry. Everyone at dinner thought this pinot was superb

8/5/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

OMG. What a difference 6-7 years make. Opened a bottle back then, there was nothing to the wine . No nose, no palate flavors, no body, hidden tannins. Did not get better over next couple days. It was sound asleep I guess because now it is a knockout living up to the hype. Firstly, beautiful nose of complex red cherry with a palate of smoky cherries, some other fruit and savory notes with a good medium body yet still light. Tannins seem well integrated. Not much acidity. Nice finish with same tastes above. PnP. No need for decant. Went great with freshly caught sockeye salmon on freshly made pasta with pesto. Probably at peak. Would drink up. Cheers.

8/4/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Funkadelic. Love the term. WON Adelaide boys wine dinner at John’s on the edge of the sound. Georgeous night. Other lineups included Leonetti Reserve, Mondavi reserve ‘08, etc. food: beef tenderloin skewers and BBQribs dry rub. Mod funk in nose and palate. Full body. Integrated tannins. Good black fruit. Nice finish with all the described nuances. PnP, does not need decant although would not hurt it.

5/28/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Took 1-2 hours to open. Did not decant but probably should have. Reminded me of good brunello: leather, tobacco, dark fruit. Good nose and finish, medium to full body. Adequate tannins, acidity and balance. Definately ready with some air time but probably has few years to go.

3/3/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

absolutely delicious. Magnum, etched bottle, special occasion, Perla's 60th. Had with cioppino. Dark and inky. Mixed floral and savory nose. Palate with dark fruits, medium degree of tannins which were integrated and earthy notes without too much of the funk. Full body. Nice finish with same flavors. Wish I had more. Decanted half the magnum, but probably didn't need to.

2/23/2018 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

One of the joys of a large wine cellar is finding a mediocre wine 12 years past it due date to take upstairs to the Mrs. for spaghetti sauce, finding out that only that it is not bad, but it is spectacular. Nose of dark fruit, complex fruit (not jammy) and a little savory on the palate, and medium finish. Plenty of intergrating tannins. Extremely balanced and just frigging delicious. Plenty of power left. Think I’ll serve it with appetizers at dinner party tomorrow and put the Quilceda Creek in the bullpen.

2/18/2018 - perlasteve wrote:

Long time lover of Cayuse who loves the funk. Have had incredible En Cerise but this wasn’t one. While usually En Cerise is more fruit forward than earthy, this had no earthy notes at all and was all fruit on nose and palate. Not a significant finish. Not jammy thank God. Fruit was very good, mainly dark flavors, but there was not complexity. One bottle left, will probably drink up sooner than later. Sorry Cristophe

2/15/2018 - perlasteve wrote:

feb 14 Valentines Day at El Gaucho Tacoma with Perla. Excited about this wine because I am a fan of funk and earthy aromas/flavors. This took funk up to another level, almost too much. double decanted for an hour, took a few hours for the funk to dissipate showing persistent fruit and casis. medium to full body. Neither the nose (rosemary and chicken s--t according to Perla) or the finish were very memorable. Went well with the food (Gaucho burger, French onion soup and Caesar salad.

11/22/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

At JBs for Husky vs Stanford game. Mellow medium to full body merlot, not much tannins initially although they appeared later. More fruit than savory, but not very complex. Probably time to start drinking up although the appearance of the tannins could save it for few more years.

10/16/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Continues to please, esp at it's price point. In the past it was acidic, tannic, astringent initially and really nice by day 2. Last night, with Valencia paella, it had gorgeous fruit on nose and pallet without being jammy, balanced tannins and none of the unpleasant acidity or astringency. Last bottle, will buy more for next years paella season (cooking outside over a woodfire in Seattle occurs mainly in the summer). Based on this bottle, OK P&P. ps: beat out 09 Impulsevo and 12 No Girls.

10/16/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Paella dinner (Valencia style). Moderately big wine, definite Cayuse funk present but was otherwise muted. Not much of other stuff going on such as a lack of the hot spice associated (and liked) in previous vintages and a lack of underlying complexity, tannins and prominent fruit. However it went well with the apps and the paella. Will not hinder my buying Impulsevo in the future, just a little disappointed in this bottle. WON was 2012 Teso La Monja Toro Almirez, impressive mixed fruit, moderate tannins but none of the astringency noted in the past. Good bargain.

7/4/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Opened in bottle for few hours. Could just POP. DELICIOUS. medium - dark red in glass, very nice nose of dark fruit and some spice, minerality. Palate shows plenty of tannins balanced with the flavor mostly of dark fruit and some cherry. Full body. Nice finish. Favors did not diminish over several hour dinner (tritip). Agree with a previous reviewer that this has a number of years left. Will decant next bottle for fun to see if the wonderful flavors become even more enhanced.

6/27/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Dundee Bistro with Peter, Judy, Perla et al. Disappointing meal but beautiful wine. Deep purple, good balance of funk and fruit on the nose as well as palate. Integrated tannins but still present. Medium - full in body. Low - medium acidity. Alcohol not really noticeable. Good finish. No real need to decant. Enjoy.

P.s. This wine was outstanding even at the end of a full day of tasting.

6/19/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Father's Day Dinner with steak and savory mushroom tart. Followed a '07 Frog. Notes very similar, just a little less intense. Some funk, sweet black fruit. Very balanced. Did not decant. Did not know it when i chose this wine, but had it last year for Father's Day dinner. Notes are very similar, not much change. May have few years left but i think it is in prime drinking window now. Cheers

6/19/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

Father's Day dinner. Steak Florentine (3 inch cut), savory, earthy mushroom tart and rich blue cheese bacon wedge salad. This wine was made for this meal. It seems that the more recent Frogs are more fruit forward, less earthy. This bottle had it all. Initial massive funk, mossy earth floor on the nose with hidden sweet dark fruit notes that became more prominent quickly but it never lost the funk totally. Medium - full body, medium alcohol, integrated tannins, well balanced, nice finish. Did not decant but maybe i should have (just in general). Good to PNP. I thought it was close to the '06 which is my gold standard of Frog. Long live the Frog.

6/1/2017 - perlasteve Likes this wine:

absolutely great. first patio party on hot summer day(Seattle), ran out of rose and a guest liked grenache so I decided to chill a GOK. OMG. Delicious. nose slightly muted but palate was fresh fruit mixed delicately with little funk and tannins. Medium - full body. Acid level only slightly noticeable and good for drinking and food. medium length finish. Will chill again for hot summer days.