5/18/2024 - tjbsmf wrote:

Lemon curd, grapefruit, yellow apple, white blossom, chalk/flint. Substantial on the palette, m+body and high acidity. Wish I had more.

11/25/2023 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted roughly 30 minutes. Nose is medium intensity of sweet and sour red cherries, black cherry, cranberries, orange bitters, celery, dried leaves, baking spices. Palette is still quite primary, sweet black cherry dominates, followed by acidic tart cranberry and spicy, fine tannic finish that lingers. A bit disjointed but really nice. Somehow Im not sure that this will come together with more time in bottle but I have one left and will keep it another couple of years to find out.

4/1/2023 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Needed about an hour of air, but once it blew off some a bit of the VA, this was high-toned and juicy, red and black fruited, floral and earthy, with a bit of spice and tannic grip on the finish. Perfect with pasta and marcella hazan's simple tomato sauce.

1/7/2023 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Fantastic! Extremely aromatic: Black cherry, cranberry, blood orange, fennel. Similar on palette, with some spice. M+ acid and tannin, med body. Everything in harmony.

12/15/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Dark purple in color. Black cherry, plum, blackberry and raspberry; smoke, vanilla, dried herbs. Similar on palette, plush, with some graphite and med acid and med+ tannin. Lovely weeknight pasta wine.

8/3/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Dark ruby in color. Intense nose of black cherry, blackberry, tart raspberry, tomato leaf, fresh herbs, tobacco, smoke. More red fruited on the palette with spice and a gaminess, m+ body, m+ tannins, high acid, m+ alcohol. Long finish. I like it a lot but it’s raw and a bit aggressive now.

7/31/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Decanted about 60 minutes. Dark purple in the glass.

Red and black cherry; black current; plum; vanilla, baking spices; mint; leather; graphite. Nose is still largely primary and medium intensity.

Full bodied; m+ tannins; high acid; high alcohol; similar notes as on palette, plus some spice. M+ length. Plush and alcohol a bit much for me.

7/14/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Ruby in color. Dried black cherries, raspberries, forest floor, sweet tobacco, potpourri, smoke. Nose is medium intensity and shows its age beautifully. Light body, acid m+, tannins are medium but linger. Medium to m+ length and complexity. A very nice wine, drink within the next year or two.

4/27/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

This wine was full of energy and great. After about 60 minutes, I see yellow apple, apricot, brioche, orange blossoms, gernaium, lemon, saline. The palette is creamy, medium in body. Similar flavors as on the nose, plus raw almonds, a bit of vanilla. High acid and long finish. I had this with sushi and was absolutely loving it, like tasting fresh oysters after each piece of fish.

4/17/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Inky, dark purple in color. Nose is ripe dark cherries, ripe plums, raspberry, graphite, eucalyptus, violets. On the palette: med body, med+ acid, high tannins; similar notes as nose, plus a touch of VA that makes the wine quite lifted and light on its feet. Finish is long. Yes, young, but I really enjoyed this wine. Drank over 2 nights, was better on night 2.

3/11/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

No formal note but this was great! Easy drinking, bright red fruits, rich, spicy. California beaujo. I wish I had more. Awesome Friday night wine.

3/4/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

M+ aromatics of cherry cola, black cherry, raspberry, vanilla and orange blossom. Very primary still. Super juicy on the palette. A bit of structure from the nebbiolo (m+ acid and med tannin I would say) but for me the juicy fruit dominates.

Perhaps I was just looking to scratch the wrong itch with this wine -- easy-drinking California pinot fans will really enjoy it.

2/21/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Bright medium lemon color; very primary aromas of grapefruit, lemon, stonefruit, blossom, mineral. Similar palette, again very primary and only a hint of secondary characteristics. Dry; creamy mouthfeel; great acid. Medium intensity and finish. I really liked this wine!

2/15/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights.

Pale lemon in color. Med intensity nose of yellow apple, lemon, ripe honeydew, blossom, chalk. Similar palette. Medium body, m+ acid, m- alc.

Easy to drink and food friendly.

Could be easily confused for premier cru level chablis from a riper vintage.

2/12/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Medium purple. Pronounced nose of red and black fruit (fig, red cherry, plum, bramble), violets, blossom, tobacco, eucalyptus. The palette is rich and textured, similar notes, plus ripe blueberry and spice/black pepper on the finish. Dry, med+ alcohol, med body. Lingering tannins alongside bright acidity that gives the wine a lifted, elegant feel.

In sum, an absolute banger. But will be better in a few more years.

1/30/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Red cherry, plum, licorice, tobacco, tomato leaf, dried leaves, white pepper. Mouth-coating tannins, nice acidity. Very well balanced, IMO, but it is totally closed up still (started opened up a bit on night two). Give it time.

1/29/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Vibrant lemon in color with tinge of green. Nose features tropical fruits, underripe pear, white blossom, honeycomb, and petrol (which showed after some time in the glass). Palette the same, with great acidity and a touch of sweetness. Very nice, albeit very young.

1/16/2022 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

On the nose: medium intensity notes of lemon, a hint of pineapple, almond, chalk, blossom, beeswax. Palette shows similar notes. Medium body and med+ acid. Interesting austere/taut yet textured thing going on, keeps you coming back. Medium length finish.

12/29/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Pop and pour. Medium ruby. Nose is medium intensity of red and black fruits (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry), rose, violets, dried leaves. Maybe a bit reductive but will open up. Palette is pretty lush: medium bodied, bright acid, med (fine, slightly sweet) tannin; again, red fruits, plus some white pepper. M+ length and M+ alcohol is a bit notable as noted below.

12/21/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Pale gold in color; m- intensity aromas of lemon, yellow apple, almonds, slate, blossom, beeswax (a bit of heft anyway, time on lees?). Dry, nice acid, m- alc. and med bodied. Similar flavors as on nose, plus a bit of pepper. Med long finish of bitter almond and palette cleansing acid. Nice little wine!

12/11/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Medium ruby in color; red and black cherry, raspberry, green pepper, bay leaf, smoke, funk. Palette is similar; medium body, m+ acid; medium tannins on finish. m+ length. The wine is showing itself very clearly, but is still very young.

12/5/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Clear, pale ruby in color. Very floral, and you could be forgiven for thinking it's gewurz, as the primary fruit I get is lycée, along with tart and underripe red fruits like cranberry and raspberry. Maybe some orange peel as well. Dry, light bodied, medium+ acid. It's a bit green/thin, but this is a unique and fun wine.

11/26/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

This is a lush California pinot. Dark ruby in color. Black cherry, red cherry, blueberry; vanilla, cola. Full bodied with notable tannins and medium acid. Also some pepper and some green bitter notes on the medium-long finish. If you like RRV pinot, this will be right up your ally.

11/26/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Really nice bottle. Starting to show some age in color--light ruby core turning into a more orange/brick rim. Cranberry and strawberry; dried rose petal, forest floor, mushroom, and smoke. Light bodied, there are some fine tannins but the structure is the bright acidity.

11/7/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Drank over 2 nights; medium ruby in color; slightly sweet tart red cherry, raspberry and cranberry; orange blossom, geranium and dried leaves. M- body, bright acid, with a finish of fine, grippy, tannins. M+ length. Really elegant wine but has more to give. Seemed closed up even on night two.

10/24/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Pineapple, yellow apple, cream, vanilla, slate. On the palette some autolytic notes as well--maybe beeswax and hay. Brisk acidity, noticeable alcohol. Pleasant but rang a bit hollow in mid palette, longish finish but couldn't help but feel it underdelivered somehow.

10/23/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Bright red fruit (raspberry, red cherry), black cherry, orange blossom, cedar, dried leaves. Similar on palette, with white pepper. Medium alcohol, medium plus acid and fine tannin. M+ length. Delicate and perfumed but still primary.

10/16/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Black and high-toned red fruits, violets, forest floor and fresh pine needle. Fruity and tannic on the palette, with some spice, balanced by a bright acidity. The alcohol is high but not overbearing. The finish is long. I agree with the other notes that it's very young, and it's a big wine, but it's so well balanced that it's easy to enjoy now.

10/4/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Inky medium purple. Dense. Dark fruit and violet. Fruit-forward, very young. Mouthfeel is dense (in a good way), m+ fine tannins and bright acidity. Looking forward to seeing how it evolves.

10/3/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Vibrant dark purple. Pronounced, youthful nose: black cherry, blackberry, bramble, tart red cherry, raspberry; violet, smoke, graphite, black pepper. High acid, m+ tannin, m+ alcohol, med body; very well balanced. On the palette the fruit is candied and the finish is long. On day 2, the fruit was more carbonic in nature and the smoke/minerality had faded into the background. Finish remained long and bright.

9/17/2021 - tjbsmf wrote:

30 minute decant. Bit of barnyard, black fruit (blueberries and plums), dark chocolate, some bitter green on the finish; full bodied, med acid and med+, well integrated, tannin. Drinks hot. 15% abv on the label and that's underselling it I'd guess.

8/20/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

A pleasant surprise. After 30 minutes in the glass: red and black cherries, tart raspberry, grilled meat, white pepper and dried herbs. Medium-bodied, graceful, food friendly acid and easy-drinking tannins. At the price wish I had more.

8/1/2021 - tjbsmf wrote:

Decanted ~45 minutes. Deep gold color. Yellow and green apple, lemon peel, raw almond, yeast, beeswax, apple cider vinegar, saline/brine, chalk. As others have noted, very sherry-like. Palette confirmed nose, plus some dried fruit notes: dry; medium body; high acid; med- alc. Med+ finish. Mellowed on night two but still a gorgeous, dense, unique wine.

7/18/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Clear, medium yellow color. Med+ intensity nose, primary flavors dominate: underripe pear, green apple, white blossom, lemon peel, salinity. Similar notes for palette. Dry, bright, m+ finish. Fun wine.

4/10/2021 - tjbsmf wrote:

Brambly red and black fruit; fresh herb; blood orange. Bright and light on its feet. Very very nice. (And better on day two.)

4/4/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Clear pale ruby in color. Bright and intense nose of red fruit; candied raspberry, black cherry, red plum; wet forest floor; black tea; faint notes of rose.

Light body; med- tannin; med alc. Def feels effervescent on entry as others have noted, bright acid through medium finish.

2/28/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Medium ruby in color; pretty nose of red and dark fruit, forest floor, leather, dried violets. On the palette, medium- body, medium+ acid, medium- tannin. Fruit and olive brine, spice, a bit disjointed in the mid-palette. But bright acid and lightly tannic in a long finish.

2/25/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Powerful and rich. Nose: Tropical fruit, lemon, vanilla, toasted nut, caramel. On palette, add a bit of sweet orange and spice. Medium body, medium+ acid. Long finish. Bright acidity holds it together, a really nice SB chardonnay.

2/21/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour. Very perfumed. Fantastic nose of red fruit, mint, bitter orange, smokiness/forest floor, lilac. Palette: medium body, medium+ tannin, very fine; fruit on palette is a bit darker---ripe black cherry, otherwise similar notes as nose and with a high-toned graphite background. Elegant; long finish.

2/5/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Decanted 30 minutes.

Medium ruby in color. Really pretty nose: dried flowers, forest floor, but these desiccated notes are lifted by bright red fruit, raspberry and cranberry. High toned red fruit on palette, with a touch of pepper/spice on the back end. Medium body, medium high acid. For me, this is drinking very nicely right now.

1/29/2021 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Ruby in color; nose is red fruit, fresh herb, blood orange, graphite. Medium-light body; bright acidity; underripe red fruit. Grippy finish.
Rambunctious, fun, high acid, needs food.

12/31/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Beautiful salmon-pink in color. Bright acidity; strawberry, brioche, lemon, and finishing with a lingering bitter orange. Even a bit grippy at the end. Fun to drink, a crowd pleaser.

12/18/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Decanted 30 minutes or so. Light purple in color; red and dark fruit on the nose (strawberry, red black cherry, blueberry), earth, oak, blood orange, herbs. Medium-light in body, juicy, earth, cola on palette. A touch of pepper and slightly bitter. Fine tannins, bright acidity, long finish.

12/8/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Couldn't help myself--decanted 2 hours. Deep purple; immediately a hint of vanilla then black cherry and other dark fruits; licorice, olive, pine needles. Rich; savory notes dominate. Great texture.

11/26/2020 - tjbsmf wrote:

Thanksgiving champagne. Drinking great!

11/20/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Disgorged Nov 2018. Rich gold in color. Oxidized style: red apple, caramel, apricot. Palette is red and yellow apple, dried apricot, brioche, lemon. Rich, smooth mouthfeel with cutting minerality. Bright acid keeps it sharp.

11/2/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

A bit reductive but that blew off quickly. Red cherries, potpourri. Medium body, notable, fleshy tannins, high acid. Somewhat green bitter finish. Pleasant wine.

10/28/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Ripe red cherry, violets, mint. A bit thin; bitter; mouth drying tannin. Nice weeknight wine with food.

10/27/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Bright red cherry, white pepper, and a touch of smoke. Light body, soft tannins. Easy to drink and very enjoyable.

10/16/2020 - tjbsmf Likes this wine:

Pear, walnuts, lemon rind, nice acidity. Rich, textured, a bit green, bright acid.