10/2/2021 - TampaDan wrote:

An intriguing bottle, unlike any previous Barolo. Multi-layered aromatics of Asian spices, soy/Worcestershire sauce, cedar, sweet tobacco, and dark chocolate. Dark plums/cinnamon/chocolate notes on the palate, with a long, mouth-coating finish. Brawny and muscular in the Brunate style, very unlike the silkiness of a Cannubi. After about an hour, the overall impression began to fade however. Completely mature and at the end of its peak drinkability plateau. Other bottles should be drunk soon. Fascinating wine, not terribly long-lived but rich and complex nonetheless.

3/9/2021 - TampaDan Likes this wine:

Color: Pure ruby-purple, not the slightest bit of bricking at the rim.

Nose: Layers of red fruits with amazing sweetness, along with a healthy dose of perfectly integrated vanilla-oak essence. Finishes with a small amount of liqueur-like volatility that amplifies and gives depth to the fruit.

Palate: Sweet red fruits with a slight spice note, along with a surprisingly tannic punch on the finish. Medium-length finish. Surprisingly great structure. Considering its age, an insanely well-preserved bottle that could have provided peak drinking for at least 5 more years. A near-perfect representation of both the WesMar style and the best of the legendary Olivet Lane vineyard.

11/6/2020 - TampaDan wrote:

Color: Slightly opaque garnet-ruby. No signs of browning at the rim.

Nose: A funky bitter marzipan thing dominated at first, but blew off fairly quickly. A selection of very slightly stewed red fruit notes with hints of cinnamon and ginger then became prominent. The fruit impression actually gained in purity and intensity with time, quite impressive given its age.

Palate: Lovely red fruits, cranberry and cherry along with that characteristic strawberry. Faint hints of baking spices that have probably faded somewhat with age. The depth of flavor is really quite extraordinary. And that finish?!? Sneaky long, subtly pumping out flavors in the mouth for minutes after every sip. Stylistically, I would describe this as very typically Oehlman-ish, with a touch of Balletto thrown in. Overall, considering the fact that it’s nearly 20 years old, what an extraordinary bottle it was!

7/11/2014 - TampaDan Likes this wine:

Amazingly impressive bottle, big structure with lots of tannins remaining, along with an abundance of rich anise notes on both nose and palate, leading to a relatively smooth finish. Hard to judge this vintage based on one bottle, but there still seems to be lots of life ahead for well-stored bottles. Drink now to 2022+. Had with dinner at La Terrazza, an excellent and highly recommended restaurant in the Ybor City section of Tampa.

7/4/2014 - TampaDan Likes this wine:

Had with dinner at Bern's Steak House in Tampa, less than $70.00 on their list. Amazingly vital still, with that great leathery sous bois Bordeaux nose, a hint of tannic structure remaining, and the biggest surprise of all, a healthy dose of black fruits left. Pleasant and easy-drinking, and fabulous with a great Delmonico.

1/27/2012 - TampaDan wrote:

Spectacular showing for this Brunello. Beautiful color of ruby-purple but different than the typical Bordeaux coloring. Knockout nose of fresh crushed blackberries and fresh herbs. Quite a bit of structure to the palate in its youth but still very approachable, with a nice earthy-leathery edge to it. Finishes long and smooth. One of the best Brunellos I've yet experienced, so good that I immediately ordered three more bottles. Same winemaker as Valdicava, so go figure that it would be so good!

12/24/2011 - TampaDan wrote:

Inexplicably disappointing showing for this wine; simple aromatics of red fruits lacking complexity & depth, cloyingly candied red fruit palate along with an annoying bitterness that never dissipated. This wine would have been perfect ammunition for my Burgundy snob friends who categorically dismiss any and all domestic Pinots. Easily the worst WesMar I've ever had. This must have simply been an off bottle because the other two bottles of this I've had were stellar.

12/25/2011 - TampaDan wrote:

Another tremendous showing for a Cobb Pinot. Darker ruby-red. Assorted red fruit aromatics with lots of spicy complexity & depth. Serious, brooding palate still not showing all it's got, but lovely red fruit & spice notes on display now nonetheless. Firmly tannic finish. Delicate yet powerful at the same time. Pricey but definitely worth it; consistently one of the best domestic Pinots along with Littorai.

12/11/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

A big, brawny wine that's not short on personality. The first thing of note was the intensity of the aroma, which leaped out of the bottle the instant the cork left the neck, and continued to do so as the wine was decanted. Speaking of decanting, stand it up before serving and decant very carefully, as the bottle threw an extremely large amount of fine-grained sediment. Color is black-purple with a little ruby at the rim. In the glass, the wine has a thick texture, almost like motor oil. A strong medicinal note of iodine eventually blew off, leaving behind copious amounts of black licorice, anise, fresh-cut bell peppers and a nice underpinning of earthiness. Surprisingly, the wine was lighter-bodied in mouthfeel, with an intriguing acidity that wrapped itself around the palate with a luscious tangy quality. Very Cabernet-like flavors included currants, olives, a touch of baking spice and a dash of leather. The major negative was a large amount of tannic bitterness that weighed in across a moderate finish, and dissipated only slightly with time in the decanter. A flamboyant, expressive wine that was a real treat for someone who normally doesn't drink much Aussie.

12/9/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Much more evolved than one from seven months ago, but will certainly still improve. Very dark ruby color, with no transparency to speak of. Vibrant nose with lots of exotic spice, along with underlying red raspberry fruit and earthy notes. A bit oaky and hot, but an amazingly long finish with palate-coating fruit, excellent acidity and velvety but still-gripping tannins. The wine seems to be a bit barrel-marked, as I detect definite elements of toast and char also. Nice marriage of red fruit and creamy oak vanillan though. Tough yet fascinating wine to attempt to get a handle on: at first, it seemed overripe and hot, but with time and the emergence of so many interesting secondary elements, it almost seemed to lose those negative qualities and really show its true potential. Excellent now, but promises to be that much better in 6-12 months. Hold.

12/5/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Still youthful and lively; just barely reaching drinkability actually. Beautiful dark purple color with a ruby rim. Intense aromas of herbs, stones and leather, extremely reminiscent of a Bordeaux, but with an underlying impression of dark plummy fruit that suggests California. On the palate the wines continues to convey the impression of herbs, along with a nice core of dark fruits that are really brightened up by copious acidity. This bottle would probably have continued to evolve for a couple of more years at least. I've been privileged enough to have had lots of Diamond Creek, and I simply can't ever recall a bad or even an "off" bottle. It will always be my hands-down favorite Napa Valley Cabernet.

11/17/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Even though it remains a touch too oaky and boozy, it's still a big, ripe, rich example of Zinfandel made in a full-throttle style. Nose has gained great complexity since last tasted in January, boasting loads of ripe blackberries along with nice additions of slate, briar and sandalwood spice. Big, mouth-coating palate impression with waves of blackberry fruit. Ample acidity and fine-grained tannins on a long, tasty finish. Should continue to improve for a short time if the wine manages to absorb a bit more of that oak and alcohol, or at least some of the extra oak. For me, this is what a Zinfandel is supposed to be, definitely not subtle but flamboyant, voluptuous & showy. Drink or hold a bit longer.

11/5/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

A fabulous port that's really still in its infancy. This bottle had an almost medicinal edge at first, but with air developed wonderful notes of raisins, figs, bitter chocolate & orange peel, along with a slight hint of something resembling walnuts. So perfectly balanced with great acidity that it hardly even seems like a sweet wine. Palate-coating, long and just damn delicious. I've had this wine several times, and this was by far its best showing yet. Just becoming drinkable after nearly 40 years. Always a treat!

11/4/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

More sense of class & breed than any domestic Pinot I've yet tried. Beautiful dark ruby. Intense red/black fruit aromatics (black cherry & raspberry) w/smoky, toasty & mocha barrel notes. Deep & powerful. A certain funky Burgundian quality but not mineral or barnyard. Firm & tannic w/great acidity. Lovely fruit on the midpalate & a lengthy finish with some oak to lose. Needs about six more months to be at its best, but really tough to resist it now. May merit a higher score eventually. A superb Pinot, expensive but worth it.

10/29/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Completely saturated cork which crumbled into dust upon removal. Totally oxidized and dead wine that reeked of sour milk and horrendously overcooked fruit. What a tragedy, since the wine was so acclaimed in its youth, to have all that promise lost from poor corks. It had to happen to one of his (supposedly) best wines ever. Damn shame.

10/24/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Fantastic showing for this wine. Gorgeous aromas of ripe plums, anise, exotic spices & damp earth. Bright & lively palate with great acidity. Very long finish with lots more fruit. Delicious wine, sleek, racy & refined all at once. Peak drinking now.

10/15/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Dark, rich wine with boatloads of flavor intensity. Definitely seems riper and more extracted than other WesMars, but it is still a highly-nuanced Pinot Noir. Dark ruby color. Powerful red fruit nose with nice spice elements of cinammon & sandalwood, raisin, bitter chocolate & a little celery root. Aromas translate almost literally to the palate, along with that long, coating WesMar finish. Even better in 3-6 months, although it's great right now. Drink or hold.

8/29/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

This wine seemed more like a typical Napa Cabernet and less like a Chappellet, mostly just a fruit impression without a lot of extra complexity. Missing were the Bordeaux-like minerality that these wines usually have. Very dark ruby-purple with almost no hints of aging. Very big Cab nose with abundant black fruits, notably currants and blackberries, along with faint hints of cedar and tobacco. Still has considerable acidity and big tannins, suggesting a long additional life ahead. Good, just not as interesting as past examples of this wine. Could still improve with age; drink or hold.

8/24/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

A little bit extracted & masculine for my taste, but still an impressive wine. Medium-dark ruby-purple color. Lots of very ripe red and black fruits on the nose, notably plums, along with lesser notes of earth and baking spice. Almost a more expressive palate, with lip-smacking acidity complementing a host of fruit flavors, all leading to a very long finish with lots more fruit. Slightly oaky and hot right now, but those qualities should fade with more time. Nice now, but perhaps a bit better integrated in a few months, with a touch more complexity. Not really my style, but that certainly doesn't mean it's not a good wine, far from it.

8/15/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Still a bit young but highly promising; this is definitely the best RC yet for me. Especially pretty medium-ruby color. Very expressive nose of strawberry jam mostly, with only slight hints of minerality and baking spices at present. More strawberry jam on the palate plus well-integrated tannins & acid. Nice long fruity finish with a healthy dollop of oak still waiting to blend in. With six more months or so to absorb that oak this should be truly outstanding. Very impressive!

8/4/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

My first Morning Dew Ranch and what a winner it was; even better than when tasted at the tasting room in March. Really pretty color: medium ruby w/pink-purple overtones, similar to WesMar. Complex & intense nose w/flowers, spices, raspberry-cherry fruit, even some chocolate notes with time. Such a delicious nose that I was hesitant to taste it, figuring it couldn't possibly taste that good too. At first the wine seemed to show a deceptively thin & light mouthfeel, followed by a smooth and velvety midpalate with a nice impression of cranberry-raspberry fruit. A bit of drying tannins and excellent acidity served to amplify a very long finish of more fruit and spice notes, even a slight hint of sweet raisins which Woodenhead seems to be known for. Excellent now, but even better in six months.

8/1/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

This wine has closed down completely & gone into hiding since tasted last year; remaining bottles still need lots of time. Medium-dark purple. Overripe black fruit nose was almost mistakable for something from the New World, very atypical normally but representative of that exceedingly hot vintage. Nice earthiness & minerality but very reserved otherwise; a bit of olive & licorice finally emerged with more time in the decanter. Very tannic palate with some bitterness on the somewhat short finish. This wine was most impressive last year and just seems to be hibernating right now. I'd give my last one probably 2-3 more years based on this one. 87 points now, but has the potential to be several points higher in the future.

7/30/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Good but not quite showing its best just yet. Light-medium ruby color. Nice intense red fruit nose, strawberry-raspberry with a hint of cranberry, along with a distinct bit of cherry cola. Otherwise, only faint hints of earth & spice made an appearance. Tannic & acidic palate that's just a touch watery in the middle, but still manages to finish with decent length and a bit of unresolved oak. It seems that it will definitely improve with time, but I don't know about that hollow midpalate. Try again in 2010.

7/11/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Another strong showing for my favorite new Pinot tried so far this year. Medium-dark ruby. Exceptionally complex nose featuring earthy Burgundian funk, lots of licorice-anise, raspberry framboise, ripe black cherries, violets, celery root, and that trademark white stone fruit thing, in the form of a dash of apricot. Dark fruit palate with good acidity & slightly drying tannins. Should still continue to improve for 6 to 12 months and gain extra depth and interest on the palate. Again outstanding!

6/26/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Very good but not quite as expressive as a bottle tasted at Woodenhead's tasting room back in March. Medium-dark garnet color. Subtle aromatics w/red fruits, earthy funk, floral notes, minerals, & baking spices. Raisins were notable on palate (nice raisin flavor, not raisins as in overripe), along with nice raspberry fruit. Well-integrated tannins and acidity, along with a medium-length finish. Outstanding raw materials, but probably a good idea to lay off this one until sometime in 2010. Opening several hours in advance if serving now will help.

6/23/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Another winner from this outstanding producer. Probably the least evolved of the 3 Anthill Farms Pinots I've tried so far. Nice ruby color. Characteristically intense aromas of red fruits, minerals and a slight floral note. Quite a Burgundian impression actually, with the pronounced minerality and a relative austerity. Very faint spice notes emerge with a bit of air time. Impressively well-integrated palate with a very long finish echoing the red fruit. Not quite the equal of the Comptche Ridge or Tina Marie in terms of complexity and interest, but this wine should continue to evolve and improve for at least another year, eventually meriting a higher score.

6/20/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

I had this at a dinner with several other great wines, so only limited tasting notes were possible. Beautiful dark purple Merlot color. Interesting nose w/distinct tropical fruit elements especially coconut, lush black fruits, olives, smoke, and a bit of a Cabernet Franc herbaceous quality. Well-integrated palate; seems like it's nearly complete in its evolution, but may still benefit from additional bottle aging. I can get the 1999 (which is supposedly better) for only $40US and I'm definitely going to grab some.

6/13/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Nice showing for this one: Beautiful translucent light-to-medium ruby color. Knockout aromatics, boasting an intense & powerful array of classic Russian River Valley elements: cherry cola, strawberry, cranberry & lots of baking spices especially brown sugar. Delicious palate-coating red fruits & an endless finish, with the wine persisting in the mouth for minutes after the last sip. This is only my second Anthill Farms Pinot, but these wines seem to have a characteristic extra level of power and intensity without any kind of sense of "over-" anything (as in ripeness, extraction, etc.) It's so good now, it seems like a shame to wait any longer on this one. Really exceptional stuff.

6/8/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

This really turned out to be a fun and interesting bottle of wine, consumed over a three-day period. Nice ruby-purplish color with no obvious signs of aging. Still very complex aromatically, with earthy tar, brown sugary baking spices, cedary cigar box, sage, currants and olives. Initially, the promise of the nose was dashed on the palate, which was greatly marred by an extreme tannic bitterness. In spite of this, hints of dark fruits and a very Bordeaux-like minerality lurked beneath. I recorked the bottle and put it back in the fridge, not expecting much. Two days later, the palate bitterness had all but completely faded, no longer obstructing the excellent black fruit flavors and that nice streak of minerality. Excellent balance and mouthfeel with a medium-length finish. Somewhat reminiscent of a mature St.-Emilion to me. The wine is certainly mature, but should still have several years of drinking life left if stored well.

6/6/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Not quite ready for prime time just yet, but nevertheless an extremely interesting and enjoyable bottle of Pinot. Medium to medium-dark ruby. Initial aromatics dominated by a very strong spice impression of cardamon and cinnamon, along with a carmelized sugar-creme brulee topping thing. Almost a meaty quality to the nose as well. With time, a nice blend of red fruits rose to the surface, notably a framboise element, along with a very faint floral impression. A bit too oaky on the palate, but not at all out of balance. Long finish that highlights the fruit nicely. A touch hot but not dramatically so. Good now, but better in six months or so, when the palate should be better balanced and more expressive.

5/27/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Medium-dark ruby. Very nice fruit impression (almost all strawberry jam) but lacking a little complexity; not much else happening besides the fruit. Kind of surprising that it hasn't improved to speak of in 10 months since the last one. After several hours open, it began to exhibit a touch more aromatic complexity, but nothing to write home about. Certainly not bad, just not as interesting compared to previous bottles that, if anything, should have been less interesting than this one.

5/15/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Pleasant, yet ultimately simple and relatively uninteresting. Dark ruby color. Dijon clone aromatics of dark fruits, a little bit of oak accents, but very little else. Only with several hours decanter time did additional elements of anise and cinnamon reluctantly emerge. Seems a bit hot and overextracted, with substantial tannic bitterness marring the finish. I suppose it may still improve slightly, but as far as personal preference goes, it's just not quite my style...taste and learn I suppose.

5/12/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

This one was sort of in between the previous two in terms of evolution. Dark color, ruby with some purple also. Much riper style than, say, Phillips Hill, but definitely no suggestion of being at all over-ripe. Nose was a little reserved at first, mostly Dijon clone black fruits and toasty oak, but with time blossomed with great complexity. Lots of Asian spices (ginger, sandalwood, cardamon), a very pronounced anise note, that interesting white stone fruit element that seems to be a characteristic of this vineyard, and finally sweet red fruit, specifically strawberry jam. A little heat detracted, but only slightly. Nice long fruity finish with a hint of raisin. Well-stored bottles should continue to evolve and improve for at least another year.

5/9/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Very nice showing for this bottle. Light to medium-ruby color. Complex nose offered a red fruit medley, intriguing floral and spice notes (violets and sage, respectively), and more subtle hints of earth, baking spice, and chocolate. Nice bright acidity served to elevate the cherry and strawberry flavors, ending with a suggestion of green tea on the medium-length finish. It's very hard to go wrong with anything from this great little winery.

5/6/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Greatest showing yet for the RRV. Medium ruby color. Supremely complex nose changed minute to minute, with classic appellation notes of strawberry jam & cinammon, creamy vanillan oak, mint, maple syrup, white stone fruits, and a hint of raisins. Mainly red fruits on the palate with those nice WesMar oak accents. Great depth & interest all the way around. Outstanding!

5/3/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Medium ruby color. Still a little shy, but eventually yielding aromatics of multiple red fruits, along with faint hints of earth, minerals, baking spices and a bit of heat. Nice red fruit palate accented deftly by creamy oak vanilla, a la WesMar. Light to medium-bodied. Velvety yet substantial tannins, with solid but not overdone acidity. Raisiny note adds interest to the medium-length finish. More evolved than a previous bottle, but still has a ways to go to reach its peak. Hold another 6 months to a year.

5/1/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Much younger and more unevolved than a previous bottle. Medium-dark ruby. Primarily a black fruit & anise profile aromatically & on palate. Interesting note of crushed tomatoes emerged later, along with light herbal notes and spice hints. Substantial dollop of oak on the finish. Still quite tannic, with good mouthfeel from the substantial acidity. If I'd tried this one first I'd have held off on another for awhile.

4/30/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Not quite so oaky, but definitely as unyielding as a previous bottle; still coming across as tight & young. Dark ruby color. Only with considerable time did extremely reticent aromas of red cherries, framboise, celery root, chocolate and pipe tobacco emerge, along with a dash of heat. Equally reluctant palate, with only hints of fruit & spice. Despite the fact that the mouthfeel was a little thin, the wine still packed an extremely long finish. Good acidity & still quite tannic as well. This wine definitely reflects the personality of the other 2006 North Coast Pinots I've tried, that being lean and in need of considerable additional bottle aging, albeit with unmistakable potential for interesting complexity. May definitely merit a higher score in a year or so.

4/28/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Best showing yet for one of the 2006 appellation wines. Dark ruby color. Once again, very Burgundian traits aromatically, earth and minerality, along with red fruits (notably cranberry) and a dash of heat. With time, the nose really expanded in complexity, producing rich notes of cinnamon and chocolate. Substantial tannins and acid on the palate, which blossomed into a nice expression of the WesMar house style, luscious strawberry and cherry fruits complemented by a creamy oak impression that never comes across as overdone or over-oaked. The longer the bottle was open, the better it got. This seems to confirm that the 2006s have simply needed a bit longer to reach fully expressive drinkability. This is drinking excellently now, and should hold for 3-4 years with good storage.

4/18/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Still holding up great after a year in storage. Light salmon pink color; lively strawberry and melon flavors amplified by some very lively acidity. As with the previous bottle, the wine gained extra depth and interest with time open. Unlike the previous bottle last year, this one did not give an impression of being too hot. An excellent rose', bright and refreshing with a good well of flavor.

4/16/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Very dark ruby color. A very interesting & complex aromatic profile which included first black and then candied red fruits, Asian/baking spices like ginger & cinnamon, and finally more subtle barrel notes of mocha. As previously, very little fruit on the palate to speak of, with the only real flavor note to speak of being a bit of oak. If a little of that fruit could complete the journey to the palate, this would be an exceptional wine. More time needed? It would appear so; the wine seems to have much better days ahead.

4/10/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

An intriguing wine, with a couple of notable flaws keeping it from being an excellent wine, at least perhaps at this stage in its evolution. Very dark ruby/purple color. An extremely interesting and complex nose combined an enticing mix of both red and black fruits with chocolate and spice notes and also floral elements. Unfortunately, the broad and rich palate was marred by a harsh and unpleasant tannic bitterness that gave the impression of something extracted that probably shouldn't have been (seed tannins perhaps? maybe stems?) Further obscuring that impressive palate richness was a strong sensation of too much alcohol. A wine that came very close to being great, and who knows, maybe things will come into balance with more time and it won't seem quite so bitter and hot. One can only hope, especially with two more bottles in the cellar.

4/8/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Considerably more interesting than another recent bottle, with nicely evolving elements of complexity gracing both aromatics and palate. Black cherry fruit was complemented by numerous interesting spices of the Asian variety on the interesting nose. The palate featured a nice melding of red fruit and (lots of) creamy oak, & an intense coffee note on the finish. It seems that, in general, the '06 Pinots are taking their collective time in reaching drinkability, but when they do, the results tend to be more impressive than may have originally been forecast. (Publications such as the Wine Spectator come to mind here.) Just one Pinot junkie's opinion...

4/2/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Enjoyable but not overwhelming in quality, with a totally-saturated cork that narrowed greatly as it approached the opening. Based on what I've read about the corks in this wine, I think I got lucky and drank it just in time. Purple-ruby color with very little suggestion of age at the rim. Meaty tempranillo notes on the nose initially, with olives, cinnamon, slate & leather weighing in later. With a bit more time, even some violet-like floral notes emerged. Not much of that nice plum and dark berry fruit left for the palate, but a good lively mouthfeel, featuring more olive notes & a dose of creamy American oak on the medium-long finish. This wine was definitely at the far edge of its plateau of prime drinkability. Based on that, I would highly recommend drinking this now rather than later (and hope that you got a decent cork).

4/4/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Purchased directly from Vern at the tasting room/winery of Toulouse Vineyards, after spending an absurdly beautiful Friday afternoon tasting and conversing with Vern, Rita and the other visitors. Superb showing for this bottle despite having to travel in my checked bag back from SF. Medium-dark ruby color. Wonderfully complex aromatics of black cherry/raspberry fruit and Asian spices with a prominent sandalwood note. Savory red fruits coat the palate, with a great balance of tannin and acidity, and an unexpected white stone fruit note on the long finish. The only negative (and the only reason it didn't get a 93) was the fact that the wine was a little hot, especially aromatically with too much alcoholic volatility. As I drank it, I said, "Damn, I wish I had more!" That's the best possible tribute to a wine in my book!

3/29/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Purchased this at the Toulouse tasting room after a marvelously enjoyable and laid-back afternoon of tasting and talking with Vern and the other patrons. Light peach-like color, almost copper. Very floral nose with pronounced notes of succulent ripe melons and extremely prominent mineral notes. Vern said it is made in an off-dry style, but the considerable lip-smacking acidity serves to perfectly balance the wine on the palate. A perfect warm-weather sipper, but excellent with the right foods as well. The Gewurztraminer and the Riesling were equally good. "Perfect" wines on a "perfect" spring day in the Anderson Valley, a place where time slows down just a little bit as it meanders through on its journey.

3/26/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Tasted at Woodenhead's beautiful new (well, relatively new) tasting room outside Santa Rosa. Check out that view of the Valley from right off their porch...but I digress. I tasted each of the 2006s and this one was by far the most expressive and enticing of the current offerings. Very complex nose featuring lots of subtle floral elements, and a delicious red fruit palate with excellent acidity. There's definitely not a bad wine in the bunch of 2006s, but the Buena Tierra is the recommendation for current drinking.

3/21/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Definitely didn't round into what I had hoped after a year of bottle aging. It seems that I scored the one from last year a few points too high. Medium-dark ruby color. Promising aromatically, with a bit of interesting spice notes which included cinammon and sassafras, but a thin, dilute and ultimately hollow palate impression, with only modest fruit and a bit of slate-like minerality. Perhaps this reflects the fact that the estate vines which provided some of the wine for the blend are still a bit too young. Overall, pleasant but simple and one-dimensional; I am in complete agreement with many of the other notes from this great little wine community of ours. The 2007 vintage should really tell the tale for this winery: if their '07s are unimpressive, they'll really need to rethink what they're doing, in such a good vintage and with all the good competition out there.

2/24/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

Very similar to the previous bottle, but a good bit more tannic and acidic than the previous one. Light transparent ruby with a pronounced initial earthy streak that does recall Burgundy. Savory strawberry notes complemented by creamy oak.

2/13/2009 - TampaDan wrote:

A unique & funky terroir wine, with lots of interesting aromatic & flavor elements (soy, pine balsam, raisins, apricots, orange peel, green tea, black currants, even apricots), several of which seem to be distinct to this appellation. (That based on tastings of the '06 Woodenhead Humboldt County.) Almost Cabernet-like ruby-purple color. A touch riper & more extracted than previous Pinots from this producer, but not out of balance, at least for the long term. Excellent refreshing acidity & velvety tannins. Very oaky & needs time in the short term though. Much better in six months or so once the oak has integrated better. Interesting and distinctive, a real terroir wine.