11/24/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Lovely - rich port with a soft texture, solid fruit and a smooth finish. Consumed with family and a good time was enjoyed by all (as it should be) as this was a perfect ending to a wonderful meal with dinner wines from Tuscany.

9/28/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

nice dark purple color - clear. Aroma shows light cherry, with blackberry highlights. Wine is light, but full of cherry in the mouth. Medium dry with a pleasant finish that lingers (wish it lingered a bit longer). This is an easy wine to enjoy on its own.

9/26/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Color is an appealing purple, slightly brown, although a tad cloudy. Aroma boasts fig, plum and cherry - quite full. The cherry predominates in the mouth with lovely earth tones, amber and mushroom. Finish is medium with a light feel, with lingering cherry. Overall, this was a "smooth" and beautiful Bordeaux, light in texture and very enjoyable though lacking the complexity of a "great" Bordeaux experience.

9/23/2011 - Robbinson Likes this wine:

Color is a blend of purple and brown. Aroma is blackberry, mushroom - an earthly scent mixed with light fruit (remanicent of Bordeaux which was pleasant but surprising). In the mouth this wine is just "lovely" - the fruit blending beautifully between blackberry and cherry with just a hint of amber. Texture is medium dry with a medium finish with no after bite, just a lingering memory of fruit.

9/22/2011 - Robbinson Likes this wine:

Very dark purple color - texture is thick. Aroma is bold dark berry with a hint of vanilla. Flavor add raspberry, but the predominant fruit is blackberry with a tad of pepper. Wine is medium dry with a surprising long and pleasant finish.

9/22/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

This wine was flat and a tad bitter. Other bottles were much better - perhaps just a bad one in the lot.

9/19/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Deep dark cherry color. Big peppery nose with blackberry, cassis, and raspberry notes. Luscious in the mouth, the fruit moving forward with different layers unveiling themselves beautifully. Texture is smooth and just enough bite to give this wine character without bitterness. A medium to long finish. Just sensational - I wish I had bought a case of this for my cellar years ago. One of the best Shiraz experiences I have had in a couple of years.

9/18/2011 - Robbinson Likes this wine:

Red Cherry color - can "almost" see through it. Nose is relatively quiet, with predominantly cherry notes. Wine is bolder in the mouth with red/black cherry blending nicely. Texture is smooth an relatively refined for this young wine. This lacks the complexity of many great california cabernets but this is a stand out, I think, in its price point. Medium finish with no after bite.

9/17/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Color is medium purple and slightly cloudy/muddy. Aroma was promising, hints of vanilla, amber and light cherry. The wine was disappointing, yet interesting, in the mouth. Amber, mushroom and trufa are predominant with sour cherry notes (light). Texture is dry and slightly bitter. The wine was decanted and did open and soften over time but just didn't measure up compared to other wines I have enjoyed from this producer.

9/17/2011 - Robbinson Likes this wine:

Dark purple color - sharp. Nose is cherry and cassias, sweet aroma with a hint of fig. Texture is luscious, with cherry and blackberry - it is not as sweet in the mouth as the aroma suggested it might be. The wine is well balanced, with a medium finish with lingering fruit and no after bite. Medium dry. This wine went beautifully with dinner and after dinner cheese and would be a nice experience on its own as well.

9/16/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

The last of my case and the best tasting experience of the case- vibrant fruit with many layers of dark berry, cherry and hints of vanilla. This wine aged beautifully and showed its real character in 2011. Soft texture, long finish with lingering fruit and no after bite. The type of wine that leaves you looking for another drop. If I could fill my cellar with this wine, I would gladly do so.

9/14/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Color is deep, dark and inviting. Nose is light berry, softer than expected from the look of the wine. Wine is bigger in the mouth - blackberry, cherry, nicely blended but a tad dry- not overwhelming with a smooth texture. Medium finish with a slight tart after bite, but no sign of bitterness - this would likely soften over time.

9/13/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Color is dark garnet with medium legs. Aroma is distinctly blackberry with hints of blueberry. Tasting reveals some vanilla tones underneath mostly blackberry - the wine is tad sharp/hot (slight sensation of cool/menthol). Light body with a medium/short finish. I was drinking this naked, but feel it would show better with cheese or food.

9/9/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

The wine is deep purple with medium legs.
The aroma is predominantly earthy with mushroom tunes and a hint of red currant. In the mouth, the red currant promise, while noticeable, is dominated by prune/fig overtones and hints of mineral- perhaps a sign that this wine has been aged past its prime, yet it is still pleasant and interesting. The body is Light/Medium and the wine is textured round with a medium finish. An interesting experience, but I left wishing I had opened this several years ago.

9/8/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

I had a case of this wine and I have been drinking it through the years - only a couple of bottles left and tonight was the most pleasurable experience I recall with this wine. After decanting and letting this breath for 2 hours, color is still vibrant and inviting, nose is big fruit (surprising). On tasting, the expectation from the nose was not disappointed, with this wine serving up an interesting array of cherry, dark berry and just the right amount of punch. The finish is smooth and left me looking for another taste.

9/7/2011 - Robbinson Likes this wine:

Aroma is subtle, but inviting with dark cherry and chocolate notes. It is pleasant, albeit dry in the mouth with the fruit not quite delivering the promise of the aroma, but it is well rounded and enjoyable. I let this wine sit after aeration for a while - it softened a little over time.

9/5/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Decanted this - appearance was light/thin during decanting, but looks fuller and inviting in the glass. Nose is very light and not very revealing with only hints of fruit. Fruit is more evident in tasting, yet light. Wine is smooth with no rough spots and is "pleasant" but not terribly interesting. Finish is modest - not much front here, but no hint of sharpness or bitterness either. Overall - an enjoyable casual experience, but not particularly memorable.

9/4/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Color is nice, dark and inviting, but nose has sour notes. There a blackberry and cherry highlights, but its sharp and a tad bitter. I know this wine has received some strong reviews, perhaps it would soften up if decanted and left to air for a few hours.

9/4/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

I was delighted to discover this hidden bottle in my cellar while re-inventorying my cellar with cellar tracker. This was a surpass star at its price point back in 2002-2003 at its release. Color is deep, dark purple. Aroma is luscious blackberry. This bottle is a bit more tart than I recall from years ago, though it has a full finish and a satisfactory amount of fruit - albeit rough around the edges.

9/3/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Deep black/cherry color - still showing structure. Nose is a little "port like" with sweet berry/plum overtones. Wine is full, if not a tad heavy - but enjoyable, although it lacks complexity and has a relatively short finish.

9/2/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Nose is quiet with only light fruit discernible. Color is a beautiful dark black cherry red. Bursts with soft black cherry and blackberry in the mouth. A tad dry and austere as Nebbiolo often is. Overall, a nice experience that complimented the grilled fare of the evening.

9/2/2011 - Robbinson wrote:

Nose is pear with a hint of apricot - very full aroma (smells delicious). Color is pale light yellow translucent . Flavor in the mouth is underwhelming compared to the gorgeous aroma - but its soft and not tart.

7/13/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Deep cherry color and highlights - not much earth, but nice fruit - round - medium finish. Enjoyable, with good balance - but not very dynamic or particularly interesting.

2/24/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Nice deep purple color. Smooth and balanced. Rich fruit with moderate finsih. A wonderful classic Zinfandel.

9/1/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Deep, dark color with big nose. Texture is thick with strong blackberry notes, though not overpowering - a smooth finish of moderate length - medium dry. This is a very upfront and straight forward shiraz, without the pepper and spice often found in this variety - not a criticism, but a noticeable deviation from the more common shiraz experience. Easy drinking with cheese or a good meal, a tad stoic on its own.

12/19/2003 - Robbinson wrote:

Nice dark berry flavor - a slight after taste which mellowed with airataion - the wine is a little young

2/29/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Nice aroma with subtle and soft earth tones - soft in the mouth - pleasant - round and good balance. Enjoyable pinot on the light side - medium finish

3/27/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Light purple color, subtle berry aroma, modest body, but not too thin - nice fuit overtones, medium finish. A subtle, but delicious Brunello.

11/13/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Full spicey nose with dark berry aromas - full body, smokey with blackberry/plum and woody overtones - Multidimensional. Very unusual and satisfying. A terrific wine

1/27/2004 - Robbinson wrote:

Light color - quiet aroma - smooth, but thin - soft fruit - pleasant but not full and lacks the earthy quality of burgundy and depth of finer US pinot noir