1/8/2011 - matthen wrote:

Very nice wine that borders on simple. The flavors of currant, cherry and berry are very nice and the tannins are well integrated. I don't think this has enough to cellar more than a couple years.

12/4/2010 - matthen wrote:

This is well integrated, but has become somewhat simple. Nice cherry and berries with a little mocha and currant. Let breathe for 15 minutes. Little to gain. This is fading. Drink now.

11/22/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very well integrated structure with some fading fruit. Plum, cassis, earth and currant are still present and won't last very much longer. Drink now.

11/13/2010 - matthen wrote:

Drinking very well, but rather thin- looks to be a sign of the vintage. Flavors of blackberry, cherry, cassis and black currant.

11/10/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very young at this point. Aromas of cedar, vanilla and Cherry. Berries, oak, and red fruits are frame by well structured tannins bwill revisit tomorrow and let breathe.

10/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very well integrated with aromas of floral, cigar box and earth. The flavors of cherry, olive, berry and plum have soft tannins. This has aged well and has very little to be gained by holding.

9/26/2010 - matthen wrote:

Dark cherry, raspberry, strawberry and asian spices are followed by flavors of cherry, mineral and spice. This takes about 30 minutes to open up at this point. I hope that it gets better with age because it is a bit underwhelming now.

7/28/2010 - matthen wrote:

Ripe and concentrated, but well balanced. Unctous comes to mind. Pear, vanilla, hazelnut, citrus, and lemon are very nice and the flavors are simply delicious!

7/28/2010 - matthen wrote:

Drinking very well now, but has enough structure to develop for a couple more years. Aromas of cherry, berry, and tobacco are followed by flavors of caramel, cola, and dark fruits.

6/30/2010 - matthen wrote:

Decanted one hour. The tannins are well integrated and the flavors of blueberry and cherry have good purity and are displayed nicely. This could round out nicely over the next three to five years.

6/30/2010 - matthen wrote:

Decanted for several hours. This is a fruit bomb and has some elegance to go with it. Aromas of meat, coffee, earth and dark fruits. Flavors of blueberry, plum and spice are rich and concentrated. Great Wine!

6/29/2010 - matthen wrote:

Wonderful aromas of berry, cherry and earth. The flavors of raspberry and cherry follow what I expect from a ME RRV bottling. This usually needs a couple years of bottle age and this is no exception. It will be better in years to come.

6/28/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very refreshing with pear, nectarine, fig, melon and and a yeasty/ dough flavor. The acidity is present, but not overwhelming. Enjoy with sea scallops or on a warm summer day.

6/25/2010 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of berry, vanilla and currant are followed by flavors of cherry, berry and chocolate. The finish is structured yet approachable. A well made wine and always a qpr.

6/23/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very nice. Aromas of berry, currant, spice and dark fruits. The flavors repeat the aromas and the finish is well structured yet integrated to provide enjoyable drinking now.

6/13/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very nice aromas and flavors of cherry, berry, cola and spice. The finish is vibrant and the fruit has good purity.

6/5/2010 - matthen wrote:

Dark purple color with aromas and flavors of mint, earth, blackberry, licorice, tar and pepper. The tannins are well integrated and this still has enough fruit and structure to last 5 to 7 years.

5/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very nice aromas of earth, berry and spice. The flavors are good, but lack the purity of previous vintages and the creamy texture. Overall, well done, but not exceptional.

5/15/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very good purity of fruit and well concentrated. The tannins appear to be well integrated even though this is much too young. It will benefit from another 3 to 5 years in the bottle. Decant if drinking now.

5/8/2010 - matthen wrote:

This has aged well and the tannins have integrated leaving a rich and supple wine. Flavors of coffee, cherry, spice and currant. The fruit has a couple years left, but this is drinking well now.

5/3/2010 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of coffee, herb and anise. Flavors of dark fruits, herb and currant are rich and concentrated. This has developed very well, but has 3 to 5 more years left to go. Displays wonderful Rutherford purity of fruit.

5/2/2010 - matthen wrote:

Golden and cloudy in the glass. The tropical flavors of citrus, lemon-lime are followed by pear, fig and apple. The flavors are concentrated yet remain elegant.

4/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

A very nice wine that balances purity with being over extracted. Ripe and fleshy with raspberry, cherry and strawberry. The finish is soft and well defined with soft tannins.

4/16/2010 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of earth, strawberry and plum with flavors of cherry, plum and light red fruits. The wine is vibrant and has a nice nose. A good wine, but lacks complexity.

4/3/2010 - matthen wrote:

Very rich and concentrated. It opened up with 30 min in the glass. Aromas of chocolate, cocoa,sage, spice and berry flow with flavors of currant, berry and spice. The tannins are well integrated and the finish is very good. This should peak in a couple years.

4/2/2010 - matthen wrote:

Light and fragrant with cherry, earth and strawberry. Nice and refreshing, but not spectacular.

3/30/2010 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of forest floor, earth,cocoa and cherry. Flavors of cherry, strawberry and spice. This is nicely done and the tannins are well integrated and the finish is restrained, but good.

3/28/2010 - matthen wrote:

A earth, oak smell after opening blow off with 30 minutes in the glass. Fresh and well integrated, but lighter than I had anticipated. Aromas of meat, red fruits, earth and spice were followed by flavors of red fruits, berry and white pepper. Nice, but not sure it is a W/S top ten.

3/28/2010 - matthen wrote:

Wonderful aromas of cedar, vanilla, cigar box and dark fruits are followed by flavors of cherry and currant. The tannins are well integrated at this point and the finish repeats the flavor profile very nicely. This is drinking really well right now.

3/23/2010 - matthen wrote:

See previous note. This has evolved really well and is probably in peak window right now. Wonderful nose of forest floor, cola, cherry and dark fruits. The flavors of cola, cherry, strawberry and chocolate are well integrated with a very nice finish.

3/20/2010 - matthen wrote:

This has developed well since the last tasting note. The wine is drinking well and the fruit is still present with some secondary flavors beginning to emerge.

3/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

wonderful flavors and aromas of classic Cab- currant, berry and cherry. Well done and easy to drink now.

3/13/2010 - matthen wrote:

A bid, deep and concentrated Pinot that is just starting to come into its own. Aromas of cola, rose and sassafrass are followed by flavors of cherry, plum and cola. This takes a while to open up, but is worth it. A big Pinot that balances the alcohol and flavor profile. Good representation of Gary's vineyard.

3/13/2010 - matthen wrote:

Loads of vanilla and oak dominate the aromas. I decanted this for an hour to get it to open up. It got better as it was open for the rest of the night. The wine has good structure and good intensity of fruit- currant, blackberry and cherry. Some of the Lewis Cab's are very creamy in their youth and this wine does not dissapoint. In my experience the creaminess goes away after 5 years. So, if you like that- drink through 2011.

3/11/2010 - matthen wrote:

Tightly wound with very light flavors of cherry, spice and currant. This wine is still tight and chewy, but may open up over the next couple years, however I am not sure there is enough fruit to enjoy.

3/11/2010 - matthen wrote:

See previous note. This has improved with some bottle age, but should be consumed in the next three years. The creamy flavors of pear, citrus and vanilla flow with a well integrated flavor profile that hides the oak well. Very nice.

3/5/2010 - matthen wrote:

See previous note. This has settled down and still has plenty of life to it. I still believe that it is over extracted and a little over the top. I really like the purity of fruit in Kosta Browne Pinot's, but this is a bit much for me. The 04 and 07 are much better from RR bottlings.

3/5/2010 - matthen wrote:

Wonderful aromas of dark fruits and oak are followed by a finish that is well integrated and keeps the flavor profile of dark fruits, vanilla, and chocolate. Very nice. I love VA PS- it is the only PS that I buy. Best after about 7 to 9 years. This still has a lot left and will age another 5 years plus.

2/20/2010 - matthen wrote:

Well integrated fruit and softened tannins. Flavors of berry, kirsch, pomegranite, dark fruits and currant. The fruit has very good concentration and has developed very nicely. Drink over next two to three years.

2/14/2010 - matthen wrote:

Wonderful aromas and flavors of mocha, currant, cherry and earth. I am not sure what structure this had earlier, but the tannins are well integrated and the wine is fantastic. Best VA Cab that I have enjoyed.

2/14/2010 - matthen wrote:

This has developed nicely (see previous notes). Some of the vibrancy and minerality have softened, but the flavors of lemon, pear and honey make this refreshing.

2/6/2010 - matthen wrote:

The aromas of coffee, cedar, oak and dark fruits are followed by currant, cherry and berry. The flavor profile is very nice and the tannins are well integrated. This should develop over the next couple years and has the structure to support it. Yet, it is enjoyable now and if decanted an hour is a real pleasure.

1/23/2010 - matthen wrote:

Nice aromas of currant, berries, tobacco and vanilla. The flavors of currant, cherry and sage are displayed very nicely and the finish is nice and well integrated.

1/22/2010 - matthen wrote:

Great purity of fruit. Aromas of mineral, cola, spice and light fruits. The flavors of boysenberry, candy, raspberry and cherry are rich and concentrated while in great balance. Wait a couple years to try this one again.

1/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

The concentration of fruit and the balance are superb here. It is like a desert in a bottle. Cherry pie, spice, plum and berries. Absolutely fantastic.

1/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of tobacco, cedar and cherry are followed by flavors of mocha, spice, currant and raspberry. The tannins are well integrated and the wine has enough stuffing to further develop for 5 to 7 years. Very nice and enjoyable to drink now.

1/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of cherry, dark fruits and vanilla are followed by flavors of blackberry, spice, currant and cherry. The tannins are well integrated and the finish is incredible while still displaying enough structure to continue aging. Wonderful.

1/17/2010 - matthen wrote:

This is a complex wine, but one that is already at the best point of consumption. Aromas and flavors of melon, marmalade, orange peel, spice, apple and pear. The oak is creamy and a little bit over the top.

12/18/2009 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of earth, floral and cherry are followed by flavors of raspberry, cherry and spice. The flavors are light and the tannins are fine grained. Nice, but not spectacular.

12/11/2009 - matthen wrote:

Aromas of currant, cassis and berry are followed by flavors of currant, cherry and dark fruits. The finish is lasting and the tannins are well integrated. I opened and let sit for 30 minutes. This could age a couple years, but is really good young.