3/30/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

A bistro wine in the best sense of the term. Fruit centric but not flabby, pairs well with pork short ribs, porcini pasta and a duck confit. We often take home a couple glasses when dining out but this was done before the main course. Drink up and enjoy for what it is.

3/3/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

This bottle was lacking in the energy seen in prior experience. Still tasty secondary with the cab notes dominating. After some time in the glass the finish began to sharpen, I am moving this into the drink soon category.

2/10/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Fresh, bright fruit, easy drinking. These do not seem to pick up a lot of interest with age, so I would drink on the younger side.

2/5/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Popped at dinner and followed over 2 days. Rich, bright fruit, developing. Very drinkable now but should gain in complexity over a few more years. Rounded finish with good length.

2/3/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Rounded, fuller style. Not oily on the palate but not thin either. Has not developed a ton of complexity but shows good Chardonnay character. Would drink up over the next 2-3 years.

1/27/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted. At first there was a very harsh astringent note mid-palate into the finish. It was similar to the finish when tasted soon after release. Thankfully it faded after an hour plus in the decanter. Plum was the dominant flavor, not a lot of secondary notes.
Not very complex but correct in flavor, decent cab but without anything to distinguish it. Suggest continuing to hold and hope for more development

1/5/2024 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Had this bottle within a week of trying the 2016. This had much more pronounced syrah/rocks funk than the older vintage. Meduim full bodied with a classic syrah cut. Would suggest giving these 7 years post vintage to hit their sweet spot.

12/31/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

No formal notes, balanced and smooth, did not have apparent acidity in the finish. Some complexity but mostly just a straightforward, vey pleasing bubbly.

12/29/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

At 3 years this is still primary, but with an excellent earthy counter note that hits after the initial fruit impression. Good body and some length to the finish. Served admirably with a platter of cheeses and dried meats.

12/22/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

In a very nice spot presently. Good fruit entering secondary, smooth tannins. Would drink in next 2-3 years.

12/9/2023 - lockestep wrote:

Opened to make the base for a stew, from the glass it was a bit unbalanced. Fruit was fine but the acids sharp.

12/9/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Syrah is indestructible. I’m reminded of that every time I open a well-aged bottle.
This still is showing a ton of primary fruit. Candied fig/date, forward, absolutely delicious.

10/14/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Lighter bodied, smooth on entry. Rounded, medium finish. Lacking a bit in complexity but what is there is quite appealing. I would err on the side of drinking.

7/15/2023 - lockestep wrote:

Something was off in this bottle - nothing I associate with cork issues or a musty edge, but a spoiled/overripe fruit note that receded but never really left.

7/14/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Might have caught this in a dumb phase as our bottle was not consistent with the other notes on this wine. It showed heavier than described, with a dark fruit profile. Acids were in the front until about an hour in when I splash decanted which brought the fruit into the foreground. Will wait a few years on my other bottle to see if it comes around.

6/25/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Full bodied; plum and dark chocolate notes predominant into the long finish. Very nice effort providing immense pleasure at the moment.

6/3/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

This bottle showed very well, felt like peak drinking. Light and fruit-centric but in a proper relationship with the overall build. Stood up against a ribeye with a chocolate coffee rub.

3/31/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted for sediment then recorked and opened two hours later.
This was open for business on second pull, but it did continue to improve over the evening. Still plenty of secondary notes, typical of the house with the more rustic notes playing a supporting role instead of dominating.
Will continue to hold for some time.

3/26/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

This bottle showed well but might have peaked a year or two ago. Correct for type and tasty wine that just lacks a little brightness at this stage.

3/24/2023 - lockestep wrote:

10 year old was in a perfect spot. Still a bit of primary fruit, well balanced, no sharp acid left to the edges. Nicely balanced, long finish, paired with tuna poke and sushi. Nice match.

3/18/2023 - lockestep wrote:

Corked.

2/11/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Constantly surprised at how delicate these are. Medium bodied, long finish, maintained interest throughout the evening. Had the stuffing to stand up to lamb.

2/14/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Decent Sonoma Pinot, did not offer much complexity but pleasant. Lighter side of medium bodied, didn't linger on the palate.

1/7/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

May have caught this at the wrong time- showing structure but the supporting cast very subdued. Will wait a few years before trying again.

1/15/2023 - lockestep Likes this wine:

New Years Eve bottle so no formal notes. Up front acidity calls for cellar time or an appropriate food match. Showed much better when matched with steamed shrimp.

6/30/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

With fresh tile, very good match. May have been just past optimal. Purchased at release and held in a cool cellar since.

12/23/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

I have had better bottles of the '12 Pentad, which suffered this night by being paired with the 2005. The '05 showed much fuller and balanced, while the '12 had a bit more structure. Dusty tannins on the mid-length finish.

12/24/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Showing quite well at the moment, still very fruit focused, full in the mouth. Rounded, balanced, good length. Served with the 2012 Pentad, and was the superior bottle on this night.

12/24/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Still very much alive, although it appears to be past peak performance. Ready from the pull of the cork, some secondary notes still showing through. Held well over dinner. Drink up.

12/3/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Served with braised lamb shanks, as well as the 1996 Roll Ranch. Much fuller bodied than the older brother, and rounder/smoother on the palate. This is still very primary and fruit forward, but certainly in balance and should reward a long rest in the cellar.

12/3/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Served with braised lamb shanks, as well as the 2015 Roll Ranch. The '96 started off with a live nose but an astringent palate. The wine opened up within ten minutes and morphed into a classic, mostly tertiary Syrah. This was not displaying any barnyard notes - more earth than funk here. Medium to long finish.

12/10/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Nice middleweight. Some primary remains, very approachable on open and rounded out well during the meal. Held up against a basalmic-based sauce.

11/12/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Opened and decanted for fairly immediate service. The first thing notable was the nose, filling the immediate area with a deep scent of aged Cabernet. On tasting it showed as a very much alive but very tertiary wine. What you think of it depends on the style you enjoy, lovers of primary fruit will not be impressed.
I like this but do think I caught it a bit past prime. And would drink up if you hold any.

10/29/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

On open very light nose, palate of sour strawberry. With air picked up a Luden's cherry cough drop note. Lighter mouthfeel. Short finish, contrary to the Tanzer review. Over dinner it did add weight and overall was a pleasant bottle.

4/30/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

On open: this is alive. Not only alive, but bursting with raspberry fruit. Josh Reynold's note from two decades ago took this to task for being too fruit-centric, but at this stage it is beautifully balanced.
Wine held throughout dinner and after.
Glass left open overnight, gained more tertiary notes, fruit replaced with leather/mushroom but still alive. Still showed the smooth and rich mouthfeel evident on first open.

2/26/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Very pleasant but lacking in interest beyond that. Drink or hold, maybe it will pick up something going forward.

2/20/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Solid wine, tasty but not a lot of complexity. It will hold for a while, plenty of fruit and in balance. Did well with beef shanks.

2/14/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Still very much alive but on the downhill slope. Opened and the initial smells let us know it was fine. Did a decant for sediment and then served after a 45 minute hold. Strongly into tertiary territory, with a few fruit notes still peeking through. Finish medium length with a dry acidity clearing out the flavors in the back.
Based on this showing I doubt the wine ever approaches JG's ambitious 2050 end date. I'll look to drink my last bottle in the next 2-3 years.

1/30/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

To my taste ready to roll, opened with a plum note that dominated for the first half hour, then settled nicely into the background. Tannins resolved, still in balance, but would err on the side of drinking. Should hold for a few more years but given how it showed tonight why wait?
Served with lamb loin chops-nice match.

1/15/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Solid effort. Showing a bit of earthiness that matched well with a beef stew. Drink or hold.

1/23/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Lighter style CdP, appears to be fully mature but not in decline. Flavors married well with a beef and mushroom dish.

1/15/2022 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Still a tasty, fruit-centric grenache. Has not picked up any nuance with time in the cellar, but very easy to drink. Would serve with a first course or by itself.

12/29/2021 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Light in style, very straightforward. Pleasant enough everyday wine.
EDIT: picked up a cherry cola vibe after 1.5 hours open. Still in the everyday category but the extra notes and solid acidity in the finish bump it up in quality.

12/25/2021 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Good Pinot flavors, has not developed a lot of complexity but quire tasty. Served with a leg of lamb, it matched quite well.

12/26/2021 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Light golden in color, midweight on the palate. Good balance with the sweetness lingering on the finish. Not terribly complex, could still develop a bit but this appears at peak.

12/24/2021 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Drinking quite well right now, drink or hold depends on personal preference. Very secondary right now, will live on for a good while.

12/11/2021 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Still showing really well, this likely should be finished up if you still hold some. Middleweight style with simple but secondary dark fruit profile.

11/13/2021 - lockestep wrote:

Ok at best, hoping time will let it show something.

11/5/2021 - lockestep Likes this wine:

Punches well above the price point. Let it breathe for an hour or so and then serve. this might get better with a little time in the cellar, but no shame in drinking.

10/20/2021 - lockestep wrote:

Certainly ready to drink, has picked up some oxidized notes.