2/10/2016 - jsokel wrote:

My bottle did not live up to the other ratings here. It was simple and too fruity. Not very complex at well.

2/4/2016 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Has a very odd, smokey flavor, but I liked it. Very unique.

1/6/2016 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Love this wine. Tastes great right out of the bottle, but gets better with a little air.

1/5/2016 - jsokel wrote:

Good wine, but clearly a blending wine and doesn't hold its own all that well. Or maybe just needs a little more time in the cellar.

5/29/2011 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Very rich, big and powerful. Loved it, another great Orin Swift.

11/29/2010 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Very rich, a little spicy, excellent

11/9/2010 - jsokel wrote:

This port surprised me. It was much better than a lot of $30 ports, but less than $10.

10/3/2010 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Had three of these.. the first one was uneventful, but it has really turned around. Will keep the last one for another year or so.

7/10/2010 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Another fine example of the great wines coming out of Walla Walla. Loved it. An odd assortment of grapes that I haven't seen before, but a fabulous blend.

3/11/2010 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Great wine for the price. Nice texture and body.

3/7/2010 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Big and bold, starts off as a major fruit bomb, but calms down after an hour and is very nice and enjoyable. Picked it up for $21/bottle, great value for the quality.

3/1/2010 - jsokel Likes this wine:

Girard makes a very nice and bold Cab Franc. Rich and full of berry fruit.

12/24/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This wine completely changes over an hour. Sipping it right after opening, it is very harsh, good, but harsh, almost a tobacco flavor. Over the next hour it calms down and becomes a lot more balanced an smooth. Although it was good all the way through.

12/22/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This has become a fabulous wine. Great dark color, long finish of strong cherry flavors, while not being overpowering. Excellent.

12/6/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Amazing Zinfandel, smooth and wonderful.

10/18/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Definitely needed the year to sit. Much better than the first bottle I opened when they were released. Big and bold. Dark inky purple color.

10/5/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This is my third and final bottle of this, the last one was consumed late 2006. I think it is starting to fade as it was nowhere near as good as the last two. Still a great wine, but I think it's time to drink up.

9/21/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Very much a fruit bomb, but good character underneath. Needs to be paired with a rich food.

8/2/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Amazing. Very powerful at 16% alcohol, but it doesn't seem like it.

7/19/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Wonderful full body blend. Started to drink while the bottle was quite cold out of the refrigerator, but much preferred it once it had warmed up into the 40 degree range.

7/13/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Excellent pinot, Perfectly balanced, smooth and elegant.

7/6/2009 - jsokel wrote:

A decent smooth minimal oak chardonnay. Easy summer drinker.

7/4/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Loved this wine. Silky smooth, and perfectly balanced. The nose is very mellow and muted, but the texture and smokey flavor make up for it.

7/1/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Interesting rhone... not much complexity, but a good casual drinker.

6/12/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This was my last one... it definitely needed the extra year in the cellar. It's getting better, but still a simplistic, but enjoyable wine.

5/8/2009 - jsokel wrote:

A little odd, but still a good solid Syrah. Not the fruit forwardness of most Rosenblums, a little spicy maybe.

4/17/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Lovely and peachy but still has nice acidity.Nice summer wine or with Thai would be great.

4/14/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Nice wine, but a little too close to a Cali chardonnay for my taste.

4/10/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Loved this wine. Seems to be at it's peak right now with a nice musty nose, and tannins that are mellowing perfectly.

2/28/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Good, but not worth $45 a bottle. Caramel overtones, but seemed a little out of balance.

4/10/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Generally not a Viognier lover, but this is a nice one. Not overly floral (my usual complaint), nice body.

4/4/2009 - jsokel wrote:

A little odd. Good structure, but it's tasted incomplete. I don't think it will turn around either.

3/28/2009 - jsokel wrote:

It was a little odd and tart right out of the bottle, but it came around after 30min or so. Nice finish, earthy, good pinot for under $30.

3/23/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Loved this. Easy drinking, bold without being overpowering or too sweet.

3/24/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This wine has turned around a great deal in the last year. My last rating was 89, and now I am angry I didn't buy more. Elegant, earthy, great finish, great fruit balance. Excellent.

3/22/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This is my third bottle and it seems to be getting worse as it ages. Each one is flatter than the previous one. I had such high hopes after watching Gary V's review, but it has been mostly disappointing.

3/13/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Bold, but not over the top. Nice with salmon. Excellent nose.

3/12/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This was unbalanced and harsh for me. My feelings differ greatly from other posts. Very acidic and not very fruity. It didn't change much over three days.

3/7/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Didn't like this one as much as their others. It was simpler, and didn't open up like I expected. Still a good wine, nice earthiness, good fruit.

3/8/2009 - jsokel wrote:

This has come around nicely in the last year. Last bottle was just a big cherry bomb, but now it's a nice, elegant, interesting pinot.

3/3/2009 - jsokel wrote:

We loved this wine. Crisp and fruitful. Nice acidity to balance it out. Smooth and fun to drink.

3/2/2009 - jsokel wrote:

A nice solid point, not too bold, right amount of fruit. Went well with breaded catfish.

3/2/2009 - jsokel wrote:

We loved this pinot. Big fruit at the start, mellows out a little after an hour with great earthy overtones.

2/12/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Fuller body, which I like. Otherwise underwhelming among some great Albarino out there.

2/9/2009 - jsokel wrote:

My last bottle, and it was still fabulous. Notes similar to previous. It didn't really kick in until the second hour, so give it a little time.

2/3/2009 - jsokel wrote:

I give this an 89 but I think it has a lot of potential. I opened it too early. It was much more vibrant on the next day after opening. Give it a few more years.

2/1/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Another great zin from Turley. Much better after an hour or so.

1/15/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Not typically Rosenblum richness and boldness, but a well structured wine. Cherry and a little spice dominate. Great QpR.

1/19/2009 - jsokel wrote:

Right after opening this is a little unrefined, like a cherry bomb. But, after 30min or so, it redefined itself into a wonderful earthy pinot, like you get from Oregon. Give it a little air before diving in. Went very well with Salmon (receipe: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Salmon-with-Mustard-and-Brown-Sugar-Glaze-234419)

12/30/2008 - jsokel wrote:

Very silky, syrupy and sweet. Great for sipping after dinner.