5/17/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Outstanding example of Napa mountain fruit and American/New World craft brought to Rhone varietal staple. After letting the wine open for about 45 minutes, we were rewarded in our patience with subtlties and power in the body, nose and finish that delight in their complex, counter-intuitive expressions and melody of seemingly contradictory characters. I'll add more to this note when I'm not bound to use my BlackBerry. However, that I'm compelled to enter this much via this device should give you an indication of the wine's composition.

5/14/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Excellent experience with a wine from a rare challenged vintage out of Napa. Toward dispatching the deficiencies of this wine quickly, it was obviously a wine of lesser vibrancy, depth and sophistication as compared to the award winning 2002 and other "peak year" vintages, the 2000 enjoyed this evening suffers only by comparison. As it was the only wine we opended this evening, it proved itself to be a stand out. Then again, if one were to consider it in comparison to most other cabernet heavy Napa offerings from the 2000 vintage, this wine is a star.

As for the wine itself, the body is supple with some truly lush carmel and eathy tones, yet on the whole remains light, effervescent and playful. I believe that the janus-like fusion of opposite impulses revealed themselves in such balance as an aspect of this wine's age. I expect we'll be finishing our remaining bottles over the next few months with all of the elated expectation of a child chasing visions of ice cream inspired by Good Humor's melody hypnotically infusing the dusky breezes of July. Ah yes, the wine. Pardon my carrying on, but I was - and remain - delightfully surprised as I had expected this wine from this vintage to have turned flabby and flat. This wine was anything but that.

In the end, my surprise and delight must find proportion, context, within which an attempt at objective measure can be rendered. Thus my rating of a 91 for this bottle. Subsequent samplings from this vintage may induce me to at a point, no more, to my judgment. Stay tuned as time will tell.

5/9/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

May have once been good, but was well past its prime drinking age.

5/9/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Under performing in quality. Expect this state is due to both a sub-par bottling (despite the generally outstanding character of this vintage for Napa on whole) and age.

5/9/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Surprisingly enjoyable wine. Drink this vintage now, or never.

4/8/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Replaced with different wine of equal value by retailer

1/10/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Smooth fruit with long, dry finish speaks to the quality of the mountain berries Veeder uses. This wine is near peak. 6 More months and its at its crescendo..

1/10/2009 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Acidic and tart, which is surprising for this vintner.

12/23/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Juicy and jammy, but will tease with coriander, bell pepper spice and hints of anise if given time in the glass.

12/25/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Healthy earth loam and fruit nose. Hints of burnt or over toasted oak and ghostly caramel sugars evoke visions of warm winter oatmeal lingering in the air. Plumb notes and warm apricot on the nose and palette. Surprisingly long, well-balanced finish driven by tannins that are supple carrying the fruit through the finish. The finish itself is dry, slightly tart and round.

The wine imparts a tingly white/black pepper bite from mid- to back-palette. As the wine fills the mouth, an alluring voluptuousness works to distract the taster from a ballet of major and minor notes which when given their fair attention delight. A plump, freshly baked rhubarb tanginess reveals than hides boysenberry darkness and bright cherry notes as it pirouettes from front to finish. Pleasing hints of dusty graphite and copper show themselves when the wine is aerated over the tongue.

This wine is drinking at or near peak. Catching a wine at this point in its life, born of such beguile fruit is why one drinks wine.

12/26/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Tinny, tart, juicy fruit. Uneven tannins and a tad watery.

12/14/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Luscious ripe fruit backed by a vigorous tannic spine.

12/26/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still young and a tad austere. Tannins are still tight, yet show a complexity that portends a good future for this wine - say in 7-10 years. Would not recommend drinking this wine too young, as it may disappoint.

12/14/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Tight, sweet wine with healthy tannic backbone. At this age, the lushness of the Granche and Cabernet fruit imparts a tart, red berry flavor common to under-ripe longberries or marionberries. Light caramel and licorice hints nose through the fruit's fullness.

10/1/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Past peak but still enjoyable.

12/7/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Failed closure. Wine was heavily oxidized.

11/29/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Nearly the same as prior notes. Only difference is that we decanted for 1 hour. The bouquet deepened, but its still tight. Mouth feel improved from an already high quality to a smooth roundness presenting a pleasing sensation of layers.

11/16/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Good tannic structure for a mellow, young wine. Smokey loam and slightly ferric earth imparts sensations of the wine's terroir. Nose is still tight, consisting mostly of dark berries, plum, peat and chocolate. Comfortable mouth feel, deceptively mellow with a long finish.

9/6/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Very good wine. Basic components are of above average quality, but the fruit forward style robs what are otherwise interesting notes and a respectable tannic structure. Aging longer may not be a good idea as the wine, after having been open but not decanted for 2 hours, already displays a flabbiness common to varietals that have been through micro-oxygenation.

1/20/2008 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Young but outstanding example of a Sonoma vintage Syrah. Strongly recommend allowing the wine to open and breathe.

12/29/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still too young. Rating is based on the in the glass feeling today. I do expect this wine to mature and increase quality leading to a higher rating.

11/22/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Smooth, expressive zinfindel. Subtle smoky notes infuse the rich blackberry, cherry, and chocolate over tones with a unique sensation of depth and velvety mouth feel. Amazingly, this is the junior varietal to Rob's Sonoma zin. Strongly recommended.

11/9/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Decanted for approximately 45 minutes before drinking. This is a great wine, very good entry into the Ramey family.

10/27/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Outstanding wine. Consumed it with fantastic venison stew, roasted brussel sprouts, carmelized onion and garlic mashed potatoes.

A second bottle would have been a dream.

10/26/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Outstanding wine. Must get more.

10/4/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Nice wine that shows itself better after being opened for an hour or so.

9/30/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still too young. 30 minute decanting insufficient to open the wine. Very oaky, heavy vanilla accents. Enjoyable, but more promise now than delivery.

9/26/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Outstanding example of an Argentinian Malbec!

9/26/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Above average Malbec.

9/26/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Uninspiring. Excellent cooking wine, save the price.

9/22/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

I am giving this wine a higher rating than I was initially willing to consider given the sophistication that emerged after leaving this bottle, 1/3 full, out over night unsealed.

9/22/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still young but luscious! Full, velvety mouth feel that teasingly reveals the depth and richness of the flavors of the wine. The bouquet instantly imparts a vigorous vanilla perfume common to over oaked wines, yet this subtly sweet aroma melts into a spicy caramel that fills the nose.

I would strongly suggest decanting this wine for at least an hour before enjoying, at this stage in its life.

7/25/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still very young. Decanted for 45 minutes. luscious deep, mid-palate flavors take firm hold enabling an extraordinarily long finish.

7/22/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still young, but what a youth! Vigorous and full yet supple in the roundness of its mouth-feel and mid-palate experience. Spicy with robust, mountain fruit. No lack of fruit components providing hints of black cherry, raspberry, black pepper, tobacco and an unusually refined acid structure that gives the wine a long finish.

7/22/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Decanted this wine for about an hour before serving. Very satisfactory notes of bell pepper, smoke, boysenberry with a good beginning and finish. Sadly the middle and mouth-feel a flabby and undistinguished.

7/22/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Decanted for 3 hours, with small tastes before serving. This wine is still a baby and would benefit from 3 or more years horizontal. having said that, this wine was a rich, complex delight after 3 hours.

7/15/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Outstanding example of mountain fruit. Mild, mellow tannins complemented by luscious blackberry, coffee ad chocolate notes. This wine exhibits superior mouth feel that supports a strong beginning, middle and finish

6/10/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

deep, rich components continue to reveal themselves as the wine opens over 2-3 hours. Charcoal, boysenberry, hints of chocolate and green tobacco complement cherry and raspberry notes. Outstanding mouth feel, supple, velvety and round from front to finish.

6/3/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Simply amazing.

5/16/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Young but amazing. Give it 5-7 years.

5/16/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Still young, but rich and luscious.

5/16/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Very good wine. Sadly, we drank 3-6 months past peak.

5/16/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Phenomenal selection, though still young. The wine has a full bodied fruit with an amazing floral expression with hints of rose, violet and orange flower. Even though its a lightly oaked Syrah, it conveys a subtle chalkiness that is both pleasant in the mouth and carries the floral components deep into every part of the palette.

5/16/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Amazing wine. Still a little young and could benefit from decanting.

5/16/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Outstanding representation of Winniarski's wines. Our only mistake was in not decanting prior to enjoying. We opened the bottle 45 minutes before consuming. Rich fruit over a healthy tannin structure. The richness of flavors from coffee, plum, raspberry,. earthy musk and chocolate fill the mouth from front to back with a pepper's tingle.

4/29/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Delicious Merlot from a less than stellar Napa year. Mellow fruit with a long finish. Nice spice and berry components and an excellent mouth feel.

4/29/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Luscious selection. Very drinkable now. Shows some mountain characteristics, but no overbearing.

4/29/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Decent wine that's growing on us. initial samples were less than satisfying, but 6 months in the locker has helped. I expect that by the end of sumer or next winter this wine will gain a point and some quality.

4/29/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Past its prime, if this vintage ever really had one.

4/29/2007 - NW_HURLEY wrote:

Given time to open, this wine explodes with ripe, complex fruit that lasts from front to finish.