5/2/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for 20 minutes then over the course of drinking....what a beauty. Very dark, lush and mysterious. At ten years of age I can only imagine how huge this was in its youth. Still has probably twenty years left in the tank. Pritchard Hill fruit remains prominant on the nose and palate with bitter coccoa and perhaps some graphite. Tannins are soft but still apparent. This baby should continue to soften and evolve into something more round and balanced over the next ten years or so. Hold.

4/6/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for 40 minutes and during the course of drinking. A bit thin compared to my previous experiences. Considering some bottle variation...or perhaps this wine has entered a more closed phase. I will hold off drinking my last bottle for another 2-4 years. Hold.

12/16/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Not as good as my last bottle but still holding strong.

4/7/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

This bottle was better than my last. More like what I sampled at the winery. A very tropical nose of citrus and pear. Crisp, clean and lovely on the palate. Much more balanced with lemon zest dominating the flavor frofile. I found this wine to be quite interesting. Absolutely delish. Drink or hold.

4/5/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous note. Carol really like this wine. Very pale and crisp. A fun and easy drinker. I'm going to hold my last bottle for a bit. Drink or hold.

4/5/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over an hour and over the course of drinking. This is a big bold Cali Syrah. Everytgibg is there and more. Carol loved this wine. Dark and lush with a dry finish. Yet the tannins are in check. Very yummy. Wish I had more. I can tell why the Law Black Label is highly coveted.Drink or hold.

4/22/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for an hour and over the course of drinking. Not much has changed from my last note about 8 months ago. Still holding up well with lots of life left in it. Drink up as I don't see this getting any better.

4/21/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for an hour and over the course of drinking. Medium to full body. This wine has definitely evolved. Quite different from my last two bottles. Tangy red and dark fruit with a hint of menthol. The finish is smooth with silky integrated tannins. No chalky finish. Even though the finish is more balanced, the wine in general was not. A bit to much acidity and alcohol with a less pronounced fruit profile. Hence the lower score from my previous bottles. This was probably at its peak 3-5 years ago. Drink up.

4/28/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous notes

3/31/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous note. Still drinking nicely.

3/25/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for well over two hours and over the course of drinking. Took to Bones Steakhouse in Atlanta and had with a bone in Fillet in a line up with a 2012 Caymus Special Selection and a 2012 Darius II. This was the WOTN imo. Very close to my last bottle, see post. What a beauty. I can't imagine this getting any better but it still has a ton of life left. Drink or hold.

3/25/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over two hours and over the course of drinking. Deep purple-black hue. Had in a line up with a 2012 Caymus Special Selection and a 2012 JP Insignia. Had with wagyu beef, foie gras and tuna steak at Bones Steakhouse in Atlanta. See my previous notes on this wine as the descriptors haven't changed much, just the rating as it was compared to other heavy hitters in the flight. Still drinking beautifully but definitely has a lot more left in the tank. Drink or hold.

3/25/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decnated for over an hour. See previous note as this wine hasn't changed much since. Very smooth and lush. Always a crowd favorite. Had in a line up with a 2012 Darius II and a 2012 Insignia. This was a close second to the Insignia. Drink or hold.

3/20/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over an hour and over the course of the evening. Nose was flat. Wine seemed to be shut down. Very disappointing. Not skunked, just flat and flabby. Makes me think that this wine is not structured for age and should have been consumed within five years of its bottling. Drink up or perhaps use it for cooking purposes.

3/16/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for an hour. Serious bottle variation here. This bottle was nothing like the previous ones I've had from this vintage. Please refer to my previous notes for comparison. Reddish purplish hue. The nose was flat. So was the palate. Weak and flabby. Would never have guessed this to be a Del Dotto zin. It's like the wine fell apart. No heft or body. Fruit was weak with nothing interesting on the finish. Just an average run of the mill quaff. Very disappointing. I hope my two remaining bottles are not like this one. Drink 'em now if you got 'em.

3/8/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for an hour then over th course of another hour or more of drinking with dinner. A rich dark plum garnet hue. A jammy nose with hints of sage and light florals. A fun Super Tuscan blend of 50/50 sangiovese and cab sauv. Compared to Italian Super Tuscans, this California terroir ST blend has the quinticential Del Dotto big jammy fruit signature while still remaining interesting with a savory finish. Drink or hold.

3/8/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Popped and poured. Red garnet hue. Light nose of red fruits and some florals. Medium bodied, pretty well balanced and an overall fun easy drinker. Medium finish. A decent quaff. Nothing memorable.

3/1/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over and hour. I don't understand the low scores for this wine. Nice nose of hints of dark berries, vanilla, oak and some spice. Dark fruit on the palate with some black pepper on the finish. Not like a typical Rhone wine due to its terroir. This is an easy drinker with some interesting undertones. Tannins are in check. Drink up as I don't see this getting any better.

2/29/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for 40 minutes then over the course of 4 hours as the evening progressed. This was a Stelvin closure bottle. Wow!! This was a spicey meatball! Medium to full body with some initial alcohol heat up front. But the finish was a hot
tamale! Long and super spicey. Absolutely delicious. Went great with spicey food which only accentuated the spiciness even more. This is my first bottle of this wine with the Stelvin closure and is remarkably different from previous cork closed bottles of the same vintage. Wowzers! After more air time this wine toned down a bit as dark chocolate notes became more apparent with less spice and more velvet on the finish. Drink now for its compelling characteristics or hold and see where this baby goes.

2/17/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for well over two hours. Had with lamb chop lollipops. This wine is in a great place right now. Berry jam and earth on the nose. This wine is perfectly balanced with a lovely long finish. Perhaps a touch light on the fruit with more secondary characteristics of leather, baking spice and earth. For a 2011 Oakville cab this baby is a sleeper of the vintage. The 2011s are typically more earthy than fruity and this wine fits the bill. Drink up as this won't get much better.

2/8/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted over the course of the evening. Jammy nose. Same on the palate but a bit thin. Well made and relatively balanced but not very memorable. Drink or hold.

12/25/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted this magnum little by little over the course of two hours after an hour of slow oxidation. What a beauty. Drank along side a 750 ll as well. This larger format was just a bit better. This wine still has the ability to go another 5 years or more. Lush dark fruit with interesting notes of florals and some spice. Perhaps even a hint of cinnamon. To bad it was my last one. Drink or hold.

12/25/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over an hour. Had with beef tenderloin which made for a great pairing. This wine is singing at this time. Well balanced with well integrated tannins. Fruit remains prominant with nice mouth feel. All 8n all, pretty yummy.

12/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Had along side a 2013 Steinhauer Ranch. Both fine examples of Howell Mt juice. But the Vogt Vineyard shone a bit brighter. Perhaps a score of 94.5 compared to the 94 I gave to the Steinhauer Ranch. Parker gave it 96 points out of the gate which was a pretty generous score. Lots of jammy fruit remains in this 10 y/o along with some cardamom and dark chocolate. Some noticeable oak is present as well. Drink or hold.

12/24/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over an hour. This was a big Howell Mt cab made in that Beringer fashion. Well balanced and paired well with Beef Wellington. Had along side A 2013 Vogt vineyard. Juicy Howell Mt fruit still abounds in this 10 y/o baby. This bottle was a far cry from what Tastesgoodtome described. The tannins are well integrated an polished. Very yummy. Drink or hold.

12/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Had along side the 2019 Audacious. This wine showed a bit better. Love its inkiness due to the crazy amount od petite verdot. Very chewy for sure. Tons of fruit up front with some florals and dark chocolate. Should evolve into something more interesting in the next five years or so. But for now enjoy it for its hedonistic character. Drink or hold.

12/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

A fun young drinker. A funky blend of Grenache, carignan and cab sauv. Gobs of fruit up front with hints of pepper on the finish. Still quite young, but very approachable. Should continue to round out a bit more in two to four years. Drink or hold.

2/2/2024 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Pale light golden yellow. Pretty lightly colored for a 10 y/o chard. Citrus and melon on the nose. Pretty much the same on the palate. Didn't find this to be so buttery as my previous bottle. Perhaps four years makes a difference. Finish was a bit short. Paired well with home made linguini and white clam. Drink up.

12/16/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for over 90 minutes. WOWZERS!! This one goes down as one of my most memorable bottles. A beautiful nose of jam, spice and vanilla. Beautifully balanced on the palate with explosive flavors of dark fruit, cocoa, cassis, and sweet tobacco. Yumminess squared! The finish went on and on. Monumentally better than my previous bottles. Had with wagyu steak. Phenomenal pairing. Drink or hold, but I can't imagine this getting much better.

12/16/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted at Enzo' s restaurant for over an hour. Very primary with tons of fruit up front and not much more going on at the back end. The score is indicative of the wine's balance and overall lushness. Could probably go at least another five years easily. Had in a line up with a 2012 Phelps Insignia....which completely stole the show. So tough to judge when up against a monster like that. But a nice primer to the evening with some elegant appetizers. Drink or hold.

12/14/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Enjoyed this bottle with great friends and family for an early Xmas dinner celebration. This capped off the night with a delicious chocolate tort for a great pairing. Very akin to a thicker tawny port. A fun crowd pleaser for sure.

12/14/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous note from the same night. Delicious.

12/14/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Popped two bottles and decanted for a couple of hours. Had in a Howell Mt extravaganza line up with a 2013 Bluford and two 2015 Del Dotto "The David". Very smooth and balanced for a six year old. Still a bit young for my palate but still quite lovely. TRY never fails to please. Juicy Howell Mt fruit followed by interesting notes of dark chocolate and some baking spice. This will continue to evolve and improve. Drink or hold.

12/14/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous note from the same night. Fantastic Howell Mt. juice.

12/14/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for a couple of hours. Had in a Howell Mt extravaganza line up with a 2013 Bluford and two 2017 Outpost cabs. This was the WOTN. Elegant, lush and opulent. Drinking beautifully now and probably has a few more years left in the tank but why wait. If you got em, drink em. Drink or hold.

12/14/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for a couple of hours. Had in a line up with 2015 Del Dotto "The David" and 2017 Outpost cab. It was a Howell Mt. extravaganza. This was a really beauty. Not the WOTN but close to It. Smooth, lush and beautiful. Drink or hold.

12/13/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Popped this by accident. Thought I was popping a 2007. Decanted for approximately an hour. Muted nose of plums and jam. Fruit forward on the palate. Well balanced and put together but not memorable. Nothing really negative here. A good, juicy cab but otherwise unremarkable. Drink or hold.

12/15/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous notes

12/15/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous notes.

12/13/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted and had with pasta and my Mom's meat sauce. Still holding up well. Drink up.

12/3/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

See previous note.

11/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Had with Apple pie. Great pairing. Better with vanilla ice cream. See previous notes.
Drink or hold.

11/24/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for well over an hour. Had a better experience with this wine when I initially had it at the winery back in May. This was the last bottle of the evening and it didn't seem quite ready for prime time. Fruity with a peculiar taste of a combination of bitters, sasparilla and cardamom on the mid/back palate. Almost a feeling of effervesance but not quite so. Very weird. There were some hints of pepper that one would expect from a GSM, however all bets are off when its a new world style like this. I'm going to give my next bottle another year to get its act together before I go there again.

11/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for approximately 45 minutes then an hour in the glass. A nose of dark fruit with hintsb9f cinnamon and clove. Full bodied with ample fruit still pushing forward, however, I found it to be overwhelmingly oaky. Pretty much an oak bomb. Well made with regard to balance of acidity, fruit and tannin but a bit disjointed with an overbearing oak profile for my palate. Perhaps a longer decant might remedy that with my next bottle. Drink up.

11/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Had this at the winery back in May of this year and was pleasantly surprised by this wine. I've had minimal exposure to white Rhone varietals. We really enjoyed this wine again as a Thanksgiving warm up. I concur with everyone's notes on here, so no need to rehash. An easy, fun drinker.

11/23/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Popped and slow oxed for about 45 minutes. Typical pinot profile in color and nose. This was a fruit forward cherry bomb on the palate. Not very complex at this stage. But still very yummy nonetheless. Perhaps it will develop some complexity with age but probably not made with too much complexity in mind. Drink or hold.

11/3/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Decanted for approximately 30 minutes before pouring then over the course of an hour and a half. Not as good as my last couple of bottles. The last one being over a year ago. Seemed a bit weak and thin on the palate. May be running out of gas. Will have to break into my last two for comparison. Hoping they are holding up better.

11/3/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

A real crowd pleaser. Drinking beautifully. See previous notes. Drink up.

11/3/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

This bottle seemed weaker than the last ones I've had. May be running out of steam.

10/30/2023 - Bodyfxr wrote:

Ruby99 nailed the descriptors. Decanted for over an hour and during another two while drinking. Dark and brooding.Very smooth and tasty. The alcohol was not overbearing. Overall this wine is well made but not very complex. Could probably go another 5 years but is drinking nicely now. Should pair well with braised short ribs. Drink or hold.