12/11/2019 - lushious Likes this wine:

Surprisingly good. Really opened up about 90 minutes in. Started thin and tannic and developed a nice voluptuous fruit frame with a core of cedar and cigar box aromas. Very satisfied with this purchase from 20 years ago.

1/3/2019 - lushious Likes this wine:

Just beautiful. Fruity, earthy, with lots of exotic spice. Prime.

8/12/2018 - lushious Likes this wine:

Seamless dark fruit, juicy and rich. A pleasure to drink. Glad I waited.

2/4/2018 - lushious wrote:

Very nice floral, evergreen, and earthy aromas. Smooth and easy to drink. Still has a deep ruby color. Wish I had more...

5/14/2017 - lushious Likes this wine:

Juicy, rich, nuanced and just plain good. Flavors lingered nicely and left me wanting more. Sadly, this was the latest bottle.

4/10/2017 - lushious Likes this wine:

I read others opinions that this wine is fading or has peaked. This was not my experience. Still fruitful and rich, still has a lot of potential.

4/5/2017 - lushious Likes this wine:

This wine continues to improve.

10/24/2016 - lushious Likes this wine:

Has developed nicely in the cellar. No hard edges or funky flavors. Well integrated and enjoyable. Still no blueberry or bacon but a worthy bottle.

3/1/2016 - lushious Likes this wine:

Beautiful dark rich color, no bricking at all. Decanted an hour before serving and it was still closed. A couple hours in it has opened up nicely. Drinking well with great potential to age longer. Glad I have another bottle for later.

2/19/2016 - lushious Does not like this wine:

Sweet raisin and prune flavors. The wine felt heavy and wasn't really enjoyable. Makes me wonder if it was better when young.

2/6/2016 - lushious Likes this wine:

Wow. Drinking very nice, a terrific spectrum of flavors. Great value.

12/28/2015 - lushious Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. The wine is light with raspberry and strawberry flavors that lean toward pinot noir but with a nice swath of rich oak.

11/29/2014 - lushious wrote:

Well beyond its prime, was thin and bitter. Showed a little better on day 2.

8/18/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

Really nice wine with lots of potential.

8/16/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

Much improved over my previous experience with this wine. Rich with flavor and firm tannins. Still needs some time in the cellar to show its full potential.

7/5/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

Beautiful blueberry, raspberry, and pomegranate flavors resting on a bed of cocoa with smokey notes. Really stunning wine and drinking very well right now. It will be hard to leave the rest alone.

5/31/2014 - lushious wrote:

Vastly different that the previous bottle. Opulent fruit held up by a nice backbone of tannin, with hints of cocoa and herbs. I'll be interested to see what the 3rd bottle brings when I get around to it.

3/21/2014 - lushious wrote:

The feel was a little too acidic and not much of a nose. Drank over 2 days and was better on day 2, a bit more integrated. If I had to guess, I would say it was still a bit too young for my tastes.

3/3/2014 - lushious wrote:

A nice mature Margaux. Felt a little fleshy and very smooth. Drinking well.

2/15/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

A really nice surprise. This wine is very dry with firm tannins. The finish is long and lingering. Drinking well now with about a five year window. Pair with a nice fatty steak.

2/8/2014 - lushious wrote:

Nice, but not exceptional. A little underwhelmed by the simplicity of this wine. I know a lot of people really like this wine, but not for me.

2/2/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

This wine was the Nobella 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% merlot, 4% petite verdot and 1% cabernet franc. Cork broke when opening so I was forced to pout the wine through a screen to get chunks out. Poured into decanted and drank right away. Very surprised to get such opulent fruit right away. As time passed earth, mineral and tannin became more prevalent and brought fruit into check. Drinking well and I'll consume the final bottle with 2 years.

1/17/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

Rich, fruity malbec with a nice underlying tannic structure that was not obtrusive. Bought this bottle at the winery in 2010 and wish we had more. Drinking well, with potential to age even more.

1/16/2014 - lushious wrote:

Started out with great forward fruit flavors and underlying mineral and spice notes, but closed up as we drank it. Also had a strange mouthfeel in the finish.

1/19/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

What a beauty! Great finesse and flavors, rich fruit and velvety texture. Even better than I remember, I think it is in its prime drinking window now for the next 2 to 3 years.

1/9/2014 - lushious Likes this wine:

Now that I'm drinking mostly mature wines, this feels like a big brute force of a wine. Great, huge flavors and aromas jump out of the glass but it needs a little time for my taste. Gave it the Mollydooker shake then decanted. Much more integrated on day 2.

12/25/2013 - lushious wrote:

Lovely, fully mature wine. Decanted prior to drinking, but drank right away. Fruit was very forward at the beginning and then it closed up a bit. Tannins were well integrated and smooth. Nose and palate were pleasant and balanced. A good wine that has held up well.

12/7/2013 - lushious wrote:

Drank much better than the last bottle. Poured in decanter but served right away. Beautiful bright fruit and strong, lean tannins. This bottle was singing.

11/13/2013 - lushious wrote:

Liked it so much I bought more. Can't wait to try it again soon!

11/9/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Took about three hours to really open up. Needs some more time in the cellar.

11/5/2013 - lushious wrote:

At first the nose reeked of manure and earth, but after about half an hour it settled down. This wine opened up nicely over a couple of hours with some pretty red fruit flavors and a good, clean dry finish. This was a surprise bottle that I found in an uncatalogued case.

10/26/2013 - lushious wrote:

Has good fruit flavor with a gentle structure, but it seems to be missing something. Should have greater depth or plush opulence.

10/4/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Great balance of fruit and tannin, with hints of pepper and spice. No rush to drink.

10/18/2013 - lushious wrote:

Wonderful blackberry flavors and great mouthfeel. Hints of black pepper and spice. Well balanced and delicious.

10/17/2013 - lushious wrote:

This wine had a bitter streak of tannin that detracted from some other good flavors.

9/28/2013 - lushious wrote:

Double decanted to try take the hard edge off. Was a little more open after 3 hours in the decanter. Still had a hard bitter edge that was unpleasant.

9/13/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Terrific balance of fruit and structure, great nose.

9/6/2013 - lushious wrote:

Had high hopes, but was let down. Passable but not special in any way.

8/23/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

I found this wine to have a nice balance of fruit and structure. At one point I got some really nice raspberry in the nose.

8/16/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights. Night #1 showed well and had a great fleshy, fruit forward mouthfeel with a well balanced, tannic finish. Night #2 it had turned into a bouquet of herbs with a gentler fruit presence. I think it still has yet to reach its peak but will soon.

8/9/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Wow. Beautiful aromas or eucalyptus, tobacco, earth and hints of vanilla. Mouthfeel was smooth and rich, though a little tight and tannic at first. Opened up nicely and drank well. Will consume my other other bottle within the next five years. A great wine and a great value, purchase price could not have been more than $15.

8/8/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Starting to brown a bit, but the flavors are bright and vibrant. Feels a bit sweet at first and finishes with good acidity. The nose has aromas or cherry and earth. Showing very well.

7/12/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Opened up nicely after the first hour. At first it was all tannin and acid, but the fruit came back. A really enjoyable bottle.

7/6/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

God help me, but I love this sweet fizzy wine. On a hot night, over some ice this wine is very refreshing.

7/5/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

A good lightweight zinfandel. Balanced and tasty. Don't age for much longer, drinking well now.

7/3/2013 - lushious wrote:

This wine is drinking so well right now. Excellent balance of fruit and spice and the alcohol is not obtrusive.

6/29/2013 - lushious wrote:

Not an exciting wine at all. Thin, tannic and tart with very little aromatics.

6/28/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

What a great surprise. This wine had a great balance of fruit, spice and tannin. Mouthfeel was generous and pleasant. Still had the $18.99 price tag from when it was purchased. Wish I had more than just this one bottle.

6/21/2013 - lushious wrote:

Started out thin and acidic. Evolved a bit after a couple hours and smoothed out with black pepper and blackberry notes. Certainly over the hill.

6/20/2013 - lushious Likes this wine:

Slightly carbonated. Great grape and berry flavors also slightly sweet. A great quaffer for summer. Serve chilled or over ice.