9/4/2023 - Grinder wrote:

Really impressed with this wine. Youthful fruit and tannins despite looking like a 20 year-old Barolo. Cranberry and nutmeg on the nose, with a lively raspberry/blackberry palate and long finish. Cork was in great shape for a 27+ year-old pinot noir.

4/4/2015 - Grinder wrote:

From magnum. One hour decant. Just a beautiful pinot noir that is approaching maturity. Plenty of fruit with engaging secondary characteristics.

4/2/2014 - Grinder wrote:

Heading in 19th year with a full head of steam. Cork was near perfect; dark red in the glass, with a nose of cassis and cedar. Rich and full-bodied on the palate, with smooth tannins and taste of ripe red fruit. Excellent.

12/10/2013 - Grinder wrote:

Floral peach nose. Full-bodied and packed with honey, dried pineapple and apricot flavors, yet not at all cloying. In fact, this had a refreshing finish. Enjoyed with candied kumquat flan at the Comal (Berkeley) Bedrock dinner. This should lay down very nicely.

10/23/2013 - Grinder wrote:

Muted nose with hints of spice and strawberry. On the palate this is spectacular. Briar, fruit, and earthy undertones compete for attention. On the back end are firm tannins and lively acidity. This will evolve for several more years. Classic.

10/13/2013 - Grinder wrote:

Top notch young pinot noir. Ripe fruit and briar on the nose. Full-bodied but not heavy, with young tannins and a lingering finish. Certainly enjoyable now, but will improve over the next two years.

6/5/2013 - Grinder wrote:

Gave this 30 minutes in the decanter then had with dinner. Medium sediment, beautiful opaque purple in the glass with no signs of age. Currant, cherries and mocha flavors, with cedar laced tannins. Still young, but excellent and will improve over the next decade. This is 60% petit verdot, 20% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot.

5/23/2013 - Grinder wrote:

One hour decant. Pure red fruit and red licorice on the nose, with a matching experience on the palate. Full-bodied, sexy syrah. So different from the 07 Cote Patriarche I had last night, which was full of mineral/saline notes. Terrific wine. Still very young.

5/22/2013 - Grinder Likes this wine:

One hour in the decanter. Opaque purple in the glass, with a nose of blueberries and pine cone. In the mouth this is rich and full-bodied, with dark, ripe fruit and a mineral/saline note. Lingering finish. Sensational.

3/30/2013 - Grinder wrote:

From .375 (not sure the winery made any 750s?). Slight petrol note on the nose, with flavors of ripe tropical fruit, mandarins, and apricots. A nice undercurrent of fresh acidity. Long life ahead for this wine.

2/8/2013 - Grinder wrote:

Almost three years since my last bottle of this. Two hour decant and consumed with dinner. This is a big, but somehow weightless, wine. The nose is explosive, but the palate is smooth and feminine. Seems like secondary characteristics are getting ready to emerge. Outstanding.

10/18/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Opened and poured. Tight and shut down early, but opens with an hour or so in the glass. Pretty nose and complex on the palate. This should be laid down for another two or three years. Beautiful.

9/16/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Cork perfect. Four hours in the decanter. Minerals with perfume of black and red fruit on the nose. Firm tannins, but a beautiful full-bodied wine. Rich in fruit, currant and acidity, but balanced. Long finish. This is a wine I could drink all evening. One of those wines I wish I'd bought more of upon release.

9/19/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Very young. Full-bodied with firm tannins. Nice fruit on the palate. Give this an hour or so in the decanter. Very good.

9/14/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour. Ripe, exotic fruit nose with a palate to match. Big and juicy with fresh acidity. Wonderful CdP. At around $30 this is a good value. My first 2010 CdP and I am impressed. After this tasting I purchased six bottles to lay down for a few years.

7/7/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Perfect cork/decanted and left in the decanter for eight+ hours. Did not get a taste upon opening and did not get a chance to check in with this prior to dinner. Ripe black fruit and spice on the nose. On the palate this was fantastic, with ripe tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Flavors of coffee, ripe plums, dark chocolate and hints of crushed rock. With an extended decant this is a beautiful wine. Curious how this would have been right out of the bottle??

5/3/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Decanted for two hours. Dark ruby red in the glass, with a nose of cedar and ripe plums. On the palate ripe red fruit (cherries and berries) and cutting acidity. Medium tannins and fruity. Very good and an outstanding value ($11 at TJs). No hurry to drink this wine. Driink now or hold for five years or so.

4/21/2012 - Grinder wrote:

Decanted for two hours then consumed with rack of lamb. Ruby-colored with very slight bricking. Mix of red fruit and minerals on the nose. The palate was gorgeous, with black cherry, smoke, mineral and licorice flavors mingling with the silky, rich texture and firm tannins. To my taste this will drink well for years to come.

12/10/2011 - Grinder wrote:

Gave this a 45 minute decant. Delicious and ready to drink. Lovely nose of black fruit with secondary notes of cedar and earth. Fresh and full-bodied on the palate, with a silky finish. 2001 continues to impress at the 10 year mark.

10/30/2011 - Grinder wrote:

Cork on this bottle was pristine. The wine was dark, opaque ruby with very slight bricking at the edges. Beautiful perfume nose, with black fruit and hints of herb, leading to a rich, full-bodied palate of ripe fruit and savory herbs and cedar. Very smooth on the finish, with refined tannins. This has another 10 years of good drinking ahead for well-stored bottles. Had with the roasted chicken at Zuni Cafe in SF. Beautiful dinner with a fantastic wine.

11/19/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Beautiful young wine. Dark, ruby red in the glass, with aromas of tart/sour cherry and ripe strawberry. Not a light bodied PN, as this had a substantial mouthfeel. Zippy acidity, smooth tannins and layers of ripe red fruit, earth and spice on the palate. This was so good I was tempted to open a second bottle. Not easy to put these away, but I think this will evolve for several years and be a more complex wine from 2013 onward. Every bit as good as the 2007, which was much more delicate and feminine at the same stage. Not going to find better value in CA than the wines from this producer. Put a big "+" on this score.

5/16/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Hour decant with no sediment. Cork was pristine. While not youthful, this was full of pure dark fruit on the palate. Smooth tannins and silky texture. Terrific value wine. Will look for more of this cab.

4/4/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Six hour decant. Beautiful nose of spicey cherries and pine needles. Smooth and refined on the palate, with bright fruit, nice acidity and a long finish. Lengthy decant really helped, as this was initially very tight. Not sure if I've ever had a better Pinot.

3/20/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Decanted for two hours. Perfect cork. Huge nose of leather, rhubarb and coffee. This is young on the palate, with plum, raspberry and loamy flavors. Bright acidity, fine tannins and a long, sweet finish. Wonderful wine. 93+

3/7/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour at a restaurant in Calistoga. Big nose of black fruit, toast and bramble. Initially showed rough tannins, but good fruit underneath. By the end of the bottle this was coming around. I would have given this a couple hours in the decanter, then I'm sure it would have shown better. Very good, with a long drinking window.

2/25/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour. Pleasing aromas of soil, smoke, soy sauce and cherries. Rich and ripe on the palate, with cola, cherry and a hint of minerality. Good acidity, lingering finish. I'd recommend holding this for two or three more years.

1/20/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Complex bouquet of spices, fresh herbs and pencils. This took an hour to open up a bit, then the palate took off. Flavors of cassis, coffee and plum. Firm tannins and overall structure. Needs several years, at least mid-2012, to come around. Very good to outstanding wine that surely is meant to be enjoyed after six or eight years cellaring.

1/27/2010 - Grinder wrote:

One hour decant. Pleasing nose of dried cherries, herbs and earth. This is silky and rich on the palate, with smooth tannins, and flavors of spice and ripe red fruit. Feminine, lithe and delicious. Drinking very well now, but can't wait to see what this brings over the next 3 to five years.

1/17/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Three hour decant. When this bottle was opened it filled the kitchen with aromas of flowers and spice. On the palate this was pure pleasure, with herbs, smoke, plum, and vanilla. Smooth, silk tannins with layers of fruit. Complex and full-bodied, with a long finish. Not sure you can ask for more from Bordeaux (at this price point, especially).

1/16/2010 - Grinder wrote:

Enjoyed with eggplant parm and strip steak. Thirty minute decant was all this needed. Delicious young barolo, with awesome length.

1/9/2010 - Grinder wrote:

This was a pop and pour. Nice nose of smoke, cherries and herbs. On the palate this was all dark fruit and tannins. Not ready at this point.

12/24/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour, lovely nose of plums and spice. Smooth and sweet, with nice fruit and complex notes of mocha and loam. This is at a great place.

10/29/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Mature color, with very slight bricking at the rim, opaque throughout. Nose was slightly muted, with aromas of cedar and plum. Resolved tannins and tart cherry, cedar and smoke notes on the palate. Some vegetal flavors on the back end, and a slightly hollow mid-palate, but overall a fine example of a tough vintage. Plenty of time left to enjoy this wine.

10/28/2009 - Grinder wrote:

One hour decant. Dark and opaque in the glass, with smoke, black fruit and stones on the nose. Medium bodied on the palate, with ripe red and black fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate. This finishes with tongue-coating saline/mineral notes. Nothing overdone, all in balance. A touch, just a hint, of thin on the mid, but it is hardly noticeable. Excellent (and a decent price to boot at $35 on release).

10/21/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Citrus with subtle sweetness, bordered by a clean acidity. Very nice! Good clean finish. Great with hot and spicey food.

9/1/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Clean and llight bodied, with hints (no more) of oak and pure apple and citrus flavors on the palate. Short finish that simply vanishes. Not a contemplative wine, but excellent with a simple roasted chicken dinner. Very good value at around $10, not so good at $15.

8/23/2009 - Grinder wrote:

This was tight as a drum upon opening, but after an hour in the decanter it had opened very nicely. Currants and cedar on the nose, with youthful black fruit, spice, and earth on the palate. This is a lovely example of mature Bordeaux. Outstanding wine which has plenty of life left.

8/1/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour, which I think contributed to the muted nose. In the mouth this is full of nervous citrus character, with slate and a delightful sweetness. Beautiful Auslese.

8/1/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Pretty perfume nose, with notes of ripe red fruit and spice. Big flavors of cherry, spice and cola on the palate. Tannins need some time to round out. Belle of the Ball tonight, with great potential in two or three years. I'm holding until 2011 or so.

7/22/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Explosive nose of red fruit, coffee and spices. Wow. More of the same on the palate. No noticeable heat, long finish. Classic cabernet with a long future.

7/21/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Big and brooding in the glass, this has pronounced flavors of olive tapenade, tar and spice. Delicious and drinking quite well right now, but will evolve for another couple years. Excellent.

7/13/2009 - Grinder wrote:

So very young, but so very good. Bright and clean, with racy minerality, tart citrus and almost bubbly acidity. Very good value, and should evolve nicely.

7/18/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour. Nice mocha and cedar on the nose, with plenty of smooth tannic bite, toast, currant and plum sauce on the palate. Seems like it is in a good place. Yummy stuff, though way overpriced at $80. That's Times Square for ya.

7/10/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Tasting at JC Cellars. Delightful Northern Rhone juice, with lemon curd, stone fruit and a distinct mineral vein dancing around the edges. This is produced and bottled in France per instructions from JC Cellars. Really very well done and worth the splurge.

7/10/2009 - Grinder wrote:

From a tasting at JC Cellars. This was on close out, and based upon the tasting I bought a couple bottles. Big explosion of plums, licorice and pepper on the nose. Still youthful and a little primary on the palate, this has years to go in terms of evolution. Right now, blueberries, fig, stone, smoked bacon and licorice on the palate. Tannic presence is not at all offensive, but another three years will smooth this baby out. To me an outstanding and exciting wine.

7/9/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Enticing nose of chalk and lemon. Clean and fresh on the palate, with notes of honey, citrus and stone. Food friendly with good acidity. I decanted this for about 30 minutes. Love it.

7/5/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Bright ruby red in the glass, with a pleasing nose of spice and cedar. The mouthfeel of this wine is like nothing I've ever had at this price point. Bright acidity frames juicy red fruit. Nothing too complex, but at $5 a bottle this is excellent. Great weekend BBQ quaffer.

7/2/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Two hour decant. Lovely, and surprisingly open, nose of black and blue berries, spice and coffee. Fruit, spicey herbs, and a very lively mouthfeel once this hits the palate. Medium to long finish with sweet notes of fig and licorice. First tasted this in May at a wine shop in Gigondas, and bought a case when I returned to the States. This has the stuffing to age for another five years, but is exceptional now.

6/26/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Big ripe shiraz blend. Full-bodied, ripe tannins, nice long finish. Still youthful, and should take another five or so years with no problem. Just a great value everyday wine at around $15. Textbook "cellar defender."

6/24/2009 - Grinder wrote:

Pop and pour at a restaurant, so this had only 30 minutes or so to see air. Nonetheless the best California cabernet I've had in quite some time. The color is opaque ruby tinged purple. Nose is subdued, but big and rich on the palate, with firm tannins. Awesome construction. I've got the rest offsite and won't touch until 2012. Looking forward to the 07 offering.