11/4/2021 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this but just have never been able to really understand the 2010 vintage. I am a neophyte Brunello drinker but not in terms of Sangiovese. I think too often the extended oak treatment masks some of the beauty of the variety. This was among the better of my brunello from 2010 which included Argiano, Ciacci Piccolomini, Salicutti, Conti Costanti, il Marroneto among others.

10/4/2021 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this. Not dark and foreboding as some Syrah can be but still had the lovely olive and other savory notes. Fruit was fresh and at the forefront. Just a lovely bottle that was gone quite quick—will buy more!

7/27/2021 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

Some dark red fruits and earth up front—this was a solid Tuscan red but fell short on a QPR basis. Have had more enjoyable normale Chianti Classicos.

9/27/2021 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

A little too hot for our taste, masked the fruit and pretty much everything else. Most likely too young at this point so stash away and forget about it for a few years. At this stage it simply lacks balance and depth.

8/27/2021 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

One of the better Brunello’s from 2010 we have tried but not a blockbuster either. Nice fruit and smooth tannins. Just lacked any wow factor. Not sure will get much better from here.

2/19/2021 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Upon opening this had the most pronounced flint or matchstick aroma—most defined I’ve encountered. The wine was rather dark for a Chianti and no bricking around the edge. This was a high acid wine, dominated the fruit. That receded with air and time to let some dark fruit emerge. This is a wine you will want to let breathe for a good hour or two.

2/27/2021 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Lovely wine with crunchy red fruits up front and a little smoke. Tannins weren’t difficult and this was an easy drinker. Didn’t evolve much over several days. Well made and a pleasant dinner companion.

2/27/2021 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Dark fruits and funk on the nose. Structure and backbone but certainly not harsh. Didn’t evolve much but a good companion with food.

12/17/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Nice little Bordeaux for a weeknight meal. Had this with a steak and it certainly help up well although this was not an overly complex affair. Darker fruits but the inescapable aromas of the wood aging were a touch pronounced. Overall a nice wine.

8/14/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

What a pleasure this was, black fruits and pencil shavings. Generous and inviting but still had enough backbone to stand up to dinner. A terrific effort and very good value. Well made and a wine to share with good friends over dinner.

9/16/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Unfortunately two bottles of this fell somewhat flat. The wine was a little thin which was unexpected. Didn’t have the fullness and ripeness the normale bottling has had on previous occasions. Not a bad wine but would prefer the normale over this.

10/22/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Typical Sangiovese coloring in the glass with dark fruits and that evaporated water on terracotta essence you get from Tuscan wines. Like many 2010 Brunellos this has some reservation to it. Perhaps that fades with more age but overall a lovely wine.

10/23/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Lovely wine from ok Marraneto. Certainly not a blockbuster but well made, elegant and enjoyable. Had the typical hallmarks of Sangiovese from Montalcino without some of the austerity found in other bottlings. Worth a spin if you can find it.

8/29/2020 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

This was a gift and certainly this is a well made wine albeit in a style me and my wife don’t favor. Dark fruits and oak, powerful, touch of heat. Certainly aims to be a bold and showy wine and delivers that.

8/29/2020 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

Another gigondas and frankly another disappointment. Nothing wrong with this bottle but nothing special either. Could name a handful of Cotes du Rhône I would favor over this and have change in my pocket. Won’t upset anyone to try this but you may feel underwhelmed after.

8/29/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

This was ready out of the starting blocks and was all bramble fruit and stewed berries. Warm and inviting just a hint of oak. This is a crowd pleaser and a wine to bring to any gathering to perhaps turn the head of a new world wine drinker. For the price this sings and is worth seeking out.

8/29/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

This had all the hallmarks of a Gramercy Syrah but frankly lacked a bit of pizzaz. Certainly well made and no faults but wasn’t special. The lower East and certainly Columbia Valley syrahs from Gramercy might have beaten it blind and surely win on points if one factors the price difference.

8/29/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

High toned red fruit with a candied edge to it. Acidity kept things tight. Not a knock your socks off wine but lovely and certainly had us going back for more. I think for the vintage this was a lovely effort.

8/29/2020 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Lovely red and black fruits on the nose, a hint of spice and warmth. Not overly complex and didn’t evolve much although it was consumed fairly quickly. Bedrock is always a crowd pleaser although I found this, along with some other recent bottles, lacking a wow factor. Sadly I think a similar experience can be had for less money.

10/18/2019 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

Was hoping for some of the profile Eric describes, but sadly my bottle was a rather dull affair. Nothing wrong or off with the bottle, but just a one note sort of red that doesn’t leave me wanting more, but rather questioning all the fuss. If it’s priced right then this can be a nice food wine, but honestly there are many cotes du Rhône I would prefer over this.

12/15/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

This is a good, honest and simple Rhône wine. No detailed notes unfortunately but mostly high toned red fruit with some crunchy acidity. Definitely a good wine and if you can find prices in the $20’s a reasonable value.

10/15/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

This is a noble, beautiful wine. Red and black fruits on the nose after opening. The wine unfurls at an unhurried pace. This is ready to go. Only downside here is the wine didn’t evolve much over the couple days it was open. No need to wait on this.

9/10/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Wow. So good and hard to put down. A bottle that you wish you had bought more of once it’s gone. Dark fruit, but had great energy. Herbal with just enough acidity to keep things focused. Doesn’t show it’s alcohol at all, lovely companion with tapas. Pick this up!

3/2/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Had a stuffy nose when this got opened so my limited wine critic skills were reduced further. I do recall this being open and ready to go. My wife and father in law loved it and I will trust their judgment. Would love another bottle to sit with, but this is another Bedrock to add to the collection.

3/26/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

This was such a lovely wine. A Rhône style blend from CA this had that lovely dark and rich fruit and a subtle meatiness that was quite appealing. Would seek out.

3/26/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Solid Pinot from California. Plenty of fruit and lush. Not the most complex wine but an easy drinker and would be crowd pleaser.

11/8/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Pale, translucent ruby in the glass. High toned red fruit, perhaps raspberry, with a floral element. Lithe and well cut. With air some meatiness develops and hints of garrigue come in as well. Would not find this out of place in the Rhône. Great QPR and on regular rotation in our home.

12/31/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Up front this is all lush red and black fruit. Aromatic herbs, thinking lavender and rosemary, also feature prominently on the nose. You can smell some of the lingering sweetness from the oak toast, but nothing obtrusive. This wine glides on the palate with smooth and refined tannins with just enough structure to keep everything in balance. This is such a great wine, showing yet again that 2012 Bordeaux continues to punch above the press clippings upon release.

10/3/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

On the nose initially there is a high pitched tone to the red/purple fruit. Additional floral notes weave in as well keeping things lifted. On the palate there is good acidity, with a tartness to the fruit. Only after considerable time in the glass do things even venture into a hint of smoke and garrigue. This is a more lithe expression of Gigondas that is quite pretty and worth seeking.

6/3/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Red fruit on the nose initially, leaning toward a more roasted nature. Also upfront there is a hint of menthol on the nose. On the palate the fruit has a tartness to it which keeps things from feeling heavy. As the wine sat it developed a more savory, almost feral character. A well made interesting wine worth seeking out.

1/4/2019 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Lovely red fruit and menthol on the nose initially with dust and leather following. Has medium acidity and just enough tannins to keep things focused. Great food companion. This speaks of Chianti and Tuscany. Has everything you need in a Chianti and if you can find it under $20, don’t hesitate.

10/30/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Tart, crunchy fruit. Mouthwatering acidity. With some air it developed an earthy funkiness. Enjoyable wine, but feel it has more in store. Another poster said this is likely too young and I think that is fair. No rush to uncork this if you have bottles.

6/11/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Dark and brooding out of the gate. Dark fruits on the nose and smooth on the palate. You could sense the oak but not in a negative way. Opened amongst friends and while it was a pleasure to be enjoyed among them, wish I would have had at least another bottle to open and have more time to examine.

5/6/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Smelled and tasted like warm earth or stone after a rain and the sun has come back out. This had considerable stuffing to it and you could tell it was bred to be a wine of importance. Structured. Demands heavier foods.

4/11/2018 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

This was rather tight and a bit brooding. Some dark fruits and some tannic bite. Perhaps opened too soon or in a weird stage, but felt like this was missing something. Others enjoyed it more than me however.

4/21/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Opens up with a deep ruby color and ripe crunchy red fruit on the nose, maybe raspberries or cranberries. There is a smoky element here as well that gives the experience some extra personality. Smooth tannins and medium acidity. This is a wine that is gone before you know it. If you find it don't hesitate.

3/10/2018 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Opened to cedar and spice on the nose, with plums and dark fruits on the palate. Slight tannic bite, but still pleasant. Good grip to go along with a medium body. Offers good typicity, crowd pleasing and approachable, with very good value.

2/14/2018 - Jvanwinkle wrote:

Dark and brooding with cassis and camphor on the nose. Dark fruits, but somewhat unyielding from an aroma perspective. Structured and tight on day one. This was decanted about an hour before serving, but would recommend longer time. Days two and three it softened a touch. This needs time in bottle to relax a bit. Well made wine, just not in a style that I would typically seek out.

12/31/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Served this on New Year's Eve with steak and it was a stunning. Opened to dark red and black fruits with a touch of spice. The wine truly glides on the palate with smooth tannins and moderate acidity. Showed some evolution with air, but always remained poised and kept everyone coming back. Wished I would have bought more!

12/24/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Garnet to brick orange at rim. Lifted and tart red and purple fruit aromas. Medium plus acidity and tannins that were mostly resolved. With some time the wine developed additional pine, mint, and tar aromas but never strayed from its lithe personality. Not sure this will get a whole lot better from here--feel free to drink now as you wait on other, more structured bottles to develop.

12/17/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Opaque garnet. Notes of spice and dark fruits on the nose. The wine has an almost glycerin quality that coats the palate. Body sits between medium and heavy but never feels ponderous. Time in glass reveals smoke and incense with each swirl. A wine that gets better with air and time. At $17 retail a great QPR.

11/10/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Garner to brick orange at rim. Lifted, floral, purple fruit with mint on the finish. Medium bodied and medium acidity. With time an herbal element, perhaps thyme developed. Overall a pleasant if unremarkable wine.

11/8/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Brilliant ruby. The nose was something akin to a high end parfumerie, developing into a pleasant musky aroma. This was trending toward the meatier/smokier end of the range until you tasted the wine--it was all high toned fruit. Licorice and raspberry jam. For those who have tasted the base Chateauneuf this is a good introduction to the house style. Would buy again and recommend it to those who like their Rhone wines on the more delicate and feminine side of things.

10/26/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

All dark fruits and cedar upon opening. Tightly coiled and somewhat unyielding on day 1. As the days went by, this wine opened up and started to become more enjoyable. The sweetness of the oak become more prevalent and the wine took on a rounder, more supple quality. This wine needs a few years to come together, but if you open now give this several hours of air.

9/30/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Lovely dark fruits on the nose. Round mouthfeel with some spice on the finish. Not quite as smooth out the gate as the 2012, but nonetheless still excellent. This is a wine that will be gone quickly after opening. Also excellent value for quality Napa Cab.

6/17/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Dark red with minimal fading at rim. Dark red fruits on the nose with cedar and leather as well. Palate was smooth with firm, but well integrated tannins. Just a touch of spice on the finish. This was an excellent Riserva and in a blind tasting this would have done well against many Brunello's. 97% Sangiovese. Can be opened now but may be well served by additional aging. Would buy again.

5/29/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

This was ready to go pretty quick out of the gate. Dark red fruits, some leather and cedar on the nose. Tannins were firm but integrated. This had minimal acidity and a smooth texture. Some spice on the lingering finish. The bottle was gone much too fast. Would have liked to linger over this. Will look for more bottles to cellar.

5/13/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Dark red with some slight fading at rim. Notes of cedar, cassis, and vanilla. Most red and black fruits. Tannins were resolved and the wine had a rounded and silky palate. Some light spice on the lingering finish. A really lovely wine that paired nicely with the prime rib. This is in a good place right now. Would buy again.

4/15/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Bright ruby core to purple rim. Floral and tart red fruits,lifted with brisk acidity. Smooth tannins and palate. This was a wine that made you come back for more and was a pleasure to drink. A steal at $10.

5/6/2017 - Jvanwinkle Likes this wine:

Did not take detailed notes. Upon opening this had a little funk to it, a little mustiness. This blew off with a short amount of air and settled in. The fruit was darker toned and the acidity was moderate. Palate was pretty smooth. The second and third days are when this came to life. Much more enjoyable then and proved a lovely counterpoint to the pork roast with sage and rosemary. Give this a decant or cellar a little longer for optimum results.