7/17/2004 - texaswino wrote:

Delicious zesty raspberry and spicy flavors right out of the bottle. Brambly notes of ripe plum and raspberry fruit fill the palate. Pure varietal flavor in this wine. Lovely example of Zinfandel fruit. Drinking exceptionally well now. Drink over the next 5 years.

2/15/2005 - texaswino wrote:

Drank a bottle of this over the last two days. I would recommend letting these sit for a few years unless you plan on decanting for 4-6 hours first. This wine has all the parts in place to be a killer cab in 5-6 years. Big, fruit, big tannins and lots of structure. Better on day two after pouring 1st day leftovers into a half bottle, recorking and putting it back in the cellar. Similar to the structure and flavors of the 01 Neal. I really like these wines. Bravo Mark and Gove. Well done.

5/20/2004 - texaswino wrote:

Deep rich and packed with berries, licorice and chocolate notes. This wine is even better on the second day. It has nice acidity on the finish also. There is a flavor I can't put my finger on but I know I like this wine. I would agree that this is a great value for the price but I would also put it a notch below the Carla's Vineyard. It may be a better value though.

4/21/2005 - texaswino wrote:

Reminds me of the old Who album - Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy. Tons of fruit and meatiness. A really nice zin for the price. Hasn't lost a thing since last year.

1/28/2009 - texaswino wrote:

Cheval Blanc meets Cali meritage. Nose of tobacco leaf and herb , vanilla and dark cherry fruit. Right Bank austerity from the Cab Franc, currant, plum and white chocolate from the Merlot.

11/28/2006 - texaswino wrote:

pretty tasty stuff. Black cherries, raspberry and a nice herbal mineral edge.

5/15/2007 - texaswino wrote:

loads of tar and dark fruits, blackberries, blueberries. Not overly sweet with pretty good balance. Not quite up to the 04 which has more balance and complexity but not too shabby either.

day 2 ...huge blueberry fruit nose and flavors coming out. Somewhat less earthy then day 1. Upgraded from 90 to 91

9/28/2007 - texaswino wrote:

I don't think you can find a better Cab in California for the money. I paid $13. Very tasty cab. Admittedly a bit over-oaked at this point but still a very nice Cab for the price. Hell, it's a nice Cab period. It's not a blockbuster but it is varietal correct and balanced and a consistent performer year after year. A good every day drinker and cellar defender. I'm gonna pick up a case.

3/16/2008 - texaswino wrote:

light in color and flavor. Not near the 06 in color or fruit. Dry cherry and oak flavors.

2/2/2008 - texaswino wrote:

not a bad merlot for under $10. Smooth and fruity. not much acid or tannin but quaffable just the same.

3/25/2007 - texaswino wrote:

Roasted plums, currants, smoke, licorice with a touch of mocha on the finish. For the money this is an exceptional bordeaux blend. This will be even better after a couple of years of cellaring I am sure.

1/14/2008 - texaswino wrote:

quite tasty blend, especially for the $$. At $30 this is a steal. 16% Petite Verdot shows through with firm tannins. I will probably pick up a few more of these soon.

12/21/2007 - texaswino wrote:

blackberry pie

1/30/2008 - texaswino wrote:

delicious, complex wine that seems to reveal different flavors with every sip. Blackberry, grilled meat, coffee, cocoa, earth. Really nice and very tasty.

11/3/2008 - texaswino wrote:

Big sweet ultraripe fruit bomb of a wine. Chocolate, blackberry pie, mocha, just flat out delicious stuff.

12/26/2007 - texaswino wrote:

very nice Zin but a bit pricey at $50

3/31/2007 - texaswino wrote:

very nice shiraz for $10. big fruit but not "fake" fruit. Smoke spice and firm tannins. Definitely benefits from decanting at this point. A for value. 89-90

3/14/2007 - texaswino wrote:

pretty nice wine for 12 bones. Cherries, spice, earth, good complexity.

4/13/2007 - texaswino wrote:

Gonna have to kick this one up a couple of notches since last time. Really nice wine for the price. I will be buying more of these for sure. Red fruits with nice subtle spice and a smooth finish. Quality is there.

5/9/2008 - texaswino wrote:

smoky red licorice flavors, firm chewy tannins. Cherries, raspberries, oak. Not bad but not great either.

3/4/2007 - texaswino wrote:

A bit thin and lacking in big fruit. Not bad though and easy to drink with a somewhat tannic finish marked by vanilla oak flavors. Finish is the best part of this wine.

1/31/2009 - texaswino wrote:

first Trilogy I have had since the marvelous 96 and I think this may have similar potential. it's too early to drink this now without decanting but it has a lovely nose of red and black fruit, vanilla and spice. Good medium to fulll bodied flavors,sweet tannins and a medium long finish. Hold for 3-5 years.

12/7/2007 - texaswino wrote:

very nice zin with smooth flavors. not an overpowering Zin like many nowadays, but very refined and almost elegant.

12/17/2007 - texaswino wrote:

very good zin.

6/18/2008 - texaswino wrote:

can't argue with other comments. for the price this is hard to beat on a hot summer day. Will pick up a few more since summer in Texas lasts until October.

6/30/2008 - texaswino wrote:

somewhat light in color and flavors compared to other El Dorado Zins I have had. Good fruit flavors but a short finish. I have had better for the price, but this gets better with a little air. I have to admit I like this wine.

4/15/2007 - texaswino wrote:

Be prepared to give this a long decant of several hours if you want to enjoy it now. It needs some cellar time but it shows a lot of potential. Just needs time to settle down.

12/4/2007 - texaswino wrote:

Opened this bottle last night to give it some air after my first experience with it 8 months ago. Things are really coming together nicely with this wine with the cellar and air time. This took 3 days to open up in April but this time around it is more approachable. Still needs time or a long decant but the black and blue fruits are shining through now. Meaty flavors and firm tannins as well. Another 6-12 months in the cellar and this will be a real beauty. Very nice. 91-93

10/5/2008 - texaswino wrote:

well, I will have to say that another 10 months in the cellar has improved this wine but it's still a chewy monster. A very meaty wine with gobs of fruit and still ample tannins. Another year or two maybe? 91

3/22/2009 - texaswino wrote:

fruit bomb baby

12/18/2007 - texaswino wrote:

opened and poured first glass. Obvious that it needs a little time. After about 2 hours the flavors start to shine through. Better than the 03 and 04 IMHO but not up to the 01 or 02. Still very nice with good fruit and chocolate and spice notes. 91+

2/24/2006 - texaswino wrote:

This just keeps getting better each time I have one

6/2/2005 - texaswino wrote:

2002 Match Butterdragon Hill Vineyard Cabernet. This is the first release for Match Vineyards. Quite tasty stuff. Jim Barbour is the viticulturist, Cary Gott is the winemaker. A bit muted on the nose at this point with spice, ripe berries and oak. The palate is blueberries, black fruit, chocolate, and more spice. Sweet dusty tannins and a nice long finish. Very well done. The owners are Sasha Match and Randy Sloan. 92+ This will be even better in a couple of years.

12/18/2005 - texaswino wrote:

Very nicely done wine. Lots of structure, dark fruit, tannins and spice. Needs some air to show well and the nose is a little slow to emerge. Black cherry, cassis and some blueberry notes. Dusty notes on the finish.

6/8/2007 - texaswino wrote:

Drinking exceptionally well tonight. No decant. Nose has really emerged since the last time I had a bottle. Smooth dark fruits, Asian spices, elegant refined tannins. Still has room to improve. 93+ tonight

12/4/2007 - texaswino wrote:

crap. I was looking forward to this one. My last bottle.

1/27/2008 - texaswino wrote:

This has been a consistently good performer over the last 3 years. It still needs an hour plus in the decanter to really start showing its stuff. Velvety smooth fruit includes blueberry, cherry and earthy notes. Bordeaux like and elegant.

4/17/2008 - texaswino wrote:

big, rustic, fruity. Needs to decant to settle it down some. Better on second day

2/14/2009 - texaswino wrote:

decent drinker at the price

8/27/2008 - texaswino wrote:

This will be much better in 2-3 years but it is enjoyable now too. Nose is somewhat muted but the fruit bursts forward on the palate and the finish has lots of grip and another burst of fruit. Chewy long finish. Will be stellar in a few years and last for a decade plus.

3/15/2009 - texaswino wrote:

getting better each time I have one of these. Still needs time though. Hard to resist.

10/5/2010 - texaswino wrote:

last bottle of the three I bought. Drank one each in 2008, 2009 previously. Lovely floral nose of lavender, roses, anise and ripe sweet cherries. Palate bursts with fruit, anise, cherries. Plenty of grip and a hint of pepper. Really integrating nicely, but tannins are still pretty tight. I now wish I had waited a few more years, but this is drinking well now. Would pair well with a nice ribeye.

2/18/2009 - texaswino wrote:

much better than first bottle. I should know better by now than to open shipped wines the same day they arrive.

2/18/2009 - texaswino wrote:

not good

5/25/2008 - texaswino wrote:

decent wine for the price. Different profile than several years ago when Sarah and Sparky made the wines. Less jammy and over the top. Somewhat hot alc. finish but still a tasty drop for $13.

6/27/2007 - texaswino wrote:

cherries, currant, eucalyptus, smooth but still dry and delicious. Medium bodied with good tannin.

11/23/2007 - texaswino wrote:

not too shabby. good flavors and nice finish. Very drinkable wine.

7/15/2007 - texaswino wrote:

Not decanted. Opened and served. Medium dark ruby color. Nose of raspberries and some red pepper. Raspberries, cherries, red pepper and a touch of chocolate on the palate along with a hint of mint/eucalyptus. Tannins are firm but in check. Finishes somewhat short.

2/13/2008 - texaswino wrote:

not a bad everyday pinot in this price range. Good fruit, spiciness and acidity, medium short finish.

9/13/2008 - texaswino wrote:

Nice QPR red for daily drinking.