10/6/2017 - tim_c Likes this wine:

Drink up!

3/24/2017 - tim_c wrote:

killer!

11/25/2016 - tim_c Likes this wine:

One of my favorite wines of the year. Drinks like a new release, classic Carlisle syrah, deep core of dark fruit, plush texture, plenty of acidity. Balanced, seamless wine. No signs of slowing down.

11/25/2016 - tim_c Does not like this wine:

No green meanies, but old and tired. fruit is gone and all thats left is tannin and leather

11/19/2016 - tim_c wrote:

Still very youthful, plenty of fruit.

11/19/2016 - tim_c wrote:

corked

11/19/2016 - tim_c wrote:

A bit of a disappointment. Not the "wow" experience I had anticipated. Chalky tannins.

8/3/2016 - tim_c wrote:

In a sweet spot right now. Wish I had more.

8/3/2016 - tim_c wrote:

Outstanding!

5/14/2016 - tim_c Does not like this wine:

Old and tired. Chalky tannins, leather.

12/5/2015 - tim_c wrote:

Hard tannins. More 2008 than 2009

4/19/2014 - tim_c Likes this wine:

Absolutely delicious. Drank well over three days. Trademark bright sandler fruit of white tree fruits and honey, balanced with that Rousanne herbal/hint of bitter. Loved it.

4/19/2014 - tim_c wrote:

Another outstanding value that over delivers.

4/19/2014 - tim_c wrote:

Outstanding value, way over delivers on the price

3/26/2014 - tim_c wrote:

Need lots of air time. Tannins were very astringent, but 24 hours later the astringency evaporated and a very unique, interesting wine emerged. Wish I bought more.

9/12/2013 - tim_c Likes this wine:

Elegant, balanced, refined. Almost Pinot-like. Best American Grenache along with The Sandler Boer vineyard. Beautiful bottle.

8/25/2013 - tim_c Likes this wine:

Fabulous.

8/25/2013 - tim_c wrote:

Holding up well. Not sure this will improve, so I plan to drink last two bottles in the next year.

12/29/2012 - tim_c Likes this wine:

Best Rudius to date. might have to rethink dropping from the list.

12/25/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Good, but still needs time.

12/25/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Nothing special. Wish I sold it at auction for the going rate.

11/30/2012 - tim_c Likes this wine:

Everything I would expect burgundy to be. Booming earthy/gamey nose with deep dark red fruit on an elegant, feminine frame. Impeccably balanced and harmonious. Could just be the best young burgundy I have ever had the pleasure to open.

11/16/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Double decanted and followed over two nights. Wonderful nose that has some whispers of earth but booms whole cluster aromas. Drinks pretty young. Dense and concentrated that maintains a sense of grace. Bright acidity that show more than the mostly dark red fruits. Needs some time, but I think there is some real potential.

5/17/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Probably one of the best domestic Grenache I've ever had. Nose has light fragrance of herbs de provence. Juicy, lively and concentrated strawberry flavors that have some dark edges. The light sweetness of the fruit is balanced with a savory element. Finishes with a touch of tannins and herbs de provence. Nice length to the finish. Pretty darned good.

3/5/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Delicious, soft red and darker red fruit fruit with touches of earth on the nose. Forward, but far from sweet and easy drinking. Held up very well over two nights and was a delight to drink. Did I say delicious and a delight to drink?

2/19/2012 - tim_c wrote:

no where as good as m previous bottle. I'm surprised I liked the previous one as much.

2/19/2012 - tim_c wrote:

need time, but will be a really special bottle. almost up there with Abbey Harris.

2/13/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Classic Windy Oaks. Approachable now with a little decanting.

2/11/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Cracked open and let it sit for an hour of two. Followed a glass or so over a couple of hours. Somber earthy nose with stem-like aromas. Darker and more somber than the Demuth. Fruit is a little muddled and undefined, but there is a spice and a light celery note that I like. More dense, tannic and muscular than the Demuth. In need of some time, but there is a beauty under there somewhere. Crack a Demuth if you want to satisfy an Anthill jones and leave this one alone.

2/8/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Another killer bottle from Anthill Farms and the Anderson Valley is what they do best. Pop and pour. Really quiet and shy at first. 30mins later and its friendly, expressive and damn good. Still quiet on the nose with some traces of earth and stems, but IIRC they destem 100%. This has the trademark Anthill flavor intensity without weight or impacting its dexterity. Intense darker cherry with bright cranberry and currant notes. Finishes with a touch of bitterness that add to the complexity and balances the fruit. Plenty of juicy acidity and a hint of firmness from tannins on the finish. What a joy to drink.

1/31/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Not aging all that well. Tasting old/tired with more leathery/sour/tart notes. Browning around the edges.

1/17/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Lots of chocolate covered unsweetened cherries in a smooth, round soft, pillowy texture. Not overly complex, but a nice, easy drinking straightforward bottle that was enjoyable.

1/4/2012 - tim_c wrote:

continues to improve and is at its best now. wish i had waited and kept a few for the longer term.

1/3/2012 - tim_c wrote:

Very pretty and floral. Intensity of fruit without weight balanced by bright acidity. Very Anthill-Farms like and a very nice look at how you can get fruit intensity without richness.

1/1/2012 - tim_c wrote:

still needs time, but MUCH more open and evolved from the last bottle.

12/25/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Still needs time

12/22/2011 - tim_c wrote:

A great introduction to this vintage. Pop and pour, approachable from the start. Faint earth notes on the nose. Excellent concentration to the dark red fruits that come no where close to being sweet. The fruit is well balanced out by acidity that rides the edge of being tangy. Ripe/firm tannins build to coat your cheeks. Simply enjoyable and easy to drink with upside.

12/21/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Fantastic bottle and an outstanding value. The nose is a bit understated. But there is a balanced, seamless wine with some grip to the tannins, but plenty of acidity to bring life and clarity to the black currant and red cherry flavors. Might even drink better in a year. Drinks well above its $15-$20 price tag and would be a perfect ringer in a Bordeaux or Cabernet tasting. Another bottle that over delivers from the Kermit Lynch portfolio.

12/7/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Falling downhill, less enjoyable than th previous bottle a year ago. Undrinkable on the second night. Tastes pretty tired and leathery.

11/30/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Huge disappointment. More like a port. Note pending.

11/30/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Corked badly.

11/21/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Needs time IMHO. Double decanted and followed over two nights. Showed better on the first night with more red fruit showing with some stemmy notes. Second night, the fruit was in the background with the tannins becoming the more dominant feature. Fairly tannic and a bit rough at this point. When this finds some balance/harmony and the stems settle in, its going to be a wonderful bottle. Glad I bought all that I could.

11/16/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Interesting wine. Pop and pour and followed for two nights. Nose had an interesting nut aroma, that makes you think it's corked for a second. This is a lighter wine made for the AFWE. Flinty and mineral laced with crisp lime flavors, tangy/tart acidity and a waxy texture. Blind you might mistake this for a meursault. A vey well made wine and a producer I'll explore more. However, this wasn't quite up my alley.

11/9/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Pop and pour, delicious from the start. Deep nose of black currants. Penetrating black currant flavors that evolve into strawberry and bright red fruits. Does not have the tradmark kiss of sweetness I find in the sandler wines. Instead this stays decidedly savory and no overt sweetness to be found. Delicate, graceful and balanced. A bottle where the minute the glass hits the table, you are lifting it again for another sip. The best Sandler wine I've had to date easily.

11/5/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Pop, pour and followed over two nights. Much more expressive and inviting on the second night. Fragrant nose with earth and lack currants. At first, seems light and uninteresting, but quickly builds to a Deep core of dark cherry that fans out into black current and spice. Spice notes linger on the finish. Light, delicate texture. Best vintage IMHO for the cuvees so far.

10/22/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Pop, pour and followed over two nights. Most enjoyable right out of the gate, beefy, meaty, funky nose that eventually mellowed. Always seems a bit shy and awkward, never really being as enjoyable wine as I think it might be. Texturally, this is what i look for in a syrah. Lost interest on the second night.

10/22/2011 - tim_c wrote:

An excellent bottle and true to the wesmar style. there is an upfront peppery/spice that takes center stage. some may love it, for me not as much.

10/11/2011 - tim_c wrote:

needs time

9/23/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Tart, high level of acidity.

9/15/2011 - tim_c wrote:

Tons of potential, but needs time. Could be the one red in their portfolio that works fir me