4/20/2024 - 3daywinereview.com Likes this wine:

Day 1: one of the best Reynvaan wines of this decade and that is a big statement. Green olives, tar, stone, white pepper, blue currants and dried meats. Long finish and super complex. Thankfully have 2 more bottles. 95+ points.
Day 2: A touch better. Exotic spices, green olives, tar, white pepper, dried meats, perfume and blue fruits. Super balanced and smooth wine. This does not have the funkiness of some Rocks wines and for sure very Rhone like on this one. 96 points
Recommendation: Seek out via auction and buy!

5/16/2020 - JHalvorson wrote:

I bought a case of this wine from a friend of a friend that works at a country club. I am starting to think what I have is a little off (or maybe way off)after looking through the posted reviews. Each of the 3 bottles opened so far have been thin and jammy with little nose.

4/13/2024 - WineBurrowingWombat wrote:

Eyes Wide Shut - Day 1 (A quiet place): Nose: Sweet red fruits, tons of sweetness. Not ripe, just sweet.

Palate: A bit of confectionary sweetness and candied red fruits. A bit fake, seems quite manipulated.

I never enjoyed this kind of manufactured taste/texture in wines. It's okay but it always bothered me. This also fcked up the next wine for me in the lineup, completely bombing the palate with a coat of sweet fruit. Kinda bummed me out.

4/19/2024 - OldHick95 Likes this wine:

A savory meal of coffee rubbed grilled beef, black pepper, blackberry pan sauce. Fine tannins offer enough support.

4/12/2024 - Neecies Likes this wine:

At The Vault, a local wine bar: two years have passed since I last tasted this wine. Color has changed from light yellow to gold, and bottle age has given it impressive depth. Gloriously in its peak zone.

4/5/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

Day 1: Wow wine. When you think best Syrah in the world for under $80 you have Reynvaan in the top 5. This is awesome. Exotic spices, blue fruits, floral, white pepper, lavender and just amazing stuff. 96 points.
Day 2: Left the cork off all night and still amazing experience. Potpourri, green olives, Lavendar, white pepper, blue fruits and minerals. Long finish. 96+ points
Recommendation: This wine is amazing and will drink well through 2032.

7/2/2019 - AGELVIS wrote:

One hour decant. Deep dark magenta color. Beef jerky, blueberry, black cherry, oregano and floral cologne on the complex, savory nose. Very silky smooth palate, with stealthy acidity. Firm, low intensity tannins on the medium long finish. There’s a peppery quality that flows through every aspect of this well made Syrah, but’s it’s more savory than I personally enjoy.

4/1/2024 - cubswinws Likes this wine:

Wonderful rustic Northern rhone look-a -like.

3/24/2024 - galewskj wrote:

Decanted 30 minutes. Consistent with previous note, a fantastic value at $40.

3/16/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Event (Minneapolis, MN): So I told everyone decant their wines prior and this guest did not. This wine was tight but able to revisit this wine 3 hours later and it was so much better. Tobacco, cherry, earth, leather and minerals. Medium plus finish. A solid effort for sure.

3/30/2024 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine:

Very good but just too young. Lot’s of acidity and gunmetal. Some citrus fruit and hints of brioche. Best in the 2nd and 3rd pours then shut down. Totally unlike the ‘13 Salon I had a few months ago which was more open for business. 93 in 5 years?

11/5/2023 - Jthawani Likes this wine:

The light hued Pinot noir tastes of a Paso Robles cabernet in terms of its beginning. Medium acidity, nuanced middle, short/medium finish.

3/17/2024 - Fugu Me Likes this wine:

PnP, consumed over three days. Definitely more savory, earth, and spice notes than fruit. A lot of depth to this wine, it was equally good with food (filet mignon) and by itself with plenty to contemplate. No hint of fading, or even peaking. This stayed the course through the several days it sat opened under cork on my kitchen counter.

1/23/2021 - Dagalaifus wrote:

Inky in the glass with the same vegetal/green pepper notes, which I typically associate with Cab Franc from cooler vintages, identified by taster Oldcorke. Given the high scores this wine consistently receives from professional tasters, I was disappointed.

3/23/2024 - lozatron Likes this wine:

Friday Night with Wagyu Burgers and Doctor Who (At home in leafy West London): Purple garnet colour. Decanted and threw off a fair bit of sediment. Lovely nose, almost austere, a hint of cedar box, lovely palate with the great ridge acidity and tannic structure. The first ridge I’ve had though that doesn’t taste of ridge - were they experimenting with French oak at this time? I’ve often wondered what a ridge without American oak would taste like - maybe it would taste like this?

A look at the website shows "100% air-dried american oak barrels; (16% new, 43% one year, and 41% two years old)." - perhaps more old oak? Or malfunctioning tastebuds.

Either way - this is proper kit, and pleased to have a couple more in the cellar.

3/9/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

High/Low Blind Tasting III (Eagan, MN): High Low Tasting: No secret this was my favorite wine of the tasting. Excellent showing and low that funk along with gravel, earth, spices, red berries, stone and tar. Just a unique profile and very nicely balanced. Could drink the whole bottle for sure.

3/17/2024 - Sagan99 Likes this wine:

This bottle of bubbles was fine, and with the few thousand notes from my CT brethren, I think every facet of this straight down the middle bottle, leaves nothing to be said that hasn't already been mentioned.

Is it great or spectacular. No.
Is it memorable. Nada
Is it full of character and elegance. Not even close.
However, is it off-putting or poorly made or unable to match with food. Again, No.
It's just plain decent and will not offend anyone.

I won't buy it again, because it's a little too boring.
But, it's supposed be..... In order to ensure the masses will buy it.
And, I'm certain they do.

Many will love it.
It's just not trying hard enough for me.

(Now, I should say that I can wax on about many wine "genre's", after decades of experience.
Bubbles isn't anywhere near as engrained in my brain, palate or even my notes. However, in the past 6 months, I've embarked upon " drinking the rainbow", which includes sparkling wines, and I've had really great and really brutal examples of dozens of bottles.
Maybe in a year I'll become as well versed as I'd like in order to speak with some level of experience. Presently, I am aware of my lack there of, but only because of quantity, not quality.)

(Fresh strawberries, Dark chocolate dipped)

PS- Drink The Rainbow!

3/17/2024 - acyso wrote:

Heater week; 3/8/2024-3/17/2024 (Chicago, IL): Another edition where the funk seems to dominate. It's a bit of a weird, high-alcohol barnyard thing which I really, really don't care for at all. Leathery and stern, another somewhat charmless edition.

3/18/2024 - jrglm Likes this wine:

At the risk of repeating other TNs, this wine may be the best value in PNW wines. If it was $35-40 a bottle, it would probably still be one of the best values.
This wine has a bunch of funk on the nose and a very earthy profile in general. I really like this WW area style. A lot like Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend, if you’ve ever had it. My wife doesn’t like wine or the style, but then she’s not a Scotch fan either.
I drank this over 3 days and while the tannins had softened a fair amount, the wine was still fantastic on day 3.
Just a gem.

3/19/2024 - KJD45$ wrote:

Pale straw gold
Very comparable to a top Chablis which to me is high
praise..clean precise notes of citrus fruit, sea shells,
Finish is tad stone fruit, citrus lemon lime,
Minerality and bracing clean acidity…
Really delicious… a fantastic food pairing wine

3/16/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Event (Minneapolis, MN): Forman note 2. So, this wine was my second favorite Cabernet of the event and showing great. Cherry, rose petals, blueberries, mild oak, earth and stone. Super concentrated and medium plus finish. Amazing effort.

11/24/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

Day 1: Extremely still young and needs more time in the bottle or the day 3 experience. A bit hot with wood, mild dill, dried cherries, celery, spice and earth. Everything is there but will benefit with some time. 90 points
Day 2: No surprised this improved. Never drink these wines on day 1 and expect them to peak or age them for any additional 10 and drink. More balanced on day 2 with wood, blueberries, dark cherry, spice, vanilla, earth, pepper and dark chocolate. Very complex wine and lots of long term potential. 92+ points
Day 3: Got a great deal on this for under $30 and probably should have bought more. Wood, dark chocolate, spice, minerals, raspberries, twigs, vanilla and pepper. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. 92 points
Recommendation: This will drink well through 2030 so no hurry.

3/9/2024 - 3daywinereview.com Does not like this wine:

Well the average is going down in this one. Almost no taste in this one. Has a chemical taste which is so common in these cheap, oaked chipped Chardonnay’s. Apple and mild spice. Super short finish. Easy pass.

4/15/2023 - Mattshank wrote:

Slow ox. Served and maintained at cellar temp given the high alcohol level. Nose: Blackberry aromas and earth. Later would become stewed fruits. Palate: Blackberries in abundance with decent tannin and acid levels giving some life to this heat bomb. Sorry but not a fan of high alcohol wines. This was given to us by good friends who really don’t know wine (such a nice gesture as this one is not cheap). I have some high alc Carlisle single vineyard Syrahs that cost far less and would blow this away. Amazing to me how producers like Orin Swift achieve more on marketing than substantive good wine making principles. Guess I would have to spend “8 years in the desert” to have any real affection for this wine.

6/9/2022 - KVM wrote:

16% alcohol. Industrial, sweetened, acidified, wood flavoured grape beverage in a heavy bottle. Buy some so that Orin Swift can make great wealth from selling an unusual label. Then go buy some wine.

12/24/2019 - dream Does not like this wine:

I generally like this terroir a lot but this is a complete miss in 2016. It tastes more like acidic chocolate milk than wine.

3/20/2022 - KerryKirkham Likes this wine:

Those looking for a sweet and creamy Pinot Noir will be disappointed by Cherrycream. It's a dry (not sweet) wine--but it packs a delightful cherry punch. I purchased this wine because I've enjoyed Alison Crowe's wines before and Pinot Noir is one of her specialties. This is a varietally correct example of California-styled Pinot Noir. It's a lucid ruby color--I like to see that in my Pinots. On the nose I get ripe black cherry, cranberry relish, vanilla, and baking spices. The palate is medium-light body with flavors of black cherry, cranberry, brown sugar caramel, Christmas baking spices, and vanilla. Toasty oak is evident in the secondary flavors but it's not planky. To me, this is the perfect Wednesday evening casual sipping wine. It would also be great to bring to a backyard BBQ or to sip while sitting out on the back porch. Being a screw cap, it would be a solid choice to take camping. Right now I'm having it with bites of spicy jack cheese and am quite happy! Good value!

3/9/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

High/Low Blind Tasting III (Eagan, MN): High Low Tasting: Honestly a difficult wine to drink and had a lot of greenness to it. Oak, bell pepper, tannic and earth. A bit harsh but could tell this was the more expense of the two. Just not showing well right now.

12/5/2023 - TallMikeWine Likes this wine:

First a "thank you" to Trey from the winery, who read my previous review and replaced the bottle I thought had a little VA going on. This one certainly did not. Very much a rocks Syrah, with all the mushroom, meat and olives (sounds like a pizza) and dark, dark fruit. BIG for sure. Gonna last a while, feel free to let it rest. Decant if you're gonna pop it now.

9/13/2023 - Vinnut Likes this wine:

Medium golden yellow in color. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of peaches & melon & citrus notes of lemons/limes with overtones of floral notes of honeysuckle & minerals, stony & lovely spice notes in the background. Medium-light bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of lemons/limes, melons & stone fruits with minerals & a hint of spices. Lingering dry finish. Drinks quite well at present although it may continue developing with an additional aging.

3/7/2024 - Brian Glas Likes this wine:

Tasting on day 2. Sweet raspberry fruit with good balancing crunch.

3/6/2024 - prism wrote:

Followed over a few days. Stellar as ever: A great WBB, and an excellent QPR.

3/4/2024 - azure_blue Does not like this wine:

Second bottle opened in the past year of 2016 Stonessence loaded with Bret. I have several more from other vineyards and vintages. Haven't tasted a good one yet

2/29/2024 - mtaczak wrote:

not improving at all. with air it developed kind of a sour note, and kind of a weird blend of green notes and "purple" fruit (if that's a thing). drink up (like last year)

11/24/2023 - Ondrayz wrote:

Cheap, dry, ok.

2/27/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

Day 1: Again amazing. Grass, lemon zest, orange peel, stone, floral and spices. This wine is super complex and medium plus finish. An outstanding effort that can't be found many places in the world for this price. 93 points
Day 2: Stone orchard fruit, grass, lemon, orange peel, spice, floral and stone. Beautiful on day 2. 94 points

1/19/2024 - cjsadler Likes this wine:

This bottle was very Bordeaux-like. Notes of graphite and leather; dark fruit that was a bit more subdued than other bottles of this (which were more Napa-like). Wish I had more— hell of a bargain via WTSO.

10/24/2023 - gparker777 Likes this wine:

Pale to medium purple in the glass with a masculine nose of dark black fruits, cherries, plums, sage and cedar. Full bodied palate with forward fruit front and middle palate. Long finish with a more meaty tannic overtone. Lovely, approachable wine and will improve with further aging.

1/4/2024 - etyc Likes this wine:

Definitely a MF wine! Relish every time/chance I get the chance to try a Cayuse/Horsepower wine. Very nice! Liked it very much! Detail notes may yet follow...

2/24/2024 - Brian Glas Likes this wine:

Tasted after 1 hour of air. Spicy sweet cherry fruit. Nice tang. Good balance. Very nice.

2/23/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

Day 2: One of the top five supporter of Kevin White in the wine world but also independent and not on the payroll like many other wine reviewers. This might be the most boring wine I have tasted in some time. Day 1 and 2 just not showing much. Celery, spice, water Chesnuts and lacks any fruit whatsoever. Maybe will get better on day 3 or 4? 80 points
Day 3: Better and will save this to day 4 to see if it improves. Underbrush, spice, raspberries, celery and a bitter finish. Lacks concentration and acidity levels a bit off on this one. Still drinkable but the 2019 and under vintages are far superior. 85 points
Day 4: Patience and winning on this one. Garrigue, spice, raspberries, stone, earth, minerals and underbrush. This wine took 4 days to open up so cellar is a must on this one. 91+ points
Recommendation: Don't drink this until 2028. One of the better 4 day wine transformations so never give up on a wine which far too many do on day 1.

2/17/2024 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

This is terrible. Oak chips and chemicals. Fruit is muted.

7/13/2023 - Brian Glas Likes this wine:

Dark berry fruit. Cocoa. Soft tannins. Long smooth finish

8/3/2023 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. This was a decent Chardonnay. Nothing profound, but fot the small price, certainly worth it. Typical Cali Chardonnay with some oak treatment. 5-1216-7: 90/100.

2/9/2024 - LiquidGrape Likes this wine:

PnP- nose is expressive right out of the bottle. Plum, smoked meat, earth, black pepper and old leather. Initially the palate is quite good but a little more reserved than the nose. After about 30 mins the palate opens up with dark fruits, balsamic, espresso bean, cocoa nib, Kalamata olive along with spices of clove, cardamom and black pepper. Tannin not very noticeable but some nice acidity to keep it lively. Very enjoyable and good QPR.

2/15/2024 - sboyle Likes this wine:

Notes of black currants and vanilla. The black currant note is pure and pleasant. Though I was hoping for more complexity at this price point.

4/25/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote:

Day 1: What an interesting wine. Gravel, funk, blue currants, spices, menthol, floral and stone. Super complex wine and tasty. While young still drinkable. After selling out the 15 with my reviews I better get a six pack of these. 93 points

2/13/2024 - berkeleywinedog Does not like this wine:

We have now tried 4 bottles over 4 years and our perception has not changed. There is something off about this bottling. The bottle yesterday and the one in December 2023 were both showing little more than a mouth full of tannin. The fruit is seriously thin and what little there is seems both bitter and sour. Our notes are consistent. Did we just get a bad batch? I feel like we are not drinking the same wine as others who have reviewed this wine positively. Cristom is one of our favorite pinot producers, so this bottling is a puzzle to us.

2/14/2024 - BRR wrote:

Corked removed for two hours before drinking. Last bottle was in 2018 and it hasn’t evolved much. This is still such a young wine! Complex and elegant with delicious fruit and fine tannins. I think it’s in its early drinking window. What a wine!

2/9/2024 - T.E.D. wrote:

This really delivers for the price point. Very fresh, vibrant, zesty with sweet strawberry fruits. Aromatic and full bodied. Not particularly lean or linear, however, showing good depth and complexity.