1/26/2022 - merryberry Likes this wine:

Deep purple almost to the edge. Loads of blueberries and a bit of cola on the nose. Full bodied, plums, ripe blackberries, black pepper, supportive tannins, and long, dry, blue-fruited finish. Excellent, especially for the price. Much better than 2 years ago, so worth letting it sit around awhile.

2/12/2021 - daveyk39 wrote:

C. Aged 14m in 100% neutral French oak. Gave 3h of air.

Medium purple color. Aromas of plum, blackcurrant, tobacco, allspice and leather. This cool-climate Syrah (from vineyards 1,800' above the valley floor in Mendocino) opts to emphasize grace and balance, and succeeds, while maintaining density and mouth-filling satisfaction. Smooth and supple on the palate, with plush tannins, dark fruit, blackcurrant, menthol and spice.

11/26/2020 - daveyk39 wrote:

Post-Thanksgiving wine for the relaxation period. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in Oak. Lost track of time, but gave some significant air (3-4 hours, I think). Medium ruby color. Complex and intriguing bouquet offers blackcurrant, mint, dark chocolate, pipe tobacco, leather and brambles. Smooth and rich on the palate, full-bodied, with blackcurrant and herbal flavors, plus some salinity and a smooth sweet finish. The tannins are very muscular and rustic, even with the lengthy decant and while this big, dense wine is pleasing, I think it's really one for the future.

12/20/2020 - daveyk39 wrote:

75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Gave 3h air.

Medium ruby color. Notes of black cherry, coffee, soy sauce and potting soil. Satin texture, medium-full body, with succulent dark fruit on the palate, hints of coffee and a spicy lift. Very young, with aggressive muscular tannins that wash out the finish. I sense potential, but this one's not yet for drinking.

11/28/2020 - daveyk39 wrote:

Following TNs and comments, I gave this a 24h decant and it made an immense difference from prior tastings. Medium ruby color. Offers dark cherry, tobacco, dark chocolate, dried rose and volcanic rock. Smooth and succulent, medium-full bodied, with bright and tart red and black fruit, earth and anise, and a smooth finish with spicy notes. All framed by polished tannins.

Immediate rebuy and, rather than another 24h decant, am just going to hide it away for 3-5 years and try again because there's a real gem hiding inside this!

10/16/2020 - daveyk39 wrote:

50% Syrah, 40% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre; aged 18m in oak. Medium ruby color. Offers black raspberry, cranberry, oak, dust and hints of game. Medium-full body, red and black fruit framed by chalky tannins, with earth and licorice in the mid-palate and finish. Everything you can ask for in a $13 wine.

9/29/2020 - daveyk39 wrote:

Not familiar with Italian Syrah, as a general rule, so wanted to give this a try. Allowed 1hr air for it to open up a bit. Medium/Dark ruby color. Offers a complex bouquet of blackcurrant, plums, cigar box, forest floor, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Creamy texture, medium-full body, with sinewy tannins, dark fruit and nutmeg on entry, some blueberry hints and cinnamon in the finish. Supple, but a bit lean.

3/20/2020 - daveyk39 wrote:

COVID-19 "Shelter-in-Place"; 3/17/2020-5/31/2020 (Redwood City, CA): Pizza night in our lock down; lacking any kind of Sangiovese, opted for Beaujolais.

Medium/light ruby color, bare hints of orange. Cherry, toast, sage and allspice. Creamy texture, medium-light body. Dark cherry, earthy, with hints of licorice in the finish.

11/17/2018 - daveyk39 wrote:

Gave this Rhone blend (40% Black Grenache, 30% Carignan, 20% Syrah, 10% Mouvedre) from Côtes du Roussillon 120m of air, given its youth. Medium/Dark Purple color. Lovely and fragrant of strawberry and cherry, with hints of blueberry, baking spices and vanilla. Red fruit on entry, with hints of blueberry and spice, but aggressive tannins take over in the mid-palate and finish. Tightly wound, this improves a little with time in glass, but never realizes the promise hinted at by the aromas.

3/4/2018 - daveyk39 Likes this wine:

Blend of 50% Garnacha with 40% Cariñena and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. PNP, but could have used some air, since it improved in the glass.

Medium Ruby color. Slightly restrained aromas of blackberry, raspberry, leather, cedar, and violets. Medium-full body edgy acid expressive flavors of dark red fruits. Tannins are a bit rigid, but maintain structure through the medium+ finish. Clean, elegant, but still accessible.

2/16/2018 - daveyk39 Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note, in this case gave 45m of air, which does not seem to have altered the wine noticebly.

Aromas of Plum, blueberry, cedar, vanilla, and pepper. Tastes of red fruit which transform to baked blueberry in the mid-palate and finish. Racy acid, structured tannins, medium+ finish. Not nearly as concentrated or jammy as my recollection from the last bottle and, as such, more enjoyable.

11/4/2017 - daveyk39 Likes this wine:

K&L "2014 Napa Valley Titans" Tasting (K&L Wines, Redwood City, CA): K&L "2014 Napa Valley Titans" Tasting: Lush aromas of blackberry, fresh cut oak, and leather give way to intense blackberry flavors, supported by crisp acids, silky tannins, and an overall voluptuous texture. Full-bodied, complex, beautifully structured.