10/2/2023 - Bjweiss Likes this wine:

‘86 Meyney tonight. I gave this one a 25% chance it was still alive…top shoulder fill and signs of past seepage. When I removed the capsule there was a layer of heavy sludge sitting on top of the cork. The odds were quickly dropping, but I figured what the heck, let‘s keep going. The Durand was absolutely required to get the cork out, which was completely soaked through, but still in one piece. Decanted to remove sediment, and holy cow, this wine is still alive and kicking. There’s not a sign of fruit left here, it’s all secondary and mostly tertiary notes. It’s like smelling a massive bouquet of flowers, stems and all. The aromatics are intense, complex. Tannins have fully resolved here to the point that the wine is light bodied at this stage. Wow.

5/7/2023 - WinoRick Likes this wine:

This wine sings. Not too big (14.5 ABV), with silky dark cherry notes. Recent vintages are bigger and a bit hot, thanks to global warming. When at the winery a couple of years ago, I was told by the proprietors that "It's the hand we are dealt."

2/23/2023 - WinoRick wrote:

Tough to evaluate on a Utah ski trip Still, a nice add pinot noir.

8/13/2022 - WinoRick wrote:

25+ years out, silky, complex and not a big Napa red. Not Bordeaux , but balanced and delicious. I really liked this wine. Very drinkable now and I’d venture to say that sooner rather than later is your drinking window

2/26/2019 - WinoRick wrote:

No one will probably be drinking this these days. Needed something to go with marinated pork chops. Grabbed this orphan in my cellar and ... wow!
At this point, the best petite syrah I've ever had. Tannins melted away, but still some grip. Sweet, dark fruit and a long finish. The label says 15.4%, but not at all hot or big.
Then again, out of 1200 bottles in my cellar, not very many petite syrahs.

12/31/2020 - petrp wrote:

IMHO one of the best in this range.
Lime and brioche. Elegant.

3/26/2018 - dbkitc wrote:

If all Southern Rhône’s were like this I would again be a buyer. Medium cherry / brick color that is followed by a soulful, earthy yet totally balanced and medium bodied wine that shows where it’s from diligently. Sweet berry Grenache fruit mixes well with hot earth and garrigue. The mild weight palate packs quite a punch but doesn’t steal all the attention. This allows it to be a great wine with food - my main issue with most of the “top” wines from this area. Tobacco finish. Balance and sensible wine making have allowed this to age beautifully. Found this in the back of a bin and did not know what to expect. Wow is all I can say. A very good wine night for unexpected surprises. Must note that this is toward the end of its life – the fruit dried after 90 minutes. (92)

5/11/2020 - WinoRick Likes this wine:

Ready to go, finally I'd guess. Great color, no browning. Lively and youthful. Quitessential California cab. Tell me, how does a cork dry out when the bottle is on its side in a temperature controlled cellar with a waxed capsule?

2/27/2018 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:

{winery visit} Quite good, and makes a statement about what was possible in 2014, i.e. weather difficulties. Bettina tells me of the dry, and very hot (40C for ~ 2 weeks) conditions that marked 2014 - but(!) there came a very good respite for the grapes in the final weeks and the quality was quite high. I should be clear, she tells me these things after I've already decided to buy some for my cellar, and after there's a really big grin on my face. I wouldn't call it structured, but it's miles away from flabby or uninteresting. It's a med>full body, with good/very good acidity and a longer, wider finish than I was expecting as well. Truly worthy of Riserva status, though it's going to be an early drinker (thru 2026); I bought some for the cellar here, and will happily pick up more for the cellar in CO. 97% Sangiovese, 3% Canaiolo, with 20 months in (mostly used/older) Fr. oak (barrique/tonneau/botti). 14,5% abv is already fully resolved. There's a LOT of flavor here, a lot of enjoyment. They really nailed the pick date on this one. highly recommended+



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8/6/2015 - WinoRick wrote:

From fully ripe Sangiovese grapes, spicy and perfect with my pizza at Fatina in SFO. My first wine from San Marino.

12/16/2014 - WinoRick wrote:

First from an unopened case. Needed decanting because of significant sediment in the bottle. Poured back into the bottle and took to a steakhouse to have with dinner and friends. Nice dark garnet color and and good dark fruit flavors. To me the wine was tight and unevolved. The components are all there and in balance but I think the wine is in a dumb stage and will require several more years to open up and show its stuff and subsequently merit a higher score. I have the 82, 86 and 90 in my cellar and they all have taken time to evolve with the 82 at peak and the 86 almost there.

4/28/2013 - WinoRick wrote:

First bottle from a six pack purchased after tasting at the winery. Remembering that the various nerello mascaleses I've had improved with time and work in the glass, I decided to pour this through an aerator. I'm not a big fan of aerators because you miss the cross section of a wife's development, but in this case it opened the wine up. Consumed with veal chop, medium cherry red and medium bodied with super minerality. I could taste the lava on Mt Etna! The wine opened up with round, cherry flavors and sweet tannins.