4/13/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Rich blue and black fruit that still taste fresh. Sage - lavender notes mid pallet along with a beef broth and hints of floral. What really stands out is the play between the tannins and acidity. Tannins are pillowy and the acidity holds everything together, and builds on the finish that lingers for minutes.

Took about 1 hr to come alive, so give it time open, or in the cellar.

4/11/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Medium-dark color, light bodied wine that seems similar to a nice chianti classico. The acidity is the strongest component, yet not over powering and crying for food. Red fruit with floral notes and a bit of cedar and spice. Short finish, which is it's biggest detractor. Great now, may improve.

4/5/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

This is really coming into shape now, with a wonderful balance. Good blue and red fruit presence throughout with pleasing acidity and mouthfeel. Medium length finish..

3/26/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Similar to past notes, and sadly my last bottle. Will purchase again

3/24/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Much better than previous notes, particularly on the finish. Focused on just a few notes, but delivers well on them. Blackberry and plum nose. Silky tannins and soft mouthfeel. Flavors of Black fruit and juicy red raspberry. Finishes with a slightly drying note of cassis and spice, lingering on and on.

3/22/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Did not decant and found this to be closed and boring. Good cherry flavors and some cedar, but otherwise closed up. Will certainly decant for a bit next time.

3/21/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

similar to past note, with the lemon showing through more prominently tonight. Medium oak, with a heft of acidity to balance it out. It had an austere note when opened, but was gone when revisited the glass 15 minutes later.

3/21/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

not much on the nose, but balanced and round mid palate, but thins out in a clean way for the finish. Not much oak, flavors of lemon and asian pear. Decent example of a simple clean wine, that won't overpower light fair.

3/15/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Floral and earthy on the nose and somewhat muted. Flavors of black cherry, new leather, beef broth, baking spice. Soft but present tannins with a slightly drying and very lingering finish. Still drinking well and similar to my last bottle a few years ago....seems to have slowed down in ageing, so unknown on how long this peak will last.

3/15/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Solid wine that is well integrated and balanced. Dark fruit with floral and smokey notes and a medium length finish.

3/14/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Really nice and drinking very well. Dried blueberry and black plumb on the nose. Excellent acidity and structure allowing the black and blue fruits to shine through with meaty overtones, star anise. Finish is somewhat short, but intense and pleasurable.

3/12/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Soft and round with ripened red fruit, leather and baking spice. Very approachable with well integrated tannins. Finish starts juicy, but moves to drying as it builds and lingers.

3/9/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Loads of fresh fruit here, without a hint of being jammy thanks to the well balanced acidity and pillowy tannings. Primarily red fruit from beginning to even the finish. Medium length finish with minimal drying leads me to believe it's near it's peak

3/9/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

This has improved dramatically from my last note Still showing red fruit and cherry, with a short distracting burst of cool aid flavor on the front end. Tannins are well balanced with a very pleasant finish that builds and lingers.

3/9/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Slightly sweet and light acidity, but comes off clean with a nice mouth feel. Flavors of peach and asian pear, with hints of ginger and clove

3/2/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Drinking well and pleasing. Seems to be a bit of bottle variation

2/28/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

solid mid week drinker with a deep color and is full bodied. Fruit forward with a mostly juicy mouthfeel and a touch of dryness on the finish. Fair amount of oak, as normal for this producer, but not overbearing.

2/15/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Ok wine, but expected more, even at this price. Simple, not over oaked, but also not rememberable.

2/22/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

On the light side, yet medium depth in color for Oregon Pinots. Clean with pleasant acidity and a juicy mouthfeel. Flavors of red currant, strawberry, and bing slowly come through before the lingering finish that starts juicy but ends with gentle drying.

2/17/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Well integrated wine with black and red fruit with floral notes. Round body with tannins that are present and very balanced with the fruit. Some warm spice mid pallet and a medium length finish.

2/14/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Does not drink like a 10 yr wine, with loads of black and red fruits that come off fresh. Very food friendly with lots of acidity and integrated tannins. Long finish of warm spice

2/14/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Nice wine that presents soft and lush. Lemmon curd, quince, and tropical notes with very low acidity mid pallet. The finish pulls this all together with a nice pop of acidity and a building warm spice that lingers long. Pair with baked or roasted fish.

2/10/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Improved from the 2019 and similar to the 2017 in body and finish. Lots of blue and black fruit as usual, but with lingering dry tannins that bring balance. The best part is the warm, long finish of baking spice that has lingering acidity. Probably should get a higher rating, but price and reputation keep it sub 90

2/8/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

This has aged beautifully and I wish I had written down my notes when I tasted it the first time around 2016. The fruit was still fresh and balanced nicely against a light acidity and crisp finish. Somewhat aromatic still and pure in color.

2/8/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Raspberry and black fruit on the nose with loads of fruit up front that is possibly a bit baked? This gives way quickly to a satisfying acidity and polished tannins with a spicy finish that lingers.

1/27/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Muted nose of brambles and strawberry. Dry mouthfeel without a balance of acidity. Flavors of red fruit, hints of cedar and leather. Finish is medium in length with coco and cigar box notes. Ok, and might improve a little more.

1/27/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Currently starting somewhat lean, almost tight, but then gives way to building cherry, mineral, and warm spice. Tannins are well balanced and probably have many more years to give. Finish is the best part and builds for some time, before lingering on and on.

1/21/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Similar to previous notes, with a little more acidity than I remember, so gave it another point higher.

1/20/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Medium bodied and silky mouthfeel that gives way to drying tannins and great acidity. A leaner style Zin that could easily pass for a nice Malbec. Flavors of Morello and black cherry, with elements of warm spice and dark chocolate. Satisfyingly, lingering finish.

1/15/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Pleasing nose of cherry and red currants. Flavors of black cherry, cinnamon and cedar. Juicy and rich with a lingering finish of warm spice that dries on the mouth as it dissipates. Well done.

1/12/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Improved from my first day after a vacuum closure in the frig for 24 hrs. Very expressive nose of pineapple, honey and floral notes. Flavors burst forward of pineapple, peaches, quince and wet stone or flint. Great acidity pulls this all together. This wine is not boring, and I'm not sure I love it, but it is over the top in a balanced way. I think it could benefit from a year or two since day two was better than day one.

1/12/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Solid as usual from CC. Lemon and citrus, with hints of oak and vanilla, and a round mouth feel that is their hallmark. Very enjoyable to quaff and a price point to cook with.

1/12/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

This has really come into shape now and very well integrated. Nose of black fruit and violets. Boysenberry, red plum and cassis, with hints of cedar mid pallet. Nice acidity pulling at the cheeks with a soft round finish that builds with dryining tannings. Could improve, but one of the better mourvedre's from Syncline or Washington.

1/4/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Similar to past notes with rich black and blue fruits with round, juicy, & oaky tannins. Light on acidity so pair with leaner meals that could benefit from some juiciness from the wine.

1/4/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

This has dramatically improved over the last 6 months and more representative of previous vintages. Note of raspberry and cassis. Flavors of ripe strawberry and black fruits with hints of menthol. Lots of acidity going on here with a medium length finish. Will probably benefit from more time.

1/3/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Day two much better and nicely integrated with balanced tannins. I suggest a heavy decant of several hours next time. Dried plums, forest floor and hints of chocolate on the lingering finish.

1/3/2024 - Bluecollar wrote:

Expected more as this blend often delivers. This wine is still very tannic after a decade, which overshadowed the mature fruit which was barely hanging on. Once the tannins relax more with aging, I'm not sure any fruit will remain. Definitely decant for a few hours and serve with hearty food or BBQ

12/27/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Solid Oregon Pinot full of ripe strawberries and balanced by hints of earth and wet stone. Medium length finish. Very enjoyable

12/27/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Every few years the Boushey vineyard yields a fantastic syrah, and this one qualifies. Possibly better than my last bottle 18 months ago and should go a few more years with ease. Full bodied with generous red and blue fruit and well integrated tannins. Spice and smoke mid pallet with a somewhat muted yet building finish (which cost it a few points).

12/21/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Aromatic nose of pear and tart apple, with hints of quince. Soft mouthfeel without too much oak. Lingering flavors of pear, spice, and citrus fruit with firm structure.

12/21/2023 - Bluecollar Does not like this wine:

nose of blueberry pie with a touch of vanilla....which is the best part. Sweet blue and black candied fruit with no backbone. Slightly drying tannins toward the end with a sweet finish that lingers almost longer than desired. Might improve tomarrow, or by laying down a few years if the structure can hang on.

12/19/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Drinking very well right now, and much better than the current vintage.

12/19/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Took about 1 hr to come alive and then it did not disappoint. Blue and black fruit with dark chocolate notes throughout and a bit of cigar box and baking spice. Solid tannins and a medium length finish.

12/16/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Fruit forward with no real backbone or tannins. Ok for the price, but not the value of previous vintages.

12/16/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Well balanced with a lean focus that cries out to be paired with rich cheeses or pate's. Enjoyable on it's own, but not a lot of fruit so best with a pairing.

12/16/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

seems more integrated and balance from my last bottle. This is a big fruit forward wine, although more backbone than many zins. Great value and enjoyable to drink.

12/12/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

Pleasing as always and never a disappointment at any price point close to this. Big notes of vanilla and oak that are quickly balanced by fresh pear and acidity that is soft around the edges. Well done.

12/10/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

As a dessert paired wine this was interesting for it's overall lack of sweetness and thin mouthfeel. Notes of citrus and overall very dry. Served with Creme Brulee and seemed to work well in cutting the fat and sweetness of the desert. Good pairing, but would probably choose a Sauterne

12/10/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

This wine brings the funk. As most good Francs have this on the nose, this sulfite free wine also has it throughout, although not in a way that overpowers. Nice black fruit with floral and tea notes that eventually get swept away by the funky earthiness. Not a wine to drink on it's own, but paired with the braised pork with mushrooms and sunchoke puree it was fantastic.

12/10/2023 - Bluecollar wrote:

In fairness I don't know how to rate this as per the varietal as this is my first experience, so my score is based upon enjoyability. This wine was very austere and not something to simply quaff down. This had notes of salinity and hints of quince along with things I could not identify. The wine was balanced somehow and really paired well with the chestnut and pear ravioli and a black truffle sauce.