11/23/2015 - rlove wrote:

Dark yellowish-orange. Honey, apricot, earth, nail polish remover, sea breeze, and almond skin are some of the aromas on the lifted, complex nose. On the palate, spice, minerality, and salinity frame a finish of apricot. I really dig the complexity of this orange wine.

1/15/2011 - Dale M wrote:

Decanted 1 hr. I own exactly 0.0% bottles of either Napa or Sonoma wine, so what exactly lured me into a Napa Syrah from Garagiste? The good price? Cool label? Hard to say, but I was feeling frisky I guess, and was rather pleased to see this arrive in the warehouse soon thereafter, allowing me to see what was what. The nose threw off what can best be described as Duraflame tones, not bad mind you, just a little different. This soon subsided as more familiar waves of traditional campfire smoke, fresh picked blackberries, and violets took over. Fans of Copain (especially ‘the new style’) will certainly applaud what was in the glass here: Very elegant Syrah, classy raspberry dominated fruit that was backed by a brilliant streak of orange peel, odd descriptor I know, but it was there plain as day, and most definitely worked well within the context of the wine. I don’t think any full clusters were used during fermentation, as I didn’t pick up on the telltale resiny / olive notes one would associate with stems. Just a modest suggestion of wood rounds out the finish, satisfying and complete. Wish I had bought more of these. A great buy sub $30; perhaps I would be a buyer at the normal retail price which I think was around $45 or so.

8/11/2010 - Eric wrote:

This was a pretty typical example of 1994 Quilceda. Classic violets on the nose, bright and high-pitched. There is also a fair amount of cedar, perhaps more than I am used to with this wine. Clean palate, pure, austere, firm, and still quite tannic. Alex Golitzen has often criticized this wine as being too tannic, and this is one of the first examples where I agree with him. It's starting to dry out a bit too miuch.

7/29/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Does not like this wine:

Sweet, not like a dessert wine, but so far from the crisp European Pinot Gris / Grigio that I like. Not my style, but if you like American Pinot Gris, try it - still average, but might be worthy of that style if you're a fan.

6/22/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

I'm having a bit of a heart-wrenching couple weeks because I've finally set aside all the wines in my cellar that aret technically past their prime and am trying to go through them before they pass over to the other side. This Quilceda, in particular, is hard because it's the first Quilceda Creek that I could get my hands on and the wine that turned me on to them (well, that and all the crazy ratings and attention, but that is a much less compelling story). It's still a very good wine. A bit steely and metallic, but lively fruit and acidity still, with a touch of nutmeg, spice and chocolate. Has some leather on the nose as well. All in all, going to be sad to see this one gone. Cheers, '98.

7/1/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Sometimes there's not much reason to reinvent the wheel, especially when someone else captured everything you were thinking - RobertDwyer is spot on on the description (below). The only difference for me is that I think it drinks more like a 90 than a 93, but, still, a very good wine.

RobertDwyer's note: Typical Cabernet Sauvignon density in the glass visually. It has a quiet confidence about its presence aromatically. Red raspberries and blackberries. Coffee. Some sage in the background. Moderate acidity and just a touch of tannic grip. A wonderfully balanced wine. Gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous. Drinking well now but would mellow out a bit and integrate with 1 year or more of bottle age.

5/5/2010 - smphelps wrote:

Certainly a nice wine, but nice is not the goal at this price. Lighter strawberry red color which delivers light cherry, mild spice, some faint strawberry and a hint of moss. But on balance somewhat thin, slightly offputingly tart, and generally a prime example of the tough year.

5/23/2010 - Joshiemac Likes this wine:

Kicking this up a few points since the last bottle. Don't know if it was time or what I paired it with, but this was much more enjoyable than previous bottles. Nice soft red fruit with cola elements going on. Would like a little more acidity but can't complain. Drinks well above its price point.

5/24/2010 - 2glassesdown wrote:

by far one of my all time favorite pinots. rich, dark, dusty with powerful but not overpowering finish. paired well with salmon w/course mustard glaze, and a dill havarti. just beautiful to enjoy on its own as well. cant wait for the new vintage...for me it was a 95

5/16/2010 - cns wrote:

OK for the price, but definitely just worth the money, not a bargain here. Don't really know what to say, but it has decent length, a lot of grip/tannins, fruit is a bit subdued, but that's just an old world thing, I guess. Overall, so-so.

5/1/2010 - Clarkmeister wrote:

Wine Spectator's Grand Tour Las Vegas 2010 (The Venetian): Great as usual. Met one of the owners and she was very nice. This is just such a sick sick deal on a price/value basis every single year.

5/16/2010 - JROBAZZI wrote:

ruby coloured, on the nose I felt spices, currant and caramel, with medium intensity. Light bodied, tannins still need time to soften, a little "warm", meaning acidity doesn't counterbalance the alcohol, lasts 6-7 seconds in the mouth.

5/10/2010 - Kirk Grant wrote:

Color: Garnet/Ruby

Smell: Holly Sh!t! This wine has a killer nose of funk, earth, floral tones, and dark fruit.

Taste: Raspberry, cherry, dark chocolate, blueberry, black berry, clove, and cedar.

Overall: I really thought that I would be panning this wine...the last time I had it there was absolutely nothing special about it...and it seemed like a dull fit in the "new world" wine arena. However, This is anything but dull...and far from "typical" when I think of wines made in America. I'll be the first to claim that I'm more a Franc-o-file when it comes to wine...but this reminds me of something strait out of Tuscany...there are some sweet fruit notes on the nose after initially opening...but given time everything just seems to blossom. I could not be more pleased with this...and I wish I had save the other bottles I had of this. I hope the 2004 Sensi eventually hits this quality given some time sideways. I am so glad I have bought some of the 2007's before they are gone...I will be waiting until 2012 to check in on them...well maybe I'll have to look at one of them early on.

5/8/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote:

Probably one of the most disappointing wines I've opened in a while. Went raisiny and pruney on me when I was hoping it would go blackberry and savory. Damn! I'll stick with their more affordable Angels Share line in the future which tastes much better to me.

4/29/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote:

After being impressed with prior vintages of the Columbia Crest Grand Estates Merlot ('03/'04) and also the '07 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet I've been on the hunt for the H3 Merlot.

I found the '05 yesterday, which seemed like an old/back vintage of this wine so I was a little skeptical.

However, I think the bottle age of this wine is actually helpful and for my palate this wine is drinking really well right now. What I like about Columbia Crest wines (and this will play into whether you'll likely agree with my observations here and for what occasions this wine will be well-suited) is that they're so aromatic and flavorful from the moment you pop them open. No-fuss weeknight pizza/burger wine. Also great as a cocktail.

The flavor profile is very focused. Dark berries amply backed by bacon both on the nose and palate. The tannins are sweet- indeed the wine is probably too sugary for some. But it goes down dangerously easily.

I'm a big fan and consider Columbia Crest to be the premier value brand in the US market. For my palate, nobody delivers across all price points better than CC- and the good news it's available everywhere.

5/16/2010 - jbehrendt wrote:

Served at fund raising dinner with appetizers of crisp rounds with Ricotta cheese and cavier. Nice pairing with a nice, reliable Champagne.

5/14/2010 - europat55 wrote:

Very nice California style Chardonnay, but I don't think that it would be worth more than $20.

5/16/2010 - deltacop wrote:

Just read the review from Grape-ape. I'd put these off another 3 years still. This was my last bottle. Enjoy!

5/15/2010 - Pinot Evil wrote:

Liked this even better than the last time

12/26/2009 - puppetclause wrote:

Tasted like tin and chemicals. After a few hours mellowed out a little but was still pretty bad. Opened their Syrah right after and it tasted similar, really bad.

2/12/2010 - Drankthewholebottle wrote:

Barely drinkable, almost crap. Not worth the $7.

5/16/2010 - jpinsb wrote:

Classic California Merlot with complex finish. Havens apparently made this for a higher priced market before the economy placed this on the market at this bargain price.

5/16/2010 - Aquinas wrote:

Need to be opened no less than 1 hr before. Little sour on the noses but drank well

5/12/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

I have been a fan of Owen Roe wines for a long time now (see http://www.rjswineblog.com/search?q=owen+roe), but I'm finding that the lower end wines are starting to taste diluted to me. Not sure if there's a specific reason or if my palate is starting to move away from wines like these, but the '08 Sinister Hand just isn't what I expected or wanted it to be. Bummer. I guess I'll stick to the higher end Owen Roe wines.

5/7/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Does not like this wine:

$5 and not worth the money. I can't believe how hyped this wine is - it's sweet, unbalanced and diluted. Don't believe the hype.

4/28/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

I had this wine about 4 months ago and was really underwhelmed - flat, one dimensional, oakey...if I remember correctly. But, we bought another bottle this week, mostly because it was one of the least expensive reds available to us on our vacation in Hawaii (prices vary in Hawaii, but most of the wine is more expensive than on the mainland). And, this time, I really liked it. Rich, multi-dimensional, dark fruit, with just a touch of oak, but plenty of tannins and life. Really enjoyed this wine - to the point that it's definitely back on my radar. In retrospect, I wonder if the last bottle we bought had someone gone wrong.

4/28/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

When I think of Sauvignon Blanc right now, I think "we'll always have Kim Crawford." I really think this is setting the standard right now for value priced, exceptional SB. Grapefruit, peach and citrus on a huge nose, with more of the same on the palate. Just the right amount of pith for me - and I like pith, especially the bitterness and acidity (I often wonder if I'm describing this right, so, let me know if you think of grapefruit pith as something else that I'm not thinking of). If you like SB, a good cold crisp glass of white wine in the summer and want a quality bottle under $20, this is your wine. Great stuff.

5/5/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

On the nose - cherry, strawverry, straw and anise. Great tannins and acidity and as well balanced as I remember from the last time I tasted this wine. Still young, but a beautiful wine hiding away, just waiting for some special event years down the road.

4/30/2010 - RobertDwyer wrote:

Well balanced and multi-layered. Flavors ping pong between tart cherry and more mellow rich dark fruits. Very enjoyable.

Love the overall package and positioning of the Sea Smoke brand in the marketplace. Of the wines in my collection this one was easily in Top 5 most exciting to open and it didn't disappoint.

4/9/2010 - spo wrote:

Young, primary, and raw. Black fruit that is jammy with caramel, cedar and mint. Tannins did kick in a bit later and made the wine seem much more dry.

4/24/2010 - El Robbo Likes this wine:

Dark ruby red with decent legs.

Dark, peppery, fruit on the nose and full spicy dark berries on the palate.

Good tannins but a little tart at the last, this will probably get a bit better with 2/3 more years. The couple of bottles bought will go very well with the leg of lamb I am cooking for dinner (Bill Granger).

Well worth buying a few for drinking 2011/2013.

4/23/2010 - garambler wrote:

I had this at the Wicked Cellars Grand Rêve dinner on 4/23/10. It had a great bouquet of cassis, cherry, coffee, cocoa and spice aromas. The palate was smooth, well balanced and delicious with flavors that followed the nose. The fruit was incredibly deep, rich and focused. What an awesome treat.

4/19/2010 - meatbomb013 wrote:

Third bottle that I have had over the last 2 years or so. Typically cabernt nose with well integrated flavors of dark berries, oak, and spice box. Tannis are present and firm but well integrated. Drank over 3 days with the second being my favorite. Have a handful more of these and will try again in about a year. A great value at around $30.

4/5/2010 - sandyloveswinetoo wrote:

One of the best QPR Riesling's I've had. It is acidic, pears, minerality...quite a tasty riesling. I've had with asian food, by itself on the porch, cheese. It's good with everything. Buy by the case for the summer.

4/7/2010 - kas wrote:

outstanding bordeaux at this price.

4/9/2010 - shadow wrote:

Definitely a player in the top of the Sarah field. Nose is fresh barrel room, taste is smooth while tripping all the bells and whistles that tell your brain to acquire more. Finish is long and interesting.

4/9/2010 - asaselzer wrote:

Delicate. Fruity. Chocalate. Drinking well now. Elegant.

4/10/2010 - shaferguy91 wrote:

Decanted 1.5 hours.

4/11/2010 - vc wrote:

Wow, not enjoyable at all. I've had Schild from two previous vintages and really enjoyed them. This was like syrup, and unfortunately had to be poured out. Can't call it corked since it's a screw cap.

4/11/2010 - cookie7 wrote:

Poured into decanter at a restaurant and drank immediately. Seemed to be open and drinking nicely.

4/13/2010 - Kirk Grant wrote:

With all the "rave" reviews I had to pull the cork on a bottle of mine to see if I was missing something. I think what it boils down to is this is a very stylistic wine.

Color: Deep violet with a lavender rim

Smell: Coffee, mocha, a mineral presence that reminds me of the smell of a brook stream as it washes over the rocks, leather, violets, and the salty ocean air.

Taste: Blackberries, blueberries, black cherries, licorice, dark chocolate, bloody meat or the tart presence of iron after biting your own tongue.

Overall: A wonderfully complex wine that has a lot to offer given some time sideways. I don't honestly think I'll be opening this wine for another 10 years if I can control myself. Yes...I think it will last that long, and yes, I believe it will continue to improve with time. There is a basic and primal character to this wine...and I think I can finally say I understand these wines and the passion that so many people have for them. However, at the present markup in the secondary market...I do not think they are worth their fetching price. I'll stick with the Reynvaan wines for half the price...

4/12/2010 - Mallards wrote:

I am not usually an Affinity fan (but love the Craig single vineyards). This is ROCK STAR stuff. Rich and big dark fruits like a mountain Cab, but pleasingly smooth like a floor wine. Love it and will buy more.

4/14/2010 - Dale M wrote:

The reduction of new oak with this wine becomes more obvious with each successive vintage, and every time I pull a cork, I keep thinking I don’t own enough Chaleur Estate Blanc. This 08 version is an almost sharp and brisk specimen, with its SB acidity playfully stimulating the salvitory glands; all the while the wonderful Semillon is providing cushions of reassuring richness, keeping this white both unique as well as versatile. By far the most mineral driven CEB. Served with fresh Dungeness crab cakes and alder smoked tarter sauce, a match made in heaven

4/14/2010 - markandsusanw wrote:

Popped and poured ... Light ruby color; medium-bodied, at best. Fruit shy. In short, not very California Zin-like. Really the only thing about this wine that struck me as typical Zin was the spice on the finish, which was quite nice. Other than that, I wasn't impressed. Very mild and blah.

EDIT: This was a completely different wine on day two and I've adjusted my score accordingly. The flavors were more rich and complex. The fruit had developed and the wine, as a whole, was much "bigger," with a far longer finish. The spice remained for a nice zing, but this time it was well-integrated berry taste with a round palate. Still not a great Zin, but a much, MUCH better wine overall.

4/14/2010 - cbuhlman wrote:

a good solid mass market champagne. Nothing extraordinary.

4/16/2010 - winegr wrote:

85-86. Too much oak, too much alcohol. Not particularly well made. Given the quality of fruit, this should be better. Oaky and alcoholic with some chocolate and menthol to go with the heat. Some may like this style so I'll give it a generous rating, but I can do better at $10 than this at $30. Terrible QPR and just plain lousy winemaking. Newton just stinks generally. Jay Miller wouldn't even like this wine.

4/17/2010 - SGates wrote:

United Way Auction Dinner (Palisades Restaurant, Seattle): Dinner at Palisades - had this with crab cakes and it was a wonderful combination. This was just too my liking, not too much wet grass from the SB and not overoaked. This was definitely preferable to the Caymus Conundrum that we had earlier in the evening.

4/19/2010 - Thralow wrote:

Settling down. Best bottle yet. What a value.

4/17/2010 - pkatz wrote:

An enjoyable but fairly simple wine. The forward fruit makes it difficult to identify as a cab, but it is nonetheless a pleasant wine. Drink sooner rather than later.

4/16/2010 - rnellans wrote:

This is a big full throttle wine, that is not my particular style. There is a moderate amount of wood and big dark fruit flavors. Viscous and lush in the mouth. I'm not rating the wine, as I don't want to mark the wine down just because I'm not particularly fond of it.