3/21/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Just received my 2008 allocation this week and I couldn't open one of these fast enough. And, as always, Kosta Browne delivers. It's too young now, but shows a ton of promise. Tart raspberry and trawberry, smoke (i.e. smoked meats, not tobacco smoke) and dirt on the finish. Incredbily well balanced, with all the components working in harmony and such a strak contrast to some of the other wines I've tasted this week. The acidity is also very bright and this wine has a lot of life. I'm not sure if every vintage of Kosta Browne is better than the last, but they all strike a chord with me when I taste them. Another fantastic wine from the boys over at Kosta Browne (now, hopefully, they won't let the acquisition change the quality of the wine).

Well balanced
bright acidity

12/25/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

The Prince in His Caves blend is, technically, a Sauvignon Blanc...but, this wine is unlike anything I've tasted in the Sauvignon Blanc category. First off, when I poured it into my glass, it was cloudy and the color of an almost ripe apricot. Not white, not yellow, but more of an orange color. Definitely, the most unusual color I've seen in a white wine (without getting into a discussion of MD 20/20 or Boones Farm, which don't really count as wines anyhow) and I was intrigued from the first pour. On the nose, this wine is pure apricot. At first I got peach - as sweet as a peach Jolly Rancher - but, as it warmed up a bit, the flavor became richer and a bit more sophisticated, much more like an apricot. There's also a little pineapple, honey and a touch of roasted marshmallow - even taking on some mild characteristics of a Semillon or even a sweet Riesling. Not nearly that sweet, but certainly has some of the same tropical fruit and raisin qualities. Very interesting and complex on the nose. On first taste, I was taken aback by how much it tasted like the nose...again, pure apricot, part ripe, part dried. There's also some tart lemon and good honey taste, but more of a light honey, not a dark rich honey. It's much drier like a Sauvignon Blanc, as opposed to a Semillon or Riesling, and doesn't have much of a front-end. This one arrives at mid-palate, then explodes into the finish, lasting longer than most whites.

12/7/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

For my palate, this wine is a stunner and one of the more unusual wines I've tried this year. The first thing I noticed was the incredible red chile component. Not red pepper or the chiles passed off in grocery stores as authentic. I'm talking chile ristra hanging from the awning of a rundown adobe hut just outside the city of Roswell...or, better yet, a ristra hanging off the side of a building in the Taos pueblo. Not cooked, but still dry and reaking of the warmth, heat and slight bitterness of a dried red chile. Seriously, that's like home to me. You'd think it's a weird flavor on a red wine, but, man, this one really made me feel homesick. On top of that the black fruits, cumin, star anise and a touch of cinnamon top this off to be one of the late surprise hits of the year for me. Huge mouthfeel, but with restrained tannins and a long, lingering, take me back home kind of finish. Outstanding stuff and well worth trying if you can get your hands on some (the 2008 is already sold out). Very nicely done, Schrader.

7/5/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

I don't know why this is, but I've become accustomed to wines in the $20 - 25 price range being inconsistent. The good ones are pretty good, but the bad ones tend to always have at least one of the following problems - too much oak, diluted, over ripe, out of balance or too much heat. This Fall Line actually has none of that. It's not horribly complex, nor is it a wine to be cellared, but it is a very good wine. Big cherry up front, dissolving mid-palate into a rounder, darker fruit and finishing with a smooth, zero-heat, peppery finish. A very elegant wine for the price. Quite impressed with this wine and definitely feel like my blind buy from Garagiste paid off on this one. If you can find it, it's well worth a try.

11/5/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Holy tannins, Batman – this thing is HUGE! And a verified tooth stripper. Very, very young. Felt to me like it will become smooth over time (5 – 10 years?) and/or a lot of decanting, but it was very angry at us for having woken it from its youthful slumber. That said, everything’s there – the body, the weight, the suppler dark fruit, leather and smoke notes – and this is a very nice Merlot. It’s not as supple and elegant as say a Blackbird or even a Pedestal, but give it some time and this wine will be fantastic.

2/18/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Ripe cherry, plum and cedar all play different roles on this one, creating a wine that's too off balance. Add to that a hot finish and I think I'll pass on this one the next time around. Unfortunate, though, because I do think Quivira is putting out some decent wines, just not this one.

NOTE: this bottle sent to me as a sample from the winery.

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.

5/16/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

The Trutina is always a deal at around $20. I first tried this many years ago and loved it, but I was surprised last night by how big the fruit was and how hot it was on the finish. Still, a good wine for a good price and Dunham is definitely worth having on your list of go-to Washington wines.

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.

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.

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.

3/24/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Not sure I'd go as far as a 95 on this one, as JACK does, but this is a very nice wine. Well balanced, with not yet ripe dark fruit, tobacco and a little spice, from a well trusted WA wine producer in DeLille. I did not know about this label until I tried it as part of a TasteLive event hosted by Hospice du Rhone (disclosure: this wine was sent to me as a sample), but is definitely on my radar now.

12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

This really is a beautiful wine. Definite blackberry, licorice, tea and oak, with a little touch of earth and leather. It's a complex wine that's incredibly well balanced, with just the right acidity and tannins to make it feel vibrant and alive through the strong finish. Amazingly velvety and textured for a 2005 - particularly since it was just released in early March. No doubt this will get better with age, but certainly a great wine now - I can only imagine what it would taste like if decanted for an hour or so before drinking.

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

Great flavor profile on this wine with lots of black fruit, earth and spice notes. This is a big wine, but not in an aggressive sense - it still has enough elegance to win most people over (at least everyone at our table). Doyenne may be one of my new go-to Washington wines. 61% Syrah, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Mourvedre.

11/11/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Pretty subtle nose on this wine, but still has very nice aromas of mango, orange and lemon. The nose does start to get a little bigger as the wine warms, but still pretty subdued. The palate, however, is anything but. Rich, buttery start on the front palate, with a sweet jolly rancher opening (maybe watermelon or grape), apple, pear and lemon mid palate and a massive oily, buttery finish. There is plenty of acid on this wine, but it's 2 - 3 layers in, as the richness wears off a bit and your mouth starts to pucker just at the end. For those of you who know, sweet Riesling is not my thing and this one is too sweet for me, but, if you like that, definitely worth a try.

4/19/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Another Costco find with the Cameron Hughes Lot 86 Lodi Zinfandel 2006. Picked this one up for $10 at my local store in San Francisco.

What Cameron Hughes says about the wine: Dark, brick red wine with super spicy, huge nose of plums, blackberry, and black pepper. On the palate this wine is a basket of plummy red fruits, a little pomegranate, vanilla oak notes, pepper, and chocolate covered raisins. As this powerfully structured zinfandel opens up it gains additional complexity with tobacco and sweet cigar smoke notes. Despite two years in barrel, this zin is just a baby and will continue to improve in the bottle for many years to come.

Day 1 - On the nose, I'm getting a ton of plum, good ripe plum, with some cracked pepper and a little heat from the alcohol. Definitely a respectable nose for a $10 wine and a promising hint at the taste. But, once this hit my mouth, I had two words for this wine - fruit bomb! I cannot seem to get the plum to move out of the way and let some other elements come through. And, this isn't a delicate plum, this is a dark brooding plum that fell off the tree weeks ago and is trying it's damnedest to break down and get back into the earth. There is some bright berry - maybe cherry or raspberry - but it really is having a hard time holding it's own. Pretty good mid-palate, with a long finish, but the emo-plum sticks with me much longer than I would like. I don't see this one getting any better with age or with decanting, either, as the tannins are relatively mild and it feels like the fruit will just continue to get darker and heavier.

In its defense, the first couple tastes I had were with a juicy hamburger and it fared pretty well. The salt and grease of the burger elevated the other fruit and subdued the plum nicely. So, maybe this is a wine that needs some good grease with it.

Day 2 - not much to add, except that somehow the plum got even darker and more brooding, like it spent the night out with some old friends listening to Joy Division, smoking unfiltered cigarettes and reciting poetry at a half-empty spoken word open mike night. Definitely not the way I want to spend my night...

9/7/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Kind of surprised by this one, which is fitting since it came in my mystery case from Garagiste. Still young and very tannic, but on the 2nd night smoothed out quite a bit and even got a "hey, honey, check this out - pretty good..." You'd be shocked by how seldom that happens in our household. On the nose, big, bold dark berry fruit and earth, covered in a thick blanker of sweet and smokey maple bacon. Very nice acidity on the palate, with blackberry and cherry fruit, with, like I said, a mouthful of grippy tannins. Very nice wine.

4/12/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

i can't say enough good things about this wine - i'm increasing my score to a 90

3/8/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

I'm with jwobkk on this one in that I'm a big fan of Vietti as a producer - haven't met one of their wines I didn't like. Tart cherry, herbs and pepper, with a very broad mid-palete, great acidity and mid-length finish. Looking forward to getting more of this for the cellar. On a side note, doesn't pair well with Girl Scout Thin Mints cookies...although I'm perfectly fine eating and drinking them separately.

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.

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.

12/7/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

I was excited to get this wine from Schrader, particularly after Wine Spectator gave Schrader so many accolades for their wines this year. This wine is billed as "Amazing Quality, Exceptional Value" on their website and I have to agree with that. This wine is everything I think is right about big California Cabernet - not too over-oaked and not too over-ripe, it drinks very smoothly with smooth tannins and an incredible flavor profile of dark cherries, tobacco, saddle leather and a touch of warm earth. At $40, it's not necessarily a weeknight quaffer, but it certainly drinks easy and solidly competes with wines in its price range.

2/25/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

This is the lowest score I've given a Sea Smoke Pinot. Not too low at a 90, but there's something missing for me about Sea Smoke the last few vintages. I don't know if it's the new(er) winemaker or what, but Sea Smoke used to blow me away...incredible tasting experiences with particularly the Botellas and Tens (not as big a fan of the Southings). So, relatively speaking the 2007 Ten is not my favorite relative to other Sea Smokes. But, against other Pinot Noir, this is still very nice. A bit young and rambunctious still, but a nice blend of dark cherries, lavender and blood orange with a hint of smoke. Incredible acidity on this wine, especially for a California Pinot Noir.

3/6/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

A little too oakey, overbearing fruit and just a bit off balance for me. On the nose, I picked up smoke, oak, pepper, coke (say that 5 times fast), but not much fruit…that came in the mouth with dark, ripe cherries followed by the oak and pepper. Strong tannin structure, with mild acidity and a bit too hot for my taste as it meandered into a fairly long finish (longer than I expected).

7/29/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Crazy assortment of things going on with this wine - old musty car (think old 1960's leather upholstery), swisher sweet cigar tobacco and fruit leather. Come to think of it, reminds me of a fugitive running hard cross country, feeling in the clear, having evaded the authorities in his 1963 Buick Invicta, smoking cigars and eating homemade fruit leather (little does he know, the roadblock is just over the next hilltop). Grippy tannins and a mid-length finis. Not my favorite, but definitely on my list of interesting wines and one to try again.

1/9/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

My notes from TasteLive session from Ridge Vineyards:
# [in response to @enobytes] Completely agree - the color on the Caboose is very dark
# Nose on the Caboose is ripe, plummy, jammy, sweet, like a train ran over a box of ripe fruit & splattered it all over the station walls
# Caboose was extremely tight for me when I first opened it, but has opened up considerably - let this one sit a while before drinking

NOTE: this wine was sent to me as a sample from Ridge

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.

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.

2/1/2011 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Dark cherry, herbal notes and a very light spice note on the palate. This is a very smooth drinking pinot and one that does not skimp on flavor. Not quite a huge CA Pinot, but not an Oregon delicate diva either. Nicely balanced and strong, lingering finish. Well done, Ceja...well done.

NOTE: this wine was sent to me as a sample from the winery.

12/7/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

I think I may be at the end of my Châteauneuf-du-Pape rope. I've tried so many different CDP's and none of them match my palate that well. I know there are a ton of people out there that love their CDP's and the 2007 vintage is being sold as an epic one, but there's something just off for me. It could be the overall fragility of the wines or the fruit or the funk I sometime get, but, overall, CDP's just leave me empty. Not enough mouthfeel or finish. So, probably not going to give any CDP a high rating, at least for my palate. This one is perfectly fine - feels well balanced, fruit is tasty and there are some good Christmas spice notes, but, overall, just leaves me wanting more. If there are any suggestions on a CDP that I must try, let me know, but, for now at least, I'll probably give up the ghost on CDP.

4/2/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Wanted to try the '07 because I've had the '06 and I tasted it alongside the '08 which is using Arizona grapes. The '07 is a California blend and quite nice. Super funky when we opened it, but I think it was a little tight and was just coming out of the cellar at about 57 degrees. Once it warmed up and the funk wore off, this was a lush, big wine, mostly black fruit and oak that wasn't too overbearing. Big finish. Nice work, Maynard.

10/24/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Although this was probably opened well before its prime, I was absolutely stunned by how well this is drinking right now. Layers upon layers of complexity on both the nose and the palate. Of the 15 wines tasted last night, this one was a true stand-out. Eucalyptus, leather, tobacco and crostini (that's a new one for me) on the nose, with so much rich dark fruit, leather and tobacco flavors on the palate. This will definitely be in contention for wine of the year for me. Absolute stunner!

3/28/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Bought this one to pair with Osso Buco, like I did with the 2006 a few weeks back, but this one was a better wine and better pair for the meal than the '06. Warm, rich, good dark fruit, some smoke and spice, but enough acidity this time around that it really helped cut through the richness of the Osso Buco (it was served over mascarpone polenta, so you can imagine, I'm still feeling full the morning after). I have one more bottle of this, but seriously contemplating buying a few more - good to dring on its own or paired.

8/29/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Thought I had written a tasting note for this already, but apparently I had not. Buty is one of my favorite producers in the Northwest - great, interesting wines and very cool owners...can't ask for much more than that. This wine took my wife and I by surprise, in that it was far better than we even expected, given the sub-$20 price point. For me, this is not a hot summer day white, but more of a Fall wine, when the days aren't cold yet, but starting to head that way. On the nose, it's warm and rich, with a creamy, broad mouthfeel, citrus and acid. Very nice blend.

3/7/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Been a big fan of Pedestal ever since TobinW introduced me to it a few years back and the '05 and '06 are amazing, full bodied Merlots. With big dark fruit, butterscotch and a huge finish, the '07 is no different. But, I chose not to decant it and it was angry to be woken up so soon into its late winter nap. Huge, tooth drying, chalky tannins. Not unmanageable, but either wait on this one or decant for at least two hours before drinking. This wine will reward those who wait.

8/20/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Tangerine, dried apricots and roasted orange peel on an intense nose, followed by honey, apricot and sweet mold on the palate. Sweet and syrupy, with a secondary layer of medium acidity. This is a complex wine, with so many layers. Very good / outstanding.

5/24/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Can't remember when I first tried Ampelos Pinot Noir, but I do remember liking it quite a bit. And the guys at the winery, or at least the ones I dealt with, were top notch - great customer service, great follow-up and just nice people. I don't recall having the Lambda as part of that tasting, so let's see how it is...

Very light in color - a bit deceptive, really, given that this is no delicate Pinot. The nose is somewhat subdued, with cherry, lavender, pepper and spice, but the palate is actually quite big, showing off its hearty red fruit, floral notes, lots of pepper and some vanilla towards the end. Quite nice, good long finish, well structured mid-palate, nice balance...I'm impressed. The only thing that's throwing me off is that it's hot, a lot hotter than I expected. I have had some unexpected heartburn today, so that may be flaring up the alcohol some, but, nonetheless, the heat is throwing me off.

NOTE: this wine was sent to me as a free sample

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

Hadn't tasted this California legend before tonight and I was surprised that it wasn't as big as I expected - much more subdued and supple. Loses a little structure on the mid-palate, but good dark fruit, butterscotch and cedar, with great acidity and finish.

3/23/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Very interesting blend. On the one hand, shows some of the overripe plums and oak that I'm not that keen on, but, on the other hand, also brings with it some dark, rich, overripe black fruit, licorice and minerals. First off, I should probably own up to the fact that this is an incredibly unbalanced wine. Second, it's the kind of wine that makes me not care. It's like the United States of Tara (if you haven't seen the show, think shizophrenic, but loveable) on a good day.

7/29/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Incredible nose on this wine - mostly caramel, butterscotch and candle wax, with a touch of Catholic church incense. Medium acidity, mid - long finish and incredibly expressive. This is a fantastic white and very warm, balanced and broad.

12/26/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

I never, ever forget what a great wine this is. It's just so damn smooth and balanced, with not just a huge flavor profile, but also a very uniqu blend of flavors. On the nose, blackberry bush, spring rain and chocolate. On the palate, blackberry, earth, leather and a touch of lavender. So well balanced and hits the palate so uniformly it's almost like each component of the juice got their marching orders in advance. Long, smooth finish, with no heat or any irregularities. I'm telling you, this is a really nice wine and if you have not tried it, get some. Buty is one of the best producers in Washington. Period.

12/24/2009 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

the color of squid ink, but from a squid that grew up in a barnyard. big, bold and chewy.

2/26/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

I'm actually quite surprised that this note is the first tasting note on CellarTracker - this is a very nice wine. Ripe dark fruit, tobacco and milk chocolate, with a decent finsh, but narrow mid-palate. 70% Merlot / 30% Cabernet Franc gives it the lush qualities of a Merlot, with the intensity of a Cab Franc. Very nice and well balanced combination. The only downside is that we had it paired with Osso Buco and there wasn't enough acidity to cut through the richness of the meal - for me, this is a wine best enjoyed on its own.

1/23/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

This one's an easy drinker - blackberry, smoke, plum and pepper - with great balance and just enough acidity to make it come to life. versatile wine, either on its own or with a big, fatty, grilled steak. Broad on the palate all the way through, with a medium length finish. ALmost scored this a 90, but the finish on this one left me wishing for more. But, good wine other than that.

NOTE: this wine was sent to me courtesy of Wines of Chile

10/24/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Caramel and lemony citrus on the nose and palate. Lots of acidity. Big bubbles, made it drink like club soda.

1/31/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

I went to McCarthy & Schiering wine shop in Seattle looking for a good wine to pair with butternut squash soup and, man, did they nail it with this French Chardonnay. Good wine on its own, with more crispness than a US Chardonnay. Good citrus, apple and mineral notes. But, with the soup, it was a perfect blend of flavors complimenting each other. Whenever I make butternut squash soup again, this is the wine I will have on hand to enjoy it with.

8/12/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Interesting nose on this one - black licorice bites, over-ripe or even just rotting strawberries, tar and maple syrup. Sounds sweet, but not too bad. Similar on the palate, but more like dried strawberries and far more heat on the finish than I expected - enough so that it distracted from the wine, even with some layering and complexity.

3/23/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Not sure what to say on this one - unbalanced, oakey vanilla and toast and that mysterious red wine component that instantly makes my light-headed and gives me a mild headache (what is that - anyone know?). Not okay. I saw this described as wild berried and forest floor, but I thikn that this is mostly forest floor and a combination of several different forest floors around the world, each with its own fiercely independent characteristics / flaws.

1/30/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

lemon, peach, sour apple, in a crisp and full white wine. surprisingly little oak and a long, lingering finish. really nice wine, but a bit pricey for a washington state white wine, so keeping my rating at an 89 (don't always do this, but only in situations where i feel the qpr is off a bit).

3/24/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com wrote:

Can't believe I'm the first to post a tasting note on this one. Very small production wine at 141 cases and, of course, already completely sold out. Blackberry, ripe cherry, lavender, a touch of butterscotch and vanilla. This is a fantastic wine and deserves the praise it gets. Charles Smith is quite the craftsman when it comes to working with WA grapes.