4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery. Delicious opened a lot in the past 4 months. Cherry

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery, caramel!

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

I agree with my tasting note of 4 months ago!! Tasted at the winery.

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Wow, tasty juice !!
Tasted at the winery

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery.

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Wow, tasted at the winery, what a treat!!
I agree with my tasting note of 4 months ago !! Delicious !!

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Wow, tasting great!!
Tasted at the winery, great coastal fruit, medium to long finish.

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery side by side with the 2021

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery side by side with the 2018.

4/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery side by side with the 2017.

4/28/2024 - bdhanna wrote:

Tasted at the winery. This balanced wine has softened and matured from the estate property. Tasted side by side with the 2021 that displayed more fruit.

4/25/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Easy drinking and delicious Grenache from Barrosa !!
Easy open screw-top. Shared with friends at dinner. Perfectly balanced dark burgundy colored Grenache with good clarity. Aromas of black cherry, leather, and vanilla. Bright flavors of red cherry, kirsch, glycerin, white pepper, mocha, and umami with a fruity medium finish. This gulgable Grenache is drinking well now. Unfortunately, I have no bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar to try later. Good fruit and winemaking effort.

4/23/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

My, oh my !! Tasty juice !! At peak !!
This is a balanced Pinot Noir that I consumed over two days. Cork saturated about half-way up after over a dozen years but easily removed. Deep ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of pomegranate and caramel, flavors of sweet cranberry, cherry, rhubarb, and forest floor with a pleasant medium to long finish. This wine really held in there and had not fallen apart on day two. Great fruit with firm acidity made into a very balanced Pinot Noir from the Taboni vineyard, a small 15-acre Pinot Noir vineyard near the intersection of Olivet Lane and River Road, in the heart of Russian River Valley. A beautifully sloped vineyard with great loamy clay and mineral soil planted to Dijon 115, 667, 777, and Pommard 5 clones. This Pinot Noir is a surprisingly age worthy wine and has more years of life left. I still have three more bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar; I may open one in the next few months or so to verify my rating.

4/23/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting great considering the pedigree. This blend has held up well. At or just past peak !!
I'm surprised no one has written a note for this afterthought of a wine. An homage to the Novitiate property and the Brothers winemaking tradition. Tasted on release and was impressed at the quality for the cost. This solo bottle was just languished in the cellar to be found this week.
Screw top easily removed after over a dozen years in the bottle. Medium honey colored with modest oxidation (as one might expect) and excellent clarity. Aromas and flavors of creamy green apple and lychee. Drink up if you still have any.

4/23/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting extremely good right now, may have lost a step !! At or just past peak !! I agree with my notes of the past year and a half.
This note is specifically for the vineyard designated Londer Estate Pinot Noir (now Angels Camp Vineyard).
The cork was perfect after over a dozen years in the bottle. This balanced Pinot Noir was consumed over two days. Bright ruby color with minor oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of red raspberry and pomegranate, flavors of red fruit compote, rhubarb with a hint of forest floor with a medium finish. A balanced Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley appellation of Pinot Noir clones: Dijon 115, 667, 777, 828, Swan, David Bruce, 2A and Pommard. This Pinot Noir is an age worthy wine and may have one or two more years of life left. This was the last bottle of this vintage in my cellar. Great winemaking in a problematic year by Larry Londer and Joe Webb. I sure miss Larry and Shirley; I sure hope they are doing well in retirement.

4/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

What a tasty surprise, this wine is tasting extremely good right now !! Luscious and at peak !!
The cork was nearly perfect after over a dozen years in the bottle, easily removed. This balanced Pinot Noir was consumed over two days. Deep ruby color with minor oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of red raspberry and pomegranate, flavors of red fruit compote, rhubarb, and marine soil with a hint of forest floor and a medium to long finish. Popped and poured, but this wine really benefited from gentle oxygen since it was much more soft and integrated on day two and had not fallen apart. Longbow is a barrel selection, a handcrafted blend by the Arista winemaking team of the favorite barrels in the cellar from across all our Russian River Valley vineyards. Great fruit made into a very balanced Pinot Noir that has thrived in the test of time. This Pinot Noir is an age worthy wine and may have more years of life left. I still have one more bottle of this vintage remaining in my cellar. I will open soon to verify my rating.

4/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Starting to fade although I agree with my tasting note of the past 3.5 years.
Near perfect cork easily removed. Medium ruby color with modest oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over two days, the fruit faded quickly. I have no bottles of this vintage remaining in the cellar.

4/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Starting to fade nearing the end of life. I agree with my tasting notes of the past 3.5 years.
Near perfect cork easily removed. Dark burgundy color with modest oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over two days, fruit faded quickly. I have no bottles of this vintage remaining in the cellar.

4/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Starting to fade although I still agree with my tasting notes of the past 3.5 years.
Near perfect cork easily removed. Dark burgundy color with mild oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over two days, fruit faded quickly. I have no bottles of this vintage remaining in the cellar.

4/17/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting great and aged to perfection !! At peak or just past peak !!
Somewhat dried cork with little penetration after fifteen years in the bottle, easily removed with the Durand. Consumed over three days, Vac-U-Vined and refrigerated. The wine held up well and did not fall apart over 72 hours. Medium honey colored with minor oxidation and excellent clarity. 2006 was an El Niño year cooler and wetter than normal making for a challenging growing season. Greg allowed for full ripening resulting in high alcohol disguised in a particularly balanced wine (not hot). Savory aromas of apple and honeydew with buttery flavors of lemon cream, baked apple pie, lichee fruit, and tropical fruit. This balanced Chardonnay has softened and the acids were tamed, a product of extended cellaring. Delicious fruit and excellent winemaking from Greg Brewer that has stood the test of time. Well worth the wait, no more bottles of this vintage year remaining in my cellar. My advice is to drink up and enjoy !!

4/16/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still drinking well for a mature zinfandel !! Delicious example of ol Rockpile Zinfandel !!
Perfect cork after a decade and a half in the bottle. Medium ruby color with minor oxidation and good clarity. Consumed over two days, gently poured and this zin opened quickly, on day two, the flavor profile had barely shifted. Aromas of smokey red raspberry and herbs du Provence. Flavors of blackberry compote, ripe plums, blueberries, dried fruit, and black pepper with a medium finish. This was not a great vintage due to dry lightening fires to the north and east but has matured and softened over the years. This bottle was at or just past peak. My last bottle, none of this vintage remaining in my cellar.

4/15/2024 - bdhanna wrote:

Cooked despite good storage. Just not made to age. Oxidized and bitter. Lost in the cellar, found when attempting to drink up some of the old ones.

4/14/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still delicious !! Especially considering this was Merry's inexpensive blend !!
Perfect cork after over a dozen years in the bottle, easily removed. Dark ruby colored with minor oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over two days. It held up well on the second day. This was the last bottle of the vintage in my cellar. At or just past peak.

4/14/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Aged to perfection !! At peak !!
Perfect composite cork, easily removed after a dozen years in the bottle. Consumed over two days, Vac-U-Vined and refrigerated. Pale straw color with little to no oxidation and excellent clarity. 2011 was a challenging growing year, but Melville found the secret with this estate clone 76 fruit. Bright aromas of lime, honeydew, and green apple with buttery flavors of lemon cream, baked apple pie, lichee fruit, and tropical fruit. The softened and acids were tamed, a product of extended cellaring. Delicious fruit and excellent winemaking from Greg Brewer that has stood the test of time. Well worth the wait, no more bottles of this vintage year remaining in my cellar.

4/12/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Wow !! Still tasting really good for a rediculously inexpensive wine, just past peak !!
Amazingly perfect cork, easily removed after 18 years in the bottle. Dark purple (inky) color with medium oxidation and poor clarity (unfined & unfiltered). Consumed over two days, vibrant with decent fruit on the first day and a little tired after 48 hours. Durif (Petite Sirah) can make a long lasting wine and can age very well. Although winemakers are making it more approachable upon release these days. This wine really benefited from extra time in the bottle and was 90+ upon opening yesterday. I should have known and consumed it all then, it is not bad now, just tired at 88-. Started with fresh aromas and flavors of blueberry and black currant. As the oxidation reduction reaction continued, the fruit diminished and the stoney unsweetened blackberry jam core remained. It is so interesting to see what has happened with a descent age worthy wine under $10 over almost two decades. There are no bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar to conduct this experiment again.

4/10/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

I agree with my tasting notes of the past year. This wine is still testing great !! At Peak !!
A perfect cork after over a decade in the bottle, easily removed. Consumed over two days. Perfectly aged, soft, integrated, and balanced wine. Ruby red color with little to no oxidation, aromas of red bramble berries, bright flavors of black cherry and cranberry, with a pleasantly long to medium finish of soft red raspberry compote. No more bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar. Way to go Bob Mueller.

4/10/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still hanging in there and tasting really good !! At or near peak !!
Perfect cork easily removed. Medium purple color with modest oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over four days in a kitchen counter aging test, this wine did well in this experiment. Aromas of blackberry and black currant. Flavors of brambly berries with a medium finish. Excellent Napa fruit aging well.

4/10/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Really hitting its stride and tasting really good !!
Perfect cork easily removed. Medium purple color with no oxidation and medium clarity. Consumed over four days in a kitchen counter aging test, this wine aged well in this experiment. Aromas of blackberry and concord jelly. Flavors of brambly berries with a medium finish. Great Dry Creek fruit. One CT score of this wine is way off the mark without comment or rationale.

4/10/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Zesty !! Still tasting great !!
Perfect composite cork easily removed once the wax seal was cracked. Pale straw color with good clarity. Consumed over three days, Vac-U-Vin and refrigerated. Flavors and aromas of citrus, lemon, lichee, and honeysuckle that were more apparent as it warmed. Tasty, age worthy blend of 25% Arneis, 25% Riesling, 25% Tocai Friulano, and 25% Vermentino. No more bottles remaining in my cellar. Excellent fruit and winemaking by Steve Clifton.

4/9/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tastes great !! I found one more bottle in my cellar. I agree with my tasting note of over 9 months ago. A classic CDR at peak and delicious !!

4/7/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

1/29/2022 - I LIKE THIS WINE: (Edit)93 Points
Still tasting great, this wine is at or near peak right now !!
The cork was nearly perfect after over a dozen years in the bottle. This is a balanced Pinot Noir that I consumed over two days. Deep ruby color with minor oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of pomegranate and carmel, flavors of sweet cranberry, cherry, rhubarb, and forest floor with a pleasant medium to long finish. Great fruit of Pommard, Swan, and Calera clones. A very balanced Pinot Noir from the Two Birds Vineyard on the Arista estate in the Russian River Valley appellation of Sonoma County. This Pinot Noir is an age worthy wine and has more years of life left. I have no more bottle of this vintage remaining in my cellar.

4/2/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Fruit forward, going places.
Easy open screw top. Rich red color with excellent clarity. consumed over five days in a kitchen counter aging test for this young wine. each evening the wine had evolved and was still tasting great after five days. Excellent aging potential. Aromas and flavors of red cherry and strawberry compote. Not too complex.

4/1/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still impressive !! At or near peak !!
The last bottle of the case consumed at an Argentinian restaurant with friends and grilled rack of lamb. perfect cork easily removed. Dark red with minor oxidation and medium clarity. This syrah has the fragrance of black cherry cola, taste of bing cherries, and a full 3 second finish. Bill Easton's magic on full display with this wine.

4/1/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

In a great spot !! Near peak !!
Perfect cork after a decade in the bottle. Consumed at dinner with friends. Dark ruby color with no evidence of oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of fig, cranberry, black tea, with hint of forest floor. Flavors of black cherry cola, and raspberry compote with a medium to long finish. The il Megilo very balanced flavorful Pinot Noir from Rochioli, a fabled Russian River vineyard. This age worthy wine may have many more years of life left. I still have one remaining in the cellar and will consume soon to validate this tasting note. Excellent fruit and a very good winemaking effort from Tim Borges at Portalupi.

4/1/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Aged beautifully for over two decades !!
Cork was dry, but was easily removed with the Durant. Consumed over three days, vac u vin and refrigerated. Nice honey color, excellent clarity with minor oxidation. Perfumed floral aromas of honeysuckle, peach, and pear; soft flavors of apricot, pear, and lichee fruit with a long flavorful mineral rich finish. This Roussanne is nicely balanced and has demonstrated great remarkable ability for aging. This mature wine is nearing the end of life. Great estate fruit and winemaking.

3/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting great !! I agree with my tasting note of just over four months ago.
Perfect cork after a decade in the bottle, easily removed. Dark red color with minimal oxidation, clarity good. Varietal accuracy with aromas and flavors of dark berries and a medium finish. This is a well-made old vine Zinfandel and was delicious paired with pizza at a restaurant with friends. I have no bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar.

3/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting great !! This Barbera is the perfect wine to pair with pizza and opened this one at a pizza restaurant with friends.
A perfect cork after over a decade in the bottle removed without drama. Dark ruby color with no oxidation and good clarity. We consumed this fine example of Cooper Vineyards Barbera over two hours. Aromas of cherry, vanilla, licorice, and glycerin. Very sweet flavors of black cherry cola, fig, plum, and raspberry framboise. A medium to long finish on this flavorful varietal accurate Barbera. This age worthy wine has a few more years of life left and is tasting at peak right now. Fortunately, I have more bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar to validate this tasting note. Dick Cooper was the godfather of Barbera in Amador County and will be missed, but his legacy lives on.

3/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still hanging in there, barely.
A perfect cork after over a decade in the bottle easily removed. Consumed over two nights, enjoyed much more on day two. Not as interesting to me as the 2011. I still have more in the cellar to asset again soon.

3/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Really developed nicely and finally approachable. Served at Turkish restaurant with friends. A perfect composite cork after over a decade in the bottle easily removed. Casis and black cherry with a medium but odd eucalyptus finish. Paired well with lamb. None remaining in the cellar.

3/8/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting great !! This Barbera is the perfect wine to pair with pizza and is at peak !!
A perfect cork after over a dozen years in the bottle removed without drama. Dark ruby color with no oxidation and good clarity. We consumed this varietal accurate Barbera over two days. Aromas of cherry, vanilla, licorice, and glycerin. Sweet flavors of black cherry cola, fig, plum, and raspberry framboise. A medium to long finish on this flavorful varietal accurate Barbera. This age worthy wine has a few more years of life left and is tasting at peak right now. Fortunately, I have two bottles of this vintage remaining in my cellar to validate this tasting note.

3/4/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Maury Grenache !! Still tasting great !!
Perfect cork, easily removed, after over a dozen years in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Deep dark ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of bing cherry with flavors of black cherry, fig, blackberry and a long finish. A very balanced flavorful Grenache from the Maury Sec in the Roussilon. This age worthy wine with more years of life left. Great fruit and a very good winemaking effort.

2/28/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Cotes du Catalobes Grenache !! Still tasting great !! Near or at peak !!
Perfect cork after over a decade in the bottle. Consumed over two days. Deep dark ruby color with no oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of bing cherry with flavors of black cherry, fig, blackberry and a long finish. A very balanced flavorful Grenache from a beautiful region in the southern Roussilon. This age worthy wine has more years of life left. Great fruit and a very good winemaking effort by Department 66.

2/26/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Still tasting great !! At or near peak !! More like a CDP than a CDR
Perfect cork after over a dozen years in the bottle. Dark red with little to no oxidation with medium clarity. Aromas of plum, black cherry, and vanilla. Silky flavors of black cherry cola, licorice, currant, blackberry, glycerin, and leather with a hint of tobacco and mushroom; and has a medium flavorful finish. A blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre, and the rest a mix of varieties.

2/14/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

At peak, tasting great right now !!
Perfect cork, easily removed after over a dozen years in the bottle. Consumed this classic GSM blend over two days, fruit more predominant on the first day. Softened depth and integrated complexity on day two. Deep dark ruby color with minor oxidation, clarity medium. Aromas of bing cherry with flavors of black cherry, fig, blackberry and a medium to long finish. A very balanced flavorful blend from the Grignan-les-Adhémar. This age worthy wine from a problematic growing year, at peak with more years of life left. Great fruit and a very good winemaking effort.

2/12/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

This Grenache gem from Côtes Catalanes is still drinking well.
Owners Laurent and Cylia Pratx are originally from Maury and spent years working in the wine industry in the Rhône Valley. In 2007 they left their jobs in Gigondas and purchased Clos Serre Romani (Rosemary Hill), is a small domaine of only six hectares. The beautiful southern facing vineyards are on the steep hillside just under the iconic Château de Quéribus. Perched on a rugged mountain top above the town of Maury. Wonderful fruit from a challenging year and excellent winemaking by Laurent Pratx.

2/12/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

At peak and drinking well !!
This Rhone blend of 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Counoise is delightful. Near perfect cork, easily removed with my Durand after over a dozen years in the bottle. Medium ruby color with minor oxidation and good clarity. Consumed this baby Châteauneuf-du-Pape over two days. Reminiscent of Famille Perrin Château de Beaucastel version of the classic Rhône blend dependent on the Mourvèdre backbone. Well made in a challenging growing year. I still have one remaining in my cellar and will consume in a year or so to validate my tasting note.

1/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Wow, this is a special Pinot !! Well done Heidi and Steve !!
Tasted at the winery alongside other Pinots, this was at a different level. Barrel selection, blended with additional barrel aging to produce a beautifully balanced wine with a long finish. Aromas and flavors of cherry and vanilla. Very nice young, curious what will happen with a few years of bottle age.

1/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery, classic Petaluma Gap flavor profile reminiscent of Wildcat. Old school style with a touch of floral herbs with a medium finish.

1/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery, this young Pinot benefited from air. Nice aromas and flavors of raspberry with a medium finish.

1/21/2024 - bdhanna Likes this wine:

Tasted at the winery, this young Pinot will benefit from air. Aromas and flavor or pomegranate with a medium finish.