February 2, 2014 - Still totally alive and kicking! Took a few hours to open but when it did it reworded with smoky dark fury and still noticeable tannin. A real pleasure. - especially at 14.99
December 6, 2012 - My third experience with this wine, the first two being flawed bottles. This particular one had a very good color, a positive sign, and much clearer aromas and taste profiles. Lots of bright fruits and crushed berries framed by a lot of acidity and some tannins. Touches of tar and bacon, in a very light way. A really good terroir, and this wine gives a hint of the possibilities. Probably peaking right now, and will hold for 2-3 years.
May 25, 2012 - Brought April 2012 from warehouse wine at Astor Place for 15.99. Paired well with mushroom orzo dish.
1st taste
Color - great, stain your teeth black / red, little bricking
Nose - Nice red fruit
Palate - a little acid, thin
Finish - short
Then Decanted for 30 minutes
Nose - more leather / tobacco / pepper
palate - better balance
Finish - still short
Continued to get better and better
October 21, 2011 - A very pinot-esque syrah. Youthful looking vigourous purpulish color. Beautiful nose of little berries, caramel and chocolate. Light-to-midweight on the palate. Starts out with chocolate, bluberries and stony flavors. A slight sour raspberry note on the finish. Good acid structure, very resolved smooth tannins. This is not the most complex wine, but it is very easy and delightful to drink. At 12.5% alc, we went through a good part of the bottle in no time. Given that it cost about as much as a Cotes du Rhone from a current vintage, this was a great value.
September 26, 2011 - This wine has a rich purple color with a slight halo in the glass. The aroma is smoky with some wood and leather tones. There is just a hint of fruit on the nose. The body is medium heavy. The fruit flavor profile is similar to dark cherry. It has a complex tartness with components of tannins and minerals.
September 15, 2010 - On the nose, savory and smoky bacon fat, very mild farm funk. On the tongue, certainly cherry and pinot elements, lighter bodied than a full syrah. Medium-short finish. Might be reaching the end of the shelf-life, I think it starts to disassemble after a few hours open. Viognier definitely adds interesting layers.
September 24, 2009 - A: Light orange hues; Little fuzzy looking. Lots of sediment.
N: Honey, heather and sweet savory smoked bacon. Like smelling Little Moose Island at Schoodic point during a heavy fog.
T: Tart cherry; very different almost pinot like. Very light and sweet without being sweet if you know what I mean.
F: Amplified versions of the taste.
Overall: Initial taste after 1 hour of decanting was disappointing and flat. After another hour this opened up perfectly. Very floral
V: 4/5