Community Tasting Notes 10

• JERB Likes this wine: 93 points

  November 8, 2019 - Really gorgeous! My tasting observations are consistent with the last time we tasted it in April of 2018. The wine has continued to mellow, enough that it prompts me to say that if you still have a 2011 Keystone, you probably ought to consider enjoying it in the near future. Alas, I have no more! What it may have lost in vibrancy it has made up for in integration - it has such a great mouthfeel to go along with the taste.
  
  Now to the issues that worked against this wine in the restaurant...
  
  This was one of a number of wines the group of 12 of us took to dinner at a well known restaurant in Portland OR where we were vacationing. When I made the reservation, I asked about their corkage policy and was told that it was $30 per 750ml bottle, but that they would waive one fee for every bottle we purchased from them - BOGO. Sounded quite reasonable. When we arrived we were informed that there was a 2 bottle BYO limit per table. I specifically asked about any limits when I contacted them and was told there were none. We were not happy. Then the wine manager started lecturing us as to how alcohol is a major source of a restaurant's revenue, and that is why they have the 2 bottle limit. He then suggested we just start opening some bottles and "see how it goes." Nope - not gonna risk a big surprise on the bill. He then took our two bottles of wine away from the table and brought them back opened without the corks. It was a really unfortunate situation that very much put a damper on the meal and the evening. I regretted that such a gorgeous wine had to be subjected to such lousy service!

  Comment

• STM82 wrote: 93 points

  October 12, 2018 - Very dark purple and almost opaque. Nose of salted plums and caramel. On the palate there was plenty of cured beef and salted pork. Nice balance of fruit with dark berries and plums with good acidity. Tannins are resolved and fine. Drink 'em if ya got 'em!

  Comment

• JERB Likes this wine: 93 points

  April 6, 2018 - Last tasted in November of 2014, so this bottle has 3.5 more years of age on it. What I know now is that I rated this wine a bit too high when I first tasted it. I think I was smitten by the uniqueness of this wine being aged in American oak barrels from Keystone Cooperage and by the small production (95 cases). I hindsight (always 20/20!), my earlier ratings should likely have been 91. Why do I say this, because now this wine has really come into its own! So well balanced; no alcohol heat at all; fantastic fruit (red to purple) flavors; beautiful dark color; just plain excellent!
  
  This "Keystone" is drinking beautifully right now!
  
  The other thing I just did - which for some reason I have never done before - was to go back and look at all of my tasting notes and sort them by score. When I did that, I realized that a lot of my scores from my early days of using CT were higher than I would give them now. There is something to be said for more experience! But having said that, I feel that this 2011 Alta Colina "Keystone" is now truly worthy of 93 points.

  Comment

• Loren Sonkin wrote: 89 points

  April 19, 2016 - HdR Farewll BBQ (Hospice du Rhone): Good black raspberry fruit on the nose. Some alcohol showing. The palate has some harshness. Lots of tannins but lots of fruit too. Some heat on the finish. Maybe it just needed more air to settle down, but it is slightly disjointed on opening.

  Comment

• brianofthevine wrote: 90 points

  September 18, 2015 - Black cherry and blackberry fruit with a good dose of smoke and pepper throughout. Nice long finish, subtle tannins on the end.

  Comment

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Wine Definition

• Vintage 2011
• Type Red
• Producer Alta Colina
• Varietal Syrah
• Designation Keystone
• Vineyard Estate
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Central Coast
• Appellation Paso Robles

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 24 (28%)
• Consumed 62 (72%)

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