May 14, 2017 - Dark garnet color with the earthy smell you'd expect from an aged Rhone wine. Still some nice tannin and bracing acidity. Dark fruit on the palate. Can age longer given the screw top's lack of breathing. Nice wine but better decanted a bit.
March 22, 2017 - Wow - this one still sort of kicking in early '17! No numerical score, since I'm not sure what to compare it to. I'm guessing it's an Italian, maybe Spanish vibe coming through. Medium-rich texture, lots of pepper on the top, hints of leather smell without the texture, no minty tobacco left, but but still a fair bit of fresh fruit. With time and air it gets watery and more tired. Not profound, but fun and distinctive - offers a lot of pleasure in its dotage!
June 15, 2013 - Currently in its sweet spot! This wine drank perfectly- very balanced, good acid and very tasty. Killer QPR and a wine that exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend. I wish I had more. Dark fruits, earth, little licorice and some smoke. Drank with italian style stuffed peppers- ground turkey. Drank well with and without food.
October 31, 2011 - consistent tn's, served at cellar temperature. My last bottle of this vintage and I'm sad to see it go. While it has lost some of the freshness it once had, it makes up for it with vigor and purity of fruit. 78% Old Vine Carignan with some Petite Sirah and Mourvedre tossed in, this is a superb wine value that simply begs for food. A genuine success. Drink thru 2014, 14,2% abv, score: B+/A-
August 16, 2011 - earth, leather & hint of licorice on nose. on the palate, bright red fruits with refreshing juicy acidity. smooth tannins. fantastic & a house wine candidate at this price.
February 2, 2011 - Amazing wine. Beatiful luscious dark fruits. Better structure than the Buehler Zin which I had the same weekend. Best wine I've had this year.
December 8, 2010 - Cloudy with some sediment. Red fruit and earthiness on the nose. Good cherry and other red fruit flavors with some leather. Currently drinking better than the 06 vintage of the same wine. Drank well over a 3-4 day period.
September 21, 2010 - This is a fun, bright, red with cranberry-cherry fruit, lively and delicious. Medium light body; aged in 10 months neutral oak. Carignan 78%, Mourvedre 10%, Pitite Sirah 9%, Grenache 3%.
August 21, 2010 - California Rhone Blends (The Wine Country, Signal Hill, CA): Dark fruit on the nose. Light style but very flavorful with bright fruit and good balance.
July 19, 2010 - Warm, smooth and smokey