Bought a few for 8.5/b about 8 years ago from a local independent shop. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Dark purple; fragrant blackberry nose, hint of oak; rich black fruit flavor, good mouthfeel; some persistence. Simple, almost delicious. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vin très américain par son style (costaud, dense et boisé) mais sans trop de sucre résiduel. Difficile aussi de reconnaître le caractère variétal tant il y a de cépages qui le composent. Bien bon tout de même.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Three Blind Wines (Portland, OR): Jammy, uncomplicated red fruit leads into oaky undertones. Very nice, but a bit hot and a bit thin. In a great compliment to the winemaker, or perhaps a sad commentary on our palates, none of the four people tasting this blind picked it--we all thought it was either a Cab or a Malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep purple with mild almost non existent nose. Taste had tart cherry, balanced and some earth. Probably would not serve to knowledgable friends but for a Tuesday night alone is good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great nose, juicy. War of reds. Juice on top and a good grip on the tongue and cheek. Deep black cherry. After it opens tends to be sugar in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark deep red; dark dried fruits & herb on the nose; fruit forward palate, light to medium body, fairly balanced; medium finish with graphite and a touch of bitterness. I know it only has 1% Carmanere, but the finish reminds me of that grape, and it's one that I don't like. This bottle is not as good as ones I've had in the past.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very dark red color. Drank 1 glass on tasting menu. Dark red berry fruits with spice, vanilla. The palate shows dark berries, spice, vanilla, soft integrated tannins, medium body, pepper. Medium finish. 89+pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a fairly deep ruby to maroon color. The pleasant nose has blackberries, dark chocolate, minerals, cherries, baking spices, dried herbs, and earthy underbrush. This has medium body with soft tannins and good acidity. Nice, juicy, spicy fruit hits the palate first with some dark chocolate and earthiness coming in on the back end. This has decent length on the finish which is showing a touch of excess oak. This is tasty today, but could use a bit more cellar time to fully open up and help the oak integrate on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice and juicy with plenty of dark cherry upfront and mocha coming in on the finish. Not overly complex but very enjoyable as a weekday table wine. Nothing not to like.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
More black fruit than red and the tannins don't prick as much as just advise that they are present on this young wine. A year or two may help soften it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Good value for an everyday wine. Compares favorably to many of its more expensive peers. Rich with red fruit and alcohol aromas, but more balanced as you drink it. Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dark berry, and forest overtones on the nose. in the mouth, blackberry and gooseberry initially. mid palate somewhat sweet tanins enter. later the mocha/coffee that i like in the Firehouse Reds. I am quite fond of this wine for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I agree with the previous reviewer that this is a little better than last year's model. Dark fruit (especially plum) mixes with rich red cherry on the palate. A fair bit of oak on the midpalate but there's enough fruit to rise above it. AT $13.50 from Costco a good qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slightly better than the 2009. Full bodied with rich flavor and nice integration of dark berry flavors and oak. The vanilla and mocha flavors are evident but they are not over the top and accentuate what is otherwise some really good fruit. Would recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
10/31/2019 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought a few for 8.5/b about 8 years ago from a local independent shop. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Dark purple; fragrant blackberry nose, hint of oak; rich black fruit flavor, good mouthfeel; some persistence. Simple, almost delicious. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2016 - millesime66 wrote: 85 Points
Vin très américain par son style (costaud, dense et boisé) mais sans trop de sucre résiduel. Difficile aussi de reconnaître le caractère variétal tant il y a de cépages qui le composent. Bien bon tout de même.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2014 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Three Blind Wines (Portland, OR): Jammy, uncomplicated red fruit leads into oaky undertones. Very nice, but a bit hot and a bit thin. In a great compliment to the winemaker, or perhaps a sad commentary on our palates, none of the four people tasting this blind picked it--we all thought it was either a Cab or a Malbec.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2014 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Great nose of red licorice and cherry cola. Decent mouthfeel and lots of darker fruit flavors. Easy to drink and flavorful. Good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/11/2014 - Jwd12 wrote: 87 Points
Deep purple with mild almost non existent nose. Taste had tart cherry, balanced and some earth. Probably would not serve to knowledgable friends but for a Tuesday night alone is good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2014 - Vinfidel Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Great nose, juicy. War of reds. Juice on top and a good grip on the tongue and cheek. Deep black cherry. After it opens tends to be sugar in the glass.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/13/2013 - SLR204 wrote: 89 Points
Spiced plum, cherry, and vanilla cream with a touch of oak. Tannins mostly integrated. Medium/long finish. A classic easy to drink Washington red.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2013 - tastark Likes this wine: 86 Points
Always a good value. Nice warm, dark fruits. A decently long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/14/2013 - primitivo wrote: 79 Points
Dark deep red; dark dried fruits & herb on the nose; fruit forward palate, light to medium body, fairly balanced; medium finish with graphite and a touch of bitterness. I know it only has 1% Carmanere, but the finish reminds me of that grape, and it's one that I don't like. This bottle is not as good as ones I've had in the past.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Very dark red color. Drank 1 glass on tasting menu. Dark red berry fruits with spice, vanilla. The palate shows dark berries, spice, vanilla, soft integrated tannins, medium body, pepper. Medium finish. 89+pts.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - ocperu wrote: 89 Points
Gets better as it opens up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2013 - apardoe wrote: 85 Points
Kind of a soapy flavor. Not all that good. I remember this wine being better than this bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/23/2012 - cbbrown3 wrote: 88 Points
This is a fairly deep ruby to maroon color. The pleasant nose has blackberries, dark chocolate, minerals, cherries, baking spices, dried herbs, and earthy underbrush. This has medium body with soft tannins and good acidity. Nice, juicy, spicy fruit hits the palate first with some dark chocolate and earthiness coming in on the back end. This has decent length on the finish which is showing a touch of excess oak. This is tasty today, but could use a bit more cellar time to fully open up and help the oak integrate on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2012 - Isdaddy wrote: 87 Points
Nice and juicy with plenty of dark cherry upfront and mocha coming in on the finish. Not overly complex but very enjoyable as a weekday table wine. Nothing not to like.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2012 - Jamesgold Likes this wine: 89 Points
One of my favorite weeknight wines. Nice fruit and complexity. Not too bold. Just nice and drinkable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2012 - cork'd wrote: 85 Points
More black fruit than red and the tannins don't prick as much as just advise that they are present on this young wine. A year or two may help soften it up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2012 - Jake112380 wrote: 87 Points
Good value for an everyday wine. Compares favorably to many of its more expensive peers. Rich with red fruit and alcohol aromas, but more balanced as you drink it. Medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2012 - tairanosaurus wrote: 91 Points
dark berry, and forest overtones on the nose. in the mouth, blackberry and gooseberry initially. mid palate somewhat sweet tanins enter. later the mocha/coffee that i like in the Firehouse Reds. I am quite fond of this wine for the price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2012 - wsellis wrote: 87 Points
Earthy nose with hint off coffee
Blackberry with firm tannins and oak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2012 - wsellis wrote: 87 Points
Earthy nose with hint of coffee
Blackberry with firm tannins
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2012 - DancingDavidE wrote: 92 Points
Excellent, friend picked up from Binny's.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2012 - wyliehart wrote: 86 Points
Has the usual fruit of this wine, but this is one of the meaty vintages, not one of the vanilla/spice vintages
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - mreinitz wrote: 88 Points
I agree with the previous reviewer that this is a little better than last year's model. Dark fruit (especially plum) mixes with rich red cherry on the palate. A fair bit of oak on the midpalate but there's enough fruit to rise above it. AT $13.50 from Costco a good qpr.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - BSpdx wrote: 89 Points
Slightly better than the 2009. Full bodied with rich flavor and nice integration of dark berry flavors and oak. The vanilla and mocha flavors are evident but they are not over the top and accentuate what is otherwise some really good fruit. Would recommend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment