Cork was dry and disintegrated, so filtered and decanted briefly. I was worried with the cork, but the wine was great - nice flavors of plum, blackberry, cassis, a little leather and vanilla, mellow tannins, med-long finish, we thought it was great. Can't wait to open our last 2007 bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Last night I had a bottle that just didn't stand the test of time. Tonight's was much better. I don't know what the care of this wine was before my six years of control...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
really taken on some weight from a year ago. My 3/2013 note is no longer accurate. Not a big fruit forward CA wine and not the secondary flavors of Bordeaux but good balance. Still some sharp tannins but overall very good. still a little thin. I'll give my last bottle two more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
If I could have only wine the rest of my life....it could very well be this one. Great with or without food. Tannins are there, but are repressed to the point that the wine is freaking smooth...and still oh so rich..... Balanced to perfection ( albeit the gentle reader must recognize that the gentle writer is on a budget and not exactly a first growth aficionado), this wine hits all my happy points. Pouring it in the decanter makes one salivate. Ripe plum and dark berry, finish that holds for a couple of minutes. Cannot go wrong here folks. Not a complex wine but wine does not need to be complex to taste good, does it? Not an orchestra, rather, think smooth jazz.
I like blends: the artistry of the wine maker allows him the flexibility of maximizing the harvest for the year, presenting us with a beautifully flavored wine that he, or she, through whatever process, takes a sip and says "yeah, that's it".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Winery sample. Very smooth, and balanced, obviously a top notch and well crafted Cabernet based blend. The noticeable Stags Leap Cabernet shows well even when blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Excellent. Similar to 2011 tasting notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Loads of ripe fruit. Soft, integrated tannins. Not terribly complex and the finish is almost nonexistent. Enjoy now as it probably won't get any better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice overall, earthy California red, smooth and well balanced but finishes short and lacks the character that the bigger bolder Chimney Rock wines produce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still quite austere. Very dry on that palette. Minerally, almost chalkly. Given that, the wine has a pretty good balance with a dry finish. Can continue to age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
given the pedigree I was a little disapointed. Initially good bouquet and bright crimson colors. Tight on the palate. Some cedar and casis but overall thin. No fruit flavors to mention and from an aging perspective was a little hot given the lack of backbone. I'll wait 2 -3 years to see if it gets some complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Honestly one of their better wines, always remembering this is a blend, had it this past Friday and I have to admit tasted better after decantoring the bottle. The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, and Cedar. It tastes like Blackberry, and Raspberry. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hours. Black Cherry fruit, alcohol present. Full body, smooth on the palate, dark fruit and tobacco, the bordeax style and influence is recognizable. The finish is chalky with gritty tannins. There's something missing in the middle, like it skips a beat in the tasting experience. It's a decent wine and I like the style but maybe a different vintage would be more complete.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice blend of cherry and mixed berry fruit with a nose that signals what's coming! The finish is smooth with nicely balanced tannins. Am surprised how much I enjoyed this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I used a Vinturi on a Bordeaux style red wine from Stags Leap District. Clean Nose and appearance with thin dried cheery fruit and hint of clove. Clean tast mild tannins w/ fruit in front and french oak in the back but something missing in the middle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/25/2023 - Spar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very smooth and easy to drink. Would nog hold any longer.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/1/2022 - nicholasagonzales Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful wine. Well balanced, starting to show its age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2019 - mdkraft99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cork was dry and disintegrated, so filtered and decanted briefly. I was worried with the cork, but the wine was great - nice flavors of plum, blackberry, cassis, a little leather and vanilla, mellow tannins, med-long finish, we thought it was great. Can't wait to open our last 2007 bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2019 - Darjeeling Likes this wine: 91 Points
Strong bold blueberry cassis cherry and plum. Lovely lively and very vivacious. Enjoy now as the cork was dry.
Friends finished the bottle and liked it a lot. It opened up later that evening into next day.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2018 - Goldinger32 Likes this wine: 90 Points
9/14/18 decanted for two hours Super approachable
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2016 - JPLogan Likes this wine: 90 Points
Last night I had a bottle that just didn't stand the test of time. Tonight's was much better. I don't know what the care of this wine was before my six years of control...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2016 - Papa Doug Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank at Christmas Dinner
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2016 - rszylko wrote: 88 Points
Underwhelming
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2016 - jpmo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light color and flavor. I would not wait any longer on this vintage - just don't see any upside from now. Actually wished I had drunk this earlier.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - yipen Likes this wine:
the wine is fruity and on the light fresh side. Ready to drink now, no need to wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2015 - joet626 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice. Fruity and smooth
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2014 - Skip4wine wrote: 91 Points
really taken on some weight from a year ago. My 3/2013 note is no longer accurate. Not a big fruit forward CA wine and not the secondary flavors of Bordeaux but good balance. Still some sharp tannins but overall very good. still a little thin. I'll give my last bottle two more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2014 - TonyHamlin wrote: 92 Points
If I could have only wine the rest of my life....it could very well be this one.
Great with or without food.
Tannins are there, but are repressed to the point that the wine is freaking smooth...and still oh so rich.....
Balanced to perfection ( albeit the gentle reader must recognize that the gentle writer is on a budget and not exactly a first growth aficionado), this wine hits all my happy points.
Pouring it in the decanter makes one salivate.
Ripe plum and dark berry, finish that holds for a couple of minutes.
Cannot go wrong here folks.
Not a complex wine but wine does not need to be complex to taste good, does it? Not an orchestra, rather, think smooth jazz.
I like blends: the artistry of the wine maker allows him the flexibility of maximizing the harvest for the year, presenting us with a beautifully flavored wine that he, or she, through whatever process, takes a sip and says "yeah, that's it".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2013 - joet626 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very good. Had a New Years Eve Dinner at Echo. great color and aroma. Loads of dark berry taste. Really liked it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - Bakeman wrote: 90 Points
Need to sit for a while, but then was very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2013 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
Winery sample. Very smooth, and balanced, obviously a top notch and well crafted Cabernet based blend. The noticeable Stags Leap Cabernet shows well even when blended with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Excellent. Similar to 2011 tasting notes
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2013 - npettit wrote: 92 Points
Drinking great right now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2013 - lfbaum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely softer than I remember. With a bit more fruit on the nose -- Mango and apricot. Opened nicely over an hour or so. Quiet finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2013 - acordell Likes this wine: 87 Points
Loads of ripe fruit. Soft, integrated tannins. Not terribly complex and the finish is almost nonexistent. Enjoy now as it probably won't get any better.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2013 - JPLogan Likes this wine: 91 Points
smooooooth....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/15/2013 - Jonnysul Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice overall, earthy California red, smooth and well balanced but finishes short and lacks the character that the bigger bolder Chimney Rock wines produce.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/26/2013 - lfbaum Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still quite austere. Very dry on that palette. Minerally, almost chalkly. Given that, the wine has a pretty good balance with a dry finish. Can continue to age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2013 - Porchino wrote: 90 Points
Better than05
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2013 - Skip4wine wrote: 88 Points
given the pedigree I was a little disapointed. Initially good bouquet and bright crimson colors. Tight on the palate. Some cedar and casis but overall thin. No fruit flavors to mention and from an aging perspective was a little hot given the lack of backbone. I'll wait 2 -3 years to see if it gets some complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2013 - Joel David wrote: 91 Points
Honestly one of their better wines, always remembering this is a blend, had it this past Friday and I have to admit tasted better after decantoring the bottle.
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Blackberry, and Cedar. It tastes like Blackberry, and Raspberry. The body is Medium/Full. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/13/2012 - mikev101 wrote: 87 Points
Just nothing going on....really dissapointed for the price
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/2/2012 - mikev101 wrote: 88 Points
Seemed too tight, closed right now....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2012 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Very dark red violet color; plum, cedar, cassis nose; ripe cassis, black currant, cedar palate; needs 2 years; medium finish 87+ points
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 91 Points
Always excellent fruit, dark flavorful and balanced
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2011 - J2K wrote:
Decanted 2 hours. Black Cherry fruit, alcohol present. Full body, smooth on the palate, dark fruit and tobacco, the bordeax style and influence is recognizable. The finish is chalky with gritty tannins. There's something missing in the middle, like it skips a beat in the tasting experience. It's a decent wine and I like the style but maybe a different vintage would be more complete.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2011 - Schiffy wrote: 92 Points
Nice blend of cherry and mixed berry fruit with a nose that signals what's coming! The finish is smooth with nicely balanced tannins. Am surprised how much I enjoyed this wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2010 - kaiwhitney@gmail.com wrote: 88 Points
I used a Vinturi on a Bordeaux style red wine from Stags Leap District. Clean Nose and appearance with thin dried cheery fruit and hint of clove.
Clean tast mild tannins w/ fruit in front and french oak in the back but something missing in the middle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/20/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 89 Points
Terlato Portfolio Tasting (Fine's Cellar, Scottsdale): Black cherry Jello. Earthy. Firm tannins. Nicely balanced. Deep, powerful finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment