Our experience with this well respected wine was less than pleasing. Poured through the aerator into the decanter just to make sure, it never really came around. The cork looked and smelled fine. It had been properly cellared for the time it was in our possession, about 18 months. The nagging hemlock and other unwelcome evergreen never went away.
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Great depth of fresh black fruit character. The Syrah shows through in the blend with distinct notes of black pepper and anise. Oak not quite fully integrated yet but this wines best years are well ahead. Drink 2023-2028
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Very nice, well crafted blend. I picked up on the Syrah component right away, but this is an expressive, well structured wine that will age nicely. Lots of red and black fruit, some vanilla from the oak. I really like how these Red Mountain wines age
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This was such a surprise. I don't feel that the 17 was as good. Nice blend with lots of black fruit, really nice acidity, and I ready to drink. Really young and I think it will get better in a couple years. Finish of pepper and tart fruit.
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Liking this very much, PNP @ about 50F from cellar. Good structure, nicely balanced blend. This is the embodiment of what I’m looking for in a Bordeaux blend. Long finish to be savored by itself or would pair nicely with red meat. I expect it could go 10 years or more and continue to improve.
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Well balanced, but on the oaky side. Notes of cassis and black cherry, but with surprising acidity to balance the richness. Not a huge BDX blend fan, but I really dig this one (Not exactly a bdx blend, has some syrah added).
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Initial nose shows toasted American oak, though that integrates into the vanilla edges over time in the glass. A bit of marshmallow on the finish. Tasty and easy to drink, good value.
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Very dark ruby. huge, aromatic dark red fruit, high toast oak, some more structure than CA, but the RS is still there, but more tannin, touch grippy. A typical Napa’s ambitious and serious cousin.
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This is unquestionably the bomb for the (pretty common) $20 price, as seen at Costco and Total Wine here in Seattle- for the average $30 on Wine Searcher, still clearly a great buy. I was surprised at how many different styles seem to be in play here, although the whole package still feels harmonious. Expressive, balanced, delicious, maybe not hyper complex but ridiculously easy to love for both novices and pros.
On the nose, I was a little surprised at how powerfully the American oak shows, even though it's only a little over half of the barrel aging program. Truly smelled like an American oak aged Rioja at times (such as my beloved Viña Alberdi Reserva), with a boatload of cedar, coconut, vanilla, etc. However, even with the powerful oak tone there was plenty of aromatic fruit, dark but with some real lift- ripe cherry, blueberry, that sort of thing- even a touch of new leather as it gained air in the bottle.
Extremely clean, light, and almost "cute" palate- it's operating on a surprisingly high-toned fruit spectrum, showing fresh red cherries, very ripe strawberry, maybe red plum along with plenty of rich vanilla that still lets the fruit do most of the work, unlike the nose. The acidity is just delightful, feeling bouncy and fresh; it's not a Beaujolais or anything, but it's much brighter than what I'd expect from the average WA Bdx blend, for sure. Super stealthy tannins as well. Kinda straightforward, but pure and truly balanced. I couldn't really pick out the specific character of any of the grapes, but the blending game here is top-notch.
At times the intense oak overpowers the wine, but it finds its footing quickly, which tells me it may have benefited from a decant or light aging. There are a few wines for the price I found even more complex and memorable, but this is in the extreme upper echelon of its range, especially if closer to $20. Miles beyond their CMS cuvee too, far better QPR at $10-$15 more.
8/8/2023 - Mike Kopanski wrote: flawed
Our experience with this well respected wine was less than pleasing. Poured through the aerator into the decanter just to make sure, it never really came around. The cork looked and smelled fine. It had been properly cellared for the time it was in our possession, about 18 months. The nagging hemlock and other unwelcome evergreen never went away.
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7/1/2022 - LuisAZ88 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great depth of fresh black fruit character. The Syrah shows through in the blend with distinct notes of black pepper and anise. Oak not quite fully integrated yet but this wines best years are well ahead. Drink 2023-2028
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6/23/2022 - bigredPA Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice, well crafted blend. I picked up on the Syrah component right away, but this is an expressive, well structured wine that will age nicely. Lots of red and black fruit, some vanilla from the oak. I really like how these Red Mountain wines age
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5/23/2022 - kcsteve Likes this wine: 91 Points
This was such a surprise. I don't feel that the 17 was as good. Nice blend with lots of black fruit, really nice acidity, and I ready to drink. Really young and I think it will get better in a couple years. Finish of pepper and tart fruit.
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3/18/2022 - progenitive Likes this wine: 91 Points
Liking this very much, PNP @ about 50F from cellar. Good structure, nicely balanced blend. This is the embodiment of what I’m looking for in a Bordeaux blend. Long finish to be savored by itself or would pair nicely with red meat. I expect it could go 10 years or more and continue to improve.
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2/9/2022 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Showing a touch of oak to the nose but otherwise Columbia fruit to it. Although this is all Red Mountain.
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1/31/2022 - rye_44 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Well balanced, but on the oaky side. Notes of cassis and black cherry, but with surprising acidity to balance the richness. Not a huge BDX blend fan, but I really dig this one (Not exactly a bdx blend, has some syrah added).
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1/16/2022 - Neecies Likes this wine: 88 Points
Initial nose shows toasted American oak, though that integrates into the vanilla edges over time in the glass. A bit of marshmallow on the finish. Tasty and easy to drink, good value.
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11/27/2021 - BaronsPaw Likes this wine: 96 Points
Absolutely fantastic value. Great all around with vibrant fruit and plenty of punch but balanced. Nice, warm finish.
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10/31/2021 - SomeraSomm wrote:
Very delicious red blend
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10/16/2021 - Madera16 wrote:
(Might be the wrong vintage)
Very dark ruby. huge, aromatic dark red fruit, high toast oak, some more structure than CA, but the RS is still there, but more tannin, touch grippy. A typical Napa’s ambitious and serious cousin.
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8/2/2021 - sid_loves_wine Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is unquestionably the bomb for the (pretty common) $20 price, as seen at Costco and Total Wine here in Seattle- for the average $30 on Wine Searcher, still clearly a great buy. I was surprised at how many different styles seem to be in play here, although the whole package still feels harmonious. Expressive, balanced, delicious, maybe not hyper complex but ridiculously easy to love for both novices and pros.
On the nose, I was a little surprised at how powerfully the American oak shows, even though it's only a little over half of the barrel aging program. Truly smelled like an American oak aged Rioja at times (such as my beloved Viña Alberdi Reserva), with a boatload of cedar, coconut, vanilla, etc. However, even with the powerful oak tone there was plenty of aromatic fruit, dark but with some real lift- ripe cherry, blueberry, that sort of thing- even a touch of new leather as it gained air in the bottle.
Extremely clean, light, and almost "cute" palate- it's operating on a surprisingly high-toned fruit spectrum, showing fresh red cherries, very ripe strawberry, maybe red plum along with plenty of rich vanilla that still lets the fruit do most of the work, unlike the nose. The acidity is just delightful, feeling bouncy and fresh; it's not a Beaujolais or anything, but it's much brighter than what I'd expect from the average WA Bdx blend, for sure. Super stealthy tannins as well. Kinda straightforward, but pure and truly balanced. I couldn't really pick out the specific character of any of the grapes, but the blending game here is top-notch.
At times the intense oak overpowers the wine, but it finds its footing quickly, which tells me it may have benefited from a decant or light aging. There are a few wines for the price I found even more complex and memorable, but this is in the extreme upper echelon of its range, especially if closer to $20. Miles beyond their CMS cuvee too, far better QPR at $10-$15 more.
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3/1/2021 - hiker_guy wrote:
Nose of candied high toned fruit. Smells sweet with some interesting notes to draw my attention. not bad.
Palate is smooth up front with some sweetness to the tannins. Very silky from the front to the back palate. Finishes long.
Served with burgers and it paired well as a hamburger wine.
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