This was singing tonight, PnP ready to go. Bought in a mixed auction lot with no idea what to expect. This still felt very fresh and vibrant; soft, ripe cherry on the palate along with spice and good acidity. Nose was wonderfully lush and complex. Didn't feel the heat at all, just rich and vibrant fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Slow oxed for one hour. I recall having one of these a few years ago and not liking it due to the significant oak treatment of the wine. This bottle still has that characteristic but things have improved with age with the oak integrating into the wine somewhat and the wine getting a little more balanced. I’m still not a big fan but this wine is still a youthful full bodied, inky maroon so this may become something special in due course.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Upon opening: The nose is rather austere with tobacco, earth, and hints of cherry cola. The pallet is surprisingly fresh with notes black fruit, iron, and coffee. There is plenty of grip and the necessary vein of acidity. The finish is decently long with coffee and bitter chocolate in the forefront. More to come later...6-17-8-8 (89)
After a few hours open: The bottle came alive. The nose has gained and is showing what was detected earlier, but much more vibrantly and with an added saline quality. The pallet has gained in complexity while maintaining the definition from earlier. The mouthfeel has evolved into a fairly mature feel with resolved yet present tannins and the acidity is still there for support. The finish has lengthened a bit am gained some tobacco and red cherry to accompany the still present coffe and dark chocolate. 8-18-8-8
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not surprisingly very big, heavily oak bordeaux blend. I have to admit this was better than I expected. The oak has integrated more than I would have guessed into a wine which has some good underlying materials but still I can’t imagine this wine will ever be particularly sophisticated or interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherry and raspberry on the nose. Tastes of tart cherry and cherry cola from the acidity and a bit of plum. Long finish with chewy tannins around slight minerality and fruit. Did not decant. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Splash decanted. A surprisingly robust and youthful Cab at 13 years old. Still ample tannins, even with the decant. Tasty black cherry fruit, loamy earth and black tea. Drink now - 2021.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pnp; colour of deep plum-garnet in the glass. There are spicy red fruits with some aged wooden cigar box on the nose; can also pick up some heat while sniffing this. On the palate, there are raspberries and spiced cherries with some leathery tobacco and a tad of graphite; hot and may need to calm down a bit more. Medium+ bodied with a medium finish; may lay this down for a couple of more years to see if the heat will dissipate a bit. Good price from Garagiste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This seemed reticent, perhaps over the hill, on the first night. But on night #2, this was really drinking well. A nice blend, dominated by the merlot and cab franc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Terrific wine, from the first whiff from the bottle to the last drop from the glass. This one has everything—boysenberry fruit, tar, coffee, minerals, spices, bramble. Wish I had a case of this!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Thoroughly enjoyed this, even more on day 2. Excellent QPR at just under $20 from Garagiste. Pay no attention to the drinking window as previously noted ... this has plenty of time left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
All the stuffing is there but this either needs a few hour decant or at least two more years in the cellar. Wine was closed upon opening/decanting. After an hour it started to show dark fruit and earthiness on the nose and palate. Palate was reinforced by well integrated tannin and acid but our table (thank you Frances in SF!) agreed it showed great potential but still needs more time to come out of its shell (so much going on in the background). I would agree with prior notes that the heat is evident, though not offensively so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outstanding QPR at $20. I would disregard the limits of the drinking window on this one, as it has plenty of legs left. Merlot-based Bordeaux blend drinking quite well now. A little on the hot side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
15.1% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. This merlot-based Bordeaux blend boasts expressive red and blue fruit, leather and a herbal element. A bit hot on the finish. Good depth and length. Enjoyable now for near-term drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still a big punch in the face. Not for the faint of heart. Evens out around the 1 hour mark and the acidity kicks in. A bit of heat on the back end, bit well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank my last bottle out in Carmel. Restaurant's wine menu extensive but familiar with no issues bringing this bottle to dinner. Read the recent reviews prior to bringing and I thought opening the bottle upon arrival would suffice. Unfortunately, the greeness on the finish was a bit disturbing and eventually dissipated. I would decant a couple hours before trying to redeem any qualities you anticipated prior to opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for an hour before service. In the glass, dark, opaque purplish red. On the nose, currants and dried herbs. On the palate, a little bit of everything - currants, cassis, a little green pepper from the cab franc, a little graphite and cedar - and it's inhabiting a nice place between a fruit-driven CA BDX blend and the real deal. This has clearly turned the corner, and I find myself wishing I had stayed away from all those earlier bottles - it just wasn't ready yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a big boy. 15.1%. Nice blend, with the red fruits of merlot and the green crunchiness of cab franc. Most like a right bank with huge tannins and heat. Good but the heat just kills this for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consistent with previous tasting notes; tannins are still quite assertive. But perhaps we're starting to see a bit of positive evolution in terms of the aromatics and the palate?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Seriously good bottle. Restrained red fruit, gritty tannins and mouthfeel. Beautiful balance. I can't imagine this being any better, but who knows. Stunning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
40% Merlot, 34% Cab Franc, 22% Cab, 4% Petit Verdot. 15.1% abv. Expressive claret aromas. Red fruit, violets, graphite, leather. Nice balance between primary and emerging secondary flavors. Good depth and length. Good now and should hold for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Looking at my previous note and based on this bottle, I think we're headed in the right direction. The rough edges from the previous bottle have been smoothed out, and I think there is enough material to age into something quite nice; we now have a wine that could easily pass for a Bordeaux coming out of its dumb phase. Let's hope!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Loved this bottle. Drank with a Peju merlot and this bottle made the Peju seem thin and one dimensional. I have one bottle left and I would love to hold onto the last bottle for a couple more years but the outlook does not look good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Agree with others that this has some Right Bank characteristics. Smooth, plush, ripe fruits are clearly all California though. Drinking well right now, especially after 2 hour decant. Best at cellar temp.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is just really good...lots to like here. Blind I would be tempted to guess right bank bordeaux. The merlot is prevalent and really softens the palate. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Lovely nose. A bit of a black cherry/chocolate/oak bomb at first, but it slowly evolved over the course of the evening. This score is for the last few sips where I felt it was coming around and becoming a bit more interesting, hinting at future potential. Like to try it in 10 years. If drinking now, I would suggest a lengthy decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Italian wines (mostly) in Sonoma (Della Santina's Tratorria): I liked this more than I remember liking it on release. Perhaps its best days are still ahead. Not sure what the others thought. The crowd seemed to be divided on it. The nose is nice with a dusty quality. Cassis and baking spices. A bit chocolaty on the palate. This is nice, I will be curious where it goes from here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredible nose. Fruit and oak are still pretty powerful right now. Will be wonderful in 5-6 years. Still very young at this stage. Probably wasn't fair to have it alongside some well aged wines. Brought to the restaurant a few hours early and asked them to open it to breathe. They pulled the cork, flipped it over and stuck it back in the bottle. So this was basically a pop and pour with a couple hours air over dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour. In the glass, dark purplish-red. On the nose, a mix of crushed dark fruit and a note of spearmint with a slightly acetic tinge. On the palate, this is primarily fruit-driven, with mocha, noticeable tannins, and a bit of alcohol and heat in the background. I could see this evolving into something interesting in 5 years; I could also see it becoming an undrinkable mess. Guess we'll find out...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is coming along...still very young and a little hot, but rounding out and toning down and a nice blend...can't say it reminded me of St. emilion, but a nice drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like this much more now than when I tasted it last, very enjoyable, elegant with the alcohol only slightly dominating but much better integrated than when tasted last.
Good!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar tasting note to let bottle with the exception that everything has come together much more. Everyone loved this wine - a rare event with our group. Congrats to Pax for an extraordinarily fine wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Consumed over three nights with friends and other great wines. Clearly best on the 3rd night. Nice balance , full flavors typical of bordeaux. I will wait for at least a year to open other bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about 6+ hours. Very dense with dark fruit, pencil shavings, and mocha. As the wine warmed to room temp a little heat crept out. Nice long finish and paired well with braised leg of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was really quite pleased with this wine; smooth, tasty and elegant--- While not a long term cellar candidate, the wine and its pleasing label would look great on any table this holiday season, not to mention your guests will be happy with the contents of their glasses!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
07 Saxum JB , 05 Agharta Ex. B for my Birthday: This is ok. I don't know, I wanted more. There is nothing wrong with this but between it being my birthday and lots of back pain, it just didn't cut it. A fine wine, but not for tonight. It has solid black raspberry fruit, but I was looking for something more. Perhaps this just will need more time to really develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I did not understand RP's review of this. I found this to be a wonderful wine with a nose that defintley said bordeaux. It had a nice peppery not to begin and then the fruits and herbs followed. It was even better on night two as it had time to open up a bit more. I think it will be hitting its full stride in about another 8 to 12 months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Can't say I ever hit this one right. First night with grilled fillet should have been great, but wine was too close to room temp and just too warm for me....rich dark flavors and some heat...there is a definite acidic streak that cuts some of the fruit and I presume comes from the cab franc. Drank the remainder the following night at a better temp with veal osso bucco and not sure if it's the combo or simply the wine or me, but the acid seemed much more pronounced and I wanted a little more sweetness and roundness...probably also picking up some tannin from what is essentially a young wine...will leave the others alone for a year or 2 and make sure the wine is served cellar temp
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Darn I thought I wrote a note for this already. Took to a restaurant, where it was a bit hit. We had servers trying it, pictures taken of the label, etc. From memory, a very balanced and complete wine, lots of black and red fruit, herbs, floral aspects, brown spices. Rich mouth-feel but with good acidity. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, talc, plums and raspberries. Flavors of rich berries, cherries and a hit of raspberry. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with some air or over the 2-7 year timeframe.
My guess was a 2007 California Syrah (look you made it).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double Blind Tasting - 5/29/2011 (Farpointe Cellar): Raspberry and black currant on the nose, with hints of wet leaves and spice. Rich and spicy on the palate, with graphite, wet leaves, blueberry, blackberry, and some spice on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Plums, slightly sweeter red fruit. Candied licorice, light red vegetables, cinnamon and clove spice. Light curry quality as well. Decent finish, but quite tight and some weight would be nice if it developed on the back end. Quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First of all, I grabbed the wrong Agharta by mistake, but was too lazy to go back and get the Syrah. That said, this was a decent wine, well-made, with nice, Cab/BDX-blend like notes on the nose and palate. It seems a little thin, like there's a hole in the mid-palate, which detracts a lot from what could otherwise be an outstanding wine. Enjoyable with pizza, but not totally in my wheelhouse. (PE: 89)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with a grilled lamb chop, oven roasted rosemary potatoes, and sauteed spinach with pine nuts and raisins. This was very impressive with the lamb. It needed some fat to offset the tannins. Really an incredible, well balanced wine. After dinner the wine turned into a tannic monster. Totally different wine without the food. Suggest waiting another five years or more on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On day one I thought Id be dissapointed. The nose showed some vegetable notes and the palate a little promising bbq. Day two the wine came into its own. Roasted meats, ripe dark berries and baking spices on the attack. Mouth coating and full, with a great blast of acid on the back end. Solid tannins and a very long finish. Let them rest! but I really like it on day two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
WAY WAY WAY too young. Even after a 1-2hr decant, this wine was tight and tannic and not showing alot of personality. Hard to see the fruit through the bitter tannins. Harsh on the palate. Not giving up much on the nose. I'd say leave this one be for at least a year or two and hope that it softens and lushes out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A nose of rheubarb, flowers and tar, with a touch of methol? and molasses; a big wine with mouth-filling, dense, cherry fruit, and nice sold structure. Really came alive with some air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful Bordeaux blend with 40% Merlot/Cab Franc/Cab Sauv/Petite Verdot. Decanted for 1/2 hour (all the time I had), gorgeous body and a beautiful smooth, long finish. What a wonderful surprise. Buying more next week.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice full rich mouth feel. Color, nose, and taste, if the add read rumored to be Silver Oak, I'd say, it is Silver Oak. Good stuff now, or like a good SO, will age gracefully for years to come
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Strikingly reminiscent of a Pomerol in a ripe vintage. Very herbaceous / grassy nose. Non-descript red fruits take a back seat to classic Bordeaux like minerals, loam and cigar box. Good weight with air, but plenty of acid lends substantial cut and lift. Gritty tannin lends grip to a moderate finish. Still showing chocolate oak char that needs a bit of resolution, but paradoxically, is showing some aged saddle leather notes as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this wine is right in my wheelhouse. i agree with those who said that it comes out of the gate a little disjointed - as always, i popped and poured - but it really came around. the nose was very expressive right out of the gate, and the wine kept improving on the palate. wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We decided to pop one of these open and have with friends over some grilled filets, lobster mashed potatoes, and baby bella mushrooms in a reduction sauce.
Decanted for one hour. An absolutely brilliant nose with the Franc jumping out of the glass. Not a hint of alcohol on the nose. The body was really well balanced -- raspberries, rhubarb, and a hint of creme brulee mixed with mild acidic back drop. The finish was highlighted by subtle kiss of sweet tannins and a hint of oak.
This was a beautiful wine for a late fall day in New England -- crisp with enough sweetness that left everybody sadly staring at the empty bottle. Congrats to everyone who participated in the creation of this wine. It was worth the wait!
Didn't take specific notes, but I really enjoyed this after about 2.5 hours in the decanter. On opening, it was somewhat disjointed but really came into its own with time so I'd highly recommend giving this some air. That said, for my tastes, I think I'll drink these young. Nice mouthfeel, lengthy finish, and I liked the Cab Franc element.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Motley Cru does Off the Beaten Path (San Marcos, CA): I enjoyed this wine, but don't think it's one of the better Pax-made wines I've had. Seemed to be a bit disjointed and not yet knit together into a cohesive personality. There are good elements--ripe fruit, good tannins, etc.--but they don't seem to balance or complement each other as they could. Perhaps it needs more time, or should have been decanted longer, but it seemed to be the same over the course of a few hours. (PE: 89)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to an offline. Consistent with previous bottle. Held its own against some big boy cabs (Karl Lawrence, 4 Sisters, Buccella mica, Rivers Marie, Alpha Omega...) and was one of the standouts of the flight. Nice job Pax.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Stopped by and picked some up this evening. Pax was busy doing some pump overs on a new harvest but stopped what he was doing to go get my wine and talk for a few minutes. Real nice guy. 40% Merlot, 34% Cab Franc, 22% Cab Sauv, 4% Petite Verdot - 15.1% alc - Mendocino fruit. Pop and pour, dark ruby with brick rim, almost looks cloudy but it's the brick color. Beautiful floral nose with some tar and long droopy legs. First sip was velvety smooth with noticeable alcohol. Pax said "1/2 hour air maybe, it's ready to rock right now", so I gave it some time to open up more. Yeah, about 5 minutes. I couldn't wait. Very concentrated, fruit jumps out at you then tapers off into an incredibly smooth palate with soft tannins and just the right amount of acidity for me. Subtle and savory at the same time. This is a great food wine and would go with Pork as well as Beef and Lamb. The finish is exceptional with graphite, those soft tannins and a lingering tanginess on the underside of my tongue that says "Drink me". Oh, and the alcohol really wasn't a factor after the first sip. Sorry I don't write better notes but simply put I really enjoy this wine which opens a new chapter in my palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2/19/2024 - bonarda674 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was singing tonight, PnP ready to go. Bought in a mixed auction lot with no idea what to expect. This still felt very fresh and vibrant; soft, ripe cherry on the palate along with spice and good acidity. Nose was wonderfully lush and complex. Didn't feel the heat at all, just rich and vibrant fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2021 - mclanew wrote: 89 Points
Slow oxed for one hour. I recall having one of these a few years ago and not liking it due to the significant oak treatment of the wine. This bottle still has that characteristic but things have improved with age with the oak integrating into the wine somewhat and the wine getting a little more balanced. I’m still not a big fan but this wine is still a youthful full bodied, inky maroon so this may become something special in due course.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2020 - CO_Roots13 wrote: 92 Points
Upon opening:
The nose is rather austere with tobacco, earth, and hints of cherry cola. The pallet is surprisingly fresh with notes black fruit, iron, and coffee. There is plenty of grip and the necessary vein of acidity. The finish is decently long with coffee and bitter chocolate in the forefront. More to come later...6-17-8-8 (89)
After a few hours open:
The bottle came alive. The nose has gained and is showing what was detected earlier, but much more vibrantly and with an added saline quality. The pallet has gained in complexity while maintaining the definition from earlier. The mouthfeel has evolved into a fairly mature feel with resolved yet present tannins and the acidity is still there for support. The finish has lengthened a bit am gained some tobacco and red cherry to accompany the still present coffe and dark chocolate.
8-18-8-8
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2019 - mclanew Does not like this wine: 88 Points
Not surprisingly very big, heavily oak bordeaux blend. I have to admit this was better than I expected. The oak has integrated more than I would have guessed into a wine which has some good underlying materials but still I can’t imagine this wine will ever be particularly sophisticated or interesting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2019 - RPerro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very rich and fruit forward, some gritty tannins still, but quite integrated. Black cherry, cassis and tobacco flavors dominate. Drink now - 2026.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2019 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Cherry and raspberry on the nose. Tastes of tart cherry and cherry cola from the acidity and a bit of plum. Long finish with chewy tannins around slight minerality and fruit. Did not decant. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2019 - RPerro Likes this wine: 90 Points
Splash decanted. A surprisingly robust and youthful Cab at 13 years old. Still ample tannins, even with the decant. Tasty black cherry fruit, loamy earth and black tea. Drink now - 2021.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/11/2019 - Quarked wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with bottle from a year ago, except drinking better the first night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2019 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting note.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2019 - cubswinws Likes this wine: 94 Points
From magnum. A beautiful wine and a great bordeaux blend of mostly merlot and cab franc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/31/2019 - JonnyG wrote: 88 Points
2006 Retrospective (Central Coast, CA): Showed significant heat, enough to distract from the wine. Not something I’d seek out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/16/2018 - AMC Eagle wrote: 90 Points
Pnp; colour of deep plum-garnet in the glass. There are spicy red fruits with some aged wooden cigar box on the nose; can also pick up some heat while sniffing this. On the palate, there are raspberries and spiced cherries with some leathery tobacco and a tad of graphite; hot and may need to calm down a bit more. Medium+ bodied with a medium finish; may lay this down for a couple of more years to see if the heat will dissipate a bit. Good price from Garagiste.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2018 - Quarked wrote: 92 Points
This seemed reticent, perhaps over the hill, on the first night. But on night #2, this was really drinking well. A nice blend, dominated by the merlot and cab franc.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2018 - maxmanx wrote:
PnP. Ready to go and good value at $20. Wonderful nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2018 - sstoloff Likes this wine: 95 Points
Terrific wine, from the first whiff from the bottle to the last drop from the glass. This one has everything—boysenberry fruit, tar, coffee, minerals, spices, bramble. Wish I had a case of this!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2017 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully. Mix of red and black fruits with tabacco and cedar.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/16/2017 - Nutty08 wrote:
This was disappointing as it showed rather hot and awkward, with dry tannins. May have been better in it's youth. C
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2017 - dpolzien Likes this wine: 91 Points
Thoroughly enjoyed this, even more on day 2. Excellent QPR at just under $20 from Garagiste. Pay no attention to the drinking window as previously noted ... this has plenty of time left.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2017 - magilla1780 wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well now. Decant first. Great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2017 - Dury wrote: 91 Points
All the stuffing is there but this either needs a few hour decant or at least two more years in the cellar. Wine was closed upon opening/decanting. After an hour it started to show dark fruit and earthiness on the nose and palate. Palate was reinforced by well integrated tannin and acid but our table (thank you Frances in SF!) agreed it showed great potential but still needs more time to come out of its shell (so much going on in the background). I would agree with prior notes that the heat is evident, though not offensively so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/22/2017 - youvebeenhearnedLLC Likes this wine: 92 Points
Outstanding QPR at $20. I would disregard the limits of the drinking window on this one, as it has plenty of legs left. Merlot-based Bordeaux blend drinking quite well now. A little on the hot side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2017 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine: 91 Points
15.1% abv. Dark ruby, very aromatic. This merlot-based Bordeaux blend boasts expressive red and blue fruit, leather and a herbal element. A bit hot on the finish. Good depth and length. Enjoyable now for near-term drinking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/5/2017 - wiscgrad wrote: 91 Points
Still a big punch in the face. Not for the faint of heart. Evens out around the 1 hour mark and the acidity kicks in. A bit of heat on the back end, bit well made.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2017 - wiscgrad wrote: 94 Points
new world and delicious. not getting much of the green other notes mentioned. stellar.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2017 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Drank my last bottle out in Carmel. Restaurant's wine menu extensive but familiar with no issues bringing this bottle to dinner. Read the recent reviews prior to bringing and I thought opening the bottle upon arrival would suffice. Unfortunately, the greeness on the finish was a bit disturbing and eventually dissipated. I would decant a couple hours before trying to redeem any qualities you anticipated prior to opening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2017 - jshufelt wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for an hour before service. In the glass, dark, opaque purplish red. On the nose, currants and dried herbs. On the palate, a little bit of everything - currants, cassis, a little green pepper from the cab franc, a little graphite and cedar - and it's inhabiting a nice place between a fruit-driven CA BDX blend and the real deal. This has clearly turned the corner, and I find myself wishing I had stayed away from all those earlier bottles - it just wasn't ready yet.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2016 - jeffreylubowski wrote: 88 Points
This is a big boy. 15.1%. Nice blend, with the red fruits of merlot and the green crunchiness of cab franc. Most like a right bank with huge tannins and heat. Good but the heat just kills this for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2015 - dougie wrote: 88 Points
Hard and heavy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Consistent with previous tasting notes; tannins are still quite assertive. But perhaps we're starting to see a bit of positive evolution in terms of the aromatics and the palate?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/3/2015 - Mike V wrote: 92 Points
very nice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2015 - pjhr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Not quite up to the last bottle, but delicious nonetheless!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2015 - Colima74 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Seriously good bottle. Restrained red fruit, gritty tannins and mouthfeel. Beautiful balance. I can't imagine this being any better, but who knows. Stunning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2015 - jshufelt wrote: 91 Points
Not much movement since the last bottle. I continue to think there are better days ahead...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2014 - 560 B&W wrote: 92 Points
Went well with steak. Not as well solo
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/28/2014 - Mike Dildine Likes this wine:
40% Merlot, 34% Cab Franc, 22% Cab, 4% Petit Verdot. 15.1% abv. Expressive claret aromas. Red fruit, violets, graphite, leather. Nice balance between primary and emerging secondary flavors. Good depth and length. Good now and should hold for a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/26/2014 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
1 hr decant with big tasty steak; 3 bottles consumed. Tasty blend with lots of cab franc notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2014 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured at the restaurant...very good right off the bat with a big nose of pepper and flowers. Very smooth drinker with a long finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2014 - jshufelt wrote: 92 Points
Looking at my previous note and based on this bottle, I think we're headed in the right direction. The rough edges from the previous bottle have been smoothed out, and I think there is enough material to age into something quite nice; we now have a wine that could easily pass for a Bordeaux coming out of its dumb phase. Let's hope!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - pjhr Likes this wine: 94 Points
Simply delicious Bordeaux blend with succulent fruit, balanced structure, and chewy tannins on the long finish. Need to get more of this!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/27/2014 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Loved this bottle. Drank with a Peju merlot and this bottle made the Peju seem thin and one dimensional. I have one bottle left and I would love to hold onto the last bottle for a couple more years but the outlook does not look good.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - dougie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for two hours. Started off with some Bordeaux flavors, but Became more 'new world' profile. Nice example of a California Bordeaux attempt.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2013 - silton Likes this wine: 92 Points
Marginally better on day 2, just entering its prime window. Nice blend with sufficient structure and style.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2013 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 90 Points
Agree with others that this has some Right Bank characteristics. Smooth, plush, ripe fruits are clearly all California though. Drinking well right now, especially after 2 hour decant. Best at cellar temp.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2013 - awilliamson4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is just really good...lots to like here. Blind I would be tempted to guess right bank bordeaux. The merlot is prevalent and really softens the palate. Nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2013 - zheem wrote:
Despite long barrel aging, this wine is still very young and monolithic needing hours to open up. Will hold next bottles for at least a few years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2013 - rsbeck wrote: 91 Points
Lovely nose. A bit of a black cherry/chocolate/oak bomb at first, but it slowly evolved over the course of the evening. This score is for the last few sips where I felt it was coming around and becoming a bit more interesting, hinting at future potential. Like to try it in 10 years. If drinking now, I would suggest a lengthy decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2013 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 90 Points
Italian wines (mostly) in Sonoma (Della Santina's Tratorria): I liked this more than I remember liking it on release. Perhaps its best days are still ahead. Not sure what the others thought. The crowd seemed to be divided on it. The nose is nice with a dusty quality. Cassis and baking spices. A bit chocolaty on the palate. This is nice, I will be curious where it goes from here.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2013 - River Rat Likes this wine:
Incredible nose. Fruit and oak are still pretty powerful right now. Will be wonderful in 5-6 years. Still very young at this stage. Probably wasn't fair to have it alongside some well aged wines.
Brought to the restaurant a few hours early and asked them to open it to breathe. They pulled the cork, flipped it over and stuck it back in the bottle. So this was basically a pop and pour with a couple hours air over dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2013 - jshufelt wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour. In the glass, dark purplish-red. On the nose, a mix of crushed dark fruit and a note of spearmint with a slightly acetic tinge. On the palate, this is primarily fruit-driven, with mocha, noticeable tannins, and a bit of alcohol and heat in the background. I could see this evolving into something interesting in 5 years; I could also see it becoming an undrinkable mess. Guess we'll find out...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2012 - Mr T wrote:
This wine is coming along...still very young and a little hot, but rounding out and toning down and a nice blend...can't say it reminded me of St. emilion, but a nice drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2012 - G_H Likes this wine: 92 Points
I like this much more now than when I tasted it last, very enjoyable, elegant with the alcohol only slightly dominating but much better integrated than when tasted last.
Good!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2012 - TMacpherson wrote: 96 Points
Similar tasting note to let bottle with the exception that everything has come together much more. Everyone loved this wine - a rare event with our group. Congrats to Pax for an extraordinarily fine wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/10/2012 - goldscalpel wrote:
Drinking well and very nice blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2012 - zheem wrote:
Consumed over three nights with friends and other great wines. Clearly best on the 3rd night. Nice balance , full flavors typical of bordeaux. I will wait for at least a year to open other bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2012 - pjhr wrote: 93 Points
Simply delicious Bordeaux blend with wonderful fruit, structure, balance, and chewy tannins on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2012 - jimmythesaint wrote:
Decanted for about 6+ hours. Very dense with dark fruit, pencil shavings, and mocha. As the wine warmed to room temp a little heat crept out. Nice long finish and paired well with braised leg of lamb.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2012 - pdemaio wrote: 92 Points
Solid wine. Red fruit. Lots going on with good complexity. Should have decanted :-(
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2012 - Knicksfan wrote: 91 Points
P&P and delicious. After about an hour - really singing. Nice blend give it body and complexity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - BradA wrote: 91 Points
I was really quite pleased with this wine; smooth, tasty and elegant--- While not a long term cellar candidate, the wine and its pleasing label would look great on any table this holiday season, not to mention your guests will be happy with the contents of their glasses!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/1/2011 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Very pretty and delicate wine. easy to drink. A bit closed down, needs to decant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2011 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 Points
07 Saxum JB , 05 Agharta Ex. B for my Birthday: This is ok. I don't know, I wanted more. There is nothing wrong with this but between it being my birthday and lots of back pain, it just didn't cut it. A fine wine, but not for tonight. It has solid black raspberry fruit, but I was looking for something more. Perhaps this just will need more time to really develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2011 - shadow wrote: 94 Points
opened up into a big rich beast with deep flavors and mouth watering spice, yumm
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2011 - awilliamson4 wrote: 93 Points
I did not understand RP's review of this. I found this to be a wonderful wine with a nose that defintley said bordeaux. It had a nice peppery not to begin and then the fruits and herbs followed. It was even better on night two as it had time to open up a bit more. I think it will be hitting its full stride in about another 8 to 12 months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2011 - Mr T wrote:
Can't say I ever hit this one right. First night with grilled fillet should have been great, but wine was too close to room temp and just too warm for me....rich dark flavors and some heat...there is a definite acidic streak that cuts some of the fruit and I presume comes from the cab franc. Drank the remainder the following night at a better temp with veal osso bucco and not sure if it's the combo or simply the wine or me, but the acid seemed much more pronounced and I wanted a little more sweetness and roundness...probably also picking up some tannin from what is essentially a young wine...will leave the others alone for a year or 2 and make sure the wine is served cellar temp
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2011 - rmh66 wrote: 93 Points
Darn I thought I wrote a note for this already. Took to a restaurant, where it was a bit hit. We had servers trying it, pictures taken of the label, etc. From memory, a very balanced and complete wine, lots of black and red fruit, herbs, floral aspects, brown spices. Rich mouth-feel but with good acidity. 92-93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2011 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
Saturdays at One - Volume 50: WIML92+
Tasted double blind.
Dark garnet to purple color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of lavender, talc, plums and raspberries. Flavors of rich berries, cherries and a hit of raspberry. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full body. Drink now with some air or over the 2-7 year timeframe.
My guess was a 2007 California Syrah (look you made it).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2011 - mmurry Likes this wine: 89 Points
Double Blind Tasting - 5/29/2011 (Farpointe Cellar): Raspberry and black currant on the nose, with hints of wet leaves and spice. Rich and spicy on the palate, with graphite, wet leaves, blueberry, blackberry, and some spice on the finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 91 Points
Plums, slightly sweeter red fruit. Candied licorice, light red vegetables, cinnamon and clove spice.
Light curry quality as well. Decent finish, but quite tight and some weight would be nice if it developed on the back end. Quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2011 - MarkC wrote: 89 Points
First of all, I grabbed the wrong Agharta by mistake, but was too lazy to go back and get the Syrah. That said, this was a decent wine, well-made, with nice, Cab/BDX-blend like notes on the nose and palate. It seems a little thin, like there's a hole in the mid-palate, which detracts a lot from what could otherwise be an outstanding wine. Enjoyable with pizza, but not totally in my wheelhouse. (PE: 89)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2011 - zinnut wrote: 95 Points
Had with a grilled lamb chop, oven roasted rosemary potatoes, and sauteed spinach with pine nuts and raisins. This was very impressive with the lamb. It needed some fat to offset the tannins. Really an incredible, well balanced wine. After dinner the wine turned into a tannic monster. Totally different wine without the food. Suggest waiting another five years or more on this one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2011 - Uglypinga wrote:
On day one I thought Id be dissapointed. The nose showed some vegetable notes and the palate a little promising bbq. Day two the wine came into its own. Roasted meats, ripe dark berries and baking spices on the attack. Mouth coating and full, with a great blast of acid on the back end. Solid tannins and a very long finish. Let them rest! but I really like it on day two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/3/2011 - xtian wrote: 85 Points
Disjointed and awkward. Not worth it for me.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2011 - thenapalist wrote: 89 Points
WAY WAY WAY too young. Even after a 1-2hr decant, this wine was tight and tannic and not showing alot of personality. Hard to see the fruit through the bitter tannins. Harsh on the palate. Not giving up much on the nose. I'd say leave this one be for at least a year or two and hope that it softens and lushes out.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2011 - jtcseventysix wrote: 90 Points
A nose of rheubarb, flowers and tar, with a touch of methol? and molasses; a big wine with mouth-filling, dense, cherry fruit, and nice sold structure. Really came alive with some air.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2010 - coreywb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful Bordeaux blend with 40% Merlot/Cab Franc/Cab Sauv/Petite Verdot. Decanted for 1/2 hour (all the time I had), gorgeous body and a beautiful smooth, long finish. What a wonderful surprise. Buying more next week.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/6/2010 - pdemaio wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful wine. Lives up to the Syrah. Pretty, with georgeous layered nose. backing spice, berries and fruits.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/27/2010 - cubswinws wrote: 93 Points
Very nice Bordeaux blend.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2010 - buckeye76 wrote: 89 Points
FRUITY TABLE WINE, NOT COMPLEX BUT WELL MADE. MEDIUM LENGTH FINISH
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2010 - shadow wrote: 93 Points
Nice full rich mouth feel. Color, nose, and taste, if the add read rumored to be Silver Oak, I'd say, it is Silver Oak. Good stuff now, or like a good SO, will age gracefully for years to come
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2010 - Jody Smith wrote:
Strikingly reminiscent of a Pomerol in a ripe vintage. Very herbaceous / grassy nose. Non-descript red fruits take a back seat to classic Bordeaux like minerals, loam and cigar box. Good weight with air, but plenty of acid lends substantial cut and lift. Gritty tannin lends grip to a moderate finish. Still showing chocolate oak char that needs a bit of resolution, but paradoxically, is showing some aged saddle leather notes as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2010 - crdwino wrote: 95 Points
this wine is right in my wheelhouse. i agree with those who said that it comes out of the gate a little disjointed - as always, i popped and poured - but it really came around. the nose was very expressive right out of the gate, and the wine kept improving on the palate. wonderful.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2010 - TMacpherson wrote: 95 Points
We decided to pop one of these open and have with friends over some grilled filets, lobster mashed potatoes, and baby bella mushrooms in a reduction sauce.
Decanted for one hour. An absolutely brilliant nose with the Franc jumping out of the glass. Not a hint of alcohol on the nose. The body was really well balanced -- raspberries, rhubarb, and a hint of creme brulee mixed with mild acidic back drop. The finish was highlighted by subtle kiss of sweet tannins and a hint of oak.
This was a beautiful wine for a late fall day in New England -- crisp with enough sweetness that left everybody sadly staring at the empty bottle. Congrats to everyone who participated in the creation of this wine. It was worth the wait!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
11/7/2010 - JP wrote: 92 Points
Didn't take specific notes, but I really enjoyed this after about 2.5 hours in the decanter. On opening, it was somewhat disjointed but really came into its own with time so I'd highly recommend giving this some air. That said, for my tastes, I think I'll drink these young. Nice mouthfeel, lengthy finish, and I liked the Cab Franc element.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2010 - MarkC wrote: 89 Points
Motley Cru does Off the Beaten Path (San Marcos, CA): I enjoyed this wine, but don't think it's one of the better Pax-made wines I've had. Seemed to be a bit disjointed and not yet knit together into a cohesive personality. There are good elements--ripe fruit, good tannins, etc.--but they don't seem to balance or complement each other as they could. Perhaps it needs more time, or should have been decanted longer, but it seemed to be the same over the course of a few hours. (PE: 89)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2010 - River Rat wrote: 95 Points
Brought to an offline. Consistent with previous bottle. Held its own against some big boy cabs (Karl Lawrence, 4 Sisters, Buccella mica, Rivers Marie, Alpha Omega...) and was one of the standouts of the flight. Nice job Pax.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2010 - River Rat wrote: 95 Points
Stopped by and picked some up this evening. Pax was busy doing some pump overs on a new harvest but stopped what he was doing to go get my wine and talk for a few minutes. Real nice guy.
40% Merlot, 34% Cab Franc, 22% Cab Sauv, 4% Petite Verdot - 15.1% alc - Mendocino fruit.
Pop and pour, dark ruby with brick rim, almost looks cloudy but it's the brick color. Beautiful floral nose with some tar and long droopy legs. First sip was velvety smooth with noticeable alcohol. Pax said "1/2 hour air maybe, it's ready to rock right now", so I gave it some time to open up more. Yeah, about 5 minutes. I couldn't wait. Very concentrated, fruit jumps out at you then tapers off into an incredibly smooth palate with soft tannins and just the right amount of acidity for me. Subtle and savory at the same time. This is a great food wine and would go with Pork as well as Beef and Lamb. The finish is exceptional with graphite, those soft tannins and a lingering tanginess on the underside of my tongue that says "Drink me". Oh, and the alcohol really wasn't a factor after the first sip. Sorry I don't write better notes but simply put I really enjoy this wine which opens a new chapter in my palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment