Community Tasting Note

• JAP55 Does not like this wine: 80 points

  November 12, 2021 - It doesn’t have the characteristics of being corked but there is definitely something off here. My initial take was that it came off more like a cab franc but I quite like cab franc so I would have suggested that it would have been off even if I missed the varietal all together. Unfortunately, this is one of the mandatory shipments for their wine club which, coupled with being able to find the Nota Bene for 15% cheaper elsewhere, caused me to leave that club even though the Carmenere is one of the most special wines in the valley. Choices do have to be made however.

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12 Comments

• KillerJones commented:

  11/12/21, 6:12 PM - Totally agree - when you can find the flagship wine cheaper & you are a member, you know something is wrong.
  
  Good call on their Carm - I think this could be the flag very soon.

• Francois Le Mouel commented:

  11/12/21, 6:33 PM - unfortunately the syrah is very inconsistent....totally agree with you on this wine...now cooking with my 2016🤦‍♂️

• JAP55 commented:

  11/13/21, 6:51 AM - For some reason, your cooking wine comment elicited images of the galloping gourmet although I am not sure anyone else will remember him.

• JAP55 commented:

  11/13/21, 7:01 AM - It is getting hard to find a wine club worth the effort KillerJones. The Carmenere was special enough to justify club membership initially but not after they increased the price of the Syrah. I haven’t checked yet but they we supposedly planting more Carmenere which should make it more available to non-members. Cheers

• Vino Loco commented:

  11/13/21, 8:40 AM - The 16 and 17 BH Syrah’s were not good. The 18 is a bit better, but at $40 it is overpriced by ~$10 for the quality, or lack thereof. The wine club lets you switch out the Syrah for whatever more expensive inventory they have left in the fall, how kind. Or you can just buy it at Save On for 10% off plus $12 off per mix and match case.
  
  I find BH Carm’s to be too green, the 19 was less green but no wow. You have not needed to be a wine club member to get it in recent years, and I tend to enjoy Ipso Facto and Per Se more.
  
  I agree with all of you on wine clubs, and actually cancelled my BH and Phantom Creek after my fall shipments this year. $150 now for the Phantom Creek blend - no thanks and will leave it on the shelf next to Oculus. I am down to Lariana and La Frenz - both are family owned and operated, and make excellent wines.

• JAP55 commented:

  11/13/21, 2:46 PM - Hi Vino Loco. I really enjoy a nicely aged BH Carmenere but the club became untenable after the Syrah was priced at $40. The Le Vieux Pin Cuvee Violet is its equal for $10 less. A friend of mine asked me to recommend a wine club and I was hard pressed to find one. I am down to LaStella and Painted Rock and the later may be on the way out because I have also found the Red Icon for less elsewhere. Painted Rock only requires 6 bottles per year however so not much damage done.

• Vino Loco commented:

  11/13/21, 5:16 PM - La Stella's Espressivo is decent. I had bought some 2016 from the winery for $50, then found it for $40 at a wine shop and bought some more - not sure I need 12 bottles a year from them though.
  
  I prefer Lariana's more recent vintages (2016 onwards) of Carmenere to Black Hills. Happy to share a bottle at some point, I also apparently have 6 bottles of BH 2016 Syrah somewhere in the cellar that I'd be happy to share too.

• KillerJones commented:

  11/13/21, 5:23 PM - Great comment Vino Loco! Love their Ipso & Per Se a lot – they seem to be dark horses that mature well.
  
  I also cancelled Phantom after barrel tasting with them this summer. Having seen the building, I think I know why they charge what they do for their wines. I mean, how about winning some awards first before you gouge the wallet? Oculus priced me out in 2028.
  
  Lariana 14 is singing right now & Loa Frenz just won winery of the year …again. (However, I have issues with their RS these days.) Indeed – excellent wines & priced accordingly.

• KillerJones commented:

  11/13/21, 5:26 PM - Totally agree with you, Jap. The BH Carm takes a long time to come around…but LVP is tops right now. I would totally reco them to a friend.
  
  Just re0joined Painted last week – missed their wines and did not find what I was looking for in Phantom.
  
  I say we take Vino Loco up on their generous offer!

• JAP55 commented:

  11/13/21, 6:09 PM - I am always happy to share a bottle or two with a fellow oenophile (amateur in my case). Next time you are in Oliver, let me know.

• KillerJones commented:

  11/17/21, 6:43 PM - You know I will!
  
  Many thanks, my friend.

• JAP55 commented:

  11/18/21, 5:25 AM - I would definitely look forward to that. Cheers

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