Flavors of light apricot, butterscotch, pine. Long creamy finish. Pretty well focused.

Lime peel, minerals, citrus. Really rolls nicely on the tongue with some nice slightly green peach. Racy finish. Quite well done. 91-92

Blackberry/raspberry, stems, cardamon. On the palate it is rather green and a touch hot. This did not show nearly as well as previous bottles.

Root beer, cherry, and spice on the nose, with cherry tart with cinnamon on the palate. 89+

Big, fruit forward nose. Cassis/raspberry, dust, bell pepper. Short mid palate, a bit edgy.

I found this more appealing than when I had about six months ago. Flavors of blueberry and tobacco.

Mild cassis, old cigar box, graphite. Polite, integrated in the mouth, soft tannins. For several years out on a not great vintage I found this quite appealing, but probably would not be so without context of food. Wasn't done any favors by placement behind two younger bigger Cali blends. Drink now.

Big, blackberry pie, plum pudding, and a slight bit of machine oil. Plush palate with baked blackberry pie topped with orange creamsicle, olive, and caramel. It would certainly qualify as tasty, but rather over the top.

This was a somewhat closed (or else overwhelmed by the Pride preceding it), but nevertheless came across as quite polished and elegant.

Cassis, pencil lead, spice box. Gorgeous on the nose and follows through with sterling definition and intensity. Nervy, vibrant, masterful.

Overwhelming vegetal aroma, green peppers. Aargh, I guess I could drink it with a clothspin on my nose. I hope you have better luck on this one.

Nose says, "Hey, I'm a big Napa Cab! Look at me! Drink me! Show me off!". Blackcurrant and red fruit, juicy, plump, velvety on the palate and finish. Ho hum. Next...

Intriguing, but perhaps shutting down. Raspberry/cherry and earth are there. Only able to do at a tasting; I think this would profit from decanting and/or some cellar time, but I like what's down there in this one.

This was really one of the most interesting wines of the night. Neither as dark nor as tannic as I would have expected from a primary petit verdot. Somewhat reticent on the nose, but there's lingonberry sauce, tobacco leaf, some hard mineral quality, some leather. I'd like to have this one again with less palate fatigue to explore some more. Seemed splendid. 91+

Initially this was so volatile I thought it might catch on fire. It settled in a bit after a few minutes, at which point it seemed very much as if it had once been on fire and was now the smouldering remains. Exhibited smoky bacon, pepper, charcoal, prune, tar - kind of like a boyscout might smell the morning after a camping trip ( in a good sort of way). I think this syrah could wrestle a grizzly - and I'd want to be there with it. If you have two grizzlies you might want to give it a couple of years. 92-94

Stinky sangiovese with tannins? Huh.

Gorgeous as a pop and pour Brunello. Cherries, cherry blossoms, saddle leather, Liquid Gold wood polish, creme brulee, lavender. Smooth, classy. Great with applewood pork loin. Oh, and later with popcorn. 92-93

Ά
100% Alicante bouschet.
From Portugal.
At $100.

We have now passed some remote threshold.

"You are traveling through another dimension - a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. There's a signpost up ahead: Your next stop: The Twilight Zone!"
Ω