11/18/2021 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour.
Light light yellow color.
Not much on the nose. Perhaps, a hint of lemon and white hibiscus.
On the palate,, there is some citrus and a saline note but not much depth.
This is a wine that wants to be better but perhaps they watered back to get to 13.1%abv and made this a bit watery. Seems diluted.

Disappointing given the price and the winery pedigree.

1/6/2019 - t_moderne wrote:

Opened, had a small pour and taste, and then let slow-ox for about 1 hour before serving.
Tasted on its own and then with food.
Ruby color.
Nose offers some orange peel along with plum and blackberries.
Light in texture, there is bright acidity to this wine. Nice plum flavor with evident acidity and citrus peel. Tannins are well integrated. Some notes of mushroom and red clay on the back end.

10/28/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:

Time for another....opened yesterday. 12% alcohol, this is easy on the soul, much like the rest of Jamie's range. I've got a bunch of notes on this wine that already exist below so I will just cut to the chase here. Like the other bottles, gentle, creamy, lightly red colored and yet full of red fruited juicy goodness. Some tangy strawberry, red apple, something Indian spiced like a cardamom (I called it cinnamon in my last note). My reference to 'hard cherry candy' is still valid too, as this reminds me at times like a red fruited Jolly Rancher. Some moderate acidity remains mixing with the red fruit, altogether creating a glass of Pinot Noir that is in a great place. Given the brightness that remains in the wine, I think it's good for another few more years but I'll have my final bottle consumed by then. Delicious.

11/14/2021 - t_moderne wrote:

Opened, poured into a decanter, and enjoyed about 1 hour later. Followed for about 3 hours over dinner and after.
Deep purple color.
Nose offers a wisp of alcohol at first and then as the wine opened up a bit more showed dark chocolate and cherry.
Good richness to the wine with sufficient acidity to carry the ripe fruit.
Has some good weight in the mouth with the tannins nicely integrated.
An enjoyable wine.
On this evening, it just did not have the "wow" factor.

[Edited to correct spelling.]

10/25/2021 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour. Saved half of the bottle - Vacu-vin and refrigerated.
Ruby color.
Nose offers ripe strawberries,/red fruit with a wisp of sandalwood incense. Fresh earth/soil as well.
on the palate, fresh red fruits and herbs. Bright and lively. Good acidity.
Mid-palate notes of sandalwood and brown spice add depth.
On first taste, I muttered to myself: Oh, this is good. There was such a lovely freshness to the wine. So inviting. And with more time, the depth of flavors -savory and ripe fruit - present themselves.
So good.

6/18/2021 - t_moderne wrote:

What is it with the Rhys/Alesia half bottles from 2018.
Opened to a whiff of acetic acid. Then on the palate - oxidized stewed fruits.
Second flawed half bottle from 2018.
All purchased and delivered during cool Fall temperatures and stored in 55F cellar. [shrug!]

9/15/2021 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour. Enjoyed with food and then on its own.
Purple color.
Nose is initially like a bouquet of flowers - mix of floral notes and green leaves. Then opens to dark fruits - a nice plummy, and blackberry note with a core of wet fresh earth.
Delicious dark fruited wine with depth of flavors. Good acidity that highlights the fruit and the earth and dark spice notes.
Delicious.
Has sufficient qualities to improve with a year or two in bottle but this is quite inviting now, even on just pop and pour.

8/8/2021 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and tasted with food (Sunday gravy with macaroni, in case you were wondering).
Dark purple color.
Nose offers cherries, black cherries and black berries. Hint of violet and chocolate too. Slight reductive note that blows off.
Good dark fruits, with a rich mouthfeel. The violet floral note comes in as well. Some chocolate creamy notes on the finish. Sufficient acidity to keep things engaging.

Expected a bit more from this 2013. Quite good but I expected greater depth.

Tasted the following day after 1/3 of the bottle was saved with a Vacu-Vin and refrigerated. Still enjoyable with good fruit and sufficient acidity. Shows a little bit more of the plum side along with dark chocolate notes and cherries.

10/25/2019 - t_moderne wrote:

Twist and pour.
Deep ruby color. Clear.
Nose offers cherries and kirsch with beautiful floral violet notes.
Primary flavors of black cherries and plums, violet, with a brown spice note on the back end. Sufficient acidity to carry the ripe fruit.
Very enjoyable.
I have been a long time purchaser of Andrew's wines. Over the years, i have seen tremendous improvement in his wines. Impressive. Unfortunately, he announced the closing of AP Vin. As one who enjoys these wines, that is a loss.

11/26/2020 - t_moderne wrote:

Opened, poured into a decanter, and served with Thanksgiving dinner (pork ribs with cheesy polenta, in case you were wondering). Followed for about 2 hours.
Ruby color.
Nose is not offering much - some red berries, perhaps.
Sour and tart. Overly acidic and not much fruit showing here. Citrus notes and perhaps a touch of unripe berries.
Disappointing.

I have enjoyed many wines from the Savoy Vineyard (Radio-Coteau, Kutch, Failla and Littorai, as I recall). This was just a bad bottle or a bad vintage.

2/27/2020 - t_moderne wrote:

This was a Falltacular auction purchase, and paired with the 2006 Alpine Hillsides.
Dark ruby color.
Nose offers wisp of wood smoke, with red berries and herbs.
Light, fresh vibrant wine. Bright red berries, hint of forest floor, with a fresh orange peel note on the finish. Light, elegant with bright, tangy fruit. Has a slight sweetness to it from the ripe red berries.
Delicious.

10/4/2019 - SMagowan Likes this wine:

Still a bit young. Rich and full bodied. A mouthful of blackberry jam and pepper.

6/26/2019 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and tasted without food.
Bright ruby color. Clear.
Nose offers herbs and some cranberry.
Flavors of bright red berries (cranberries and wild strawberries) with some red cherries on the back end. The whole cluster usage is evident as the wine has a significant herbal note. While the whole cluster gives the wine added depth and a savory quality, it is a bit jarring and perhaps over done. I am not sure that green herbal element will fully integrate. At present, it is a bit of detraction from the wine.

1/30/2018 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and tasted on its own, and then with food (cod in a miso glaze, with a bok choy and broccoli stir fry, with forbidden rice, in case you were wondering).
Dark purple color.
Nose of black cherry, some cherry liqueur, vanilla and chocolate notes.
Big and rich, with ripe dark fruits, and showing a touch of sweetness. The sweetness is countered by the tannins. There is sufficient acidity to keep the wine inviting.
Enjoyable.
Poured half into a 375ml bottle, recorked and refrigerated and will update the note if there is any considerable change.
Retasted the following day. Still shows good dark fruits, with a nice licorice note.

10/11/2017 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and drank out of a Govino plastic cup while sailing.
Bright purple color. Nose shows some dark fruits and a nice inviting spice element. At first, the flavors were tight and not giving much. With some time being open, the flavors start to expand, showing various levels of depth. Plum, cherries, some vanilla and black licorice notes unfold. There is a good core of acidity for balance.
Delicious.
Certainly could use more time in the bottle or a long decant if opened now.

9/16/2017 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and tasted out of a plastic cup at a corn roast.
Dark purple color. Bright. Nose shows some spice and dark cherries. Good acidity that keeps the wine lively. Fresh black fruits.

5/13/2017 - t_moderne wrote:

Twist and pour and followed over the course of two days while the bottle was opened in the wine cellar.
The nose at first is funky. Manure and wet earth masking any fruit. That blows away with some time. Wine is a bit rustic, showing that wet earth/ fresh manure note along with ripe blackberries. Improved on the second day to show a savory side of brown spices to go with the ripe black and red fruits.

3/3/2017 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and served with food (chicken in a tomato and olive stew, in case you were wondering).
Cloudy. Nose shows some brown spice and forest floor. Crisp acidity, with red berries including a crunchy cranberry note. A bit tart but pairs well with food.

11/20/2014 - t_moderne wrote:

The bottle arrived today and there was a tiny hairline crack in the bottle such that there was the smallest leak. Single drops of wine. The winery was kind enough to send a replacement, leaving me no choice but to open the leaking bottle before it emptied, small drip by drip, onto the cellar floor.
Pop and pour and served without food
crisp bright tart red fruits, cranberries and fresh basil. the whole cluster is evident. Wonderfully bright and inviting. Enjoyable.

7/29/2013 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour (after 30 minutes of slow ox) and served in Govino plastic cups on a sailboat. Served with food (a burrito with chicken and guacamole and sour cream, in case you were wondering).
Rich dark wine with black fruit and game notes. Has a little zip to it that gives it some lift. coats the mouth. A slight bit of heat but nothing too jarring. Big, bold and bouncy.

7/5/2013 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and served with BBQ baby back ribs with a tomato based sauce. Big, rich and dark wine. Some sweetness from the grenache. Shows good spice and earth notes. Presents a bit of heat with the spice from the BBQ sauce. Better without spicy foods. This has enough acidity to carry the richness of the fruit.

4/15/2013 - t_moderne wrote:

Pop and pour and followed for three hours, without food, unless you count Wheat Thin crackers as food. The re-corked, chilled, and tasted the following day. This has the Rhys signature nose and flavor profile. A savory and crisp Pinot. Some herbal elements (whole cluster) and fresh crushed raspberries. A hint of mint and basil mixed in. This has a lively flavor, some tartness, with the fresh fruit. Light in weight but there is good flavor, leaning to the savory side of the spectrum.