4/9/2011 - CkenS wrote:

Full bodied, nice mouth feel after opening up for about 45 minutes. Full frontal fruit attack with a tart finish until it opens up. Then more of a full palate attack and Chateauneuf style lingering finish. Very nice.

3/5/2011 - CkenS wrote:

Inky dense purple. Nice dark fruit attack with licorice pepper and a creamy oak. Sooo nice. A huge hit after a bunch of good Southern Rhones.

3/5/2011 - CkenS wrote:

Full bodied dark and garique cassis with a mineral and leather finish. Not complex but really I like this wine anyway and so did everyone else.

3/5/2011 - CkenS wrote:

Decanted for three hours. Dark fruit, full body balanced and structured but still too closed. But I get the feeling this one will bloom in couple more years. Not hot or overly tannic.

2/4/2011 - CkenS wrote:

Very nice. In the top 3 amongst a dozen Zins at our wine tasting.

12/16/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Beautiful desert or cheese wine. Flowery aromatic and nice finish.

10/24/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poured. Dark red to rim. Very closed up. Acidic, moderately tannic and hot. Needed time to open up. Decent lingering finish. Better the next day. More concentrated than a lot of CDRs. May need a couple or few years for this one to mellow out to reveal the flavors of a good vintage.

8/22/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Decent hardier pinot for the money but doesn't hold up long or even under vacuum overnight.

6/23/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Way past its peak and oxidation coming thru. Sweet...

6/23/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Tannins were hard at first but this wine really smoothed and balanced out after about 45 minutes of air and became surprisingly luscious. Others were all remarking positively about this wine in comparison to the others we had. Not nearly as complex or as good as a 2001 vintage from this winery but good nevertheless and better than I remember my last bottle of this vintage.

3/11/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Royal Purple. Hot nose. Needed time to open up but even then not great. Hard tannins. Vacuum bottled for the next day. Significantly better but then fell apart rapidly both in taste and color. The tannins were still harsh. I have a hard one giving this an 80 so I won't. Disappointed and was hoping this producer would do a decent job given their awesome Gigondas.

2/26/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poured. Garnet in color. A bit lighter bodied than I expected from an 07 Vacqueyras. Very unidimensional fruit (not very complex). OK attack. The tannins in the finish were a bit hard. While the finish lasted a long time it wasn't pleasant. Stashed it under vacuum at room temp for the next evening. Much better attack and smoother tannins the next day. Much more pleasant but I don't see RPs 91-93 as defendable at all even if it was rated after airing out adequately. None of the mineral I expect from this region. Not bad for the price but I've had much better in the range particularly the Chateau d'Or Nimes. This is more like a run of the mill CDR to me.... 84

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Very nice Bordeaux brought by a friend at our party. Couldn't take notes but Tarrant's notes below is what I remember. Very dark, well concentrated wtih a nose of plum, black fruit, cigar box, spice and vanilla, nicely structured/balanced, smooth on the finish with very nice length. I'd like to find this one if its reasonable.

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Full bodied. Great fruit with vanilla, cinnamon and spice. Everyone loved this one.

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Busy hosting and didn't take notes. Pretty dry, nothing special.

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Everyone commented on how much they like this one. Always a hit but I didn't get any as I was focusing on a nice 05 Bordeaux.

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Consistent with last notes

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Consistent with last notes. Nothing special but solid. Could have used more air but at a party it went fast.

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Notes consistent with last time but I'm bumping it up a point.

2/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Too busy hosting to take notes but this one was full bodied and luscious. A big hit and the last bottle of the night.

2/19/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Nice dark garnet-purple in color. Fragrant nose, lavender and fruit that needed a bit of time to open up. A bit different than I remember from the first bottle which seemed more vegetal with some asparagus maybe due to what I was eating (a gamey lamb shank). Medium full bodied. Beautiful dark fruit, cassis, ripe plum a hint of vanilla/lavendar with a bit of clay mineral in the finish. Nice balanced acidity and supple tannin. This wine is not super complex but has a very nice focus. The nose, the taste and the very long finish are in parallel. The finish makes you crave the next mouth full as the finish fills the nose and goes on and on. Overall I'd say the wine was most excellent after an hour and excellent all evening until we finished it off. Iit reminds me a bit of a good Gigondas or Vacqueyras. I was conservative with the first bottle because I wanted to be sure and I wanted to get more before it ran out. Definitely better than the 05. Gotta love Southern Rhone 07. The Delas Freres CDR St. Esprit that people rave about doesn't hold a candle to this one and is not even in the same league. I wish I had bought more than one case. Not sure how it would hold up over time. I just don't know but I will try it.

2/17/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Basic Reisling. A bit sweeter on both the attack and finish with no real mineral or slate in the finish. I bought this on a strong recommendation at McCarthur. While not bad, why would I buy this instead of a Dr. Loosen Dr. L at a lower price point. Dr. L is much more to my liking as its a bit drier, particularly on the finish and has some mineral and an effervescent effect on the palate. This wine is better with food while Dr. L is good with or without food.

2/17/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Crisp, tangy grapefruit, apple a bit of lycee with an effervescent feel on the palate. A semisweet attack but dryer clean slate mineral finish with the same flavors. I really like this wine, particularly for the QPR. I'd have to spend way more to get a white wine I liked in any other varietal. So I bought more than a case of this. Great with spicey food and a great palate clearing wine to enjoy alone when you want something tangy and clean. In this case I can actually agree with WS listing this as a top 100.

2/15/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Transparent thin garnet in color. A bit of a vegetal nose. Light bodied. Tart cherry. Fairly thin in the palate. Improved with air. Very little tannin with a finish that is a bit sweeter than the attack.. Nothing terribly objectionable but pretty underwhelming as well and doesn't hold up to food very well. But also not a wine I enjoyed chewing on alone in the course of an evening. Apparently a WS best buy at 89. Not terrible but I won't pick up more.

2/15/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Needed time. Not bad and pretty solid for a budget Cab. Will buy a few more for Cab nights.

2/11/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poored. Ruby color. A bit of barnyard or broccoli funk and grass on the nose. A bit harsh and acidic at first. Light medium body. Needed at least 30 minutes to open up. Tart cherry, very mild earthy wood undertones. Nice finish. Better than many Pinot's in this price range but not excellent either. Will try whats left the next day.

2/11/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poored. Excellent fragrent nose. Tight at first taste. Needed air. Peaked at about an hour. Nice cassis, currant, date with leather and mineral undertones. But after about 2 hours seems to fall apart and became more sour. Not really what I expect from a Gigondas and there are much better QPR bottles from this region and Vacqueryas out there.

2/5/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Medium body. Cassis and decent nose but bitter acrid finish shortly after opening. After about an hour it opened up. The next day it was beautiful. Dark, cassis, currant, plum, smoother fuller palate. Enjoyed it but it needs air time. 1st day 80-54. 2nd day 90.

2/4/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Very dark purple in color. Took a while to open up. Nice nose of plum and earth. None of the tar or smoke component I like in many Gigondas wines. Cassis, plum, fig, leather broad palate. A bit sweet which is unusual for Gigondas IMO.. Lots of mineral and crushed rock or salinity in the finish.

2/4/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Consistent with my last notes. Our guests raved about this wine.

2/2/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Dark purple. Very nice full nose with some oak. A very nice initial fruit attack on the palate (some sour but dark cherry and blackberry) that gave way to some sweet fruit and oak in the finish, a characteristic of an wine in this class. But not too sickly sweet. Decent the next day too stored at room temp after pumping out. Really not bad for someone craving a cab but not wanting to spend too much.

2/1/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Really underwhelming. Lack of palate or very closed.....

1/31/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Got this as a gift. I had had it before and wasn't impressed as it was thin in taste and not very smooth. This bottle sat open an hour or two before we got to it and I was pleasantly surprised. Not as sweet as many inenxpensive Cabs and a nice nose. Dark purple color. Medium body. A bit more oak than many might like but also some almond and earth with the fruit and smooth. Not bad at all. Decent QPR for an 07 Cali Cab and I'd consider a few more bottles for a pretty good table wine with the right food.

1/30/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Very different from the 05. Vegetal asparagus on the nose. I forgot to take notes on the color. Earth, vegetal, beefy on the palate. It really complemented a gamey lamb shank we had. But we continued to quaff this one the rest of the evening. We all really like this particularly for the price. I went on to buy a case of this at a lower price and will see if it holds up after another bottle or two.

1/30/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Consistent with previous notes. This is about 3 or 4 wines as it changes with air and overnight. It starts out a bit tart cherry and almost pinot like relatively light light medium bodies. After a couple hours the temparnillo character comes out and it starts to grow legs transitioning to a more medium bodied wine. And the next day, the blend is all there. A really great QPR. Glad I got more. Just as good without.

1/26/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poured. What a nose! Some smoky sausage or koscher hot dog meaty aroma. Light medium bodied. Nice well balanced and intense full palate attack of fruit, herb, pepper & garrique. But this intensity quickly dissipates into a more subdued mineral and tannin finish. While there is some complexity in the attack, the finish is fairly simple. ... >>>> After 90 minutes or so the finish improves with more of the flavors in the attack. Roll this around to get the full palate of flavors. It is very quaffable. Will update the next day if my wife and I dont' finish it off. Next day. More fruit forward and more fruit in the finish. The herb garrigue notes are not as evident the 2nd day. Overall interesting wine. I'm tempted to get another couple bottles for holding a couple years.

1/25/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Very dry. Nothing really objectionable but could have a bit more of the pinot grigio fruit flavor and crispness. OK clean finish.

1/21/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Orange/salmon hue. Very dry which is fine but not particularly flavorful fruit or much aroma. No real tang or crispness. Would rate it lower but the finish isn't sweet or funky. Just unimpressed, particularly for a Provencal Rose.

1/20/2010 - CkenS wrote:

I still like this and bought a case. Popped and poured with an aerator. Clear crimson, tart nose at first. Tart cherry, light bodied at first and no mid palate at first but still really pleasant. After about 30 minutes it starts to open up giving more mid palate sensation wood and leather and it feels more light to medium bodied. Not super complex or mind blowing but nicely balanced and constructed. The second day reveals more deepness, pepper, vanilla and a bit of smoke and earth. I think to myself, I really enjoy this wine and then I remember the price and like it even more. I find myself craving this one for some reason.

1/16/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Pretty ruby color. At first quaff, a fresh grass and asparagus nose with smoke. Nice. The vegetable nose dissipated with decanting. Very different and I'm not to familiar with Cab Franc but I liked the tar, smoke, earth and asparagus with the dark cherry fruit. Definitely not a fruit forward wine and very interesting. It shocked us at first but we all agreed it grew on us and improved with air showing more spice and fruit as it breathed out. Will be wanting more of this.

1/16/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poured with a rabbit aerator. A bit of grass in the nose at first. Otherwise fairly muted. Cherry up front with a bit of smokiness. Nice light earthy mineral quality. Very balanced and well put together. Nothinng majorly exciting but intriguing and it got much better after 30 minutes or so. This one needs more time but shows some promise and its one I could spend the evening with. Good QPR If you can get it for under 20 and hold it. I'd go for it. I want a few more to hold for a few years or more. Not as much of a food wine as it a more subtle smooth wine at this point.

1/16/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Inky purple but transparent deep purple with big legs. Heavy body but silky smooth feel. Dark fruit bomb with, lots of Ripe plum, current, blackberry, chocolate, coffee and a bit of oak in the nose. The taste is in line with the nose. Long finish. I really like the 03 and this is similar. I had one of my remaining 03s recently and it has held up very very well. But this wine is not for everyone and it is not one to chew on all night because its rich. It's almost a desert wine but not as sweet. In fact it is great paired with cheese and cheesecake but I've also enjoyed it with prime rib mushrooms, artichokes. Pair it with heavy food. If you have a lighter wine first, this will be a shocker. If you have this wine first, the others will seem very thin and tasteless. I will get more of this because I think it will age nicely and its a great QPR.

1/14/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Not much nose. Simple fruit. Made me stuffy for some reason. Not a very pleasant or interesting finish. While its not nasty, it just doesn't really deliver even for this price. I tried what was left the next day. It was better but only because it had lost some of its taste and maybe fallen apart a bit. I think I'll use the next bottle for cooking.

1/14/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Pretty transparent deep ruby color. A bit of grass, smoke, tar and pepper on the nose but not a real deep nose. I guess what I like about this wine is that it is a different cheap wine. Not sweet and too fruity. It has some smoke, tar, spice and leather with the fruit. Short finish but pleasant reasonably clean finish with no funk or sourness. You really have to swish it around to get all the tastes out of it. Not to imply complexity but its at least not your average cheap wine. In the past, its been much better on the 2nd day. We shall see.....

1/12/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Indigo purple. Heavy bodied, blackberry jam and roasted fig with a bit of licorice and coffee and the nose matches this. Good by itself or with cheese and rich food. Very rich and smooth, reasonably complex not sweet. I still love this wine and wish I had more than one bottle left. It has held up well even with moving three times and room temperature storage.

1/12/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poored. Thin short nose but with a bit of tart cherry and forest floor. Purplish cranberry color. Light medium body with tart cherry with more tangy or zesty cranberry fruit with an almost effervescent quality at first. With time, more of the forest floor and earth evident in the nose came thru. The finish was short and clean with young fruit at first but in time got better and just a bit more complex with some slate like mineral and medium tannin. I was skeptical of this one before trying it but was won over and am thinking about getting more to hold hoping the complexity potential is there. Relatively simple but better than the vast majority of Pinots at this price, certainly I liked it better than the Cambria 2007. Not overly acidic or tannic.

Late note: After a couple hours it turned sweeter and wan't quite as nice.

1/11/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Since dinner was on the table and I was late, I tasted before smelling. Very sweet big body wine. I didn't bother to smell it given the sweetness. Not terrible nasty tasting in any way and plenty of fruit and reasonable depth in comparison to most sweeter wines, but way to sweet for my taste.

1/9/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Needed a bit of time to open up and progressed throughout the evening. The thing that comes thru on this and makes it worthwhile and different for me was the mineral. Mineral driven. Nice dark fruit and a bit of spice, meat and asparagus. I am thinking of holding the rest of my bottles for a couple years. Would like to try other vintages of this wine as well.

1/8/2010 - CkenS wrote:

I love this Reisling. Not overly sweet. Crisp with citrus peach and papaya tang and finish. No funk whatsoever in this clean tangy finish. Incredible value even for a Reisling, and when I feel like a more expensive Gewurstz, this can also fit the bill. Holds up great with spicey Thai.

1/8/2010 - CkenS wrote:

Popped and poured with the rabbit aerator. Royal purple clear color. A deep nice mostly cabernet nose with a bit of cut grass at first. Big but smoky dark fruit with a bit of earth and edgy tannins at first and young fruit finish at first but stabilized to more supple tannin and clear quaffable nose after about an hour with a nice long smokey trending to darker fruit and leather finish. I really like this. Nicely balanced and I think I'll get more as it feels like it will round out nicely in time. It's a big wine that can be enjoyed all night and this was about an hour after a spicy ginger asian dinner with a very nice Loosen Riesling. It just got better and better but I'll try the rest tomorrow.