5/6/2019 - olm2000 Likes this wine:

a beauty after a much needed 6 hr slow ox decant...great density and freshness to this Napa cab...I'm very impressed, great debut vintage

2/23/2018 - olm2000 Likes this wine:

Very nice young Napa cab franc. Big notes of typical blueberry but buffered by nice acidity. Deft touch. Good minerality peeking thru. Terroir showing up. Lovely wine. Not sure this is for long aging though.

1/17/2018 - olm2000 Likes this wine:

My first experience with a Greer cab and I was deeply impressed. Popped and poured, nose was a bit shy early but this wine was singing from the start on the palate. Great density of cabernet fruit and perfectly balanced acidity giving an exciting tension to the feel of the wine. Then the nose came to the front with the signature Rutherford dust you only seem to get from this place.

Given how open it was, maybe this won't be a long ager. It sure is a mind blowing young wine right now! 98 pts today.

5/29/2016 - olm2000 Likes this wine:

Slow ox for 7-8 hours. Bit tight when poured but really opened over next 2-3 hours. This is a great cab. Impeccable balance. Reflects terroir better than about any Napa cab I've had in a long time. Graphite in spades. Very Bordeaux inspired with CA fruit. All for much less than the peer group. Will be a treat to follow over the next 20 or more years. Loved it.

9/24/2015 - olm2000 wrote:

My experience with Kutch pinots only goes back to the 11 vintage, but every bottle I've had in its youth has shown beautifully. Tonight was different.

Popped and poured. Nose showing nice lift and deft use of whole cluster stems adding complexity to the red fruits on the nose. Just beautiful and the Kutch signature to me.

The palate is austere and remained so over the 3 hours I followed the wine. Definitely the leanest Kutch I've had to date. I recall the 12 being a good deal richer in its youth, a wine I love almost as much as FM3! I'm a bit concerned about where this wine goes from here. Maybe the acidity and richness come more into balance with bottle age? Right now not a wine I enjoyed a great deal.

5/26/2015 - olm2000 Does not like this wine:

Something has gone wrong with this bottle. Not premoxed but muted on the nose and huge acid on palate. The fruit is all gone. I adore Sauzet but this was a big letdown.

5/26/2015 - olm2000 Does not like this wine:

Nice aromatics but harsh mid palate impression that carries over to the finish. I've had a lot of Peay chards and this was very different. Disappointing.

11/13/2014 - olm2000 wrote:

I love stems when adding aromatics and complexity, but this seems overdone to me. It overwhelms the wine to my taste. I thought the 07 Family Farm was similarly affected. A disappointment in my books.

1/7/2013 - olm2000 Likes this wine:

Decanted and heavily swirled occassionally over 4 hrs per Ray's instructions...consumed over next 5...nose bit shy all night...wonderful depth, texture and length on palate...not sure I could identify as Gevrey blind though, oak is masking terroir at this stage....not nearly as ripe as the limited 09s I've had so far (a good thing IMO)....this is excellent but clearly needs time to absorb the oak and mature...great rookie effort!

9/26/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

premox victim...opened an 09 Fourchame next that was a beauty...batting .500 not fun with wine

9/10/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

Premox victim, very sad...opened another and it's perfect...no difference in color but the nose is night and day

2/23/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

still enjoyable but seems to be shutting down, not as expressive on nose...did not pick up the over ripeness of the last bottle

2/14/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

popped and poured...seemed simple and a bit tired...recorked in half bottle overnight...day 2 - what a difference...the texture of the wine is amazing for a wine of this age and pedigree...very balanced w great length...not overly deep or complex but that's expected at this level...Gaunoux has some doubting Thomases but I think all these wines need is patience

2/8/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

well I have a much different impression of this wine than some others...agree this is very refined and and oozes elegance...but I find the silky texture, perfect balance and pure Volnay typicity very endearing...maybe not a typical Taillepieds but still a wonderful expression of site...there certainly are more profound wines from the vineyard...given this costs 50-70% less, hard to find a better example for the money IMO

1/9/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

excellent Meursault 1er...in a good place now...I would like a little more acidity for my palate, but that's a minor nit

1/2/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

wow has this come along since last bottle 18 months ago...had to double check label to make sure it was the village Puligny...as perfect a pairing of richness and acidity as I've had at this level...just lovely

1/2/2012 - olm2000 wrote:

decanted for a couple hours and still not giving up much even over the following 3 hours while it was consumed...my sense is it just needs time, try again in 2013 or later

12/21/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

love the nose on this wine...lots of iron and you can sense the tension awaiting you on the palate...backward as you would expect in the mouth but the great balance makes it enjoyable at this stage....good length...hold remaining bottles for at least 2 years IMO

11/29/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

closed down pretty hard...give it some time and I'm sure this will be another winner from Pavelot

9/30/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

popped and poured...day 1 - beautiful, expressive nose...quite remarkable for a village wine...on palate however this is very ripe, more like CA pinot...enjoyable if not terroir driven...day 2 - has settled down a bit but still riper than I would like...curious if this is typical of the wine in 07

9/27/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

this bottle is dominated by new oak. masking any terroir signature...recorked in half bottle for tomorrow to see what evolves

9/9/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

much fresher than last bottle but I suspect it's on the downside of its evolution

9/8/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

very concentrated pinot but also showing lots of oak currently...i'm worried this will not be absorbed as the wine continues to evolve and soften

8/31/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

first bottle was full blown premox...color wasn't particularly advanced but nose and palate were textbook...cereal and cognac aromas...dull palate...opened another and it was wonderful...secondary aromas and flavors emerging but still showing delicious fruit and exquisite balance...what a shame the first bottle was a dud...i've got to start drinking my nice burgs younger i guess

8/22/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

popped and poured...excellent traditionalist Barolo..no signs of the warm vintage showing...a bit tannic but approachable now and will surely age well too

8/10/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

excellent day 1 over two hours when popped and poured...really grips the palate with masculine leaning Savigny character and transparency without any rusticity...half of bottle remaining recorked into half bottle...bit tired on day 2 which surprised me, but still solid...overall an incredible value at $26 paid

6/29/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

wonderfully understated Volnay...very pure and terroir driven...great weightless texture akin to a Roumier Chambolle villages...suits my palate perfectly but those preferring more punch might score this lower

6/11/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

again what a stellar Volnay 1er for $40 paid...tad riper than I recall in previous bottle but does not overwhelm the Volnay signature minerality...just maybe not as transparent as I recall

6/8/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

needs time to resolve tannins...or long decant...impressive raw material

6/5/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

curiosity got me and popped this...pretty classic chambolle nose and nice lacy texture...more and more minerality as time went on...needs another few years IMO to really shine but enjoyable now

6/5/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

well made but riper than I like and moreso than other Peay chard vintages I've had

5/21/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

popped and poured...lots going on with the nose but a slight roasted trait that is not surprising given the vintage...however this did blow off after a couple hours and the last glass was much less ripe but not necesarily more interesting or improved...seemed a bit dull given the hints given after opening...good but not up to the reputation of the vineyard

5/21/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

again, very jammy to my personal taste but excellent value in that style

5/19/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

this screams minerality...excellent grip...maybe a bit austere on finish...very good village Meursault but not a great value given the high prices this producer commands...doubt I would rebuy given the tariff

5/18/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

opening up versus a year ago...solid village Chambolle but doesn't overachieve...bit austere on finish

5/11/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

pure, transparent Volnay...maybe the best QPR in the $40 range I've ever had from Burgundy...great wine

4/15/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

brett city! shame.

4/1/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

very approachable...bit ripe upon opening but that blew off...just a textbook feminine Chambolle...everything in balance...too bad this is so rare...around 50 cases produced annually

3/23/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

no formal notes but I found this very approachable...excellent wine but not superior to the Sauzet PM Perrieres I had a few weeks ago which was a better QPR...assuming that applies to wines at this price point...anyway, a wonderful wine

3/21/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

popped and poured - this clearly needs more time or heavy decant to show its best...recorked...day 2 - much improved, more open with great texture...poured remaining wine into half bottle and recorked again...day 3 - the nose has faded a bit but still going strong and really delicious...I also think this has young Puligny traits...along with some Peay chards I've had, I would rank this at the top of the CA chard ranks...great wine

3/18/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

beautiful wine that doesn't resemble the overripe 03 vintage characteristics...classic Vosne nose of asian spice, flowers and some minerals - really intoxicating...more light and precise on palate than imposing and powerful...there is punch here especially in comparison to the weight...a great wine, one that embodies what I love most in Burgundy - site expression, balance and wonderful aromatics and palate texture...reminded me of the experience I had with an 00 Mugnier Amoureuses a few years ago

3/9/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

no formal notes but this delivers...transparent Chablis with depth and balance...well done

3/6/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

a wine overwhelmed by the ripeness common to the vintage

3/5/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

bought these ex-domaine recently...popped and poured...pruney nose that blew off for most part but not completely...I suspect this is a couple years past its peak but doubt it was ever anything special...drinkable for sure but tired...I wouldn't rebuy

3/4/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

a bit ripe for my taste but an excellent wine in that style...great QPR, one of the best in CA I have seen for pinot

3/1/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

another excellent showing, even better on day 2...just a great value at $28 paid

2/24/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

day 1 - this wasn't budging...like licking a brick...drank half glass and recorked bottle...day 2 - much more open but still is a very structured Chambolle bourgogne...if you have some, i'd give it 3-5 more years...serious value

2/23/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

bit disappointing but maybe in need of more time...bit lean and not particularly structured...maybe in dumb phase but not sure it has raw material to gain weight and blossom...will wait and open another one in a year or so...hopefully will dodge premox

2/22/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

I find this less approachable than other tasters...reserved nose, hollow midpalate, generally disjointed...closed down and I think it needs time to come together...I have had excellent Peay syrahs so I will hope time will help...recorked in half bottle overnight...day 2 - same story for most part...my remaining bottles will sleep for a couple more years

2/18/2011 - olm2000 wrote:

I echo what wineglas said...lovely now, why chance premox