2/13/2023 - awise45 wrote:

Spectacular -- really singing now, with dark fruits and full finish. So rich and balanced.

12/20/2022 - awise45 wrote:

Probably too young, but understand the big score from WS. Deep purple, long finish, lots of dark fruit. Seems like it will be even better in 2-3 years when everything settles down.

9/1/2022 - awise45 wrote:

Rich and bold; lots of dark fruit and deep berries. Lingering finish; hour decant very helpful at this young age.

6/11/2022 - awise45 wrote:

Subtle, understated wine; would not have guessed it as CA (and perhaps not even as a straight-ahead cab) if tasted blind. Agree with others re green herbs, light front palate -- fascinated by Galloni perfect score and description as I strained to find it knowing the details and really could not. Will let the remaining 3 sit for a while and see what comes.

6/4/2022 - awise45 wrote:

Still fresh and wonderfully smooth -- nice combination of plum and dark chocolate notes, deep purple, tannins pretty well integrated. Not super complex but still pleasing.

5/28/2022 - awise45 wrote:

Incredibly fresh burst at the start, nice acidity and citrus profile.

11/19/2021 - awise45 wrote:

Delicious; rich and velvety, with a ribbon of vanilla and dark fruits. Long finish.

10/24/2021 - awise45 wrote:

Love this wine year in and year out. Nice and rich without being heavy, hint of vanilla, peach and a little citrus?

4/25/2021 - awise45 wrote:

Wonderful -- fresh and nicely balanced with cherry and light fruit notes and a lingering finish.

2/7/2021 - awise45 wrote:

Shows lots of promise, but not ready yet. Dark cherry and blackberry flavors and a long finish -- a little disconnected now and should come together with time.

11/25/2020 - awise45 wrote:

Spectacular, and drinking really well already. Rich, full-bodied, but very nuanced and many layered. The finish is super long and the tannins are already integrated.

10/10/2020 - awise45 wrote:

Wonderful -- elements of honey and peach, rich but not at all heavy.

9/1/2020 - awise45 wrote:

Licorice and rhubarb, but not too tart; full and rich with a blast up front and a smooth finish. Really nice.

6/29/2020 - awise45 wrote:

Could use a little more time to let the tannins to soften. But still delicious and very pleasing -- juicy with a little bit of tart but long finish.

4/14/2020 - awise45 wrote:

Pretty eggplant-colored rim surrounds deep purple color, tannins not yet integrated -- could certainly use time, but potential shows through. Rich, full, with lots of dark fruit but fresh and vibrant all the same.

4/3/2020 - awise45 wrote:

A little tight, but nice flavors of cherry and raspberry. Need a little more time?

4/3/2020 - awise45 wrote:

Year over year, Papera is an excellent wine. The 2015 is no different — rich and fruity, with a deep purple color and a long finish. Raspberry and a little tart fruit on the front end and very smooth.

10/20/2019 - awise45 wrote:

So interesting -- peculiar, prunish flavor at the start, but that disappeared after an hour open and revealed a full, fruity, velvety treat.

10/17/2019 - awise45 wrote:

Much better after open an hour or so. A bit harsh and herbal in the first 30 min, but then opened up to a nice, fresh punch with a bit of sour cherry. Still prefer the old style merlot without as much blend, but still very nice.

8/24/2019 - awise45 wrote:

Really tremendous and drinking nicely now. Full and rich, but not overpowering; long finish with lots of dark berry and cream notes.

11/30/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Rich and full, but not at all over-powering; dark purple fruit with a ribbon of spice. Very enjoyable after a one hour decant. I must admit that I wondered as I drank it how much of my perception of it was based on knowing what I was drinking -- some sips I found amazing, others I found somewhat flat. So 94 for the wine, 60 for the taster.

11/26/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Needs some time open to mellow; vibrant fruit up front but a lingering tartness that can be too much and, to me, prevents this from being truly excellent - maybe just needs more time in bottle.

11/23/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Rich combo of dark berries and mocha, dark purple color and strong nose with a hint of menthol.

11/10/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Very nice, P&P -- fresh and explosive, almost a hint of tart but not in a displeasing way.

11/10/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Worried that this was too young to drink, but found it excellent -- integrated and velvety, rich and not disjointed. Beautiful nose, almost flowery, and lots of dark fruit with a long finish.

10/3/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Really coming into its drinking window; mellow and smooth, with bright cherry and light fruit at first and a smooth finish. Delish.

9/22/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Tannins still not integrated, slightly sour on the front and then mellowing. Medium bodied, maybe needs more time to mellow out the edge.

9/11/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Fresh and rich, but not at all overpowering. Light floral notes, smooth throughout. Really nice and drinking well at the moment.

9/3/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Drinking so well now -- smooth and rich, tannins integrated. Wonderful.

8/25/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Incredible, and certainly not beyond its peak. Could go another 5 years easy, but great right now. So right and complex, with waves of dark fruits and mellow berry, and a hint of vanilla streak on a long finish. So great.

7/28/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Floral nose, lots of light berries, very fresh, long finish.

7/23/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Made the mistake of turning to this after a balanced Spanish rioja and first impression was overwhelming and like taking a hammer between the eyes. Super-ripe and rich, with the Petite Sirah dominant, probably better as the lead-off on an evening.

4/7/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Popped and poured, so was cold coming out of the cellar and didn't have time to touch air, and it was so tart and tight that I worried it was turned. I mean, face puckering, cringe down your spine tart. Decanted and left out, and about an hour later was better, but still never approached what I thought with the last bottle. Weird, and not in line with past Tor cabs. Maybe was an off bottle.

2/4/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Two for two -- loved it as much as the first bottle. Rich and smooth, with a ribbon of vanilla complimenting dark fruits. Would never have guessed it as a cab franc, but probably just shows how few Cfs I've tasted. Wonderful.

2/2/2018 - awise45 wrote:

Exceptional. Rich but not heavy, floral and honeysuckle notes, beautiful color.

12/8/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Beautiful and drinking so well right now. Rich with dark berries and spice, long finish.

11/24/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Crisp and fresh, without the heavy feel that sometimes ruins CA chards; nice depth and complexity.

11/22/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Bracing at first taste after opening, took about an hour to open up. Still tannic, alcoholic nose. Huge delta between RP and WS, and I'm not sure I see either.

11/4/2017 - awise45 wrote:

First bottle of this, and found it very impressive. Smooth and flowing, with light berry that isn't tart, and a nice fullness. PnP, better after 45 minutes open.

6/4/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Rich and smooth, subtle streak of vanilla against core of cherry and chocolate perhaps. Really enjoyed.

4/19/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Wonderful balance -- full without being overbearing. Deep maroon color, nice mix of berries but not tart. Always love the Paperas, this is another in a great line.

4/5/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Sweet and smooth, dark maroon color, pepper on the nose but no hint of it on the finish. Very nice, can't believe it is 16.2 percent.

2/12/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Rich and super aromatic -- lots of dark berries and spice. Just realized that 4 months ago I thought it needed more time; certainly didn't feel that way tonight.

1/11/2017 - awise45 wrote:

Lots of dark berry, and a little tartness on the aftertaste. Pretty rich, deep purple. Very enjoyable.

12/27/2016 - awise45 wrote:

Wonderfully fresh -- lots of strawberry and cherry and lots of smooth finish.

12/5/2016 - awise45 wrote:

Wine that is really coming into its own. Deep purple, eggplant color, rich and full, with lots of coffee, dark fruit, and a long finish. Seems very well integrated at the moment -- smooth...

11/27/2016 - awise45 wrote:

Really fragrant and floral -- lots of raspberry and blackberry flavors with a rich, full finish.

11/6/2016 - awise45 wrote:

Very nice blend of dark fruits, sweet nose but not syrupy or overdone. Popped and poured, but was much smoother after being open for an hour.

11/6/2016 - awise45 wrote:

Rich, full of red and dark berry flavors; a little punchy but not tart. Was worried that this was too young, but turned out to be well balanced already after 30 minute decant.

10/20/2016 - awise45 wrote:

Wonderfully rich, dark purple color, hint of coffee and spice. Better after 30 minutes open.