1/1/2014 - Claretjugornot Likes this wine:

Good QPR. Nothing exotic about this... not a hot redhead or a Ferrari here, just a solid gal who may end up with a dumpy ass some day who keeps the house clean. What it does, it does well, good fruit, oak, depth, heavier mouth-feel, some dryness/tannin. It is essentially an upgraded version of a Sterling Cab... not going to complain about it most nights, but no wow factor. Coca-Cola version of CA cabernet from CHILE! Alexis Sanchez has way more style than this wine. If I went to a restaurant and had to overpay for a glass of cab, i wouldn't send this back. JDM 87

1/1/2014 - Claretjugornot Likes this wine:

Decent juice for the price. More of a cherry flavor - not unusual taste for an Aussie Cab. Like a Wolf Blass or a Greg Norman. Nothing special, but decent. JDM 86

12/26/2013 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Another wonderful wine from Russell F. His wines stand up to any type of food thrown at them and this wine is lighter in body than the Syrahs (obviously). Nothing not to like. Smooth mouthfeel, silky, but still with enough grip to it. I taste a little anise on the finish. Outstanding stuff. NB - awesome bottle pic :) 91 JDM

12/31/2012 - Claretjugornot Likes this wine:

QPR is excellent. Mimosas and Bellinis etc all call for this. A dry prosecco made from Glera Grapes. Perfect for our purposes with Sparkling wines. 88 b/c of the QPR... also 11% alc so easy drinking summer type as well.

12/25/2012 - Claretjugornot Likes this wine:

I like the Tapestry. Medium to full bodied, great fruit... just a well made beefy CA cabernet. Nothing to complain about here. You know what you are getting here. Strong to quite strong if not special. 89

12/25/2012 - Claretjugornot wrote:

A nice wine, nothing offensive, but also nothing special. $32 for a bottle like this is not a great QPR... comparable to a Sterling Cab which is maybe $20 retail, but we get for much less. A nice cherry light bodied inoffensive CA cab.

1/15/2011 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Uh... wow. Really? $28. Did i saw wow... i'd say WOW or WOWIE ZOWIE, but that would disturb my moment with nature's goodness in a glass; so, wow. Decant, color of petroleum, not unleaded 93 octane stuff, tar colored being poured through the filter... viscous is a word that comes to mind. The nose and the feeling as it approaches your lips is that you are about to drink some Boysenberry syrup. RP often uses the word HEDONISTIC, this is it baby. Feel like you are sipping something special, something precious and something heavenly when it hits the mouth. Black and Blueberry with that wonderful hint of a lively mouth-feel... almost effervescent. I just opened this, but can it improve? Anything is possible. At this price point this stuff is ridiculously good. Mr. WINEMAKER... YOU THE MAN! Voluptuous, sultry, dark. Forgive me Father for i have sinned. 94+ JDM

12/28/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Tight tannins, little pucker, opened up with some air. Solid wine, good mouthfeel, nice wine to handle fatty steaks or unctuous cheeses. Had a little blue cheese with glass two and it proved a nice pair. Not sure i'd go for this again, but an enjoyable wine. Searched it on Wine-Searcher @$50/bottle from $80. QPR not great here. 87 JDM

12/27/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Deep Ruby color, reminds me of a crushed velvet painting (a gem like a velvet elvis e.g.). Black Cherry fruit, soft mouthfeel, dry finish, and legs longer than Wonder Woman. Super big fruit for Grenache, or at least granache as I have tasted it. Very good, Amy was a fan… wore on me a bit as the bottle went on. Prefer the White Hawk Syrah… can’t wait to try the Larner Vineyard Syrah. As Fazool would say, “good juice”. 88 JDM

12/27/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Mom says she picked based on the WE score at K&D... well K&D only has a WE score for the 2006, i got the 2007. Here is what WE said about the 2006:
"An impressive Cabernet, the winery’s best effort in years. Dry and firm in tannins, it shows a Bordeaux-esque elegance and balance, with sage and cedar notes framing underlying red currant fruit. Now through 2012.
Score: 90. —Steve Heimoff, December 15, 2008."

Here is what i say about the 2007:
Not bad, but a little lifeless overall for me, some coffee notes in there, light to medium bodied, definitely more red fruit than dark fruits here. Don't get me wrong it was certainly decent, but not much to remember it by except for the fact i was drinking it watching the Pack ROMP the Giants 45-17 at the time. Ba, Ba Ba Da Da (you do the rest) 86 JDM

12/27/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Michael R. had gifted a few years back. Reminiscent of a Zinfandel... brownish color, raisin or currant flavors... like a sweet cinnamon kiss from your honey. The legs on this lady are long and be careful or you'll be sleeping at the table. Held up well. Enjoyed it and will make it a point to open the Magnum i have with some buddies some day soon. 89 JDM

10/10/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Boysenberry, touch of mint on the nose. More fruit forward than BV's La Tour... the blend here is pleasing, but without over "NEW WORLDING" it... feel like Malbec and a couple of other varietals added to some of the blends can make them seem too soft and cherry fruited; this is to my liking as it is more black and blue fruits, oak is here, but not OTT. Finishes dry, definitely has aging potential and is a touch closed. I just popped and poured... well, into a decanter through a filter, but this is 2m after opening. I will reserve final judgment till after it has some time to open up. 88 for now. Compares favorably to other CA bordeaux blends... can't touch the isosceles, but you can't get isosceles for $30. JDM prelim 88

10/6/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

First cut at this and i know it needs some time, but DAMN, i aint got no time to wait tonight. Tastes expensive... some complexity here. The Syrah must soften it up a bit as to me it seems slightly "soft" on the palate, like soft filtered water. That said it finishes dry and has a little tobacco taste to it... hints at it, like a small nat sherman cigarillo... almost a coffee/tobacco taste. Nose reminds me of sherry casked scotch. I keep thinking i need a steak with this wine, but not some lean girly man version of a steak like a filet or even a strip... it wants a big honkin' bone in rib steak. Will report again after some time in the air and subsequent bottles. JDM 88

6/16/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Look people, i can help you on the reds, but with white wine you may want to look elsewhere for advice (unless you are a red wine drinker). Had a bottle of this (or was it two) with friends at dinner. Had the KC before. Stuff is damn tasty for the price and what i am looking for when it is hot and i don't want to drink red wine. Grapefruit = check, minerality = check, little sugar = check. For me if i am not drinking prosecco or riesling in the summertime i am looking for something like this. It is good and easy to find. 87 JDM

6/16/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Not bad. Drinkable. Big % of Petit Verdot, then cab then merlot. Interesting idea... comes off sort of in the Pillar Box Red or Red Truck type area with this being a little better, less cherry pie filling flavored than the red truck... this being a "bordeaux" blend or blend of Bordeaux varietals, but from Aussie fruit. 1st wine in the super pack search for the next house wine - purchased all wines in this American Idol esque search for 2010 from Post Wines in Syosset. Smells like cheaper Australian wine and if it came in a tetra pack and i was drinking on the train on the way home from work i'd say yeah, pretty good. Just okay for me for now, but again better than average for "good" wines in this price range. Would have no problems serving to non wine drinker friends (you know who you are people). 84 JDM

3/6/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

straw colored, small bubbles, some sugar here, but a nice acidic lemony tang to it as well - all i can really ask of prosecco and certainly prosecco at this price. Strong to quite strong - only problem is you want to drink wine like this quickly and often given how refreshing it is... it is only 10% alch which helps that a bit. 87 JDM

3/6/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Drank last night when dad was in town. Amy and i ripped into this and Dad went with a Simi Chardonnay. Didn't think much about breaking it down for a review at the time. Memory of it is just of a very good napa cab and all you expect from the archetype. Nothing ever with Caymus that sets it apart for me. Realtive to $20-$30 bottles it is a great treat, but in this price range i'd rather the Justin or Altamura. Would never turn down a glass of course. 92 JDM

2/14/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Sweet fruit, nothing to this wine, but for the liquidation price of 6.99 you can pretty much use this as mouthwash. Can anyone say holiday party... sorry Jerry, you are the only one who serves latour at your holiday party. Love you man! 80 JDM

2/14/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Decent wine - the Havens Napa Cab is better though. 10.99 from wtso makes it easy to drink though. Good structure, medium bodied. Has a clear tar note. Yep, tar and not in the great smelly diaper, tarry coffee way you might find from Gigondas or some other earthy wine. Just tar and maybe some cigarette butts. Will have to pay more attention the next time we pop a bottle of the cab regularo espectacularo. This is fine for $10, but i'd say 82-83.

1/9/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Solid for 9.99, thanks WTSO.com! Okay, so the nose is hard to define... don't pick up anything in particular. Decent structure and mouthfeel, better structure than the Lede actually. Interesting blend with cab-merlot-shiraz and a heavy does (19%) of cab franc. I am strange in that i really like great syrah/shiraz, but generally do not like blends with shiraz involved. That said, i like this. It is a little tart which i would bet is from the cab franc. Little vegetal note which i attribute to cab franc when it is not great. Great Cab Franc by itself is like playing golf with Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, and Bobby Jones... a dream come true. Anything less than greatness with cab franc and it's like playing golf with Nancy Pelosi, Paul Krugman, and Keith Olbermann... just painful. Anyway, the pain here is lessened by ripe fruit and good flavor from the other varietals. Again, decent wine, recommended cheap quaffer with some intrigue. Better than Boone's farm :). 84 - would buy and drink again at this price. PS - the Havens Cab more and more looks like an unbelievable steal. Stuff is just tasty when thinking ab price to value ratio. Anyway 84 JDM

1/9/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Could use some time, but it is so good it's hard to wait on it. A Bordeaux blend from California, but definitely in an old school style. Refreshing particularly given the amount of big fruit CA/SA, and Aussie wine we have been drinking of late. Nose is wonderful, black licorice this go around was the primary scent. It is balanced, good fruit, but again not a big CA Bordeaux blend... much more subdued. Just a delicious wine with good structure and something that i will continue to buy as long as it's available. Granted i got it for $40 instead of $100, but damn baby good wine is good wine no matter the price. 92+

1/8/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Had a bottle at Blackstone Steakhouse (brutal meat here at this place btw, do NOT go)... delicious as always. Also drank another bottle of the 2006 a week or two ago... i'll get around to a more in depth review on the next bottle. BL for me, the isosceles never disappoints and has all of the structure and tastiness of a proper cab dominated bordeaux with big california fruit. The cab franc always "gets me". If i had the money this would most likely be the go to... enough fruit, great structure, nice finish, but not too big and jammy... just right. Alright, my next Isosceles review will be more substantive... i was too busy enjoying drinking it to write it up people!! 93

1/2/2010 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Black Cherry fruit, little menthol, but not super pronounced like the Cover Drive. Decent mouthfeel, oak is heavy... better across the palate than some, no flatness like the $50+ Lede. Good, not awesome, but definitely worth the case and perhaps should buy more for 9.99 + shipping. 87 JDM

12/28/2009 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Disgusting. Smelled like raspberry syrup, tasted awful, low in bubbles and a disgusting underlying shiraz. GROSS! DUMPED THIS CRAP!

12/28/2009 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Much nicer nose than the Sharffenberger - grapefruit/sour apple and sourdough bread nose, lighter in color a pale yellow not unlike the "white" gummy savers i am looking at on the gingerbread house the kids made. Mix of tiny and large bubbles. Not as lemony as the Sharffenberger either. A nice simple champagne style sparkler. Pleasant, but i am no expert on bubbly - don't drink enough to be so, but this does the trick. 86-87 JDM.

Amy prefers to the Sharffenberger tasted yesterday.

12/27/2009 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Nose is vanilla and dark fruits. Taste is blueberry and blackberry jam - some black olive. Flabby, very flabby... finishes dry, the mouthfeel is thick, but no sensation on the palate. OAK is everywhere. You can see why people would like with all the fruit, but no substance or depth and leaves you wanting something more after the early tingly bits... Pam Anderson comes to mind. Xmas gift, but the other two bottles are the stars (Altamura and Justin Isosceles) 87 JDM.

12/27/2009 - Claretjugornot wrote:

Cheapish NV CA sparkler. Worth the money. Balanced unlike some of the cheaper sparklers we have had of late that show too much alcohol. Hard to pick out anything on the nose. Citrus/lemon taste on the tongue - like a splash of REALemon. Not much else to say here. For the money it does the trick. Compares favorably to other NV Brut i have had and would make this a go to as of now in that category under $25. The Feuillatte doesn't have anything to worry about here though. 85pts JDM.