4/13/2016 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very much improved from the last time I tried it. PnP and responded very well.

4/3/2016 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

My last bottle of arguably the best QPR. $20 Cab drinking like one that is 3 or 4x more than that. For those who still have some ENJOY.

8/2/2015 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

This wine needs to be decanted and then wait several hours. Pop n Pour it showed nothing and I was concerned. Three hours later it was what I was hoping for. I would hesitate drinking this at a restaurant. Loved the old world feel of it. Drank along with another WA syrah, Sheridan Singularity (2009). Totally different but both excellent wines.

12/27/2014 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Excellent wine. If you like old world. Some barnyard then this is it. Smooth violets with great earth. Had the 2010 for Christmas Eve and this was a gift for Christmas dinner and we opened it tonight. Totally different wines but both very good.

11/25/2014 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very old world. Visited the winery in Santa Rosa which is located in an industrial park. They source all their grapes at Siduri. Went to Sonoma in search of great Pinots and they had several at Siduri but had to buy this Syrah due to my favorite flavor profile represented in this syrah. Others have described it very well. I recommend a trip to the winery if in Sonoma.

10/19/2014 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Tried it with many other wines at a tasting at the Siduri warehouse/winery in Santa Rosa. Very fun experience and this wine stood out because it does not taste new world at all. If you like old world, barnyard with mild fruit then you need to try this. Bought half a case and had a bottle last night with a delicious leg of lamb.

10/7/2014 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

very enjoyable. slight barnyard. definitely old world.

10/14/2013 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

If you like very old world and olives and barnyard then this is your wine. Great QPR. Had one bottle but will buy more. If you only like Zinfandel and Petite Sirah then you will not like this.

12/30/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

four hour decant. Was better with every taste. If you like your typical excellent Napa cab, put this on your list.

9/9/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Had this at Mercat de la Plancha, a Spanish restaurant on S. Michigan Ave in Chicago. Excellent food and this wine was great. About 50/50 tempranillo/Cab Franc. Went well with food or without. Smooth, nice tannings and the fruit of the tempranillo worked well with the vegetal aspect of the Cab Franc. We had two bottles and both were right on. Must find.

8/11/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

The real deal. Excellent wine. Great blend of Cab/Malbec. Dark purple, wonderful nose and smooth in the mid-palate.

7/4/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

nice. full-bodied, smooth, some spice. Good QPR.

7/1/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

still drinking well
excellent QPR and great weekday wine

6/14/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Remains a very good wine.

5/30/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very nice cab. Needs decant. Develops well over time. Bought in NH and drank in Boston on the same day.

5/27/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

great wine. needs an hour decant at least.

5/6/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Third bottle ten bottles. Every five months so far. Very nice and drinking even better than before. This is a classic Napa Cab. Possibly the best QPR in my cellar.

4/29/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Loved it. Recently had a syrah from Cayuse that was similar. Mght not be for everyone as it drinks more like a european wine than WA, but the blend of the fruit with the leather and meat was very appealing.

4/18/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very nice syrah. They make very good wines. You can try many of them at Urban Enoteca, just south of downtown Seattle. www.urbanenoteca.com

3/22/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very nice Malbec at a great price point. If you can get a case, don't hesitate. Great weekday wine.

3/18/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very nice wine. Better with every taste. Went well with grilled rib eyes and asparagus on a warm spring evening in Iowa. Great blend.

3/14/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

a rare wine that has petit verdot as a significant varietal in the blend. Amazing QPR and very enjoyable. Nice tannins, a blend of old and new world. Petit Verdot, Cab and tempranillo is something you will not find very often.

2/6/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

as a previous note indicated it is better on the second day. This wine was brought to a SB party where two other WA syrahs and an Aussie Shiraz-Cab was served. This wine had been opened the evening before and showed very well. It was distinct and nothing like the other wines which were also very nice. This was different in an amazing way. Not your usual syrah, nice citrus and even some vegetal notes were present. It is still young and will only get better. If you are looking for something different, I recommend it. Other wines drank included Amavi 2007 Syrah, McCrea 2006 Syrah and Penfolds Bin 389 2004. Great good and nice wines for a Sunday.

2/4/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

nice blend, fruit forward, sour cherries and smooth finish

1/8/2012 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

great blend of Cab and Syrah

12/30/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

if you drink this wine you will think, La Dolce Vita. This is just too sweet. Not like any Malbec I have ever had. Supposed to have a port finish and it sure does. Hard to drink two glasses. If you like sweet wines with some character then you will love this. Would go well with desert if you only were going to drink 3 ounces.

12/26/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

long decant necessary. Great blend of fruit and barnyard feel. Drinks more like old world than new. Would fool most in a blind tasting. Very nice.

12/25/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

pretty nice tempranillo. Definitely needs a long decant (three hours). Dry and nice tannins. Went well with a delicious prime rib for Christmas dinner.

12/22/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Agree with previous note. This is an amazing well structured wine. So pleasant and went well with a smoked beef tenderloin and merlot-mushroom sauce my neighbor perfected. I recommend buying any bottle left of this wine, if you can find it.

12/18/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Liked it last year and even better this year. Sad this is my last bottle. If you can find it I highly recommend it due to great QPR and great blend of old and new world.

12/14/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Boy does this need decanting. Just as others have mentioned. Its a different wine after five hours from the first taste at pop and pour.
I have one other bottle that I will cellar for a few years. If you must, decant at lunch and drink for a late dinner. Mencia is a varietal many might not be used to. I think this was my first time trying it.
Its unique and a pleasant surprise. Light, fruity but still has some old world quality.

12/11/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

very nice. a few hour decant opened it up nicely.

12/3/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Just getting better. What a great wine. Great QPR. Glad I have a few more and too bad there is no more left to buy. When CH said it drinks like a $50-60 wine he is not kidding.

12/1/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

One of the best QPRs you will find. Excellent tempranillo. Old world with some fruit. Will buy more. #23 on WS top 100.

11/21/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

excellent wine, needs a few hour decant, great finish.

11/18/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Very nice. Pop n pour, very smooth. Will drink the rest this evening.
For those visiting Napa, its a must see wine tasting given the great attention one receives by the friendly staff.

11/5/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

the more WA wines you drink the more you can tell right away. In this case, its a good thing. An excellent tasting wine give QPR. As has mentioned before, WA wines are a real bargain. Add this one to the list.

9/18/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

smooth CHO-CO-LA-TE.

9/10/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

remains one of the best QPR wines I have ever had.
goes well by itself or with food tonight it was just a simple summer pasta dish with vegetables that I had with my family.
I hope they keep making wine because they know what they are doing

9/2/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

LIked it but it definitely needs some time. Decant is a must, at least three hours. Much better with food than by itself. Excellent with flavorful meats and vegetables. Glad I tried it but wish I would have waited a few years. Has many characteristics found in other excellent ribera del duero wines like San Roman, Elias Mora, etc.

8/20/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

very good QPR. Would definitely drink again. Not as smokey as many Pinotages. a great blend of fruit and smokiness.
Drank it while eating a dozen Maryland Steamed Crabs while in Baltimore. I had asked the wine guys at Beltway Liquors what goes with crabs instead of beer and they looked at me like I was crazy.
I told them I thought a pinotage wold be good so they recommended this one. excellent choice.

8/20/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

very good wine and held up pretty well on the same night of a 2004 Vega Sicilia Valbuena which is four times the price.

8/20/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

three hour decant. first try at this famous vineyard. Excellent wine but not a very good QPR.

8/8/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

very nice Cab. Mild chocolate and good fruit but not over the top. Went well with pizza.

7/27/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Second day, it did improve but still a little light and the finish is missing something, anything. I guess not as bad as I portrayed it yesterday.

7/26/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Expecting much more. Nothing to write home about. If I had another bottle I would use it for very good sangria or beef stew.

Desilusionado.

7/26/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

CH comes through with a very nice Cab

7/17/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Excellent wine. Drank on a night with two other wines, New Zealand Syrah and Spanish Monsant. Best of the night. With fajitas went well. Lots going on at the dinner party so I was a bit distracted but it has great structure and finish. The color is as dark red and bloody as its name suggests. Thanks to my neighbor for bringing this wonderful wine.

7/17/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

good effort

7/17/2011 - vinotintoiowa wrote:

Graet QPR. If you likie barnyard, tobacco with some nice fruit and balance and character, this is for you.
Had it go up against a N.Z. Syrah TeAWA and a Jonata and it helds its own given its distinct from those two in many ways. Glad friend has several left.