1/13/2024 - daveste Likes this wine:

Fresh, acid and fruit good. Aperitif or share w friends while chatting.

1/10/2024 - daveste Likes this wine:

Too soon, still bitter w undeveloped fruit...but good.

10/13/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Much better on day 2. Decant.
Smooth and elegant, gentle tannin. Not a big wine, but fine.
Should keep a couple more years.

7/3/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Aromatic, smooth, middling fruit. Nice CA PN from Santa Rita Hills. Let it air for a bit, but should keep a couple more years.

6/20/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Gift from a friend. Splendid cab the second day, fine nose, lingering fruit. Finish has a bit too much tannin, but good with food.

6/20/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Reliably good, nice acid, not too weeds.

6/16/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Big in all ways that I like in Rhone reds, fruity, nose, long interesting finish, moderately strong tannin. Will keep a few years but v.g. now.

5/4/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Medium weight PN, nice nose after about 30 minutes. Will keep a few years.

4/26/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Splendid with some air. Dusty mouthfeel, still good fruit and balance.

4/15/2023 - daveste wrote:

Shows well now, given some air. Drank over 2 days, evacuating air. 2nd day it was v.g. with prime rib. Tannin smooth, nice balance. Keep or drink.

4/3/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Claret style of zin, which I prefer to the big fruit of many. Food friendly, enough acid and tannin to age for a few years.

3/19/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

PnD 1 hr, little sediment. Very pleasant surprise, aged well. Still has acid, tannin and fruit to last a few more years. Went well w roast beef. QPR!

3/9/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

OK wine at an OK price, but not much character considering the chateau.

3/5/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. NZ Sauvignon Blanc, not so weedsy as some, good acid and body. Aperitif or good with oily dish like carbonara and pancetta.

3/1/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Food friendly cab blend, drink or keep a few years. Enjoyed over 3 nights w air evacuation .

2/13/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. 10-year-old PN, good fruit, soft tannin, acid well balanced. Bought 2 years ago from K&L, presumably from a library purchase from the winery.

2/8/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

Steadily better over 3 days. Evacuated air each day, but the staying power surprised me.

1/2/2023 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g dinner wine.

11/26/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Super now, but can keep a few years more.

11/23/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. Example of what CA Riesling can be, fruity yes but not cloying. Good acid and dry enough to be good with food. Enjoyed over 4 days using pump, and still fine to the last glass.

11/6/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. CA PN, smoky and elegant. Better the 2nd day so should keep a few years but why wait?

10/30/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

PNP first impression is a bit undeveloped but has acid and tannin to go with compelling fruit. Recorked half-empty and finished 2 days later -- smooth and compelling, very enjoyable. Should keep.

10/2/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

QPR, nice white

9/19/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Maybe my 1st Priorat, very nice red and good QPR for $22. Reminds me of GSMs from across the Pyrenees in the Rhone valley. Black Slate is apparently a project between the US importer and the winery.

9/16/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Still nice nose, however not to keep much longer.

9/12/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Decent but not very varietal. Good acid, off-dry.

9/2/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. But for short term drinking. QPR

8/23/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Still good but fading. Drink up.

8/5/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Usual well done Chard by Navarro. Good acid, rounded fruit, little oak.

8/5/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Tannin soft now, nicely aged PN.

7/27/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Good but not intense. Maybe past it’s prime.

7/22/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. and QPR too. Still young but enjoyable if aired a lot now -- had to PNP so poured some off and shook it up. $26 wine but this is the whole package, and should keep a few years. Bought 3 more.

7/19/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Aromatic and fine, a 10-year-old PN at its peak. From a friend's cellar, well kept. Soft tannin, smokey, balanced.

7/17/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. white for dinner, good acid, body and fruit. Not too oaky, but interesting fruit. Marsanne and Rousanne?

7/5/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Pleasant but a bit too sweet for dinner. Aperitif or serve with fruit.

7/5/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Zesty and balanced by fruit. Best if not too cold.

6/17/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Bought recently (winery library sale?), pleasantly surprised. PNP. Medium fruit, balance w tannin and acid. Could age longer but good now. Had w Osso buco. Upgraded to 92 after the first day. Tannin on 1st day was a bit strong but mellows with air.

6/12/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Smooth, rich, acid fading a bit but still adequate. V.g. W steak. Drink up!

6/6/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Peaking; still good fruit, softer tannin, bouquet of southern France. Excellent w BBQ salmon.

6/1/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Still showing well, all the rough edges gone. My last bottle but if you still have some, it will go a year or two more.

5/26/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Varietal character true. V.g. with Chinese food, balanced acid and fruit, not as aggressive as CA Gewurztraminer like Navarro, but a good food wine.

4/30/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

QPR! Good acid and fruit (Rhône blend? Marsanne or Viognier?), long finish.

4/24/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Reliably good wine in a good year. Fine fruit w adequate acid and body.

4/20/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Acid & body good, OK as alternative to SB, but not as interesting as a decent German or Austrian Riesling. Not much tropical fruit or flowers in the nose.

4/21/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Pleasant old PN, but over the hill as far as fruit and body are concerned. Tannins soft, easy to drink. PNP, drink up.

4/8/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

V.g. Riesling, good acid and tropical fruit aroma, good body. Good w food (fish tacos) despite the sweetness. Would be great w fresh fruit and mild cheese.

4/6/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

PNP with v.g. nose, nice Bordeaux for the price. Not too good left in the bottle after a couple of days, so probably not to keep more than a year or two.

4/6/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Nice but showing its age. Relatively dark color, acid barely OK for an NZ SB. Drink up.

3/29/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Glorious wine, certainly the best cab I've tasted lately. Tasted with my group, and an easy #1 in 5 Napa cabs. Decant -- it doesn't show well at first.

3/20/2022 - daveste Likes this wine:

Aired about 1 hour, drank w beef spare ribs. Love these Williams Selyem PNs, especially aged a few years. Expensive but excellent PN character. This one has acid and tannin left so it will keep a few more years.