7/19/2023 - Jack667 Does not like this wine:

Was a bit off - hard to tell what the off flavor was. Bottom of cork was a bit eroded, so maybe that was it. Consumed at 25th Anniversary dinner so we enjoyed it symbolically

11/25/2022 - Jack667 wrote:

past prime

11/21/2022 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

More balanced than the last bottle I popped 6 months ago. This one was still going strong with no signs of over-aging

6/1/2022 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Overall good. A bit pruny but not overwhelming. Always a favorite but not quite up to CVR expectations. (Somewhat not wine related - Celebrating 24 years at current company, various roles - drank bottle solo - things could be a lot worse - blessed / lucky. / whatever. Nice to have this wine and this community - thx Eric - peace out)

5/26/2022 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Still drinkable. A touch medicinal and short finish. 3 years past the CT drink-by date so there's that.

4/28/2022 - Jack667 wrote:

Past prime, spoiled, veg'd out, undrinkable. I got behind on cellar management and I'm now drinking through bottles beyond CT drink-by dates. This one shows 2016-19 window. I had one last week that was typical Loring - bright and light - maybe lacking depth if anything. Not great but still very drinkable. However, this one is off. It's my last bottle of four, bought as 'futures' originally, direct from winery. Time to work through more old juice!

4/15/2022 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Still holding on

4/5/2022 - Jack667 wrote:

Pop and pour - heat, relatively thin, a bit tart.
Last of a case, mostly gone long ago. Bought from JJB in 2013.
Paired with a pair of Sahlen's hot dogs loaded with mustard, ketchup, relish, and freshly chopped onion, along with Chipotle flavored (that was an oversight at the supermarket) sweet potato fries.
Heat dissipating over time, but that may be due to palate dulling based on all of above including the wine.
I'd leave this note open for any potential evolution but thinking that it's the last of mine so little personal gain to be had, and also assuming I've lost all credibility by now so probably not much help to others

4/25/2019 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Opened for CT15. Congrats to Eric and the team for all the success and thanks for all you've done for me and the community.
This wine still has some good dark fruit, old world minerality, and a decent and pleasurable bite. Quite dry.
Paired with leftover sweet and sour chicken from local chinese shack, plus Suite: Judy Blue Eyes, while trying to unwind from a bit of a tough day. But - is it really that bad? No, no it's not.
Cheers!

3/23/2017 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Consistent with recent notes from others. Would add though - old world style. Recommended and great QPR

3/21/2017 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Good QPR wine, bought case at $20/per. Consistent with most previous notes, this is not a big, bold, Cali Pinot. This is closer to a Burgundy than that.

2/5/2017 - Jack667 wrote:

Quite possibly the worst bottle of wine I've ever had. Medicinal tasting and have to assume it was flawed. Yuck! Dumped out most of the first glass, then tried it again the next night so dumped the rest of the bottle. I thought for a moment about adding some to the sauce I was making but I figured it would ruin the dish.

1/21/2017 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Mellowed out and a bit spicy, like a good zin. On second night, happened to be paired with fondue! Bit of dark red fruit.

7/15/2016 - Jack667 wrote:

Muted, might need to open up. Or maybe I'm too late to the party. Not much fruit but a bit of cinnamon, maybe due to the suggestion from the other note here.

6/9/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Perfect cork. Upon opening, the color is a bit thin brick, taste is smooth and subtle - really good. Re-corked and let sit for 4 hours. Poured into decanter and served immediately. In retrospect, thinking that it could have spent a bit more time in the decanter.

6/8/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Great effort from a tough vintage. Really - a good bottle, regardless of vintage. Textbook Cali Cab style.

5/20/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Doing really well right now. Agree with others that now's a good time to drink, although mine was from a 3L... It was a big hit at the party!

1/31/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Brought in to a french bistro and asked them to decant. Cork broke for them, but sommelier said he fined it and he brought over a nice decanter. The wine was surprisingly deep in color without much of the brick that I was expecting with the 28 year old wine. Started off with a typical BDX acidity and minerality and a bit of graphite, but really warmed up over the course of the night. Very enjoyable. A couple of the servers made a big deal about it and one of them wanted the bottle, so that just added to the enjoyment and impressed our guests! :)

1/15/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Alec's Blend was one of my first wine loves as I got into it several years ago. It was always really, really big, but this '07 seems to have mellowed. I'm in aggreeance (Southern term) with Cuellarstyle on all but that my bottle seems to have medium acidity, to my taste. I might not be getting as much fruit either, and I'm certainly not getting all the smoke and leather that I used to get with Alec's blend. It seems much more balanced now, and not as much of a punch in the face. To me, that's a bit of a disappointment. To others, the more refined status of this is probably welcomed. Still a great bottle, though. Cheers!

1/9/2016 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

PP&TN. Pop, pour, and immediate tasting note: Dry, integrated tannins, not much fruit on the nose or anywhere. [I'll edit this if it opens up.]

3/15/2015 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. No time to decant but maybe should have put through Venturi. Seemed a bit hot.

1/21/2015 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Another great bottle, from 375. Big Cali Cab.

1/8/2015 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Really nice Merlot. Full body, and balanced. Great for a cold night at home celebrating some good news.

11/30/2014 - Jack667 wrote:

Sweet from bottle / pop-n-pour. Mellowed out a bit over time. Will try again the second night. Too sweet for my guest and was a disappointment. In hindsight, should have let it breathe first...

11/30/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Big and Bold. WOTN for several guests.

11/30/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Big and Jammy. Good QPR. One of my Malbec fan guests really liked it until he saw what it was. :)

11/30/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Opened 3L at a party last night. Modified Pop-n-pour: Lost some cork in the bottle, but sent thru aerator / strainer into decanter and then directly into glasses. Significant sediment toward the end of the bottle. Brick color typical of aged wine, light in color for a cab. A bit musty on nose, light, tart, dry, short finish. Drank more like a Pinot. Everyone at the party liked, at least that's what they said!

11/27/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

A bit closed the first day after a pop and pour, but really opened up Day 2 as warm, full-bodied, smooth. Very nice.

11/19/2014 - Jack667 Does not like this wine:

I really did not enjoy this wine. I was at Benjamin's Steakhouse in NYC last week for a business dinner with about 20 other folks. The leader of the group ordered a magnum of this and it was worse than the house cab. After I checked the vintage (and I have a prejudice against '11 Cali), I asked the server if they had any other vintages but he replied that they did not. A few others at the table expressed their distaste as well, but the mags kept coming, 4 in all. The second really seemed cooked to my taste. All were bad, but that one was the worst of the lot. It wasn't my place to cause a big stir, so I think we exhausted their supply when we finally got a substitute: 2009 Duckhorn Cab. Wow - that was awesome, in general, but especially in comparison. I would say the wine we had (other than the bottle I perceived as cooked) was a bit green, thin, bitter (but not tannic), and just not good.

6/23/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Best Chardonnay I've ever had. Not normally a fan of Chard, but I really liked the toasted caramel, as mentioned below. I had it as caramel and toasted marshmallow.

5/2/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Agree with previous note. Opened based on that note and seems to be singing now.

4/21/2014 - Jack667 wrote:

light and tart

4/21/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Last of my bottles and seemed a bit out of balance. A bit tart, and still full-bodied.

4/21/2014 - Jack667 wrote:

Cork disintegrated. Strained and drank anyway and was still decent. I chucked the first glass that seemed to have some effervescence but it settled down after that. Light body and smooth.

3/28/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Always good and consistent. Full body and fruity. A crowd pleaser.

3/28/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

More like the 07 than the other vintages I've had: 04 and 06. Balanced and drinking well.

3/28/2014 - Jack667 wrote:

Flawed bottle. Seemed cooked. Some mishap occurred during shipping. In the case of 12, 3 had corks that popped through foil, one more was on the way out. I tasted one that looked normal, but it was way off. I called the distributor and they're going to replace the bad ones.

3/28/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Tasted in a group with the 04 and 07. The 04 was boldest, and got the most positive response. The 06 was a bit thin / bland, and the 07 seemed the most balanced. All were good, and I suppose it comes down to preference.

3/28/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Tasted in a group with the 04 and 07. The 04 was boldest, and got the most positive response. The 06 was a bit thin / bland, and the 07 seemed the most balanced. All were good, and I suppose it comes down to preference.

3/28/2014 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Tasted in a group with the 04 and 07. The 04 was boldest, and got the most positive response. The 06 was a bit thin / bland, and the 07 seemed the most balanced. All were good, and I suppose it comes down to preference.

11/20/2013 - Jack667 wrote:

Nice meaty, smokey, and smooth Shiraz. A bit of acid in the medium to short finish.

4/3/2013 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Very nice Pinot

4/3/2013 - Jack667 Does not like this wine:

Not good. Certainly waited too long.

3/13/2013 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

I love this wine. Consistent with previous bottles. Smokey, light minerality, and balance.

1/25/2013 - Jack667 Likes this wine:

Wife loves this wine! I'll try some each time, but she's the main consumer. Well balanced, 3 bears wine. Not too sweet and not too dry, etc. Crisp, but not overly so.

1/25/2013 - Jack667 wrote:

Must have been a flawed bottle, maybe cooked. I still have 3 more so I'll give it another chance soon. It was awful. Drank a full glass first night and tried it again the next night - no improvement.

10/16/2012 - Jack667 wrote:

First bottle from the case. Seems a bit heavy on the acid for my taste. May mellow over time.

3/1/2012 - Jack667 wrote:

Nice value wine, drinks easily, but a bit flabby

2/5/2012 - Jack667 wrote:

Came across as extremely bland. Not at all like the one we had 13 months ago. May have been due to the poor food pairing and the tequila at the Superbowl party, though.

2/7/2012 - Jack667 wrote:

Seemed harsh and out of balance day 1, but much better days 2 and 3.