2/29/2024 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP and immediately presented with a slightly constrained nose and palate. Deep, dark and brooding, it is opaque in the glass. 2nd and 3rd sips reveal hidden complexity, with round velvet in the front and very slight acidity and backbone showing mid-palate and gently tannins at the back with a pretty finish that lingers… Really nice! Will *try* to slowly sip to experience the evolution. Stems up!

2/18/2024 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Kudos to the Yount family on a well-done Grenache blend! PNP - I was surprised this gem is 14.5% alcohol because I didn’t get much heat from the nose. The nose is a bit of a tease, holding back on some of the aromatics. Bright, fruit forward with a hint of zippiness on the front of my palate that evolves and becomes much more complex mid-palate and where the slight tannins start to peek through. Full and flavorful at the back of my palate with a lovely finish. Stems up!

11/14/2023 - pocchia wrote:

PnP from wine cellar. Practically opaque in the glass and a bit muted on the nose with hints of white pepper. Little bit of heat coming through and then… Wow! On the palate it’s fresh, clear, bright, and then dark fruit really opens up mid-palate and finishes with a kiss that lingers ever so slightly. So well done, so balanced, so pretty. What a talent! Will miss this wine…

7/1/2023 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP from cellar. Deep, dark and opaque in the glass with a secrets beneath it’s tightly closed exterior. Even just slightly swishing in the front of my palate, bringing in some air, revealed some beautiful complexity and fresh, dark fruit that lingered… Wow, this is really nice! Stems up!

4/16/2023 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP 2016 Saxum Booker Vineyard of 73% Syrah & 27% Mararo. Deep, dark inky matte color; light doesn’t escape it’s opaqueness. Brooding, dark berries on the nose with an ABV of 15.6%. Very fruit forward on the front of my palate then a bit of bright freshness mid palate followed by a relaxed full flavor and plenty of tannins. Decent finish, not a lot of complexity; kinda flat. I’m getting more dark fruit than any spiciness. I may have opened it during a closed phase, yet still tasty juice. Stems up!

3/20/2023 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP to serve with asparagus risotto with smoked mozzarella and grated cured egg yolk on top. Such a pretty wine and so easy to drink. It's a beautiful spring day in a glass - fragrant, light and nicely balanced. Wish I would've picked up more of these! Stems up!

3/1/2023 - pocchia wrote:

PnP and a delicate floral bouquet greeted me, quickly followed by a hint of heat (alcohol). Gave this ruby gem a few swirls and tasted. Bright, light yet full of young fruit on the front of my palate followed by an earthier profile with grippy tannins mid-palate. The finish is still going… Stems up!

2/2/2023 - pocchia wrote:

PnP and then finished over the last couple of days. I'm not rating this wine because I opened it a few days after delivery. Appeared flat with just a hint of acidity. I'll give it more time to rest then try again.

1/21/2023 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP from wine fridge - deep, dark berry opaque in the glass with a youthful, flowery nose reminiscent of sunshine in the spring. Dry with hints of sweet berries and slightly tannin on the front of the palate, then really expresses itself mid-palate before drying up a just a bit for a suprisingly long finish. Very well done, excellent price point, and drinking beautifully right now! Enjoying with an arugula and prosciutto pizza. Stems up!

1/15/2023 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP - dark berries lay silently in the glass, their opaqueness hiding the power within. The nose was tight, not giving up its secrets so easily. Tight, slightly dusty tannins introduced themselves on the tip of my tongue as gorgeous dark fruit began dancing on a tightrope, expressing themselves mid-palate before relaxing and opening their graceful arms in a long finish. Very, very lovely even at such a young age. Stems up!

1/12/2023 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP from wine fridge. So young and full of power up front then becomes much more elegant mid palate. Opaque in the glass and surprisingly long finish for one so young. Well done! Saddened by the loss of Philippe Cambie - thank you for producing such a beautiful wine that evokes achingly sweet memories of my husband, Nick.

10/18/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP slightly chilled - Wow, the color is dense in the glass. Nothing is getting through this one. There’s dark berries and the alcohol is hitting the back of my nose. First taste - divine! Almost velvety with an underlying structure proving nice support and complexity. The fruit really opens up mid-palate and has a nice finish. Well done! Stems up!

10/7/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Wow! What a difference a few months makes. When I tasted last May it was overly sweet and flabby. Wish I would’ve checked with the winery before opening. Tonight, it has backbone, structure, black fruit and a nice finish. Stems up!

10/7/2022 - pocchia wrote:

Wow! What a difference a few months make. When I tried this in May, it was overly sweet and flabby. Wish I would’ve checked with the winery before opening at that time. Tonight, it has backbone, structure, black fruit and a nice finish. Stems up!!

7/3/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP - Burgandy color in the glass and dark red fruit on the nose. Dark fruit on the front of my tongue and then a backbone of acidity hits mid palate where the tannins also open wide. I’ll let is rest and come back to it… Wow, so much better balance with just a little time in the glass! More fruit forward on the front of the palate and some nice acidity & tannins mid palate give structure. The finish is lingering quite nicely… Stems up!

6/25/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP at room temp - dark, brooding and opaque in the glass with dark berries on the nose. Hint of sweet dark berry on the tip of my tongue followed very, very quickly by a stone-like minerality that gives way to a blossom of dark fruit mid palate and a nice finish. Stems up!

6/3/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP - first time trying. In the glass it’s a cherry red, translucent, and clear in color. Not getting a lot from the nose; I think it’s holding back a bit. First sip is fruit forward, smooth and full but not velvety. Slightly tannic and sweet on the tip of my tongue and then some backbone with a little acidity gives more complexity mid palate - very nice! On the back end rounds out again and has a lingering finish of…something. Can’t quite seem to put a name to it. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves in the next few hours (77% Grenache, 18% Carignan, 5% Mourvèdre) from the Maha Estate in the Adelaida District, Paso Robles.

5/5/2022 - pocchia wrote:

PnP from cellar. Bright, vibrant purple in the glass with juicy fruit wafting from the glass before I even lifted it off the table. Unexpectedly sweet from front to back, flabby, and smooth. Going to let this one hang out for awhile and come back to it.

After several hours, no change. Very smooth but no depth.

4/28/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP chilled bottle - opaque in the glass with a beautiful nose of refined dark berry. This lovely 2003 is incredibly smooth whilst still having a brightness on the tip of my tongue. Mid palate it broadens with a bit more complexity and it really opens up on the finish. Stems up!

Update: the next evening, it was flat with an unsavory note in the mid-palate. Suggest drinking up upon opening.

4/16/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP room temp - deep dark ruby but not quite opaque in the glass. The nose summer-ripe dark fruits on a dark stormy day. On the front of my palate I’m getting dry, tannic, but fruity and then it really opens up mid palate. This is where it sings! Deepens on the finish, which is not overly long. Stems up!

4/3/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

By winemaker Anthony Young, who also produces the damn fine vino from Denner, 2019 Rustler is a very lovely Roussanne from James Berry Vineyard. Need I say more? Putting together the magical fruit from James Berry and the talent of Anthony Yount, and you have bliss in a glass. Clear and sparkly in the glass, the nose hints at roundness and depth of flavor. On the palate, balanced bright (but not overly bright) acidity transform to a round, full plushness mid-palate. A slight zinginest at the end lets me know this bottle is alive. Really gonna hate it when everyone else finds out about Kinero and I can’t get any. We’ll done, Anthony and family! Stems up!

3/29/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP this lovely chilled bottle and the floral bouquet was so nice! Fruit forward and slightly sweet in the front then broadening in the mid palate with a smooth fullness with just a hint of zippy backbone and a finish that lingers. Stems up!

1/29/2022 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP chilled bottle. Opaque in the glass with a translucent rim. So gentle on the nose, found myself chasing the aromatics. First sip was a surprise; viscous on the tip of my tongue then cloud-like it melted away mid-palate with just a hint of spice on the backend. Surprisingly delicate for a Grenache with a finish that lingered on and on. Stems up!

1/25/2022 - pocchia wrote:

PnP from the wine fridge. Slightly dusty earthiness on the nose and bright in the glass, initial taste was acidic especially mid palate. Another review found this wine evolved significantly overnight, becoming much more fruit forward and approachable. Tomorrow it is.

11/15/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP with a small snack of Olympia Provisions Finocchiona salumni, Murray’s New Woman cheese, and Seggiano roasted artichoke hearts (my fav!). A clear and semi-translucent ruby gemstone in the glass, the nose is shy. First sip was lovely! Gentle tannins and a hint of acidity on the tip of my tongue, opening up mid palate and becoming more complex with just the tiniest, almost effervescent, hint of alcohol. Such a pretty, surprisingly delicate wine. Stems up!

11/3/2021 - pocchia wrote:

PnP from the cellar. Surprised at the dark redness in the glass, no hint of brick or brown. The nose seemed flat, so curious how this would play out… On the front of the palate it’s just sweet with no complexity, and on the mid palate the tiniest hint of tannins gives it some structure. A bit of sweetness on the back of the palate and that’s it. Darn - I believe this one sat for too long.

UPDATE: tried again today and it became a fig-flavored juice bomb.

10/19/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Damn this is good juice. PnP at room temp (sacrilege) so getting just a hint of heat on the back of the palate. On the front of the palate it’s smooth with dark berry flavors and gets complex at mid-palate. Decently long finish and I’m ready for more. Stems up!

10/16/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP for first glass. At first pass this 2017 Gorgeous Victim is musty on the nose, opaque in the glass except around the edge, where just a hint of transparency shines through. On the palate, it’s shows depth of dark fruit and tight tannins with a long finish. Is that a flash of minerality or heat at the front of my palate, followed by a mellowing of flavors and round tannins mid-palate, then the loooong finish. My lips are tingling…. More to come after it’s had time to open up a bit.

1.5 hours later…. The nose softened and freshened - is lighter and cleaner. On the palate it’s livelier on the front, juicier on the mid-palate and deepens on the back palate, still with a long finish. Tomorrow may/may not reveal other changes as it’s being stored in an Evo; may need to give it time to breathe. Until then…

8/6/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP after receiving shipment of lovely auctioned Italian wines 11 days earlier. Bit nervous that patience should have won, but having Pizza, wings, and meatballs from a new place, Rebellion, and it required an Italian. As Italians are wont to do, it performed beautifully. Deep maroon, more brown than red, with a kiss of light at the edge and so much depth on the nose. I imagine this is what the wine cellar smells like, dark red berries enveloped by an earthiness with a slight acidic backbone. Finishing on the nose, just a hint of heat from alcohol peeks through. Velvet on the lips, a touch of berry and a blanket of dark fruit hits mid palate. Very mild tannins and complexity is welcomed on the back of my palate and good finish. Grazie, Stella! Stems up!

5/16/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP and WOW it is delicioso right out of the gate. Inky opaque in the glass and complexity shows through when aerating in the mouth. Tannins are apparent on the back of the tongue and the finish is surprisingly long at this young age. Stems up!

3/31/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP using an aerator. Dark, deep and opaque in the glass and gentle on the nose. Velvety tannins embrace full-bodied fruit, but I can’t place it. Really lovely with a bit more tannic response on the back of the palate and a decent finish. Stems up!

3/29/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP and the nose reminded me of Easter egg dye, but it went away with a bit of aeration. Now I’m getting dark fruit with a vibrant backbone. On the palate, it’s fruit forward in the front with a dusty hint, then the tannins hit mid palate with a bit of pepper. Nice long finish! Stems up

3/17/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP - opened early, still tightly wound but still this is some good-tasting juice. A little swirl in the mouth and the bright, dark fruit really comes out. I’ll let it sit overnight and try again tomorrow...

2/17/2021 - pocchia wrote:

PnP from wine cellar - clear golden in the glass and a bit fuller bodied on the palate. Felt the fullness mid-palate. Wonder if I tasted too soon... Good, not great. Will try again tomorrow.

1/15/2021 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP at cellar temperature. Lovely and bright in the glass, candied fruit on the nose. Just of hint of Coca Cola on the front of the palate that slightly blossoms mid-palate in what vaguely reminds me of Juicy Fruit gum. Very easy and fun to sip. Served with amatriciana, and the fruit forwardness of this wine paired better than expected with the unctuous guanciale. Stems up!

11/29/2020 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP Dark, opaque burgundy in the glass with light edges. Gentle on the nose and the palate with soft tannins, opening up with juicy fruit on the back of the tongue with a hint of backbone. Drink now. Stems up!

11/21/2020 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP - opaque in the glass with a brooding nose of dark berries lined with a brightness, like the sun peeking out of the clouds after a storm. On the palate, the smooth tannins of This Way & That Way gently caress, unless... If I hold it and savor this lucious juice, the tannins firm up and remind me it’s not yet done. Stems up!

8/9/2020 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Kinero’s 2016 Roussane James Berry Vineyard - popped and poured as we prepped a dinner of pan-seared pork chops and muchroom risotto. Tropical right out of the bottle, smooth with a lovely finish. Kudos to winemaker Anothony Yount for another beautiful white!

6/23/2020 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP from wine fridge. A medium-body Chardonnay that is oh-so-lovely and easy to drink. #StemsUp

3/20/2020 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP a chilled bottle. I LOVE the nose on this! Reminds me of strawberry juicy fruit gum. On the palate, young, bright and fruit forward with a lovely finish. Waaay to easy to drink (in a good way).

11/3/2019 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Lovely nose of peaches and apricots! Delicate on the front of the palate, then blossoms a bit mid-palate and becomes a bit fuller bodied that I expected. It’s certainly not heavy, but it can carry its own. Floral notes and light fruit that I can’t quite put my finger on (or rather, can’t quite put my palate on). Really nice, wish we had more!

3/5/2019 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PNP a chilled bottle of Linne Calodo’s 2017 Contrarian, a blend of Grenache Blanc, Picpoul Blanc, and Viognier. Wow! This medium bodied white lends just the slightest *hint* of spritz to a palate of ripe, but ever so slightly tangy (green?) apple and peach with a finish that lingers like a soft, setting summer sun. Stems up!

7/10/2018 - pocchia Likes this wine:

What a pretty, pretty wine! Viognier, roussanne, and Grenache Blanc intertwine to produce a fresh, welcoming introduction followed by a deeper embrace. Straw color in the glass, the nose is full of tropical fruits, waves, sand and sun. On the palate, the Viognier is the first to greet with a bright and cheerful opening, and the body behind this beauty fills the mid-palate. All with a lovely finish. Stems up!

3/14/2018 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Interesting to see how this changed since January 2018. Color is still a bright and clean, no cloudiness at all. The nose gives up a slightly dust depth that belies its clarity. Still bright and slightly zingy with tropical fruit on the front of the palate, quickly expanding and rounding out mid-palate with a bit of effervescence, and finishing with an slightly acidic backbone that lingers. This was my last bottle. Thoroughly enjoying and wishing I had a few more to see how they evolve with more time. Stems up!

1/29/2018 - pocchia Likes this wine:

This brick red beauty that appears as full eclipse in the glass was selected to pair with porcini and truffle ravioli served with sautéed mushrooms and garnished with crispy iberico ham. Holding back a bit on the nose, getting just a hint of dark fruit and a sunset stroll at a carnival with delicate sweetness tickling my nose. Full & supple on the front of the palate with a bit of brightness and amazing fruit that is supported by a minerality mid-palate that sharpens it up a bit as it moves back. Wonderfully, wonderfully complex & changing wth a decent finish. Stems up!

1/28/2018 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP and the complexity of this wine is aMAZing! The nose reminds me of driving down the dirt road towards L’Aventure - green with a light dustiness. Sharp and bright on the front of my palate that explodes with precision mid-palate where the tannins sing and complexity rules. Then there’s the finish. Give me a sec, I’m still enjoying the finish. Still... still... still...

1/10/2018 - pocchia Likes this wine:

PnP at room temp and “wow!” you won’t be disappointed! After an amazing meal of porchetta ribs and a gorgeous Syrah blend, I realize this lovely wine would’ve gone beautifully with the ribs. Alas, poor us we suffered through a Saxum from Terry Hoage vineyard. Now this RN River Droite, and I realize how poorly educated I am about pairing wine and food. Damn. This lovely wine is balanced with a nice finish - Roger does such a nice job of making wines that are so easy to drink. Stems up!

11/25/2017 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully right now! PNP Inky mystery in the glass and dark, dusty berries on the nose. On the palate, subdued, ripe fruit that opens up as a wet pinewood surrounded by dark fruit with a hint of minerality on the finish. Lovely and fun to sip. #StemsUp

8/31/2017 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Damn! Swirling magenta in the glass contrasts with day-old cut grass in a barn at the end of the day. And then... where in the world did this bouquet of freshness come from?! My palate dances with the brightness of berries kissed by sunshine. Lovely finish and a gorgeous wine. Stems up!

8/31/2017 - pocchia Likes this wine:

Wow! Poured in a decanter about an hour before dinner of sous vide dry-aged wagyu beef, baked potatoes, and mushrooms with thyme & truffle salt. This opaque beauty was easy to drink, smooth on the palate with a hint of central coast ocean on the backbone with a finish that lingers like a late night get-together of your favorite family & frinds. Stems up!