11/24/2013 - elamasters wrote:

Excellent, full-flavored Pinot. Really terrific.

10/14/2013 - RobertDwyer Likes this wine:

At 16% alcohol I was afraid the flavors were going to be raisiny or pruney. But they weren't. In fact, the aromas and flavors were rather high toned. Taut like a drum, dancing above what I sense they'll become with some air or some time. So intense, so compelling. Baked cranberries. Hints of bright fruit, followed up immediately by deep dark rich fruit. Distant fireplace on a cool autumn evening - smoke. Really unique and compelling. I'll follow up with more impressions tomorrow. This feels young.

On the second night (amazingly there *was* some left in the bottle - gotta be careful with these high octane wines) the wine is much more subdued and smooth. This makes me think letting this wine breathe is a good call. And worthy of laying some down a couple years if you can resist cracking them open. Good luck with that! Read more...

10/13/2013 - lsnider wrote:

1 hour decant. Very consistent with other bottles. Just got a whiff of heat on this bottle, but it was also served a little warm. Still wonderful fruit and nice finish. Glad I have more.

8/6/2013 - PSUSteve wrote:

Pop and pour. Tons of red fruit dominated by strawberry and cranberry. A little on the tart side. I would give this some air the next time. Great value.

8/8/2013 - Philippe_C wrote:

Very feminine poisonning nose, ripe black fruit, hint of smoke, old farm, bacon, herbes de Provence... very very delicate taste, salty cherries, herbes de Provence, nice freshness

7/26/2013 - RobertDwyer wrote:

If you like Juan Gil's silver label at around $12 this is the next step up from Gil Family Estates. Same parent company but a separate winemaking facility a couple hundred yards down the road from Juan Gil proper. Gorgeous rich fruit but it never ever gets over ripe or raisiny. Like milk chocolate on the palate. 15.5% alcohol but it's sufficiently downplayed. Compares favorably to Caymus SS for a third the cost. Price a consideration, this is a front-runner for my wine of the year.

7/20/2013 - tcufletch wrote:

Decanted for approx 2.5 hours; deep, dark purple color; nose of leather, cassis, slate, dark cherry, oak, minerals/earthiness; initial palate of cassis, fresh dark cherries, some cedar; mid-palate of semi-sweet cocoa and cardamom; on the back end with some licorice and a slight bit of coffee; soft, semi-sweet tannins and sufficient acid; long finish.

This was a very approachable Cab with a really nice concentration of fresh fruit and spices. Exceptionally smooth for such a young wine and already showing multiple layers; just a fun one to drink now and I have to imagine that it's only going to improve with a few more years.