4/30/2023 - mfmarozas Does not like this wine:

I haven’t done a tasting note in a while, but decided I needed to do so on this wine to save others from making the mistake. We grabbed this in a rush when we realized that we were out of Pinot in the cellar and were having friends over for dinner. Fortunately, we found another Pinot Noir we were familiar with at a different store and didn’t need this as a second bottle. Tonight we had this wine with a chicken pasta dish. We opened and let air a half hour before dinner. First pour showed a dark ink color not typical of any Pinot I’ve had. Nose was of dark fruit and unremarkable. But, taste matched the color - harsh, very un-Pinot like. I did taste some Pinot, buried somewhere deep inside. It was like a blend with a cheap Chilean Cab. Very disappointing. It was not a corked bottle, just a lousy deception of a Pinot Noir.

8/26/2020 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Inky in the glass with blueberry jam on the nose. Jammy, blackberry on the palate with short finish. Tannins held up well to a rich ribeye. Will buy more at $8.99 Costco price.

9/21/2016 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Surprisingly nice Pinot. Had with seared Ahi tuna and peppercorns. Paired well. Good sipper, too.

2/20/2016 - mfmarozas wrote:

Ruby, cherry nose, well balanced and ready to drink. Nice pepper note front and center which paired perfectly with steak au poivre. Will buy more.

10/11/2015 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Had with lasagna. Surprisingly nice wine. Earthy nose with graphite notes on the palate. Short tannin finish. Will improve with time. I'm buying more.

1/3/2015 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Not a sipper (which may help explain some of the lower ratings), but paired well with prime rib as a second bottle after a good Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Nice dark fruit with pleasant pencil lead note. Wish I had purchased more than one bottle.

12/14/2014 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Nose of cherry with ripe fruit opening on the palate. Pleasant with a short finish. An easy sipper, and held up nicely with stuffed bell pepper.

10/5/2014 - mfmarozas wrote:

Paired well with beef stroganoff. A bit young, will improve with time. Not a bad QPR.

9/2/2013 - mfmarozas wrote:

Garnet, nose of black cherry with flavors of pencil lead and plum. Medium finish. Nice structure. Lovely wine and QPR, sad this is the last bottle of a case. Paired well with beef stroganoff. Wine is good for sipping before the meal.

6/2/2013 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Nice edges! This is our 4th bottle since we purchased a 1/2 case last June. The first bottle was a disappointment, but since then we have enjoyed this 100% Cab with several meals - especially good with lasagna. Slow to medium legs, garnet, with fruit and cigar box nose. Front of the mouth is cassis and pencil lead. Short finish.

12/9/2012 - mfmarozas Likes this wine:

Purple in color, nose of black cherry with slight notes of pepper and cigar box. Palate of dark fruit with a hint of tobacco. Short on the finish like many QPR Bordeaux, but this one is a keeper. We'll be back to buy more. Paired well with beef burgandy.

11/25/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Clear, bright garnet in appearance. Nose of cherry cordial. Short front, with dark cherry mid, and pleasant, short granache finish. Paired well with baked honey spiral ham and crowder peas.

11/3/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Garnet in color, nose of blackberry, palate was an explosion of spicy fruit. Short on the finish. Bold and in your face. Would pair even better with a hardy lasagna than the grilled ribeyes we had. Ripe and ready to drink. Wish I had bought more than 1 bottle.

10/21/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Paired well with beef burgandy. A bit angular at this point. it has potential. I will not open the next bottle for at least 2 years.

9/8/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Good spaghetti wine.

7/23/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Past its peak and a bit disappointing. Slight metallic taste initially, disappeared after 30 minutes. Lacking fruit early, but cherry after 2 hours in the bottle. Good acidity and mature Bordeaux flavors. Wish we had consumed it a few years earlier.

6/17/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Brandy and oak on the nose. Lots of fruit and balanced on the sweet side. Not the style we are use to in a Zin. Sweetness made it better for sipping than pairing with the lasagna.

6/2/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Simple, lots of fruit, balanced and easy to drink. Paired well with Italian steak. Buy more!

4/22/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

This is the first bottle of the 2011 we have tried. We have been consuming several cases a year since the 2005 vintage. There has been a shift in the predominate notes of melon and citrus to the grassy. We first noticed an astringent taste in the 2010 vintage. Unfortunately, it is back in this vintage making a less desirable siping wine. Still, an overall solid Sauvignon Blanc. Paired well with Thai seared tuna.

2/19/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Disappointed in Costco on this one. Had much better Bordeaux in this low end price range. Nothing offensive about this wine, but nothing much Bordeaux like either. A "Bordeaux Light" I guess; which did not stand up to the lasagne.

3/3/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Was pleasantly surprised. Had intended to consume this bottle over a year ago. It has held up well. Still good structure and balance with nice mineral and melon notes. Had with pesto chicken and it paired well.

2/19/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Still on the young side. Went ok with filets and mushrooms, but tannins would have paired better with a less lean ribeye.

2/12/2012 - mfmarozas wrote:

Light, but pleasing Chianti flavors. This wine would pair well with a pork tenderloin.

12/17/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

My wife and I have been a fan of this wine since the 2005 vintage. But, we both agree that this is our least favorite vintage. Angular compared to earlier vintages. The citrus and melon notes are there but with too sharp an acidic finish.

12/4/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

One dimensional and past its peak.

11/20/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Good, solid Bordeaux notes forward and middle of the mouth. Only negative is short finish. Wish I had bought more for the QPR.

10/8/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Enjoyed with ribeyes. Slight musk on opening. Off notes diminished after bottle had a chance to breath for an hour. Nice cherry fruit on the front and mid, but short finish. All in all a very nice cab for $11. We'll buy more.

8/14/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Had with seared Thai tuna. We've tried a lot of different wines with this dish and nothing pairs better. Crisp acidity, citrus, melon, and grassy notes - lovely!

8/8/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

- Garnet color with medium forming legs - Light prune with a hint of tire rubber on the nose. Nice fruit palette, but quickly dissipates with a short finish. Great QPR and worth cellaring the 2 years.

8/5/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

- Garnet color with slow forming legs and aromas of alcohol and blackberry. It's lacking fruit and has flavours of black currant, mushroom and cedar with a medium body. Angular texture with a medium finish - Very good QPR. Had with filets and baby bellas. Paired well. Heading back to buy a case at Costco at $8.99/ bottle! Over the years we've had many similar priced Bordeaux wines that did not have the character or interest that this possesses. I don't agree with earlier evaluations that this wine won't continue to improve through at least 2015.

3/26/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Good pairing, but not perfect with duck confit. Muted nose early with pencil lead and other mineral notes. Light fruit with tobacco on the finish.

3/6/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

7th bottle consumed since 2007. Tannins still a bit sharp with hot alcohol on the nose early. Jammy fruit on the nose and pallette later. Softened in the bottle after an hour, but can use more time. No need to decant, no grums. I'll wait at least another year on the next bottle. Not a sipping Cab, needs food. Still a great pairing with a juicy ribeye!

2/25/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Citrus notes paired well with Thai seared tuna.

1/1/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Clean, citrus notes on the nose and tongue. Slightly dryer than most Rieslings.

1/1/2011 - mfmarozas wrote:

Tight on opening, but opened up after an hour. Did not decant.

12/31/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Garnet, Bordeaux nose and flavors. Surprisingly good for the price. Paired well with ribeyes. Slight cigar box nose on the finish. Nice New Years Eve dinner.

12/23/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Sangiovese aromas and flavors dominate. Nothing complex, but paired well with Bistecca.

12/9/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Paired well with curry chicken.

12/5/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Color and nose of black cherry. Short on the palette w/o much fruit. pepper on the finish.
Tannins and alcohol softened over time. Paired ok with beef stew.

9/25/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

This bottle went unnoticed in the cellar, which is a good thing or I would have consumed before now based on the recommended drank date. It had significantly improved from the previous two bottles that I had in 2008. Garnet with faint oak nose. Simple on the palette with good cab flavors, a bit of barn yard and pepper. Went well with the ribeyes.

9/6/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Cherry and mild cigar box on the nose with dark cherry fruit on the palate.

9/6/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Had with a good spicy spaghetti. The spiciness of this wine lends itself to this dish. Pairs similar to a Zinfindel with a tomato based pasta.

9/4/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Well rounded, but needs food - preferably with a tomato based pasta.

8/21/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Lovely candied raisons that served as desert after a nice steak dinner.

8/22/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Had over 2 nights, 2nd night with pesto chicken - not the best pairing. Plenty of acidity and buttery oak left. Some of the citrus notes were gone that were present when we first tried this vintage two years back.

8/21/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Nose of earthy sap with a slight hint of tobacco. Big, chewy jam and raison on the tongue. Delightful!

8/5/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

An easy drinker, but lacks any interesting character. Slightly sweet on the finish.

7/30/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Spice fruit nose with dark plum on the palate. Interesting pencil lead note on the finish. Went well with strong cheeses and salami.

7/18/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

We enjoyed this wine despite it couldn't hold up to a spicy spaghetti. It would pair better with beef or pork. Light asphalt nose early with berry front and hint of tobacco on the finish.

7/2/2010 - mfmarozas wrote:

Had with sockeye salmon. Straw color; melon and white grapejuice on the nose; grassy melon lingers on the tongue. Good pairing.