11/30/2023 - dtjhio wrote:

Flawed

11/12/2022 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Beautiful

9/30/2022 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. Fruit forward, light tannins.

9/4/2022 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

at it's peak, luscious fruit with soft tannins

10/23/2021 - dtjhio wrote:

Still amazing, popped and poured last night.

10/8/2020 - dtjhio wrote:

Drinking perfectly tonight paired with a sous vide strip steak.

5/12/2020 - dtjhio wrote:

Not sure how this could be any better than it is right now. Decanted this for about an hour and it opened up beautifully. Delicate berry on the palate lingers perfectly.

3/25/2020 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Decanted over about an hour, opened up nicely. Fruit forward, cherry notes with soft tannins.

3/22/2020 - dtjhio wrote:

Very tight on initial taste but opened up nicely over the next 3 hours. Smooth tannins and delicate fruit on the palate. Still drinking very nicely.

3/15/2020 - dtjhio wrote:

Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Silky tannins with blackberry on the palate. Drinking very nicely now.

1/18/2019 - dtjhio wrote:

Took about two hours in the bottle for this to open up, was rewarded with subtle fruit along with soft tannins. A nice change from our usual big California cabs. Looking forward to our last two bottles of this vintage in our cellar.

1/1/2019 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Wasn't sure what to expect as this was the first 100% petit verdot I've tasted. Berry notes with light tannins on the palate. Enjoyed this after dinner and after a mix of other whites and reds. Drinks well on its own or paired with pork.

1/1/2019 - dtjhio wrote:

Crisp, delicate palate with light apple notes. Drinking very nicely.

1/1/2019 - dtjhio wrote:

Still showing nicely, opened up after about 30 minutes. A bit of tannin on the palate, very smooth.

1/2/2019 - dtjhio wrote:

Very subtle sweetness with light honey notes. Very enjoyable on its own or with dessert.

1/1/2019 - dtjhio wrote:

A really enjoyable and inexpensive sparkler. Will definitely buy again.

12/31/2018 - dtjhio wrote:

Really enjoyed this sparkler, not overly dry with tart apple predominating on the palate. Great value, would definitely buy this again.

9/3/2018 - dtjhio wrote:

Was barely drinkable on first opening, but vacuum stopped it for a couple days, opened up and drinking much better after two days. Leather and fruit notes.

1/19/2018 - dtjhio wrote:

Still drinking very well

6/6/2016 - dtjhio wrote:

Paired well with Dinosaur BBQ

5/31/2016 - dtjhio wrote:

Paired nicely with our Indonesian dinner

4/23/2016 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Some earthiness and fruit initially on the nose. There was some funkiness in the aftertaste as well on my initial taste. Given the structure and the body in the smell, I was optimistic that some oxygen would help this wine to open up and get rid of the initial mustiness. After about an hour or so in a decanter, the flavors definitely became more expressive. We were greatly rewarded for our patience as we enjoyed a magnum of this wine over the next 4 or 5 hours. Definitely in its sweet spot, could probably go another couple years if I had any left! Paired nicely with flank steak and chimichurri.

4/15/2016 - dtjhio wrote:

Purchased this and several other bottles in Mendoza at Achaval-Ferrer, cellared at 55 until popping it open today. Jammy on the nose and palate with soft tannins immediately on opening. Purple-burgundy in color. Fruit on the palate became more pronounced as it oxygenated in the bottle over the first hour. During our tasting in Mendoza this was described by the winery as having a more feminine profile than the Finca Mirador, I would definitely agree. A softer Malbec than most but drinking extremely well. Looking forward to our other bottle of this vintage.

3/6/2016 - dtjhio wrote:

Our 3rd and last bottle of this vintage seems to have peaked...soft tannins and berry notes were present at opening with more intense fruit after an hour. Eager to see how the last 1/3 of the bottle develops by tomorrow.

1/9/2016 - dtjhio wrote:

Decanted about an hour, opened up a bit after 90 minutes. Definitely drink soon if you have any left.

3/14/2015 - dtjhio wrote:

Paired nicely with dinner at Goosefoot in Chicago.

1/11/2014 - dtjhio wrote:

Wow, this is an amazing wine. Decanted for about an hour, then took another hour or so to enjoy it. Lots of fruit with some light tannins up front that subtly trail off after some oxygenation. Tried this out of the barrel just before it was bottled, and it's aged nicely since then. Looking forward to the evolution of this wine with my other bottles.

11/9/2013 - dtjhio wrote:

Decanted this wine for about 2 hours total and tasted it at different points along the way. Tasted slightly sour after about 30 minutes of decanting, but improved as it got to the 90 minute mark. It did eventually present some fruit on the palate in a very understated way. Not the powerhouse I remember tasting at the winery before we cellared this. This ended up being a decent bottle, but a disappointment in light of the price we paid. Expected more.

10/21/2013 - dtjhio wrote:

Cellared after I purchased this from the winery. The wine seemed fine at our tasting, this bottle was pretty undrinkable.

2/2/2013 - dtjhio wrote:

Very food friendly wine

12/31/2012 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Always a great wine. Still drinking well, opened up nicely in the bottle after about an hour or so.

1/1/2013 - dtjhio wrote:

Very disappointing, I think the wine was corked or just very defective. We visited Catena Zapata in Mendoza and have had a lot of their wines so I believe this is just an anomaly, but sad we couldn't enjoy this bottle.

10/31/2012 - dtjhio wrote:

Drinking better now, opening up a bit more than past tastings.

10/28/2012 - dtjhio wrote:

Still drinking pretty well, very clean taste with faint citrus notes.

9/30/2012 - dtjhio wrote:

Forgot about this bottle in the cellar...drinking OK, but definitely beyond prime.

9/4/2012 - dtjhio wrote:

Definitely a bit past its prime, but still drinking surprisingly well. Some notes of apple and dandelion with some faint hints of caramel on the nose. A bit disappointed I didn't enjoy this earlier, but happy that I still have the opportunity to experience it.

5/12/2012 - dtjhio wrote:

Light in color, a bit earthy on the nose. Not as fruity as a typical Pinot, but very distinctive and unique flavor that I found enjoyable.

4/16/2012 - dtjhio wrote:

Opened up about an hour after decanting. Very full-bodied with long finish. Definitely in its prime.

1/21/2012 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Soft tannins, not overpowering. Probably at or just past its peak.

11/24/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Good fruit, broad range of possible food pairings.

11/26/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

One of my favorite pintos, consistently excellent.

11/24/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Opened up nicely after about 30 minutes. Not too light, very nice body.

8/19/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Decanted for two hours, opened up beautifully. Very dark in color, probably at its peak now. Glad we still have another bottle!

6/5/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Opened up nicely, tasted a lot of cherry. Much more fruit than what I've typically experienced with pinots. Definitely at its peak.

6/5/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Great summer wine, fresh citrus flavor, not overly complex.

4/10/2011 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

Very light with some effervescence. Subtle fruit notes. Refreshing.

3/26/2011 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

A great everyday wine. Fruit forward, minimal tannins.

3/20/2011 - dtjhio Likes this wine:

bright, drinks almost like a Marlborough sauvignon blanc. Pineapple and citrus notes on the palate.

3/13/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Still hanging on, but past it's prime. Butter and caramel on the nose, slight citrus notes on the palate.

3/6/2011 - dtjhio wrote:

Still drinking very nicely. Took about 30 minutes to open up while still in the bottle. Good fruit, full bodied.