1/16/2022 - LungDoc wrote:

Found this overlooked bottle in the cellar. Well past this vintage drinking window based on prior tasting several years ago. Drinkable if you're not too picky.

1/15/2021 - LungDoc Does not like this wine:

Aroma: berry/fruit somewhat overpowered by alcohol. Taste: muted fruit forward tainted with bitter alcohol mid-palate and a short bland finish. Moderate tannins. May be more palatable in year. In my opinion, there are better Cabs in this price range.

12/18/2020 - LungDoc Likes this wine:

The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry and black pepper. It tastes like blackberry, raisin and black pepper. The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.

1/12/2020 - LungDoc wrote:

Drinkable but well past peak

11/22/2018 - LungDoc wrote:

Thin mouth feel. Lots of tannin. Petroleum overtone early, improves after opening . Likely to benefit from aging.

10/25/2018 - LungDoc Does not like this wine:

Concur with other reviews that this wine is better with food, but that's not saying much in my opinion. Very " barnyard" which I associate with Sangiovese. Not a fan.

5/16/2018 - LungDoc Does not like this wine:

Drinkable but not by much. Lots of heat. Weak texture and little structure/body. Can't recommend.

3/5/2017 - LungDoc Does not like this wine:

Light red; thin and lacking body and complexity; short finish; drinkable but nothing here to go back for. Certainly not intense or elegant as the label suggests and lacks the "pepper" one expects in a Zin. For my money, there are a number of better Zins in this price range. Agree with JLHKISS that this wine opened up a bit after a couple of hours, but still not worth the wait in my opinion.

2/6/2017 - LungDoc Does not like this wine:

Bold and intense as advertised, but not in a good way. Color - dark crimson; aroma - spice and fruit, pleasant, tempered with strong alcohol; on the palate - stemy and slightly bitter with overwhelming tannin, only a hint of tobacco and fruit. Finish - thin, short and not at all smooth.

12/17/2016 - LungDoc Likes this wine:

Very nice Pinot. Paired well with Salmon. Seems well balanced and smooth. Similar to Alouette Pinot which I'm no longer able to find. (? same vintner)

7/29/2016 - LungDoc wrote:

Drinkable but certainly not memorable. Better Cabs to be had at this price point.

3/10/2016 - LungDoc wrote:

Not much here; Better daily drinker cabs for less money; i.e. Columbia Crest. Thin mouthfeel, very simple with acidic/bitter note. Drinkable but certainly not memorable.

6/30/2015 - LungDoc Likes this wine:

Dry cab with significant tannin. Moderate to full body with earthy overtones. Tobacco and leather noticeable. Some dark berry flavor, but far from "fruity". May benefit from a bit more age.

3/9/2015 - LungDoc wrote:

Drinkable but has seen better days. Way past optimal window.

3/16/2015 - LungDoc Likes this wine:

Dark maroon color. Not very aromatic with faint berry tones. Simple wine with thin mouth feel and short finish. Red berry and oak flavors with little tannin and not particularly sweet, which is a plus in my opinion. Nothing unpleasant here. Very drinkable, if not notable, weekday wine at this price.

2/28/2015 - LungDoc wrote:

Enjoyed at son's birthday, celebrated at Cucina24, Asheville,N.C. Dry, not too tannic, a bit of acid, red berries; leather and tobacco aroma . Not a twenty dollar bottle, but would buy at $14 -16.

12/5/2013 - LungDoc wrote:

Deep cranberry color; weak aroma of red fruits; Quite bland on the palate with pronounced tannin on the finish. Merlot predominance very apparent. Very average wine. Softens considerably by day 2. Drinkable, but no good reason to purchase more. Would decant for an hour or two.

10/11/2013 - LungDoc wrote:

Compared with Meiomi 2011 Pinot Noir; similar texture and structure, however smoother and less acidic. Will buy again for special occasions.
The wine looks Ruby colored. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.

6/1/2013 - LungDoc Likes this wine:

Dark red color; Fruity aroma, predominant cherry on palate; medium finish with a slight bite at the end. A bit on the sweet side, but easy to drink table wine. More mellow on day two.

1/20/2013 - LungDoc wrote:

Dark red, almost plum color; fruity aroma; early fruit flavor with slight sweetness gives way to a hint of caramel with a medium finish. Moderately acidic as one might expect with more texture/structure than other Pinot's in my cellar. An interesting wine and certainly not your classic Pinot Noir.

1/11/2013 - LungDoc Likes this wine:

Not your typical Zin. This is what I would classify as a "sipping" Zin. Sweet, fruity, with medium to full mouthfeel. Port like with interesting licorice tone.

11/12/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Dark cherry color; aroma seems pleasantly "plummy" to me; Significantly more pleasing 2nd day and paired well with chicken lentil stew. Slight sweetness which gives way to dark fruit, mild oak and spice flavors. Light to medium mouth feel. Short finish. Surprisingly pleasant wine, which improves significantly after opening. Would not hesitate to purchase again.

11/8/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Ruby red color, aroma mildly fruity, thin mouthfeel, simple wine with very short finish. Drinkable, but would agree with others that better cabs available at or near this price point.

10/18/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Dark ruby color; aroma slighty sour with leathery undertones; higher than average acidity. Not complex, minimal fruit, lasting and not unpleasant finish. Improved within 30 minutes after pouring. Could benefit from decanting. Probably past optimal drinking window.

9/14/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Deep purple blend of Syrah, Zin, and Barbera. Subdued berry aroma, fruity, simple, with brief finish and mild tannin. An OK mid-week table wine, but nothing special here. There are better blends in this price range in my opinion. i.e. Marietta Old Vine Red,Copola Rosso for example.

5/16/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

About what one would expect for $6. Drinkable, but little else.

5/1/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Color almost rose'. Aroma almost nonexistant. Thin on the palate with moderate tannin, a little pepper and dark berry. About what one would expect for $5. Drinkable, but little else.

4/7/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Liked the Monterey County appelation better, but this wine is a nice daily drinker and price is right.

3/21/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Very pleasant wine dispite age. Fruity aroma. Simple but well balanced with medium tannin, and silky on palate. Medium finish. Don't recall specific flavors but am putting it on my "to buy" list and will look forward to trying more recent vintages.

3/3/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Ruby red, dark fruit, hint of oak and vanilla with medium finish. Mild tannin. Simple but pleasant tempranillo.

2/1/2012 - LungDoc wrote:

Dark garnet color; aroma of dark berry , oak, and vanilla. Well balanced with light tannins and nice mouth feel. Flavors mimick aroma. Nice medium finish.Has aged well. Will definitely look for current vintage.

12/24/2011 - LungDoc wrote:

Agree with DanSm and additional age has apparently not been beneficial. Very average Pinot. Drinkable but nothing special to be sure.

7/14/2011 - LungDoc wrote:

Dark ruby color, cherry and blackberry aroma and palate. Minimal alcohol and mild tannin. Excellent value. If the next bottle is as good, will stock the cellar as the "house" cab.

3/16/2011 - LungDoc wrote:

Dark ruby color; barnyard aroma; acidic and lots of tannin with an alcohol predominance which seems to mask flavors. Hard for me to find any fruit here. Not to my liking. Was somewhat more palatable on day two.

12/28/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Compared with a 1996 vintage which had lost most of its fruit and character in marked contrast to the 2006. Rich ruby color, fruit forward but not overpowering. moderate finish with tannin and some complexity. Holds up well with rich food.

12/28/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Paired well with Thai food. Golden color. Minimal acidity. Unable to recall specifics, but was better than previous bottle consumed.

12/28/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Not much fruit at this time. Seems well past prime. Drinkable with hints of currant and plum. Thin mouthfeel. Little tannin Would try a more recent vintage if priced right.

12/26/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Ruby red, minimal fruit on the nose, thin mouthfeel, not unpleasant but not special. Any structure found early was lost after an hour or so. Concur w/ winestache.

12/26/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Ruby color, aroma, barnyard, moderate tannin. Significant mellowing two hours after opening. Drinkable, but probably past optimal drinking window. Needs food and decanting.

9/9/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Sweet as per label. Lots of apricot and citrus. Hint of Honeysuckle late. Nice summer afternoon sip.

8/15/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Pepper with dark berry flavor and modest tannin. Smooth on the palate with medium length finish. A quality wine. Will definately maintain a supply in the cellar.

3/27/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Not as good as I remember when tasted at the Torciano winery with Luigi the vintner. Dark ruby coler. Barnyard nose. Very drinkable but not that special. Little complexity. Moderate tannin. Better wines to be had for half the price.

2/20/2010 - LungDoc wrote:

Had this at Echo, paired nicely with grouper. Will add to purchase list.

9/23/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Slightly rusty color, initially had a strong yeasty note. Mellowed significantly after a hour and much better second day. Just average.

9/9/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Fruity, citrus, nose. Flavors of pineapple, green apple and kiwi. Paired nicely with fish meal of talapia and halibut.

8/25/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Reliable table wine; nice color and aroma, fruity, simple, with little to no tannin. Nothing to add to other reviews.

8/9/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Ruby color, earthy nose, little tannin, cherry and dark berry flavors. May have passed peak. Not bad, very drinkable but just not special.

7/27/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Rosy color, pleasant aroma. Soft on the palate with dark berry flavors. Seemed less acidic than other Pinot's. Medium length finish with no unpleasant features. Will look to purchase later vintage for right price. As noted by others, not a $27 value.

7/23/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Medium red color. Aroma not exciting but not unpleasant. Little complexity, however, there is adequate structure to this wine. Minimal tannin, dark currant, blackberry and cherry notes. Smooth on the palate with medium finish. A good Cab for the price. Will look to purchase current vintage.

6/28/2009 - LungDoc wrote:

Unimpressive; Lots of barnyard and did not improve on day two. Drinkable, but would not purchase again.