3/31/2024 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Remarkably still well balanced. Dark fruit rich and vibrant. Lengthy finish. Wish I had more to open in another 2-3 years.

3/23/2024 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Remarkably smooth with well integrated tannins. Still surprising amount of fruit. Brilliant red fruit notes on nose & palate. Delicious and perfect pairing with our Tuscan grilled pork chops! Glad I still have one more bottle and will open in next 1-2 years.

3/6/2024 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Floral nose. Fruit still rich, with an hour decant became beautifully elegant and balanced. Finish lingers, calling me to another sip.

10/29/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Beautiful. Keeps getting better. Only wish I had more of that vintage to see how much more it would evolve.

9/20/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Consistent with my previous tasting

7/21/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Still beautifully complex, rich fruit, aromatic, and enjoyed with a perfectly prepared medrare prime rib. So sad that’s my last one!

6/30/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

The nose was a little tight but did pick up some familiar blackberry and vanilla notes. On the palette dark fruits popped from nice balancing acidity. On the mid-palette I picked up some espresso and mocha adding body. Finish was moderate but compelling. All in all, great value!

6/24/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Beautiful rich ruby color. Very floral nose of freshly crushed black cherries and a bit of earthiness. Still very vibrant and youthful. Notes of tart cherries, vanilla, and hints of spice. Nice acidity. Well balanced. Medium+ finish. Drinking well now but still has room to go.

6/2/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

What a gorgeous wine. It was concerned that I might have held it a bit too long, but no, the acidity had held more vibrancy in the fruit than I expected. Dark cherry notes with a hint of tartness, mouthfeel was silky, elegant and lingering. Delicious!

5/25/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Delicious! Still surprisingly youthful. Nice fruit dusty tart cherries; balanced; aromatic; lingering finish. Brought these back from a visit to the vineyard. Have one more and will hold a few more years.

5/24/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Big dark fruit flavors still. Actually could have several more years to go but delightful now. Beautiful! Wish I had more!

4/5/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Nice nose, dark fruit notes and some earthiness. Rich lush taste, again dark fruit, lengthy finish. Medium to full body. Not what I expected for a Malbec from California but would definitely have again. Well done.

3/4/2023 - johnmc Likes this wine:

This is my 4th and final bottle. Dark fruits still rich and vibrant. Becoming more elegant. Tastes like it’s just starting to realize its potential, and has 4-6 more years to go. Delicious! Wish I had more.

12/1/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Silky smooth. Rich cherry notes. Appropriate acidity. Tannins well integrated. Well balanced. Lengthy finish. Should have bought more.

8/6/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Drinking range suggested by 2022, but good for another 3-5 years. Still rich and vibrant. Damp earth, cherries and prunes on the nose. Pallet lush, rich dark fruit braced with appropriate acidity. Tannins well integrated. Finish lengthy with dark cherries and dark chocolate. Decadent. Substracting a star from myself for drinking my last one too soon. :)

5/3/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Still rich fruit and firm tannins. Paired deliciously with a medium rare churrasco steak!

4/2/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Last one, but even better over last one. Still had plenty of fruit, but oak was a bit pronounced. After decanting for two hours the wine swung back in balance and became more elegant without losing complexity.

3/23/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Even better than the last two bottles, and unfortunately this is my last one. Still has a lot of life. Wish I had waited 2-3 more years, but loving it now.

2/2/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Delightful! Lip smacking.still somewhat lengthy finish. Keeps getting better with plenty of room to run…

2/2/2022 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Delicious! Still had a lot of dark fruit left. I’ll wait another 3+ years for my final bottle.

6/12/2021 - johnmc Likes this wine:

I’m operating from periodic tastings from a cae purchase. (So glad I captured a case). On this tasting the nose had floral dark fruit, sandalwood, pine forest, hint of licorice. On the taste, bright rich dark berries, some tart cherries, and after some lengthy air, sweet tobacco and soft leather. Fleshy, not heavy, balanced acidity. In the end lip smacking.

4/11/2021 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Still substantial dark fruit, even tarry on the finish. Also, some cigar and leather on the nose. Acidity keeping it fresh and vibrant. Tannins well integrated and silky. Lengthy finish. Has several years a head of it.

4/4/2021 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Dark lush fruit. Concentrated without being too jammy or flabby. Finished well with appropriate spiciness. Paired with a Prime cut steak and was a delightful combination.

3/29/2021 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Lush dark chewy fruit. Mouth coating and lip smacking. Nose soft and lightly floral. Decanted over 2 hours. Still young, but enjoyable. Long clinging finish. Only 2 bottles left, but looking forward to how they evolve over the next few years.

3/13/2021 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Still impressive, even better than last tasting in 2019. Rich lush dark fruit. Coats mouth delightfully. Acidity just right to keep surprisingly fresh and vibrant. Tannins soft, but still providing structure. Age not showing in color. Could evolve comfortably for another 2-4 years. Lip smacking. Too bad last bottle.

3/5/2021 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Vibrant blackberries notes. Well integrated tannins. Elegant. Well, balanced. Fresh. Savory finish.

12/20/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Big chewy dark fruit. Concentrated, somewhat fruit forward, but the Syrah provides some intensity. Coats the mouth and has a relatively long finish. Appropriate acid kept vibrant. Lip smacking. Will buy more.

12/20/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Beautifully well balanced. Dark berry fruit kept lively with right brace of acidity. Drinking well now but will reward with more time.

12/2/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Concentrated dark fruit, but well balanced. Tannins well integrated. Appropriate acidity. Delicious. Will continue to evolve for several more years.

12/2/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Arriving near it’s peak, drank beautifully. Tannins becoming softer, still retains some lovely fruit particularly cherry notes, and acidity keeping lively. Paired with prime rib and was delicious. I bought this during my visit to Casaloste in 2015. I was impressed with it then, but if I could have anticipated how gracefully this would evolve, I would certainly have stocked more.

10/5/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Still holding up. Nuance flavors punching through. Becoming more subtle, but contemplative. Wish I had more.

9/13/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Boysenberry and cedar on the nose. Nice acidity, still lively. Blackberry and sour cherry on the palate with hint of coffee. Med to long finish. Lip smacking. A little disappointed that I opened now. Last bottle and it could have gone another 5-8 years. Really wonderful surprise for a North Georgia wine.

6/8/2020 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Since my last tasting in 2017, the enjoyment of this wine jumped significantly. No sure if it’s due to bottle variation or additional aging, but glad I waited try again. Still has rich dark fruit, medium acidity, softening tannins, and seems to be achieving a better balance. Delicious. Looking forward to the third bottle in 2-3 years.

10/12/2018 - johnmc Likes this wine:

A bit past prime but still surprisingly enjoyable.

8/3/2018 - johnmc wrote:

Delicious! Dark cherries, even jammy. Nice mouth feel. Hints of mocha. Plum notes on the finish plus creamy vanilla. Will pick up more. Costco has a good price point.

6/19/2018 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Second tasting and enjoyed this one even more than the first. Earthiness and dark fruit on the nose. Noted bright cherries on the palate, maybe some plum, vanilla, nice acidity. Tannins stiill a bit tight, so should improve even more with time. Will check again in 3-5 yrs.

5/9/2018 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Delicious, although it could have used another 3-5 years to open. Had dark cherry, licorice, menthol, currant notes. Nice brace of acidity maintained vibrancy and freshness.

8/15/2017 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Nicely floral on the nose, particularly violets. Tasting noted rich, dark fruit, and expressed mocha and spices. Paired with grilled steak, delicious! Decanted 2 hours, but much better at 3. Will open the next one in 2020.

6/25/2017 - johnmc Likes this wine:

Nose was loamy with cedar, fruit was a wisp. Initial taste notes of subtle dark berries fading to cherries, more pronounced dark chocolate, some acidity, tannins nicely integrated but could still use a few more years. Finish seemed a little curious. Initial thought was 88-89. Then paired with a nice, medium-rare London-broil, and it really came alive; fruit dark cherry, bitter chocolate, finish a bit more lingering. With beef, now 91. Delicious!

10/1/2011 - johnmc wrote:

Needed to open up quite a bit to be enjoyable, but got there. Better than average but not by much.

10/1/2011 - johnmc wrote:

Decanted for an hour. Fragrant nose; nice fruit; tannins continued to soften; paired very well with grilled lamb chops; served to group and everyone kept asking for more.

12/21/2010 - johnmc wrote:

Delicious. Aromatic - red berries & spice. Balanced. Long, savory finish.