12/24/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Ran out of Port tonight and found this in the back of my cellar where is sat dutifully for the past 15 years. Not much experience with these types of wines but found it to be a nice sweet dessert. Deep gold color in the glass. Dried sweet apricots, very syrupy.

11/23/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Disclaimer; I'm opening this wine 2-3 months early, before bottle shock waiting time recommended by De Negoce.

Poured after 1 hour decant. Great classic notes of forest floor, mint, eucalyptus, cedar box and black cherries. On the palate, things get a little backwards. Some tannin up front, but nothing rolled back over the tongue, it just fizzled out. That being said, plush and mouthwatering with plenty of aging potential. Excuse the innuendo but similar to rounding 2nd or 3rd base and not getting to home plate. To be expected...revisit her in 2-3 months and surely she will be more welcoming.

11/20/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Popped No. 70, D Blend tonight. These are the Willamette Valley, OR Pinot Noir Chehelem Mountain Clonal Cuvee Blends. Wow. One of the better Pinot's I've had in awhile. Bright Fruit, mouthwatering acidity as stated in the offering. Full body, long lingering finish. Some earthiness typical of OR pinot but fine balance. This checks all the boxes! I would guess a $50+ wine. It was advertised as a $65-$85 wine from the estate. For $16+ this is a steal. In terms of price, yes this is a cellar defender, but in terms of quality, this is a wine you would be happy to pour to impress your friends over for dinner. It's that good.

11/12/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Day 1: Fig and root beer on the nose. Initial attack of acidity on the palate with raspberry and under ripe red fruits. High acidity, light to medium body with some light tannins. This is a very different wine from the typical ripe, dark fruit, peppery Cali Zin style i'm familiar with. I'll revisit tomorrow and see if this opens up a bit but right now it's a bit closed down.

Day 2: Did not open up on Day 2. I think the acidity is just too high on this wine. Sharp edges, tart and sour cherry. Not approachable at all.

11/10/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Pear, banana and ripe peach on the nose. Not super crisp, more round and ripe mouthfeel with moderate oak, light acidity and medium body. Fall spices and ripe stone fruits round things out. A little overripe for my tastes - the word flabby comes to mind. I would consider this comparable to some mass produced super market wines like Edna Valley, Hess, and Bonterra at a $12-$15 price point. Certainly not a $30 wine. Drink within 1 year.

10/22/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Pleasantly surprised with this one. Pale yellow in the glass with scent of lemon curd. Very mouth filling tropical fruit with just enough acidity to keep things in balance.

10/21/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Decanted for one hour. Blueberry pie jumping from the glass. Intense, and focused with flavors or tar, earth, black fruits, and chalky tannins. Multi-layered and long lingering finish. Excellent wine!

10/17/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Delicate notes of violet, cherry, anise, and baking spices. More of the same on the palate with earthiness. The mouthfeel is initially soft and velvety with full body and grippy tannins following.

10/9/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Nose of cherry, spice, earthy notes and dare i say,...baby diapers. Fairly one dimensional on the palate, cola, cheery and pepper, medium body and acidity with light tannins. Some heat on the finish brings it down a notch for me.

10/8/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Light perfumed aromas of black currant, black cherry, spice box. Medium body and acidity with great intensity, structure and focus. Good aging potential, should easily be lasting 10+ years. One of my favorite and best value CA Pinot / Chardonnay producers.

10/8/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Liquid gold color, aromas of ripe tropical fruits, pear and honeycomb. Medium body and light acidity to balance out the ripeness. This won't last too much longer. Drink now.

10/7/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

This wine is the epitome of balance and elegant structure. Wonderful bouquet with full spectrum of ripe (pineapple) and less ripe citrus aromas like Lemon with a tight core of minerals and acidity. Delicious.

10/5/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Nose of butterscotch, lemon curd, apricot. Initially tight, but opened up after thirty minutes in the glass and warming up a bit. Concentrated core of minerals and crisp lean acidity center stage.

10/3/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine. Crisp, lively acidity with strawberry and citrusy flinty notes on the palate. Surprisingly long finish for a Rose wine.

9/9/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Nose - restrained revealing some black cherries, anise, and herbal notes. Cherry Cola, medium-full body and tannin. Short finish

8/28/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Clear, Ruby Color, Medium Viscosity, Nose of ripe plum, red fruits and cooking spices, Medium intensity and acidity, with red currant, cranberry and plum, light to moderate tannin on the finish.

8/27/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Light straw color in the glass. Neutral and restrained bouquet of lemon peel. More lemon, flint with honeysuckle. Nice balance of acidity and roundness in the mouth. Lovely food wine and great summer chardonnay. $22 at Whole Foods. Decent value.

6/7/2020 - sbwino Likes this wine:

This wine is still drinking beautifully. Strong nose of alcohol. Dark concentrated red fruits, plum, tobacco, and black cherries, jammy and plenty of chalky tannin still. High alcohol on the long and lingering finish. There are not many Syrah's on the central coast that would still be singing like this after 15 years. Stand out wine!

2/22/2020 - sbwino wrote:

Light red in the glass, aromas of amarena cherries, aged plum and dried floral notes. Medium intensity with flavors of cranberry, strawberry and black plum and some earthy, coffee notes. Firm structure, medium grippy tannins. Wine still holds up. Great with Food!

9/1/2019 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Mouthful of Butterscotch & Ripe Apricot with decent acidity and great mineral profile typical of Monte Bello wines. The wine has aged gracefully since my first taste a decade ago. Time flies! My last bottle of the case. Bittersweet!

12/5/2018 - sbwino wrote:

Decanted for 1 hour. Maroon Light Brick Red Color. Aromatic nose. Still has decent structure and acidity. Some initial bright notes, but a fairly short finish. This is a good food wine, but nothing stunning here.

12/17/2017 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Ready to drink

9/9/2017 - sbwino wrote:

Dark ruby in the glass. First sniff after 1 hour decant reveals raisiny bouquet with some secondary aromas of dark earthiness. Plumb, Maple syrup and ripe strawberry. Full bodied with medium/firm tannin and wavering acidity, but a smooth balanced finish. Drink now.

6/18/2017 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Nice mouth filling and full body wine reminds me of a viscous viognier or Rousanne. Spiced pear and apple with some decent acidity. A unique and enjoyable varietal.

6/18/2017 - sbwino Likes this wine:

Big nose of cola and blackberry. Lots of brambly mouth filling ripe black fruit on the front palate gives way to a multi layered earthy finish with plenty of tannins.

6/14/2017 - sbwino Likes this wine:

The wine looks ruby colored. It smells like cranberry, cherry, dust and stoniness. The body is light/medium. The wine has narrow texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has medium acidity.

6/4/2012 - sbwino wrote:

I echo previous tasting note regarding difficult cork removal. Wax was thick and very difficult to remove. Cork was saturated and denigrated into pieces when pulled by corkscrew. Other than that - a decent wine, with some lemon, honeysuckle and lots of mineral. A bit over the hill so drink up!

11/25/2010 - sbwino wrote:

Drank for Thanksgiving. This is a lean and racy wine, dare I say - sexy. Lemon zest and pronounced limestone mineral profile. Slightly sour grapefruit finish. I'm not sure how previous posters got Oak and Butter. I don't taste anything close.

8/12/2010 - sbwino wrote:

Cherry Cola, Blackberry and Pepper.

10/7/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Herbs, Spice and white pepper with lush fruit up front - but finishes with a very strange bitter tannic flavor.

6/15/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Nice Deep Concentrated flavors of Black Cherry, Black Pepper and Cinnamon.

6/1/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Wonderful Full-Bodied and Luscious with Great Balance of Acidity and Round Mouth Filling Flavors of Lemon Curd, Pineapple, and Minerals.

5/14/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Nose of Manure, Burnt Toast, and White Pepper - Initial full round mouthfeel of dark red fruits - followed by a wallop of heat and acidity going down. Toasted, Deep Fruit flavors linger on the finish. Slightly our of balance - but a good to wine - not excellent - just good

4/25/2009 - sbwino wrote:

First Whack at this one. Let is breath in the glass for about an hour - revealing nose of menthol and earthiness. Initial Mouth filling punch of Deep Robust Red Fruit, plumb, Spice, black cherry, and some Chalkiness on the finish. about a 30 second finish with quite a bit of heat on the finish as well. Decent Quaff.

4/23/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Light ruby - Fresh and mouth filling Red Fruits with Glycerin and pepper in the background. Excellent purity of fruits integrated seamlessly with vibrant acidity. Excellent reference point for super refined and superbly styled Pinot Noir in California - French Burgundian Style combined with more ripe California Fruit.

4/20/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Medium Ruby Hue - This wine exhibits a racy blend of spice, strawberries, cherries and underbrush. Seamlessly integrated with a nice pleasant finish - Overall a great wine but the Cult Like Status with pricing to match is perplexing.. I have many comparable Pinots in the $40 Range.

4/14/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Massive nose of Black Cherry, and Compost like Earthiness. Huge Mouth-filling black fruits, Mocha, Coffee, and Cinnamon, and Kirsch Liquor. Chalky Mouth feel throughout - especially on the finish. Great tasting stuff!

4/7/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Big, Ripe & Juicy Flavors - With some spice and peppery notes in the background.

3/28/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Don't bother opening this for at least 5+ years unless you enjoy eating fruit before it has ripened. Tart, Sour Sour. Fresh Clean Nose of Strawberry and Plumb Stew with hint of menthol. Fruit is super tart and tightly wound with flavor of cranberry and pomegranate.

3/18/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Purple Ruby Color in the glass. Wonderful full body of Deep Black Fruits, black pepper and green herbs with a balanced structure of Minerals and Chalkiness. 25+ Second Finish with lingering smokiness and chalk in the mouth feel. Quite a bit different profile from most Cali Rhone Rangers - This one is much more French Style which is a refreshing change after drinking so many over the top fruit bombs w/ excessive heat. This beauty is in perfect balance. I usually don't think of Syrah as much of a food wine - but this one would certainly pair well with a hearty red meat dish.

3/14/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Black Cherry, Vics Cough Syrup, Profuse alcohol which leaves a slight burn going down. I can fully appreciate the deep, rich, and velvety fruit on the front and mid palate w/ black and red pepper - but the Overwhelming presence of alcohol diminishes the experience considerably.

3/10/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Medium Ruby, Slightly Cloudy Unfiltered color. Nose of fresh cranberry, forest and smoke. Young Tangy Red Fruits on the front palate followed by a wallop of smoky earth, integrated with deeper red fruited. This is a Finese wine that reveals more and more as it sits in the glass. Great Stuff. Excellent Paired with Food.

3/4/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Not a modest wine by any means.Deep Purple Hue. Initial in your face blast of ripe blackberries is blended seamlessly with black pepper and smoky earthy flavors in the background. As the fruit fades, the smoke and tannin dominates on the finish. Great tasting stuff!

2/27/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Nose of Vicks' Cherry Couch Syrup - Some of the same on the palate with robust rich flavors of cherry, raspberry and Mint. Some hints of wood and cedar on the finish. Good purity and decent balance of fruit and acidity - Just not my favorite flavor profile.

2/26/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Light to medium body with forest floor, and light red fruit flavors.

2/21/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Dark, Brooding Wine. Concentrated dense black fruits, roasted meat, smoke and woody tannin. Some Coffee and Spice notes as well. Actually has pretty nice balance for such a massive wine - not too overpowering with alcohol.

2/14/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Golden Straw color. Amazing multi-layered and viscous mouth feel. Honey Apricot, Peach and Lemon Custard with long penetrating finish. Excellent balance of concentrated fruit, mild oak and acidity. We paired this with Cracked Dungeness Crab and salad and it was amazing!

2/1/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Light Purple Hue. Black Pepper with smoky overtones. Lean black fruits. Not nearly as concentrated or focused and previous vintages.

1/26/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Intense Blackberry, Black Pepper, Spice with a slightly grippy finish. Great Stuff

1/25/2009 - sbwino wrote:

Classic Zin with nose of burnt caramel - strawberry & black pepper flavors dominate with Some earthiness and smokiness in the background. Excellent purity, soft and mouth filling with a 15-20 second finish. Very pleasant, easy drinking wine.