10/12/2013 - mguglielmo wrote:

Drinking beautifully right now, intense fruit, supported by a savory backbone. Loads of bramble, blackberry, some mushroom and coffee. Yum x10.

9/17/2013 - mguglielmo wrote:

Drinks much nicer than the $9 I paid for it. Nose reminds me of a flinty Loire Valley white. Lemon sherbet and peach nectar dominate the flavors. Not overly complex, but for $9 who would expect it to be? Perfectly acceptable weeknight wine for a multitude of food options.

2/18/2013 - mguglielmo wrote:

Gobs of fruit on day 1, more refined (and more pleasant) on day 2. Rich nose, layers of brambly fruit with some earth and smokiness. Judicious tannins lead one to believe it'll grow nicely over the next 4-5 years. Wonderful syrah, a winner from Bedrock.

5+11+17+8 = 91

8/20/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Bought on our honeymoon, and alas, our only bottle (that I apparently can't replace). What the heck, popped & let breathe in the bottle for a couple hours. Classic garnet pinot coloring. Huge nose of plum, cranberry, rose petal, and spiced cloves. Palate is gorgeous, and lush, full of cherries and all manner of berries (strawberry & blackberry mostly), with secondary characteristics that are slightly gamey and nicely spiced. Soft tannins and just the right amount of acidity. Fairly full-bodied for a pinot and a somewhat short finish. I have to say, this was great. Delicious!

5+12+16+8 = 91

8/6/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Alas, my last bottle. Dark, intense purple gives the impression of seriously concentrated juice. Hugely expressive nose of both red & black fruit, raisins, vanilla, and cloves. Very complex, lots going on. Palate is a bit more one-dimensional in the new world style, though the intensity & concentration of the grapes (lots of 'em, nearly all the Bordeaux varietals) creates a ripe, forward profile. The oak, soft tannins & acidity are all in balance, leaving a juicy, lip-smacking finish of medium length. Very easy drinker, also wonderful with food. If you can find it for under $25, jump on it. 4+12+15+7 = 88

8/5/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

70% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah Rhone blend. PnP. Red burgundy/maroon coloring, though the closed-down nose is somewhat disappointing. I do get faint traces of stewed plums, bubblegum, vanilla, and black pepper. The palate is where this shines though, with loads of ripe, ripe fruit, mostly blackberries, cherry liqueur, blueberry jam, and secondary characteristics of charred meat and espresso. Medium-full body, fat with silky yet grippy tannins, subtle acid, this is nicely balanced. Great now, good for another 5+ years easily. Too bad this is my last one! 5+9+17+8 = 89

8/5/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Decanted 2+ hours, to go with Sunday steak dinner. This is dark, nearly opaque dark. Bold black fruit, mostly currant, blueberry pie, and rose petals on the nose; lush, ripe blueberry, black cherry fruit on the palate, balanced well with black olives, truffles, and spice. Bitter coffee grinds on the long finish. Nice oak, firm tannins, this has lots of life left in it. Pretty great affordable Bordeaux. 4+13+17+8 = 92

8/4/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Pop & decant for 2+ hours, this is a BIG wine. Definitely not subtle as its inky purple coloring stains the glass. The nose is mostly black cherry & cassis, as well as more subtle notes of bacon fat and mint. Even before this opened up a bit, it was rich, and big. Loads upon loads of black & blue fruit, mostly cherry liqueur, blueberry cobbler & fruitcake. Tobacco, spice & dark mocha chocolate fill out the rest of its profile. Mouth-coating tannins, fat & rounded, very well balanced, though it would do well to accompany food. Incredibly complex, lots going on, and will deliver for another 8-10 years with ease. 5+12+17+8 = 92

8/4/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

PnP with penne with roasted tomatoes, capers, shallots & garlic (great match btw). Brick/purple, with a solid nose featuring plum, cherry, licorice & rosemary herbs. Classic sangiovese-driven sour cherry & cranberry/raspberry flavors dominate, with a touch of olive & earth on the back-end. Nice albeit underwhelming oak and tangy acid create a pleasant light-to-medium-bodied red that is sure to please any weeknight meal. Fantastic QPR @ <$12/bottle. 4+11+14+7 = 86

7/29/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

I was pretty excited to open this, as it was a special buy during our honeymoon at the vineyard. Didn't decant, just left open for 1+ hours while I cooked a steak dinner. Its age shows in the gorgeous brownish-red brick color, nearly opaque. The nose is lush, expressive, featuring ripe, ripe red & black fruit, violet, maybe a hint of tea leaves. The palate is even better, with delicious black cherry, blackberry, currant, prunes and tobacco and baker's chocolate coming out during the medium-length finish. Softening tannins say this has peaked, but it's still fully balanced, and more importantly, delicious. The mouth-coating full body paired beautifully with our filet mignon with red wine reduction sauce and roasted tarragon potatoes. Properly stored, this still has 3-4 years of good life in it. Excellent wine. 5+12+17+8 = 92

7/28/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Opened this 2 days ago and was nervous that the shop I bought it from hadn't stored it properly, it appeared to be heading toward vinegar. Drank 1 1/2 glasses, vacuum-sealed it & stored it in the fridge. Today, it was much improved, but still not as good as I'd hoped. Coloring was rusty brown-edged brick, so you could see the aging coming on, but the nose was closed-down still. What I got wasn't all that appealing either: smoked meat, herbs, green pepper, mushroom, and bit of funk (that didn't blow off). Palate was substantially better, but the fruit was on its way out. Cherry, tart raspberry, wet forest floor, and coffee grind during the short finish. Strangely enough, it was still moderately tannic, though not very acidic. Hope my other bottle is better. No formal score b/c of the 3 days it was open, but it would have been 85-ish.

7/25/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Pop, aerate, decant, tasting note over the course of 90 minutes. Tawny, brick color, looks murky. Nose of plum, minty eucalyptus, tobacco. Rich, complex mouth of black cherry, raspberry, tea leaves, earthiness, and espresso. Not too tannic but with evident structure, drinking well right now. Perhaps a touch less acidic than would be ideal, but in a good place. $30 might be a bit much though I still thought it worth every penny. 5+11+16+8 = 90

7/20/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Was lucky enough to live near a Spectator Grand Award winning restaurant that just so happened to have a bottle (or 2) of this in their cellar. It being a celebratory evening (wife got a job, I got a raise), we took the plunge and got to experience a wonderful, legendary bottle of wine.

After nervously watching the waitress work the cork out of the bottle, a quick sniff & sip confirmed that all was well, no, better than well and we were off. This being my first ever foray into aged wine, I mean, really aged wine, I didn't know what to expect, but I knew from the luscious golden color that I'd be in for a treat. Beautiful nose of honey, almonds, and yes, still a bit of citrus. Palate was even more other-worldly, I've never tasted anything like this. Still plenty of fruit, a shocking amount of acidity, and yet a warm fresh-baked apple cobbler feel to it all. A friend described it as "Jedi wine," couldn't agree more. What a night.

7/20/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Tremendous wine, and for a new world fruit bomb of a pinot, was amazingly versatile (it seamlessly handled crawfish enchiladas, cajun shrimp/andouille sausage stir-fy, crawfish pasta, and chicken parm). Rich, huge, gobs of fruit, all backed by earthy coffee grinds. Med-full bodied, with a finish that wouldn't quit. Must find more.

7/15/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

This Merlot (80%)/Cabernet Franc (20%) blend delivers the goods, though it took about 90 minutes for it to happen. It really evolved in the glass over time. Popped, tasted within 1/2 hour over the next 2 hours.

Ruby red with maroon edges. The nose isn't very enticing, mostly green pepper, licorice, and a musky quality that had me wondering where the fruit was. But lo and behold, it arrives after an hour in the glass, constantly developing. Plum, strawberry, cherry are all there, with herbs, olives and tobacco behind them. Dusty tannins, solid acidity, but the wine is a bit flabby at the moment. I recommend at least a 1 hour decant, and expect big improvements within 1-2 years. 90+ potential, but pretty dang good right now. Great value in a superb vintage. 5+10+16+8 = 89

7/15/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Popped & tasted within 30 minutes, paired with a Moroccan-spiced salmon dish. Very dark purple-black. Nose is somewhat held back, though brambly, and showing rose petal, blackberries & walnuts. The taste though, the taste is unreal. Huge, expressive, ripe fruit, mostly of the dark kind. Cherry cola, spicy, and a long, delicious mocha coffee finish. This is not your father's zinfandel. Perfectly balanced, a crisp acidity to go along with soft tannins. Wish I had regular access to this. 5+10+18+9 = 92

7/14/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

PnP, purple-tinted blood red in color. Bouquet is only moderately interesting, mostly floral, with additional notes of cassis, blackberries & sawdust. The palate, however, is rich, ripe, and bold. Lip-smacking bursts of cherry, raspberry, cranberry, and plum start things off, are evened out with a barnyard-like mushroom flavor, and finished up with rich, frothy cocoa. Medium in body, lengthy finish. The smooth-as-silk tannins meld perfectly with the right amount of acidity, wrapping this delightful package up with a bow. Superb QPR. 5+10+17+8 = 90

7/13/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

This was likely my fault, but I opened it, drank 2 glasses, vacuum-sealed it, opened it day 2 for a couple hours but didn't drink any (false start) & vacuum-sealed it again, then finished the bottle on day 3. So this tasting note deserves as asterisk.

That said, it didn't show very well after my messing with it. I do recall it having some nice fruit upon initial opening, but by day 3 w/ the double opening, it smelled of wet leaves, barnyard, and a bit of fresh baked cherry pie. Flavor-wise it mostly went downhill. Mostly tart cherry, pomegranate, bitter coffee, and earth, but I'm not giving this a numerical rating as I don't believe it would be fair. From recollection, I'd place this somewhere in the 87-88 range when first opened, with 89-ish potential.

7/6/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

As others have noted, make sure you decant or aerate this through a screen, as there is much cork sediment in the neck.

Let breathe in the bottle for about an hour, though I doubt it was necessary. Nice, dark purple in color, with a big nose full of dark fruit, ripe black cherries, and cedar. Mouth is even bigger, just gobs of fruit. The Malbec & Petit Verdot (13% of the blend) really make their presence known here with cherry cola, the Merlot contributes blueberry, and the cab holds it all together with bold espresso, chocolate, and leather joining the party in the finish. Full-bodied for certain yet the wine doesn't require food, though their is a bit of grittiness to it. Tannins & acidity are well-balanced and gorgeous, this reminds me of a well-made Aussie Shiraz. I believe this will evolve for years, though it's very much so drinking like a champ right now. Recommended.

7/6/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Psyched I'm the first to give this a review, but surprised because it was damned good and a bargain to boot! Let breathe in the bottle for about 1 hour prior to dinner, looked like pinot noir-esque brick red in the glass. Ripe cherry, flowers, camphor & mint waft freely on the nose, and a delicious mix of rich fruit coats the palate to begin, transforming into an intense mix of mushrooms, earth, mocha, and coffee grinds. Wow, very nice! This is a very ready-to-drink Barolo, but all that nice fruit, coupled with silky smooth tannins and fine structure will let this develop for another 5 years at least, and likely 10.

Fantastic QPR too, at under $25. Anyone looking for a ready to go Barolo would do well to seek this wine out. Recommended.

7/5/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

I was completely taken by surprise by this wine. One of my local guys recommended it and I took a shot, and man am I glad I did! Thick, midnight purple, a huge nose full of rich, brambly fruit and hints of cedar and smoked meat. Then bam! Gobs of jammy Cali zin black fruit, but not syrupy and overbearing as can often happen, with a lip-smacking finish ripe with espresso and baker's chocolate. Deliciously integrated tannins and perfect acidity, this drinks like a far more expensive bottle of juice. Definite buy.

7/5/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Still green around the gills and mostly clear, this exhibits a restrained nose of apple, pineapple, baked spices, honey & stone. Lots of stone fruit and lime sherbert flavors combine with a nutty, flinty finish, where the oak appears for the first time. Standard chardonnay green apple emerges as it warms. Medium-bodied, it's dry, somewhat creamy, yet with sharp acidic tang. Not sure where all the "butter bomb" comments are coming from, this is far more Burgundian in style than your normal American chard. Decent, drinkable wine, but for north of $30, I want better than decent & drinkable.

7/4/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

PnP. Not 100% familiar with how Caymus cab typically acts, but this bottle was ready to go the second the cork left the neck. The oncoming fruit intensity was apparent as soon as the murky, black-as-night purple coloring splashed around the bottom of the glass. Nose was enticing, made me want to dive in and take a nap in the glass, full of black currant, berries left laying in the sun, warm cola, dust, and barnyard. Taste was even better; this bad boy came from some seriously concentrated grapes, probably the size of pebbles. Loads of cherry cola, chocolate raspberry cake, and espresso. Medium-length finish, ample body, this wine kicks ass. Velvety smooth tannins, acidity in check, so well-balanced. Killer cab. Buy buy buy.

7/3/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Aerated/decanted for 30-45 minutes, took notes over the course of 2 hours. When a wine in this dark, I call it "octopus defense mechanism" in color. Almost black, and murky. An opulent, expressive nose greets you right away, with loads of ripe fruit and a backbone of hay, mushroom, and olive. At first, the palate was extremely restrained and basically not much beyond astringent. But after 1+ hours, notes of sour cherry, plums, and brambly fruit open up to complement the secondary flavors of earth, anise, and burnt toast. The oak is ever-present but not overwhelming. Initially, the tannins dominated everything else, but they do soften around the 90-minute mark. The wine is gritty but acidic, and has the foundation to continue to evolve. I would give this at least a 90-minute decant, or 1-2+ years, and I would guess this will be coming into its own within 5. Stellar QPR. 88 upon pour, 91+ potential. Will taste again in 6 months.

6/30/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

PnP, notes over the course of 2 hours. Inky, dark, intense, glass-staining legs indicate this classic mountain terroir is in full effect. The nose is surprisingly light, with equal parts violet, black fruit & vanilla. However, the explosion of rich, ripe fruit confirms the best of this winery & its unique Napa location. Black currant, brambly blackberry, mint, and my favorite, mocha coffee. A long chalky finish with plenty of oaky tobacco. It's the wine that keeps on giving. It's so well-balanced, sharp acidity, velvety tannins, it's hard to believe that this is a $25 (I paid $20) bottle of Napa cabernet. Once again, Mt. Veeder Winery proves to me that they produce the best value in Napa, but I'm worried I can't find more!

6/29/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

This took a bit to open up, was very tight for more than the 1st hour. Very deep purple with beautifully formed legs. Rich, bright nose, blackberries, black cherries, dust & leather. Some of the same in the palate as well, more black fruit, raisins, oak is present but not overwhelming, tobacco and a bit of green veggies for good measure. Medium finish, chock full of dark cocoa and espresso. Its body falls somewhere between medium & full, and the acidity is perfect, though even after 4 hours the tannins continue to make their presence known. Leads me to believe there is decent life in this wine, 5+ years for sure. At typically less than $30, this is a great value in Napa cab.

6/27/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Clear as day, hovering somewhere between straw and gold, featuring an interesting mix of caramel/honey, vanilla, almonds, melon & fig on the nose. Wasn't sure what to expect as far as taste goes, but the reassuring stone fruit & green apple snap of the chardonnay grape burst out of the glass, backed up with butterscotch-infused oak. Not over the top, but definitely present. High acid content is balanced out by a slate-driven, moderately spiced finish. Strong QPR if you can still find it at some close-out sales.

6/26/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

My last bottle, unfortunately, so I felt I needed to write up a note. Definitely looks a bit more aged than most, being an amber/brick color. Enticing nose of flowers and cherries/raspberries with a touch of vanilla creeping around in the background. A nice medium body promotes an expressive palate featuring ripe yet sour cherries, almost reminiscent of high quality sangiovese. There's strawberry in there and a nice earthy, smoky component that lingers during the moderately lengthy finish. A very nice pinot, definitely not "red water." Definite buy if you can find it (and it wasn't easy).

6/22/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Drank half during dinner @ Press (in St. Helena/Napa Valley) with my wife on our honeymoon, then the 2nd half late night, so tasting notes are sporadic at best (from my tasting journal scribble).

Very dark red/ruby in color, fairly true to cab sav type. Great bouquet of ripe berries, cherries, cocoa & dust. Even better, more expressive palate featuring that same ripe cherry with cola hints, raspberry, some green pepper notes, and even a bit of cough syrup on the finish. The fruit is huge and this is drinking wonderfully right now, given it's an '09. More medium than full-bodied with velvety smooth tannins and a sweet, semi-lengthy finish, delicious. Wish I could buy more!

6/3/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Decanted 3 or so hrs, in prep for a big steak dinner. Impressive, rich brick red/crimson in color, with a huge complex bouquet of ripe blackberries, strawberry jam & violet. Palate doesn't disappoint either, more huge fruit out of the gate. Notes of cinnamon spice with hints of green pepper round out the equally complex flavor profile, though the best part might be the earthy coffee grind finish. Without question full-bodied but not over the top. Only (minor) complaint is a somewhat short finish. This wine is amazingly complex yet so incredibly balanced I'm in awe. Tannins integrated, acidity perfectly complementary, everything's in check. It's got the structure to go for years yet can be enjoyed right now. An amazing wine.

5/31/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

This is a very rich pinot noir, let's get that out of the way. If you're expecting a Burgundian-style, go elsewhere, this is much more for the robust Cali-style pinot fan. The color falls somewhere between brick and blood, and the first hint of the wine's body can be seen in the ample legs. Big aromas of spice (cloves?), earth (mushrooms?), and a very strong floral violet scent, giving way to a rich palate consisting of overripe strawberries, raisins, cherries, and blackberry. Very much a "new world" pinot. With decidedly less acidity than I prefer in my pinots, it comes across as very full-bodied, full of intense flavors. That being said, it's a pretty well-balanced wine, just not for the faint of heart. Solid finish, good wine, just a bit much for my personal pinot preference.

5/31/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

Classic pale straw Sav Blanc coloring, solid nose of herbs, warm flowers, and lemon-lime. I loved the initial burst of juicy citrus, most notably grapefruit and lime sherbert, followed shortly by a bracing mineral-driven acidity. Light in body but a surprisingly lengthy finish. Truly enjoyed this, would certainly buy again. Goes without saying, but drink now.

4/16/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

I was pretty dismayed reading many of these reviews, but I have to say, after finishing the bottle (over the course of 4 days, kept corked & in the fridge in between), I'm surprised at how "mediocre" they were. Color & depth-wise, it's clearly a pinot, and yes, the nose is pretty subdued. What comes through is floral, maybe just a hint of dustiness. Which makes the fruit-forward palate strange at first. More sweet red fruit that I expected from a pinot, mostly overripe cherries, some raspberry too perhaps. A little spice on the backend, medium finish. My biggest complaint is the body, it's too syrupy. Overall, decent, not a world-beating pinot, but ok for $20ish.

4/8/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

[TN from day 2] If this were poured blind, the garnet color, and earthy, spicy, floral bouquet would scream "pinot noir." Even the palate wouldn't do much to dissuade that guess, light & airy, featuring mostly plum, half-ripe cherries, and perhaps a touch of herbal vegetation. Not much in the way of tannins.Light/medium-bodied, a finish on the short side. A perfectly acceptable "house" wine that won't offend anyone. Solid QPR, drink now.

4/3/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

This was so pale when I poured it I questioned if it were really a chardonnay. Once it warmed a bit, that classic chard bouquet profile opened up, yet featured some floral notes to go along with the classic stone fruit & honeyed oak. The closer this got to room temp (which also incidentally improved it) the more the syrupy nectar flavors of peach, pineapple and lime zest surfaced. Medium-bodied but with a moderate finish. Solid chard from a great producer. Not otherworldly though, so QPR is questionable.

3/1/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

PnP, paired with a Tuscan Salmon dish. I'd had this one in the wine fridge for some time now, so figured it was time to pop it. The nose shows strong notes of grass & citrus, with a touch of honey behind it. Some may love this, but I didn't really find a whole lot to make this standout from other (less expensive Cali Sav Blancs). Lots of tart citrus flavors on the palate, bordering on one-dimensional, though some stone fruit helps prevent that. Fairly light in body, but with a lengthy finish. The wife loved it, I'd rather spend $25 on a great Kiwi Sav Blanc.

2/19/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Let breathe for 3 hrs, then aerated too. I had heard very good things about this bottle, and have been dying to sample something from '09 as is. Dark brick, ample legs, as might be expected from a young Bordeaux. Nose is still pretty closed down, but I detect traces of black currant, smoke, and forest floor. Palate is very earthy, and the fruit (mostly black currant & some cherry) backs that up. Some nice smokiness in there too. Smooth, medium-bodied, and a lingering finish. For <$25, this is going to be great for years to come. Stock up.

2/16/2012 - mguglielmo wrote:

PnP. Definitely an interesting bottle of chianti. Nose is very floral, with some bright fruit, mostly strawberry and raspberry. Palate, on the other hand, is a bit more complex that your standard Italian table wine. Where many chianti's suffer from one-dimensional sour cherry sangiovese fatigue, this is more subtle. For starters it's much earthier, and the fruit, while unmistakably sangiovese, also brings notes of plum to mind. Ample oak lends a smoky quality as well. But tied together nicely with a smooth, soft finish. Definitely a nice wine, not sure it's worth $25+ though.

2/13/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Very nice Rhone Valley viognier, featuring a strong golden color and ample amounts of melon (honeydew), pear, and buttered toast in the nose. Palate is a bit more tropical (pineapple) with lots of stone fruit (peach) and a slightly acerbic character, though not unpleasant. Well-balanced acidity, supported by a stony, lip-smacking finish, complete the package. Obviously not a well-known wine, but well-priced at sub-$18. Drink now for sure.

2/12/2012 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

What a great representation of a value-priced California Chardonnay. Not over-oaked (though present), with loads of lush, rich tropical fruit, a touch of stone fruit behind it, the right balance of acidity and creamy texture, and delightful butterscotch notes on the back-end. Medium-bodied, nice finish. Drink now, but probably good for a couple years. At $15, great QPR.

12/25/2011 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Brick red in color, showing signs of beginning to age. Rich, earthy aromas enhanced by subtle fruit and spice. I only decanted for about 2 hours, and it wasn't enough. The 1st glass was extremely closed off, and thin. I was disappointed that I had wasted my cash. But 2 more hours later and the additional time in the decanter began to bring out this wine's potential. While still more acidic and tart than I expected, the tannins integrate a bit more and the fruit emerges from beneath its blanket of forest floor. I got impatient and just had to pop this for Christmas dinner, but this should remain unopened for at least another 3 years. Lots of potential.

11/5/2011 - mguglielmo wrote:

Very dark, almost blood red meets purple. Very thick, sticky-looking legs. At first I was a bit put off at the aroma, which is extremely vegetal with hints of barnyard funk going on. Earthy. But once I gave it some time to breath, the palate more than made up for it. Gobs of dark fruit & sour cherry dominate, with ample portions of tree bark and spice to flesh it out. Somewhat flabby, but fairly well-integrated tannins bring it all together. This probably has more than a couple years ahead of it. Very solid new world syrah.

10/13/2011 - mguglielmo wrote:

no formal note at all (I've got 3 more bottles, I'll get to one eventually), but I did want to forewarn you that my 1st bottle had a significant amount of sediment at the bottom, so proceed accordingly

9/10/2011 - mguglielmo wrote:

Incredible QPR for a CdP. Rich, expressive, loads of dark fruit. Fantastic earthy backbone typical of the region, and my favorite part, a cocoa/espresso-like character during a perfectly lengthy finish. This wine seems like it's in its perfect drinking window but will probably still improve (or at least stay this good) for a few years to come). Will absolutely be buying more.

9/10/2011 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

Again, no formal notes, I was too busy cooking, but it's a light straw yellow in color with enticing fruit on the nose and an appealing, effervescent palate of mineral, citrus, pear and crisp acidity. Definitely a winner.

9/5/2011 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

No formal notes, because quite frankly, I was enjoying this wine too much to take them. Absolutely tremendous wine, and drinkable right this very second. As soon as I have another $60 to burn, I'll be buying more. Superb.

8/28/2011 - mguglielmo Likes this wine:

For a very inexpensive bottle of drink-now bordeaux, this was a pleasant surprise (i.e. I didn't want to open one of my "good" ones). great fruit on the nose and in the palate, but not overly forward. Solid musty earth backbone, decently-balanced tannins as well. You could do a lot worse than this for $20.

8/6/2011 - mguglielmo Does not like this wine:

Was not at all a fan of this syrah. Great fruit-forward nose with a nice spicy underbelly might give the impression that tastiness was coming, but don't be fooled. Tart, unpleasant fruit with nearly overwhelming tannic spice just wasn't my cup of tea. Gave up after 2/3 of my first glass.

8/3/2011 - mguglielmo wrote:

Nothing formal, but a solid, basic cab with good value. Lots of fruit, definitely drink now because there's not much in the way of a future.

7/31/2011 - mguglielmo wrote:

TN from day 2, after a 2+ hr decant on day 1 and vacuum-seal overnight. Ruby/brick color, moderate legs. Still fairly weak nose, maybe still too young? Some dark fruit, dusty barnyard. Palate features solid fruit, mostly strawberry, black cherry, bit of cranberry with some coffee grinds. Tannins fairly well-integrated by day 2, but seemed like the acidity took over too much, giving the impression that the wine is much thinner than (I thought) it should be. Will probably give this another shot if the price is right (under-$25).