4/13/2024 - jkvedar wrote:

It took about 30 minutes for this wine to show itself. Poured into a decanter at 40 degrees F. Underripe apple dominates the nose. There is some wet wool in the background. On the palate, high acid all the way through. Some mid-palate fullness. Others have suggested this might be from some RS, but there is no perception of sweetness. The finish is all Granny Smith apple. Paired with sautéed veal cutlets with mustard,cream pan sauce, mashed potatoes, and garden salad. This was a great pairing!

1/19/2024 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I compared this to a recent vintage Condrieu and it held up very well. All flowers and apricots on the nose. I always miss the acidity of Viognier on the palate and this one is no exception. A good pairing with a peppery vegetable soup

12/27/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Possibly going through a “dumb phase”. Poured into a decanter and after an hour or so, the nose showed the faintest hint of Nebbiolo markers, I.e roses, tar, etc. nothing wrong on the palate, but nothing terribly exciting either. Tannins are softened and the acidity is w touch less prominent than I would expect. I don’t have any more but if I did, I wouldn’t know to drink or hold

12/24/2023 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Last bottle 🥲. It was great as were the others

5/16/2023 - kuumies wrote:

The nose is rather comforting and familiar. There is primary, ripe-ish raspberry fruit along with some VA, wet rock and a tart hint of cranberry. It is somewhat reductive but not overly so. On the palate it is fruity, juicy and low in weight with very uplifting acidity. It doesn’t necessarily taste like a proper cool vintage wine from the yester year as it definitely has some density but it is positively crunchy with no Grenache-ness to it. In fact there is a wonderful minerally sensation towards the finish that I find immensely pleasing and it is also savory while very clean at the same time (meaning the VA does not play a big role). The mouth-puckering finish is just great, setting one up to take the next sip very quickly. There is nothing I don’t like about this, I would love to own a case or three.

11/28/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Well-balanced. Opened the bottle 2 hours prior to consumption, very soft tannins. Fruit dominant nose.
Spicy on the palate.

9/26/2022 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

My first of 3. Decanted for 2 hours at 70 degrees. Dark fruits, mint and some heat on the nose. On the palate there is a sweetness- of ripe fruit, not of residual sugar. Also very primary but lovely fruit. Tannins well-Integrated. Also a bi hot on the finish - makes me think their 14.7% is low. Had this with pesto and it was a terrific pairing as the wine cut through the oil and the vegetal components of the pesto played of of the slight vegetal character of the wine.

5/3/2021 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

I know this is a lovely wine from my previous tasting notes. As an experiment, paired this evening with pasta and red sauce. Not a good idea at all. Thought the acidity in the tomato sauce would pair well with the acidity in the Pinot. Next time will pair with a Tuscan or Piedmontese wine.

12/21/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Decanted for 2 hours. Compared to Felsina Fontallaro 2017. Held its own when paired with pesto.

5/13/2020 - jkvedar wrote:

Sweet, dark fruits, graphite and mint on the nose. Full-bodied, but elegant on the palate. Soft tannins on the sides of the tongue. Very approachable now after a 2 hour decant. Finish is very long.

5/18/2020 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Vanilla, some leather, tobacco on the nose. Acidity jumps out on the palate. Great food wine. Very little tannin, mostly on the sides of the tongue. Again, acidity dominates on the palate.

1/14/2020 - jkvedar wrote:

I opened, poured and paired with a pasta + vegetable dish. I expect a wine at this price point to be “pop-and-pour” worthy. After dinner, I.e., ~45 minutes, the nose is finally emerging. Tea and flowers, some vanilla mainly on the nose, though it was mute for a long time. Light on the palate. Good balance and good with food. Medium tannins; medium + acidity on the finish. I heard good things about this on a podcast, but will likely not buy again. I’ll put 1/2 bottle back in the cellar and check again tomorrow night.

12/26/2019 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Leather, tobacco, mustiness, mint on the nose. Soft tannins on the palate integrated with acidity, though the fruit is faded. Medium body. Tannins come through on the finish

5/28/2018 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Exceptional!! Mostly vanilla, spice and graphite on the nose. Crisp acidity, bright fruit on the palate. Exceptional finish. A real wow!!

12/25/2017 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

These wines are unique . Evolved over 3hours. Pencil lead, tea and tobacco on the nose. Delicate and well-balanced on the palate. Very long finish.

11/26/2017 - jkvedar wrote:

Perhaps it is fading?? Hard to believe for Napa 2012. Or going through a “dumb phase”. Again hard to use this explanation . Despite a 2 hour decant, the nose is mostly vegetal. I believe that is the Petit Sirah influence. Very tannic, but one’s palate gets used to that over time. Not much fruit on the palate - slightly out of balance. The other Petit Sirah blends I’ve had have been younger. Tart on the finish. Just couldn’t get excited about this one.

8/11/2017 - jkvedar wrote:

Incredibly refined wine. Dried cherry and cranberry, dust, mushroom, slight barnyard on the nose. We'll-balanced on the palate . Long finish.

9/29/2017 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Clean. Poured through an aerator. Blueberry,a touch of graphite and black pepper on the nose. Well-balanced and very focused on the palate. Great with food. Long finish. It is ready to go now.

11/18/2016 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Right out of the bottle, this wine is pleasant to drink. The aromatics are vanilla, caramel and a touch of dill. On the palate, dark cherry is dominant. This is an excellent food wine as the acidity predominates in a relatively balanced offering. The finish is where it falls off. For the price you can't do much better!!

3/3/2016 - jkvedar Likes this wine:

Tobacco cedar and dark berries on the nose. Well balanced on the palate with cherry and raspberry predominating. Pleasant finish.

5/3/2016 - jkvedar wrote:

Interesting to compare this with other, more recent Blackbird offerings. After a 30 minute decant, this wine comes into its own. Hints of green pepper, earth and tobacco on the nose. Dark cherry and other dark fruits on the palate. Mint, licorice on the finish. Had this with a vegan masala dish and it matched the tomato acidity perfectly. Great balance. Tannins are softer than the younger Pott wines.

2/15/2016 - jkvedar wrote:

The label says drink through 2015, and that could be an admonition. This wine is hot. Hot on the nose and hot on the finish. This leads me to believe that the fruit has faded, allowing the alcohol (16% ABV) to come through. If you have this in your cellar, drink it soon.

9/15/2015 - jkvedar wrote:

Amazing wine. Beautiful structure, perfect balance. Pepper and dark fruit as well as smoke dominate the nose and palate. Loong finish!

1/22/2014 - jkvedar wrote:

Red fruit dominant nose. Soft tannins. Lovely blend.