12/7/2023 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Light and fruity at 20 years. Nice!

5/11/2023 - Tiger1028 Does not like this wine:

Harsh. Acidic. Watery. I don’t think any amount of decanting would have saved this wine. Tasted. Tasted again. Poured it out.

5/5/2021 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This wine was gone before we even realized we had started. So smooth and flavorful. Did not decant. Opened and poured glass after glass. It’s in a great place right now.

5/19/2020 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Really smooth and well integrated. Worth the wait.

4/12/2020 - Tiger1028 Does not like this wine:

Way past its prime. :-(

9/27/2019 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Still delicious. Open, pour and drink. Great balance.

7/13/2019 - Tiger1028 wrote:

First glass delicious! Perfectly balanced. By last glass flat and uneventful. Did not decant. Just popped cork and poured by the glass. Drink quickly or I cannot recommend at all.

7/9/2019 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Many years the monitor ledge comes out a little on the watery side. The 2012 is drinking well in 2019. Smooth. Rich. Great mouthfeel. I’m glad I have more!

1/13/2019 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This merlot is drinking very well right now. Identifiable as a Napa merlot it smooth, well-integrated, and pairs great with cheeseburgers! We moved away from Venge wine club a couple of years ago but are talking about joining again!

9/30/2018 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Could not tell if it was more the effect of the vintage or the winemaker, but this was a jammy cab with little complexity. It was fine to drink but seemed more like a Zinfandel than a cab.

3/10/2018 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Had a bottle tonight with steak and potato. Still drinking well. Not as robust as before, but I would immediately ID this as silver oak in a blind tasting!

2/20/2018 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Ready to go. No decant. Smooth and delightful.

2/16/2018 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Beautiful aged Napa cab. Smooth. Perfectly integrated tannins. Very slight sediment.

2/10/2018 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This is drinking beautifully right now! Had with beef fajitas. Matched the beef, spices, and vegetables perfectly. Thanks, Kirk!

10/23/2017 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Good grief. Three bottles drunk too soon with thoughts about it being too watery, too weak, bad vintage, etc. Finally, the last bottle: pure perfection! We should have waited! I will always wait 8-10 years before drinking a bottle of The Discussion. Every day is a school day!

7/14/2017 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This is in a really great place! Smooth and silky. Great match with steak and potatoes.

6/19/2017 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Moldy cork and odd taste. Agree that this is a poor showing for Duckhorn.

4/16/2017 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Drank at "home" in sunset beach with Easter dinner. Was a lovely wine for the evening. 2011 seems to have been great for the coast and near-coast California pinots.

3/27/2017 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Weak. Watery. Primary taste is alcohol.

3/26/2017 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This is the sweet spot for goldeneye pinots. Perfect in the glass!

3/11/2017 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Ok. Correction on my last note. Had this tonight with grilled tri-tip. It's in a perfect state. NOW, it still comes across was weaker and watery, but it is in perfect balance. Many of the 2007 Napa wines we are drinking now are more like Pinots, but this one still has a little life!

11/13/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Perfect. Drink now if you have it!

11/9/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Past its prime. If you have it, drink it.

11/5/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Drinking perfectly right out of the bottle. Happy to have another of these in the wings. Probably will not hold it for much longer though.

10/15/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Feeling like this is past its drinking point. Was flabby upon opening and never got better over the course of the meal. Sadly we have a dozen more of these. Will prioritize drinking these and will post results.

9/24/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Drinking perfectly right now. Truly enjoyable.

9/21/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Like the 2007 monitor ledge this one is past its peak. Good for the first glass and quick decline afterwards.

9/17/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

We liked the first bottle so much we opened our last bottle as well. Drinking perfectly right now. Balance of flavor, tannins and acidity was right on. Would not have waited another year on this one.

9/10/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This is the best of the 2008 Napa wines we have had in the last 2-3 years. Most have faded but this one is perfectly balanced. Had it with grilled lamb chops. Perfect match.

8/25/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Drinking really well right now. I'm more and more impressed with the 2009 wines. Feeling like these could sit longer while I choke down the 2011s.

8/7/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

So surprised at how well this is drinking now! Excellent Merlot from Stout Vineyard. This was is drinking so much better than the 2008 is now.

6/5/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Drinking perfectly right now

4/6/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Mild, uneventful. Nice taste, but did not stand out when paired with lamb and potato galette.

4/5/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

This wine is past its peak but still enjoyable. Instead of being the "face melter" it used to be, it's now a face caresser.

3/12/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Drinking well now!

3/12/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

This wine is drinking really nicely now. Enjoying it much more than when we first purchased it.

3/5/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This wine is drinking perfectly now. Balanced and smooth. Good with or without food

2/16/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Brace yourselves: I think this wine is past its peak. It's been open for over two hours and is weak. Lost the body it had a couple years ago. Acidic. Had with grilled lamb and it did not hold up. It's ok. But not what it was a couple of years ago. Has the body of a Pinot now.

2/13/2016 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This wine is drinking absolutely perfectly right now.

2/7/2016 - Tiger1028 wrote:

This wine is drinking perfectly right now. Get to your cellar, pop it open, decant 60-90 minutes and enjoy!

9/6/2015 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

This wine is drinking beautifully but is probably at the end of the line. We have a couple bottles left, and will plan to drink soon!

8/20/2015 - Tiger1028 wrote:

This wine is drinking very well now. Opens up over the course of 2-3 hours.

2/8/2015 - Tiger1028 Likes this wine:

Wine is drinking really well right now. Nice smooth style with just a touch of tannins to match the food. Best yet for the 2007 cask. Looking forward to the next six bottles.

7/3/2014 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Agree this is at its peak. Served with smoked pork shoulder. Delicious out of the bottle and even better an hour later!

8/25/2013 - Tiger1028 wrote:

The smoke is still very present, no matter what you hear about the 2008s from Anderson Valley. I am at the point where I am ready to either pour out or give away my AV wines from this year.

6/2/2013 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Just past its peak, I think. Most acidity gone - was a smooth, fruity pinot. No too complex anymore.

9/14/2012 - Tiger1028 wrote:

light, fruity, slightly acidic...perfect food wine, great representation of anderson valley pinot. glad we picked up a couple of cases (BTW, the winery itself it great to visit...wonderful setting in anderson valley.

3/31/2012 - Tiger1028 wrote:

Really enjoyable red blend. Two hours decant and it was as smooth as it needed to be. Not as much depth or complexity as the 2007, and might get the same enjoyment from a less-expensive merlot (hello, three palms!). We will buy more, but not as many as we bought of the 2007.

3/12/2012 - Tiger1028 wrote:

- Purple color. It's balanced with a medium/full body with a medium finish - Wine is ready to drink right now. Lots of cherry, medium body, quite sweet.

3/9/2012 - Tiger1028 wrote:

lots of smoke on this bottle. light, good fruit, nice with veggie pizza!