3/17/2018 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Deep color like a 2012. Light initial decanting sediment. Nice big body mouth weight 2% milk. Rich, smooth, great red, black, and blue fruits. Moderate tannin. Long finish. Very Cali modern smooth. Reminds me of a Tom Eddy and Crighton Hall "Reflexion" style. For braised lamb on St. Patrick's Day. Certainly can go another 4 or 5 years too ♡ 91 points.

12/31/2016 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Wow, sorry haven't been posting, though FB pics. PWSF provenance, auction win, one owner. Immaculate cork, initial reticent nose on decant. 1 hr then rebottled for later. Awesome smooth nose, like we'really in a Bordeaux château. Fancy french, no barn or hay. Here are some impressions from first sips: Large mouth weight. I try to not "open other's presents", so i will be circumspect on details as such..Dark 2009 color. Lovely nose. Delicious black and some blue fruit. Velvety tannins, and a long finish. Solo and with food. Eager to see how she evolves after dinner, for the after party! For now, a 92.5/93 points! Rare for me to rate high #s, very selective.

2/6/2016 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Amazing! Floral cool-climate nose. Big smooth bidy, finish. 10 cases imported usa. Top ital nose & taste!

4/5/2015 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

No noted taken.
Good provenance.
Perfect levels, full bottle.

Enjoyed at the Bday bash,
with a 'bring an experienced/resurrection possible example bottle'
if one wishes, as well.

Deliciouso!

Thick, viscous, yummy, and actually to me Young!
I advise, if the same provenance bottle is out there,
give her another 6 years,
unless you want to give her 12 for fun.

This will tip my handle,
but Lovely with flaming hot crunchy Cheetos
(as does Everything, especially bubbles and sweeties, and pinot noir).

One of the best sweeties I have had,
and Much better than the '61 Siduriat.

92.5 pts.

3/4/2015 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF; auction) and level.

Brought to local wine shop and shared with the gang.

For a change, I didn't decant this at home for an hour (all my reds get that, and some whites), but it did get decanted at the store, and enjoyed over 2 hrs.

No notes taken.

I hate to put words in one's glass...
but this gal was Delicious!

Impressive barely-bricking rim,
moderate body,
classic plum with some lovely coating red, black, and some blue fruits,
and just enough eucalypt/mint nose to tell me she's probably
from a cooler area.

Excellent finish length, of around 90 seconds.

Phemon by itself,
and of course any low-tannic food works fine.

I WISH I had more.
I suspect they don't make a lot of it (I think around 200 cases).

It even reminded me a bit of the excellent '02 Ossidiana from NAPA (black bottle with a raised arrowhead),
and the '02 Lorenzo (a Chalk Hill rare creation, in honor of their Italian Grandfather - a black bottle with Amphora handles, and pic of gramps on the back).

Also more closely,
a lighter version of the 1995 Woodward Canyon Merlot (all enjoyed last yr).

This one Really has me giving WA state Merlot another look
(besides Cab Franc and Syrah).

92+ pts

Mine was drinking Great,
and could easily go to 2017 without likely losing a thing.

YUM

12/7/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

From 5 Liter.
No notes taken.
Perfect provenance (PWSF) and fill level.
Look: Light '08 color with just slight yellow.
Nose: Peaches, mandarin orange, slight oak.
Body: 2% milk mouth-weight.
Taste: Peaches, orange, lt. lemon, lt. pineapple. An AMAZING wine.
My FAVORITE Meursault so far.
Light touch of oak. Bright fruit with decent acidity.
Finish: LONG finish of about 2 minutes!

This gem was Excellent. While not the fierce acidity of a Jadot Puligny Montrachet Les Folatieres, it really showed CLASS.
Even at a party with only about 30 folks,
and including goodies such as a Magmum of my now 1997 Dei Favorite Vino Nobile de Multepulciano Riserva,
a Magnum of Amarone,
the praiseworthy 2005 Domaine de Baumard Peacock Cuvee,
and about 20 other bottles,
this "Loren Bacall" showed class and quickly got enjoyed up.
Even at room temp.

Showing excellent now (albeit this Is a 5 Ltr and a Very good year, expecially for a non-2002 white),
and can easily go another 6 years if you have in a big version.

93+ points.

Surprise...a great white one doesn't need to even chill
(one you'll get more taste as well I suspect the closer to room temp).

11/7/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF, auction).

Decanted 50 minutes.

No notes taken at the time.

Moderate fine dark sediment from decanting.

After having their 1985 Merlot (which was Past it's time),
I had a little trepidation on how it would be holding up.

Happily, this lady was lovely.

Nose like a Frenchie and/or cool-climate Cab Sauv.
Red fruits, some black fruits, and changing into about 3 different bottles over time (what fun).
All sorts of fun stuff popping up,
such as coffee beans,
red licorice,
hanging tobacco,
lt. mint (almost like they snuck some Cab Franc in here),
tomato,
lt. green olive.

Used as a blind bottle the following day at Pinot Event.
Most experienced the smell as French,
taste as either Cote-du-Rhone or similar latitude.

Reminded me a bit of La Jota's Howell Mountain 1985 juice.

Showing well now (somewhat bricking, but still pretty bright and decent finish length).

89 points.

A nice bottle if one likes getting 2 or 3 gifts wrapped up in 1 wrapper
("Ch-ch-ch-changes").

Great solo or with food.

Enjoy now and probably could go another few years.

10/7/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance and fill level.

No notes taken.

Looks like a slightly bricking 1999.

Impressive black, red, and some blue fruits.
Moderate body weight,
good integrated mouth-feel,
consistent fruit throughout.

Some pop-up sandalwood notes.

Holding up extremely well.

The oldest Imagery I have tried,
and it goes to show how good of a touch they have,
even being organic and all that jazz at Benziger
(and of course how good the roots are at yielding nice sunshine-in-a-glass).

The proper picture on this one is a lovely Roman lad,
with the organic headdress of the day (think Olympics).

91 points.

Quite nice on it's own (and fine with moderate-tannin food too).

"Fonzi" of Happy Days show.
Why?
Solid, yummy without being overstated,
not like drinking a Eucalyptus tree nor over-zealous mint.

Memorable in it's bright fruit,
for it's experience in the bottle.

A great blind tasting bottle,
for those who don't realize some years and creations can go on and on...

91 pts.

10/7/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

No notes taken.
Perfect provenance and fill level.

Wow!
Nice slight bricking 2001 color.
Excellent black and red fruits (yes, I try not to put specific fruits into one's glass, until they've had the hopeful opportunity).
Just a touch of mint, eucalyptus, and occasional olive.
Moderate 2% milk mouth-weight body,
Great silky mouth-feel,
LONG finish of about 1 1/2 minutes.

Definitely the best Chinon I've had the pleasure of experiencing!

92+ points.

"Loren Bacall in a silk dress, enjoying dinner with candlelight."

While the 1993 Imagery Cab Franc was also excellent,
this baby is certainly more obviously French,
but without a zealous amount of garrigue or cow-pie.

Glad I have one left.

Incredible with Beef Wellington!

10/7/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

No notes taken.
From 5 Liter, perfect provenance and fill level.
Quite nice!
Looks like a 2004 in color,
moderate 2% mouth-weight body.
Nice black and red fruits,
good snappy tannins on the end.
Decent finish length of about 50 seconds.
It went quite well with the variety of food (beef ribs, pork ribs,
chicken, pizza).
I believe I've had one of their Zins before,
and this was an improvement over it.
Held up well over a week (private preserve neutral argon gas topper),
and with about 44 folks turning out,
we tasted through half of it at the event.

While not as WOW as the 2002 Viansa Ossidiana,
this baby was solid.

Recommend pair with food ideally.
In this size (and year), probably can hold up for another few years.
90 points.

Gifting the bottle to my creative friend,
who's making a planter out of this one.

Reliable cab sauv with a cool-climate aspect to it, nicely.

Some intriguing cedar and sandalwood notes to it, over time.

Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" (solid, obvious presence, consistent, but not too pushy).

10/1/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Pretty rustic; intrigued that the first bottle took 3 hrs for the alcohol to blow off, the second bottle only needed an hour.
Obvious Italian nose, with good dirt.
Best with food, such as smoky BBQ.
Drink up.
84 pts.
At 16.4% alcohol, I seem to recall, not too hot if given enough decant.

10/1/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

No notes taken.
Perfect provenance and fill level.
Decanted 1 hr, minimal tiny sediment.
Look: Bright '97.
Nose: Modern California comfy-cozy, with blue and black fruits, vanilla, slight eucalypt, fresh cotton out of the dryer.
Body: 2.5% to 3% milk mouth-weight.
Taste: Svelte, smooth black and blue fruits. Plum (like their '02 San Lorenzo tribute bottle to their Italian Grandfather, in the amphorae bottle with the cool handles), blackberry, cherry, lt. cedar, nutmeg, vanilla. Extremely well-knit and consistent.
Finish: Not timed, but it seemed to go on for about 1 1/2 minutes.
93 points.
Another consistent amazing bottle from them.
Truly one of my fave makers (albeit culty, and good luck finding any). I like them better than Mondavi's "M", better than Opus One IMHO (In My Humble Opinion).
Lovely raised embossed arrowhead on the black bottle.
Eager to eventually pop my 1996, my other 2002, and my coming 1997.
Phemon solo, and I'd be hard-pressed to recommend food with this baby. Why? Because it speaks so well on it's own.

Lauren Bacall in a black evening dress.

93+ points.

Enjoy now to 2020+.

10/1/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance and fill level.
Decanted 40 minutes, virtually zero sediment.
Look: Moderate bricking '00.
Nose: Excellent! Red, some black fruits, great gingerbread, nutmeg, vanilla.
Body: 1.5% mouth-weight.
Taste: Red, some black fruits. Still has fruit, and I suspect I could revisit in another 5 years with more in the tank.
Finish: About 30 seconds.

A very fun, amazing example of the longevity of Valpolicella, and even in a Rose. 90 points. Great solo, and of course it would go well with dried fruits, medium-weight cheeses, and a variety of meats (chicken, pork, pizza, veal...).

9/29/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Very solid showing.
While not as amazing as the 1966 Valpolicella Rose (GREAT nose, good amount of red and black fruits),
this was a solid moderate-tannings for solo or food.
91 pts.
Enjoy now, and in another 6 years, easily.

9/29/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Very nice. I'd been waiting years to pop this.
Perfect fill level and provenance.
Big, smooth, moderate tannins, medium body mouth-weight, good finish length.
Solo or with meat or chocolate.
91 pts.
Enjoy now, and easily revisit in up to 6 years without worries.

4/18/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Color like an '05.
Nice slightly sweet classic California port.
Cherry, blackberry, nutmeg, graham cracker dust.
Nice 3% milk body mouth weight.
Great 1 minute finish length.
Excellent with raspberry sorbet.
90 points.
Showing great now, and likely can hang on another 10 years.

4/18/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

From Magnum, perfect PWSF provenance, $225 + markup auction bottle; 6 cm ullage.

Decanted 1 hr, slight sediment.
Perfect, albeit BLACKish cork.

Brought to PFLIC and remainder to Krogers crew.

Look: Very tawny brown, lt. legs.

Nose: Slight hay, cherry, and lemon.
Taste: 1.5% milk mouth-weight body,
drink-me-now cherry, lemon,
amarone-esque,
with intriguing tannings showing up on the end.
Finish length about 25 seconds.

A fun treat, and many folks' first wine older than them,
and still with some fruit.

I expect my '55 Ch. Gillette Sauterne will show better,
and of course the older Barolos as well.

If you've got this gal,
you probably need to borrow the time machine and go back a couple decades (&/or have an even larger format than a Magnum).

83 points for resiliency,
but otherwise more like a 79.

3/6/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF), auction win.

Perfect fill level.

Not a lot of nose (yellow & white flowers, some citris),
moderate yellow of '04,
1.5% milk mouth-weight body.

REALLY nice acidity on the end,
and with a decent finish length of around 40 seconds.

My first Favorita,
and the longest-lived non-dessert Italian white I recall having that showed so well.

One almost gets an Alsace aspect to it,
but not surprising given the location (probably close to the same latitude).

While it wasn't as robust as the '99 Quintarelli Ca Del Merlot blend I brought (Big and Yummy, with perfect tannins and development),

as always it's neat turning others onto new varietals as well.

With Italy having over 3,000 different varieties of grapes,
it's nice finding new food out there, eh?

92 pts.

If one could find this again at such provenance,
it sings great now and could likely go another 4 years without losing anything (but maybe a little of the finish length).

A Great deal for around $15 to my door :-)

2/14/2014 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

No notes taken.
1 hr decant (all my reds, and some of my whites).

Provenance: Auction, perfect, original owner.

Look: '04
Nose: Very muted. I've noticed this a bit with non-marquee CA names from this year, lately. A touch of red fruit with light vanilla.
Body: 2% milk mouth-weight
Taste: On day one...Huge red raspberries reduction, and some cherries. Reminded me a bit of a '67 Ch. Monbousquet, but without the French spices. Some nice tannins on the end. Light vanilla.
Finish: No clocked, but around 40 seconds.
Day Two: More nose (red, with some blue fruits on the edges).
Taste: Similar, but with some quite Intriguing POTATO popping up, from time-to-time.
Body still 2%, finish still at around 40 seconds.

Score: 91 pts.
Lovely bottle, with arching letters moving about the stanzas.
A fun bottle for the music lovers who dig CA-style Bordeaux blends.
She aint their standard,
but pretty cool presentation and vino if one's lucky enough to find it.

It went well with prime steak with mushrooms on day one,
and fine with pork roast in veggies, 'shrooms, apples, and pinot on day two.

11/29/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

From a magnum.

Immaculate cork.

Good tiny bubbles, for CA.

Bright, fresh, long-lasting.

The Best Mumm from CA that I've had.
Blows away their Etoile.

91 pts.

11/29/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Auction bottlle from PWSF.
Decanted 1 hr.
1/2 moistened thru cork,
no sediment.

Classic big fruit Sanford & Benedict vines.
575 cases made.
Look: Very moderate '01 bricking rim.
Nose: Big cherry, black cherry, vanilla, slight cranberry, a touch of spice.
Body: 2.5% milk mouth-weight.
Tongue taste: Big cherry, black cherry, vanilla, some cranberry. Well-integrated fruit throughout, no donut, lovingly smooth. Some orange esters popping up underneath.
Finish: Approximately 45 seconds.

What a Lovely example of a great site's "sunshine in a bottle" that is showing great, and of course the beauty of large format bottles.

Very "Lauren Bacall" sits down to dinner with you.

In a large format, she can easily go another 4-5 years.

A bit better than Meomi's version (though I've not had theirs from this year in this format yet).

92 pts.

Great solo or with food.

11/28/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Drink sooner, no need to wait

11/28/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Yes, FINALLY back putting in some notes...

Auction bottle from PWSF.

St. Helena vineyard planted in 1989,
overlooking Lake Hennessey.
"Best of French and USA" technology,
w.r.t. tight row and vine spacing,
canopy management and trellising.

Planted and farmed by David Abreu,
and made by vintner Bob Levy.

Popped and decanted.
Cork immaculate.
Moderate fine sediment.
Moderate slow 13.5% legs.
Look: '02 slight bricking.
Nose: California Eucalyptus, coffee, vanilla.
Body: 2% milk mouth weight.
Taste: Cali Eucalyptus, coffee, vanilla, mint, some herb, with some black and red and blue fruits. Initially tight, but after 30 minutes Really started to sing with huge soft vanilla, sassafras,
soft floral aromatics up top of high palate in mid-taste.
Finish: I didn't time her, but seemed about 35 seconds initially, and 60 seconds later on.

Moderate tannings on the end - especially after 30 minutes.

One of the most "switching gears" cabs I've had from St. Helena.
Really like getting two bottles in one.

Showing great now.

I am typically not a huge fan of that area,
due to often robust eucalyptus tones (moreso Howell Mtn),
but this baby really helped open up my willingness to visit vicariously again soon.

Fun, Classy, showing great now,
and could likely re-visit in a couple more years without missing anything.

Went well with bourbon marinated steak backed with onions and
whole garlic cloves, and with smoked chorizo, 1000 day old gouda, and parmesan reggiano.

92 pts

6/19/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

About what I expected.
Decanted 1 hr from Magnum.
Had with Cycling buddie's fellow PBP rider (who's done 6! PBPs).
Bricking rim,
some red light fruit,
shorter finish,
but enjoyable with Really good salami fresh from mkt.

She ain't recent Il Fagetto Supertusc of Scopone,
that ROCKED! and better than Opus One,

but fun.

And the Maximum '05 Mosel was perfect precursor -
espec. when he talked of having some great 15 yrs ago,
and surprise I picked one before without meeting him
and already had it in their fridge.

Cool.

6/14/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

How cool is this...

Had to beat off the other suitors, but won at auction this girl.

Cellist art on the label.

Brought to the Pinot Party.

Wax seal,
compressed cork (reminded my of my '67 Ch. Monbousquet),
with only dark the bottom 1/4".
Perfect fill level.

Deep bright red color with Zero bricking.
Blind, one would easily assume she was an '06.

Great nose.
Reminds me a lot of Anthill up in Anderson Valley, N. of Mendocino,
and of Brewer-Clifton's top end Mt. Carmel.

Nice 2.5% milk body (mouth weight).

Classic cherry, cranberry, musk, light vanilla, some spice.

Even after 1 hr decant (I do All my reds, and some whites that way),
still had a little heat on the end - but not overwhelming at all, and I was the Only one who noticed that at all.

Finish of about 45 seconds.

The most 'experienced' non-French Pinot I have had in a long time.

The "Belle of the Ball", among 40+ wines there.

I am not one to freely rate in the 90's,
so trust me when I say she was a lovely remarkable girl.

One can drink now, and I suspect she'd go another few years Easily.

Recommend a 2 hr decant, If one can even find the Artist series of this in this vintage, and/or is lucky enough to have sourced this from top provenance as well (professional wine storage facility).

The Best Ojai I have had so far.

Bigger to me than their usual offerings, and that is a Good thing, as I often find theirs on the leaner side.

92 points.

Thanks Sunshine in a glass, and Ojai (and of course a classic vineyard) for a memorable time from everyone!

:-)

3/17/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
From 375ml
Decanted 1 hr.
No notes.

Phenom. Went Extremely well with black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream. Was expecting standard smooth blackberry modern cab. Got bright blackberry and moca; more a dessert wine tonight. Very minor tanning on the end.
Great.

93 pts (one of the few, by me: go to Tom Eddy '97 prob for my last one).

1/8/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.

Lovely mildly sweet wine. Soft and not a ton of acidity,
but she showed great and works well as a dessert wine
(even over 3 days).

Not a lot of rocks in this one, but pretty good for a non-Mosel area.

89 pts.

1/8/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF auction bottle)
No notes taken.
2/3 to top lt. moisture cork with lt. embedded crystal sign.

Look: Clear to barely lt. yellow '05
Nose: Salt, honey, slate, lt. pineapple, lt. vanilla.
Body: 2% milk mouth weight

Taste: Salt, calcium, honey, slate, pineapple, lt. butter, lt. vanilla.

Very clean, good acidity. At one point there was a lovely spike mid-palate of pure slate rock that developed after 30 minutes. This has always been a fave moscatel of mine.

Went great with shrimp soup.

While not as impressive as the one from a Magnum I had in the past, this still is an Excellent food wine (or even sip alone or with oysters).

91 pts.

Showing great now. Unless in a Magnum, probably she's not gonna gain a lot from more cellaring (unless you want more butter and toffee notes for the price of probably some nice acidity).

1/4/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF; auction bottle)
No notes taken.
Decanted 30 mins.
Virtually no sediment (only slight micro).

Cork: Perfect clean painted end flared cork.

Look: Medium orange red with slight brick '03.

Nose taste: Black cherry, spice, musk, lt. alcohol, lt. soap (!), cranberry, rose petal.

Body: 2.5% milk.

Mouth taste: Black cherry, musk, spice, lt. cranberry, lt. vanilla, maple.

BIG BIG tannins on the end.

Drinks like the great Anderson Valley appellation it is, but with some Barbaresco and Amarone mixed in. With the tannic levels, almost like a young Barbaresco.

Finish: 98 seconds!

90/91 pts.

Recommend decant this big hot girl about 3 hrs.

Pair with decent tannic food (Pork roast seared with brown sugar and cooked submerged in Pinot Noir/Valpolicella/Amarone until falling apart.

Showing great now. I would tend to drink up within a couple yrs.

1/3/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.
The Biggest couple of wine crystals yet on the 2/3 liquid cork.

Almost clear color. Very thin skim milk body.
Comes across totally unoaked.
Short finish.

Simple and cheap watery chard in this bottle.

83 pts.

Drink up.

1/3/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

No notes taken.

Well, this was very nice.

Following the '05 Chablis Terroir du Preys (which was thin and short finish), we had this girl.

Medium dark yellow age color.
Nice citrus nose with just a hint of butter oak.
Big 3% milk body.

Honey, mandarine orange, and a high toned bit of sweet pineapple up top. The first pineapple I can remember in a Chard for a long time. Decent finish length of about 45 seconds.

Went well with Tilapia baked in Burgundy chard, lime, touch of orange juice, and herbs.

Went even BETTER with hot pumpkin pie with vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Yeah, I wouldn't have thought it, but I am glad I still had some left to pair with it. Again, the honey and sweetness in this chard worked perfectly.

90 pts.

Showing great now. I would tend to drink sooner.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Solid 90 pt 3 buccieri Syrah.

Holding up superbly (awesome year).

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Gifted.

One of my fave Moscatos in the past.

89/91 pts.

Nice fruit, acidity, and finish length. Pretty packaging as well.
One of the best Aussie moderate sweeties.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.

Light sparkler. Cooled a bit too much initially, but it got better.
Light citrus, light yeast nose.
Not a lot of bubbles here, but some small ones at least.
Short finish.

88 pts.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

No notes taken.

Fine Veneto red with lt. cherry and light body.
Finish around 30 seconds.

Ok light food wine or by itself.

88 pts.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
Decanted 1 hr.
Cork 2/3 liquid.
Lots of sediment.
No notes taken.

Nice smooth layered wine. Drank more like an aged Brunello.
Leather, plum, tomato, lt. vanilla. Moderate tannins on the end.

Showing well now.

90 pts. Recommend drink up.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Perfect provenance.
Decanted 1 hr.
Plenty of sediment.

Ok Jammy Zin with a lot of concord grape aspect.
A bit rustic.

Their dessert Zin is fine however.

87 pts.

Recommend decant 3 hrs.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF).
No notes taken.
Decanted 1 hr.
Plenty of sediment.

Nice smooth style without the black walnut. Caramel, nutmeg, hanging tobacco, lt. vanilla.

Great solo and of course shines with bourbon infused candied pecans.

90 pts.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Gifted to JD.

In the past I give this classy boy a 91.

I'll note if I get to try again.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.
Decanted 1 hr.
Enjoyed over 2 days.

Nice dark color. 2.5% milk body.
Very yummy plum, leather, salt, cedar, vanilla, blackberry, lt. blueberry. A little but of truffles and violet on day 2.
50 second finish.

One day 1 I would give this a 89.
On day 2 it actually acted like a Viader 2001, and I would give it
91 points.

Delicous now and can easily go another few yrs.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.
Decanted 1 hr.

Nice big smooth Carmenere. Clay, plum, leather, boysenberry and light cherry. 1.5% body. 35 second finish.

One of the better Carmeneres I have had.

88 pts.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Gifted to Chris and Amy. I'll note if I get to taste this one again.
Awesome 91 pts in the past and one of my TOP Faves.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
Perfect cork.
No notes taken.
Decanted 30 mins.
Only slight sediment.

Excellent dark '05 color. Decent body.

Delicious. Drank a bit like a 2001 Viader, but without the herb Cab Franc aspect. Nice tannins. Velvety. Layers and layers of nice blackberry, vanilla, cedar, some blueberry, leather, tobacco, and lt. chocolate. Great finish at about 50 seconds.

Similar to a 2000 Arns cab sauv.

Impressive.

91 pts.

Eager to find more.

Great now or in 4 more yrs. Solo or with food.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.
Decanted 1 hr.
Moderate sediment. Perfect cork.

Consumed over 3 days.

Dark purple young boy. Decent body 2.5% milk.

Nice mint, eucalyptus, black olive, large food tannins, vanilla, and Very nice milk chocolate on day 3. About a 40 second finish.

Decent Paso Robles style, but for my taste she is still young.
I recommend give her ideally 3 more years. If I had to pop another now, then I would decant 3 hrs and pair with tannic food (a lamb roast with mint and thyme would probably be rock-on).

88 pts.

1/2/2013 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Perfect provenance (PWSF).
No notes taken.
Immaculate cork (only red color at extreme end).
No sediment.

Decanted 30 mins.

Look: Bricking '98
Nose: Nice barn musk with light tobacco, vanilla, and lt. cherry.
Body: 1% milk.
Taste: Soft red cherry with lt. vanilla and lt. musk. 30 second finish.

A lovely little wine. Fading fruit but still some there. About no tannins now. Went fine with pizza.

Another impressive Graves. Enjoy sooner.

83 pts.

12/27/2012 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
Decanted 1 hr.
No notes taken.

Enjoyed with DM for post-Bday.

Nice classic bright red fruit with some good spice.
Big body. Long finish.

Almost over-the-top on the sweet register.
I intended to cellar a couple more years, in which case I think
it will impress more folks and myself.

Not far from Phillips Hill and Anthill quality IMHO.

91 pts.

Nice now, but I would give her a couple more yrs.

12/27/2012 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance (PWSF).
No notes taken.
Decanted 1 hr.

Dark red brown with bricking rim.
Nose: Leather, tobacco, plum, salt, clay.
Body: 2% milk.
Taste: Lovely leather, tobacco, clay, plum, salt, lt. tar and violets.
Not as big as their cuvee St. Martin '97 (which was brighter and bigger), but an excellent experienced Sangiovese from a top maker.

Finish: About 45 seconds, which was fine.

90 pts.

Probably good to drink up now or within a couple of yrs.
I suspect waiting too long will evaporate the nice tannins on the end.

12/27/2012 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.

Inhaled at the party. I believe I have had this before, and it was fine simple bargain juice with some nice citrus fruit, ok acidity, and pleasing to Pinot Grigio and Pinot Bianco lovers.

12/27/2012 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.

Plenty of sediment.

Ah yum yum yum. Lovely smooth port that drinks like the home country but with almost a modern aspect to it. The black walnut has left the building gladly, and this foot-trodden gal is drinking wonderfully.

An excellent port and year for California style port lovers to try.

Figs, creme brule, vanilla, tobacco, leather, earth, boysenberry, blueberry, raspberry, cherry, lt. tea and spices.

The only port I have more than 1 of.

91 pts.

Great now. Can likely cellar a few more yrs (but why wait when she's showing so well now).

12/27/2012 - CarpeVinoDiem Likes this wine:

Perfect provenance.
No notes taken.
Decanted 1 hr. No sediment.

Fine classic moderate weight New Zealand juice. Deep color, decent body, classic sweet cherry, black cherry, cranberry, and a nice amount of spice and forest floor.

About a 50 second finish.

89 pts.

Big Pin style lovers will enjoy this.

Nice now and can easily go another few yrs.