1/14/2018 - bsevern wrote:

Not bad, not great, a bit one dimensional IMHO. Don't think they'll benefit for additional aging, but could be wrong.

1/7/2018 - bsevern wrote:

Holding up nicely, lots of fruit and flavor left!

1/4/2018 - bsevern wrote:

Big black fruit, wasn't sure how this was going to drink, but what a delightful wine, still holding on, and very enjoyable!

4/4/2016 - bsevern wrote:

Lovely wine on the lighter side, yet full of flavor.

4/1/2016 - bsevern wrote:

Made by Gundlach Bundschu Winery. I don't think it's going to get much better, but it's held up nicely and it's drinking well right now. Enjoyed it with spicy home made guacamole and chips. Give it 20-30 in a decanter to open up.

12/22/2015 - bsevern wrote:

Solid BIG wine, screaming deal from a winery special a few years ago and it's aged extremely well.

10/11/2015 - bsevern wrote:

Insane value for the $, still drinking well, but I don't think it's going to benefit from additional aging, I'd drink up if you're holding.

9/24/2015 - bsevern wrote:

I've had a lot of Jon's wines, and he's a great wine maker. I've had this Pinot several times over the past few years, it's been an interesting wine, very tart cherries, but servicable. Last night I opened a bottle that I had sitting upright for a few weeks for the sediment to settle, to be safe I poured it through a sediment filter into a decanter.

Interesting the aroma on the nose, initially, was very fragrant. Sadly the wine was all acid, it was just undrinkable. Left it in the decanter for quite a while and it didn't improve. I ended up pouring it out and opening a 2005 Bordeaux. I may have another bottle or two of this (CT says four, but I think it's wrong) I hope they've held up better then this one, but I certainly wouldn't be holding on to this wine else you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

5/4/2015 - bsevern wrote:

Massively hyped Garagiste Mystery Wine - this bottle was all sour/tart cherries....hopefully it's simply bottle variation and the other five bottles are much better.

3/17/2015 - bsevern wrote:

Very good, definitely more old world then the Syrah we tend to get in California.

Nice nose of blue fruit, and a bit of maduro tobacco. On the palate - very well balanced, interestingly more of a mix of dark red fruits, hints of spice, cedar. Med finish. Nice deal on a Super Tuscan from WTSO.

2/9/2015 - bsevern wrote:

Garnet red color. Notes of cinnamon, vanilla, and black fruits on the nose. First sip I would not pin this as a zin (although it is a blend), but taste a bit of white pepper, the Petite Sirah gives it some weight, bit of baking spice, hints of vanilla, resolved tannins, very smooth. Nice lingering finish. Impressive for an almost 20 year old Zin!

11/25/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Pretty decent still, but I'd drink up if you're holding any.

7/17/2014 - bsevern wrote:

I took a bottle to a BBQ and was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was. Maybe this just had to age, a bit unusual for a Zin, except perhaps Ridge. No alcohol on the nose or palate, silky smooth and well structured with dark fruits.

7/17/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Still drinking well, nice fruit, not getting better, but still an enjoyable foray into an aged Napa cab.

7/2/2014 - bsevern wrote:

This was an interesting bottle. I absolutely love Pinots, one of my favorite varietals, but if I'd blind tasted this, I'd thought this was a late harvest/desert wine. Very sweet, almost port like. Not bad, but not at all what I'd expect as what's billed as a top tier pinot. I have another bottle of this Pinot, and two bottles of a different Williams Selyem Pinot, I'm hoping this amped up, sweet style isn't the signature trait of their Pinots.

7/2/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Exceptional QPR from WTSO!

7/2/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Decent, but expected quite a bit more given the pedigree.

7/2/2014 - bsevern wrote:

It is what it is, an inexpensive kitchen sink combo that's good to go with BBQ but nothing too serious, and nothing to contemplate.

7/2/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Decent everyday Zin, not spectacular, but enjoyable, particularly for the price. Been sitting on a few mixed cases of Pedroncelli for several years to age, and it paid off.

7/2/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Let this decant for a couple of hours and it's an outstanding QPR!

6/21/2014 - bsevern wrote:

Tannins have resolved, very smooth and went well with BBQ'd chicken and various grilled sausages. This was drinking nicely, but I don't think it's going to improve with age, I'd say drink up if you have any left.

12/25/2013 - bsevern wrote:

This wine was strong and long, deep berry color, no bricking, viscous legs that wouldn't quite. The nose hints at the complexity ahead. Complex, deep and deceptive, consumed over a period of 3 1/2 hrs the flavors kept evolving. Dusty tannins, bit of dark chocolate, sweet earthy black cherries, more like a right bank Bordeaux, and no wonder with 79% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec. Most impressive for almost 20 year old vintage Napa juice!

10/1/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Nice bottle, not the typical Napa Valley grapefruit/grass bomb, more tropical stone fruit oriented, well balanced, nice acidity. Well done, nice drinker for $14/bottle!

9/22/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Drank over two nights. I was a bit worried this wouldn't go the distance, but it did fine. It's aged nicely, and was a little bit better the second night vs the first, so I believe it'll hang in there for a few more years just fine.

Candied cherries and wet earth on the nose. Wonderful coating mouth feel, bit of all spice, deep black cherries. Medium to long finish. Fantastic Wine.woot.com QPR @ $13/bottle.

8/9/2013 - bsevern wrote:

This was fairly disappointing IMHO. Very, very basic, no real zin like qualities, just tasted like a generic red table wine, and while not offensive in itself, it wasn't the Zin (with the touted Turley affiliation Lastbottlewines.com talked up) I suspect folks were expecting.

9/18/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Really disappointing! Sour in a bad way, disjointed unbalanced, just overall a terrible wine. Not even reminiscent of Pinot Noir, it was that bad.

5/16/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Tasted over two nights. Nose of dark fruit, candied bing cherry, earth, nice floral components.

On the palate the fruit is very tasty, not an old world Pinot for sure, but not an over the top fruit bomb either. Lots of dark cherry, forest floor, bit of mushroom typically associated with Sonoma Coast fruit, nice acidity, and a nice spicy finish. The finish was medium plus, and there were nice layers to the wine which is something I really look for in a quality Pinot.

IMHO this is a wine if you paid $30 for at the store or winery you would not be disappointed. For under $10 a bottle, if you like Pinot, this is a no brainer, and the QPR is so great I bumped my score a point!

10/28/2012 - bsevern wrote:

Opened this at a vintage Napa Cab tasting party, and it was the standout of the crowd. The bottle is drinking absolutely beautifully, everything you'd expect in a quality vintage Napa cab, beautiful pure mountain fruit (amazingly a fair amount of fruit left), beautiful nose, great bottle bouquet, long finish.

8/4/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Superb value for ten bones a bottle! On the nose, wet mineral stone, lemon oil, bit of petro. Palate - nice acidity, tasty green apple, lemon meringue, long finish.

7/30/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Great deal from LB!

7/23/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Nice Napa Valley Bordeaux effort. Not outstanding, but solid, a notch or two above the average daily drinker.

7/12/2013 - bsevern wrote:

When I first PnP'd this straight from the fridge, I thought it was awful. After giving it some time to warm up to almost room temp, it opened up, and was actually quite enjoyable. Lots of subtle butterscotch type flavors, nice mouth feel, and almost more spirit like then wine like, and much different then a youthful Viognier for sure.

6/28/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Consumed over two nights and the second night was just as good if not better then the first.

First off, this isn't a fruit bomb in your face Syrah (not that there's anything wrong w/that if it's well made). This is a much more restrained, but beautifully made Syrah given the price point. Layers of silky smooth red fruit, black licorice, hints of blueberries, vanilla, a bit of earthiness and spice on the medium finish. Very nice for the $16 LB price of admission.

6/22/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Took this to a wine.woot Cab Franc tasting party, and it was, IMHO, by far one of the better bottles put up against:

1998 Walla Walla Vintner Cabernet Franc (Columbia Valley)
2004 Meeker Cabernet Franc (Anderson Valley)
2004 DeRose Port (Cabernet Franc), Cienega Valley
2005 Teldeschi Cabernet Franc (Dry Creek)
2007 Wellington Cab Franc (Sonoma)
2008 C.G. di Arie Cabernet Franc, Sierra Foothills
2009 White Cottage Ranch Cab Franc Howell Mountain
2009 Philippe Delesvaux Anjou (Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur)
2010 Palatine Hills Estate Cabernet Franc Rosé (Niagra, Ontario)
2010 Couly-Dutheil Chinon
2010 Braganini Reserve Cabernet Franc (Michigan)
2010 DeRose Cabernet Franc, Cienega Valley

6/20/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Meh...not good.

6/15/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Funny they were prominently featuring this during a long pour on Hells Kitchen...I mean I know it's not bad, but it's an $8 bottle of wine. What happened to the Stag's Leap wines they so proudly displayed in previous seasons?

6/14/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Interesting, pretty OK, but probably going down hill at this point.

6/11/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Drank this over two nights, honestly wasn't sure it would hold up for night two, but it was even better on night two!

Beautiful intoxicating nose of candied cherries, earth, bit of mint. Velvety smooth on the palate, nice refined tannins, stewed slightly bright red fruits, still nice acid, very tasty! Medium finish. Impressive ten year old Cali Pinot with room to go!

6/9/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Long, slow developing large legs, dark garnet in color. Spicy clove raspberry, tobacco leaf, and a green herbal element on the nose. Round, full mouth feel with a dusty chalk thing going on. Chocolate covered raspberry, and slightly tart cranberries, still has a nice tannin structure, with a long slightly tart finish. Interesting wine!

I was concerned that this 2001 bottle would be over the hill, but I must say it's quite a nice surprise, alive and well and drinking far beyond Invino's fire sale prices!

5/31/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Great bottle of Oregon Syrah for $15. Expressive nose, lots of red and blue fruit on the palate, long finish.

6/3/2013 - bsevern wrote:

JJKinch notes are spot on. Enjoyed it with home made beef stew, very nice pairing.

5/11/2013 - bsevern wrote:

This has aged well. Nose of dark fruit, hints of strawberries, earth, bit of spice. On the palate it exhibited flavors of black cherries, dark fruit, and hints of baking spice. The tannins are resolved, meduim finish. I don't believe this will get any better, but if you like aged Pinot's this is in a nice place now. It paired well with homemade beef bourguignon.

4/12/2013 - bsevern wrote:

2010 Yokayo Zinfandel Mendocino County - Lovely nose of dark fruit, raspberries, allspice, and damp earth. On the palate, bright raspberries, dark cherry, spice, and a hint of white pepper. Well balanced, nice acidity, and long finish. Paired nicely with Thai chicken.

4/12/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Interesting, simple wine. Nose of earth and cherries. On the palate, tart cherries, and....more tart cherries. Finish, wait for it, tart cherries, and just a hint of spice. It wasn't bad, but very simple. I saved some of the bottle to try on the second night to see if it improved, and it did smooth out a bit, yet it's taste profile remained much the same as the first night.

4/6/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Nose of earth and deep, dark fruit that follow through to the mouth, along with maduro tobacco, leather, herbs, lots of dark fruit. Long lingering finish, this is a nice, well structured, complex big wine!

3/21/2013 - bsevern wrote:

Cartime was right on the money "Cherry, blackberry, and currant. Some toasted herbs. Smooth tannins." Very nice, not fantastic, went good with BBQ chicken.

3/6/2013 - bsevern wrote:

WOW! I hosted a vintage Pinot/Burgundy tasting party, of which about 15 bottles were opened, vintages from 1982-2010 were tried (most were pre-2007) and this was by far the crème de la crème of the lot! TONS of fantastic, and complex red and blue fruit! Vibrant, refined, very well balanced, great finish, just a fantastic burgundy that's no where near it's prime. Should easily go another 10, 20, 30+? years! Amazing!

11/11/2012 - bsevern wrote:

Unfortunately this time around I didn't take notes, PnP'd and it was very good.

I wonder if it would benefit from decanting an hour prior to consuming. I'll try that with the next bottle and make some tasting notes, but from the first bottle, I'm very glad I got six of these!!

9/20/2012 - bsevern wrote:

Wow! Very impressed with this, not a fruit bomb, but full of beautiful fruit, well balanced, nice acidity, just terrific. I think isaacjamesbaker has a very accurate take on the wine, and that was four years ago.

9/1/2012 - bsevern wrote:

Brought this on a road trip and shared with friends. Unfortunately when I broke it out, the cork had seepage. I thought it was going to be a gonner, but it was great, and everyone loved it! Nice dark fruit, nice tannins, and nice long finish. I would estimate a few more years in the bottle would do it good, but wasn't going to take the risk after seeing the seepage.