3/15/2024 - Sagan99 Likes this wine:

A restaurant dinner and a Willamette Pinot Noir of which I was not familiar.

I wasn't really focused on taking notes. However, I was incredibly surprised in it's quality and character and finish.
It was really good!
And, after opening in the bottle and glass for 30 minutes or so, it really developed a bit of a pleasantly soft resolved tannic structure.

I don't think this wine is one for a decade or cellaring. But it's a really great cellar defender, IMO.

I also don't know the retail price, but, I expect it to be in the 30ish $CAD.(I saw it for 23$USD!!!
Wow. Load up!

Buy it, to drink it
I know it shocked the hell outta me!

(After dinner, we had my favorite Roserock Zephrine PN, and it's definitely superior, but likely 3x+ the cost!)

PS- Drink The Rainbow!

3/17/2019 - fitchbuck Does not like this wine:

A barely OK drinker, this had several obtuse problems going for it. Far better can be found at this $12 price point. If this is the best Fidelitas can do with declassified juice, I'd rather they didn't put it out & tarnish their name.

11/15/2020 - EvanRose Likes this wine:

A bit lighter and less complex than the 2013. Opened up nicely in the glass, but could probably use a bit more aging.

12/2/2023 - Countless Likes this wine:

Still nicely tannic. Good now, will probably be good for awhile. But sweet tho.

6/13/2023 - tjross Does not like this wine:

Pretty disappointed in this compared to past vintages. Color leans yellow. Cheap apple juice dominates the nose and palate. Overly acidic. I’ve got 11 more bottles, so will give it a beat to see if it comes around.

2/3/2023 - fitchbuck wrote:

Whoa folks, let's not get ahead of ourselves ... this was rather underwhelming & flat for me, and I was left wondering whether it's getting higher scores based on pedigree alone.

3/14/2023 - tjross wrote:

secondary fermentation

2/6/2022 - Malia Ten Yulna wrote:

med body - easy drinking - good for $50 price

The nose is light but expressive. Scents of peaches, canned cocktail fruit, fresh crushed green grapes, and light brown sugar are immediately noticeable. Inhaling deeper presents notes of hints of corn, oak, and a thin layer of caramel. For a 90 proof bourbon, the nose brings a nice amount of flavorful scents. It may not have the depth that a higher aged bourbon might deliver, or the intensity of a higher proof bourbon, but what it does deliver, it delivers extremely well.
The end result is a bourbon that delivers a flavor profile that leans on the highly drinkable side. While its 90 proof holds back some of its potential, that shouldn’t cause you to write it off, because even at 90 proof, the bourbon is full of flavor. It may not be the best bourbon in a given lineup, but what it will be is a bourbon that showcases what more craft distilleries should strive to be.

11/8/2021 - Jnlevenson Likes this wine:

James Suckling gave this 92 points and said “This is top-notch Cabernet Franc with terracotta, tile and blackberries. Some hazelnuts. Full to medium body. Firm tannins. Savory and juicy.”

2/20/2017 - tjross wrote:

Corked

4/2/2022 - tjross wrote:

Corked

1/22/2022 - fitchbuck Likes this wine:

Of all the wines in the LS lineup: the Pirouette never, ever disappoints. 93-94

3/23/2021 - fitchbuck wrote:

From memory; drunk around a month ago.
Considering my normal love for all things KW - a bit of a surprise here, that I could not coax any greatness out of this offering over several nights. I much prefer his gateway red to this particular LF vintage; hopefully just a one-off mediocre year.

1/20/2021 - no leashes wrote:

Really delicious, drinking beautifully, smooth and velvety with long finish. Unfortunately last bottle of the 2008, can't wait to try to Cab.

2/27/2021 - tjross Likes this wine:

Decanted for six hours. I love this wine. While youthful, it drinks well. Super dense, very mild funk. Saline is dominant note, differentiating it from Cayuse. No rough edges, coats the mouth. I can see this being very polarizing, even more so than other Christophe offerings. I’m a huge fan.

1/31/2021 - tjross Likes this wine:

Balanced and soft but lacking much depth. Expected more.

12/31/2018 - GoBlue2002 Likes this wine:

NYE wine with beef tenderloin - went well.
Opened with some funk and vegetable aromas, which faded over time - needs at least a 30 minute decant, but a 2 hr decant and drink worked well. This also added weight over time.
Vibrant dried fruit, licorice, anise, leather,
Smooth tannins.
Showing more cab than syrah (does anyone know the %'s), but definitely still a blend.
Best sip was the last. It's OUT OF THIS WORLD. :-)

11/8/2019 - tjross Likes this wine:

Double decant. Young, but drinkable. Would benefit from a few more years or more air time. Inky color. Kind of a dusty nose. Medium+ body. Nice balance. Very mild oak. Soft finish.

4/8/2020 - progenitive Likes this wine:

Drank this first bottle a bit too warm at 70F, as we opened it a few hours after receiving it. A bit of spice, herbal. Medium body. Classic Washington Syrah on the nose. After it cooled down just a tad (68F), I liked it better (we were outside, on the Oregon Coast, and the air temp was < 60). The tannins suggest that this will age a while. I’d concur with community rating of 2022-2027, other than I think you can drink it now too, a perfectly nice experience in 2020.

6/12/2020 - Neecies Likes this wine:

Margot's bottle. Don't usually give scores but need to deflate the previous 98 point review, so...this is very good, but nowhere close to 98 pts epic. Medium-plus bodied, bright and juicy, lots of charming red fruit, great nose with a scent of violets. Closer to fun than super serious but it's serious fun, no doubt. Does not, however, have the structure for 12 more years as someone has indicated. I'd go with 2025, and see from there.

1/1/2020 - Winning_Wines Likes this wine:

This was an absolute surreal experience. This wine was in such a beautiful place that I feel honored to have been able to enjoy it. Lucious red and dark fruits that were balanced perfectly with silky cashmere tannins and oak. Oh do I wish I had more. I do not see this getting any better, so drink up. However, I don't see a huge rush.

1/26/2020 - Jamesgold Likes this wine:

Brilliant. Drank as a pop n pour over a couple of hours. Classic big dusty red mountain fruit. So smooth and balanced now. Will only get better. But actually amazing now.

12/27/2019 - tjross wrote:

Out of magnum. Passed awhile ago. Pretty rough on the nose, but some time blew off much of the stink. Not offensive to drink, but it offered very little.

12/27/2019 - tjross Does not like this wine:

A thank you gift from a neighbor. I have seen it at Bartells for $6. It is overpriced.

11/1/2019 - RLinCellar wrote:

It has a nice finish...smooth, soft tannins. Not a big Napa Cab. More subtle. Good Cab nose, great legs!!!!

5/27/2019 - tjross Likes this wine:

After a flawed bottle attempt...this one worked just fine. Funk on the nose. Losing some of its oomph as it ages but still pleasant.

2/7/2019 - tjross Likes this wine:

Popped and poured, then consumed over two nights. More interesting night one, having lost much of its punch and depth by night two.

2/2/2019 - GlenviewGSW Likes this wine:

Wow how can WS give this 86 points? Makes absolutely no sense. I honestly believe there are shenanigans played between WA and WS and it is irritating. The nose on this wine is superb with black and blue fruit, cassis and vanilla. dark, brooding and full bodied with a smooth and long finish despite the relatively high alcohol content (15.4%) - finish is long and extravagant.

12/26/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Wow, absolutely brilliant. Decanted for an hour and a half. Silky smooth. Layers of texture and flavor. Perfect balance. This might be the best QC I have tasted.

8/28/2018 - tjross wrote:

Corked

6/23/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Doubled decanted and consumed with steak and mac/cheese...and a salad, but whatever on that. Everything you would expect from high-end Charles. Early for sure, so give it time or air.

5/26/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Cork disintegrated on me upon opening. Filtered into a decanter, okay. Certainly at or past peak. More oak than fruit. Well balanced and integrated. Pleasing.

5/11/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Kind of a random grab, double decant and pour. Was looking for something “fruity” and this delivered. Pretty approachable from the start. A killer Syrah. Probably deserved more than the dill pickle flavored chips we had with it, but so it goes. Great wine. Really, really great.

4/29/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Wow, this was yummy good. Took a sip before decanting and it was firing on all cylinders from the start. Can’t believe it costs less than $30.

3/10/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Double decanted. Drinking nicely but life in front of it. Well rounded, nicely balance, loads of fruit. Soft up front with a bit of a kick at the end.

2/27/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

From the Full Pull notes for reference: 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot — all from Reynvaan estate; a mix of their rocks and foothills sites.

Right...even informed of the above I’d still say it is primarily Grenache. Reminds me a bit of the Renegade Grenache or La Rata — bright fruit with a subtle funk floating in the background, though lacking broader depth and finish. I’d expect this to be a polarizing wine. I really liked it...it was interesting. For <$20 it is excellent.

2/25/2018 - fitchbuck Likes this wine:

Solid effort, probably my favorite PB to date. Drunk immediately after decant; tannins softening, this is likely in its sweet spot right now. This wasn't over-structured like their 08 merlot I recently had. For $30 it was a decent get; for the community ave. of $50+... not so much.

2/24/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

At John Howie with a shared trio of Wagyu filets. Early, but readily drinkable now. Subtle yet full-bodied and intense. More of a tap on the shoulder than a punch in the face. Really nice wine.

2/18/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Ordered off the wine list at John Howie bar along with a burger. Decanted for a bit but was drinking great from the start. Very smooth and still showing nice CdC fruit.

1/4/2018 - fitchbuck Likes this wine:

Had a splash on night 1, then remainder following evening with delivery pizza. Surprised at how approachable the '15 is this young - in comparo to priors. Hopefully the over-oaked trendline continues down.

1/11/2018 - tjross Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this bottle as much as the last, but found an unusual amount of sediment from the first glass on.

9/17/2014 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:

I had low expectations for this wine:
1. I got it at auction for $20
2. Screwcap
3. 2010 vintage was challenging

I was pleasantly surprised with a rich, full wine that was well worth the price. Smooth, rich, palate coating and easy to drink. Went very well with home made tacos.

The wine was youthful, which I attribute to the screwcap. I understand the decision for screwcaps but it does prevent much evolution in the bottle. I would have liked to taste this under cork as well, as I think it would have evolved nicely.

10/27/2017 - tjross wrote:

Not sure if this is in an awkward phase or if my palate has reset after the Cali onslaught over the last six months. Either way, kind of thin, overly oaky, and thin on the finish.

10/3/2017 - fitchbuck Likes this wine:

Didn't follow my own advice to wait 6 months on next bottle; luckily, I didn't need to. This showed much better than that 1st bottle six weeks ago [which likely has at least something to do with the funky petite sirah drunk prior].

She's in a good place now, folks. Drink or hold thru 2020. Consumed over 3 days.

5/26/2017 - tjross Likes this wine:

Double decanted and poured. Lacks the oomph of past MCKs but a well put together wine. A more subtle, nuanced kitty -- not exactly what I'm looking for here, but tasty.

9/25/2017 - tjross Likes this wine:

A bit brash upfront and thin on the finish. Middle was solid though.

6/1/2017 - jackaroo Likes this wine:

Surprisingly, took several hours to open. Perhaps early consumption accounts for the CT or other reviewers ho-hum ratings. A first class wine easily deserving of the 98 WA rating (29th Nov. 2015, Interim - Nov.
2015, The Wine Advocate.)

8/6/2017 - TannicBeast Likes this wine:

Quite complex and relatively youthful as far as aged PX go. Medium (+) to deep mahogany brown with some ruby hues. Very thick and viscous. The nose is clean, intense and quite complex, with molasses, raisins, prunes, caramel, dates, orange liqueur, espresso, dark chocolate, vanilla, hazelnut, almonds, toffee. The palate is sweet, but not cloying, with medium to medium (+) acidity, medium tannins and high alcohol. The palate is consistent with the nose, but also shows a slight balsamic, savory component. It is drinking well now and should last indefinitely, with lots of potential for even greater complexity. This is a very nice PX at a fair price. WS is 90, RP is 98

8/16/2017 - tjross Likes this wine:

Similar to previous note. The lack of depth or nuance is frustrating.

7/7/2017 - tjross Likes this wine:

Decanted and poured. Opened up nicely over time. Wish I gave it more, but dinner was served. Pulled from the reaches of gdub's cellar (thank you Bono.) Wife: "What is this, it's quite good!" Perfect color, nice nose. Well balanced, smooth, still finishing. Not a big fruit bomb, if you are into that kind of thing.