3/3/2024 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Afraid I've cellared this too long. The wine is beginning to show signs of old age. Has lost its fresh, clean zing in favor of an oxidized taste. Color also beginning to darken from earlier tastings. Suggest consuming it soon before it becomes unpalatable.

5/15/2023 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

An amazing wine. Great depth and sophistication, much like a top quality Bordeaux. It did not keep well into the next day as the wine quickly oxidized and lost its body.

3/24/2023 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

An exceptional bourgogne blanc. Crisp, floral, full on the palette . Roland would be proud of his successors who produced this delightful wine

11/16/2022 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Stored in cellar at 58 degrees and 55% rel humidity since purchase from winery. Drinking nicely . . . still maintains its fruit but now much smoother than earlier. Sad this is the last bottle of this vintage in my cellar

1/12/2021 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

A big disappointment. This bottle has oxidized and the fruit is mostly gone. Decanted, let stand , tried again in 24 hours - still no improvement.

11/5/2018 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

This bottle drank beautifully after a half hour od being opened. Tannins and earthy overtones stayed with each tasting. However it began to fade by the end of the evening and was gone the next day. Thanks me to drink up.

8/28/2017 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Still fabulous and drawing making well after 23 years. Smooth, sophisticated and totally enjoyable.

8/24/2017 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Amazing! After 20 years this bottle is still full of fruit. Mature but incredibly enjoyable. It has held up extremely well.

1/1/2017 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Wow! Totally surprised to find this with he is still full of vitality. Wonderful color, smooth, great fruit. Totally enjoyable after 13 years in the bottle.

12/25/2016 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Time has overtaken this wine. Still enjoyable, it has lost most of its character. What remains is an earthy cab where the tannins have mellowed. We decanted the bottle an hour before drinking. There was very little sediment present. It opened up a bit but could never be more than it was when first decanted.

12/13/2016 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

I had been out off by the effervescence when I first tasted a bottle earlier this year. I feared that my case had somehow been damaged. I now see others referring to the confusing effervescence. A recent bottle had some of that but not nearly as pronounced as earlier. Wonder if the wind settles down with age? Looking forward to trying another of what I thought was a write off.

11/28/2016 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Amazing that this 20'year old sin blend could still impress. Though there was little nose to hint at what time had done, the wine was soft on the palate and quite enjoyable. That it was old there is no doubt . . . but it had not spoiled.

11/23/2016 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

This wine was excellent, to my complete surprise. For a Zinfandel to drink well 14 years after harvest is simply amazing. A huge credit to the Murphy family and the winemaking crew they had in the old days. Unfortunately, my last bottle of a very memorable wine. Kudos, Denny!

11/20/2016 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Drinking well.

11/5/2016 - Tchelistcheff Does not like this wine:

Somewhat weak and beyond its prime, this bottle mirrors an earlier one wherein the fruit has disappeared and what remains is a tannic and poor expression of Syrah. Disappointing again.

10/9/2016 - Tchelistcheff Does not like this wine:

A light cab which has lost much of the fruit. Nearing the end of its life

7/15/2016 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Wine had oxidized. Poured out.

5/9/2016 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Magnificent effort by winemaker Damskey. The equal of any top quality Rhone.

8/20/2015 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

A far cry from the 1999, this vintage needs more age to round out the roughness which is present

8/20/2015 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Drinking fabulously well. Perfection in aging, wonderful, smooth fruit. Elegant with beef tenderloin.

7/30/2015 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

After 21 years, this wine is drinking beautifully. Amazing, but it has aged extremely well and now shows all the characteristics of a fine, old Bordeaux.

3/5/2015 - Tchelistcheff Does not like this wine:

I fear this bottle has lost most of what was once so good about it. The fruit is nearly gone and it drinks a bit harsh. Color is still bold and the nose is okay. But there is an absence of fruit that should be there.

2/27/2015 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

A real disappointment, this wine was thin and lacked fruit. Not able to hold its own either alone or with fruit. Opened and let breathe for an hour but it couldn't come to life. For a 12 year old Burgundy, I had expected far more.

12/2/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

We initially tried this bottle while visiting Ashville, NC over dinner at a Spanish tapas restaurant. Our waiter suggested it (a 2010) and it was fantastic. Difficult to find, we just received a case and enjoyed a bottle with dinner last night. To our delight, it was every bit as good as we remembered it - this time with a steak. A luscious, full wine which carries plenty of fruit to tease the palette. Smooth, easy to enjoy on its own, it pairs well with any flavorful meat. This is an undiscovered gem.

10/8/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

We opened the bottle a half hour before and decanted it. In the glass, the wine was ruby colored. There was light sediment in the bottle. The smell was of black currant (cassis) and on the palette, blackberry and raisin. The wine has a medium body and a polished texture with medium acidity. A fantastic bottle to accompany a meal of crisp pork shank.

7/14/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine

7/14/2014 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Oxidized and undrinkable. Stored well and a previous bottle was fine. But this one has gone over the hill.

7/13/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Still drinking well after 44 years. The cork was moist, but delicate as the bottom 1/2" broke off as I removed the cork. Virtually no ullage, as shown by bottle neck. Color has taken on an earthy tone. Yet smooth to the palate. Very little sediment in the bottle. All in all, a lovely wine to enjoy with a perfectly grilled steak.

7/12/2014 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Wonderful summer wine, refreshing, great deep rose color. A perfect afternoon wine to enjoy before dinner.

7/12/2014 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Well past its prime, we drank a glass each and then poured the bottle. Should have known that after 9 years, this would be on the steep downward slope. Disappointing, but not unexpected

1/12/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Delightful wine now but will improve with several more years in bottle. Enjoyed with pork tenderloin and mashed potatoes, a perfect combination.

1/10/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Smooth, silky pinot at its best. Probably has more life in it but at 10 years we were happy to treat ourselves to the last bottle. Enjoyed with sautéed chicken breasts and a salad and were happy with the pairing. Color beginning to take on an earthy tone.

1/9/2014 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

An old zin that has aged well. Showing signs of peaking, now is the time to finish any bottles in the cellar.

10/3/2013 - Tchelistcheff Does not like this wine:

I'm afraid this 2007 "Red Wine" is past its prime and lacks the interesting flavors I found when I first tried it.

7/10/2013 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

What a delightful surprise to find this wine still vibrant and drinking so well after 14 years. This syrah blend has matured and could compete with the best of the Rhone blends - a very nice alternative to Chateau Neuf du Pape. Unfortunately this is the last bottle . . .

7/10/2013 - Tchelistcheff Likes this wine:

Strong hints of cherry and a well rounded, full body. A delightful wine that represents one of the best examples of California Bordeaux style wine making efforts. This should continue to age well for another five years.

2/17/2013 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

The wine has a lovely Purple color and tastes of Blackberry, Raisin, and Black Pepper.

1/13/2013 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Much to my surprise, this Shiraz is still a fantastic wine after nearly 14 years in the bottle. The layers of fruit seduce the palate and make this full bodied wine a great accompaniment to beef or lamb but equally enjoyable on its own. Wish I had more!

11/19/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Another great bottle! A very enjoyable cab with lots of fruit that has mellowed with age. Soft and enjoyable . . .

11/18/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Remarkably this was a lovely bottle of wine. After 42 years the cork was dried and came out in numerous pieces. Still he ullage level at the upper to mid shoulder seemed reasonable given the vintage. There was no evidence of oxidation. The tannins had mellowed and the wine was incredibly smooth on the palate. In all, a very happy experience and a perfect companion to celebrate Stanford's upset win over Oregon in overtime!

11/17/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

For a 12 year old Zin, this bottle has held up very nicely. The cork had dried out and came out in several pieces, which immediately put me on guard. But the wine was intact and palatable, if a bit tight and past its prime. It retains a deep purple color and plenty of body. Amazing that the fruit is still very much there to be enjoyed.

11/15/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

A puzzling but enjoyable wine. The syrah really shows but diminishes the appeal.

11/5/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Enjoyed with a steak. Bouquet developed after being open an hour. Wonderful herbaceous flavors made this enjoyable now, but it should be laid down to develop for many more years.

11/3/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

A fantastic cab which is ready to drink now but will improve further with age. Nice fruit and smooth, this wine is a delight on its own or paired with a steak.

11/2/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Crisp, fresh, tropical fruit, lovely bouquet. About as nice an effort as you could ask for. Enjoyable by itself, but it would be a great complement to a salmon or other flavorful seafood. Should go well with shellfish - if only the Dungeness crab were in season . . .

11/2/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Started off nice, even if a bit heavy on the tanins and lacking in fruit. Not a particularly enjoyable wine and as it evolved I would say this is a coarser wine than I remember. Doubt it will improve further.

10/28/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

This was a fantastic bottle. It has aged these past 18 years exceptionally well. The cork was perfect and while the initial nose was tight, the wine opened up nicely after 30 minutes. Earthy on the palate, there is still plenty of fruit left and the tannins have softened, making this more like a well aged Bordeaux than a California cab. What a nice surprise to find this bottle perfectly drinkable - a great accompaniment to the World Series!

10/19/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Disappointed - had hoped this would be a bigger, more exciting wine. But it smacks of alcohol and doesn't have the balance it should. One bottle of this vintage left . . . we shall see how that works before purchasing more recent vintages.

10/18/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

When first opened, the wine appeared to have promise if left to open for a bit. But it did not improve with time. There is too much alcohol and too little fruit left. The next day the wine was not drinkable and was discarded. Disappointing for a 9 year old cab that is the signature wine for Simi.

10/9/2012 - Tchelistcheff wrote:

Really a bit disappointing. This effort doesn't live up to the hype. Fruit is rough, tannins overpower the palate. May improve with age . . . we'll see.