12/18/2018 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

This wine is essentially liquid fruit leather. It has enough tannins and acid to present a very balanced structure, despite the RS and racy fruit. Lingers long enough and dry enough to pull into the next sip. Would be a dangerous red wine for minglers. I think it's a steal for an under $20 wine.

11/4/2018 - Stelvinator wrote:

Dominated by stone fruit (peach , pear), with a touch of melon. Lacks structure (concentration of flavor and acidity), and comes off a bit flabby / watery. Salty minerality and oak astringency on the finish with a slightly alcoholic fade. A middling white; perhaps an off year for this wine.

9/22/2017 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

This is a dark and lively wine. It has bracing acidity, a fruit forward nature, yet possesses a complex and dusty tannin backbone. This wine probably will be somewhat polarizing... It is simultaneously old and new world and is un-apologetically unfiltered (aka has some chunks). It's a conversation piece, and has unquestionable character at an affordable price.

3/18/2017 - Stelvinator wrote:

Corked.

12/16/2016 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A very clean and fresh white. Pear and apple, with a vein of floral and honey notes. Good acid; with a bit of an astringent finish, (maybe would be a bit more balanced in year or two. I have had the 2013 vintage recently, as well, and it seemed to be a bit more incorporated, but still very fresh).

12/21/2016 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Agree about the Nebbiolo comparisons, a little less floral, perhaps, but the color and weight of this wine are much more what I would expect from an Neb than a Brunello.

It's drinking well now, and this is actually a pretty versatile wine for a variety of different foods. It's probably not going to be a great wine for aging, as it's already in the "medium" levels of acid/tannin. I'd drink it over the next few years.

8/1/2016 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

An elegant, versatile, wine. A somewhat herbal and floral red fruit nose (lavender and cedar perhaps). Does not look like a 7 year old wine other than some clarity at the edges. Color is much more purple than garnet. Strongest quality of this wine is on the palette. Good acid and fine tannin balance. Red cherry and red currant. Restrained yet vibrant, would be a good all-round dinner wine with mild manners and ample structure to match up with hearty cuisine. Drinking very well, probably good for several more years.

7/2/2016 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A crowd pleasing wine. Big, dark, sweet, fruity, extracted; hedonistic. As new world as pinot gets. Dark fruit nose, a bit smokey with notes of vanilla ice-cream. A bit of rosehip is the only thing really in character for a pinot noir. Black cherry, vanilla, rose and toasted oak on the palette. Fine tannin, pretty high residual sugar, and the acidity to support it. Perhaps a bit over-manipulated in the wine making. It's brash, maybe a bit fatiguing after a couple glasses. This is a cocktail hour wine, not a food wine; it will bowl-over all but the boldest dishes. Aging well, would drink over the next five years.

6/26/2016 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A pretty and somewhat big wine. Dark purple with clear magenta rim. Black fruit nose with edges of vanilla oak and black pepper. Big mid-palate with fine tannins and well matched acidity. A slight bit of RS, magnified by higher alcohol (does not taste hot though). Reminds me of a blackberry and rhubarb pie. Lots of sediment, take care in serving. Drink over the next three years.

4/23/2016 - Stelvinator wrote:

A very dry and neutral wine. Not particularly aromatic. Clean firm acid. Apple and citrus with grapefruit rind astringency. Perhaps a touch of brown apple (aldehydic) and a hint of almond. Needs food; pretty much dialtone on its' own.

1/15/2016 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Black fruit and earthy nose, with a hint of candy sweetness and oak . Medium bodied wine, perhaps a bit thin in body. Medium acid, mild and dusty tannins. Definite residual sugar; a touch of sweetness . Finish is short with a somewhat awkward lingering astringency.

9/23/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A recioto wine, but much lighter and very different from an Amarone. It doesn't hit you over the head with extracted powerful flavors, but rather is much more of nuanced and aromatically complex wine. Needs several hours to open up, but then rewards those patient enough with an evolving dense bouquet layered over a vibrant racy structure.

Despite the higher alcohol content and recioto grapes, this wine is still very much a nebbiolo, a thinner, lighter, garnet colored wine at the core, wrapped in powerful aromatics; an intriguing combination of sour red cherry with tar and licorice. Oak treatment is very neutral, I would imagine the 5 Stelle version with new oak finishing is much more plush. This wine should age spectacularly as there's plenty of structure to go the distance.

9/9/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A strong wine that can slug it out with bolder creamy foods. Red to Garnet in color with clear brown edges. Nose is black cherry and tobacco. Lots of acid, tannin, but doubtful of aging potential... has a definite note of astringent green tannins that almost give it a slight resinous quality. Seems like this would get worse over time as skin tannins fade. Would drink over the next few years.

9/5/2015 - Stelvinator wrote:

Pale golden yellow. Applesauce / canned pear nose. Soft round mouth feel, with a slight astringency as it fades. A bit past its peak, but drinking nicely.

8/29/2015 - Stelvinator wrote:

Very much like an inexpensive Chianti minus the dusty tannins and a bit less acid. Sour cherry and plum, mostly acid driven, medium tannins. A bit of an initial sulfur note that airs out quickly. A wine capable of supporting rich and creamy food, but not a standout on its own.

8/13/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A straightforward zin. Dark cherry, cooked fruit and raisin on the nose. Firm and assertive tannins; moderate acidity; hot alcohol. Not very complex, lots of structure for big foods.

8/10/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Pale yellow. Caramel apple and oak on the nose (coffee, baking spice, and buttery candy oak notes).

Pretty good balance of acidity and oak tannins with a soft and full mouthfeel. Moderately long finish, a bit ragged with the oak. A red wine drinkers white wine, and something just slightly different for those who like classic California chard. Drink over the next 2-3 years.

8/2/2015 - Stelvinator wrote:

A hodge-podge, off-dry, five grape blend, that doesn't quite come together and seems to pulls in many directions at once. Perhaps a bit brash; oaked and extracted; with cotton candy and canned pears on the nose, and a somewhat awkward, and astringent, finish. The niche for this wine might be as a post-dinner white mingler; a bit too clumsy for food, but has some big aromatics and flavors to reawaken a numbed palette.

7/31/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A lighter pinot than the Donnelly Breggo Pinot's I've tried in past (medium-to-light concentration of fruit, and thinner, more Oregon in style). Medium tannins, nice acidity (not racy but structured and balanced). A light touch of rose and minerals. Red fruit primarily, with some black cherry and baking spice oak tones. Elegant wine, would be good with simple creamy and savory foods to bring out the best in the aromatics. Drink over the next 2-3 years, probably peaking now.

7/28/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely now, and still might improve. Baked black fruit and cocoa at first, and then opens up to pencil and pepper. Tannins are moderately assertive but integrated. Medium-long finish. Excellent.

7/16/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

An elegant, balanced and straight forward wine. Cranberry/cherry sour red fruit, and integrated french oak tannins and spice notes give this wine a lot of structure to mesh nicely with many types of food.

3/2/2015 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Perhaps at its peak. Crowd pleasing wine on the bigger, fruit forward side. Really nice balance and a bit of blue fruit, peppery complexity. Stunning for a < $15 wine.

11/28/2014 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Blackberry, black pepper, and a bit of cream on the nose. Fruit driven, medium to long finish. Tannins are approachable but still assertive. Drinking well now, probably would improve still over the next couple years.

10/12/2014 - Stelvinator wrote:

Higher alcohol and moderately high residual sugar. Black cherry on the nose and palette, some oak. Medium tannins, not well integrated. Finishes a bit awkward. Not built to age, and best to drink now.

9/24/2014 - Stelvinator wrote:

Spice box and pepper nose. Black fruit (blackberry) palate. Medium acid. Medium high tannins, but also a bit of tonic type astringency. Medium finish.

Pairs well with sausage and fatty savory comfort foods. A bit disjointed on its own.

1/19/2014 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

A very nice, straightforward, pinot. Medium body; medium tannins. Mostly red fruit, with black fruit hints. Balanced. Would pair well with many foods.

11/3/2013 - Stelvinator Likes this wine:

Was skeptical about this one due to a failed cork that allowed a small amount of wine to pool in the cap. Very pleasantly surprised though: Very complex nose that started with cassis and cherry, and evolved into something with more green and earthy notes as it opened up. Very balanced, medium/long finish, has a strength and complexity that will stand up well with lots of different foods. Drinking very nicely right now and seems like it will hold on for several more years.

2/19/2013 - Stelvinator wrote:

Found this bottle hiding in my cellar. Ended up being moderately corked. Tannins and acids were still pretty good for a wine I thought was well past its prime.