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

The taste of this wine was okay. Smooth fruit but I couldn't get past the smell. Wife says she smelled vomit and I don't disagree. Very pungent and off-putting. I like wine with a little brett but this was beyond anything I would find pleasant. It's not an expensive wine and it's possible that this was just a bad bottle. It might be a while before I try one of the others in my cellar.

1/4/2013 - StlAndy Likes this wine:

This is my first sangiovese and brunello so I'm not going to rate the wine because I don't know what to compare it to. With that said, I really enjoyed this wine. Drank from a magnum that we brought to our favorite steak joint (double decanted before bringing). Notes are from memory. Nose of black fruit and oak. Taste was different than I expected. It was dryish but not tannic. In fact it seemed like a sweet merlot. Definitely fruity. Attack remained middle of the tongue and the finish was not overly long. Wife liked it very much. Thought it was good but don't know how this compares to others . . . . guess I'll just keep drinking more!

12/25/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Christmas Dinner. Used one and half cups for the standing rib roast. After taking a whiff of the Apothic I poured the remainder into my in-laws glasses. Decided that the cook should pop a 2005 Georgia Paddock Australian shiraz. Merry Christmas from the guy who's probably going to hell!

12/25/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Very good wine. Double decant had one glass and going to save the remainder for another evening. Wet grass and cherry on nose. Well structured with a mild attack. Fruity but not to tannic with a nice finnish. Enjoyed this wine and look forward to seeing how it tastes in the next day or so.

12/21/2012 - StlAndy Likes this wine:

Black and Purple fruits with some fresh cut grass on the nose with hints of vanilla and licorice. Taste of plums and cherries, well structured, very smooth with a medium to long finish. This wine is really showing well right now.

11/30/2012 - StlAndy Likes this wine:

black fruits with cherry, herbal/oregano with oak and little vanilla. Nice smooth mouthfeel not overly tannic but good structure. Worked great with a ribeye and other rich food. Unbelievable with the chocolate dessert. Finish is nice and long. We liked this enough to purchase another case. I think the 07 may be a little better rated but we really enjoy the 05.

11/22/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Brick red, a little musty cedar with dark cherry and hints of vanilla. First sips reveal a very light wine with little to no attack. Cherry fruit but not overly so with oakish taste. Finish is a little longer than I expected. This is coming together a little better as it sits in the glass. I'm sure it's past prime but it's enjoyable juice from Cosentino with a great QPR.

11/20/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Had this immediately after tasting the Longueville Pauillac which was a little unfair. This was a beautiful wine. Earthy nose very mild hints of chocolate. Overripe plum taste was mild with a sturdy finish but not overly so. I enjoyed it but this was overwhelmed by the bottle next to it.

11/20/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Wonderful nose of barnyard and chocolate truffles. Taste was amazing. This is a mellow wine with a very mild attack that has an incredibly long finish. A joy to drink. Hope I can get my hands on more.

11/15/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Purple berries, and chocolate on the nose. Smelled wonderful. Unfortunately, this was not full bodied at all. Too thin and a bit disappointing.

11/10/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Plum, raspberries, menthol on the nose with a little funkiness that wore off after some time in the glass. A little tannic but not overly so. Big jammy wine that got better over the course of the night.

9/14/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Flawed bottle. Bought for a low price hoping that it would be great. Not so much. Oh well, the anticipation was fun.

9/5/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Beautiful wine. Decanted 6 hours and still tight. Can't wait to have this again but it's going to need a lot more time. Loved the wine!

5/12/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Earthy taste with pepper and black berries. Excellent!

4/21/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

- Ruby color with slow forming legs and aromas of cherry and vanilla. It's balanced and has flavours of cherry, fig and vanilla with a light/medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish.

4/6/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

I was expecting more. Short finish, didn't feel balanced. Okay but not for what I paid.

3/26/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

- Violet color and aromas of blackberry, dusty, green olive and raspberry. It's balanced and has flavours of blackberry, black currant and menthol with a medium/full body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Tasty, jammy, and meaty. Very different from what we have been drinking lately. Hard to score but give it a 92.

3/22/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

color almost an inky brown. vanilla, cherry and blackberry nose. Definitely vanilla taste first then a chocolate covered cherry with tannins strong enough to keep some balance. I like it but probably needs some food to bring out it's best.

3/12/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Loved this wine. Vanilla and cherry on the nose along with kind of a fresh laundry smell (weird, I know). Tasted so nice. Balanced, smooth and my wife's new favorite wine

3/12/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Not sure if bottle was flawed but this wasn't very good. Blackberry on the nose maybe some oak also but taste had some sourness to it that was unappealing. Won't rate this bottle.

3/12/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Drank at dinner party so didn't make notes but it was definitely my wine of the night. Great cab!

3/7/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Cherry with a little dirt/earth on the nose. Taste was red fruit (cherry) and very mellow. Not much of a finish at all. Don't get the feeling that cellaring will help this much. It's nice but not much interesting going on with this wine

3/4/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Drank in a night club listening to jazz and this is the morning after so can't do a reasonable tasting note. Drinking great now, I don't think this will get any better, so drink up! I can tell you this wine pairs really well with smoky jazz!

3/4/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Loved this wine! Dark chocolate, cherry oak nose. Not very tannic. Not the wine for person that wants to get punched in the nose with fruit and powerful gum smacking, but ... if you like a balanced mellow dusty cab this is it. Excellent.

2/19/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

nose cherry and red fruit, vanilla, and hint of earth (maybe mushroom). Very well balanced wine. Wine has some grip but not overly so. Very nice wine

2/15/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Don't have much experience with Riesling so I'm not going to rate this. We enjoyed this wine and happy with qpr. Nose of apricots and floral expressions. Had this with some spicy food and it complemented beautifully

2/10/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

- Purple color and aromas of blackberry and strawberry. It's balanced and has flavours of cedar and blackberry with a light/medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Very smooth mellow, black fruit, and balanced. Really enjoyed this wine. Glad I have more!

1/29/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Bright cherry nose, little licorice, and whiff of lead pencil. Popped and poured first glass and decanted the remainder. Very tight beginning but mellowed out quickly after decanting 30 minutes. Light, fruity, balanced. Went very well with salmon grilled on cedar planking. Excellent wine

1/25/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Nose fruit and peppery some currant. Hits more of the back of the mouth and drapes forward (maybe I am gulping :P). Seriously, not an outstanding wine but this was terrific with chili and great value for price at about $9/bottle.

1/25/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Nice everyday drinking wine. Nose was fruit and some vanilla. This comes off as a very new world wine. Was looking for a little earthiness and it just wasn't there. Cab/Merlot/Petite Verdot combination was balanced. Not overly long finish but a pleasant drinker.

1/15/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

Was not in a place that I could take notes so these are my reflections from " the morning after." We really enjoyed this wine. Nose was fruit, oak, currants, with some earthiness. Taste was a fruit bowl but wonderfully in balance and the tannins were mellow but present. Great mouthfeel and taste. Finish was long but not overly so. Did not decant but drank over the course of a long dinner. First sip was fine but got better over the evening. Try this if you get a chance.

1/13/2012 - StlAndy wrote:

- Crimsom color and aromas of cherry, oak and ethanol. It's overly tannic and has flavours of ethanol and cherry with a light/medium body. Juicy texture with a short finish - Ok. Not great but a decent wine for $15. Very "new world" Bordeaux which disappoints me but others may like. 87

12/26/2011 - StlAndy wrote:

Nose was sour apple, pear, with waft of oak. Making this note hours after drinking but very enjoyable. Still have some left and will add to this note tomorrow.

12/25/2011 - StlAndy wrote:

Rating this a 91 now but expect it to get much better. Stil tight. Decanted for 1.5 hours before drinking. Blackberries, chocolate, and oak nose. Great tasting wine. Not overly tannic. Clings to the roof of the mouth and lingers. Taste confirmed the nose of blackberry and chocolate. Very enjoyable but I think the best days are ahead for this one.

12/24/2011 - StlAndy Likes this wine:

Decanted for three hours. Christmas eve dinner with homemade, authentic lasagna. Ruby coloring not quite extended to the edge of the glass. Nose of purple berries, plum, earthy undertones. Plum and cherry explosion. Hints of vanilla. Mid palate, flavor stays at the top of the tongue (not draped) with a wonderfully extended finish. Decant for a while if you need to get into this now but recommend waiting. I think this one has potential for a long cellar life. Great pairing with lasagna or pizza.

12/15/2011 - StlAndy wrote:

Nose- cherry, oak, hint of vanilla. Confirmed flavors on the palette. Soft and not overly tannic but nice draped finish. Over the course of evening it softened more to its detriment. Probably should be drunk now. Paired wonderfully with dark chocolate cheesecake.

12/11/2011 - StlAndy wrote:

First Brunello experience so, I'm definately no expert here, but loved this bottle of wine. Purchased in a half bottle and decanted for an hour before drinking. Definate Licorice, menthol nose with cherry and spice. Well integrated and enjoyable wine!

12/11/2011 - StlAndy wrote:

Definately fruit forward. Plum, cherry, hint of dark chocolate on the nose. Firm but not overly so. Served a little too cold at the wine bar but after decanting and a little time was extremely enjoyable Shiraz blend.

6/24/2011 - StlAndy Likes this wine:

A nice silky zin. Thoroughly enjoyable!