12/24/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

My favorite bottle this year.

11/11/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

As advertised. Great right out the bottle. Deep dark fruit flavors. Intense flavors with a very smooth finish. Just a hit of heat from the alcohol.

11/4/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Really really tight now. Needs a few more years in the bottle.

10/31/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

If you love Zin, you will Love this Rombauer.

10/26/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Big fruit forward Cab. Still a little young in my view but a lot of promise.

10/26/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Big cab but a little tight right now. Needs some time in the bottle to mellow out.

10/26/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

consistently great!

10/26/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Just received my Kings Row shipment and popped one open. It is very drinkable. Tastes of coffee and caramel... then later cherry (actually Madera, but softer).

Looking forward to seeing how the other bottles taste in a few years.

10/20/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

I decanted this bottle for about 5 hours. By the time we consumed it was really great to drink. Very solid tanins. The mouth feel was velvety smooth and there was no bite of alcohol. Drank next to a 2008 Kythryn Hall Cab (twice the price) and likely because of its longer decant the Brown was more enjoyable.

10/4/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Not as good as the illustration but at half the price, that is to be expected. I guess I was somewhat let down after reading some other comments around how this closely mirrored its big brother. It fell a bit short in my mind. but not bad.

9/27/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

BIG smooth cab. Ran through the vinturi and it is great out the bottle. Can't wait to see how this unfolds over the next few hours.

9/23/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

The rumors are true: its fruity, flavorful and really tasty. And it does taste like cherry pie. I'm not the biggest pinot fan in general but this is really nice and medium bodied but really drinkable.

9/17/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

First, I know it may offend some Wine lumanaires and their delicate sensibalities, however it must be said; Thank the Lord for the Vinturi!! This wine was TIGHT upon opening and there were a bunch of sour faces... One quick pass through the Vinturi and everybody was much happier. You could actually get some of the fruit... the Merlot is very dominating but in a good way. But this wine has some heft. Good body and chewy... and it tasts, a lot like Chocolate. But very "velvet Glove". After 2 hours ( and another trip through the Vinturi) this wine is down right tasty. Proving to be worth the price paid.
I was eager to try the Blackbird Vinyards Illisturation to see how a top shelf Napa Merlot blend could hold up against other Cab based Borduex style blends. And it does. Again it is softer... but still has a nice mouth feel and is a nice change from the traditional approach. Big Thumbs up.

9/9/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Very big wine for a small price. Delicious fruit, but a nice dry chewiness in the mouthfeel. Very good.

9/7/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Used the vinturi for the first time and I'll be damned....it works!

The wine was transformed in seconds. Very smooth, aromatic and fruity.

9/4/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Great fruit taste, smooth finish. Delicious.

9/1/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Corked, but I managed to save the bottle. Agree with others: smooth, balanced and softer.

8/29/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

Decanted forv3 hours, enjoyed over 2 hours. Needs more time in the bottle. Will try again in 2015.

8/22/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

P&p. Smoothed out nicely... Not was fruitty as ibwas expecting.

8/23/2011 - bradleyjvt wrote:

88 after two hours, mellowed out nicely for a reasonably price blend.

8/23/2011 - bradleyjvt Likes this wine:

Vary acidic at the opening... we "popped and poured"... after an hour the wine mellowed quite nicely... very drinkable.