4/6/2024 - peeno Likes this wine:

Ready to go now. Mild tannins. Full dark fruits. Very pleasant to drink.

2/9/2024 - peeno Likes this wine:

Great QPR. Mellow tannins, luscious dark fruits. Should have boght more.

1/27/2024 - peeno Likes this wine:

High alcohol but somewhat rustic with very tannins. Full dark fruit bomb with very mild anise. Nice drinking but may get a little popette.

12/13/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Great QPR for $16. A bottle of wine for the price of a glass. Appropriate for drinkers who like a fruity Malbec instead of a rustic one. Obviously not terribly complex at this price point but definitely a delight to drink. At 14% you could finish a bottle in one night. Medium body with very mild tannins. Aromas and taste of smooth dark fruits.

11/29/2023 - peeno wrote:

Good fruit. A bit flat on the palate. Nevertheless a decent weeknight QPR.

11/27/2023 - peeno wrote:

Part of the Costco Holiday Bordeaux 4 Pack. Comes out to $7.50 a bottle. Out of the four, this is the only drinkable one. Can’t expect much at this price point but better than a glass of red at many places costing you twice the bottle. Classic 13% alcohol in french wines. Dark garnet in color. Has a nice dark fruit floral aroma. Moderately thin on the palate as expected but a mild spice and moderate dark fruits makes the wine somewhat enjoyable. Being the higher levels of Castillon could be the reason why this wine is very acceptable since the Castillon produces some of ghe better Bordeaux values

11/26/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

The bad. My last bottle. This wine bats above it’s cost. Dark plum in color. Dark fruit floral aroma. Layers of dark fruits, spice and cassis yhat you would find in a fine Bordeaux.

11/20/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Interesting cab. Nice body. Love their petit syrah. First cab I have ever had that I can taste vanilla as my first impression. Gets better as it opens up. Better day 2.

11/17/2023 - peeno Does not like this wine:

Way too sweet for my taste. Out of the running for my bargain pinot noirs.

11/9/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Label says 94 which is probably a little over the top. Not complex enough for that score but a fantastic QPR. A very nice Tempranillo that you can buy a bottle for a price of a glass. Just got back from Spain so had a lot of good comparisons. Medium body. Decent dark fruits. Opens up well in 30 minutes. A repeat buy to introduce a novice to Tempranillo.

11/3/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Very good QPR. Almost like a dessert wine. Much fuller body than I expected. Mild acidity with intense citrus fruit. My wife likes heavily oaked whites and this is right up her alley.

10/23/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Classic producer. Classic Bordeaux. Still a great value.

10/13/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Actually went well with leek mushroom dill pasta

9/3/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Somewhat flat upon opening. The fruit and structure showed up day 3. Should have decanted it for a few hours initially.

8/25/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

At its peak. Aromatics and structure almost reminds me of a french wine. Mild tannins. Smooth dark fruits. Strong aromas of dark fruits.

8/4/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Lovely oaked chard. Apples, pears, apricots, meyer lemons.

6/28/2023 - peeno Does not like this wine:

Bland. $8. Can’t expect much.

6/27/2023 - peeno wrote:

Best bottle of the bunch but not any good second day as expected.

6/13/2023 - peeno wrote:

High alcohol. Fruit bomb. Chapellized? More like New World pinot.

6/1/2023 - peeno wrote:

Moderate dark color. Not much fragrance and structure. Mild spice. Ok for a QPR beginners pinot especially with just 13.5% alcohol.

5/19/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

A contender for the low price pinot noir at $20. 14.5% alcohol but smooth and fruit forward without feeling the heat. Definitely California in character but should please the fruit seekers with some structure without the high price.

5/11/2023 - peeno wrote:

Light body and acidity. Moderate dark fruits. Mild cherry plum aroma. Decent enough for a summer picnic with brie en croute with your current girlfriend but wouldn’t impress your new more sophisticated interest.

4/23/2023 - peeno wrote:

A contender for the $20 value pinot noir. Mild tartness. Recyclable cork.

4/22/2023 - peeno Does not like this wine:

Mild tannins, weak body and structure for a Malbec. Slightly tart. Lacks the dusty tobacco fuller body that I expect in a Malbec.

4/16/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Good structure, fruit forward, full body, moderately long finish. Meets expectations for the price point.

4/16/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Courtney Benham makes a good standard QPR cab that is a little sweeter. This terroir version is somewhat spicy. They do not have long finishes but great values at around $20.

3/28/2023 - peeno wrote:

Not bad for a $12 wine. Slight hint of chocolate. Aerated it otherwise decanting would probably help but is it worth it for a low cost wine.

3/10/2023 - peeno wrote:

Medium gold color. Moderate oak body with moderate acidity. Apricot citrus. Hot finish as noted by others before with acidity and interestingly with a stated 13.4% alcohol which could be up to a percent off.

3/2/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

A gift but a solid QPR. Classic pinot characteristics without the limpyness of many Oregon low end pinots. A great weekday offering or an intro to pinot noir.

2/27/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Amazingly still young. Will keep my other bottle for a while.

2/22/2023 - peeno wrote:

Very light straw color. Deceptive moderate body and high acidity. Very mild limestone aroma. Limestone terroir really comes out in this wine. But not my style of chardonnay. Oaky chard body with chablis characteristics.

1/29/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Quite possibly the best $15 bottle red wine out there. Full body dark fruits with complimentary aromas. Mild to moderate tannins with mild acidity.

1/28/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Great QPR at $20. Smooth, full body, mild tannins and acidity, very fruit forward at this point. Very pleasant to drink.

1/25/2023 - peeno wrote:

A decent QPR Carneros pinot for $20. Weekday sipper or offer to the undiscerning pinot drinker. Mild aromatics and acidity. Short finish. But you can add this to your list if you are hunting for decent value pinots.

1/20/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Superb after dinner compliment with Lithuanian apricot torte.

1/16/2023 - peeno wrote:

A drinkable lower level bordeaux from a good producer. Thin body with mild acidity. Not a repeat buy but for $15 shouldn’t complain too much.

1/12/2023 - peeno wrote:

Excellent QPR from a very good producer. Lemony aromas. Lighter body chardonnay tending towards chablis without dominant minerality. Mildly crisp that went well with salmon, citrus arugula avocado salad. Still good on day 2 with cajun chicken linguine

1/6/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Mild tannins. Slightly on the sweet side for the fruit lovers. Medium body. Good QPR for a non discerning crowd. Received as a gift. First intro to tannat. A repeat buy for the general guest.

1/4/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

I haven’t had many South African wines but this one is the most interesting and enjoyable. Aromas of dark fruits. Mild sweetness and acidity. Full body and somewhat rustic. I will raise a glass to the Costco wine buyer who recommended it.

1/3/2023 - peeno Likes this wine:

Mild sweetness and acidity. Oaked to moderate cream as my wife prefers. Reminded me of the first decent wine that I had 40 years ago with no knowledge of wine that introduced me to what a good wine and wine pairing should be. It was a DeLoach chardonnay which was recommended to pair with scallops with granny smith apples in a vanilla bean sauce at John Ash.

12/31/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

Goes great with lobster

12/31/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

A little sweeter than the Grace Benoist and more fruit forward.

12/26/2022 - peeno wrote:

Pleasant enough to drink for the price. Not complex enough to be a grand cru though the appellation is labeled as such.

12/25/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

Rustic floral bouquet. Most complex compared to tonight’s world offerings of a NZ pinot noir, two California cabs and a Washington bordeaux blend.

12/25/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

Very fruit forward. Good body for a NW red. Drink now for the fruit bomb. Mild to moderate tannins may preserve it for a couple more years.

12/25/2022 - peeno wrote:

New World pinot with a little spicy zing.

12/22/2022 - peeno wrote:

This wine shows the difference between value old world and new world pinot noir. Old world- floral aroma though mild, medium fruit forward body with less alcohol. Unfortunately old world tacks on another $5 to the price. New world lovers will want more punch, darker heavier body and more fruit. Old world lovers will not be blown away with this wine but may find it pleasant enough for a weekday sip.

12/19/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

Nice QPR. Smooth. Not complex as expected but very pleasant to drink. Citrusy and creamy as described which is interesting from unoaked chardonnay. If you prefer more acidity and minerality this is not for you.

12/17/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

One of the best $20 cabs you can buy

12/15/2022 - peeno Likes this wine:

St. Cosme generally consistent value wine. Their upper tier has Chateau de Saint Cosme on the label. Very smooth for a syrah. An enjoyable QPR rhone that you can pair with just about any food.