4/18/2013 - Bruno Likes this wine:

Delicious. Smooth, rich, velvety dark friut. A poor man's Caymus.

1/8/2011 - Bruno wrote:

Solid performer at $20. Huge fruit, decent structure, a little hot and typical WA overkill on the oak, but a fantastic qpr.

3/3/2010 - Bruno wrote:

Really opened up and softened on the fourth day of being open. Upon opening was very funky and tannic. On day 5 it was just beginning to oxidize. Wish I had more bottles.

2/6/2010 - Bruno wrote:

Explosion of baked cherries and ripe red fruit. Supple mouth feel, lingering finish of scorched earth. Very nice nice wine, and drinking much better than the last time I opened one several years ago.

7/17/2009 - Bruno wrote:

For what it is (a light, easy drinking, summer quaffer) it is fantastic, and beng a rose it seems a *little* more complex than a typical Vinho Verde. Too many times "value" wines end up getting dumped down my kitchen sink, this just ends up getting dumped down my gullet.

6/29/2009 - Bruno wrote:

Decanted and poured four hours later. As flawless a bottle of wine as I have had. Perfectly integrated tannins and ripe red fruit. It is all there; cassis, leather, earth, tobacco, cloves, black licorice, and a soft, soft, mouthfeel. Ethereal. This was the last of a half case and it is really singing right now. Absolutley stunning.

6/29/2009 - Bruno wrote:

Certainly a mouthful. Nose of green bell pepper, which never really blew off entirely. On the palate more green pepper, followed by black fruit, leather, and spice. Silky mouthfeel with a very long finish. An interesting wine to be sure, but very vegital. Drank alongside a 2001 Casanova Di Neri, which seemed far more in balance and refined. Perhaps an unfair comparison given the different varietals, but I have never gotten so much green pepper off of an Italian wine. It was nearly offputting.

5/9/2009 - Bruno wrote:

Interesting cheap pizza wine. Dusty tannins, earth, bitter cherry. Produced by a Co-op outside of Siena.

4/17/2009 - Bruno wrote:

Drinkable for the price. A bit thin and tart on the front, but a decent mid-palate. Slightly vegatal finish.

1/18/2009 - Bruno wrote:

Notes consistent with DRH below. Fantastic bottle of wine.

12/21/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Tried another bottle again after about two years, and still no fruit ot speak of. Closed and very, very, tannic. Not sure what the deal is with this wine, but it has not shown well at all since I tried it immediately upon release. I seriously wonder if it will ever be good, given the dearth of fruit.

5/24/2008 - Bruno wrote:

A stunning mouthful of highly viscous, superconcentrated, nectar. Incredibly rich, with apricot, grapefruit, and marmalade, as well as a touch of vinyl, and a long lingering finish. It is like amber syrup in the glass, with more than enough acid to keep it from being cloying or overly sweet. A very impressive wine, that would hold its own alongside a top TBA or Sauterne.

5/11/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Entire case was maderized and/or corked. Non-estate corks, of inferior quality, in every bottle. Winerz.com. Bummer.

4/25/2008 - Bruno wrote:

I really enjoyed the 2005 Black Ridge Pinot, and was expecting much better from a wine that took wine of the year honors in New Zealand. It is very modern, with almost jammy fruit, and really hot. It may need more time in the bottle to soften, but not so great now.

4/3/2008 - Bruno wrote:

My first Grange, and a brilliant experience. Tasting notes very consistent with Will's below. Lots of oal and ripe fruit to be sure, but very complex and layered. Beautiful structure.

3/22/2008 - Bruno wrote:

From the other notes I clearly got lucky with this particular bottle, but my experience is definitely consistent with thebonnydooner (below). Very nice bottle for the price.

3/4/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Unbelievable color - like a glass full of sqiud ink. However, very light on the palate. Initially very tight, with more tannins than fruit, but opened slightly with time showing some bitter chocolate and coffee. I will let the other two bottles sleep a bit longer.

2/27/2008 - Bruno wrote:

After initial funk blew off, very nice fruit and soft tannins. If I had tasted this blind I would probably have guessed it to be French. Nice, subtle, finish of vanilla and oak. Lovely wine. Great QPR.

2/14/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Like a mouthful of baked black cherries. Cannot imagine a better pairing with chocolate. Not overly prunish or raiseny at all. Like a subtle port. Very nice, indeed.

2/14/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Lean and angular. Not much fruit, and a fairly tannic finish. Perhaps it is on the decline.

1/22/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Fairly reticent on the nose (although after an hour of air it was opening up). Incredibly rich, ripe, dark fruit (this is how old???) - cassis, blueberry, pencil lead. Soft, fleshy and velvety in the mouth. Perfectly balanced tannins, and a long, elegant finish. Nearly perfect. No way that I would have guessed its age blind - and I imagine that it still has a long life ahead. A stunning, remarkable, wine.

1/2/2008 - Bruno wrote:

Tremendous wine. Rich dark fruit, chalky tannins, yet very soft in the mouth. A very elegant finish that goes on and on. I can see why it was the Spectator wine of the year.

12/20/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Stunning. Almost black in color. Nose of ripe blackberry, black licorice, coffee and earth. Huge fruit in the mouth, but in near perfect balance with the acid and dusty tannins. Lingering finish of toasted vanilla and caramel. Should continue to improve as the fruit fades a bit. Really, really, nice.

12/18/2007 - Bruno wrote:

I see lots of coq a vin in my future...

10/7/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Will not rate, as I will only assume I had an off bottle. Not much on the nose, but a funky hint of cooked prunes and alcohol. Fortunately it tasted (a bit) better than it smelled. Cooked prunes and hotness carried over to the palate as well. Hot, tannic finish. Really quite wretched. The cork was totally dried out so, again, I will assume it was merely a bad bottle. Will try my other bottle in a few years (assuming the cork on that one hasn't turned to dust by then).

9/17/2007 - Bruno wrote:

A little bitter and thin on the front, not much fruit, and sharp tannins - despite this it has a decent finish. Will probably pair well with roast chicken.

8/23/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Wow. Drinking VERY well right now. No decant. Some bricking, but really the only sign of age. Very bright fruit, firm tannins, but still a soft mouthfeel. Very spicy on the nose, with a long, almost smoky sweet finish. A wonderful experience.

8/15/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Wonderful minerality, oily mouthfeel, lingering finish. Fascinating varietal; like a Loire Valley spatlese (hard to describe, but delicious). Have also had the 1996 and it was even more complex and concentrated with the additonal bottle age. Really great food wine.

8/10/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Very focused, and understated shiraz. Nice, soft, well balanced fruit and finesse that is lacking in more typical examples of Aussie shiraz. Seems to have enough stuffing to age and develop even more - very nice now, however.

7/20/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Soft and well balanced. I was not prepared to like this so much (given the luke warm reviews of the 2001's in general). I thought it was stunning. A very classy, if somewhat understated, brunello. Drinking great right now.

7/15/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Exotic nose of tropical fruit, vanilla, and spice. Satiny, unctuous, mouth feel. Flavors of banana, vanilla and creme brulee. Wow. Nice bright acid as well, with a long, very d'Yquem like finish (10 to 15 minutes). Can't wait to try it with more bottle age.

5/18/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Agree with Duchamp below. 97 appears to be over hyped (at least with the di neri).

5/18/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Very floral on the nose and front palate, leather earth and ripe fruit on the mid palate, long finish with toasted vanilla. Very nice, balanced bordeaux.

4/28/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Lovely, well balanced wine. Showing much younger than I would have thought possible. Still has lush fruit, great structure, and a silky mouth feel. One of the best Washington cabs I have had, and puts their 2004 abomination to shame. A classy wine.

4/28/2007 - Bruno wrote:

A syrupy, over extracted, abomination. Like frambois with woodchips.

4/6/2007 - Bruno wrote:

For the money it puts many Sauternes to shame. Finish is a bit rough (and a bit clipped) but otherwise a really nice balance of sweetness and acid. Undeniable QPR.

3/31/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Could not have described this better than Eric (below). "A revelation" indeed. Ethereal, almost burgundian in its softness. Layer upon layer of flavor, all in perfect balance.

3/17/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Huge nose of ripe fruit, mocha, and earth. Lots more chocolate and coffee on the palate, with chalky tannins and a huge mouthfeel. A bit much for me, but interesting. Would have preferred brighter fruit and more acid.

3/15/2007 - Bruno wrote:

I am admittedly no expert on Sauternes, so take this review with a grain of salt. That said, this wine seems to embody all the eccentricities of Sauternes, without any of the sweetness that makes them so enjoyable. While the nose and flavor of "shower curtain" is an interesting backdrop to the honey, apricot, and tropical goodness of a d'Yquem, or Rieussec, it is still in the background. Here, the nose and front palate is all chemical and funky with no core of fruit to balance it. The finish is clipped, and also medicinal/chemical and a bit bitter. I just popped it, and will try again tomorrow, but now it is not great. At $11 I am hardly crestfallen, but it sure makes me appreciate the other examples I have had. *** No improvement over time. Still shitty, worse in fact.

2/13/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Can only echo what others have said, tremendous QPR - if you can find a better riesling in this price range I would be shocked. Paired with prawns poached in vin santo tossed with some fresh pasta.

2/9/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Cassis, blackberry and ripe fruit on the front. Gripping tannins and a lingering finish of black licorice and toasted vanilla. While the fruit is very ripe it is not hot, nor is it overly oaked, and tastes more California than Washington to me. Pretty impressive balance for how young it is - and it seems to have enough stuffing to age awhile. An absurd value at 6.99.

1/28/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Shite.

1/28/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Not much fruit on the nose or palate. Some cassis and redfruit on the front, then leather, mocha and burnt oak immediately giving way to astringent tannins. Not very balanced. Hopefully a little more time in the bottle will help, but right now it is not showing very well.

1/28/2007 - Bruno wrote:

VERY closed on the nose. Never really did open up over three hours. Palate was shut down as well. Hopefully it is just a phase. Disappointing. Will open another in a few months.

1/23/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Really drinking well right now. Nose of vanilla, cassis and sandlewood. Full mouth feel, ripe fruit, bracing tannins. Long, earthy, finish of leather and spice. Really a fun, interesting, wine.

1/21/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Very new world. Sweet oak on the nose and palate, nice fruit, well balanced tannins. Longish finish. Apparantly not real well received in Italy, but a really solid drinker. Very nice effort.

1/18/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Wonderful nose of bright strawberry, rhubarb, raspberry. Fruit carries over to the palate, giving way to a finish of dusty earth and leather. Very well balanced and enjoyable now.

1/16/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Primary. Apple, pear, some honey notes on the finish. No nose to speak of, rather abrupt finish. Nice balance of acid and sugar, but not much going on.

1/15/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Green olive dominated the nose and front. Nice fruit on the mid. Smokey herbal finish. Perhpas this bottle was off, but it was just way to vegital to me.

1/9/2007 - Bruno wrote:

Easily the best Vin Santo I have had (with Isole Olena a close second). Burnt sugar, caramel, and toffee, with enough latent acidity to keep it from being cloying. A huge buttery mouth feel, and a finish that just doesn't quit. A very well crafted wine that will only improve in the bottle.