6/19/2023 - tekygeek wrote:

Excellent with oysters! A really fine effort here, I think it beats Iron Horse’s similar offering (Brut X) by a small margin. Both wines have little to no dosage added. Really happy I discovered this.

5/30/2023 - tekygeek wrote:

A very juicy, chewy style. The hot year came through in overripe, cooked cherry/rhubarb pie. Not much complexity to speak of at 10 years. Would make a good pairing with heavier fare. Likely a great duck breast wine if sauced with savory vs sweet.

12/21/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

I realize it was the end of the many years drought in California but this 2016 was just okay. Lacked a bit of character. Not much to the palette in fruit, tannin or finish. Certainly not offensive in any way but left me wanting more. I recall other vintages being a bit more interesting.

12/15/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

Lucious and velvety. A pleasant rhone style varietal that was perfect with winter fare, especially if you feel a bit pinot'd out. Dried raspberry was dominant for me. It needed a few years to settle, I remember it being awkward on release.

11/29/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

2nd bottle: had with Thanksgiving dinner (Cornish game hen in a butter caper sauce). Really lovely pairing. I enjoyed this much better paired than on its own per my previous comment.

10/27/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

Banana, stone fruit, yellow apple, honeydew. Surprisingly light, this is not viscous Roussanne but something more austere and lovely in its own way. Would love to have with anything drenched in butter like scallops.

6/12/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

Rather acidic fruit was taking a back seat. Possibly in a funky stage. Maybe try again in a year.

5/30/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

Super lovely! Lots of raspberries and soft bubbles. Incredible depth of color.

2/16/2022 - tekygeek wrote:

Excellent!

11/22/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Lets talk about the oak. It seems not to have integrated as well as it should and it just tasted like a glass of splinters above all else. The fruit notes and elegance are there as others have commented but rather frustrating overall for this palette.

11/21/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Agree with G. A. Parker, the earthy/cedar profile leads this wine and is quite beguiling. Maybe for US palettes this is appreciated by wine nerds so understand the region, climate and style going in. A lovely find from a region not known for their reds. This producer makes a Pinot Blanc that is outstanding!

6/7/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Surprisingly powerful still after all these years. Strong presence of pineapple, coconut and mild oak. Very creamy texture. Cloudy and just turning into a darker hue of yellow. Poured for wine nerds who appreciate aged Chardonnay.

5/10/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

An absolute delight! Nothing more to say. Reviews have it right.

4/2/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Super lovely and elegant. Finesse and balance. Fantastic earthy minerality.

3/9/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

This was an okay effort. I enjoyed it much more at the tasting room some years back but it seems my palette has progressed to enjoy subtleties beyond the basic fruit notes. The lack of mouthfeel or texture seems unforgivable for what is otherwise a lovely profile. Finish was short and wanting. I messed up opening this with an expectation. Enjoy yours without :-)

2/28/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Nice wine. Pleasant smoky tobacco notes. Dried plum and prune. Elegant aromatics with great minerality. Nothing super spectacular but enjoyable.

2/19/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Sorry to go against the grain here but I found this disappointing. It is lacking character particularly on the finish. It does entice initially with gorgeous fruit but falls off a cliff right after that. Perhaps fining/filtering happened here. I have been drinking more natural yeast, whole cluster, unfined, unfiltered Pinots lately and they have loads of character. Set expectations accordingly here.

2/14/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Delightful second label from Rhys. Light on its feet, tart but just enough fruit to balance. Not fussy in the least.

2/10/2021 - tekygeek Likes this wine:

Lovely, classic S.E.G.C.

2/2/2021 - tekygeek wrote:

Everyone told me this was over the hill. Glad I didn’t listen. While its Syrah dominant it was the Grenache that stole the show. Red flowers and blueberry notes. An incredibly pretty wine and as others have commented, nicely integrated with oak after all this time. Some lovely basil aromatics on the nose. It did not have an extended finish so don’t expect a lot from this and you’ll be pleased.

8/22/2020 - tekygeek wrote:

Very pleasantly surprised by the elegance of this. Subtlety reveals nuance. Blue and black fruit as expected but a lovely acidity, mild vanilla, very restrained use of oak. Leathery notes. Velvety texture. I could get used to this. Well done Napa.

8/2/2020 - tekygeek wrote:

Stunning wine for the price! Delivers on all the Sauternes things to love except the cost penalty.

4/27/2020 - tekygeek wrote:

Somewhat of a fruit bomb but saved by the iron-rich dirt notes and elegant oak integration giving the wine a nice character. Agree with others, age will benefit.

4/11/2020 - tekygeek wrote:

Delightfully elegant and restrained. Native yeast fermentation, no fining or filtering, just good old school vineyard management and gentle vinification. Agree with other tasting notes presented here. Might have been enjoyed 1-2 years earlier just to have a but more To Kalon power but lovely anytime.

4/11/2020 - tekygeek wrote:

Refused to open up even after a few hours. Maybe dumb phase? Or I missed the window. Good stuff was lurking beneath...

2/9/2020 - tekygeek wrote:

Tobacco, leather, black fruit slightly underripe (a good thing), dusty earth. Pretty much perfect Howell Mountain. Loved it.

12/17/2019 - tekygeek wrote:

Absolutely delightful. Best after 30 mins. Pretty wine, floral, lovely sweet earth notes. Want to introduce Gamay to friends? Start here.

5/3/2019 - tekygeek wrote:

Spectacular!

4/14/2019 - tekygeek wrote:

Agree with other comment. But killer for price! Buy it all.

2/4/2019 - tekygeek wrote:

Coming together nicely, just beginning to show signs of age. Should reward with further cellaring.

4/7/2018 - tekygeek wrote:

Textbook perfect. Enjoy now.

1/3/2018 - tekygeek wrote:

Lovely, velvety, elegant. A bit shy but nicely integrated. Pretty nice effort for what was a very wet vintage.

12/31/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Fascinatingly funky. This is a big, rich, earthy wine that still has a heavy vanilla/oak influence. Drink now for the boldness of youth but I would revisit in a few more years.

11/21/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Soft, velvety, luxurious, elegant. Nice acid structure. Pair delicately or have (as we did) as a cocktail wine. And then get some more!

7/15/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Lovely and bright. Sweet grapefruit. Drank a bit more like a Pinot Grigio. Well made and fun to taste from a challenging region.

7/15/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Agree with akelsey below. Absolutely gorgeous. I want more. This bottle was extra special as I bought it at the chateau in 2012. The tasting room was their family dining room!

6/12/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Honestly a bit disappointed on this one. Last week I had the Lot IV which was spectacular. The lot III lacked structure and character. Maybe just a dumb phase?

6/8/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Still kick'n!

5/30/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Definitely found its stride with time. Very lovely and balanced since previous entry. But no two vintages are the same blend. I love that this is experimental.

5/30/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

This is a big style Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir. It is a well composed wine with soft tannin and medium+ acidity which may be surprising on the palate for otherwise delicate Pinot Noir. The nose was charming if not misleading. Tart red fruits like pomegranate and even some red currant emerge along with underripe red cherry. But it has concentration and a velvety mouthfeel. Try this with food, even BBQ. could use more time in bottle or perhaps more air.

5/27/2017 - tekygeek Likes this wine:

Wonderful stone fruits. Not as sweet as other ice wines and even a bit tart so take care pairing with very sweet deserts.

5/27/2017 - tekygeek Likes this wine:

Why not give it 100? It was drop-dead gorgeous and the star of our night. We all agreed it was in its prime because we just couldn't imagine it delivering anything better. Drink 'em if you got 'em.

5/14/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Still quite youthful! Nicely focused fruit and minerality.

5/8/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

It's cloudy but only because it was intentionally bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve flavors. Very nice when you get the temperature right, chilled but not cold.

4/16/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Big. Unapologetic. Smokey. Still.

1/14/2017 - tekygeek wrote:

Lacked acidity, maybe past it's prime.

9/19/2016 - tekygeek wrote:

Better with age!

9/4/2016 - tekygeek wrote:

Maybe the best vintage of BBV Alfaro! Opulent, seductive, silky, bright red cherry, hint of leather and earth.

9/4/2016 - tekygeek wrote:

Never had a fault with these but this bottle was riddled with heavy Brett.

8/6/2016 - tekygeek wrote:

Wonderfully smokey. Aromatic fruit. Very well balanced. Loved it.