1/20/2024 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Nice big Anglianico

3/20/2020 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

A hair acidic, but this is classic WA Merlot

3/19/2020 - avwineguy wrote:

Meh. But for $2.49, Meh is OK It's a little acidic, the fascinating thing is that this is called "American Merlot" Does that mean that the grapes could come from anywhere in the US?

10/10/2019 - avwineguy wrote:

Sill a little acidic, but you can taste the Rutherford dust. Since I won't buy from BV any longer, this is a pretty fair approximation of their Napa Cab and will buy again.

10/20/2018 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Definitely smoothing out. Could go longer. Tannins are almost totally incorporated

6/25/2018 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

88 A little acidic, but an overall nice finish. Very typical IGT Tuscan IMHO, Disclaimer: I am predisposed to any blend of Sangiovese and Bordeaux type wines, so YMMV!

9/17/2017 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Very reminiscent of Tuscan SanJo / Bordeaux blends. Smooth with a luscious finish. A VG value when compared to Tignanello and there ilk.

9/17/2017 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

A very fine Merlot at this price point. Drinking well. A very atypical Walla Wall Merlot, with the proper minerality and acidity.

9/17/2017 - avwineguy wrote:

Still drinking well. Just enough acid....
The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.

2/12/2017 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

A classic Rutherford Cab, but not as dust as say the Private Reserve BVs...I know it really isn't in the flavor profile but his is like biting into an apple.

2/12/2017 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Gotta Agree with NIS_ID very smooth merlot , but I detect a little stinky sox (not in a bad way) from the Syrah...great QPR

1/12/2017 - avwineguy wrote:

This has definitely smoothed out. The Frog and other Cayus syrahs are are way too big when younger than 5 or 6 years old. The finish is not long. The palate is still dark fruit and some chocolate. The clove flavor I detect in Cayuse when it is young, is gone. Very happy I have an 04 waiting to be opened..

8/17/2016 - avwineguy Does not like this wine:

I would say that this is a bad bottle, but maybe a bad batch? The last bottle was the same. Very acidic on the palate. Just not good.

7/6/2016 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Second 09 Syrah I Have had at what appears to be the peak. The first was a Cayuse Cailloux and now this one. Very smooth and should I say bright? Love it.

7/6/2016 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Drinking very smoothly right now. Dark, dark cherries and fruit. Not a long finish but a delicious one.

6/27/2016 - avwineguy wrote:

Opened too soon. Very acidic. Try again in 2 years. I don't see this going much above an 85, but I have been wrong before

6/12/2016 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Not as big as most Tensleys very quaffable.

6/12/2016 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Reminiscent of mid sixties BV Private Reserve Cabs. Very dusty..dark cherries, drinking great now, wish I had more.

6/7/2016 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Dark Currant, smoky and a little dust.

12/27/2015 - avwineguy wrote:

I think just too young at this point very tannic and acidic...just all over the place

12/24/2015 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Has really smoothed out and is eminently drinkable.

8/11/2015 - avwineguy wrote:

The ultimate Puttanesca pairing. This wine exhibited all of the dark berries and muscle you expect from a Zin, but add Rutherford dust to give it sophistication. The oak comes through but as vanilla in the background. Gonna give this a 91.

7/17/2015 - avwineguy wrote:

very typical wa merlot

7/17/2015 - avwineguy wrote:

yummy

6/6/2015 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Very Simple, not overly complex, yet a nice smooth black cherry flavor.

5/1/2015 - avwineguy wrote:

I'm going to go with MFlesh on this one. VERY astringent, yet after an hour or so the typical Rutherford dust and dark fruits start showing up. That flavor profile reminds me of the late '60s BV Private Reserves that I grew up on. I have four more bottles and am locking them away for at least three years. I am sure I will be revising my score by at least three or four pints by then,

2/22/2014 - avwineguy wrote:

The darkest color cab I have ever seen. Not an overly expressive nose, but on the pallet very dark currant and black cherry. Love the tannic grip in the end. Grill a rib eye with this bad boy...you are going to have a great time

12/29/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

This is the way wine is supposed to be IMHO. Dark, yet acidic, complementary to steak, yet a great stand alone. Chocolate, dark berries and rich.

12/1/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Sublime...drinking extremely well.

10/12/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Exactly what I expect from a Tuscan San Jo blend. Lots of grape on the nos, characteristically dark almost cocoa on the plate. A moderately long dark fruit finish. Excellent. Somewhat tannic right now. I bought two bottles, one is being drunk right now, the other is going away for a long, long time.

8/23/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

I've recently been getting an initial flavor of cloves (don't like) on these 2005 Tensley's. It seems to have worked itself out after a day on this bottle, but IMHO, at this point an 05 should pretty much be ready to pop and pour, but what do I know? Aside from that this is the typical Tensley profile (I like). Dark fruit and brooding. This one not much of a finish though. The clove and lack of finish caused me to give this the lowest score I have every given a Tensley.

7/14/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Dark Fruit, very big on the pallet. Still a little tannic after a 20 minute breathe. A delicious nice long finish.

7/10/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Dark Fruit and atypical Zinfandel spiciness. This is the first bottle I have ever had of this, so I cannot compare to previous vintages. Surprising that at 15.9% alcohol there was no burn. So, I conclude that whatever winemakers do to integrate the alcohol was done very well here. A very fruity finish.

6/22/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Shows potential awfully tannic and oaky at this point. Score could improve if wine does. Not bad QPR,

6/11/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

I have gone to Walla Walla Merlot Heaven. Very muscular yet refined. Cocoa, dark berries, a bit of tobacco. The only thing I downgraded this on was the finish was a bit fleeting.

2/17/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Oaky yet very crisp undertones of pear

2/17/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Dark as night coming out of the bottle. Notes consistent with my previous notes.

2/16/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Dark Fruit on the nose... luscious coffee and berry on the palate. Medium length finish. Sorry this was my last one.

1/27/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Pretty aggressive tannins. Dark fruit on the palette. This was better through an aerator. I expect another two years will bring much improvement.

1/17/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Delicious. Slightly tannic but a little breathing took care of that. Some oak on the palate, but well integrated...nice finish

1/16/2013 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

This is the way a Merlot should taste. Shows it's youth, (a little oaky) but breathes nicely. Very black berries, a short finish, but I expect this to improve with age. Goin' down to Costco before they run out!

1/1/2013 - avwineguy wrote:

Really liked this bottle... Raspberries and Dark Dark Cocoa on the palate
Drank very smoothly.

12/30/2012 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

A little clove on the mid palate, didn't get the hotness of the previous review. Beautifully smooth, almost unctuous.

11/25/2012 - avwineguy wrote:

Very dark with an almost violet rim. Dark berries on the palate and a moderate oaky finish.

11/3/2012 - avwineguy Likes this wine:

Very nice not overly complex. Garnet in color. Plum and dark fruit on the palate,just a bit a vanillaish oak...medium finish. At this price point for a Brunello, a very good value. Went great with Puttanesca and a Caesar.

11/3/2012 - avwineguy wrote:

Garnet colored Black Pepperish on the nose. Black currant, and Blackberry. Medium to full body with a nice brightness / acidity not overwhelming due to a long decant. Will be awesome in three years. A medium delicious finish. Glad I have three more bottles.

10/6/2012 - avwineguy wrote:

Just gorgeous. Still get the peppery dark fruit. The oak is gone. Almost perfect.

8/20/2012 - avwineguy wrote:

Drinking well.. Very bery on the nose, with spice and a hint pepper. The sweet fruity finish goes on and on

8/17/2012 - avwineguy wrote:

Beautiful and Spicy. Lots of very dark fruit

8/12/2012 - avwineguy wrote:

Awesome...a bit jammy...nice smooth drinking Merlot