11/28/2022 - sfern Likes this wine:

Purchased upon release and cellared until Thanksgiving '22. Drank nicely, very attractive nose, and was tasty!

11/28/2022 - sfern wrote:

I speculated on a bottle at auction. It looked good, as new. Cork came out with no problem. The wine was oxidized, sherried, past it.

4/2/2022 - sfern Likes this wine:

Showed well after an hour in the decanter. Nice balance of fruit and structure. Might try again in 2026.

2/26/2022 - sfern wrote:

Still holding, and enjoyable. Unfortunately, this bottle was corked.

12/21/2021 - sfern Likes this wine:

showed great! purchased at K&L in 2012 as a late release. drank alongside a 2012 Saffreddi Maremma Toscana. Expressive nose, cocoa on the mid-weight palet, and spice and licorice on the finish. Paired great with a blue cheese burger -yum!

9/7/2020 - sfern Likes this wine:

Fortunately, this was still hanging in there! Popped and poured. Actually improved after an hour. Nice and balanced with a great long finish.

1/19/2020 - sfern Likes this wine:

The wine is dark and extracted. It smells perfumed with dark fruits of, cassis and a little pepper. It tastes like blueberry, bing cherry, and a little bell pepper. The body is medium. The wine has a silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity. Overall very agreeable wine on its own or with a wide variety of dishes.

10/11/2019 - sfern Likes this wine:

Popped and poured bottle with perfect provenance and ideal storage. The wine looks ruby colored. It smells like fig, cranberry, forest floor, mushroom, black olive, game, walnut, and sherry. The body is light/medium. The wine has a silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has medium acidity.

9/26/2019 - sfern wrote:

Very nice drinking right now. Requires a decant or a couple hours of breathing. Message me if you want to unload some!

9/21/2019 - sfern Likes this wine:

Tasty!

2/27/2019 - sfern Likes this wine:

Poured half a glass and let the bottle breath for an hour. The wine was dazzling, balanced and great with lasagna and rotisserie chicken. Plenty of life left for this -will be difficult to resist!

6/21/2018 - sfern Likes this wine:

Great deal! Had with a light chill on a warm night. Paired with nachos. Delightful -picked up the next vintage on closeout at K&L.

5/13/2018 - sfern Likes this wine:

Monster of a wine with firm tannins and a tight nose at first - like a Santa Cruz Zin/PS in bottle shock. No luck after a 3 hour decant, so rebottled and forgot it in the fridge another 2 days... it finally opened up! Displaying violet, raspberry pie, dusty earth, virginia tobacco, cassis, and a well integrated, creamy finish.... Thank you oxygen for settling down those tannins! Age 10 more years at least.

4/24/2018 - sfern Likes this wine:

It's still going strong. Oak is integrated nicely. Drink em if you got em!

1/29/2018 - sfern Likes this wine:

Oh! This was a good bottle. Double decanted for an hour before it accompanied a delightful dinner.

1/6/2018 - sfern Likes this wine:

Tasted fresh from wine fridge in a Burgundy glass. Fresh and savory, mushroomy. Light-medium body with good lift and red fruit finish. Tasty paired with penne in "meat" sauce.

2/23/2017 - sfern Likes this wine:

Delicious now and with plenty of life.

11/14/2016 - sfern Likes this wine:

expressive nose, pleasantly port-like, on the pallet, is showed raisins, plums, still with lift and a gentle grip in the finish. Consumed over three nights and drank well the entire time.

10/31/2016 - sfern Likes this wine:

A well-stored bottle from e-auction. Good color, still hanging in there!

5/7/2016 - sfern Likes this wine:

Rich and toasty. Still alive.

3/19/2016 - sfern Likes this wine:

drinking nicely now! opens up with a half hour decant.

2/22/2016 - sfern Likes this wine:

Shy nose at first. Substantial in mouth with lovely streak of acidity. Very tasty on day two.

10/19/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

Really Good!

9/13/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

Impressively hanging in there. No signs of oxidation. Enjoyable!

6/21/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

1hr decant consumed near cellar temp ~60. Good deep violet color. Familiar cab nose, sweet and cedar. Plums, blueberry and ripe mission fig on the palate. Tight fine tanin with an medium finish. Drink now with decanting or hold another few years.

2/20/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

K&L Auction acquisition from an ideal cellar. Impressively fresh and dark color to the rim. Needed an hour in a duck decanter. Slightly shy nose of dark fruit. More dark fruit and great acidity on the palate. Satiating and enjoyable -so good with our meaty meal!

2/20/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

A pristine example, perfectly stored at 56 degrees. 45 min decant through an aerator. Attractive nose and quite fresh with juicy black and blue berries on the pallet. Supple and integrated with a tannin with a nice long finish. Yum! Perfectly accompanied our rotisserie chicken.

2/9/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

From a 57 degree cellar after a 30 min decant. Dark garnet to the rim. Understated nose; on the palate, balanced and elegant cassis played with tobacco and toasted herbs. Medium finish that refreshed and called for more.

2/5/2015 - sfern Likes this wine:

This was a pleasant surprise. It will be difficult to not stock up on upcoming vintages. Generous and expressive and not too expensive -score!

10/26/2014 - sfern wrote:

should've opened years ago. interesting vegetal note became aggressive green bells and tomato greens after an hour of air.

9/28/2014 - sfern Likes this wine:

Dark inky to the rim. Attractive nose of dark chocolate, cherry preserves, baking spices. Fresh and tasty across the palate with, dried cherry, rose petal and graphite. Good balance of richness finishing with fine integrated tannin and lingering finish. Yum! (purchased at auction, bottle in excellent condition with perfect provenance. Rested in home cellar for two months, then stood up for three days before serving directly from bottle. Opened up after five minutes in glass.) 90+

6/3/2014 - sfern Likes this wine:

Tasty and still going.

4/14/2014 - sfern Likes this wine:

Garnet colored, shy nose. Ripe black cherry, spiced and medium body. The wine has round texture and medium length finish with a touch of heat. Delicious as a cocktail and went nice with the Marinara.

3/15/2014 - sfern Likes this wine:

Good to go with a little decanting. Very tasty and no smokey issues.

3/8/2014 - sfern Likes this wine:

Second bottle tasted in the last year. Both from the same cellar in great condition. First bottle was past it, too oxidized and fell apart quickly. The second, was wonderful! Could have decanted as it held up over the corse of a week. Old cabernet nose and delicious bacon fat on the palate. Yum!

1/11/2014 - sfern wrote:

Drinkable, nice fruit, moved broadly across the palate. Inky with aromas of Violet and Raisin. Nice Blackberry and Raspberry flavors, medium bodied and fleshy with decent length. With lower acidity, its not as balanced as previous vintages.

1/4/2014 - sfern Likes this wine:

Balanced, stylish and satisfying! Had with cracked crab and was very pleased.

11/28/2013 - sfern Likes this wine:

Beauty really opened up with about half hour after first glass poured. Drinking great showing no signs of tiring.

9/30/2013 - sfern wrote:

tasty dark plumy blue fruit. Opened up nicely with decanting and held on and was brilliant the next day.

9/19/2013 - sfern Likes this wine:

Delicioso! Ready to drink, improved with an hour of decanting. Still plenty of life left. Dark firm mountain cabernet sauvignon with brambly blackberry and cassis finished with integrated round tannin.

7/11/2013 - sfern wrote:

Well stored bottle. Good fill. Good cork. Beautiful ruby color to the rim. Muted nose, lithe in texture, fruit is gone.

7/6/2013 - sfern wrote:

Huge funk right away on the nose. Is it Brett or just mourvedre? The funk blows off (for the most part) after a bit. Tasty fruit follows, quite enjoyable! I'm going to wait another year to open the next one.

5/14/2013 - sfern Likes this wine:

If you can find a well stored bottle of this -grab it! Still drinking great, delicious, dynamic cabernet sauvignon.

1/19/2013 - sfern Likes this wine:

2004 Pinino Brunello di Montalcino - 1/19/2013 Purchased last year at K&L. Pulled from 55 degree wine fridge. Sat at room temp for 15mins. Poured first glass immediately after opening. Dark garnet color. Wine still cold, the fruity nose pops, in the mouth picked up a dried lavender. 20 mins after opening and paired with a veggie pizza. This is ready to drink and with a lovely streak of acidity has plenty of life left ahead. Really enjoyable and goes down easily with food. The dark fruit is followed by black olive, balanced with integrated fine tannin. I like it.

10/20/2012 - sfern Likes this wine:

More structured than I expected. Could go much longer.

10/13/2012 - sfern Likes this wine:

1991 Monte Bello, this wine, I love you santa cruz cabernet.

10/8/2012 - sfern Likes this wine:

Deep dark hue to the rim. After decanting and for an hour after the wine seemed disjointed and the acidity was prominent. It came together the second night with beautiful dark fruit expressed so purely. Nice depth and complexity with interesting green tanin quality. This could easily keep going in the cellar, had I another bottle I'd be looking for any excuse to open it!

10/2/2012 - sfern Likes this wine:

Stylish with nice balance and great structure. Could go another 5 years easy!

9/15/2012 - sfern Likes this wine:

tasty, not at all hot, delicious.

9/15/2012 - sfern wrote:

beautiful garnet color, nice nose, had nice fruit and plenty of life. Seemed dumbed down, may have been exposed to a little warmth in the past.