12/27/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

At 14 years old a tad complex. ... Peppery nose yet sugary at the same time. ... Vanilla nose, too, with some cherries added; very dessert like. ... Cross between a candy shop and a tire store. ... Powerful though not spectacular palate with some astringency. Nothing to complain about; a pretty solid wine.

12/27/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Giggs decanted this for three hours. ... Explosive, almost orgasmic, nose of bubble gum and marmalade with a hint of rubber mixed in. On on other hand, the palate was much less sweet and subtle; very pleasant. A tad acidic late with some tobacco and tar, but that just made it more engaging.

12/27/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Interesting blend of barbecue smoke and maple syrup with a rich nose and at times a multi-fruit bouquet. My wife said the palate was much thinner than the nose; it's possible the tasty Manchego cheese dulled the impact of the wine. Overall a nice wine, perhaps better without food.

8/13/2013 - LexTom wrote:

Third of three wines assembled by Giggs; they all were non-tannic and blended well. ... Cherry plum nose and toffee with a dust of chalk. ... some licorice on the palate with a smooth finish. No issues.

8/13/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Giggs did well buying this wine. ... Dense purple-black color with interesting nose of lilacs--unusual in my experiences--half-ground coffee beans, and mild alcohol. ... A little bubble gum on the palate along with cherry cola and some black licorice. ... Not tannic at all. ... Simply a very nice wine; slightly sweet with some interesting notes.

8/13/2013 - LexTom wrote:

Mmmmmm. ... Crazy nose of magic marker, rubber, glue, mold, wet rag, and chemical plant. ... Palate, however, was mild with strong peat moss and dark fruits. Not tannic at all. Drank with pasta and tomato sauce. ... Have grown fond of more complex wines with nose and mouthfeel that seem at odds. Enjoyed it.

7/19/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Three-hour decant. ... A very cool wine with all kinds of stuff going on at first smell and taste. ... First sniff a tad stinky--plaster and dry wall, then cigar bar and tires. ... A bit stringent. ... Mouthfeel, however was smooth and, after about 30 minutes, the nose got milder and fruity. ... Dark chocolate with a bite, then a chalky finish. ... One of best wine threesomes but together by Giggs.

7/19/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Second wine of the evening reminiscent of Inkblot, a favorite. ... Meat marinade and very creamy on the nose. ... Dirty plum taste with some charcoal and grill smoke. ... Fruit medley gave way to tannic aftertaste. A very good wine that's a little on the bold side.

7/19/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

The first of 3 assembled by Giggs on "guess the wine" night was the best; recognized it but failed to correctly identify. ... decanted one hour. ... captive nose of incense and menthol at first, with slight eye irritation. ... very smooth and mild mouthfeel of fruit was heightened with dinner. ... Very peppery late with smoke but once again only a mild aftertaste. Hasn't disappointed yet.

6/13/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Probably best wine of the evening. ... Orange cream (very different), faint white chocolate, woody smoke and beef marinade. ... Concentrated and strong in the nostrils, long finish but fairly smooth.

6/13/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Nose better than taste. ... Combination of bubble gum, mint, and flowers in a field. Lots of barbecue on the palate, which seemed to improve with the second glass.

6/13/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

A lot of sweetness but not overpowering. ... Creamy mouthfeel with cherry-mint and cough syrup; slight bit in the throat.

6/13/2013 - LexTom wrote:

Shared with Giggs, who noted it may have just been the bottle. ... Nose of mildew and dirty socks. ... Palate not bad, but detected wet rag, strong oak/wood. Taste had a hint of the ocean. Rating wouldn't reflect previous experience with wine.

3/4/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Second time around for this wine, with somewhat different nose and palate. ... Still very grapey to nose but fruit seemed more bitter. ... Nose of chalkboard, wood fire, and eucalyptus. ... Strong palate sweeter than nose with a very even finish. Slightly lower rating this time but still a nice drinking wine.

3/1/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Final wine of trio assembled by Giggs not the top one but perhaps the most interesting (given age?). ... Very heavy nose of mocha, wood, leather, cigar smoke, and even compost. ... Musty odor added intrigue. ... Giggs detected smoked banana, which proved accurate. ... Palate, however, had sweetness. ... Stronger tannins than early wines of the evening. ... Rating may reflect fact this wine was so different, I couldn't help but like it.

3/1/2013 - LexTom wrote:

Rather deep color. ... Cabernet, Merlot, Petite Verdot and Malbec. ... Nose of butter, woodsmoke, soil. ... Bittersweet chocolate, some cream, meat marinade on palate. ... Subsequent glass had saltwater taffy and charcoal notes. ... A young, pleasant drinking wine.

3/1/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Initial nose much like one of my favorite wines, but palate not so much. ... Interesting blend of black cherries, citrus fruits, mushroom, basil. ... Palate on the smooth side with licorice notes, bubble gum, pepper. ... Subsequent glass produced rubbery nose. ...Obviously mature, rustic, mild tannins.

1/11/2013 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Very pleasant wine, with little not to like. ... Nose of maple syrup, waffles, cherries, fuel. ... Mild sweetness in mouth with some hard candy. ... easy aftertaste. ... second glass on showed cocoa, strong licorice. Finished it wanting more. Nice Washington wine.

1/11/2013 - LexTom wrote:

Initial nose of cough drops, gum, and parsley. Dry at first with mild aftertaste but second glass produced more fruit, a bit more sweetness, and smoother finish. ... Second and third glasses: semi-sweet chocolate, garden herbs, dark cherries. ... Iffy on chianti but rating suggests the wine is pretty good.

12/30/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Duped by Giggs. ... Perhaps my palate was shot after three bottles. ... Like the piney aspect but agree very salty, probably too much. ... Earth, herb bouquet, hints of chocolate. ... Saltwater taffy and hard candy not bad. ... After further reflection rating downgraded, but as wines produced in states not known for it go, I've had much worse. Willing to give this another shot after a long decant, just for the heck of it.

12/30/2012 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Best wine of the evening, appropriately called The Bishop. Immediate burst of coconut to the nose, along with strong oak; odd but enjoyable mix. ... Buttery to the taste, with some buttercream and licorice. Overall fruit but hard to detect specifics. ... Subsequent nose opened the nasal passages but with pleasant menthol. Recommend.

12/30/2012 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Very nice second wine of the evening, served with gnocchi, sauce, meatballs, chicken thighs. ... Bouquet of candy, mainly chocolate, with chemical overtones. ... Very dark/dense in color, which reflects the taste. ... Chocolate lingers in mouth, with chalkiness. ... Goes down easy. Nice wine.

12/30/2012 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Lots of flowers in the nose and somewhat earthy and at times a bit chemical. Agree with Giggs on it being "rustic." ... On the thin side color-wise but much heavier in the mouth. ... A lot of grape, hints of fruit mix, a little smokey, and a pretty nice finish.

12/24/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Always quality wine. Fragrant fruit to nose, with some licorice. Can stand alone but enjoyable with both salmon/cracker/egg/onion/sour cream and dill, and main course of standing ribeye. Our host Jeff said it was best wine of the evening.

12/24/2012 - LexTom Likes this wine:

Good wine, not great wine. Smokey nose. Not a wine I like to drink on its own, but worked well as aftermath. For instance, woke up after sip of Spanish brandy; garlic-filled olives were a good lead-in; paired well with white cheddar/chocolate cheese. ... mild cocoa and wood. ... Still fairly strong for KY wine.

10/1/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Would rate this one best of the evening. ... Very dark color with a nose of chocolate, barbecue, beef, and marinade. ... On the sweet side and a bit syrup with a multiple fruit burst. ... Slight bite on the palate. ... Like how the complexion changed with second glass.

11/22/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Don't drink a lot of Port; some are too sweet. Drank this dessert wine sans food. ... Very mild nose with some herbs, chocolate, and earthy odors. Sweet but not overly so with dashes of motor oil and kitchen spices. I would be interested in trying it with an Italian meal. ... From a small winery in Atlantic County, N.J. Sandy soil, lots of farms, etc.

10/1/2012 - LexTom wrote:

A lot going on with this wine. ... Really like the deep fruit/cherry licorice and raspberry nose. ... Odd palate of oranges and rubber but interesting. ... Giggs noted graphite. Overall very enjoyable.

10/1/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Lots of grape in nose with hints of smoke and earth. ... Noticeable smoothness on palate with some chalkiness, clay, and flowers. ... Very mild aftertaste.

9/23/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Just bottled the previous week. Served with dinner at the winery. ... No decant. ... Had this with my wife, Karen, and we were both impressed; best wine we've had yet from Jean Farris. ... A nose of chocolate/cherry truffles, zingy licorice, assorted herbs with a hint of sweetness, complex jams including raspberry. Initial nose very tingly and menthol. ... Dark plum in color but not too thick to taste, with mostly jams and chocolate. ... Karen said it could be used as a dessert wine; I couldn't really argue that. Interesting because it went well with everything we had, including filet mignon and duck confit. ... Mouthfeel very consistent and very warming. After a while strong butterscotch detected by nose, but not palate. A very fulfilling wine, one of our favorites so far.

9/13/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Kind of neat when the initial odors and taste tell you a wine is "old." ... Guessed 10 years old but actually 15. Plenty going on in this bottle, including: herbs such as oregano, basil and fennel; bubble gum nose and taste; bursts of fruit from time to time, such as cherry, raspberry, and blueberry; spicey with pepper; butterscotch hints; and yes, pine trees. ... Giggs calls this wine "controversial," which it is, but nothing controversial about the rating. Like the fact the taste is very complex--exciting--but mouthfeel is smooth. This is on the list of one of my favorites.

9/13/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Initial burst of licorice, dark fruits, and hint of tomato, followed by butterscotch, smoke, and slight chemical-ness. ... Most noticeable feature is smoothness in mouth and throat; very much lacking in aftertaste. Overall flavors/smells not out of the ordinary, but the mellow nature of this wine put it over the top. A bit different; not for those who like bold wine.

8/23/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Rating may not be fair, as Giggs noted this type of wine is known for being thin rather than bold. ... That said detected some chalkiness and no strong flavors; some raspberry and other red fruit touched with mild creaminess; flavor not deep whatsoever. Mediocre experience but prefer much more dynamic, if not intriguing, wines.

8/23/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Second wine of night; sweetish but not saccharin, very deep berry along with interesting "cow" components--farm and compost. Some cotton candy at nose. Overall very nice.

8/23/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Medicinal fruit nose but not offensive; pleasant candy on palate; very strong in nostrils but not acidic. The wine was partnered with pasta in red sauce. Sharp cherry emerged but otherwise very steady with little change in smell or taste. Liked it.

5/30/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine, pasta, and cheese with Giggs: Had the Tres Picos before, I believe one of the earliest wines shared by Giggs. Pretty nice wine but damaged by following two better wines. What stood out most was tangy fruit and a sweet, mild finish.

5/30/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine, pasta, and cheese with Giggs: Nice color and consistent taste with pleasant lingering aftertaste. ... Several things going on such as citrus, menthol, oak, nuts, and mild licorice or anise, all much deeper for second glass. ... Nothing to complain about. Probably would have gotten a higher rating had it not followed the Inkblot, which totally excited me.

5/30/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine, pasta, and cheese with Giggs: Loved it. First time after being highly recommended by Giggs. ... Fantastic finish of smokey/charred wood, mesquite, barbecue, and marinated meat, this after an initial black cherry taste. ... Dark in color with floral fragrance and a touch of fruit candy. ... Went very well with pasta/tomato sauce with mild Italian sausage, and absolutely exploded with a nice block of sharp cheese. By the end of second glass/third glass, still strong mesquite but a burst of butterscotch, licorice, and chocolate. So much quality stuff going on with this wine. A keeper; look forward to the next go-around.

4/18/2012 - LexTom wrote:

This wine was recommended but completely unexpected. Either my sense of smell and taste was particularly keen this evening or I'm finally learning something. ... Grape, grape, grape, which is no surprise, but then ... roses, chemicals, ash, mulch, tobacco, dense blueberry. ... Kind of tart to the taste but in a good way. Nice aftertaste and overall a very enjoyable wine to drink. I guess the odd combination of odors and tastes sold me on it.

4/5/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine and dinner with Giggs: Drank this wine with Giggs before the Katnook and really liked it, which makes the Katnook look that much better. ... That said, this wine, which decanted about 7 hours, was a pleasant blend of fruits, herbs, and smoke. ... The taste was mildly sweet and smooth on the palate. ... Lots of cotton candy, but not in an offensive way. ... Drank the wine with shrimp in red sauce over pasta, and it got sweeter. Later detect an odd fuel odor. ... Giggs commented the 2006 is a bit better; I'm not so sure. I'll call it a toss; another nice Penfolds.

4/5/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine and dinner with Giggs: Wine decanted for about 9 hours. Deep purple color, floral fruit and alcoholic bubble gum smell. First taste delightfully sweet. ... Detected sweet mint (Giggs said eucalyptus) with some roses. Powerful but beautiful taste that got better as it went along. ... Fruit smoothie, and later herbal/basil odors. A lot going on with this wine, which, because of the complexity, is one of my favorites thus far. Recommend.

2/16/2012 - LexTom wrote:

'Should Have Stopped at 3' Wine Night/Ian and Alex: Last of four wines for the night, so perhaps the rating is unfair. ... Liked the nose of church incense combined with earthy tones such as a tilled garden. ... Earthiness trumped the fruitiness but not in a bad way. Should probably revisit this wine under better circumstances to challenge the rating.

2/16/2012 - LexTom wrote:

'Should Have Stopped at 3' Wine Night/Ian and Alex: This wine was the star of the night. ... Tart, wood smoke, spice, and even a hint of green vegetables. ... Doesn't jump out at you in any way but very smooth from start to finish. ... A lot going on for my still-inexperienced wine palate but just liked everything about the experience. Paired with some sharp cheese.

2/16/2012 - LexTom wrote:

'Should Have Stopped at 3' Wine Night/Ian and Alex: Revisited with success. ... Decanted two hours or so. ... Initial odor was cherry, cherry, and more cherry, which went along with the deep color. ... Similar drinking experience as before; cheese brings out some sweetness. ... Interesting spicy licorice mix. ... All in all just a nice wine with or without edibles.

2/16/2012 - LexTom wrote:

'Should Have Stopped at 3' Wine Night/Ian and Alex: Pretty wine obtained nicely by Giggs. ... Very dark with interesting floral/spice nose. ... Light on the palate. ... Herbs, but fennel came through the most. ... Very consistent from start to finish, almost "old" in the taste. Paired with sharp cheese there was a burst of taste toward the end of the bottle; got better as it went and sweetened up a bit.

2/6/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Nice black cherry color with light edges; spicy tingle on the initial nose. ... Mild black licorice, more earthy than fruity at first but smooth on the palate. ... After decanting for an hour-plus, nose and palate opened up but not like other Penfolds wines. ... Drank with meatballs, sausage, and tomato sauce with red pepper kick; sweetness came out but nothing memorable. Pleasant but not bold, guessing the wine is young, but so are my taste buds when it comes to assessing wine. ... 78% Cab Sauvingon but Merlot came through nicely, which I liked. Probably needs time but as $10 bottles of wine go, can't knock value.

1/28/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine Dinner: Decanted roughly five hours. Very up-and-down wine in that the initial nose was quite nice and very fruity, but the taste--the first glass at least--was dull on the tongue. That said, the taste became more expressive as we got to the bottom of the decanter. Not sure what to make of it, but I'm not a big fan of Cab Sauv so that may have something to do with my reaction. ... Giggs informed 2000 not a great vintage for Napa.

1/28/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine Dinner: Did not live up to expectations set by Giggs. However, beautful fruit on the nose with a touch of hard berry candy. ... Strong on palate but surprisingly dry given initial nose. ... Last call of the night so don't want to be too critical; probably worth another sniff in the future.

1/28/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine Dinner: Acidic and earthy taste. ... Some oak and fruit but pretty limited scope.

1/28/2012 - LexTom wrote:

Wine Dinner: Not bad.... Smoky nose and taste at first, then some fruit later. Wood smoke, nuts, with no dynamic fruit taste. Despite lack of kick, probably much classier than many average wines on the shelves.