9/8/2018 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Definitely better with food. When I read the negative reviews, I got concerned and decided that we better get rid of this one. But it really was an excellent pairing with our barbacoa and chimichurri soft tacos and the charro beans. The jammy fruitiness was a great match with the heat of the southwest flavors of our food. Definitely not a wine to drink with steak or prime rib, and not a great sipping wine without food, but I wouldn't rule this one out for pairing with spicy foods.

2/13/2018 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Lovely ruby color. Beautiful nose of blueberry, grass, vanilla, and cherry. Slightly tannic, but still easy to drink. Very fruity and dry on the palate. Would pair well with any red meat; we paired it well with beef/bean chili. Continued to drink it after we were through with our meal, and we desperately wanted some chocolate (or cheese - cheddar would be OK, but blue or Stilton would be awesome) with it. So glad we bought 6 bottles! More to come!

9/5/2017 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

What's not to like?! My husband said this was absolutely the best wine he's ever put in his mouth. We paired it with a red-wine glazed lamb chop, rosemary zucchini, and mashed potatoes. For a 2008, we were surprised that the color was still a beautiful ruby. The nose was a rich Carmel Valley memory. I got some chocolate and almond, maybe some hazelnut, and I wish I could identify all the succulent aromas, but I'm not very good at that. The wine is not tannic, but there's a little pepper when you swirl it in your mouth. Again, I wish I could identify everything in the mouthfeel. This is not a very educated review, but this is one excellent wine!

5/4/2017 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

One of the best sauvignon blancs I've had in awhile. Lovely minerality and citrus, with the addition of some pineapple that makes it stand out from some of the others. Yes, it's pricey for a SB, but it's special!

2/4/2017 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Dark ruby, almost morphing to garnet in the glass. Nose is somewhat oaky with mature hay and grass, some ripe berry and a hint of chocolate. There is also some kind of green vegetable that I cannot discern. The mouth is lovely, rich, smooth, and a little fruity with not much tannin at all. Easy-drinking wine that pairs well with a grilled steak.

10/21/2015 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Pale yellow in the glass with varied legs (some slow, some medium, and some fast - I've never seen that before). Subtle nose with a little pear and fresh, sweet grass. Drinks like a French white Burgundy. Very smooth and lovely. Perfect paired9 with roasted salmon with a mayo-caper-dill sauce and roasted asparagus with browned butter sauce. Loved it and would buy again.

9/23/2015 - Arkiefoodie Does not like this wine:

Not feeling the love. Nothing on the nose. Very berry taste - blueberry, blackberry, dark cherry. Mildly tannic. Blah. Just blah. Only saving grace is that it might be a mild red wine to introduce to someone who hasn't liked red wine in the past. Would not buy again.

5/3/2014 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Gorgeous dark ruby in the glass. Huge sweet plum on the nose with a hint of oak. Luscious mouthfeel with cherry, plum, and little to no tannin when paired with food (steak, rosemary potatoes, and parmesan asparagus). A little tannin after food was finished, but not overpowering. This wine really grew on me the more I drank and the longer it was open -- would suggest decanting. It's still a young wine with a high alcohol content. Would do this one again ... glad we have another in the cellar which we will decant next time. One of the best Temecula wines!

4/5/2014 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Very pale straw in glass -- delicate-looking and almost colorless. Fresh and fragrant on the nose -- pineapple, sour apple, lemon, and maybe some subtle floral notes. Drinkable without food, it has well-balanced acidity and minerality. A little sour on the finish, but not at all unpleasant. Would pair nicely with delicate white fish, cream sauces, and salad. Would definitely buy again.

9/21/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Medium garnet in color. Looked a little thin in the glass. Yummy nose with orange, mild leather, mild chocolate, some hay, and plum. Little to no tannin, easy to drink without food. I got a little vanilla and raisin on the palate. We were disappointed with our pairing it with a heavily seasoned grilled sirloin strip. I think it would have been better with pasta, chicken, or braised beef (pot roast). It's a nice wine, but not a "wow."

7/10/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Very refreshing and crisp, no oakiness.

7/7/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Luscious dark ruby with well-formed legs in the glass. Complex nose -- berries, chocolate, hay, leather and more. The mouth is rich and jammy, dry but not very tannic so it's fine to drink without food, but awesome paired with a grilled steak. Would be really fantastic paired with chocolate! We would definitely buy this again -- by the case!

7/3/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Unfortunately I didn't take any notes last night, but we loved this wine and would buy it again. It paired nicely with grilled pork chops.

6/28/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Loved, loved, loved this wine. Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of currant, raisin, blackberry, plum, and mushroom, and maybe just a hint of chocolate. Very well-balanced and pleasant/easy to drink with or without food. Dry with just the right amount of tannin. Would definitely buy this again, by the case!

5/17/2013 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Great wine! Buy more! I don't usually get excited about chardonnay, but this was a really good one.

5/17/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

OMG! Awesome wine! Deep, dark plum in the glass. Fresh and earthy, slightly berry nose. Delicious mouth with just enough tannin (none with food), some pepper and spice, which dominate without food. Paired beautifully with spaghetti and spicy marinara!!!! We bought two bottles of this at the winery and now wish we had bought at least a case!!! I can't say enough good things about this wine; I'm blown away!

5/10/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Looked a little thin on the pour, but turned medium garnet in the glass. Lovely nose of orange, with a hint of strawberry and something green -- maybe kiwi or honeydew. Great to drink without food as there is little to no tannin. Pepper came out when paired with salmon with maple/mustard seed sauce and green beans with seasoned ham. We have another bottle that we brought back from NC and we are looking forward to enjoying it again.

4/8/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Wonderfully rich fragrant nose of berries, plum, and dark cherries. Pleasant to drink, but better with food. Got a little tannic once we had finished our stuffed mushrooms. Would buy again.

4/3/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Really nice, easy-drinking red with mild tannins, that became a little more pronounced with food (paired with polenta with pancetta and tomato sauce). Would definitely buy again.

2/14/2013 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Pale straw in color. Unique nose of raisin, fig, and green apple. Mouth is fresh, tart, creamy, and oaky at the same time. It is hard to justify $45 for a chardonnay, but this is very good.

2/5/2013 - Arkiefoodie Likes this wine:

Beautiful dark ruby in the glass. Nose of plum, dark cherry, licorice, chocolate, and freshly mowed grass or hay. Luscious jammy mouth with blueberry, cherry, a bit of citrus, primarily orange. A nicely balanced wine.

2/4/2013 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

This wine was young, non-tannic, and easy to drink, but it was nothing special. Our food overpowered it, and we enjoyed it more after dinner without food.

12/2/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Young. Great with pork tenderloin. Easy sipping.

11/30/2012 - Arkiefoodie Does not like this wine:

Not my favorite viognier. Nose of old hay and manure. Flavors of pineapple, pear, and apple with lots of minerality, but something about it just doesn't mesh for me. Maybe would be better with food, but I won't be buying this again.

11/23/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Paired well with Thanksgiving turkey. A little on the sweet side for my taste, but my husband liked it enough to say he'd buy it again.

11/4/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Didn't love this one. Had a great nose, but disappointing. It did open up later, and probably should have been decanted.

10/17/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Dark ruby in color. Fragrant nose of plum, cherry, a hint of orange, and something really fresh and green that I can't identify. Rich and somewhat dry mouth with a nice balance of fruit and spice. Paired well with a grilled pork tenderloin. Just a very nice, easy to drink red wine.

10/12/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Dark ruby in the glass. Intense, rich nose of ripe fruit and a hint of earthy mushroom. Beautifully balanced, fruit-forward, and creamy/silky mouthfeel with dark fruits, especially cherry, and a hint of vanilla and spice --maybe a little bit of orange upon opening. This wine has a depth and intensity normally experienced with more mature wines. Definitely a hit at our house! So glad we have a couple more bottles. Loved, loved, loved it!

8/19/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Lovely pale straw color in the glass with nose of sweet hay, apple, pear, and melon, and some floral hints. Initial taste was a little heavy without food, but improved with food. Though I expected a sweeter taste because of the nose, I was delighted to taste just very pleasant stone fruit and a bit of effervescence, rather than the sweetness I had expected. Once dinner was finished, it continued to be good even without food. We had tasted this wine at the Biltmore Estate Winery and bought two bottles, and thoroughly enjoyed! We would like to buy more.

7/28/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

STILL one of my favorite white wines. Wonderful tonight with our appetizer course of scallop and shrimp cocktail. I still say it's a "go to" wine.

7/21/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Gorgeous jammy nose with plum, orange, and very mild leather. Very dark ruby in the glass. Delicious fruit with a minimum of tannin. For a 2009, this drinks VERY well now. Want some more!!!!!

6/18/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Medium garnet in the glass. Nose of orange, cherry, leather, and green pepper. Supple palate of dried fruits, a hint of chocolate, and a nice finish. We made a mistake in pairing it with baked salmon coated with mustard, honey, and nuts. Would be much better with red meat, BBQ, or pasta. But ... we would definitely do this one again!

6/17/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Very good; just doesn't knock your socks off, but we'd still buy a case of this. Dark ruby in the glass. Nose of orange, fig, and blackberry. Fruit-forward with nicely balanced tannins. Just darn good.

6/16/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Light garnet in the glass; looks thin and light, but this is deceiving. Nose of orange, cedar, and black cherry. Luscious mouth that is fruit- forward and an excellent pairing for spicy food or the bumper of a car. Excellent young Pinot.

6/7/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Golden straw color in the glass. Fresh nose of hay, pear, and sweetgrass. Got white grapes and a little watermelon in the mouth. Nice balance between a traditional buttery, creamy chard and a minerally crisp chard, though it leans more toward an oaky, buttery mouth. What an excellent pairing for Scallops with heavy cream, basil and Parmesan sauce! This is an awesome Chardonnay!

6/7/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

One of my favorite white wines! Crisp, clean, but not cloyingly tart like some Sauvignon Blancs.

6/5/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Very disappointing after decanting for an hour. Pretty in the glass with dark ruby-garnet colors. Nose is great with blueberry, blackberry, dark cherry, and lots of tobacco and leather. Unfortunately, the mouth doesn't measure up-- mushroom and earthiness with a bitter finish. Sorry we have 4 more bottles of this ....

6/4/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Gorgeous dark ruby in the glass. Nose of blueberry , dark cherry, and blackberry jams. Luscious fruit-forward with well-balanced tannins and acids. This is an awesome wine -- my husband wanted to give it a 99, but what is a 99????

6/2/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Rich, dark ruby in the glass. Nose of jam, smoke, plum, a hint of leather. Awesome mouthfeel with great balance and notes of raisin, black cherry, mushroom, and plum. Lived it paired with mushroom/onion stuffed flank steak.

5/24/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Dark ruby to garnet in the glass, depending on how full it is. Awesomely distinctive and pungent nose of blueberry, some white chocolate, and ink (I've never seen that term used for wine, but it's a good thing, not bad). Lots of spice, some cinnamon and cloves, blackberry, and chocolate. Complex with firm and lush tannins. Surprisingly good for a Texas wine, and very unique for a cab.

5/20/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Dark, dark ruby in the glass. HUGE blueberry jammy nose. Fruit-forward, low-tannin, and dry palate. Unbelievably Great pairing with grilled meats (we did pork chops). Would definitely buy again.

5/19/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Gorgeous dark ruby in the glass. Exquisite nose of chocolate, plum/jam with hints of cinnamon, clove, and orange. Not much tannin or oak in the mouth, just a delightful full-bodied Cab that pairs well with steak or stands well on its own. Wish we had bought a case!

5/11/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Dark ruby in the glass. Jammy nose if plum, dark cherry, and a touch of chocolate. Palate is lightly tannic and fairly fruity with notes of blueberry and cherry.

5/10/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Medium garnet color, with nose of orange, plum, cola, and dark cherry. Smooth mouthfeel with notes of soft leather and cherry cola, with a little bit of tannin on the finish. Hubby loved it; I'm a little more "it's OK."

5/6/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Lush dark ruby in the glass with high alcohol legs. Jammy, fruity nose with the slightest hint of chocolate. Gorgeous silky smooth fruity mouthfeel. "Comfort in a bottle."!!!!!

5/4/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

The previous reviewers drank this a year too soon. We LOVED it! Gorgeous deep ruby in the glass, with jammy nose of cherry, blueberry, and plums. Mouthfeel is perfectly balanced between acid and tannin and a certain smoothness, though not velvety at all, but oh, so smooth. This paired well with a spicy chicken enchilada dish, but would be great paired with the bumper of a car! Just wish we had bought a few more bottles of this last fall when we were in Monterey .... Great wine for the price!

4/30/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

May be our new house cabernet. Excellent low-priced wine good for every day. Nice dark ruby color; excellent nose; medium tannin. Just a good all-around CA cab.

4/29/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Elegant dark ruby in the glass. Nose of berries, orange, and evergreen. Silky smooth mouthfeel with tannins appearing mid-palate. Worked well paired with spicy grilled chicken and Southwestern bean, corn, and rice salsa. Would definitely buy this one again!

4/27/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Medium dark garnet in the glass. Nose of orange, blueberry and blackberry, licorice and mild leather. The mouth was extremely silky smooth, but, paired with a grilled sirloin strip and highly seasoned green beans, I didn't get ant distinct flavors -- maybe a tad bit of orange. This is not a typical Pinot Noir, but is a pleasant diversion.

4/27/2012 - Arkiefoodie wrote:

Lemon, orange, and a little floral on the nose. Vanilla and some oak in the mouth. Nice for a change of everyday house wine.