12/23/2023 - joet626 wrote:

slightly corked nose. Wine was OK, nothing special. Was well-balanced and smooth mouthfeel but not much fruit

10/4/2023 - jackaroo wrote:

Not Cabernet Sauvignon as listed, but 80% Monastrell, 15% Syrah and 5% Cabernet. Thought I might be getting a bargain.

12/1/2022 - joet626 Likes this wine:

very good. Lemony, creamy. Nice mouthfeel. Good all-around

5/2/2022 - Rieslingfan wrote:

Two years since this was released, and I am the first to post a note on CellarTracker? Shocking!

Anyway, this is clearly old school. There’s significant structure, and while there is plummy, berry fruit, it’s not at all over the top. This is a wine that is going to need time, and will likely reward it. I do pick up a hint of ethyl acetate, but not so much as to be distracting. It’s just something I will keep an eye on, and evaluate when I open another bottle in a few years. For now, serve with food that has a little extra fat content, to give something to balance out the tannins.

3/1/2020 - joet626 wrote:

Bottle was slightly corked. Caused the smell to be corky. The taste was still good but the overall experienced was not as it should have been

2/5/2023 - joet626 Likes this wine:

good. Liked this with beef strogonaff

3/12/2021 - sfwinelover1 Likes this wine:

First of 3 ($29.99) from the online wine clearinghouse. On the nose and palate, tangy red raspberries and strawberries, dry earth, (non-baking) spice and forest floor with piney notes. Dark purple, especially for a pinot, medium bodied, fuller legs. Brisk acidity, quite tannic for a pinot, no heat. Good intensity and persistence, medium complexity. This came out of the bottle all red-fruited angularity with a feral feel, closer to Beaune than the RRV, making me wonder if I was drinking the same wine as others noted in their TNs in the half glass I had. After a couple of hours and on subsequent nights, the wine became more consistent with what others noted, the fruit turning darker, with notes of blackberries and black cherries, with a juicier and more integrated quality. That said, I actually preferred it without the air, with an intense freshness and raciness rarely found in CA pinots. Still, even after the air, the wine had more than enough structure to hold its own, and the low abv--13.5% abv--made it quite friendly with fish and very good as a standalone. Likewise, the acidity and moderate alcohol should keep this wine on a good track for a number of years, particularly for those who prefer their pinots more integrated than I do. BigBaby is dead on that vintage in and vintage out, bottling in and bottling out, this winery is dead solid, and when you see their products on discount sites, you should grab them. 93 out of the bottle, 91-92 thereafter.

11/6/2021 - joet626 Likes this wine:

very good at first with nice red cherry fruit but devolved to sour cherry . Just so-so

12/20/2020 - joet626 Likes this wine:

wow! Outstanding. Bright red cherry fruit. Long finish!

12/3/2020 - joet626 Likes this wine:

very smooth and elegant. Very good

11/27/2019 - joet626 wrote:

ok. Very dry. Not much fruit

3/24/2018 - joet626 Likes this wine:

This is a wonderful field blend. Loads of black fruits and well balanced. Wish I had more of this.