5/11/2015 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Consumed at a range of temperatures, from ice cold to under-chilled. I'm a fan of Condrieu wines but this lacks the aggressive perfume of those -- and I mean that in the best way possible. Instead of being all "Barbie doll" with a lot of show up front and no substance, this was delicately aromatic with just enough citrus fruit on the palate to please and balance. Plenty of acid, where Condrieu usually falls short. I continue to enjoy these wines.

12/15/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

For those looking for a highly aromatic Viognier...look elsewhere. This wine is well-balanced, crisp and aromatic..but not in the usual mandarins-gone-wild kind of way. I can't recall the winemaking techniques used but regardless, I liked the change of pace.

12/12/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

No formal note, but consistently a very nice wine. Full of fruit without being fruity, well structured, nice finish and very little of the sometimes punishing finish of Malbec or Cab. Together they're nice.

11/18/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Snappy acidity, good raspberry candy with some underripe strawberry. Very easy drinker.

10/25/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Opened way too soon...but was still amazing. Somm friend who was working the floor stopped in his tracks when he walked by the table. Didn't take detailed notes but a bit shut down from what I remember from the presell tasting. Will let the others lay a few more years.

7/8/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Unlike most any SB you'll have. 66% in new and used wood, 33% in stainless, lees contact, stirring. Golden color reminiscent of new world Chardonnay. A unique wine.

6/27/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Holding up very, very well. Honeyed fruit notes, dried apples and amazing aromatics. Could go another five years, easily. Good bones is good bones and this one is built very nicely.

3/18/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Bright nose with almost a creamy note, reminiscent of raspberry rhubarb pie with whipped cream. Tart raspberry, green strawberry, rosemary and sage on palate. High acid, med finish.

3/2/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Don't have a ton of experience with straight Grenache Blanc, but this one's clean, broad palate with great structure and fresh fruit makes me want to explore more of them.

2/10/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Took to a restaurant, decanted and ate with a sharp cheddar-stuffed burger. Outstanding. Still firm tannins, aromatics still blossoming. Decant for two hours ahead of time if possible.

1/23/2014 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

4th of 6 bottles, drinking one approx. every six months.

Rim not showing any signs of age, ruby color with faint pink highlights. Med concentration, no gas no sediment. Nose is clean, youthful, fresh strawberry, raspberry, underripe blackberry. Rose petal, flower stem, hints of chalk, faint spices indicating neutral wood. Palate confirms nose, though fruit is subdued. Green strawberry, underripe raspberry, bitterness from stems, slightly coarse tannins. Med body, med acid, med plus tannins, med to med plus finish. Would be a nice Pinot from most places but not quite up to par for Burgundy. Still a nice oddball from the white zone.

12/10/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Clear, med ruby color to a clear rim, med minus color concentration but viscosity is med plus. No staining. Nose is medium plus, warm raspberries, fresh strawberries, fresh blackberries. Lavender, sage, dried grasses, sandalwood. Palate is dry, confirms raspberries, strawberries and slightly underripe blackberries. Sage, mint, a touch of eucalyptus. Med plus acid, med to med minus body, med plus finish. A beautiful wine definitely outside the mold of most Rhones from the region. Light, easily drinkable and a superb food wine.

11/29/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Wonderful cedar box aromas, dill and still-present warm red fruit. Medium acidity forms a nice backbone with medium-bodied fruit showing its age well. Silky tannins roll off the tongue to a medium length finish. Wonder how my other bottle will taste in a few years?

11/29/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Nice inky purple color, classic Syrah nose of pepper/plum/blackberry but lacking the pork of Northern Rhone. Med to med plus body, med acidity. Not nearly as overblown as many Syrahs from the region.

9/30/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Light straw color, star bright, very little rim variation. Underripe guava, lemon pith, yellow apple pulp, yellow apple skin, balanced presence of minerality on the nose. No gas or sediment. Dry on the palate, confirms nose with lemon and yellow apple, add lemon peel and an almost chalky limestone backbone. Body is medium, acid is high, finish is medium plus with textbook phenolic bitterness.

8/17/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Didn't do a complete tasting note, but my first reaction to tasting it was "I don't have the vocabulary to describe this." A stunning wine.

7/30/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Light, tart, like sour cherries or a weak Gamay. Not unpleasant but I'm not in a hurry to find another.

6/22/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Didn't do a formal tasting, wish I had. Bright green and yellow apples, white flowers, bit of peach pit on nose. Broad, same fruit on palate with great balance. Bit of phenolic bitterness on finish but not offputting. Overall a lovely wine.

6/4/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Bottle 4 of 6. Light garnet color with hints of brick, bricking at the rim, fading to clear. Med minus concentration. Intense aromatics of dried rose petal, dried raspberry, strawberry, bramble and twig. Med plus acid, bright, but med intensity of palate; tart dried red fruit continues with more dark herb notes (coriander? fennel?) on the finish, though the tart acid creates a med plus finish, dry. Overall very delicate yet tart. Liking it a lot, will taste another in 6 mo.

5/12/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Part of 07/08/09 vertical

Garnet core with a bit of pink, clear rim, slight haze. Raspberry, warm blackberry, rose petal but not much of the expected dried orange peel. Palate was somewhat thin, red fruit, same tingle on the finish as the 07 and 08.

This bottle opened up over the hour but still wasn't as well-rounded as 08. Very enjoyable though and the fruit on the palate developed later, after I took the notes. This one got a "favorite" vote from the group, too.

5/12/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Part of 07/08/09 vertical

Garnet core fading to pink to clear, slight haze. Light concentration. Raspberry, dried orange peel, compote, sage, earth on the nose. Palate confirms nose, more ripe red fruit, same tingling finish as 07.

The "vintage of the decade" wasn't significantly more impressive than the 07 and 09 but could still go a few more years under good conditions. Many of the group said this was the favorite.

5/12/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Part of 07/08/09 vertical

Dusty garnet with bricking to a clear rim, slightly cloudy. Warm raspberry, compote, golden raisin and toasted herbs with a hint of orange peel and spice on the nose. Cooked fruit on the palate, noticeable alcohol, tingling finish.

At first this bottle presented as maderized (had been held a year without temp. control, just horizontal in a dark closet) but over the next hour it opened and alternated between port-like notes and dried orange spice/warm fruit notes. Glad we opened it now, might not have held another 6 months.

4/18/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

No visible flaws, clear wine. Dark garnet color, high concentration, medium staining on the glass. Slight rim variation, bits of ruby and just a hint of brick. Aromas of warm blackberry, plum compote, stewed blueberries. Secondaries of Hershey's chocolate, warm blue flowers, lavender, and campfire. Palate has less fruit but a strong undercurrent of anise, coriander. Medium acid, medium tannins but a medium plus finish that exposes the alcohol and anise.

I generally loathe Carignan (Samso) but this one is well made. Didn't convert me to a fan, though.

4/13/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Clear, day bright, low concentration, faint ruby color with light orange/rust transitioning into a clear rim. Reminiscent of aged Burgundy. No gas or sediment, medium minus viscosity. No faults on the nose, delicate aromatics, youthful, with green strawberry, faint underripe raspberry, warm lavender, lingering hints of coarse herbs. Possible neutral wood. Dry palate, medium minus body, palate confirms the nose with choke cherry and slight minerality on finish. Medium minus alcohol, medium plus acid, medium tannins on finish. Medium minus complexity. Overall enjoyable and a fun, light red.

4/7/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Tasting nicely despite a "lesser" vintage. Not bad at all, just a more subdued expression that didn't rip the enamel off my teeth. Enjoyed it.

4/1/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Med concentration, med body. Med aromatic, warm raspberry, strawberry compote, warm herbs. Palate confirms nose, hints of blackberry jam on the finish. A bit hot (14.6%) but not distractingly so. Worked well with rib roast.

1/22/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Limestone soil, bright acidity and good fruit in contrast to the fuller, smokier, funkier Tour de Pierres (red clay/Iron soil).

1/22/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

One of the few wines from the Feb. trip that lived up to the tasting at the tasting room.

1/22/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Limestone soil, bright acidity and fruit versus the Tour Saint Pierre (red clay/iron) which had more funk and body.

1/22/2013 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Red clay/Iron soil, much more funky/horsey than the Cuvee Saint Agnes (limestone) which had more backbone and brighter acid.

1/11/2013 - MSPWineGuy Likes this wine:

Dark garnet color, pink rim. Intense aromatics of raspberry compote, smashed blackberries, toasted herbs, vanilla, and spices. Palate confirms, v. dry finish with med tannins and med plus finish. Would definitely go for this again.

7/5/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

This one needs another few years to mellow -- it's a very muscular Pinot. Big red fruit, blueberry, and that toasted herb note that lingers in most CA Pinots. What would be lavender in Burgundy becomes warm thyme in CA. New oak also comes through more than I'd like but it's consistent with the style and region. Wouldn't be hard to blind this one.

5/29/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Medium bodied, clear meniscus. Medium dark garnet color, day bright despite the intensity of color. Fair amount of alcohol on the nose, partially obscuring the notes of dark cherry, blackberry, lavender, fresh parsley, slight woodiness/wet twig indicating slight presence of oak. Palate confirms the nose, adds tart cherry (choke cherry?) and toasted herbs. Oak presence slightly more noticeable. Medium plus finish, medium tannins lingering. Lacks the "bay leaf" note I usually get from Tuscan Sangiovese but that isn't surprising. Cherry overload gives it away nonetheless.

5/14/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Dark garnet color with flecks of light garnet, medium plus opacity. Nose of blackberries, stewed black cherries, smoked pork, but faintly bright raspberries and thyme. Medium plus body and mouthfeel with medium plus acid. Palate confirms the nose, adds rhubarb compote and a hint of bramble. Medium plus finish. Like a thinner, sexier Tempranillo...but with less to say. Lacks complexity in the mid-palate but might be enhanced with food.

5/1/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Wine is bright, clear, color is medium ruby with a clear miniscus, no sign of age (duh). Nose has black cherry, stewed bing cherries, raspberry, thyme, and rhubarb compote. Palate confirms the nose but the high alcohol comes through indicating a warmer New World climate. Medium plus finish mostly due to the continued burn of the alcohol. 15.2% outstrips even big Rhones. Not a delicate flower, this one.

3/29/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Great red fruit, toasted herbs, and blue flowers. Silky without being syrupy. Quite an accomplishment at 14.5%.

3/12/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Herbs and ripe red fruit on the nose, raspberry and pomegranate with light wood notes and herbs on the palate. Medium finish, bright acidity. A nice wine, very enjoyable.

3/12/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Nose bursting with rose petal, lavender, toasted herbs, bright strawberry. Palate confirmed but was a bit shy...except for the medium plus acidity still going strong. Could possibly go another few years if only I had another bottle. Winner of the tasting that night, just a beautiful wine.

3/11/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Very nice nose, incredibly aromatic with blue flowers, lavender, and red fruit, but the body was a bit out of balance with high alcohol. Not bad for $12 though.

1/15/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

It's still a baby but wow, it kicked the butt of a 12-year-old Bordeaux tonight. Very much a Nebbiolo on the nose but the Cab and Barbera give it the "X factor" that puts it beyond. Good acidity lets it play well with lighter fare (seared ahi with wasabi tampico and cucumber wasn't a problem, surprisingly) and it sang loudly with a porcini-crusted filet, which is where it really distanced itself from the Bordeaux. Later, after opening and sitting a good hour, some sweeter cinnamon and baking spice notes appeared in the nose. A truly wonderful wine when given the right setting, unlike some of the lackluster reviews on here. Put it on the right stage and it will shine.

1/12/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Effusive violets and black cherries on the nose, pouring out of the glass. Medium acidity, palate confirms the black cherries and adds smoke, spice box, blackberry and a long, balanced finish. A very nice drinker that might be a bit too extracted for food, but I'd be willing to give it a shot with another bottle!

1/9/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Nice, bright, surprising amount of rs. Expected something a bit drier.

1/6/2012 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Great nose of bing cherry and dark fruits with just a hint of blue flowers. Taste confirms, adds an undercurrent of structure in balance with flavors and acidity. Ideal at 60 degrees but still balanced at 68. Very enjoyable, will likely get more bottles to stick away.

12/27/2011 - MSPWineGuy wrote:

Clear, no gas. Slight honeyed haze kept it from being bright in the glass. Med to med-high body. Nose of stone fruit -- apricot, tangerine peel -- and lemon peel. Clean stone and mineral, bit of honey and white flowers. Palate confirms nose, stony citrus peel and apricot with med to med-high acidity. Finish of honey and sweetness. Not as racy and delicate as I expected. Feel like I can get the same/similar profile from a WA Riesling without waiting 7-8 years to drink. Luckily only had it a few months.