5/23/2021 - topher2411 wrote:

Really fantastic right now. Fruit is still beautiful, texture is surprisingly plush. In a great place but no signs of being near a decline.

9/22/2019 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

This was closer to Galloni’s note than the community noted for me. Fantastic but probably better with some time. I will go long on Pato in future vintages.

6/21/2019 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

This is drinking really well now.

1/12/2019 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

I disagree with the prior not that this is last peak. After being open an hour or so this was fantastic with pork chops and has the bones to go for years still.

12/16/2018 - topher2411 wrote:

Nice wine, distinctive, I guess from the unique blend and relatively low alcohol for the region. I like this a lot but not sure it's worth the high price when compared to other well balanced wines. Does not have that wow factor.

Drinking well now with a decant but no indication this is on the downhill yet.

6/22/2018 - topher2411 wrote:

Age has been kind to this. Similar notes as before, just more open, better balance. Drinking very well.

10/28/2017 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Dry, mineral, lemon curd. Great to drink now with some air. Plenty to last longer.

6/19/2017 - topher2411 wrote:

Seemed to be cooked. Pretty much undrinkable.

11/12/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

This was fantastic. In a great place, but no hurry. Such a great value.

10/23/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Best Force Majeure bottle I have had and also the best Red Mountain syrah. Rich and dark, but not over the top. Beautiful nose with graphite and flowers. Seems to have plenty left in the tank.

6/27/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Corked.

5/28/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Plenty of brett, but also nice red fruit and a soft mouthfeel, with decent length.

5/28/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Must have been slightly corked. Nothing on the nose. Totally bland.

5/28/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Excellent. Good cab franc character on the nose and dark cabernet fruit. Graphite. Relatively soft but full on the palate and lengthy finish. Drinking very nicely now.

5/11/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

This started great, but began to show heat after being open for an hour or two. Probably was in the 92 range, went to something like an 88. When on, it had great dark mourvedre character, smooth mouthfeel, nice balance.

5/11/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Very young. Ripe, dark fruit. Eucalyptus, a little vanilla, graphite. Very full mouth feeling, strong tannins. This was definitely too young but it is enjoyable if you like young, tannic wines.

4/19/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Somewhat out of balance, with alcohol coming through. After a couple of hours, there is some nice savory notes, but otherwise this was pretty bland for the price (and the years spent aging it).

4/19/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

A knockout. Extremely aromatic, great cabernet fruit, graphite, cocoa, all powerful but beautifully balanced. One of the best cabs I have had in some time.

4/19/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Very dark fruit for a pinot, and pretty oaky. Soft tannins. Just okay.

4/19/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Super rich and ripe. Has maintained pretty good balance where many wines in this style may have fallen apart. Nice example of high-octane Paso blend if that's your thing.

3/23/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Really nice, well balanced pinot. Pure fruit, nice bramble and savory aromas. Drinking well now with a quick decant.

2/15/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

Interesting wine. Smells like a provence rose that just happens to be bubbly. Although not super bubbly at that. Nice, refreshing sparkler.

2/15/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Very very good. Leafy, herbal cab franc notes with red and purple fruit. Quite open now. Medium bodied, balanced acidity. This has firm tannins on the finish and good length. Can't wait to see how it ages.

2/3/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Youthful, but drinking well. Fabulous wine.

2/3/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

It's nice. For $20, 7 years past vintage, I'm happy with the value. Drink up!

2/3/2016 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Highlight of a weekend of wine. Didn't take detailed notes, but lovely medium bodied pinot, very reflective of its site.

2/3/2016 - topher2411 wrote:

While my palate was probably off due to a head cold, I thought this was delicious. Somewhat juicy, but not overly ripe. Strong tannins. Crying for grilled meat. Wish I had purchased more.

10/10/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Very nice domestic riesling. Medium acidity, some nice stoniness and hints of petrol. Off-dry.

10/10/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Somewhat disappointing in comparison with other Felsinas I've had. This had bright red fruit, but not much else. Fairly unstructured.

7/27/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Opened and kept in a decanter while we consumed. This definitely needs some air to open up. It was quite closed at first. But with air it develops great Rocks-type aromas. Marine, meaty, and funky, with some background olive and dark red fruit. Very smooth on the palate, medium long finish. Unlike the previous taster, I did not notice any heat. Very enjoyable with air now, but I think this will benefit from at least another year or so.

7/2/2015 - topher2411 Does not like this wine:

Palatable with food, pretty much undrinkable without. Vinegary and unpleasant.

7/2/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

What a delight. This wine has always had great balance of fruit and savory, acid and tannin. This is still very bright and comes across still quite young. My only complaint with previous bottles of this was that the finish was a little short, but that is no longer the case. This had a long and delicious finish. Overall, drinking great but I would expect it will last quite a while longer. My last bottle, alas.

7/2/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Soft and round. Fine bubbles. Could use a touch more acidity, but much better than I expected from this site!

7/2/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Nose is mostly cedar, graphite, with not a ton of fruit. A little hard when first opened, but became more generous with air. Still, this is very dry and serious cabernet, not plush or fruity. Excellent example of a style you don't often see in Washington. Long finish.

7/2/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Really excellent syrah for the price. Classic mix of fruit and savory, medium long finish. Wish I had more...

7/2/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Really fantastic. Still great primary fruit on the nose, but also with cedar, graphite, and some other savories. Soft bright fruit on the front of the palate, good grip and long finish. Excellent wine from young vines and one of the more overall enjoyable Red Mountain wines I have had lately. This still has a long life ahead of it.

7/2/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Very ripe fruit and viscous texture. Manages to still convey a floral quality that often gets lost at this ripeness. Dark and palate staining. Medium long finish. About half from Red Mountain if I recall, and I am still not convinced Red Mountain is a strong site for syrah.

6/17/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Very good for a very ripe wine. Does not come across as hot. While I think this is good for the style, it is ultimately too tiring to drink very much.

6/17/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Delicious example of young nebbiolo. Popped and poured. Fairly open right away, with red fruit and floral notes. Translucent light red. Light, sweet red fruit on the palate, with dusty but very present tannins on the finish. May evolve, but great right now.

6/17/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Surprised at the very low scores here. I thought this wine was very pleasant, especially on day 2. Fairly open on the nose, with mostly graphite with fruit in the background. Medium acidity, medium weight, fairly strong tannins on a medium finish. Very dry. I'd give this a brief decant if enjoying now, but it is not in need of more age.

6/6/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Needs some time to open, but is very good after a few hours. Plush, ripe fruit but not overbearing. With air, this develops some nice savory and floral aromatics. Medium bodied. Balanced tannins, medium long finish.

6/3/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Drinking well now, at least after an hour slow-ox and a decant. Still lots of primary fruit, plenty ripe. Also has a pleasant dustiness and some mushroom characteristics. Smooth tannins, medium-long finish. Went great with steak.

6/1/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Ripe, but not overripe. Dark fruit and olive. Smooth and drinking well.

5/20/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Really delicious. Great acid and balance. Decanted and was much more open after a couple of hours.

5/2/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Very ripe. I generally have trouble picking out varietal characteristics when wines are this ripe, but this did have some classic Syrah savory aromas along with its dark fruit. Notable that the alcohol is not obvious on the nose or palate, except for the syrupy mouth feel. Nice tannic grip on the finish still. This is not really my cup of tea, but I think it is very good for the style.

4/24/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

Nice gamay. Very dry, slightly rough tannins. But generous fruit too and nice acid. Good value.

4/20/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine:

This is very nice. Still some bright fruit, but has developed nice secondary aromas. Somewhat sweet, medium long finish. Drinking well now, seems like it will still continue to develop for some time too.

4/19/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Fantastic value. Very good balance, body, and length for the price.

4/19/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

This tastes of Ampelos more than of syrah. Bright, good acid, light body, cherry and cola flavors. Medium finish.

4/19/2015 - topher2411 wrote:

Fairly open now. The predominant characteristic is its ripe fruit. There are some savory syrah notes in the nose, and maybe some orange peel. This is syrupy on the palate. You feel the alcohol (16%) in the texture, but don't really taste it. Medium finish, little tannin. Very well done for the style.