4/18/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Deep gold. Quince, dried apricot, honey, nuts, citrus oil on the nose. Nice density of honeyed dried fruit on the palate, medium plus acids, low alcohol (13%), unctuous texture. Complex and balanced.

4/4/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale yellow with hints of gold, brilliant. On the nose, lemon, stone fruit, melon, white flowers, sea air, a deft touch of oak. An explosion of fruit on the palate, rich and round with bright medium plus acids, excellent weight and balance, low to medium alcohol (13.5%), long finish. Complex and delicious.

4/14/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. Powerful aromas of black plum, violet, a hint of anise, a hint of burnt oak. Dark fruit on the palate, light to medium body, medium plus acid, raspy tannins, nice aromatic back notes, short to medium finish. Good table wine with some nice touches.

3/19/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium dark ruby. Powerful aroma of dark cherries, black plums, chocolate, tea, earth, forest floor, roses, a hint of vanillin oak. Dark and red fruit on the palate, pomegranate and raspberry, medium plus acids, medium fine grained tannins, medium alcohol, very long finish. Well constructed, complex, balanced.

3/13/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Deep gold. Powerful aromas of marmalade, quince, dried apricot, nuts, honey, cumin, and a deft touch burnt oak. On the palate the fruit is fresh with a hint of almond and hazelnut, medium plus body, medium plus acid, very long finish. Old and wise and fresh and delicious at the same time.

3/14/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale yellow with glints of gold. Moderate aroma of ripe golden apples, tangerine, fennel, lemongrass, crisp minerality, and a slight leesy note. On the palate the fruit is intense and rich with a medium plus body, medium plus acid, medium alcohol (13.5%), a nice bite of citrus rind at the back, very long finish. Beautifully balanced, good complexity.

3/13/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Not a formal note, but this is a perfect example of the Matthiasson style. Aromatic, penetrating fruit melded with bright acids, the essence of deliciousness, lovely aromatic back notes on the long satisfying finish.

2/14/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Deep gold. Moderate to powerful aromas of dried fig, marmalade, almond, caramel, with a hint of baking spice. Warm spread of sour orange on the palate, medium plus acids, low alcohol, very long finish.

2/13/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale yellow. Prominent aromas of Meyer lemon, tangerine, oyster shell, limestone, sourdough bread. Nice attack of fruit on the front of the palate, crisp acids (medium plus), energetic mouth feel, linear profile down the middle of the palate, low to medium alcohol (13%), lovely lemon zest and bitter herbal aromatics on the back, very long finish. Rich but austere.

1/31/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Deep gold with brass edges. Delicate aromas of dried fig, citrus rind, dried flowers, and hazelnuts, with a hint of oak. In contrast to the nose the palate is full bodied, round with a nice punch of medium plus acid, medium alcohol (13%), long finish.

1/30/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium yellow with hints of gold. Aromas of tangerine, yellow peach, acacia flowers, hazelnuts, oyster shell, sourdough crust, a touch of vanillin oak. Penetrating fruit on the palate with medium plus body, round mouth feel, medium plus acids, medium alcohol (13%), very long finish. Showing some mellow nutty age, beautifully balanced.

1/29/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. Powerful aromas of fresh and stewed red cherries and blueberries and their pie crust, candied violets, earth, forest floor. On the palate, fresh red and dark fruit, medium plus acids, medium plus tannins, medium plus alcohol (14.5%) (surprising, I thought lower). Long finish with a leather back aroma.

1/29/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium golden yellow. Powerful aromas of orange, Meyer lemon, white peach, apricot, a hint of pineapple, honeysuckle, minerality, brioche, and a touch of vanillin oak. Broad spread of penetrating fruit on the palate, medium-plus body with a round mouth feel, medium plus acids, low to medium alcohol (13%), very long finish. Rich and dynamic with beautiful balance.

1/21/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium garnet. Powerful aromas of red and black fruit, dark cherries, roses, almonds, marzipan, chocolate, vanillin oak. On the palate, full without being fat, rich dark fruit exquisitely balanced by medium plus acids, medium plus tannins very fine, medium alcohol (13.5%). Beautiful aromatic back notes of cedar and bright red fruit. Long finish. Lovely with roast boneless leg of lamb.

2/17/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium garnet with light edges. Powerful aromas of dark plums, black raspberries, black cherries, dried rose petals, tobacco, earth, decomposing forest log, mushrooms, a touch of vanillin oak. In contrast with the nose, red raspberries on the palate, medium plus acids, smooth medium tannins, low to medium alcohol (13.5%), very long finish with an aromatic back note. Complex and beautifully balanced.

1/31/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium plus garnet. Power aroms of black plums, violets and roses, thyme, sweet spice, coffee, and spicy redwood, On the palate, medium body with a smooth texture, fresh red and black fruit, dancing with medium plus acids, medium plus fine tannins, a wonderful freshness that belies its 14.5% alcohol. Very long finish with a winding of sweet fruit and spice.

1/17/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Wonderful aromas of flowers, spices, and red fruit, medium+ tannins smoothly integrated, medium+ acid, long finish.

1/16/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Did not make a detailed note, but my previous not from 2023 captures it well. Lovely.

1/16/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Not a detailed note, but this was lovely Bordeaux beginning to show the ineffable integration of elements that comes with age.

1/16/2024 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

No detailed tasting note, but this was a lovely wine that I pulled out for an American friend visiting from France, bracing acidity mellowed by good fruit weight, with chalky minerality and a long finish.

7/1/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby with garnet edges. Aromas of black plum, cassis, lilacs, mocha, a touch of vanillin oak. Fresh bite of red fruit on the palate, medium to high acids, finely grained and prominent tannins, low alchohol (13%).

7/28/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Light to medium garnet. On the nose, inviting aromas of blackcurrant, red raspberry, rose, cigar tobacco, a touch of burned oak. On the palate, great energy and freshness, sweet melange of red and black fruit, medium plus acids, medium tannins smoothly integrated, low to medium alcohol (13%), hint of anise on the long finish. Complex balance of dark and light on the nose and the palate. Outstanding.

12/13/2023 - wgmccallum wrote:

Medium dark ruby. Shy nose of dark fruit, roses, a hint of sweet manure, a touch of vanillin oak. Fresh red and dark fruit on the palate, fine grip, medium to high acids, medium fine-grained tannins, aromatic back note on the long finish. Excellent with salmon burgers.

12/1/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. Dark fruit, purple flowers, mushroom on the somewhat bland nose. Nice attack of fresh dark fruit on the front with bright acids, fading towards the back where the medium to high gritty tannins come in. Long finish without much character. 14.5% alcohol. Feels too calculated to me, but ends up confused.

11/29/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. Aromas of red cherries, black currants, roses, savory meat, coffee, and mushroom. Good medium to high acid attack on the palate, velvet medium to high tannins moving into a nice bite at the back, medium alcohol (14%). A lovely wine with good complexity, perhaps lacking in tension. Delicious with cauliflower lamb shepherds pie,

11/11/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium to dark garnet. On the nose, aromatic black cherries, red raspberries, roses, a hint of vanillin oak. On the palate, fruit trending to red, medium to high acid, low to medium tannin, low alcohol (12.5%), a lovely soft sweetness at the back moving into a dry spicy aromatic back note, very long finish. Excellent with Caesar salad.

9/13/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Light garnet. Aromas of salted candied plums, strawberries, dried roses, a hint of clove, dusty red earth. Dry red fruit on the palate, aromatic, medium to high acids, low to medium tannins, light body, low alcohol (12%). Long aromatic finish. Excellent with ham with Elizabeth David’s piquant cream sauce.

12/14/2023 - wgmccallum wrote:

Medium to dark ruby with purple edges. Shy nose of dark fruit, ripe plum, roses, lilacs, earth. A little confused. Watery fruit on the palate, thin and acidic. Poured the glass back in the bottle to use for a coq au vin, so I don't have much more to say. Perfectly drinkable with sausages. Maybe another bottle will demand more attention.

12/12/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Drank this a couple of weeks ago, so I don't have a detailed memory, but it was a lovely aged Bordeaux, expressive aromas, fresh on the palate with integrated tannins, a deft touch of oak.

12/12/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Had this a few nights ago. Lovely aromas of red and black fruit, flowers, and leather. Red fruit on the palate, silken tannins, and delicate acids. Beautifully balanced.

12/10/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

From memory, this was a lovely wine with aromas of dark fruit, rose, tobacco, mushroom, and earth. On the palate it was lively and fresh, low to medium tannins very smoothly integrated, warm medium to high acids, long finish. Just delicious.

11/10/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Very dark garnet. On the nose, generous aromas of dark plum, roses, chocolate, barnyard, a hint of anise. Nice attack on the palate with dark fruit, high acids, medium to high tannins, nicely integrated with a gritty tone, nice aromatic back note. Low to medium alcohol (13.5%). Long finish.

11/1/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium to dark ruby. Aromas of dark plum, raspberries, roses, chili chocolate, a hint of mocha, a nice touch of oak. Bright attack of sweet fruit on the palate, high acids, medium + tannins smoothly integrated, low to medium alcohol (13.5%). Excellent with pork chile verde.

10/31/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale to medium ruby. Aromas of red berry, rose, tobacco, a hint of chocolate. Fresh crisp red fruit on the palate, medium to high acids, low to medium tannins, low alcohol (12.4%). Lovely aromatic back notes. A beautifully balanced food wine, excellent with bratwurst, a perfect example of Matthiasson's melding of deliciousness and complexity.

10/4/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. Abundant nose of dark plums, black raspberries, roses, mocha, earth with a hint of farmyard, a touch of vanillin oak. Bright attack of red and dark fruit on the palate, a lovely hint of balsamic vinegar, medium tannins, juicy medium to hight acids. Medium alcohol. Long finish. (13.5%).

10/4/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Not a detailed note, but what a lovely wine! Perfect balance of creamy minerality, penetrating fruit threaded by filaments of bright acid, lovely aromatic back notes, long finish. Low alcohol (12.7 %)

10/3/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium garnet. Earth aromas dominate with barnyard, turned earth, and tobacco. With air emerge aromas of salted plums, roses, cloves, and turmeric. Dry dense red and dark fruit on the palate, chewy medium tannins, medium to high acids, medium alcohol (13.5%), gorgeous aromatic back notes leading into a very long finish. Austere and muscular, with great character. Super interesting for a Sangiovese. Would pair well with a cianghiale ragu.

10/2/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale ruby. Intense aromas of salted plums, craisins, raspberries, lilacs, candied red berries, cinnamon, forest leaf mold. Nice attack of aromatic fruit on the palate, medium to high acids, low to medium tannins, high alcohol (15.5%). Very long finish.

10/2/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium yellow with gold highlights. Ripe yellow fruit on the nose, figs, ripe bananas, bread crust, gardenias. Spritzy on the palate with vibrant acids, very long finish. Low alcohol (12.5%).

9/30/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

From memory, this was a lovely aromatic wine, dark fruit on the palate, at the peak of freshness, a hint of spritz. medium to high tannins, bright acids. Delicious with Brazilian piranha.

9/20/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark garnet. Prominent aromas of blackcurrant, dried roses, pencil lead, tobacco, a hint of mexican chocolate, and vanillin oak. On the palate a lovely deep presence of concentrated dark fruit, medium plus acids, very smooth rich integrated tannins, smoky aromatic back note. Very long finish. A lovely aged wine.

9/16/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

From memory. Medium dark garnet. On the nose a melange of cedar, cigar wrapper, dark plum, and potpourri. On the palate a beautiful integration of fruit, acid, and tannin, all become one moving experience, inseparable.

9/12/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby with garnet edges. On the nose, dark plums, dark cherries, mocha, wet earth, a hint of vanillin oak. Deep sweet red and dark fruit on the palate, medium to high acids, rich strong integrated tannins, long finish with a beautiful aromatic back note. Round and enveloping body. Medium to high alcohol (14.5%), well balanced by the acid and tannin and a sweet crunchiness of trending red fruit. Perfect with Time Market pizza

8/10/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby with garnet edges. Prominent aromas of dark plums, roses, ashes, leather, coffee, vanillin oak. Soft dark cherry and red current fruit on the palate, nice zap of medium to high acids, very smooth medium tannins, 14.5% alcohol. Long finish, lovely balance and drive, more complex and integrated than I remember from previous tastings.

8/9/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Light ruby with garnet edges. Raspberries, strawberries, black plums, rhubarb, red currants, loam, bright coffee, a touch of chocolate, toast, and a touch of vanillin oak. A nice attack of penetrating fruit, smooth and fresh juicy body, medium to high acids, low to medium tannins, low alcohol (12.5%), warm aromatic back notes, very long fragrant finish.

7/14/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale garnet. Prominent aromas of redcurrants, raspberries, lilacs, ferns, undergrowth, a hint of coffee. On the palate, a beautiful attack of bright acid fruit with deep aromatics overtones, sweet and delicious. medium to high acids, low tannins, low to medium alcohol (13.5%), long finish with lovely aromatic back notes and a winding finish of strawberry. (I would say strawberry vinegar but that word conveys the wrong impression.) What a beautiful adventure, a “marriage between a lover of wine and a seeker of wine,” to quote my wife.

7/6/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Medium to dark garnet. Dark blackberries, roses, tar, leather on the expressive nose, a subtle hint of old oak. On the palate a broad and fresh attack of aromatic red and dark fruit, excellent balance, medium to high acids, medium well integrated tannins, low to medium alcohol (13.5%). Very long an intensely aromatic finish. Just a lovely wine with great clarity and balance,

6/30/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Pale garnet. Not a detailed note, Something utterly lovely and delicious about this wine.

6/29/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Dark ruby. Aromas of blackberry, mulberry, roses, graphite, espresso, Mexican chocolate. Fresh dark and red fruit on the palate with a smooth feel, bordering on unctuous but enlivend by the medium to high acids, smoothly integrated medium to high tannins, low to medium alcohol (13%). Very long and classy finish with fine aromatic notes.

6/27/2023 - wgmccallum Likes this wine:

Rich gold. Shy aromas marmalade, beeswax, dried flowers, a hint of vanilla. Round feel on the palate with unctuous fruit, preserved apricots, pickle juice, medium to high acids, low to medium alcohol (13.5%). A nice bitter lift at the back on the long finish. Nicely balanced, this is not a wow wine, more of a pleased to have met you wine. Very comfortable. So interesting to see how Chardonnay ages.