6/26/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

I have drank this vintage over the last three years and it has been interesting to tracks its low term transformation. At this point, the wine is fully integrated. Mature fruit with pronounced acidity that gives it a firm backbone. A modern style to be sure, but not without roots. I have one left and I don't feel the need to sit on it.

6/13/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes. Nose was jammy, blackberry and blueberry, with a bit of green at first whcih I expected. The first sip was metallic and mineral, but that settled and the fruit came to the front. Bright fruit on the front palate carried through to dried fruit on the finish. Subtle notes of cocoa and cedar came around as the wine settled about an hour in. The tannins have almost completely integrated, but still have a bit to go. I will hold my last bottle for a couple more years before drinking.

5/28/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Slight seepage with the cork had me worried, but all was well. Popped and poured, strikingly rich color of luxurious cassis. The nose was jumping out of the glass with juicy dark fruits, cassis, blackberry and black cherry, with secondary aromas of tobacco and my fathers old wallet. The palate is vibrant and well structured, with sustaining acidity that held up beautifully with a prime cut Strip. The dark fruits stay prevalent but with restraint, allowing the cedar and tobacco to show. The tannins are wonderfully integrated and the weight is appropriately conservative. A well made Cabernet, I wish I had a couple more.

5/21/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Popped and poured with no decant. I have had this vintage three times now with consistent tasting notes. The first thing that grabs you is the precise aromatics. A subtle note of roses, with brown sugar, coffee bean and clove. I love the fruit concentration in this wine. Though the weight is unaggressive, the fruit is strong, and lasting with a finish that lingers for almost 30 seconds. The fruit is still very vibrant, cherry all the way. The acidity is mouth watering and the tannins very polished. A complete a Valpolicella as I have ever had. A serious wine with alot of life left!

5/15/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

A youthful, vibrant nose, showing power with restraint. An immediate nose of blackberries and cream. The oak is secondary and well integrated at this point. On the palate, subtle vanilla bean, tongue numbing anise and more blackberries and cream. The tannins are fully integrated as this wine has come into its prime. I am glad I have a few more bottles, this is a gorgeous wine.

5/7/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

I have had this wine on numerous different occasions and each time I am left with the same feeling of satisfaction. At 7 years of age this is a wine of pure elegance. No component outshines the other, yet each has a substansial supporting role. The tannins are completely integrated, the oak only evidenced by the cinnamon stick in the finish. The weight is medium, with a rhythm as it glides through the palate. A subtle creaminess that hints at a top bottling, but without the assumption. The fruit is mature, but still vibrant, with a certain candied note that I really enjoy. The rustic flavors of tobacco and leather remind me that I will be smoking a cigar after this review. The QPR on this wine is almost unfair, I am glad I have access to more. If you havent tried this wine, you better get on it.

5/5/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

This is my second bottle of 09 Scarrone, tasting notes were consistent with previous bottle. Let me start by saying this juice is ridiculous! This is not a wine but an experience. Pop and pour revealed immediate power, the depth of color is incredibly impressive, dark garnet turning to ruby around the edges. The nose predicts astounding concentration of fruit, rich, but extremely youthful. The palate is gorgeous, completely mouthcoating, with highly concentrated cherries and subtle minerality. This is a seductive and luxurious mouthfeel, like velvet. The finish goes on for what seems like forever and before I know it my feet touch the ground and the bottle is gone. The finest Barbera I have ever tasted. My only grouch was the alcohol was abit rigid at this point, but I have no doubt it will integrate well with a few years of slumber.

5/1/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Every time I pop this bottle its the same treat! Gorgeous fruit! Mouthcoating dark currant fruit with subtle cinnamon stick notes. The oak is in complete harmony with the fruit at 5 years in. The mouthfeel is substancial, but also in balance. Although the basic makeup of this wine is a battle between oak and fruit, they play off each other well; neither one overwhelming the other. A completely enjoyable wine, with one bottle left I will wait just a little bit, if only to enjoy it with the perfect meal.

4/22/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Decanted for 5 hours. Noticeably thinner than previous vintages, but witha certain elegance that negates its lack of power. A nose of Chianti, with Sangiovese up front, a few swirls in the glass gave way to bright cherry and rich vanilla custard. The wine is all but weightless on the palate, but without sacrificing integrity. The tannins and acid are just grumpy enough at this point to suggest a little nap, but the upside to this wine over the next decade is promising.

4/22/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Decanted for 5 hours. This wine is the best of both worlds for me. Modern in style, but unmistakeably Italian fruit. A wine of considerable depth, with layers of blackberry, currant, spicy oak, and a bit of tobacco. Still in its youth, the acidity remains vibrant and the tannins incredibly firm, but not entirely distracting. I will let the rest of my bottles sleep for a bit and revist in 2017.

4/20/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

My first of the 09 right banks, and if this is any indication I am excited for the rest of the vintage. Pop and poured, At first an overwhelming note of minerality that followed the wine on the palate like a clingy toddler, also prevalant bell pepper, at this point the fruit was secondary. But after about 20-30 minutes she gained her composure and the flavors meshed very nicely and the bright fruit came to the top. A solid effort, nothing to have a religious conversion over, but as my colleague put it,"I wouldn't say no to a glass...or 4."

4/18/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Tasted on 4 different occasions with consistent notes. My first expereince with Twomey Pinot, and I am impressed. Pop and pour was a bit closed, but after 20 minutes it relaxed. The most notable attribute of this wine is the balance. Everything falls into place. The fruit is vibrant and rich, the acidity well integrated. This wine is almost weightless on the palate, yet the flavors are full from start to finsh. I live that the alcohol is so low, it takes nothing away from the wine. Not as much complexity as I would like, but completely enjoyable. Glad I have a few more bottles.

4/17/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

This has been a very interesting bottle of wine. Let me first say that I am a huge fan of Cyrus. This bottle perplexed me a little having just drank a 2000 three weeks ago. The 2000 was seamless, fully integrated and showing beautifully. The 05 is clearly in its early 20's; old enough to drink, but not quite sure how to do it right. She showed signs of maturity, but she was all over the board with oak integration and acidity. The fruit held firm which gives me the promise of a solid future for my other four bottles. I will hold till 2015-17 and expect the deliciousness of past vintages at that age. Good effort to be sure!

4/17/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

This has been a very interesting bottle of wine. Let me first say that I am a huge fan of Cyrus. This bottle perplexed me a little having just drank a 2000 three weeks ago. The 2000 was seamless, fully integrated and showing beautifully. The 05 is clearly in its early 20's; old enough to drink, but not quite sure how to do it right. She showed signs of maturity, but she was all over the board with oak integration and acidity. The fruit held firm which gives me the promise of a solid future for my other four bottles. I will hold till 2015 and expect the deliciousness of past vintages at that age. Good effort to be sure!

4/17/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

I've got to disagree with the last review. We drank following a 2009 Felton Road. The 05 Goldeneye was completey mature. Having drank numerous bottles over the last 3 years, this bottle followed with maturity. A bit muscular with a certain au jus quality that I thoroughly enjoyed. Fruit that moved on the palate at a pace that only suited itself. The layers of flavor seemed endless, offering something new, yet alluring with each return. Though I generally bow to the glories off burgundy, the creme brulee quality that has been prevelant over the last three years of tasting this vintage of Goldeneye has got me on the hook. She is dirty in her maturity and filthy in her complexity, a great example of Anderson Valley Pinot. Proof further that while night and day to burgundy, California Pinot still has redeeming qualities.

4/16/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Decanted for an hour. Had with filet which helped to counteract the youth of the wine. The nose, loads of sweet toasted oak with obvious black cherry and cinnamon. The palate, large and concentrated with adolescence written all over it. A bit sperratic at this point, but filled with upside. The tannins are a prevalent as they should be, but the wine is well structured and in my mind built for the cellar. I'll be interested to drink this in 10 years and see where its at, but Stu is right, this wine is much more powerful than the more introverted 05.

3/28/2012 - amwood34 wrote:

Last bottle of the case I bought and I wish I had more! Textbook Oregon Pinot. Fully mature at this point, but far from tired. Balanced from start to finish, with polished layers of flavors and complexity of fruit. I will drink the rest of this bottle slowly...