10/12/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Drinking well right now. A bit more tannic than most Sonoma Pinots with dark red fruit and tart cherry and a touch of earthiness.

6/19/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Nice balance of lemon and pineapple with grassy undertones. Solid expression of a dry California Riesling.

5/28/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote:

The 2014 is in a great place right now. Fruit forward with dark cherry overtones complimented by slight earthy undertones. Deep flavors and typical Sonoma style. Wish I bought more a few years ago as this is my last bottle.

3/31/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Light to medium body. Pear and green citrus with a touch of minerality. Not a typical Sauvignon Blanc when compared to other new world types. Pretty tasty nonetheless and would purchase again.

2/5/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Nice balance of ripe red fruit and earth undertones. Classic Sta Rita Hills and a wonderful wine for the price.

2/2/2021 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Wonderful balance of tart cherry, strawberry and earth tones with just a touch of spice. Nicely balanced Zin to enjoy with a steak
without being overpowering on its own.

10/24/2020 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Drinking nicely. Needs some time to open up with tannins running hot. Settled down after sitting in the glass for 30-45 min. Nice dark fruit with just a hint of oak.

6/6/2020 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Drinking beautifully right now. Classic Oakville Cab with light oak, chocolate undertones and just the right balance of fruit and tannins.

3/30/2020 - Jsmithbim wrote:

A little too sweet for my taste on the front end with notes of pineapple and vanilla. Finished the bottle the next day and tasted much more lively and refreshing.

2/29/2020 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Drinking nicely right now and will continue to evolve. Tart cherry, raspberry and a hint of chocolate with subtle oak. Much better than the last bottle I opened in 17 and will hold off a little longer before I open the next one.

12/25/2019 - Jsmithbim wrote:

2008 is drinking wonderfully right now. Awesome mix of red and dark fruit, balanced with just neigh tannin. This is my last bottle of the 08 and am happy I decided not to sit on it any longer as I think it is right where it needs to be. Enjoy!!

12/21/2017 - Jsmithbim wrote:

decent blend for the price. nice dark fruit overtones, low on tannins, very little spice. good every day drinker.

8/9/2017 - Jsmithbim wrote:

this needs some time or a long decant. first taste was overly acidic and not much fruit. 2 hours later, the dark fruit and chocolate over tones kicked in. will be holding off for some time in my remaining bottles but expect good things.

8/24/2016 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Drinking beautifully right now. Nice balance of cherry and strawberry fruit with a hint of tartness - more so than a typical Zin and not as "jammy".
I liked this vintage better than the 09 I had.

3/15/2016 - Jsmithbim wrote:

If you have enjoyed prior Mascot vintages then you know what to except as this does not disappoint. Same well balanced dark fruit with a bit more red fruit than the others and semi sweet chocolate undertones. Has the right amount of tannins to offset. Drinking a little young right now and will be even more delicious down the road.

12/30/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Straightforward Oregon Pinot. Tart cherry and cranberry fruit, medium body, opens up nicely after a couple of hours. Next day was completely different as dark cherry fruit came through and more earth undertones appeared. Drinking a little young right now.

11/23/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This wine is drinking nicely right now. Dark fruit with cocoa undertones and a nice tart fruit splash. Should improve with time but I liked the freshness of what is still a pretty young wine.

11/14/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is a wonderful Barbera and at this price point spectacular. Medium body and wonderful as a drink alone or paired with standard Italian fare. Nice dark and tart fruit balance with hint of oak and spice.

11/12/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

There isn't much of anything going on with this wine. Tart cherry, lighter bodied, no meaningful structure. I didn't expect much for the price but thought there would be more to it. Will use the rest of the bottle for a beef marinade.

10/27/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

I know the idea is to wait on these, but after receiving my mixed 2010 Brunello shipment from an Enoteca in Italy I couldn't resist. Yes, this will improve with time, and yes, it is drinking great right now. Beautiful balance of sweetness and tartness of cherry/cranberry fruit with a nice hint of smokey, earthy spice. I decanted for an hour and it continued to evolve over time. It's hard to wait to enjoy this again but I will hold off and sample each year until I run out.

8/24/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is a solid Zin. Nice blend of dark fruit, without tasting too jammy, with some spice and herbal undertones. Although it has a high alcohol content, it was at all overpowering and was really nicely balanced. I did decant for an hour before pouring. I liked this one.

8/15/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is drinking nicely again. Much improved since my last bottle. Medium bodied with cherry and cranberry notes with a hint of spice. This has the structure you would expect from a Burgundy, yet, is as easy drinking as typical Sonoma Pinot. I've enjoyed drinking 3 bottles of this over the past 3 years and thought I enjoyed it the most first time around as the 2nd bottle was a bit of a disappointment. My last bottle was a true pleasure.

8/1/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Cherry and cranberry dominate with a slight earthy tone. A bit tight at first. This is a nice mid weight Pinot for the price.

7/15/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Give this some time. Although there are nice dark fruit flavors and spice coming through, it's being overpowered by the strong tannins right now. Still a solid wine but not living up to its potential quite yet.

6/5/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This wine is a dark fruit fruit sugar bomb. Very little spice notes and not much structure. Drank on its own and may have paired better with with some meat and cheese snacks but would not have held up to a steak or burger or anything else you might typically drink red zin with.

5/2/2015 - Jsmithbim wrote:

There wasn't a noticeable difference in this wine vs the bottle I drank almost a year ago. Decanted for an hour and the initial taste it was a little hot on the palate with the fruit of dark cherry, blackberry and strawberry that you would expect along with a hint of chocolate. However, by the time glass two came around the additional 30 minutes of breathing really opened this wine up. It mellowed out, the chocolate and spice really came through and it was simply delicious. This wine is heading in a great direction and I am looking forward to my next bottle.

12/24/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is a delicious Pinot, especially at this price point. Wonderful balance of cherry and tart red fruit with just enough spice and body to make it a great stand alone wine or to enjoy with your meal.

11/27/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Enjoyed with Thanksgiving dinner. Decanted for an hour and initial taste was tart cherry and cranberry and by the end of dinner deeper fruit notes set in. Lovely medium finish Pinot. I first had this wine at a Serene dinner in 2011 and this wine has only gotten better.

11/1/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

By this wine if you see it! This is a wonderful example of how the Nebbiolo grape can stand in the place of the more powerful (and more expensive!) Barolo at 1/2 the price. The 2010 is a historical vintage for Piedmont and this wine is an awesome pop and pour. Deep, dark fruit flavors with a nice hint of spice and medium/heavy body.

9/20/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Nice easy drinking Barbera for the price. Has a bit more body than most Barberas with a good balance of fruit (raspberry, cherry) and tannins. Will pick up a few more bottles at $15.

9/20/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

As others have mentioned don't let the sight fool you. The unfiltered haziness is unique for a Pinot Noir but this is a beautiful wine. Just the right amount of fruit (cherry, cranberry) and a medium body that makes it easy drink. This one stands well on its own or paired with a light dish. Will buy more it I can find it.

9/20/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Nice Zin for the price. Paid $15 at a local wine discount center. Deep dark fruit concentration (cherry, blackberry) and not as powerful as many Zins. Comes across as more of an every day drinker vs pairing it with a steak.

8/23/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Unique and delicious white. Mineral notes with a tart fruit yet mellow component. Not what you would expect from a Pinot Grigio as it is much more complex. Great wine and at a great price at under $20.

7/5/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

I really enjoyed this wine when first consumed at a Sinskey dinner a couple of years ago. Seems to have lost a lot if it's fruit and structure since then. Still a solid lighter style Pinot (think mid level Burgundy) however, I won't let my last bottle sit around much longer.

7/5/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is a mellow, easy drinking Zin blend. Tart cherry with mixed deeper red fruit overtones. Nice versatile food wine beyond what you might normally restrict a Zin to.

7/1/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is right in line with the quality and taste of prior Bond vintages. Nice blend of cherry and blackberry fruit with a touch of smoke and cocoa. Would have improved with additional breathing time but poured for 6 over dinner and didn't get the chance!

6/9/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Solid Pinot at this price point. A little tight at the open but 30 minutes in a glass and it opened up nicely. Medium body with a cranberry and cherry overtone. Will buy again.

6/9/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is what an American Syrah should taste like. Deep purple color with the right balance between fruit and spice. Medium body with a cranberry and dark fruit tone. Pop and pour!

3/29/2014 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Dark fruits with a hint of vanilla and oak. Great Barbera for the price. Will be buying more.

10/31/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is a Zin with a bit more of deep cherry flavors and caramel taste than you might expect from Dry Creek Valley. Very smooth on the palette with low acidity and tannins and a touch of spice. Medium finish which makes for an easy drinking and approachable wine. Would want something with a bit more bite if I had a medium rare steak sitting on a plate next to me. Will be picking more of this up on my next trip to the wine shop.

10/25/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This is such a nice Pinot from Willamette Valley. The right balance of cherry and raspberry fruit with a medium finish and just enough acidity. Great at the pop of the cork and even better an hour later. Serene isn't the easiest to find in the Midwest and when you do find it, you should add it to your stash of higher end Pinots.

10/25/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This hits on all the right levels for a low priced Tuscan Sangiovese. Tart red berry fruit with the right amount of tannins. Worked nicely in a red wine mushroom risotto and drank equally as well along side. Drank a bit on the cool side without the time to open it up.

10/25/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

As others mentioned, this is a fruit forward with chocolate notes Cab. Noticeable difference in level of tannins on day two. Needed to open up a bit once corked and then a little too sweet and mellow for my taste by day two. For the price ($17) it's a decent every day Cab.

10/25/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

If you like a heavier, fruit driven Pinot then this is worth the $18. Ripe cherry flavors with hints of strawberry. Any acidity that was present when opened disappeared the next day.

7/11/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

The earthiness really comes through in this wine. Hints of apple and pear with a touch of acidity. Good for the price but would spend a few dollars more for something with more structure.

7/6/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Decanted for an hour and it opened up beautifully. Nice upfront cherry fruit with a hint of spice and very smooth on the finish. Great Bordeaux for the price.

6/9/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

This wine is always a sure bet and once again it did not disappoint. Fruit forward (think cranberry and strawberry) and bone dry. My experience was not a heavy of a wine as others mentioned. Drank right out of the bottle and could have opened up a bit before consuming.

6/9/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

As other tasters have noted, this is a wonderful Pinot. Silky and smooth and just enough fruit, with cherry being the most dominant. This wine has a nice complexity with the perfect amount of body to enjoy with a meal or drink on its own. Ive been sitting on this bottle for 3-4 years and if I can find more of it, I'm buying it.

5/28/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Big on the dark fruit, think cherry and blackberry, and very little in the way of spice for a Zin. Good everyday red for the price but would not hold up to the richness of a medium rare steak.

4/19/2013 - Jsmithbim wrote:

Cherry and dark berry fruit dominate with light tannins. Drinks more like a Washington Cab than a Napa Cab. Wouldn't hold up to the rich food flavors like a traditional Cabernet would but decent for the price.