1/27/2023 - vintagedds wrote:

Donated to marianfest 2023

8/29/2020 - vintagedds wrote:

Donated to MadonnaSchool2020.

8/29/2020 - vintagedds wrote:

Donated to madonna school year 2020

4/28/2018 - vintagedds wrote:

Dinner with Bob Wahl

8/23/2014 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like strawberry and dust. It tastes like strawberry and vanilla. The body is light/medium. The wine has juicy texture. The wine finishes short. The wine has low acidity.

8/17/2014 - vintagedds wrote:

The wine looks inky colored. The legs are slow. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry and vanilla. It tastes like blackberry and plum. The body is medium/full. The wine has coarse texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has low acidity.

8/13/2014 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

The wine looks onion-skin colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like cranberry, plum, dust, oak, nutmeg and black pepper. It tastes like raspberry, blackberry, strawberry jam, plum, dust and oak. The body is light/medium. The wine has narrow texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.

8/11/2014 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like blackberry, raspberry, cherry, dust, light toast, cedar and oak. It tastes like cherry, plum, cedar, vanilla, black pepper and chocolate. The body is light/medium. The wine has satin-like texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity. The wine will only improve with a few more years of cellaring.

8/4/2014 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

The wine looks inky colored. The legs are very slow. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like raisins and currants. It tastes like grape jelly jam. The wine has a long syrupy finish with low acidity. If you are looking for a very sweet port, this is the one.

8/4/2014 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Dark purple in color. On the nose dark berries, cherries, tobacco, and a hint of barbecue. The palate was full of dark berries, plum, and a hint of chocolate. The wine was very smooth with a fairly long finish with good tanicity. This vintage should be good for at least another 5 years.

5/28/2014 - vintagedds wrote:

Not sure what to expect with this one. Opened anddrank immediately from the cellar. Golden yellow rod in color. Pineapple, slight lemon, and light oak on the nose. The palate was full of citrus, more towards a grapefruit and lemon. Tasting great, nut dissapointed there are no more in the callar to try a few years later. This bottle showed the possiblity of a little aging still left in this vintage.

10/2/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Wine was ruby in color, with a brown band around the rim. The were blackberry, hints of smoked oak, and herbal tendencies on the nose. The palate was dark fruit - mainly cherry and plum, cocoa, and oak on the palate. As the wine opened up you began to open, the fruit and smokiness of the oak became more intense. The wine as a whole was not as big as expected but very good.

10/2/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Ruby red in appearance with nice legs, The wine was not too complex. On the nose were slight to little fruit, hints of oak. On the palate more of a vegetation as the wine opened up as with the little amount of fruit present began to fade. One more of this vintage in the cellar, which will be drank fairly soon, as there is no reason to let it lay down.

9/18/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Appearance of the wine was garnet with medium legs. It was very easy drinking, due to not much complexity. the nose was full of dark fruit - kind of jammy. On the front of the palate were blueberries and cherry vanilla. The finish was quick yet filled with hints of cherry and black pepper. Definitely, a very approachable wine.

9/5/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

The wine was a ruby red and appeared to be a medium body cabernet. The nose started with a hint of floral perfume. Immediately following it was filled with dark fruit, oak, and vegetation (green pepper). The palate was full of licorice, cherry, oak undertones. Overall, the wine was very smooth and drinkable.

9/5/2013 - vintagedds wrote:

The wine appeared a deep ruby red. The nose were full of citrus, blueberry, and eucalyptus. The palate was full of dark fruit, tobacco, licorice, and faint oak. As the wine decanted, there were subtle hints of cocoa. The wine was great from start to the finish. I am glad to have a few more of this vintage in my cellar.

9/2/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Another found deep in the cellar. Light brown to violet appearance. Minimal legs. Nose was still very smoky and dark dried fruit. The palate was not very complex. there were minimal amounts of tobacco under a light fruit tone. At this point, there was not much of a finish. Appears to be past it's prime.

9/2/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Found in the back of the cellar, which meant I did not expect much. Appearance was straw to golden. On the nose were both white grapefruit and fresh grass clippings. On the palate were hints of pineapple and lime. The wine was not over powering in the sweet category. There was a quick, sweet, refreshing finish. Probably much better years ago, but definitely not over the hill yet.

6/18/2013 - vintagedds wrote:

Appearance very light in color, almost clear. Nose has hints of citrus and oak. Very acidic on the palate with hints of vanilla, oak, and citrus. A bit past it's prime, but tasty if the acidity wasn't too strong.

2/20/2013 - vintagedds Likes this wine:

Drank shortly after opening. Ruby red to purple in appearance. The nose had a hint of cocoa and dark fruit. Front of the palate was full of earthiness, plum, cocoa and oak. It was a medium bodied wine with a failrly long, satin finish. Not positive that letting the bottle aga anymore would improve any of the qualities since it was not very complex. Overall, a typical Alexander Valley Cabernet from Silver Oak.

11/15/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

This wine was very interesting. The appearance was very dark, almost black. The nose was full of dark fruits, oak, and as mentioned in a previous review, a pine tree fragrance. The very long finish was filled with blackberries, vanilla, and tosted oak. Definitely, another great bottle from Frank Family.

11/15/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

A great bottle of wine. Deep rub in color. The nose was not overpowering, but subtle hints of cherry, oak, licorice and cocoa. The flavors on the palate were enormous filled with blackberry, plum, cherry, spice, and an undertone of earhiness. The wine had a very long finish. Great Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.

11/17/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Deep ruby color. Dark berries and spice on the nose. On the palate were cherries, licorice, spice and a hint of chocolate. Not very complex and smooth to drink. Still tasting great, unlike some of the previous reviews. Can't wait to open another bottle of this vintage in a few months.

11/11/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Wine was very tight upon initial opening. Dark purple in appearance. Initial pepper and licorice on the nose. After in the glass for about a 1/2 hour the wine began to open up. The palate was filled with dark fruits. It was fairly smooth with a quick finish.

11/8/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

This bottle was great with a pork picatta pairing. Ruby red in appearance. On the nose it was very big with hints dark fruit, cherries, and an undertone of spices. Very smooth with a long finish. The wine continued to open for about an hour which allowed the flavors to explode in your mouth.

11/4/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Great bottle of wine after all these years. Great wine paired with a shrimp and scallop ziti. Appearance of a medium red with a nose of strawberry. The palate resembled a light cherry with a hint of pepper and some earthy undertones. Overall the wine was very smooth and silky. Definitely heading in it's downward spiral.

11/8/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Dark ruby red in color. Initially the nose was filled with dark fruits, cocoa, and an hint of smoke. On the palate there were hints of cherry, tobacco, and licorice. Enjoyed this bottle with a pork veal dish and vegetables. The bottle got better as the wine began to decant. Definitely will cellar the remaining bottles for years to come, as it will only get better as it matures.

10/31/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Color was a deep purple. On the nose there was dark fruit and a hint of vegetation. The finish was long with berries and spice on the palate. Still very impressed how well the wine has held up over the years, however it was my last of this vintage.

9/30/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Definitely not past it's prime. Opened about an hour prior to dinner. The nose was full of dark fruits, vanilla and a hint of smoke. The wine was full of licorice, plum, berries and an earthiness.

8/25/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Dark, ruby color, chocolate, dark berries and spices on the nose. The palate was full of berries and chocolate with a light hint of oak. The wine was well balanced with a smooth finish. There is a lot of life left in this wine. Can't wait to try it again in the future.

8/25/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Ruby in appearance, very dark, fruity on the nose with hints of oak and spices, dark fruit on the palate, light acidity, surprisingly still a good bottle.

8/22/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Ruby color, nose of cherry and spice, plum and cherry on the palate, very smooth finish, not much complexity.

8/19/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Black cherries, earthy and vegetation on the nose, green pepper and metallic on the palate, green pepper became more forward as the wine opned in the glass, not a traditional merlot by all means. Definitely would drink if put in front of me as previous reviews state, but would not go out of my way to purchase.

8/9/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Still tasting great, was not sure on what to expect. Color was a ruby red appearance. Hint of red fruit, particularly plum and cherries, an undertone of cedar, the wine had a well balanced acidity, soft fruits and a hint of tobacco on the palate with a smooth chocalte and fruit finish, one bottlle left in the cellar, which I will give it a try in about another year...

8/5/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Another great one from Cosentino, ruby in color, dark fruit on the nose, red fruit upon initial taste and then develops into a nice spice, vanilla, and smokey on the palate, great finish, very balanced, improved as wine opened.

8/5/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Medium/Dark ruby color, smoky nose, opened with time, hints of fruit and green pepper on the palate, great value for cabernet, one left in the cellar to consume, bottle was definitely not past it's prime.

7/10/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Decanted for about an hour, ruby red in color, cherry, earthy on the nose, on the palate black cherry, light oak, and a small hint of tobacco, Optima never seems to disappoint, will continue to enjoy these wines for many years to come!!

7/8/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Ruby purple in color, mild oak, well-balanced, dark fruit, cherries, vanilla, and leather on the palate, not much tannicity, able to lay down for years to come.

7/6/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

First bottle opened since about 5 or 6 years ago, decanted for about an hour, well balanced wine, nice ruby color, fruit on the nose, palate was licorice with a hint of black fruit, nice solid finish.

6/21/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Very intense port, big fruit and cocoa on the nose, palate full of chocolate, vanilla and cherries. just like drinking a chocolate covered maraschino cherry. Can't wait to drink the remaining 7 bottles in my cellar!!!

6/20/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Very good bottle of wine, berry and green pepper on the nose, licorice and berry on the palate, low acidic finish.

6/14/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Nose had hints of raspberry, vanilla, and spice, well balanced wine. The few bottles I have will continue to age in the cellar, until we can compare in a year or two.

6/14/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Very drinkable. The bottle possibly reached it's height. Intense ruby color, hints of foilage, green peper, cherry, and tobacco. Still a great wine to go to for a fairly inexpensive zinfandel.

6/15/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Great example of a wonderful Napa cabernet. Deep ruby color, cherry and tobacco predominant on the nose with hints of vanilla, finish was great and lasted well over 30 seconds. Did not waste a drop of this one.

6/15/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Great with our steak. No tannins, smooth and velvety, slight blackberry and oak on the nose, did not decant, began to open after about 30 minutes.

6/14/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

Dark purple, fairly complex wine, aromas of plum, vanilla, and cocoa, strong finish of fruit and vanilla. Tasting very good for a 2001 merlot.

6/9/2012 - vintagedds wrote:

At 12 yrs old, the bottle was still tasting fantastic, deep red/purple color, dark fruits (black cherry), light hints of tobacco, that had a fairly long finish. Very pleasurable.