5/6/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Lovely Zin. On the elegant side for Zin. Sappy and fruity, with a mix of blues and blacks, and red fruit highlights. Nice finish. Solid Zin in a forward style.

5/5/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Seems to be in a state of maturity. Savory with a nice sous bois element. There’s a notable purity to the fruit that’s quite unique. Still has a little bright cherry and fresh rhubarb despite some of the mature elements. Finish a bit thin but if quite refreshing.

5/5/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Splash decanted. Dark fruited with some plum and currant notes with some mild black cherry highlights. Oak still integrating as there’s a coconut and vanilla element. Slightly coarse tannins. Could still use some time to integrate.

5/3/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Drank very well. More of a black cherry profile with dense concentrated fruit. But there’s plenty of structure and freshness here. Sturdy stuff.

5/2/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Quite bright and fresh with a notable pure cranberry color. Crunchy red fruits with a strong herbal piney note that I assume is whole cluster. Not integrated at this point and a bit distracting. Good bones though. Give it some time.

5/2/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Seems to have shut down rather hard compared to prior bottle almost 1yr ago. Showing a lot of structure with fine tannins that turn austere and show a wood influence on the finish. Despite the density and color fruit notes are muted and hidden behind the tannins. Looks like this will need 5+ yrs before I would try another.

5/2/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Third day sample. Was rather tight and unyielding on day 1. Bright red fruit, a bit crunchy. Palate is quite dense and structured showing considerable depth going into the finish. Needs at least 5yrs to written but seems to have a great future.

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Light and fresh, with red cherry notes. Tannins well integrated but there’s a chalky texture on the finish. Hard not to enjoy.on the lighter side. Just not much in the way of complexity.

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Quite refined and focused. Very polished focused tannins. Back cherry focus. Some firmness on n the finish. Needs time.

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Delicious. Still has some high quality oak to integrate. Dark fruit profile with coconut and vanilla notes. Just delicious. Fine tannins.

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Fun wine. Quite fresh with a definite green herbal note. Easy to drink just couldn’t keep up with the others

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Damn this is a bourgone??? White flowers with golden fruit notes. Quite firm acidity, fresh, and a bit biting. Finish is long and chalky. Just terrific.

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Really hard to ignore the alcohol here but it’s quite solid. White flowers and peach notes with just a little tropical fruit flavors. Just can’t get past the heat and alcohol.

4/27/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Medium bodied red fruited wine with just a hint of pepper. A bit thin in the mouth. Quite nice at the price level.

4/26/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Unlike prior bottle. This was a bit hot thin and angular, with a core of plump red fruits. Off kilter. No obvious flaw. Same batch as prior bottle.

4/26/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Excellent CA Syrah. Ripe and plump but with a light peppery edge. Just delicious

4/25/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Strong showing. Just a hint of reduction initially upon opening. Darker fruit profile, black cherry hinting on plums. Ripe, but balanced, as ti's quite fresh. The ripeness gives the palate a sappiness, that quite inviting. Lengthy finish. I'm impressed by the balance and polish. There's no rusticity here whatsoever.
In night two was much more savory and spicy with a nice fruit core. Just delicious with wonderful depth.

4/23/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Somehow I hadn't opened one of these until now. Beautiful light ruby color. Red fruited, with strawberry notes dominating, but some orange peel and rhubarb mixed in. Quite fine, focused and refreshing on the palate--but more open than these are sometimes on release. Tannins there but light touch and add structure without being austere. Has a hint of baking spice on the finish that's quite intriguing and adds complexity. No harm in opening if you have several--but I suspect this is early on it's maturity and will continue to improve.

4/20/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Quite. It’s in a plush accessible style. More lush than what is typical but a fine tannic bead comes through on the finish adding a flinty complexity that is intriguing (and very much Pauillac). Don’t know the blend here but comes across as having a strong merlot component. Well balanced and handling the vintage well. Settling down nicely.

4/14/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Much browner than expected. Seemed oxidized, with typical sherry aromas. Has a little life on the palate but not the expected depth. I would have though off bottle, but the last 3 notes characterize this as rather advanced and brown. Maybe a premox issue?

4/13/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

A monster in scale and structure (still). Ruby color. Nose a bit shy, red fruited with light cedar undertones. Palate is large scaled with big coarse tannins that turn a bit austere in the finish. Has a nice reframing menthol note though. Very dry finish—seems more like wood tannins but who knows. Drink or hold—may still use some time. Not sure the style is for me.

Much improved on night 2. Oak notes integrated and the texture smoothed out. Much less angular. Bumped to 92 from 90.

4/7/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Freak’n delicious. Stole the show from the bdx. Blue and red fruits, with berry and bramble notes. Lifted and vibrant, quite fruity and spicy on the palate. Minimal tannin but quite acidic and fresh. Lovely.

4/7/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

The most open of the ‘14-‘16 trio. Nice depth and balances the ripeness of the vintage well. Plum without being overweight and no roasted noted. Seems like a wine to drink now but should continue to evolve.

On night 2 this seemed to show the vintage more. Riper, darker fruit and a rather extracted feel with coarse tannins on the finish. Liked it better on night 1 when it was fresher and smoother.

4/7/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

The most structured of the trio of ‘14-‘16. Quite refined and polished if a bit closed at this point. Well balanced, poised, with fine pure red fruit notes and oak well judged. I’m optimistic about the rest of my bottles. Give this at least another 5yrs.

4/7/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Opened along with 15 and 16. The most open. Some barnyard along with coarse tannins. Mid weight and complexity. Solid if a bit rustic. Has some aromatic lift to the nose as expected in Margaux. Not a crime to drink now while waiting on '16's to come around

4/7/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Corked.

4/5/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

I think my first time with this estate. Splash decanted. Vibrant color with just a hint of thinning on the edge. Shows the vintage, with just a hint of roasted fruit and toast initially—but this seemed to dissipate and come into balance with air. Expressive nose. Palate is rich, lush texture, with fine polished but still notable tannins. Has some “modern” leanings but I found this quite balanced and enjoyable. Drink now or over the next 10-15yrs. Should have a long window given the structure.

3/31/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Dangit, opened my last bottle sorta by accident. Needs several hours in the decanter for the oak to integrate. Lovely florals on the nose with spice cake, cassis and currant notes. Concentrated bright palate, but notable tannic spine. Lengthy finish with a notable vanilla character that on this night I found distracting.

3/31/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Solid, and better balanced than a recent '05. Still a darker ripe wine, with black currant profile that's powerful but retains a sense of elegance and nuance. Lovely velvety mouthfeel. Finishes with a spice character that adds to the depth. Showy, more of a merlot profile at this time. None of the roasted over extracted notes I got from the '05.

3/30/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Still reductive initially upon open but smoothed out after couple hours. Black cherry fruit with a dusting of spice notes. Quite shy on the nose but there’s a nice core of fruit on the palate. Stately rather firm tannins still present that really show up on the finish. Last glass after 3-4hrs air was the best, with a fine spicy herbal quality that I suspect is whole cluster influence.
Much better integration on night 2. Pure clean red cherry fruit with integrated spice notes. Very Oregon with a subtle strawberry lift to the fruit.

3/29/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

This was one was harder to understand. Powerful and larger scaled and still quite youthful. Rather vibrant young red fruit notes and no significant tertiary notes. Tannins were quite prominent and coarse, and even a little green adding a herbaceousness to the finish. Seemed to have a bright future but unclear how that herbaceous note will age.

3/29/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Maybe the wine of the night?. Explosive nose from the start, Vosne spice notes mixed with little tea leaves and some blue and black fruit notes. Tannic palate, with firm is somewhat austere tannins but melt away on the lengthy finish. Impressive balance and power, quite nuanced despite the scale.

3/29/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Strong effort. Balanced and nuanced, with a red fruit core with hints of white pepper on the palate. Has a fine tannic spine with just the hint of herbaceousness. Lovely with food.

3/29/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Kept getting better through the evening. No sign of this being a challenging vintage. With was pure red fruited with some strawberry highlights on the nose and palate. Supple, with no rough edges and tannins only starting to come through with a couple hours air. With air started to add some depth and complexity. Lose the balance and detail here and continues to get better through the evening.

3/29/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Man, not a champagne guy but this was quite notable. Oxidative nutty notes with apple and sherry qualities. Really deep palate, vibrant, quite nuanced. Lengthy finish adding some stony notes. Didn't take any detailed notes but this stood out--just knockout nose.

3/29/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

First young DRC of significant portion. I was a expecting a brutish wine given the reputation of '20, but this was all polish the elegance. The oak notes do dominate but well balanced. Elegant floral highlights with violets and other dark profile notes. Palate was concentrated, but not heavy and tannins were quite fine and polished. Clearly has a bright future but won't be shy is saying this was crushable now. But does show it's terrior? That'a a harder question, and probably the best reason to let is rest.

3/28/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Lighter styled, with an ethereal smooth attack with fine tannins only noted on the finish. Had a cherry core, with a lifted strawberry note and a hint of pepper, but a nice forest floor character rounds this out. Just doesn't have the intensity or depth of a next level wine.

3/24/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Small second day sample, Supple and ripe, with a broad palate that lacks a little vibrancy. But there's intensity and scale. Moderate depth. Good, though was hoping for a bit more verve.

3/24/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Serviced blind. Very dark color. Vibrant purple fruit with a strong pepper note. Very intense and with a hint of roasted animal fat and game suggesting Cornas. Quite persistent. Favoring a 2015. Palate a bit cloying upon further thought. Went great with burgers.

3/24/2024 - Nutty08 wrote:

Showing a ton of oak initially that improved with a decant. Dark fruited and serious. Rather unexpressive nose. Palate a bit solemn and maybe a bit closed. Not sure about this one. Will hold hold other bottle 3-5yrs.

3/24/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Terrific. Very red fruited. Quite defined and narrow at this point showing a lot of freshness. Just a hint of toast on the nose and palate. Finishes lengthy wi the a stoney quality. Really solid. Has the PG style but clearly shows the CA terrior as it’s a bit more red fruited and lacking the OR strawberry and forest notes.
Best to hold a few years and let the structure settle down and broaden on the palate.

3/24/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Served blind. Wonderful focus and delineation. White peach and a bit of apple on a fine spine of acidity. Narrow and refreshing. Finishes stony and refreshing. Guess is 21 Chablis. 1er. Amazing.

3/24/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Big whiff blind -- thinking SW France. There's a hint of volatility, but not troublesome. Lifted high tones nose with dried cherry notes. "Sweet" red fruited palate with fine but rather mild tannins. Mid weight and depth. Easy drink.

3/23/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Pretty much open from the start. Given a splash decant. Dried red fruits with some tea leaves and light spice note. Quite fragrant with an elegant vibe. Vibrant palate that’s quite supple initially then firms up in the backend. Lengthy deep finish. Very good now and enjoyable.

3/23/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Second day sample. In a refined modern style, with sleek tannins. Darker fruit, black currants. Looses a bit of persistence in the mid palate keeping this from a higher level. Just a hint of herbal cab notes on finish keep it interesting.

3/17/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Splash decanted and was pretty open from the beginning. Dark card of back cherry fruit with some mild cedar spice. Structure is rather mild structure at this point. Has some slightly high toned fruit and hints of overripeness but seems to keep things in balance. Drinking well now but will continue to age.

3/16/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Still youthful but starting to open up and was nicely expressive. Dark red fruits and a potpourri of spice notes. Palate was rather concentrated and complex but without any sense of heaviness. Didn't get the since this came a particularly warm or ripe vintage given the balance. Slight oak and toast on the back end but well balanced.

3/16/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

very strong and was expressive from pop n pour. Hints of tropical fruits with a more expansive supple mouthfeel--but this was lively and focused and had a distinct chiseled granite core that really drew one in to the complexity and finish.

3/16/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

Brilliant red crimson color from a well stored example with low neck fill. Very much alive though mature. Aromatic with leather and spice notes and a strong mint/eucalyptus note. Palate was fine, if lacking intensity and power--but was elegant and balanced and easy to drink and appreciate. Punched well above the vintage reputation--would have guessing 80's blind I think.

3/16/2024 - Nutty08 Likes this wine:

From 375ml. Seemed to be in a nice drinking window. Ripe and red fruited, quite pleasant and easy going. Lacking the intensity and power of a grand cru--but that isn't to say this is a bad wine. It's pleasant and inoffensive with some tertiary notes implying maturity.