10/8/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

In decline

7/11/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

Still full bodied and a good amount of life left in the bottle.

6/18/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

Needs 4-5 more years. Still closed down.

6/14/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

This bottle has many more years left in it. Happy I have 3 more.

6/14/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

So much life left in this bottle. Glad I have 3 more.

5/8/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

Still had a good deal of life left in it. Beautiful garnet color. Nicely balanced, but much more subtle with its age. I wish I had a few more left in the cellar.

3/15/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

Aged beautifully.

1/5/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

While this wine was well put together, it lacked character. It had been open for 2 hours, but not sure if more time would have given it a soul.

1/3/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

Probably my favorite wine if all time.

1/3/2014 - closdupapes wrote:

Needs another 5 years. It's going to be beautiful.

12/11/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Probably my favorite wine of the year. Perfection.

12/1/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Still youthful.

12/1/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Very nice, but in decline.

7/15/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Well balanced, all around nice wine.

5/25/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

All I can say is wow! Fruit, balance, finish... So glad I have three more bottles.

5/24/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Drink now.

3/4/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Love this Cali Pinot. Aging beautifully. Sad it's my last.

2/23/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Well structured wine. Tasty ripe, soft red fruits. I was fearing that this bottle would be way past its peak, but I was pleasantly surprised. I wish I had a couple more bottles in the cellar. Too bad.

2/14/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Very well balanced Zin. Not your average jammy California powerhouse. More refined. Great long finish.

2/13/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Underwhelmed by the 2011.

2/8/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Excellent Mountain cab! One of my favorites: well balanced, decent finish, still lots of life.

2/5/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

The '11 is thin and slightly astringent. The wine now equals the bottle price, unlike the previous years when is was a great value.

2/3/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

On its way out. I am disappointed with the longevity, or lack there of, of this wine. It had such great potential.

1/30/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

My adoration for Loring wines has become erratic. I now look at many of the bottles of Loring in my cellar with disdain. This bottle has brought me back. It is not a 100, but it is balanced and holds up well. It is not the fruit bomb that I have started to dread. I have many different vineyards from Loring. Maybe the Graham Family is why I started collect this vineyard originally.

1/19/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Tart red fruits. A little thin.

1/18/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Normally this would score higher, but it was bookended by some California Cult cabs that were powerhouses. The Mount Eden had to live in the shadows that night.

1/18/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Just a beautiful wine- grace and elegance in the bottle. It no is the behemoth that is was 10 years ago. It has mellowed and the fruit has really come into its own. The finish lasted for minutes. Sad it was my last '91.

1/14/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Outstanding. Still youthful.

1/11/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Very fruit forward with a deep purple, inky color. Decanted it for about two hours. Maybe it has shut down, but we did not find a whole lot of depth in this wine. A bit of a disappointment, as that was what we were in the mood for.

1/7/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

Gone. Too bad.

1/5/2013 - closdupapes wrote:

It has held up well over time. Still has life, but should be consumed over the next few years.

12/23/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Deep jammy fruit balanced nicely. Big nose followed by a big finish. This is a really nice zin. Looking forward to my next bottles.

12/17/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

I love cab franc. This bottle was a little disappointing. The fruit and green pepper were not as present as some Napa cab francs. A nice wine, but I will return to my Napa makers.

12/17/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Has aged perfectly. A fantastic way to start a holiday wine dinner. Elegant and clean... Beautiful bubbles.

12/2/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

A little past its prime, but still a very yummy wine. Big bold mountain fruit with saddle undertones. Always one if my favorites from Howell Mountain.

11/17/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Bottle had turned.

11/25/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Starting to go down hill. Had almost a tawny port-like finish. Drink now.

11/19/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Delicious!

11/18/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Historically one of my favorite wines. But this bottle was starting to turn. I will speed up the consumption of my remaining '70s.

11/22/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Age is starting to show. Nice, but getting the "musties". Have one more bottle and will drink it very soon.

11/18/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Apricot. Clean on the palate, not overly oaked

11/11/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Opened the bottle within an hour of dinner. Needed much more. Tannins are still dominating. Fruits do hold up, but the wine needs more time.

11/9/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Sour. Not too old- just turned. Was a gift- maybe too much heat.

11/6/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Still life in this bottle, although it does seem to be past its prime. The Howell Mnt character is still there- full bodied and rustic.

11/7/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Consistently a favorite.

10/31/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

I thought this would be farther in decline, but I was surprise with how much life it still had in it. I have 5 more bottles and now is the time to drink them.

11/2/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Nice upfront with a light finish.

11/1/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Sharper than I remember at the vineyard. Citrus and grass.

11/1/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Nicely balanced fruit. Very nice and aging well.

10/14/2012 - closdupapes wrote:

Old world meets new world. An excellent effort. Perfectly balanced- I am sorry this is my last bottle.