3/18/2021 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Beautiful cherry notes with a little sour Brett aroma in the background and some red licorice. Has great acid and tannin with long dry finish. A little austere at this time but I like it! Wish I had a dozen more to drink :(
Will probably wait 3-5 years to drink the last one.

3/20/2018 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Nice spice notes, rustic wood notes almost mahogany like, plums with brown sugar on top, slight browning but still plenty life ahead, really juicy with nice soft tannins and good acidity, was rough upon opening but singing now an hour later.. Wish I had purchased the others on winebid :(

5/11/2017 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Gushing with upfront strawberry, sweet cherry, herbs, and some mocha. Beautiful aromatics!! Would guess spanish grenache if smelled blind.. Very mouthfilling with tannins that creep up on you.. Its full of ripe fruit but not gushy with enough acidity to balance it all out.. First time with this producer so no thoughts on whether this is a new style vs traditional for them, doesnt matter.. I like it ☺️ Def a good balance for me between wayyyyy traditional bordeaux and ripe as shit bordeaux..

4/22/2017 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Pop n pour.. 375ml bt.. lots of gravel, cassis, subtle oak dark berries and just a slight hint of VA.. smells like bordeaux :) Big wine mouth filling with pretty good acidity.. Def not jammy but a big boy.. Long dry finish.. looking forward to my case over the next 10-15 yrs

5/30/2016 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Lots of lime w/ some minerally notes.. Really nice refreshing wine.. plenty of acid with good body.. awesome wine!

5/30/2016 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Was expecting this to be more doughy/yeasty from all the lees aging (10 years) but surprised to find honey/blossom/spice notes.. beautiful wine.. super creamy with great acidity! Awesome wine for $62 if club members! Was told they will eventually release a 20 year sur lee aged sparkler! :)

1/28/2016 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Wow.. head scratcher.. almost smells like bordeaux.. has this really dark cassis tobacco aroma.. its def very deep dark fruited.. very enjoyable.. ripe but not over the top.. fun wine!! probably wouldnt want to cellar them.. would probably be too sweet in the long run, drink up now and enjoy!

12/11/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Just cracked it open.. very minerally, black tea, and slight red fruited nose. I would say this is somewhere between oregon and burgundy if someone were to blind serve it to me. It is very silky with great acidity. Dont think its one to put away for ages but could be fun to stash away for 3-5 years to see what happens. Very interesting region for sure. Will have to finally try some of their single vineyard offerings.

12/8/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

I really like this... it is really burly.. very drying tannins.. doesn't have the austerity you find in more classic years, ripping acidity and tannin. This is mouth puckering bone dry with very balanced acidity. The best part of the wine is the nose. I'm drinking this on night two and it has yet to shut down. The nose is bursting with nutty aromas, almost Brunello-like. I think james suckling nailed it right on the head (although i hate to admit it, cant stand this guy), really does have this nutty walnutty smell to it, wouldn't call it "oxidized." Does have those tobacco undertones as well and cherry notes. This is fantastic and much better than the 2010 which was to me much more feminine/leaner (violets, roses)... this one speaks "Italian" to me.. a leather note as well.. awesome!

12/7/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Def very approachable now.. Doesn't have those harsh typical tannins you'd expect from the varietal. Aromas are more on the berry/cherry side and raspberries with some tobacco undertones. Very fleshy and enjoyable now but still very structured...

10/3/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

very aromatic upon opening.. lots of floral notes.. orange zest.. very complex nose.. very untraditional gigondas in my opinion.. but then you taste it and it is dry as hell.. typical young gigondas full of rustic flavors.. i loved this.. day 2 it became a lot silkier and more pleasurable on the palatte but lost some aromatic umph.. but still.. what a great wine at a great price <$30

9/27/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Much more aromatic today.. more cassis dark cherry & bell pepper notes.. A lot more lush today showing more ripeness with nice dry finish.. i like this.. imagine it could improve thru the years.. for $20 not bad at all! Would love a large faucking steak right now :)

9/26/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Very mushroomy with dark cherry notes and smoke/charcoal notes.. is pretty lush with good acid and drying finish.. def needs a few more years to unwind.. def an interesting wine nonetheless..

8/8/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

tasty, lots of red fruited aromas.. def doesn't have the mourvedre musk/earth one looks for, has more of a velvety modern plush characteristic, but bottle went down easily with some carne asada tacos! Neutral barrels would have been a better call along with some whole cluster inclusion!

8/8/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

sappy with herbs and rasberries.. nice. i like the texture of it. Def pick up the stem inclusion, love that

7/14/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

This wine is delicious.. It even got better on day two.. sort of reminds me of a really ripe Russian river valley syrah.. lots of brambly dark fruit, tons of oak, sweet cream.. its def a crowd pleaser.. not for your typical wine snob.. amazing that they can sell this stuff for $6.99 a bottle.. I think it spends 16 months in 1/3 new oak.. crazy how they can afford to do this.. my palate does tend for old world wines with more earth but shit, this got me drunk and I enjoyed those flavors while consuming it... even gave my glass a sniffy sniff dozens of times...

7/14/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

sort of fell apart on day two.. really ripe.. pleasant.. ok

7/14/2015 - beachdude8977 Does not like this wine:

thin and acidic.. crap

6/19/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

this was quite a surprise.. nice and soft with cherry notes.. very serviceable, especially at the 7$ price point.. pretty earthy too..

6/19/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Lots of herbs on day one.. nice big bold fruit with slight tannins.. day two came across more like syrah.. dark cherry fruit. plums.. nice and bold :)

6/10/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Toasty, Stinky cheese aromas.. amazing :)

5/28/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Would be very difficult to guess right bank tasting blind. To me this comes out of the bottle extremely red fruited (very aromatic).. strawberry/grenache/rasberry notes.. Has good acidity and nice long dry finish.. Very enjoyable now.. bottle wont probably last until tomorrow but i imagine with time the fruit will hold up and tannins will become silky?? Def pick up more minerality notes with some darker fruits now.. On the palatte its def richer with deep darker flavors along with some oak.. very good and great QPR at $26

5/3/2015 - beachdude8977 Does not like this wine:

This was too sappy and stemmy.. while i love stem inclusion this was overdone here imhp.. just rough.. thought i enjoyed it at the tasting room but was clearly too many tastings in

4/27/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

def agree with note below that this seems less sangiovese like.. although a delicious wine.. purchased at the winery.. did some tastings in the casks.. 2011 and 2013 vintages.. but bought this figuring 2010 was a solid vintage therefore the rosso should be solid too.. def a softer more approachable wine.. not grainy or dry like some younger rossos ive had the last few days.. doesnt have the old world woodsy/tobacco notes ive found (with brunello) or red fruited notes from rossos.. this is to me pretty ripe with sort of plum notes.. with some pungency to it.. its def ripe and very forward/pleasing as your drink it.. overal solid but to me not worth the 44euro a bottle cost.. maybe should have invested in a brunello bottle.. oh well was a fun experience though.. at 44 euro a bottle id rather consume a frescobaldi 2010 brunello...... that was fun to drink

4/26/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

cherry/tomato tobacco woodsy notes.. opened from a split 375ml purchased at the winery for 16 euros.. ~$17.50 usd.. still has a hefty dose of acidity with drying tannins.. needs time to soften.. but still pretty solid now..

4/13/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Nose is pretty one dimensional with herbs/stems.. Def pick up the stem inclusion but nothing else.. While ripe, it Is Quite firm and tannic.. I would sit on these for awhile.. no other notes since this was the laast bottle consumed.. too much vino in one night..

4/13/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

still really dam good. I agree with note below, super ripe but not cooked. No better way to put it. Has def a lot of oak but lots of black olive notes which keeps things interesting. Still firm and tannic.. wont touch another for 3-5 years.. even though it was guzzled without a problem :)

4/12/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

I liked this a lot. Def more approachable then the other 2010 brunellos I've tried. Nose is a bit rustic with some pungent cherry, minerals, chocolate and herbs. This is def a lot more minerally/steely with those other notes in the background. On the palate, this is juicy with softer tannins with a long finish, def enjoyable right out of the gate.

Day 2 it was really open with notes of cherry, licorice, raspberry, vanilla, and wood. Its extremely lush today with good acid to keep it structured. Nice!

4/12/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

I agree with Hawk below, man, best Brunello I've ever had.. I'm loading up on these.. You see the 15% alcohol note on the label but you would never guess it to be that much blind.. don't care who you are..

this has an amazing bouquet.. Notes of rosemary, thyme, underbrush, ripe cherry, and soy sauce. This wine is a tannic beast and finishes with notes of wood and tobacco but has plenty of fruit to balance it... Its truly an amazing wine..

Day 2 is continued but the tannins lessened and it sort of picked up this sweet finish which was nice.. its awesome..

4/12/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Just not feeling this one.. consuming it right now.. pretty dam tight and lean.. def a bit dominated by chocolate, oak, vanilla, cherry and tobacco. Its very austere right now.. Super dry with a long woodsy tobacco finish.. probably needs plenty of time.. I imagine one would think its super traditional but the nose would make you think modern.. oh well, whatever it is, it needs time... not as approachable as other 2010 brunellos I've had so far.. will post another note manana..

3/16/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

if it werent for the bit of drying sensation i might guess Paso Cab blind.. its just full of up front fruit but not overly done.. Def not traditional bordeaux but very enjoyable nonetheless.. notes of oak, dark fruit, brown sugar/molasses with very lush fruit on the palatte with dryyyyy finish.. pretty good.. cant remember what the 2010 was like.. something tells me it had more structure to it.. this is def a tri tip, brisket, or big ass burger wine..

3/16/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

agree with note below.. ramas note.. day one its all about the aromatics.. they just jump out of the glass.. potpourri, orange peel, floral notes, violets, rasberries, and strawberries.. just really perfumed.. downside, pretty dry and the fruit doesnt hold up to it.. 89

day two.. bouquet still rocking it.. tannins have subsided but still present on the finish but much more lush fruit on the palatte.. def has picked up weight in 24 hours.. this really good.. dam good.. gave up on beaujolais years ago.. just wasnt a fan.. felt that they were too thin.. but this, this interesting.. very bourgogne like.. and at a much cheaper cost.. 91

for $20 see no harm in stuffing a few in the cellar for 3-5 years ..

3/5/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

notes of game, charcoal, dirt, bacon, and some menthol. If tasted blind would guess that its northern rhone, morr dominated with syrah. Very good structure and tannin, can almost taste the charcoal.. def old school, awesome

3/1/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

wasnt too impressed.. would rather consume kung fu panda likes you! 2013 kung fu washington riesling..

2/27/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

First experience with this producer, had to see what the fuss is all about. Notes of licorice, Herbs, Tobacco, and rasberries. Def has a lot of stem inclusion aromatics.. Smells like a southern rhone grenache. Love that. Has a short tight dry finish but is probably due to its young age. This is the type of pinot i strive to make myself, glad to have finally tasted it. :) and at only $35 a bottle!

1/18/2015 - beachdude8977 wrote:

light to medium bodied, notes of cranberry with some strawberry mixed in.. very clean red fruited nose with some mineral tones.. sort of reminds me more of marsannay wines.. nice acidity and lift.. good finish, not bad.. enjoyable pinot but would be a lot happier if it were under $25 vs the $34 i paid..

1/9/2015 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

bretty funk initially.. but then blows off to cassis, dark chocolate & coffee notes.. nice soft mellow tannins.. just dont shine light through your glass.. heavy sediment.....

11/20/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Really beautiful nose.. Raspberry, forest floor, violets, with some licorice tones.. It's a bit tart, medium bodied but very pleasant.. Nose def makes up for the one dimensional taste/finish.. But not bad..

11/16/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Notes of raspberries, herbs, violets and minerals. The wine is fruity and silky with a nice spicy finish. Very good daily drinker for $13. Very good..

11/13/2014 - beachdude8977 wrote:

just ok. Its nice upon opening, cherries, strawberries, minerals, tight, and dry... but then sort of picks up this weird honey note and becomes flabby with a short finish.. yikes..

11/10/2014 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Nice notes of cherries and strawberries and some forest floor notes.. Red fruits which is a surprise!! So used to dark Rich fruited noses.. New style for Loring for sure.. Ripe but much more elegant style. I think I'll pound the entire bottle tonight :)

11/10/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Notes of toasty sweet oak (more woody, not vanilla), dark fruits, black cherry, and ginger bread thing I dig.. Juicy as hell, sweet tannin.. Nice wine! Def more modern but what the hell is wrong with that? Its pretty dam balanced.. It's ripe but not over the top, Enjoy with a juicy steak, Tri tip!

11/5/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Upon opening notes of plums, cassis/cherry thing, cranberry, some herbal notes .. More red fruited which is surprising. Ripe and juicy but not over the top with dry finish.. Long finish.. Jesus I could drink this every night of the week

10/13/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Been a year and a half or more since cracking one.. Notes of toasty oak, cedar, plum, tobacco and cafe/chocolate. The wine is big and rich but tannic as hell. I don't remember it being so dry. Def a great vintage, has the fruit and has the tannin. Sort of reminds me of some solid Washington state cabs, lacks the earth tones I like to find in bordeaux but still a good ass wine..

7/27/2014 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Meh.. Dark tannic with some floral components.. Kirsch.. Don't dig it.. Just too bitter.. Not my style

7/22/2014 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Agree with paydon.. Nose is pretty dam interesting with this earthy mushroomy cherry thing going on.. It's light on its feet at 12.5 alc but is very drinkable.. Not overly complex.. But not sour with an acid bite which I usually find in burgs in this price range.. It's round with some acid and a bit of tannins but At $15.99 it's great for burg and week day wine!

7/21/2014 - beachdude8977 wrote:

Silky silky silk! Nose open with violets, cinnamon, cola, cherries, with a bit of brown sugar.. Amazing that it's got 50% new oak.. It's got great mouthfeel with some spice notes.. Very ding (good).. Ding = good as in good = ding

7/20/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable, def agree that is doesn't have ripping acidity.. More round than what I was expecting.. But still good stone/minerality with some lemon zest..

7/20/2014 - beachdude8977 wrote:

I think this is wine is awesome. Day 1 is was very tight. Day 2 it opened up to brambly fruit with nice drying tannins.. Good wine!

7/19/2014 - beachdude8977 Likes this wine:

This wine rocks! Upon opening the nose is bursting with brambly fruit and some kirsch.. the wine is pretty big with sweet tannins.. finish lingers and lingers... amazing upon opening.. day two nose has more of a red fruit thing going on.. could mistake it for grenache.. but then the dark berries and plum notes come back.. a lil tighter on day two with more restraint mouthfeel.. again this wine kicks ass.. def not your traditional bordeaux.. this is the sh-i-ot i enjoy! :)