4/13/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Good as usual. Rich & juicy with nice pepper spice.

3/29/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Good red fruit & spice on the nose. Nice raspberry, red cherry, and cranberry. Orange zest tart/bitterness, nice acidity, and some spice, a bit less spice than anticipated from the nose. Good value and may get a bit better over the next year.

3/23/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Nice Sonoma blend Pinot. Cherry and plum fruit, nice warm cedar spice.

3/3/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Lime, white peach, a little grapefruit and lemon. Nice crisp acid and minerals. Lively and refreshing. More acidic than many CA Sauv Blancs.

2/25/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Consistently good Zin. Blackberry, black cherry, and raspberry. Licorice and black pepper spice.

2/24/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Bold wine. Black and blue fruits, tobacco spice, bit of chocolate. Balanced with dry tannins, minerals, and some acids. Needs some air. Gave it a 93 initially and it could still get there with a little more time.

2/19/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Solid Malbec. Medium bodied. Purple fruit, soft tannins, with some minerals. A little rustic and not complex, but enjoyable.

2/10/2024 - Jobu wrote:

Blackberries, blueberries, and plum. Ripe and juicy, a little sweet. There’s a bit of oak and vanilla with some nice spice. Could use a bit more tannins, but it’s got enough body to it. Works on its own or with a meal.

1/20/2024 - Jobu wrote:

It was too cold when opened, straight out of the chilly basement. Red berries & milk chocolate, with a bit of warm spices. Nothing special. Let it warm up quite a bit & the patience paid off. Plum, red & black berries. Minerals, that spice, & a bit of chocolate is there in the background. Really became quite well balanced.

12/23/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Warm floral nose. Plums, raspberry, and cherry fruit. Lots of warm fruitcake spice and minerals and smooth tannins. Very nice Malbec for under $20 even if it doesn’t live up to the accolades.

12/9/2023 - Jobu wrote:

I’ve liked this in prior years & this got higher ratings, but I just don’t see it. Seemed closed even after air time. It improved a bit, but it’s just blah.

12/1/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Year after year this is a great value Dolcetto. Works great on its own and with a wide variety of food. This is on par with other years. Red berry and plum, bright acidity, some minerals, and orange zest. I don’t agree with the 93 WS rating, but it’s still a good versatile wine.

11/25/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Juicy, ripe red fruit, cherry & raspberry. Not a big wine and that ripe fruit is balanced with some acidity & minerals. Really Rhône like if just slightly more fruit forward. Quite enjoyable.
I’ve had the Juveniles here & there over the years & mostly liked it. I never realized that there’s only a little Shiraz in the blend. 47% Grenache, 32% Mataro, 10% Carignan, 9% Counoise, 2% Shiraz.

11/18/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Picked this up after seeing it as a Thanksgiving recommendation on WS with a 93 score. It’s a good Zin, but not that high a rating in my opinion. There’s some nice ripe raspberry & blackberry fruit, with good licorice and cracked black pepper spice and a hint of bay leaf. Works at $20, but there are better Zins out there if it’s at it $30 listed price.

11/12/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Big ripe cherry and raspberry. Pepper a little chocolate. Really nice if not quite at the ‘20 level.

11/4/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Ripe, jammy cherries and brambles. Lots of licorice and black pepper. Nice big Zin.

11/3/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Fruit forward ripe, juicy, candied cherries. Smooth mild tannins. A hint of earthy spice on the end. No one’s going to mistake this for a Brunello, but it’s very enjoyable for what it is. Decent value at $22-25.

10/27/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Juicy blackberry and cherry, some dark spice. Not complex, but for $9.99 it hits the spot as an everyday PnP.

10/25/2023 - Jobu wrote:

A bit different than a typical Spanish Albariño, but it’s damn tasty. Yellow apples, some lemon, solid minerals and crisp acidity. I didn’t get any residual sugar sweetness that other notes mentioned with the lower scores, so perhaps just bottle variation.

10/22/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Juicy red fruit, cherry, raspberry, plum. A little spice and some mild tannins give it enough structure. Pretty good easy drinking Merlot for under $20.

10/20/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Red & black cherries, plum, & raspberry. Juicy & ripe but not sweet. A bit of spice & a hint of oak with soft tannins. Medium bodied & a great sipper that’s got surprising complexity. Very enjoyable red blend. 40% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Syrah, 3% Counoise, 2% Viognier. I’m a sucker for a red with a little Viognier & I give it credit for the soft smooth edge to this.

10/15/2023 - Jobu wrote:

It’s still a pretty good Malbec, but it’s reached its end life. Fine for a grab & pour for another year.

10/8/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Cherries, red and black. Some earthy spice. Really good Nebbiolo for under $25.

10/2/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Pretty good for $11. Tropical fruit, passion fruit, lemon, and decent enough acidity.

9/30/2023 - Jobu wrote:

It’s good, but I expected a bit better. Lightly sweet ripe cherry and plum. A bit of warm Pinot spice and a nice little tartness on the finish. There’s definitely some things to like in it, so I’ll give it a little time and try again.

9/29/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Darker than most Barberas. Rich blackberries, dark cherries, and plums, and a bit of earthy spice. It’s still got that bright juicy Barbera acids.

9/23/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Nice bright red fruit, cherry, raspberry, some strawberries too. Baking spices and some juicy acidity. Works well with a wide range of food, especially Italian dishes.

9/16/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Lots of red & black fruit. Plum, cassis, some cherry. Fruit forward for a Bordeaux, but it’s more juicy than ripe or sweet. Well balanced with tannins & a bit of minerals. Great QPR. I’m not big on Bordeaux, but will definitely buy more. Doesn’t need more time, but has 7-10 years in it.

8/25/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Grapefruit, lemon, tropical fruit. There’s a little sweetness, but it’s balanced nicely by some saline notes and crisp acidity. Really nice SB.

8/13/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Same as previous. Damn this is good stuff.

8/13/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Damn good Rhône(ish) blend. Big dark cherry & blackberry fruit with some cacao and spice. Nice big tannins. Drinking well now with some air, but should improve over the next year.

8/12/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Raspberry jam, minerals, and Fruity Pebbles on the nose. Raspberry, red plum, mixed berries, and a little leather on on the palate. Warm spice, minerals, and a bit of tartness on the finish. Nicely layered. Super smooth and delicious. Fantastic Grenache. Love Margerum wines.

8/4/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Juicy black cherry, a bit floral, soft, smooth tannins.

7/30/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Cherry, plum, juicy fruit. Some toasty oak and tannins give it enough structure. Solid under $25 Cab.

7/29/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Red cherry, raspberry, and cranberry that adds a tartness. Warm cinnamon spice. Consistently good Pinot.

7/28/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Really good Chilean Syrah. Dark berries, black cherry fruit. Ripe but not sweet. Smoked meat, leather, dark spice, with a hint of fresh green herbs (not vegetal like many Chilean wines these days). Complex & balanced.

7/22/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Black fruit, brambles, garrigue, with some black pepper and herbs de Provence. Little stony mineral on the end. Really enjoyable Côtes du Rhône.

7/21/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Lucky to find a couple bottles. Consistent with the tasting at the Wine Expo. There’s a bit of heat, so it needs a little air to settle down. Fruit forward with the Rhône grapes, but the Zin & Bordeaux grapes give it depth and some earthiness.

7/18/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Blackberry, cassis, wild berries with dried herbs, pepper, minerals and a bit of acids. Blend of 84% Syrah, 14% Petite Sirah, and 2% Viognier. Well done for the price.

7/16/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Grassy nose. Grapefruit, lemon, tropical citrus, with crisp acids. Very refreshing.

7/9/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Cherry, plum, strawberry fruit with some Chianti earthy , leather. Damn good under $20 Riserva.

7/3/2023 - Jobu wrote:

A bit tight at first. A little air and the raspberries, cherries, and pomegranate come out. There’s a nice tartness and a hint black tea.

7/3/2023 - Jobu wrote:

This is excellent as usual. A bit more juicy tropical fruits this year, pineapple and mangoes, but it’s still got some crisp acids.

7/2/2023 - Jobu wrote:

I love Seghesio and bought a bunch of these when I saw WS gave it 94 points. It’s good, but not close to that now. It needs a little more time. It’s really smooth on opening, but lacks those great Zin characteristics. They do come out with time, which gives me hope that this can be really good. Will leave the rest sit and drink the Sonoma County in the meantime.

7/1/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Ripe red & black berry and some plums. Nice bit of pepper spice and some dried herbs plus some smoked meat on the end. Really good SB Syrah and a good QPR.

7/1/2023 - Jobu wrote:

First time having a Txakoli. I usually go with an Albariño for a Spanish white, but that may now change. Nice and crisp with juicy pear and white peach with a little bit of citrus, saline, and minerals. Slightly effervescent.

6/19/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Really good Tuscan blend for the price. Black cherry & blackberry. Nice tannins. Very well balanced.

6/19/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Lime, peach, citrus with some minerals & crisp acidity. Solid NZ Sauv Blanc.

6/15/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Floral on the nose & palate. Red plum, raspberry, stones, chocolate, and baking spice. Very Catena profile.

6/11/2023 - Jobu wrote:

Really tart bordering on sour initially. Air really helps dial it back. Fruit comes out after a while, but it never gets there for me. A bit more and it’d be very good. I expected more from it, but for under $20 can’t comeplain if you have the patience.