12/31/2023 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Too much alcohol. Off putting flavors. Not good.

5/14/2023 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

So sick. This bottle hit

6/27/2021 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Golden color. Buttery, smooth, hints of lemon, low acid but enough to hold it together. Drink now and enjoy.

6/10/2021 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Beautiful minerality. Clean apple and pear. Just wonderful.

4/17/2020 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Young and sharp. Bright red underripe fruits. Balanced and tart if that is possible. Needs time but enjoyable now.

4/5/2020 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Beautiful nose. Clear yellow. Soft, round, lemon and minerality. Wonderful right now.

2/28/2018 - socalwinenerd wrote:

375ml bottle. Golden yellow color. Needed lots of time. Tasting upon initial pour was overpowered by the alcohol. Mellowed over next 2 hours to reveal some lemon rind mixed with a butter-rum quality. Still focused and with some life.

2/17/2018 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Solid wine. Fruit centric. Darker fruits. No great depth but a quality bottle.

1/17/2018 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Took a while to open up but was marvelous once it did.

11/29/2017 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

not as laser focused as I would have hoped. denser lemon fruits, almost heavier than expected. still good stuff.

11/29/2017 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

smooth, not tart. easy finish. subtle but enough fruit. good stuff.

12/20/2016 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Light golden. Clean, mineral notes, light citrus. Light oak. Begging for a touch more acidity to pull it together. True to place though as the fruits are subtle and in the background and the minerality carries the palate. The word "clean" keeps coming to mind. Very nice.

11/16/2016 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Smokey game and leather with black and blue fruits. A fairly bombastic wine. Hedonistic without being cloying. Nice.

11/8/2016 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Inky purple. Wonderful nose of ripe black fruit. This has cedar and anise and dark cherry. My wife says she tastes delicious bourbon. This is round and hedonistic but restrained enough to not be flabby or cloying. The fruit is held in check with the mellowed tannins. This is a great Cabernet Sauvignon that is singing at the apex of its ephemeral existence.

10/23/2016 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Clean, saline, sharp acidity. Pure Chablis.

10/20/2016 - socalwinenerd wrote:

soft, feminine, smooth. ripe red fruits, good acidity, some tartness. very fresh.

9/16/2016 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Nose has old world funk. Some cherry and spice on the palate. Decent acidity. A little simple in the mid palate, lacking complexity. Shorter finish. This is an enjoyable, simple bourgogne. A great mid-week wine. Not a show stopper.

2/9/2016 - socalwinenerd wrote:

This was just bad. Undrinkable.

12/2/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

PnP. Light ruby. A lighter pinot. Sour cherry. Tart red fruits. Not complex.

11/29/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Drank over a 3 hour dinner. Dark ruby. Vibrant ripe red fruits on the nose with a predominance of strawberry and red cherry. This is a smooth, fruit-centric wine with more body than one may expect from a Sonoma Pinot Noir. Good acidity plays nicely with the sweet fruits. This opened up and evolved over the three hours. Good balance. Long finish. A really well made wine but a bit bigger and more bombastic than I was expecting. Not a subtle shy wine by any means. Enjoyable.

11/12/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Deep purple. Some dark fruits and toffee on the nose. Smooth round dark overripe fruits. Jammy in a positive way. Very well integrated (the opposite of a disjointed wine). Really enjoyable.

9/24/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Less tartness than prior bottles. Mellowed. Better now. Smoother. Fruits are darker. More integrated.

9/15/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Golden yellow. Tropical fruit on the nose. Nice sharp acidity. Some citrus notes and buttered popcorn. Really nice wine. Solid finish. Good balance. Great wine. Wow.

8/21/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Golden yellow. Cork came out nice with the Durand. The nose is just great. It is an old world nose. Not bright and light but a bit dank and musty in a gorgeous way. I don't detect any oxidation. This wine is full bodied with some mellow citrus notes. It coats the mouth nicely. The acidity is present but not tightly coiled and angular like a younger wine. It is softer and slower to catch your attention. It settles in your mouth and hangs out for a bit before it recedes and leaves you with the finish which is long and even and gentle and kind. This wine does not try to be something it is not. It is an elder statesman. It is classy and has manners and delivers the goods dependably with a gleam in its eye of the spunky youth that it once was.

6/16/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

PnP. Deep ruby. Open nose of flowers and red fruit. Approachable palate with strawberry and ripe cherries. Fruit forward. Almost sweet but not syrupy. True to place (RRV). Enjoyable.

6/14/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Oxidized

6/7/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Ruby colored with cherry red as it thins. Bright red fruit nose. Fruit forward. Some green elements in the background but this is really dominated by ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry. Nice integration of acidity. A well made very enjoyable quintessential Santa Rita Hills pinot. We drank this side by side with a 2005 Chateau De La Tour Clos de Vougeot which really showed the obvious contrast between the Old World and New World style of Pinot Noir.

6/6/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

PNP at The Boulevard in SF. Deep red in the glass with brown hues as it layers out. The nose is earthy with an element of funk dominating. There is red fruit as well on the nose but it lingers behind the more prominent non-fruit centric organic qualities. The nose was nuanced and timeless and evolved over a couple hours. A truly haunting nose. The palate follows the nose but has more red and black fruit. Some spices. Great acidity and juicy tannins all in seemless balance. There is a long finish. This wine is great now and was a jaw dropper for the 4 of us that enjoyed it. But I wonder where it will be in a decade or two. I can only hope I will have the opportunity to taste it again. Paired with quail by 2 of us and salmon by the others. Wonderful with both.

6/2/2015 - socalwinenerd Does not like this wine:

Light golden. Citrus, tropical fruit and butterscotch nose. Some tropical fruit with a heavy buttery oak component. This is in my view the opposite of a light, crisp, fresh chardonnay. That is not a bad thing, just a different style. There is some lingering heat which makes this feel like it has even more alcohol than the listed 13.5%. Would go well with shellfish or maybe a risotto dish.

5/17/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Deep golden yellow. Big apple nose with heat. Viscous in the mouth. This is a big white wine with some apple and citrus but dominated by heat. 15.3% alcohol. A bit one sided.

5/6/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

PNP at cellar temperature (55). Light golden/yellow with hints of green. Beautiful green apple and citrus rind on the nose. This wine has a beautiful bright palate of lemon and once again green apple. It has upfront dense flavors yet a light mouthfeel. I feel the oak is understated and non-intrusive. The acidity on this wine lingers in the background serving its purpose without ever declaring itself. The finish is smooth, effortless and long.

5/2/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Dark fruit. Heavy oak which dominates the palate. Heat on the finish. Might appeal to some but not my style.

4/26/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Brown. Oxidized. Vinegar.

4/11/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Light yellow with a green tint. Bright, vibrant citrus nose. This wine is crisp and focused with a pear and lemon palate. It is sleek and clean. There is hardly any oak. The racy acidity carries this wine through the mid-palate to its finish. A great chardonnay.

4/8/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

PNP. Dark purple. Fragrant nose of blue and black fruit. Very approachable. Once again dark fruit palate with some oak notes and vanilla. Good acidity. Tannic grip is significant. Medium finish. Very easy to drink. Alcohol is integrated well without heat. Lacking complexity but it is young. Well balanced I feel. Should cellar nicely.

4/2/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

PNP. Drank over 3 hours. Ruby colored but not clear. There is a haziness to the wine in the glass. Nose is open and fragrant with ripe red fruit. A fuller bodied style of pinot noir, lots of red fruit. A touch of heat on the initial tasting but evolved over the three hours with more integration as the night progressed. Slightly out of balance in my opinion with the fruit running wild without being held in check by enough acidity. Finish is medium. This wine is true to its location. Overall it is enjoyable but not transcendent.

3/19/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Light red in the glass. Nice nose of red fruit. Tart cherries and some strawberry. Good acidity. Some green notes coming through. The mid palate is disjointed and angular. Light tannins. Some awkwardness on the finish with lingering astringency. The nose does place this in Santa Barbara county which I love but overall the wine doesn't quite deliver.

2/8/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

PNP. Dark plum colored. Open nose with ripe blue and black fruit. Very fruit forward with a pleasant profile of ripe round fruits. This has a sweetness to it that is appealing and hints at a jammy quality but in an elegant way. There are some subtle secondary notes of mocha and cassis. This is lower in the acidity and has tannins which add grip without distorting the finish. It is drinking well now and should be good and possible better over the next 5-10 years.

2/4/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Light straw color. Tropical nose. Nice delivery of pineapple and other ripe tropical fruits. Good acidity with a tangy element. Simple but classic in its profile.

1/28/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Straw colored. Bright citrus on the nose. Beautiful apple and lemon notes with a persistent mineral undercurrent. Wonderfully balanced crisp acidity drives this wine to its long finish. Tremendous chablis.

1/23/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Garnet. Nose of blackberry and blueberry and other dark fruits. Round ripe fruit profile of blackberry, blueberry, black currant (cassis), with a touch of plum and chocolate and even a hint of molasses. Medium to full bodied wine. Silky smooth texture with a long finish. Medium acidity. This wine is unctuous. It is well made, delicious and drinkable now. I have three more bottles and will look for some more.

1/21/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Garnet. Black and blue fruit on the nose. Decent flavor profile. Plum, black currant, blackberry and cassis. Medium-plus acidity and medium tannins which are already nicely integrated. Short to medium finish. Good value. Really enjoyed this. Would go perfect with brisket burnt ends or tri tip.

1/17/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

Inky dark and concentrated. Very open nose of dark fruit. Wonderful black fruit on the palate. Succulent jammy fruit forward profile. Some sweet vanilla oak hints and a long finish. Light tannins, mild acidity. This wine is has almost no heat despite 14.9% alcohol. So easy to drink but can I be honest and say it is overly fruity and a bit out of balance. Could this come into form a few years down the road? Maybe, but there isn't a terrific backbone of acidity to mellow or tannins to integrate so I am unsure. I recommend drinking now and enjoying.

1/13/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Corked

1/7/2015 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Dark purple. PNP. Dark fruit aromas. Dark round fruit profile with some mocha and vanilla. Low acidity which makes the ripe fruits verge on flabby. Medium finish.

1/4/2015 - socalwinenerd Likes this wine:

I opened this one a few hours before serving and actually decanted it. I think it made a difference. The fruit was fresh and there was wonderful acidity. This wine is a great value. It is lively but elegant and will improve over the next 5-10 years but is enjoyable now.

12/19/2014 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Corked. Ugh.

12/17/2014 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Light golden colored. Light to medium bodied. Some citrus notes. Some melted butter highlights an awkward mid palate. Medium plus heat. Short finish.

12/14/2014 - socalwinenerd wrote:

Tried at a Jadot tasting. Was opened several hours prior to trying it. Garnet turning brick colored at the edges. Nose had a degree of funk to it almost like a barnyard. Not getting much fruit on the nose. The wine was awkward with some red fruit coming through but not enough acidic structure. Tannins lingered a bit on the medium finish. Earlier than expected maturity for a grand cru possibly due to the unusually hot vintage of 2003.

12/12/2014 - socalwinenerd Does not like this wine:

Purple. Plum and strawberry nose. Dark fruit palate. Low acidity. Short finish. Some heat. Lacking structure.