3/2/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is approaching the end of the drinking window (my estimate of 2024). Well aged red cherry fruit on the palate, with a delayed hint of nuttiness. Quite a bit of acid compared to the fruit. Soft tannins.

2/29/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is drinking very well right now, but has years to go. Very well balanced with bright cherry on the palate and good acidity, and refined tannins. The volcanic terroir is a stark contrast to the sedimentary soil of the estate vineyards. 777 clone (my favorite). My original end of drinking window of 2028 still stands, but it very possible to push to 2030.

2/26/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Time to drink up the any remaining bottles in the cellar, as this is on the downside of the drinking window (2024). The fruit is well aged and muted, without any secondary development. Tannins are slightly gritty to soft. Some sediment, so decant.

2/11/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Similar to my previous notes. The fruit has almost completely aged, with a hint of cherry left. Bright acidity is about the only thing left at this point, not objectionable, but past EOL.

2/10/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

The volcanic terroir shows here, in contrast to the sedimentary soils of the estate vineyards of Arborbrook. I think this is a 777 clone (don't quote me, though). Drinking very well right now with aged black cherry fruit, balanced acid and smooth tannins. Not much secondary flavors. 2028 will be the end of the drinking window.

2/5/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Spectacular. Well aged cherry flavors and silky tannins make this absolutely delicious in the prime of the drinking window. But... I'm not sure how much better it will get with aging. I think it will survive just fine until 2029, but I really do believe it is downhill from here (2024). I say, enjoy now!

2/1/2024 - jmcafee wrote:

Big disappointment. Only a hint of blackberry and current with no secondary development. Tannins still need more time to smooth out.

1/29/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

I really like how this has matured. Flavorful dark cherry and plum on the palate, with a touch of port-like nutty secondary flavors. Well aged and smooth tannins. This is at the perfect spot in the drinking window (2024).

1/24/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is in a perfect spot in the drinking window. Well aged fruit with Bing cherry on the palate. Soft acidity. Drink now (2024).

1/19/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is at a perfect spot in the drinking window. Plenty of secondary flavors ushered by the inevitable oxidation. My original drinking window extended to 2029, but I think that the oxidation will be overpowering by that time. Drink by 2026, and enjoy this fabulous Chardonnay.

1/18/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

I echo my previous tasting note. This is a great vintage that is in a great spot of the drinking window. Beginning to fade, so consume by 2026. Well done, Dave.

1/18/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This continues to age well. The tannins could use a few more years in the bottle to completely smooth out. Very delightful. Ready to drink through 2027.

1/18/2024 - jmcafee wrote:

Ugh. Medium harsh tannins crushing a thin and bland palate. Rarely have I experienced the sheer volume of precipitates (tartaric acid, tannin) in this bottle, something I expect from a 1982 Bordeaux but not a 2017 Sangiovese. Please decant, otherwise chew on the final pour.

1/18/2024 - jmcafee Does not like this wine:

My original note was in error.

This bottle had a powerful and overwhelming musty quality that failed to be mitigated by 2 decants. Cannot recommend.

1/18/2024 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

I was expecting more secondary flavor development, but what I taste is muted primary. I don't think this aged quite as well as expected. Drink now.

12/24/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Similar to my previous tastings. Drinking quite well with aged fruit and smooth tannins, backed by good acidity.

12/23/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Drink now (2023/4). Most of the primary flavors have faded. Not much else left to benefit aging, though the acidity remains fairly good.

11/23/2023 - jmcafee wrote:

I am less impressed compared to my last tasting 2 years ago. The primary flavors have aged considerably, with little secondary development. It is still well balanced with good acidity, but fading. I will stick with my 2026 end of drinking window, but I will keep a bottle or 2 until 2036 on the chance that this could blossom into something completely different with extended aging.

11/14/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Drinking well right now, with bright cherry on the palate and good acidity. The tannins are well aged. Fair amount of precipitate so consider decanting first. The will age well until 2028.

11/14/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Beautiful and well balanced. Fair amount of precipitate so decant first. This will age well until 2028.

11/14/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is a real chameleon.

On opening the secondary flavors are off-putting, with a good amount of harsh tannin and bright acidity. Bricking is quite evident.

2 days later the wine was far more enjoyable. Medium strength notes of tobacco and leather on the palate fooled me into thinking this was a Cabernet. The tannins completely smoothed out, backed by good acidity.

So drink by 2027, but wait 48 hours after opening to really enjoy the maturity.

10/30/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is aging very well. Plenty of tart cherry on the palate and good acidity. The slightly rough tannins could use more time to smooth out. Well balanced with plenty of aging potential. I'm seeing 2028 as a good endpoint of the drinking window.

10/25/2023 - jmcafee wrote:

Oxidation is showing visually and in the tasting, with lots of secondary flavors. This is slightly detracting. Very mature. Past the prime drinking window. It will get more funky rather than elegant with further aging. Drink now.

10/25/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Very mature. Secondary flavors are well developed, with still a bit of the original pear flavor. Drink now through 2025.

9/26/2023 - jmcafee wrote:

Shortly after the vintage was released I was impressed by the potential of this wine. Sadly, it currently falls off the mark. The fruit and acid are still there, but muted and compartmentalized, without any integration into more blended and complex palate. I don't think aging will help much, but you have nothing to lose waiting until 2025 to try another bottle.

9/11/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Wow. This has a lot to offer. Similar to my previous note from 2021, it has bountiful cherry on the palate, with lots of acid and well aged tannins. While drinking well right now, this has plenty of aging potential. I'm extending my drinking window to 2031 (and it could go longer).

8/2/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is holding up much better than I previously experienced. Very mature with well aged tannins and light cherry fruit. Some secondary flavors. Medium long finish. This could continue to age for another 5 years but I think it will be best enjoyed by 2025.

8/2/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable, but nearing the end of the drinking window. Nice cherry fruit with good acidity, but not much else.

8/2/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This continues to surprise me. Plenty of cherry fruit and lots of bright acidity. Secondary flavors are showing nicely. I think this could continue to age nicely through 2028, so I have once again extended the drinking window.

8/2/2023 - jmcafee wrote:

It is now 2023. Still disappointed. Some cherry fruit and mild bright acidity, but it mostly falls flat. I don't know that any further time in the bottle will be beneficial.

1/7/2023 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Continues to age nicely, but palate is fairly simple. Plenty of fruit and acid to allow further aging, hoping for more mature and complex qualities to emerge. Slightly rough tannins on opening that smoothed out after decanting (recommended). Extending my drinking window out to 2027.

12/27/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is now in a good window for drinking. Well aged bing cherry fruit with a good bit of acidity. Drink now (2022).

12/5/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Green apple and a bit of pear. Balanced acidity. Quite lovely. See what happens with more aging out to 2027.

12/4/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Consumed 10 days ago, so the details of the tasting are unfortunately limited. My takeaway was that this was drinking well but the fruit was aged with only fair acidity. I was concerned that the aging potential was limited. Sticking to my 2026 end of drinking window (until I taste another bottle and have the opportunity for a more thoughtful review).

12/4/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Consumed 10 days ago, so the details are sparse. That being said, I was very impressed with how it was aging and it will continue to drink well through 2026.

12/4/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Wow is this beautiful! Very mature fruit with very vibrant acidity. Smooth tannins. On the declining slope of the drinking window. If you have some in the cellar, drink now through 2024.

12/4/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Wow is this beautiful! The nose is not as floral as typical, and the varietal qualities of the palate are muted. But the balance is perfect, hitting a delightful and refreshing endpoint that makes this extremely enjoyable. Drink now (2022).

11/19/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Dominated by jammy fruit. Soft tannins with muted acidity. The Home Ranch usually ages well for 10+ years, but I think this will significantly miss the mark. Drink now-2026.

11/3/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Very well aged with dark fruits (cherry and plum) on
the palate, medium to long finish, and tannins that were slightly rough
but smoothed out after decanting. Lots of tartaric acid and other
precipitates. Could be worth aging until 2027 to smooth out the tannins, but there might not be much fruit left.

11/1/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Aging very well. More nuanced palate than my previous tasting. Drink now 2022.

10/15/2022 - jmcafee wrote:

Very mature fruit with many layers on the palate. Balanced acidity. Simply elegant. This could age graciously for years to come, 2027 is a good target.

10/15/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Wonderful. Mature fruit with balanced acidity. Drink by 2025.

9/23/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

This is terrific. Very mature fruit with a good deal of bright cherry and plum flavors on the palate. Interesting nuttyness late into the finish. Silky smooth. Fair amount of precipitate that is inoffensive and probably doesn't require decanting. Drink now (2022).

9/12/2022 - jmcafee Does not like this wine:

Tasted a library version at the winery a year ago that had some nice qualities. My purchased bottle suffers from heavy oxidation that overwhelms everything else. Some acidity but not much secondary flavors or anything else. I'm very disappointed that the winery offered this for sale.

9/9/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

I think this has years to go in the bottle, a bit surprising from my previous tastings of this bottling. Plenty of jammy fruit and acid will provide lots of opportunity to mature into more complex flavors. It will easily age through 2027. Sadly, this is my last bottle so I will never know the outcome.

9/9/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

The fruit is well aged, less green than when previously tasted 19 months ago. Good acidity. It is on the down slope of the drinking window. It will continue to improve to 2024, but not much beyond.

9/7/2022 - jmcafee wrote:

This fooled me. I was previously thinking that the drinking window was closing 5 years ago. Wrong. It has continued to mature gracefully. Beautiful and well balanced, on the downhill side of the window.

8/8/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Aging very well. All of the primary and secondary flavors are receding but still well balanced and matched with good acidity. This will age well through 2025 and beyond.

8/8/2022 - jmcafee Likes this wine:

Plenty of jammy fruit left with good acidity. Fully aged tannins. Light precipitate but doesn't need decanting. Good for a few more years, 2024 and maybe a bit longer.

8/7/2022 - jmcafee wrote:

Nearing the end of the drinking window. Lots of acidity but not much else to warrant further aging.