4/20/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

In contrast to prior bottle, this was a bit past its prime. Dark yellow in glass, rich mouthfeel but noticeably flat nose. Aged citrus, toasted nuts, light honey palate, some acidity, so interesting and not over the hill, just lacking. Bottle variation, not built to age? Not enough experience with grape or this wine to judge, though prior bottle was four years ago, and Phenol73 note anticipated this turn of events.

4/20/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Very nice, moderate weight, crisp with lingering touch of honey. A bit more wool, lemon/lime and floral notes as wine opened, to go with light stone fruit, apple, pear. Definitely improved with air time. Did not find pronounced acid core some note, but sufficient on its own and to complement dinner of sauteed sea scallops. Enjoyable.

4/13/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

A bit tight on opening, decanted 30 mins. Fine richness of black cherry, plum, cherry, backing of a bit of earth layered in. But mostly it's about the fruit, the lovely balanced acidity and the fine tannin structure. Strikes a note on the palate with the combination of fruit and smack of acidity with good length and depth.

4/11/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Good showing, dark cherry, earth, light tannin, bit of acidity, moderate body.

4/11/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Nice richness, good acidity.

3/18/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Just fine, enough to it with pleasant blend of lemon, citrus, light stone fruit, hints of melon, balanced. Not finding any issue with acidity others mention, though I am inclined to enjoy a bit of edge there.

3/10/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Going strong.

3/9/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Really nice again. Served with oysters, a fine combo. Complemented the salty ocean richness very well.

3/9/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Lovely, balanced, red fruit, bit of blackberry, hints black cherry, light earth/wood backing. Quite graceful actually, with ample body, acidity. Expressive nose and palate. Quite nice on opening, even better with air. Good with grilled lamb chops, fine on its own.

2/23/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Tasty if trending to old age as showing in darker side of the red and black fruit and a bit of one dimensional quality. That said, ready to go on open, balanced tannin, acid, moderate body and length. Still enjoyable.

2/27/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Per the 1/19 bottle, thankfully no musty quality. Good.

2/25/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Very good, much as in 2021, 3 years later. Bit of richer tone to the fruit, but very much of same qualities. Lovely balance, and that amalgam of flavors.

2/17/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

On open quite musty with earth, dark fruit, aged herb. Decanted half bottle, 30 minutes, opened up with rich blackberry, deep earth, aged red fruit, tobacco, leather, wonderful balanced tannin and acid, aromatic and long finish. 3.5 years after last bottle, I'd say doing well, really nice, but drink up.

2/9/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Outstanding, best bottle yet, wait I said that about last bottle! Anyway, lovely expression, mineral, seashell, citrus, bit of apple, stone fruit on day 2, light floral notes, gained richness over two nights. Fine chardonnay.

2/3/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Drank over two nights. Dark red/black fruit, earth, a tad dense on opening, shy on nose. Day 2 much more open, lovely cherry, black cherry, red fruit, light floral notes. Oak present but not overly so, overall enjoyable once it hit its stride. Balanced otherwise as far as tannin and acidity.

2/1/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Reliably good, and so it is again. Drank over several nights, good across the board, nice fruit, bright balanced acidity. Bit of richness with air.

1/26/2024 - wayfarer wrote:

Bright with citrus, lemon and lime, tropical fruit notes, zesty acidity that moderated over time. Great reliable SB.

1/27/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Lovely clean rendition. Great lemon/lime, light mineral, chalk, white floral, perfect balance. Not as rich as some, nor vibrant, but good definition and went great with shrimp/scallop risotto. Opened and deepened with air during course of dinner. As with numerous past vintages, the style of Testut remains consistent, to me not quite wow, but enjoyable.

1/28/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Quite nice again, seems a bit of aged quality, which at 4 years shows as slightly deeper yellow and tweak to citrus. Drank over several nights, good across the board, bit less acidity day 2 and 3, bit more fruit.

1/20/2024 - wayfarer wrote:

Used mostly for cooking pot roast, but tasted and found it strong dark fruit, tannic, trending to plum.

1/21/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Lovely wine, fine black cherry, red fruit, backed by nuance of mineral and spice. Balanced, opened up a bit with air to show richer fruit and depth, but more grace than power here.

1/20/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Surprisingly light touch, ready to go and in good shape. Cherry, black cherry, aged red fruit, light leather, spice, tannin was minimally present, sufficient acid. Rich in a way, translucent. Drink up.

1/19/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Good again, though this bottle quite a bit better on Day 2, fruit opened up and better balanced overall. Dark red/black fruit, mineral, earth.

1/19/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Much better than last bottle, clean from opening, no 'mildew' nose. Rather nicely balanced citrus, light mineral, bit of pineapple, apple, very light vanilla.

1/13/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Took time to open, and initially muted. 45 minutes and really developed lovely citrus, ginger, mineral, bit of wool, green apple, with great balanced acidity, nice weight on palate. Just a bit of age adding to the mix.

1/13/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Tasty and enjoyable, pretty much as others note, great tart cherry, red fruit, lively with mineral, acid, clean, crisp, balanced. Great with home made pizza! Might improve with time, but fine now.

1/8/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Unexpectedly good, if not great. Nice fruit, darker side red and black, light tannin, bit of acidity and typicity there. Drank half day one and second half two days later at which point it was mediocre.

1/6/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

In a great place. Just right amount of tension on open, lovely red/black fruit, cherry, black cherry, hints of black berry, mineral, floral. A bit of tannic and acid grip that makes the palate pop with freshness, but then the fruit sings. Delicious alone or with food. Moderate body and good length, really drinkable. Served with Brussel sprout gratin, brined pork chops, fresh cornbread. Great combination.

1/4/2024 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

From 375. Opened with mildew on nose. Decanted and mildew slowly dissipated. Disappointing as otherwise seems like a nice wine, in terms of balance and body. Hoping per other notes this won't be story for rest of case!

12/31/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

One year plus on since last bottle and it's going strong, consistent with prior bottle, perhaps with a bit of age showing in the citrus fruit, lovely overall on its own and with crab cakes for NY eve dinner.

12/30/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Outstanding. Seems like some age has done wonders for depth and quality of this wine. A bit tight on opening, acid a tad edgy, hiding the rich fruit. But 30 mins later or so and it began to morph and step into another realm. Fine citrus, hints of tropical fruit, pear, apple notes, mineral, lovely clean expression with long finish. Last bottle, and a fine one indeed. Glad to have some Mate's waiting. Kumeu gets a thumbs up.

12/24/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Several years since prior bottle. Very good, lovely red and black fruit, maybe a tad soft, but overall drinking well.

12/24/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Improving with time. Lovely red and dark fruit, mix of fresh and aged, mineral. Comes through nicely in nose and palate. Nice texture too. I'd say better since last bottle couple of years ago. Served with roast lamb.

12/25/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Delicious, really opened up with a bit of time in glass. Vibrant lime/lemon citrus, very light brioche, mineral, lovely deep flavors and so fresh. Served after Christmas dinner with gingerbread and then alone, such a fine end of the meal. Clean and rich.

12/25/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Very nice, couple of years since prior bottle. More open, lovely rich red and black fruit, leather, balanced, good length. Excellent with a caramelized garlic tart and a wild mushroom tart. Too Boxerbee note is spot on.

12/25/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Pretty much per last note, though perhaps a bit less so.

12/23/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Good again, nice wit1h seafood stew.

12/22/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Nice, rich red fruit, cherry, black cherry, blackberry, some vanilla, oak, tannin integrated, balanced with some richness to it. Enjoyable. Drinking great.

12/22/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Quite nice, better for more time I'd say. Same profile but more expressive. Last bottle, too bad.

12/16/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Rich with red and black fruit, dark cherry, integrated tannin, fine balanced acidity. Other nuances of light earth, floral notes, though not so prominent as early notes from 2018. Bin end at NH liquor, good deal.

12/17/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Better than I recall for last bottle. Much the same profile but richer due to aged fruit and more definition. Quite nice acidity, in balance but with good cut as counterpoint to the fruit.

12/8/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Once again solid appealing wine, lovely mixed black and red fruit, some spice, herb, mineral backing, light tannin.

12/17/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Even better with age, fine floral and stone fruit with a decent balanced acidity, lovely light richness. No whiff to blow off as last bottle some time ago, so age has been good to this. Excellent qpr! Good on its own and can complement some light fare, mostly nice aperitif.

12/9/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Pretty much a fan of this wine across vintages, and this was good. Crisp with acidity, nice citrus, mineral, light apple/pear lurking, a few green notes developed a bit of body with air. Pleasant enjoyable alternative to sauvignon blanc or even village Chablis. Reasonable QPR.

12/9/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Light chill, opened and tasted then had with and after dinner, sauteed scallops. Best with some air. Lovely rich complex of yellow stone fruit, citrus, lemon/lime maybe tangerine, layered with light herbal & mineral notes. Great textured palate, fine mouthfeel, as in rich and balanced with length to let the varied flavors float ending with clean finish. A bit left for day 2, though it had lost the depth of prior day. Given profile of notes to date, and this bottle, has life left but improvement maybe not.

12/8/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Much as prior bottles, this botttle a tad understated, but developed with air to show more chablis character.

12/8/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Delicious, drank over several days, great across the board. Lovely moderate full body, redolent with stone fruit, apple, honey, light mineral and lime, hint of resin. Perfectly balanced, so judging from other notes time has been good. Enjoyable light sweetness expressed via the fruit, but then complemented to great interest by the acidity. Nice finish too. Seems it could age nicely, so will let last bottle go a while.

12/2/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Much as prior notes, enjoyable, should continue to improve. Last of three 375s,

12/1/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Drinking great. Moderate rich, fresh, nuanced with balanced clean acidity.

11/26/2023 - wayfarer Likes this wine:

Second bottle, excellent again. Same notes, though I'd also add this bottle had a delightful light tinge of herbal earthiness and apricot resonating in the palate, adding nice dimension to the fine citrus, making me think of how aged semillion dessert wines gain depth and complexity.