11/25/2015 - Kitebrian wrote:

Medium-light crimson color and full bodied. Cherries, cedar, black licorice, mushroom, alfalfa and a touch of smoke on the nose. The wine starts very feminine and fruity in the mouth, then the alcohol takes over. Still good acidity but not much tannin present. The alcohol is the dominating presence at this age. We paired with a slow-cooked, grass fed chuck roast, sweet potatoes, carrots and onion. The fattiness of the beef does a nice job offsetting the alcohol and creates a very enjoyable wine with food. If you got 'em, drink 'em.

11/19/2015 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Opaque and brick red in the glass. I get aromas of dried flowers, cordial cherries mushrooms, moss and believe it or not, cannibis. This wine is dry with a good balance of tannin and acidity. Alcohol is low with a clean finish.

4/25/2015 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Medium-minus, claret color. On the nose almost perfect balance of wood and fruit. Great Oregon Pinot aromas of cedar, cherries, cola and olives. Great balance of tannins, alcohol, and acidity. I really enjoy the tannins on the finish rather than alcohol. Great medium-bodied wine. I'd say if you have it, drink it over the next year or two at the most.

4/6/2015 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

PNP. Opaque, claret. Tad more oak than fruit on the nose, but big aromas. Big classic sniffs of smoked meat, tobacco, black olive, currant and chocolate cherries. On the palate, I get some lingering black plum and a lot of fruit. Silky tannins, alcohol dominates the balance trio. Finish is a bit weak. This is a big, full-bodied fruit bomb. Drink up.

Day 2.....Almost all similarities to yesterday on the tasting note. Getting a lot more vanilla now that the wine has had a chance to get some oxygen. Tannins are a bit more present today.....but so is the alcohol. If you pair this with some sort of fat, you will have something pretty special. Nice job Peter!

11/28/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

PNP. Claret and opaque in the glass. This is an incredibly surprising wine. A lot of fruit on the nose with aromas of black berries, cherry, apple pie and cassis. I immediately took notice of the tannin upon first sip, followed by a mouthful of black pepper. A really balanced wine right out of the bottle, we will see what some air does to it.

11/15/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Dark-minus claret in color with a nose of light oak and good fruit. Get a lot of dark cherry, smoked meat and leather aromas. The wine is dry with soft tannins, good acidity and low heat. This is a nice food syrah at 13.5%, and really appreciated to see a Napa Syrah that's not a glass of syrupy, caramel flavored bigness. Drink it now, it's on the tail end.

10/21/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Dark claret in color, 50/50 fruit and oak on the nose with aromas of ripe berries, cassis, tobacco, spice box and chocolate. This is clearly a dry red wine, but I seem to get a touch of sweetness on the tip of the tongue. This wine still has a really great balance, it's drinking great now, but still has a couple of years in the bottle in my opinion.

10/15/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Opaque claret in the glass. Good balance of fruit and oak on the nose. Surprisingly for a Shiraz, I get a lot of Bordeaux aromas......leather, spice box, cigar and smoked meat, but hints of pepper are mixed in. Good balance in the mouth, silky tannins, clean acidity and small traces of alcohol which is nice for a 15% wine. Drink it now.

10/8/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Enjoyed a glass of this at an Oregon restaurant. Light bodied and claret in color. A bit more oak than fruit on the nose with aromas of cherry cola, cinnamon and cedar. Good acidity, soft tannins and hardly any trace of alcohol. Decent finish too at about 30 seconds.

10/3/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

PNP. Medium in color, claret tones. 70/30 fruit to oak on the nose. It's a Pinot Noir dominated blend, a lot of cherry and cedar aromas, and the Zin gives a hint of spice and pepper. Nice medium-bodied wine, acidity dominates the trio of balance, followed by alcohol then tannins. Nice job Peter with the value table wine!

7/23/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

This wine is really good. PNP. Medium-dark claret, good balance of wood and fruit on the nose. Great aromas of smoked meat and cigar box with secondary notes of red berries. Is wine has some pinot noir in it which adds a subtle smokiness. In the mouth, dry with soft tannins. The acidity definitely dominates the trio of tannin, acidity and alcohol. Nicely done.

7/12/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Very light pink rose with a twinge of orange in color. Fresh strawberries on the nose. Great acidity with a 30 second finish. This a dryer rose.

7/10/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Alrighty then, it's currently 84 degrees outside and my wife and I are enjoying this bottle I picked up today. Almost salmon in color,with fresh aromas in the glass....I pick up strawberries and sliced apple. The wine is off-dry with terrific acidity. We are enjoying this with a BBQ'd pork chop diced up with a fresh veggie stir fry in coconut oil. If it's hot outside, get a bottle and enjoy yourselves.

6/12/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Dark purple in color. Good balance of fruit and oak on the nose with black currant, licorice, chocolate and red berry aromas. Dry in the mouth, nice balance of tannin and acidity, low presence of alcohol heat, surprising for a 14% wine. What's really cool about this wine is that it takes a classic Bordeaux blend dominated by Merlot, and adds a touch of Sangiovese, to enhance tannin and acidity. Popped and poured with a classic tomato based pasta dish. Very enjoyable.

4/30/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Right out of the bottle, I was thinking this is a crazy good bordeaux. It was big on tannin, low on alcohol. After 10 minutes in he the glass, things mellowed out to reality....

Dark claret in color, medium oak, low fruit on the nose. Aromas of red berries, smoked meat, some leather, sage and a hint of cigar box. The wine is dry, with really nice tannins, low acidity and alcohol. This is a great value bordeaux, drink with some food and enjoy yourself.

4/22/2014 - Kitebrian wrote:

Medium-dark ruby colored, more oak than fruit on the nose. Aromas of cherry, strawberry, sage and cigar box. In the mouth, dry, with the tannins and acidity more present than the alcohol. But hey, it's an 11-year old Washinging merlot. Drink up.

3/21/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Medium claret color in the glass. On the nose, a lot of fruit. I got simple aromas of raspberry, herbs and barnyard. Felt balanced in the mouth, but all aspects were pretty underwhelming. However, after about an hour of air, the minerality and tannins showed up which is something I really enjoy. Decent Rhone wine and what was expected for a $12 bottle.

3/16/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

PNP. Dark purple in color, with hints of brick red from age. More oak than fruit on the nose with aromas of chocolate, black olives, currant, black cherries and herbs. In the mouth, dry with soft tannins and medium acidity. Full bodied wine, but the alcohol is not overwhelming at all. Maybe a touch out of balance at this age with the alcohol dominating, but offset this with some fatty foods and you'll have something really enjoyable and silky. Medium finish.

2/23/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Hints of violet in a dominating blood red color, medium-plus color. Medium fruit and light oak on the nose. Aromas of black cherry, pumpkin spice, smoked game and leather. In the mouth, dry, medium acidity and medium-minus tannins. This medium bodied bordeaux is ready to drink, a touch out of balance, but who cares? It's a great food wine.

1/18/2014 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Dark, in between claret and blood red color. On the nose medium fruit, medium oak. Classic bordeaux aromas; cigar box, currant, smoked game and leather. In the mouth, dry with a great balance of tannin, acidity and alcohol. Medium-plus finish. Drinking nicely right now.

1/15/2014 - Kitebrian wrote:

Dark claret, lots of fruit on the nose, no oak. I get aromas of dried sage, dried violet, honey and a hint of new leather. In the mouth, dry, great acidity, not much for tannin throwing it a bit out of balance. The finish is weak, leaving almost an unpleasant flavor of unripe olives. I had to go back and review the sales pitch from Garagiste to see what sold me. It was the low alcohol and crushed rocks verbiage.....low alcohol yes, crushed rock, not so much.

12/25/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Medium-plus darkness, purple in color. Medium fruit and oak on the nose. Aromas of mixed nuts, leather, chocolate covered cherries and a hint of smoke. In the mouth, dry wth great balance of medium tannins, acidity and alcohol. Decanted for 1 hour and ate with rib roast, perfect pairing with the 14.5% alcohol. Medium-plus finish. Drink up...

12/21/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Claret in color. On the nose full fruit and medium oak. A lot of aromas here, most notably wild game, with other notes of chocolate, smoke and forrest floor. In the mouth off dry and tannins definitely overwhelm the acidity. This is a classic example of a new world, "big-syrupy" wine. Medium finish.

12/18/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Claret and Dark-minus in color. Medium fruit and oak on the nose. I get aromas of dark cherry, cigar, sage, olives, pencil lead and a hint of mint. In the mouth, medium bodied with great balance of medium acidity, tannin and alcohol and a medium finish.

12/7/2013 - Kitebrian wrote:

Medium-plus color, blood red with a tinge of brown and clear on the edge. on the nose, big fruit and medium oak. Aromas of spice box, cigar, chocolate and smoked meat. In the mouth, medium-bodied and dry. Fr a 13.5% wine, the acidity has really tamed at his age! not much heat from alcohol at all. This wine is ready to drink now, don't worry about food. Hardly any finish.

11/28/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

This wine is good on this Thanksgiving Holiday! Great pairing with a traditional turkey dinner. Light red and light bodied. Medium fruit on the nose. All the classic pinot aromas, bright fruit, a bit of smoke and earth. In the mouth, the wine is dry with soft tannins and medium-plus acidity. This is a wonderful food wine, paired well with a light meal.

11/28/2013 - Kitebrian wrote:

Dark purple in color and full bodied. Massive fruit on the nose and medium-plus oak, with aromas of chocolate, strawberries, cinnamon and coffee. In the mouth, off-dry with medium acidity and soft tannins. The finish is very weak and after 20 minutes in the glass, pretty lifeless.

11/27/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Light gold in color and medium bodied. Medium fruit and no oak on the nose. I get aromas of lemon citrus, apple, floral, wet rocks and a hint of honey. In the mouth this wine is dry with medium acidity and a medium finish. After about 20 minutes of air in the glass, this wine started to mellow out. This is a tremendous food wine and I am excited to open another bottle in about 2-3 years.

11/23/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Dark, in between purple and blood red in color. Big fruit, big oak on the nose. Aromas of smoked meat, cinnamon and blueberries. In the mouth, dry, medium acidity and tannin. Really great balance and medium finish. This is drinking quite well.

11/19/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Dark, ruby-red color. Good balance on the nose with medium intensity fruit and oak. Aromas of blueberry, black licorice, chocolate and a hint of black pepper. In the mouth, dry with soft tannin and medium acidity. Not terribly big at 14.1%, but the alcohol seems to overpower on the finish throwing it out of balance. A fatty cut of red meat would probably tame it down providing a much smoother experience.

11/15/2013 - Kitebrian wrote:

Dark violet color. Bold fruit medium oak on the nose. Aromas of black olive, black licorice, smoked meat, chocolate and blueberries. In the mouth, dry, medium acidity with soft tannins. I almost got a sensation of unripe fruit in the back of the mouth. For a 14.5% alcohol wine, the heat doesn't overwhelm you. Medium finish. Overall, this wine just seems a bit out of balance.

11/8/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Popped and poured into decanter. Drank immediately. Color was medium-dark, blood red with a tinge of brown on the edge. On the nose, Bold fruit and medium oak smells, aromas of sage, black licorice, caramel, blueberries and butterscotch. Dry, full-bodied, medium acidity and silky tannins. The alcohol has really cooled with age. If you own it, drink it now.

11/4/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Medium-plus color with a tinge of brown. Mostly dry with a hint of sweetness on the tongue with crisp acidity. Smells of bold fruit with medium oak. On the nose, red berries and cedar. This is a full bodied wine with soft tannins. There is a decent finish on the wine, but the alcohol overwhelms the acidity and tannin, throwing the wine a bit out of balance. Had this with a yellow curry pasted chicken breast, great pairing that cooled the alcohol heat down.

11/1/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Purple, Medium-Dark and dry with low acidity. On the nose, bold fruit with medium oak. I get notes of chocolate, menthol, petrol and strawberries. This is a medium-body wine with supple tannins. Color and tannins indicate to me there is still some life left in this wine, but definitely in its prime. Not much of a finish.

10/22/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Medium-dark color, deep-red showing a tinge of rust color at this age. The wine is off-dry. Right out of the bottle, medium fruit intensity with a nose of smoke, bacon and hints of ripe cherries. With some swirling I got a nose of mushroom. This is a full-bodied wine with supple tannins and a surprisingly long finish for Pinot Noir.

10/21/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Light-bodied with the color of straw at this age. On the nose, flavorful fruit intensity and light oak; I get pear, peach and a hint of petrol. Off-dry with medium-low acidity, at first taste the wine starts creamy, but finishes with a bit of tartness.

6/19/2013 - Kitebrian wrote:

This wine is MEGA, and built to outlive the middle aged man! Super complex, but masterfully balanced. All the great cab aromas and flavors, with a tremendous follow through. This wine is a perfect example of Billo's ability to balance the wine without needing a lot of oak. If you drink this now, decant at 8 AM, drink at 7 PM. Thank you Rasa, your wines continue to be some of the very best WA has to offer!

5/13/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Still really good. Opaque and dark. Started with strong aromas of cedar and cherries. After about an hour a strong nose of mushroom and asparagus. Very fruit forward.

5/4/2013 - Kitebrian Likes this wine:

Another great wine introduced to me by Garagiste. Really powerful tannins, after several hours of air, still really tight. Great cellar wine. Earth, gravel, wet stone, etc. Slather some BBQ sauce on chicken and enjoy this Southern Rhone