3/11/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. As a few other people have mentioned, this was more advanced than I would have expected. Color was a deep honey which mirrored the aromas and palate. Not oxidized but certainly not fresh. Big disappoint with a wine that I normally adore. 88pts.

2/22/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured but really could have used a couple hours in the decanter. Took awhile for this wine to strut its stuff, but when it did, look out! If a white could be muscular this bottle is the definition. Classic wool, quince, and apple and brimming with acidity. Sec through and through and not going anywhere. If you open, decant. 93pts

2/15/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped, poured, and let sit in the glass to come up to temp. Nnnnnooooooooooooooooo! This was my last bottle of this damn fine Beaujolais. How did I only pay $22 for this wine? Black licorice, cranberry, underbrush, mushroom. Vibrant as hell for a 10 year old Gamay and don't see it declining anytime soon. Wow! 94pts

2/15/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. My last bottle and I'm super bummed as this wine has progressively improved with each bottle. The 18 seemed disjointed at times but the 19 has entirely settled down into a classic and enjoyably lean Chardonnay. Lemony goodness, honeysuckle, apple, great mouthfeel. 92pts.

2/13/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped, poured, and let sit in the glass for 30-45 minutes. The Armada Syrahs sure have settled down from their funktastic early days of the mid 2000's. This wine is hitting its stride with the perfect balance of ripe fruit and lingering Cayuse-ness which essentially combines to create a suitable and pleasurable drinking experience. A 2012 at its apex, for sure. Several of the wine critics have proclaimed that 2012 was a perfect grape growing season in Washington and that the wines could be nothing short of fantastic, although I tend to favor 2010 as my vintage of the century. Nonetheless, and enjoyable wine now and the next 5 years. 93pts.

2/8/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured and then let sit on the glass for 20 minutes or so. Pretty darn good wine! I purchased a bottle of each of the Tan Fruit wines from this vintage and the first three were good wines but nothing special, but this wine possessed a little extra that easily made it the best of the four. A touch of new wood disqualifies it from classic Chablis comparisons but the lemon-y-ness and minerality counteracted the ripe fruit and oak very well. Most likely not a buyer again as there are a plethora of other Oregon chards at the moment, but an enjoyable bottle nonetheless. 92pts.

1/10/2024 - Jimywags wrote:

Wow, what a lively and energetic Champagne! 93pts.

5/5/2023 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Another great bottle! So Chablis like with it's oyster shell, rainwater, and little squeeze of lemon. I will be sad when i have no more. 95pts.

1/26/2023 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. My first Chidaine since the ill-fated six-pack of 2010 that had four oxidized! Pretty f'ing good with all the verve and a bit of wildness I remember in these wines. May have won me back...92 pts.

12/5/2022 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for an hour (highly recommended). What an impressive bottle of wine with aromas of raw honey, almonds, melons, apples, and a nice dab of crushed rock. Viscous, although not overly so, with streaks of lemon that keep everything in balance especially with the bright fruit present and the macadamia nut. For me, easily the best Rhone white (non-viognier) coming out of Washington and maybe domestically. Can't wait to drink another. 96pts.

10/31/2022 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. An utterly intellectual and unique wine. Honey-yellow, which was concerning, but ultimately nothing to worry about. 93pts.

10/11/2022 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted 4 hours but probably could've handled two more. Nonetheless, an exemplary bottle of Chablis. Not quite as classic as the 14 but pretty darn close. Great now with lots of air, this will only get better and end up being the second best vintage in the last 20 years. 95 pts.

5/31/2022 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured then let sit in the glass for 30 minutes. Firing on all cylinders from the outset. White peach, flowers, rocks, herbs. Just about the most complex and intellectual domestic viognier one can find. 94pts.

4/29/2022 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. About as good as Rose gets. Just has an extra gear and complexity that 95% of pink wines don't possess. My wife asked how much I paid for this bottle and when I said, $33, she said it was definitely worth it. She never says that. Let's buy more!! 94pts.

12/13/2021 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. As always, so gorgeous and an absolute pleasure to drink. Excited to have 5 more! 94pts.

4/30/2021 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Very good quality pink for $15 and would be happy to purchase this all summer for that price. 90pts.

4/22/2021 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Absolute screamin' deal for $25. White Rhone roundness and texture combined with a juicy acidity made this wine an utter pleasure to drink on a Tuesday night. Must buy more! 92pts.

4/19/2021 - Jimywags wrote:

Lively and lovely with charcuterie and cheese. 89pts

2/25/2021 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. This particular bottling of Pinot Blanc from Kelley Fox continues to be the bottle which all domestic PB's should compare. Wait, there probably isn't a comparison as it's that good. All I can say is this is like drinking liquid pleasure. The balance of ripe fruit and acid is akin to a perfect harmony from Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. Perfect! 93pts.

2/15/2021 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Very enjoyable bottle of a white Rhone blend. Two thirds Viognier and the rest Roussanne. Zippy and lively with white peach, lemons, rocks, and that nice viscosity you get from these varietals. I remember liking it at the winery, but this bottle was better. 92pts.

8/10/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Best domestic Rose' I've had this year. Light, juicy, complex. Sad to only have one more bottle. 91pts.

8/3/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for roughly an hour. My experience mirrors that of Vinsant (my main man, Darren!). Truly unique and thought provoking white Rhone and can't wait to try the 2019! 93pts.

7/24/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Gulpable! 90pts.

7/24/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Just as good as the 2017. Essentially "class in a glass!" Could drink this every night and be content. 92pts

7/14/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Superb! Ocean air, lemon, rocks, saline, and very Chablis-esque. Love Corsican whites! 93pts.

6/1/2020 - Jimywags Likes this wine:

Popped and let sit in glass for 15 minutes, then consumed over the next two hours. Gorgeous light-honey yellow in the glass. Aromas of barrel, flint, pear, and apple. Electric palate impact with sharp minerality, heavy citrus, and a focused and lingering finish. The last glass was just as intensely good as the first. Been a couple years since my last bottle and I feel this bottle outshines the previous. Will go another 5-7 years easy but why wait? 94pts.

3/31/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. My last bottle of this wine and I have to say that I've enjoyed each one, especially at $15! Lively acidity, gooseberry, quince. No tropical fruits like over in Marlborough. A pleasure . 91pts.

3/31/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Night one: Not much going on here except Flintstones chewable on the nose, plus some blackberry. A bit harsh on the palate with a little heat. Cork jammed back in and to the fridge it goes. Day 2: Much better balance the second day. Definite dark fruits dominate both the nose and palate. No more harshness and actually a nice little Monday night wine. 88pts.

3/27/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Without previously knowing the vintage characteristics of 2018 Beaujolais, I jumped in head first with this wine. Definitely different than 14 and 16, and not quite as ripe as 15. Easy drinking with ripe red fruits and freshness but without the tell-tale tannin and muscles you might get from a more classic vintage. For me, a vintage of Thivin to be consumed in the first 3 years while it's young. 89pts.

2/13/2020 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Such a delight to drink with it's light on its feet persona and bursting with crisp red fruit. This wine is perfect for a weeknight roast chicken and vegetable dish. Great value, as well, and continues my love for Two Vintners. 91pts.

12/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for an hour. Talk about a 2010 that has started to mature and is rounding into shape. Expressive nose with aromas of spices, earth, woodsmoke, dark fruits. Seamless transition in a palate loaded with dark plums, currants, blackberries, five spice, and meat drippings. Start drinking 'em if you got 'em. 95 pts.

12/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Didn't start to sing until about an hour in the glass. After that, Clark Griswold's (so fun to type that!) note, nails the wine. Meat, earth, ripe fruits, soy. In a really good place. 93pts.

12/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for a couple hours. Wow, this bottle just keeps impressing. Mirrors my last note but this wine possessed a bit more maturity and elegance. Some of that potential transformed into a beautiful wine. 94pts.

12/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for about an hour. It's no secret that the 2010 vintage is my favorite Washington vintage. Plenty of acidity from the cool year but also just enough fruit. This bottles screams 2010 to me. Bright red fruits and the structure to match. Slight undercurrent of the Rocks funk but not in an obtrusive way. Really fun bottle to drink! 94pts.

12/13/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for about an 90 minutes. If you looked up the definition of 'French Syrah' in the dictionary, the picture of this bottle would be present. Nose of bacon, olives, tar, black fruit, a little gaminess, earth, and violets. Precise palate highlighted by notes of dark berries, meat, and an easily noticed lift from some acidic structure which leads to a terrific finish of juicy minerals. In a great spot now, but can see this wine effortlessly lasting 20 years. 94pts.

12/5/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Just an absolute pleasure to drink. Gorgeous yellow color immediately puts you in the mood to drink this wine. Nice combination of pear, apple, and citrus on the nose. Palate is also loaded with some ripe pear and quince accented by just enough zip to keep you going back to the glass. Not quite as much energy as the 2017, but an absolute delightful Wednesday night wine! 92pts

12/3/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for 30 minutes. Superb bottle of wine. Finally a bottle of riesling that has a little fruit and can actually be dry! Will buy more! 93pts.

12/3/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Drank over two days. Initially, pretty tight but eventually gave way to some pleasurable flavors and swallows. Like Isaac mentions, a little plump but quickly leads to a nice mineral cut. Stone fruit, apple, chalk, rocks. The most intellectual wine from Savoie I've had. Enjoyed it. 91pts.

11/14/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Gorgeous coppery color. Dried orange peel, peat, scotch, sherry, dehydrated strawberry, tobacco. Such a unique and interesting wine. Would love to slip it in a Rose lineup on Long island and watch the Hampton ladies freak the shit out! 93pts.

11/14/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for an hour. Just an exquisite bottle of Chablis. Dale and I each bought three of these at the same time about 10 years ago. Unfortunately for me, I drank all three within 6 months. Don't get me wrong as they were screamin' good then, but so happy this wine has matured and ended up so sophisticated and delicious. 94pts.

11/14/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for roughly 90 minutes. I could smell this wine a foot from the glass. Insane aromatics that brought me back to early Cayuse wines. It was essentially a 1970's Samuel L. Jackson saying, "Funk you, motherfunker!" Stone, earth, iron, sour cherry, strawberry. In other words, delightful! 95pts.

11/1/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for roughly an hour. Another brilliant bottle of pinot from my new crush, Kelley Fox. Mirrors my previous note. 94pts.

10/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Decanted for an hour. The first thing this wine shows you is a gorgeous transparent ruby color, so light. The second thing it reveals is the most pretty nose of any wine I've ever drank -- the absolute purest wild strawberries, rose petal, and earth. Red fruits galore on the palate. A stunner. 94pts.

10/30/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped, poured, and swirled for about 30 minutes. Love it when a wine does not disappoint and just shreds you as this puppy was on blast from the first sniff. Exhilarating aromas of lemon, apple, hazelnut, and a piercing stony minerality. The intensity continues in the mouth, where the stone and lively acidity lift the peach and baked apple spice notes. The mouthfeel is brilliant and the finish lingers for what seems like minutes. Top two or three domestic chardonnay, no doubt. 95pts.

10/15/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped and poured. Being that this was the coldest harvest in like 20 years, I was excited to drink this wine. After drinking it, I'm not sure if the fruit will ever catch up to the acidity and indifferent austerity. Normally I'm all for a wine that veers more toward those leanings but this baby just wasn't in perfect balance. Just a tad too much harshness, which was a bummer. 89pts.

10/14/2019 - Jimywags Likes this wine:

Popped and poured. Surprising bottle that had me thinking this is a really terrific qpr at $20. Gorgeous yellow out of the bottle and loaded with crisp orchard fruits on the nose. Plenty of acidity which paired nicely with the quince and apricot. Left me wanting to buy more. 91pts.

10/8/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

As the always great Robert Palmer once sang, this wine is simply irresistible! 93pts.

10/8/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped, poured, and let sit in the glass for 30 minutes. Really terrific bottle of beaujolais loaded with aromas of bright red fruits like cranberry, cherry, and huckleberry. Palate has some real grip which marries perfectly with the cherry and raspberry fruit. The finish has just enough acidity to keep you coming back to the glass. 91pts.

9/27/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Essentially a pop and pour. Very enjoyable bottle of wine. Nice nose of pure fruit accented by some earthy and spice tones. The palate continues this theme and even adds a little acidity to keep your taste buds coming back for more. Kelley Fox wines continue to impress me and I can't wait to follow this bottling over the next 5-7 years. 93pts.

9/27/2019 - Jimywags wrote:

Popped, poured, and let sit in the glass for 20 minutes. The anticipation for this wine was high due to the fact that the winemaker stated that he prices this wine at $80 in hopes that no one will buy it so he can drink it himself! Blown away with the delicateness yet intensity. Interesting wine as it possessed an inherent prettiness and was lithe but also sported a nice core of ripe fruit which kept the wine in perfect balance. For me, Grand Cru Chablis quality. 95pts.