3/22/2022 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Consumed with roast chicken, carrots, onions, potatoes. Not a bad pairing, but there are better. Nice lemon/lime zest, ocean air, lees, a hint of nuttiness, great acidity on the palate with a viscous texture. Nice wine and great value for the age; very enjoyable now.

4/23/2020 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Drank all of my bottles and wish I had more. Is it as lovely and complex as Ferrando Carema? No, but it is much more affordable. It gave me the same impression of place.

4/23/2020 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Had this with a lighter vegetable lasagna that had broccoli rabe and pesto sauce. I was very pleasantly surprised and have since purchased more bottles. Fantastic for the price.

5/1/2019 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I agree with Omar on this one. This has a lot of depth to be explored if one is searching. On top of the crunchy red fruit that reminded me of Fourrier's burgundy, there was an herbal and brine component to this wine that ended up perfectly complimenting our meal of veggie ratatouille roasted in balsamic. Great stuff.

3/14/2019 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Wow. I've never had a white wine with this combination of energy, depth, and persistence. That's not to say I haven't had great white wines, but that this was uniquely exceptional. Opened along with the 2007 Chave Hermitage Rouge at a dinner with a few friends. The whole experience was awesome. This wine could easily age for decades, but is also delicious now. The palate had waves of flavor, each revealing new flavors from citrus to stone fruit to flowers to honey. The mouthfeel on this wine is also something special. It's rich and oily, but at the same time lively from the bright acidity. This wine is extraordinary.

3/14/2019 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Upon opening, mostly got that crunchy red fruit kind of pinot with some herbal/earthy notes. Somewhat simple, but perfectly serviceable. Had a glass or two with dinner. Fast forward 3 days, all of the sudden this thing had opened up to show some really opulent fruit along with the fresh acidity and secondary notes. Honestly, I could have been fooled for a much more expensive pinot. It went so well with pork chops cooked in a butter herb sauce. Give this one some air for sure!

1/22/2019 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Stunning. Showing so many layers - lemon, red fruits, bread, nuttiness. Very pleasant with lasting finish. Drinking very well right now. Bottle disgorged in 2017

8/29/2018 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

This was a stunner. In a perfect spot to drink now - great balance of youthfulness and development. I think it could hold for a while, but don't intentionally wait for no other reason than hoping it develops more.

1/4/2018 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I agree with others that this had nice balance and tasted delicious, but needs much more time to become great and interesting.

10/30/2017 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I love Murgo for the price. Nice fine texture that is fairly aggressive when too chilled, but as it warms up, a depth of flavor presents itself. Highly recommend letting this warm up a bit. Bright red fruits, some floral notes.

10/30/2017 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Unique for sure. Oxidative, lemon tea, touch of spice or ginger or something, round orchard fruit. The acidity is strong, but there is enough roundness and ripe fruit to tame it just barely. You can really sense that tension when drinking this wine. One to sip and contemplate.

10/30/2017 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I had this next to an 04 Jarvis Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve and the differences were just as expected. This wine showed more herbal, leather, dark mineral, and red fruit on the nose and palate. Also, this had plenty more acidity. I agree with others that it could use a good decant if drinking now, but probably better to hold a few more years. It evolved the entire time we had it open.

6/21/2017 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Not my favorite style of Pinot, but I still enjoyed this bottle. I very much agree with the sentiment of Bravo.Solares below - drank this too young. Quite a bit of length and complexity, darker flavor profile, some heat noticeable. Evident quality that needs time to develop.

5/2/2017 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Lopez is consistently amazing. I hope I can find more of this - reminds me of the 98. This one has some really prevalent salinity and acidity, could definitely use some air time or further bottle age, but still delicious now.

9/26/2016 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I agree that this has some green notes to it, but I really enjoy the pradeaux rose. To me, it is more of a masculine rose compared to a tempier, which I see as more feminine. Both are great in their own way.

9/26/2016 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Medium ruby, lots of depth on the nose with red fruits, floral, herbs, dirt. The bright cherries full of fresh acidity on the palate lead to a hidden power behind the very fine tannins. Delicious

12/21/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Nose is amazing. More regal and smooth with flavors of blackberry, cassis, tobacco. The finish is quite nice and med+ length, but there is something lacking at the beginning and mid transition. Still a very pleasurable wine and pure class for it's age. Quite different from the 85 Gruaud Larose opened next to it which made for an interesting comparison.

12/21/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Mature and with character - earth, vegetables, red fruits, tobacco. Not super lively at this age, but still has a lot to say if you listen through the noise.

11/27/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

This bottle was not as enjoyable as my previous bottle. It falls off on the finish and just left something to be desired. The nose was impressive, but overall not worth the price point.

8/24/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Awesome mouthfeel. A great balance between weight and crispness. Consistent quality for a go-to champagne that is sure to please.

8/17/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Deliciously drinkable, and at 8.5% alc, the bottle will be empty before you even notice. I really don't know how this wine could be any better. Hat tip to Donnhoff, as usual.

6/25/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Wow. This was in a perfect spot. The fruit was still quite present, but with all of the depth expected with 15-16 years of age. Great balance. Delicious.

6/25/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I am being a bit critical because of my expectations established from previous experiences with the 05, but this vintage is a little warmer and not as much acid balance. Still good juice though.

4/14/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

This was stunning. Opened on a Friday night with some friends to taste it and I knew it needed more time. Great depth of flavors, but still super tight. I finished off the bottle 9 days later and it was still holding up very well. I was actually quite surprised. I hope I can find more.

4/14/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Huge style with some depth and a nice finish, but needs more time. I prefer other Italian examples at this price

2/2/2015 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Sour cherries, earth and some floral notes on the nose. The palate didn't show as much; I though it lacked depth in the mid-palate and finished with the typical mouvedre tannins. I enjoyed the wine, but it wasn't overly complex or delicious.

12/9/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Wow. The evolution of this wine between the first and second night of being open was crazy. At times I thought it was a powerhouse and other times I found it to be delicate. The wine outsmarted me, and showed me layers and beauty, which is why I think it was great.

9/29/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Rating its potential. This one needs time. The structure and fruit are there to become something quite nice with proper age.

9/22/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Agree with OVENMITT and JLM. Also, if you haven't seen or read about the brothers who make this wine, do yourself a favor and look them up. Who wouldn't enjoy drinking something those two jolly guys made?!

9/15/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Amazing weight and finish for a kabinett. Sour green and yellow fruits linger with the minerality. A wine that will last for years to come and one to sip and contemplate.

9/15/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I thought this was delicious. A nice amount of sweetness, but some good acidity to back it up making it one of those rieslings that you can't put down. Nice wine. Nice price.

9/15/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Actually reminded me of Gamay from Beaujolais. Lively, fruity, spicy and very easy drinking with food.

8/4/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Great value nebbiolo. It's light and nimble on the palate with an almost smooth texture. The acidity is definitely there and I got flavors of red berries and cherries with floral and earthy/mineral notes. There was quite a bit to this bottle as it opened up and we consumed it with some delicious Italian dishes.

7/1/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Finesse. Elegance. Complete. This wine is balanced from start to finish and the flavors evolve in a pleasing way across the palate. Great nose that I think will develop more over the next 5+ years, but I think this wine could last 10+. It drinks quite well now also.

7/1/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Nice acidity, some minerality, lemon, apple, touch of vanilla and bread. This wine is quite enjoyable.

4/29/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Dark and weighty for a pinot. Focused black cherry fruit. At first, lots of that amazing high quality oak. After hours of being open, it integrates very well and more of the secondary notes of game and forest floor start to emerge. Improved on day 2.

4/23/2014 - JustinHandlin87 wrote:

The concentration of fruit and structure of this wine very much surprised me. Blind, I never would have guessed pinot noir for this. I think it needs some more time to express some of its character and secondary notes, but I could see this being amazing in 10 years or so.

4/23/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Perfect bottle to open with dinner for a friend who studied abroad in Tuscany a few years back. Red fruits were the secondary to the leather, earth and herbs. Nice acidity for the food.

3/20/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Very bright acidity backed by medium tannins. Needs time. Full of red fruit with some earthy tones. Delicious.

2/14/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Definitely identifiable as Rioja. Big fruit and big wood that is much better served with food. At this point, it's a little much on its own, but awesome with food. I'd still wait on it if you have the patience.

1/11/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

This is one of the most interesting whites I have ever tasted. And consistently so. A drink to ponder. It pairs amazingly well with black licorice. Lopez de Heredia is such a great producer.

1/6/2014 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Very smooth with sweet oak chocolate cherries all over the mid palate. The mouthfeel on this is like sleeping on chinchilla fur. Tasty and delicious, but not overly interesting.

12/24/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Pretty much what everyone else said. Great food wine (I had it with crab cakes) and so affordable for the quality.

12/24/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Definitely a big wine, and young. Dark fruit, some toasty oak, some leathery notes. Nice wine for a nice occassion, but I would definitely give it some time before opening one of these again.

12/24/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

In your face brightness and freshness. Raspberry/cherry, some cola, some floral. A lot of acidity that really gives this wine life when tasting.

12/24/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

This is a such a refreshing and delicious sparkler that can appeal to many different tastes. A little sweetness, but not too much. As it warms in the glass, I really see the magic coming out in the flavors. Great QPR crowd pleaser.

12/16/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I enjoyed how fragrant this was and the green pepper and asparagus scents melded with the nice red rasberry fruit. Interesting, fresh and inexpensive. I bought more.

12/8/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

I found this at a steal of $15. The first sip was such a focused minerality with lemon and grapefruit accents. Very delicious with interesting flavor profiles that develop as the wine warms up in the glass. I prefer it a little more chilled than some of my other wines. Great stuff

12/4/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Solid QPR. Consistent transitions across the palate and nice fruit. Not as heavy as some cabs and reminded me more of some granacha that I've had.

12/1/2013 - JustinHandlin87 Likes this wine:

Great QPR classic Gruner