3/13/2020 - oeno8105 Likes this wine:

Absolutely delicious, with a developed, but understated dark berry, and some nice leather and ...? What is that earthiness?

11/23/2013 - oeno8105 Likes this wine:

This is one of the most incredible and enjoyable ports I've ever had! The only port I've ever had that was better was a vintage Heitz Cellars Ink Grade Port. They haven't made it in a while, but like this one, I'd buy it in quantities of 6.
Of THIS wine, I bought two bottles, untasted, at the winery. When I got it home, it went in no time! I immediately ordered 6 more. I've had those six for 5 days, and 3 are already gone!

So, enough about my purchasing practices. This wine is deep, rich, and full bodied; fortified with brandy, it doesn't taste like it. It's smooth with a toasted carmel flavor, fully integrated with brambly red fruit. It's fruit forward without being a fruit bomb (ala Rosemblum) and could very well be a dessert by itself. The character of it is definitely classic Oporto with character reminiscent of Madeira. But where Madeira is light bodied, this port is on steroids!

Cheers!

8/11/2012 - oeno8105 wrote:

AWESOME! Full bodied with complex fruits and balance. Slight spice on the nose, and the acidity was very light. This is a drink now, enjoy now, pour MORE, kind of wine.

1/29/2012 - oeno8105 wrote:

- It's somewhat balanced. Round texture with a medium finish.

5/16/2011 - oeno8105 wrote:

Really nice. Fruit forward, modestly complex, and very drinkable.

12/3/2010 - oeno8105 wrote:

What a disappointment. All hype and no substance. Never again.

12/3/2010 - oeno8105 wrote:

Wonderful wine! The nose draws you in and the palate, rich and full-bodied, follows. This is a $65 wine at a $40 price!

11/28/2010 - oeno8105 wrote:

What an exceptional blend! Full-bodied with the deep, dark fruit that is so characteristic of Paso Robles. I followed it with a bottle of Armida Il Campo. It was the only thing that would have followed so well. This was among the top blends in this price range, to include Anthology from Conn Creek, Relentless from Shafer, and Generations from Charles Krug.

11/24/2010 - oeno8105 wrote:

What a fantastic wine! Consumed it with friends in the company of California Cabs and Sangioveses. Out of 8 bottles consumed, it blew them all away!!! Big thanks to my friend Phil for bringing it back to me from Italy on his honeymoon!

4/4/2010 - oeno8105 wrote:

This bottle is great! I'll HAVE to order more. Give this 30 minutes to open and fruit will explode on the mid-palate! The earthy undertones are subtle and nicely balanced. This is by far one of the best Syrahs I own(ed).

12/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Used to create a wine reduction sauce for rack of lamb. When I pulled the cork, the wine wasn't notable, but when paired with the lamb and the reduction, it had a great deal of character and added a lot to the meal! Would I buy it again? Not unless I was cooking another meal like it.

11/28/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

What a wonderful Zin! The weather here was perfect - damp and cool, in the low 60s. Sitting on the back porch, my nose in this glass, evoked strong memories of barrel tasting in Dry Creek Valley in March, three years ago - coincidentally, the year this wine was harvested. Cool and musty with dark red fruits washing over the palate, such as blackberry, blue berry, red currant, and ever-so-slight hints of white pepper. If you're an Amador County Zin snob, you'll hate this wine. If you want a well-balanced, utterly delicious zinfandel experience, then this wine rates second only to Turley.

11/15/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Rich, but not particularly complex. Good, though.

11/15/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Rich, but not particularly complex. Good.

11/11/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Wonderful

11/7/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

drink now

9/23/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Delicious! Never pass this one up if you have the chance!

9/30/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Loved it! Great value!

9/18/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Very fruit forward! Luscious blueberry on the nose and the palate!

10/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Too mild. Good, but nothing special.

8/20/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Bachelor #1 in a Maple Vineyard-designate blind tasting. This was the most popular wine of the three. (Five-person tasting - We missed you Fred!)

8/20/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Bachelor #3 in a Maple Vineyard-designate blind tasting. This was the third most popular wine of the three. (Five-person tasting - We missed you Fred!)

8/20/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Bachelor #2 in a Maple Vineyard-designate blind tasting. This was the second most popular wine of the three. (Five-person tasting - We missed you Fred!)

8/19/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Just pass its peak, running on its downhill slide. If you have one or more, enjoy them now!

8/18/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Excellent!

8/18/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Spineless but good!

8/9/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Re-order! Their best late harvest Zin over the past 4 years!

8/10/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Fantastic Petite Sirah! Deep fruit (blackberry, black currant, etc.) that is well balance with herbs/spices. Wonderful!

8/10/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

The bouquet was full of jammy blueberry and blackberry, like you just poured it into your nose. ...or like you fell face first into a vat of freshly picked fruit. The palate, like many DeLoach wines, didn't agree with the nose. The spice that comes from aging in American oak came across the palate, dominating the black fruits so prominent on the nose.

7/18/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Patience is a virtue! DECANT!

8/6/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Hit the spot very much! Heavy bodied with deep dark fruits, cocoa, chocolate, and earth. Slightly smoky.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 8th best IMHO. Floral nose. Thin and light bodied with hints of brit. Took a long while to open. Others noted brit, too thin on the finish, but still fills your mouth. Hints of green beans, celery, and a little cedar on the nose.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 5th best IMHO. Delicate nose w/ caramel and vanilla. Smooth across the palate, but left a light coating. Others noted cherries jubilee, not too sweet, not too creamy, just right over the palate; a little bit of pine, truffle, and leather.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 3rd best IMHO. Slightly earthy with notes of dark fruit and cocoa. Others noted plum.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 4th best IMHO. Complex fruit with velvety finish. Longevity abounds. Others noted mineral, young cherry, strawberry plant, cinnamon, and blackberry. Others found it a little stingy on the nose.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 2nd best IMHO. Notes of dark cherry, cocoa, plum. Medium to heavy bodied. Others noted that was smooth and well blended with hints of musk.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 7th best IMHO. Nose is subtle. Light to medium bodied. Fruit is indistinguishable. Little to no tannin, but leaves a coating on the palate. Others noted lots of mineral, blueberry, and coffee.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 1st best IMHO. Mild earth with smooth finish. Dark cherry and medium bodied. Others noted dark cherry, truffles, and yeast with a hint of brit.

8/1/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank with 8 yr vertical ('96 through '04 - less the '03). 6th best IMHO. Mild red fruit. light raspberry. Mild tannins and herbs. Light to medium bodied. Others noted caramel, light white plum (if there is such a thing), pepper, blueberry, mushroom, coffee. All notes were supper subtle.

7/14/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Very smooth, almost too easy to drink. Medium-to-light bodied, but still carried good flavor with it's tannic backbone.

7/17/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Has punch! The smell of roasted caramel is dominant on the nose. Full-bodied and complex. What a fantastic wine!

7/13/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Very good! Fantastic w/ sirloin! Full-bodied and rich in flavor!

7/15/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Wow - Delicious with grilled (lime seasoned) salmon! Perfect pairing! Served in a White Burgundy (Chablis/French Chardonnay) Vinum Extreme glass to temper the oaky nose that it usually has.

7/13/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Nice, light and creamy. Little tangy (citrus) but still creamy enough.

6/16/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

The blueberry and red currant on the nos was more luscious than the real thing, but it belied the palate, which was young and, as yet, unintegrated.

6/7/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Drank and compared against same vineyard designate of MAZZOCCO. It didn't win...

5/3/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Strong truffle on the nose.

6/19/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Nice. Took a while to open. Patience produces good results.

6/7/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Went well with Mexican Food. Drank and compared against other vineyard designates of the same year/vintner. THE best of three (vs. Smith Orchard, vs. Smith Orchard).

6/7/2008 - oeno8105 wrote:

Went well with Mexican Food. Drank and compared against other vineyard designates of the same year/vintner. 3rd best of three (vs. Maple , vs. West Dry Creek).