9/7/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

What a treat! Although it's certainly made for seafood, we found a perfect match with Italian herb grilled pork, roasted cauliflower with cheese, and Caesar salad. This wine defined one of our best meals in a long time. It pours a soft hay color and bounces in the glass when cold. In the nose, the minerality rings strong, but passionfruit and lemon shoulder in, as well as celery and a hint of lychee. On the tongue, it's all about the terroir -- fruits are subtle and bow to the volcanic rock in its roots. Apricot, prickly pear, and just enough lemon and lime round out a flavor profile that suggests orange and herb with warming. I had the expectation of heavy acidity, but it's much more restrained. A honey note gives it some length, but it's not sweet. A monster QPR!

9/6/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This wine is a favorite, in part, because there's something to be found it it by every nose and tongue. You'll see descriptions all over the map based on those personal leanings as well as variables of temperature and decant time and accompanying foodstuffs. The floral, citrus, and mineral notes are so assertive that one might guess white on a blind sniff, if not for the cherries and touch of leather. It goes in light, has an acidic jump, and then layers and winds around chalky tannins. Length makes playing with different foods fun. Give it lots of time in the air and sip attentively; it's worth it.

9/6/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is solid stuff, especially at the great price. The nose is dry with minerals and mints alongside black currant, prune, and wet tobacco. In the mouth, fruits are more red, overall, with some blueberry alongside. A nice varietally correct dose of bell pepper holds up the back end. Medium body and tannins work nicely together. Sufficient acids, too, and reasonable length, such that I think it might be best in about 5 years (not just 2).

9/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Great QPR -- worth well above the $9 price tag; give it the long decant it deserves if unsure. It pours a somewhat thin ruby color. In the nose, cocoa and spice are at least as strong as the bounty of black cherry and other red fruits, and there's just a hint of smoke. Raspberry and black cherry are wrapped in spice to dominate the flavors. But the cocoa powder and oak and even some flint are evident right after a gulp. Body is medium -- on the lighter side, but not lacking in depth with enough tannic chew to make the mouthfeel compelling. In the finish there's even a suggestion of evergreen. A fine reflection of the terroir.

7/31/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Nice wine -- will confess I like it more than I'm impressed by it. In the nose, jammy plum and fig are balanced with a hint of dusty-dank smokiness that draws me in. Later I catch a boozy note of spirits, cocoa, and fresh wood. Blackberry, a bit of cherry, and a violet floral chew are part of a very forward, bold mouthful -- I think it feels potent partly because there's depth in minerality with the heft of almost a wet cement underneath. With time in the air, I even catch grassy notes and citrus pith around the edges to blend with a decent acid profile. Tannins match nicely to a medium to full body. So, overall, just a bit pricey for the result. But I would really enjoy drinking more, and perhaps it's worth the money to lay some down. There could be great things in this bottle seven years hence.

7/24/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

It's worth decanting and then saving half a bottle for a second day just to experience the vast change i this wine over time. In the nose on day one, black cherry and allspice were overshadowed for me by strong bell pepper. That made it odd to experience such a fruit-forward push into the tongue with those black cherries and chocolate dipped strawberries. Then the mid-gulp experience jerked away the idea of sweetness into the spice of black pepper, taste of green pepper, and mushroom. Then the center fell out and tannins filled the void to provide some length. More decanting time rounded these edges a little, but was still an oddly unintegrated experience. Day two was strikingly better, though. The nose made more sense with black cherry, mushroom, and garden soil and just a hint of the bell pepper in the background. Sips didn't have that deceptive suggestion of sweetness-coming; now the integrated bounty of fruits led by the black cherry had the tempering influence of less intense spice and earthy mushroom; peas and peppers shoulder in later with a hint of turmeric. Tannins were rather soft but carried a pleasant metallic note along, and the medium length fit the sensory profile. Fun if you're patient!

7/12/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is a great Loire Valley Chenin Blanc with QPR through the roof. It pours a nearly translucent lemon-maize color with ample sheeting. A somewhat floral nose alongside green melon and a hint of sweet tarragon -- as it warms, there's more white peach. The melon and a hint of lime are sensed early on the tongue, along with a bit of pear. Almost no herbs, but silky chalk minerality in the finish leads to a pleasing sweet peach aftertaste. It could use just a hint more acidity, I think, but the light body works fine and balance is preserved. Almost unctuous in the right way for a steamy summer :-)

6/16/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a pale straw yellow with a hint of green. On the nose green apple, a squeeze of lime, and subtle licorice. Flavors of bright waxy lemon and lime, peach, almost chewy floral essences around the acidic core. White leach and licorice notes with dense minerality come later. A nice dry, crisp finish with green apple sits atop a medium body with nice creamy length. Outstanding QPR!

6/14/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a deep plum color with fairly heavy legs. Dry spice and planed wood mingle with blackberry in the nose. Cherries come up after more time decanted and also lead the flavor experience. There is a vinegary note early, along with currant and a touch of pomegranate. I taste tobacco and a touch of both sage and green apple buried in the middle. Cherries return at the end with chalky minerality in the medium length. Body and tannins match -- bold but not hefty. Solid stuff.

6/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

I'll admit I'm a rhone red fanatic, but this one's got great QPR. The nose is complex with lavender and other flowers waved over plum, cherry, and bramble with spice. Not fruit-forward; a solid center allows complex flavor notes to seep around the tongue in a way that's truly sophisticated for the price. Body is medium and its tannins are thin, but a cocoa note and hint of earth help with the experience of length and depth to make it all work out.

6/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a pale yellow with the expected tinge of green. Citrus, minerals, and spice fill the center of this medium bodied wine nicely. Agree with previous review exactly -- spritzy attack, truncated finish. Easy to quaff.

6/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Looking at the previous tasting notes, it appears this creature did benefit from more time in the bottle. Complexity in the nose and on the palate were nicely complementary. White pepper, earth, and cherries in that bouquet, along with violets, sage, and thyme. Dark and red fruits in balance hit the tongue, then the pepper comes through. Cinnamon and vanilla round it out nicely later with a nice cedar element. Fine length to go with pleasing medium body. Versatile but plenty interesting on its own, now.

5/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This wine is truly outstanding, already, even in youth. It pours a dense ruby purple commensurate with its age. There's a bounty of red and black fruits in the nose, especially early in the decant time. Tobacco is there early, too; leather and earth come in with time. The acids are tangy until hours have passed in the air. Licorice and stone lend a foundation to the acidic plum, blackberry, and cherry flavors. Fig, oak, and new leather are more prominent on the second day. Even then, the finish is foreshortened tartly. But the plush silk in the middle lets toasted caramel notes smooth over rough spots. Ample tannins and the well-nested alcohol titer make me excited to return in about a decade. Don't wait, though -- this baby is a treat now; we loved it alongside a complex but mild central American feast.

5/3/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Great QPR here. Admittedly, I'm a big Carmenere fan, but this one is a a true gem and a real bargain. Deep red in the glass. Expressive nose of spice (pepper heavy) cassis, and black fruit. More cherry and chocolate in the mouth to go with those aromas. High acidity and durable structure make it better the longer it decants.

5/3/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Drinkable and reasonably balanced. Fine with grilled foods, since it has enough body to hold up and be versatile. Not much added with decanting. It seems that some inferior crops of each of the three varietals were combined in order to have a production, and the catchy name added to give it attention -- but the winemaker's skill rescued the situation. So, it worked out ok, but there's more interesting stuff at this price. Perhaps it's too young and, as advised, some time in the cellar will be rewarding.

5/1/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is a truly wonderful creation with depth and subtlety that should command a heavy price for all the masterful work. The blackened garnet color is rich and compelling with precious glyceryl tears. It's cherry-forward in the nose, but there's a balance of creamy vanilla, a hint of sweeter fruit essence, bramble, and Indian spices. After a long decant, cinnamon toast floats in. The acidity is prominent, but doesn't interfere with the flavor elements. Plum and vanilla soften that edge so the cherry dances and, unlike any Pinot I've had before, smoke is much more of a true flavor and essence for the tongue than it is a scent. The body is thinner than medium -- for me that's part of the remarkable intent in the craft. There's room, then, for intertwined fruit and earth to linger longer than would be expected. Decanting time somehow makes the initially absent tannins rise and pull up clay, minerality, and evergreen to buffer the cherry. What a joy! A true favorite.

4/19/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This wine is mostly straightforward, but I would say really worth a careful look after a long decant. It's crafted well and has some subtle elements that are worth the time to find. It pours a thick bloody violet. The bouquet contains mostly black and blue fruits dusted with cocoa powder. Later you'll find sumac, white pepper, and woody undergrowth. Flavors are rather simple -- blueberry, ripe red plum, and a hint of cassis peeking in from behind the ample acids. The mouthfeel is easy and right; tannins become more apparent late with a touch of spice. Its only shortcoming for me is, well... it's short. But I'd certainly sign up for more.

4/15/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is a fun red blend that's certainly a bargain; it's young yet, and may or may not age well... but I'd happy to have more. It pours a royal garnet with ample sheeting containing glyceryl bubbles. In the nose there's plum, vanilla, and subtle spice (as long as you decant for an hour -- otherwise it will be tight and off putting with funky ketones, so don't judge that first splash). Flavors nicely reflect components of all the major blending partners with plum, blackberry, leather... Early on there was a flavor of bell pepper, but that flattens into green earth with time. Added notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and nutmeg curl around a vague floral element. I wish there were a bit more body to support all these elements, and it's a touch short and lacking in tannic structure, even though there's a lingering acidic lift that brings in cherry essence that helps. Honestly, I have to agree with other reviewers who have suggested it won't stand up to steak, but this wine was a perfect accompaniment to a vegetarian meal of rosemary quinoa, a medley of roasted root vegetables including yams, snap peas, and some good bread. I'm curious to see what five years in the bottle might do.

4/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Great QPR. Refined, clean, and youthful with versatility. The minerality and depth are part of why even a simple French Sauvignon Blanc makes me smile more than many of the higher reputation Antipodean creations.

4/5/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Great QPR. Complex in subtle ways, but made to be just drinkable overall. Good stuff.

3/29/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Overall, there's a lot going here on stacked atop a light-medium bodied vino. All that fun to pick through makes it worth $11. It pours a thick garnet color. The nose, initially, is full of vegetal notes including green bell pepper, with dark cherry behind; more fruits come forward and subtle flowers and cocoa emerge after a couple of hours open. Oak, leather, and dark fruits garb the tongue, but there's room for some spice and a thin layer of coffee dust. Despite the light body, there's a feeling of umami that adds to length and helps plum, molasses, and moss to creep in. The only major issue -- and it's not insignificant -- is a thick sweetness that bores through the middle into the finish that throws all these elements out of balance. Bold food flavors will smooth over that problem... so with the right dish in mind, I'd certainly drink it again.

3/22/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a deep ruby with legs like sheer curtains. Nose not heavy with fruit -- cigar and spent petrol along with vegetal/pepper scents obscure the dark berries. Flavors of blackberry and raspberry are assisted by acids that bring out graphite and metallic notes. Subtle pepper and earth come in later. Tannins and body are both rather hefty. An astringent, long finish made me overeat the barbecue chicken, cheddar, fruit salsa, squash, and garlic vegetables that all paired very nicely. More than acceptable at the price.

3/12/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

It pours a color that appears equal parts garnet and violet -- very pleasing. In the nose, the fruits are blackberry and cherry as expected with nice added spice and the scent of cola poured on campfire embers. The flavor profile is fairly straightforward within a somewhat thin body and feel -- dark fruits, black cherry, and a hint of that cola and earth. Not as light or bright due to the grape blend. Moderate tannins and moderate acidity are balanced to encourage quaffing; and since there isn't much subtlety to savor, it seems right to do just that. The finish is moderate in length with a bitter note and saline on the second day after opening. A little time open is helpful, but longer decanting and a day don't add much -- fine enough for the price.

3/6/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Solid wine with depth and versatility -- enjoyed equally with puttanesca sauce, Mexican, mediterranean, artisan breads, and a couple of different cheeses -- wish I had enough left for a steak! It pours an inky crimson and splashes up thick legs. First whiffs suggest an overripe beast on stilts, but with decanting time, things are just lovely. Dark fruits and black pepper are prominent in the nose. Give it a day and there's a milky bosco malt scent (like Ovaltine!) that's a fun contrast to most of the taste profile. Plum, black cherry, and blackberry sit nicely alongside vanilla in a smooth, above-medium body. Acids are refined and tannins play nice. Woody notes come up in the finish -- sandalwood mostly, along with just a bit of pitch and the suggestion of chocolate. At $11, the QPR is stellar.

3/6/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Does not like this wine:

Overall, this merlot has the suggestion of being just straightforward but there are elements that feel intentionally grafted onto it -- like a sweet meaty smoke in the nose and a sour finish -- to try to make it more interesting. Because they don't integrate well, though, the wine is a disappointment. It pours a deep ruby with simple red fruit aromas under that odd umami, mostly cherry with peppery notes. On the palate, not much at all in the front half, and then tart cherry and raspberry flavors win over an odd vegetal character. Tannins are a bit harsh with a clangy finish, as above. There might be a unique food that would fit just right with this creation, but it didn't work for us with either shakshouka or a southwest / Mexican grill. It's one of those bottles that reminds you that you simply have to pay more for this varietal.

2/16/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is an outstanding Cab, and a ripe bargain at $18. It's accessible from the first sips after just a few minutes in the air, and decanter time brings out layers of goodness. It pours a glowing plummy red thick with body. Red fruits are more dominant in the nose, especially early on when acidic brightness draws you in. Blackberry, cocoa, mild spice, and cassis shoulder in with time. Later, there's chocolate malt, mediterranean forest, and finally a note of expected bell pepper. Fruits abound in the mouth (blueberry and cassis hold sway over red berries), later squeezed with clove, mocha, malt, and leather. Tannins are too hefty at this point, but that makes me eager to taste a bottle 5-7 years in the cellar. The full body encourages savoring cherry, licorice, and cedar long after a swallow. We enjoyed this compelling creation with a somewhat spicy tomato-based cabbage and lentil soup, aged gouda, and a rustic boule -- jealous? ;-)

2/12/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 wrote:

Delicate and straightforward with easy drinkability -- initially, it was the kind of bottle I expect to get for no more than what I paid ($15), so in that sense, it's acceptable. It pours a charming ruby red with refined clarity. The bouquet is somewhat juvenile, with red fruit (not necessarily cherry-dominant) and little smoke, even with some decant time -- more boozy phenolic. Strawberry, cranberry, and blueberry are just as evident on the tongue as cherry; a note of dry cedar provides a bit of depth that's experienced equally in the mouth and sinuses. Body is just above light with complementary tannic structure and pointed acidity that makes it versatile. Surprisingly more than adequate length and dryness helps it stand up to a variety of foodstuffs. It goes through a phase of being a bit too hot after an hour in the air, but give it even more time, and then there's room to appreciate real complexity and craft -- slate and metal accompany juniper and rubber, and the fruits settle to allow organics, rose petals, burlap, and fine spice in around the edges. By the end, I'm thrilled that my food is gone and I'm sniffing and sipping on decadent last licks without intrusion. The QPR soars, as does my appreciation.

2/9/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

What a fine French bargain finely crafted! It pours a sheer golden hay color with pleasant legs. In the nose is a bounty of bright fruits -- grapefruit, passionfruit, peach, and a hint of green apple all chalked heavily with limestone. Passionfruit held sway in the bouquet, but apricot, tart apple, lemon and strong minerality fill the mouth alongside that passionfruit / gooseberry pucker. Salt and rather strong acidity work in tandem to slice the fruit open to leave room for verbena, monocot, and a hint of wildflowers the more it warms. I have read critiques about headaches and unpleasant vegetal notes and would advise maintaining a chill. With a bit of effort, old world balance held within a creamy finish will thereby endure. What more could one demand at this price?

2/4/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Big and fun and a massive QPR! It pours a rich, glowing garnet black with compelling thin tears. Although the bouquet doesn't evolve too much with time in the air, giving this young buck a few minutes to open at the start is advised -- if you don't, you might find an off-putting egginess in the end of your first few gulps. It's otherwise bold and jazzy with spice and menthol curling around a bounty of dark fruits. With time, sesame oil and cedar are evident in deeper breaths. The flavors are strong with over-ripe fruits that benefit from hefty tannins and a nice acidity. There is a caramelized vanilla element that suggests sweetness, but it stops short of being cloying in any way. The body is thicker than medium and a nice match to the bouncy intertwined flavors anchored to a dry backbone. It has as much refined length as bottles thrice the price. The winemaker is right about this being a perfect pair for pizza; I would recommend deep dish Chicago style full of toppings.

2/2/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Be sure to give this new world bombshell a chance to open up. We decanted it, and the only element that wasn't thrilling was the first sniff-and-sip from the initial pour. Evolution over time from the tight, off-estered opening is part of the fun. In the glass, it's bloody dark and and just short of clear. After 30 minutes, the smell is of two-thirds of s'mores -- lightly charred marshmallow and strong graham cracker with only back notes of dark fruits and vegetal elements like asparagus and artichoke. But later, licorice ushers in currants and blackberries. Woody notes and jerk spices come up with more time and linger long. It enters the mouth creamy with blackberry, red plum, and peppercorn that perk up the tongue. Body is medium to full with smoothly integrated but thick tannins that I suspect would give this wine a great shelf life if one could wait... Above medium acidity could be tamed just a bit, if I were picky. There are smoky notes, eucalyptus, and subtle vegetal elements in a pleasingly long finish carried by a leathery nose after hours in the air. A huge bargain to have gotten it for under $20!

1/28/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This wine was a fine choice to accompany artisan pizza with olives and puerca. It pours a flat garnet with a glowing pink rim and ample legs. In the nose are balanced of blackberry, vanilla, leather, and spice. The flavor profile is a bit lost under boozy heat, but blackberry and leather show forth alongside medium acidity. Violets are crushed underneath and come up later in the deep palate. Tannic stricture and the youthful heat make me wonder if this bottle might be better in five years. Even now, the length works, with cinnamon and leather rounding out a soft ending, but I'd say the vegetal notes there aren't quite right. Solid for the price, overall.

1/23/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Does not like this wine:

It pours a pale lemon color, fine in clarity and prettily leggy. In the nose I get grapefruit, peach, and a hint of granny smith apple. Early gulps are almost spicy, but that settles with just a little time in the air. Grapefruit, unripe melon and peach hit the tongue up front; the finish is saline. As it sits out (even while kept cool) there's an off-putting mucousy feel and accompanying flavor that creeps in. And the nose turns in the direction of another salty fluid. The body contributes to nice length. Acidity is there, but it doesn't cut or offset the thickness, fruit, or salt, but instead merely sits alongside with an angular tartness. Things never quite come into balance, and despite the expected elements being present, this wine had us depending upon a variety of foods to help integrate what we were sipping.

1/17/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

A really nice, drinkable Viognier with an interesting enough profile to think about it beyond just sitting beside a dinner plate. It did nicely for us with Greek-style pork and themed sides. It pours a straw color with a hint of green glow. The nose is full of grapefruit, swollen apricot and peach, and a background of steely minerality. Those stone fruits are more dominant on the tongue, but grapefruit holds its own with thickness of honeyed lime responsible for nice length. There's depth of body and a pleasant creaminess in the mouthfeel, so the front end accompanies food and the finish makes for enjoyable quaffing on its own. Certainly worth every penny for 10 bucks!

1/15/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours thick and inky, light on the tears. Fruits in the nose are dark, crushed in earth and draped in leather. Raspberry, black cherry, and boysenberry leap onto the tongue; residual sweetness folds into a perky sort of spice. It's not hefty or long but is pleasant to drink. There's some depth with hints of vegetal and woodsy backnotes, but it's mostly a straightforward, versatile quaff that's certainly worth the bargain price.

1/14/2020 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is a beautiful fruit-forward Pinot crafted nicely to allow subtleties of terroir to give it real compelling character. We decanted and enjoyed our bottle over two hours alongside jerk-grilled salmon, squash, and broccoli; it was a phenomenal midwinter treat. The pour is jammy-ruby with jellyfish legs. In the nose, raspberry shoulders alongside rainier cherry, leaving little room for smoke. But there is space for mushroom, flint, and steel. Before time in the air, somehow the flavors plumb the depths of the earth from which it came; it's a treat to take some long gulps after it has just opened up, when the silky texture is almost a flavor in itself -- buttery and cottony. Of course, the cherry and other red fruits take over -- even strawberry and back-palate cranberry make an appearance. There's room in the lighter body for apple and even dill and lime zest to dance in after it has been open for a while. The balance is just right; lack of length isn't a failing. There's room for a bit of booze to crawl up the back of the nose and leave pepper in the gullet at the end. The winemaker is right...silky youthful tannins are the defining feature of the mouthfeel. Perhaps my love here is rather personal, but I haven't tasted such quality at an accessible price in quite a long time.

11/30/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

It pours a deep garnet with burnished edges. In contrast to last year's River Road Ranch offering, I find the nose on this wine more enjoyable early on than after time in the decanter. Petrol and thiolone are more evident than smoke as they wrap around a tight cache of red fruits -- plum, cherry, unripe strawberry, and a touch of pomegranate. There's room for allspice and some baking botanicals in the bite of cherry pie that dominates in the mouth. There's smooth, chalky earth in its lighter-bodied core and, similar another DRG, a bright acidic lift that pulls the drinker along -- in this one, I experience green grape and a bronzy perfume. Dark berries come late with pepper in the tapering finish. The work that goes into this wine is on clear display.

11/25/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is certainly an Italian take on a thin Zin -- like table wine from the Adriatic tip of the Apennine Peninsula. Cherry and tart plums and blackberries cling to a sharp nose of acid and dry balsa. The feel and flavor show acids in unripe fruits that don't tone down fully, even after over 150 minutes in the air. But, there is enough room for some clove, subtle raisin, vanilla extract to emerge ahead of a peppery finish. That finish is short, consistent with the lighter body and rather feeble tannins. It's a bit hot and angular, and lacking the structure for aging to assist; but it might be better in two years. This wine has its place, and if I step back from my expectations, I can say it stands in fine as a pizza wine or accompaniment to a lively pasta sauce -- so with that in mind, I'd drink more at the price.

11/2/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a deep garnet with a glowing clarity around its royal edge. Complex nose of dark fruits, rosemary, garrigue, green olives and savory pig fat grilled with white pepper. Fairly low acids allow cassis, strawberry and graphite to come in softly beneath a blanket of meaty spice. With time, more floral notes emerge in the nose and are reflected in the flavor profile. Nice length and compelling chew from durable tannins and a medium-fat body... just a mite flabby, but food-friendly fun.

11/1/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

I didn't find this Zin very fruit forward at all -- barely correct, in fact. It displayed much more of a rugged terroir like that in Eastern European reds. After decanting for nearly an hour, it poured a dark and bloody with clumpy sheets of glyceryl cascades on the glass. Right away, the nose is ecologically immense, rather than agricultural. It was like trudging through an evergreen and birch forest situated on the mossy rocks of some craggy Atlantic land mass. Dates and raisins dusted in baking spices dance in the background. But fossil fuels are more prominent. It enters the mouth stealthily smooth. The petrol is prominent as it lays out, curling around the tongue, in restrained fashion. Those dark Mediterranean fruits are there, along with a brightly acidic pomegranate note, but still a backbone of sinewy cedar and a toasted nuttiness (pecan and pellicle of Pará nut) dominate. Blackberry and vanilla steal in, shrouded in peat-smoke. Those earthen and combusted notes contribute to length for a wine that would otherwise be surprisingly short. Tannins are fairly persistent, acids on the low side of moderate, and body a mite thin. With time, toffee and red currant come up in the nose. Salty cheddar and tobacco pile tacky behind the lips. Frutti di bosco acids emerge without the sugars of any particular undergrowth plant; still the granite forest holds sway. If I have a critique it's about the lack of weight to accompany all the geological scents and flavors, but that probably makes it more versatile, overall. This dark Zin is worth twice what we paid for it.

10/17/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

A solid varietal representative with enough acidic austerity for seafood and complexity to make for an interesting dive to the bottom of the bottle. It pours a pale lemon color with fine sheeting of the glass instead of any real distinct legs. There is a sweetness in the nose balanced with salt that allows a host of scents to emerge -- it certainly opens with the lime and pineapple noted on the label, but there's banana, scorched fossil fuel, concrete, grapefruit, and hints of orange blossom. It hits the tongue creamy, giving an initial impression of lemon curd, but then lime quickly jumps in and leads to green apple and then to peach on the way to green olive and associated salinity that adds length. Despite the vibrant acidity, it's not short on body. It was a real treat with lemon-herb marinated grilled sea bass and a compliment of Mediterranean sides. At the end of the meal, as it warmed in the air, some curious notes of bubble gum and wet logs in the nose with grass and gravel in the mouth added to the fun. At this price, it's a gem!

10/6/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

A very jammy nose early with hint of wintergreen. The salicylate off gases and it's more boozy and sharply fruity with more time. Red plum, cassis, cherry, and spice tumble quickly into leather in the mouth. Tannins are pliable and wrap around the spice to allow for more length after hours of decanting. Raisin and vegetal notes are apparent with patience. It's not heavy, nor is it as hot as it smells at times. The QPR of this Bordeaux is remarkable.

10/5/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

What a fine new wine experience! I was actually surprised to find how different it was from the Romanian reds I've tried. When it first hit the decanter, I was concerned with the very sweet nose of fruits, leather, and chocolate -- I worried it would be cloying. But the translucent garnet appearance was reassuring...suggestive of sufficient acids and a nimble body. It did not disappoint. With time, spice came up on the nose and the leather held fast by brads of stone and subtle metal -- those rocky crags of the terroir! Cranberry and green fig make a bright entry in the mouth. It has a chewy medium body. Tannins are gentle but firm up to create a dry length that counters initial impressions of dessert and calls for savory eats. I could go on... thank you, Ms. Stoilova!

10/3/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Certainly there is a depth of character that reflects the lees aging. It pours a pale gold with nice glyceryl legs. Citrus, golden raisin, cucumber, and hay come up in the nose -- the latter pointing to that yeasty aging time. Flavors are complex and well integrated with none overly dominant; it's clear from the variety of review comments that there's something to be found here by every tongue. I get carmelized squash underneath pear, peach, buttery tapioca, and even the taste of those legs. Medium body, light on acidity such that some sweet spice comes through in the finish. This winemaker done very nicely again, I'd say.

9/28/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Another winner from Rick Boyer -- value far above the cost. As advised by other reviewers, I would start with a hard chill and then give the creation time to warm and inspire alongside a couple of food courses -- we had panzanella followed by quiche. It pours a steely pale straw color and almost bounces around the glass. When cold, the nose is dominated mostly by pale citrus and guava with just a touch of the floral. Add warmth, and there's both honeysuckle sweetness and a green root-like note hinting at earth. Initial flavors with chill are of peach and orange extract with enough lemon pith for acidic balance. Even just a little time and higher temp allows mild salinity and a chewy center to emerge, not unlike a castelvetrano olive. The body is a step above light, with greater length than expected. Melon holds the center as more time in the air makes it sweeter. A complex treat reflecting each of the major varietals in the blend.

9/22/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This is a curious little plonk that somehow finds a way to peel off its frumpy cloak to reveal a pretty summer bloom. First impressions give a chemical nose, with one gulp leading me to exclaim "It's got a hole in it!" There were soft fruits up front, and then the middle simply dropped out into a watery taste-void. Acids crept in along the gutters of the mouth, and then banana and flowery chew gave it length. After the first hour of this "donut-like" experience, things became more interesting. Time in the air filled up the center, and some green apple shouldered in alongside the advertised white peach. Those peaches dominated the nose, displacing some of the chemicals and petrol. Despite the lack of oak, slick buttery notes played an important role. It still was never a finely-balanced, profoundly compelling quaff, and I found it a touch too sweet, but the journey was fun, and I would certainly take it again.

9/21/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

This gem pours a ringing clear pale gold with a hint of chartreuse. It has a slick look that's virtually legless in a Chardonnay glass. In the nose, there's prominent citrus, lime greater than lemon, with nectarine pit and golden delicious apple peel. Despite all the acid notes in the bouquet, it enters creamy, and minerality comes up around the edges of the tongue before the bright edge slices in as lime zest and pineapple. Then the buzz of aniseed that comes next is the element that accents food just perfectly; we had cullen skink and grilled lake trout with a collection of summer vegetables that just sang for this wine. The body is light, but its creamy center holds on with enough length for it to stand on its own without food, too. Even warmth isn't bad, because cedar and sandelwood come up in the nose and Asian pear with vegetal notes emerge in the flavor profile as acids are tempered by the air. It has been a long time since I found a white I'd pay three times what I did to have more. Huzzah!

9/16/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Does not like this wine:

The nose is so thickly sweet with clove and sticky fruit, it actually pushes my head away from the glass. Fruits are heavy and dominant in a gangly way that the leather only complicates rather than compliments. Decanting this wine for over two hours wasn't sufficient to settle it down, but it did help some to give it a full day after being opened. Still, there wasn't nearly enough acid to cut the cloying syrup. Tannic structure is sufficient, though, that it could be better after close to ten years in the bottle. Technically it seems like this winemaker's products are varietally correct, but I find them odd and off, in general.

9/3/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Does not like this wine:

I wanted badly to like this wine, but it just didn't work...I've read other reviews here and other places online, so I'm not even sure if it was the bottle we received or..."us." It was so overbearingly floral in the nose, I really struggled to get through it for tasting sips, even keeping it chilled. Then, we noted that it seems unintegrated -- "all over the place" -- a sense of sweetness, an angle of acid, a buzz of spice, and little of it making sense. We saved a little bit for a second night's audition, and then it was simply flat and creamy with a wilted bouquet and a bubble of sweet artificial peach late on the tongue. I added a splash of cassis to the last couple of ounces and made a sort-of-Kir that went down ok.

8/16/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a pale golden color with a tiny blush of green -- and the look if it fits with the other sensory facets of the wine. The nose, after an hour open, is a flowery creamsicle. Citrus was stronger earlier, but with time it softens and sweetens with some pineapple, but otherwise doesn't add complexity. The palate is smooth and fairly full with a number of nice flavor elements; bright citrus balances melon and a bit of apple. Pineapple and almond come in late with the nice length. It's a bit heavy because of the bounty of fruit, but stops short of being too juicy as long as the temp is kept down. The Italian leanings of the winemaker do come through in a bit of racy salinity and a bit of grassy chew, it seems; we enjoyed it with caprese, roasted parmesan zucchini, and a tomato-based pasta primavera.

8/11/2019 - 1sophrosyne1 Likes this wine:

Pours a pale straw color with a blush of chartreause. In the nose, there's leafy green apple misted in citrus with a brassy metallic note as it warms. Green apple is dominant on the palate early, as well, but there's plenty of room for limestone, wet herbs, pineapple, and even a kind of floral tea essence. Apricot flavor becomes stronger as the temperature goes up, and some of the other flavors collapse (so it's better cool). Medium to high acidity keeps it lively and brings out the minerality expected of the varietal. There's sufficient length to hang with proteins with complex added flavors -- grilled pork and squash was a fine match. Overall, there's more strength in the mid-section of this Albarino compared to others I've had; and that makes it a favorite.