6/20/2018 - jasonh Does not like this wine:

I thought I drank my last one of these a number of these in 2016 when it was still enjoyable although long in the tooth. Now VA dominates. Light black cherry and pomegranate on the nose.
Sweetness on the front palate. Silky texture. The finish is a blob of heat and tar. This was one to be enjoyed in its youth.

4/2/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

I was quick to judge the 2012s and I am still glad that I was selective in my purchases, but this wine proves that well made 2012s are something special. This wine has shed the baby fat and is a wonderful combination of hedonistic fruit and the compelling nuances of Oregon pinot noir. Red berries on the front end and finishing with dark berries and earth. Tannins and acid keep this in great balance where I never got tired of it. Had over 2 nights. This wine should last a long time but I love the zone it is entering.

1/16/2018 - jasonh wrote:

Getting back to checking on some 08s. I had this over 2 nights and was dramatically better on the first night. It has started to transition but the fruit was still fairly fresh with medium acid and a good amount of tannin. On the second night the wine showed more aged qualities but had gone a bit out of balance. It was my only bottle so it is a non issue for me but I would say either pop and pour or give 2 or 3 more years.

1/15/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Wow. This wine is in the zone. Everything is complete and balanced. The aromatics are so enticing. Raspberries, cherries and a little bit of boysenberry syrup. There are also earthy and graphite elements. Medium bodied and medium acidity. Tannins hold it all together. Had over 2 nights. Not much change. Nothing tells me this wine will fade anytime soon but I would say drink now and enjoy what Zin can be.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Starts off a little big and round. Not precise. But with just a little air the acidity starts to jump in. On the bigger side with a fuller mouth feel but absolutely wonderful. Very thankful this was not premoxed as it is an amazing wine.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

A terrific surprise. A wonderfully complex 2007. Chalky and stoney with lemon and peach. A nice toast element as well.

1/14/2018 - jasonh wrote:

Very good. Lacking some bubbles. I enjoyed this but found it slightly simple.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Fairly lean and complex. Rocks with a bit of tropical fruit. Strong acidity and tannin. Since this bottle was not in danger of PreMox it is a shame it didn't rest another 10 years. Wonderful stuff.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Wow. What an amazing wine. The fruit is so fresh and sweet. Great balance of structure, bracing acidity and fresh white fruit. Despite the lushness, the body is still light to medium. I really like where this is right now.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

My first time tasting a Grace Family wine and it was wonderful. Next to the Montelena this wine should rounder and more lush but not flabby. A terrific wine and a treat to taste.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

At 20 years this wine is now starting to show itself. Not flashy. Just wonderfully structured with nice edges. Earth, dark fruits, pencil and tobacco. With a nice balance of citrus running throughout.

1/14/2018 - jasonh wrote:

Very primary. Slightly candied and almost a bubble gum quality that was probably exacerbated by drinking next to the 1997 Estate. Wait 10 years!

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Dialed back and more developed than the 07 dYquem. Very intriguing and having nice sweetness with no cloying qualities.

1/14/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Such a treat to taste this baby. So young but already compelling. Candies and cream.

1/11/2018 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Nice development over the last 10 years on a great value wine. The biggest difference it showed was the evolution of the nose. Aromatics are now jumping out of the glass. Pears, candied pears, apples and flowers. The flavors are pears, apple juice, a touch of honey and finishing with some pineapple. The wine is very enjoyable. Could use more acidity but at the moment I don't mind that it shows slightly flabby. It is just so darn tasty.

12/26/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Winex always has this and the Brut Rosé in stock so I tend to keep some bottles around. The Rosé is a step up but this is still solid, especially at $17. While shuffling some things around, this ended up in our regular fridge for a few days so it was way too cold at the start. Once it warmed up, there was green apples, pears, and a somewhat rich yeasty finish. A simple wine that is easy to sit back and enjoy.

11/27/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

From Magnum. The wine is singing right now. Not my favorite vintage but this is developing fine. Still very fresh. Clean red fruits mixed with spice. Wes did a fantastic job on this wine.

11/27/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

A terrific wine. Tart cherry and cranberry with the type of acidity that keeps you coming back for more.

11/21/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

I miss the WesMar Zins. They were able to manage big alcohol without boozieness and heat. Showing some secondary elements but still fresh. Plums and a touch of citrus. Full bodied with medium/high acidity. I enjoyed this more as a youthful bruiser but this continues to drink well.

11/22/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Had with lunch. Gave a brief decant and then added back to the bottle and off to a restaurant. Then had over 2 hours. Young and pretty wound up but still drinking well, if you don't mind the youthful structure. Nice mix of subtly and power. I think this wine is not for everyone but I like it. Hold 5 years.

11/21/2017 - jasonh Does not like this wine:

Last time I had this was in 2012 where it had got into a bit of a groove. Still not for everyone but I enjoyed it. Now the nose has so much toffee, butterscotch, and chocolate. A little bit of pineapple creeping in. The palate is so rich and candied. Acid almost absent. I wonder how much RS is on this. Okay for a small glass if you can find the right pairing but not a wine for me.

11/20/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

I must say, it took me awhile to fall in love with Freedom Hill Vineyard but it is now near the to top for me. Such great structure. This might be the first 2014 Oregon Pinot Noir that I have tasted, where the baby fat is starting to dissipate. Aromas are smokey, earthy, with flowers mixed in. Touch of orange rind creeping in on the nose as well. Flavors leaning to the dark fruit side. Plenty of acid and tannin to give this wine a nice edge. Oak is nicely present. I really enjoy this now but should probably let this sleep for a few more years.

11/19/2017 - jasonh wrote:

Popped and poured and then consumed over about 4 hours. The wine is fine but not overly compelling. Still showing a lot of ripe primary fruit. Smells great and is tasty but everything about this wine is simple. Bright acidity does help with this massive wine. Hard to predict but I will hold my last bottle for another 5-7 years to see if it will transition.

11/18/2017 - jasonh Does not like this wine:

This was never a great wine but in its youth the wine was enjoyable despite the lack of acidity. Now it is an over oxidized mess. Probably not meant to be aged like this but it was one of those bottles that got lost in the cellar.

11/14/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Wow. So it has been 9 years since I have popped a bottle of this and the wait was worth it. The 2005 is really hitting a great stride. Still power focused with great balance. Blue and black fruits. When young, this wine was dominated by the stems. Now everything is integrated and is an amazing example of a big Santa Barbara syrah. Full bodied and medium acid. Yum.

9/7/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Decanted for about 1 hour and drank over the next hour. In an interesting place. I really like the way it is drinking. Nice balance of power and elegance, with elegance taking the lead.

7/23/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Outstanding. In a very good zone right now.

6/16/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

I took me awhile to come around to Freedom Hill but now I fully get it. This wine, at almost 20 years old, has come around. A beauty. No detailed notes other than this is special. Still quite tannic but the fruit and earth have maintained. A great blend of power and subtlety. I sure wish I had more of this. IIRC it was fairly inexpensive. This would go toe to toe with many wines that enjoy more fame.

5/29/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

This is in a great spot if you enjoy a little edge. The tannins meld nicely with all the other components. Still showing fresh fruit, blackberries and some dark cherry, but also showing leather and bit of tea. We really enjoyed this. Not shy in style and shows everything well.

5/27/2017 - jasonh wrote:

Under screwcap. The aromatics were nice and flinty. But not too strong. Other aromatics of apricot and peach. The palate starts off savory and slightly boozy. This wine is very rich. Peaches and cream. By itself there is some heat on the finish but I didn't notice it with the food.

5/25/2017 - jasonh wrote:

Quick note. I have enjoyed most 2011s since release despite the cries for aging them. But they are so good. Well this was fairly shut down. I loved it but it needs a few years in the cellar to unpack all that it has.

5/18/2017 - jasonh wrote:

Disappointing. Seemed off but can't compare another bottle. Stinky and reductive. Fruit covered by tar.

2/9/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Just took delivery on this one. Upon opening the aromatics were like a young wine with baby fat. A bit of cherry bubble gum. Not my favorite. The palate was wonderful. On the feminine side. Hints of pinot noir. My favorite rhone wines do that. Strawberries mixed with blackcurrant Ribena. The texture is wonderfully silky. Drinks fine now but could use a few years.

2/9/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Wow. Mt Eden Chardonnays are stunning. This is in a perfect spot right now. There is a lot of oak here and it really works in this wine. Acid is on the lower side but it is far from flabby. Lemon, pears and a bit of honeysuckle. Nice flinty elements on the nose. Color shows it's age but the palate just shows pure balance. Delicious with and without food.

1/31/2017 - jasonh wrote:

When I had this in 2013 it was terrific but showing very fragile. i didn't realize I had another bottle. This was pretty oxidized. Still had some interesting elements of white fruits but way past its prime.

1/25/2017 - jasonh wrote:

Served blind while I was in Kentucky.

A nice value. IMO this should have been consumed a few years ago. The aromatics to me were reminiscent of a Barbaresco but I knew what the wine was. My friends kept mentioning Southern Rhone. After about 2 hours the aromatics evolved into showing red berries and other elements which tipped the scale towards pinot. Early on the wine held together very well although a bit simple. There was some heat. Not sure where the alcohol finished on this. Tannins probably will out last the fruit. Medium acid. The front and mid palate were pretty strong but the finish did tail off quickly.

1/25/2017 - jasonh Likes this wine:

I had a long trip that ended with having dinner in Kentucky at my friends house. Prior to leaving, I wrapped a few bottles in foil so that they could taste the wines blind. I was not going to decant this but I had forgot my Ah So and the cork broke and I had to push it. When I decanted the wine, the aromatics were jumping out. So good. When I looked at the wine in the light, it looked like a wine that was less than 10 years old. I thought oops. I did not bring the 1994. Well it was the 94 and it was tremendous. Earth, olives and tobacco, along with dark berries. The tannins come on really strong on the finish. The tannins are very pleasant. This wine exceeded my expectations and might be at its peak.

12/26/2016 - jasonh wrote:

Cork was in perfect shape. The wine still had lively color. At the start, the aromatics were dynamite. Strawberries, cherries and pomegranates. Showcasing fresh qualities rather than aged. As the evening went on the aromas became a little muddled. The front palate started out fresh and clean but the finish was a bit bitter. Tasty fruit but finishes quick. Still enjoyable but past its prime.

12/27/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

I have not had many wines from L'Aventure but if this is their style, I might understand them more now. This wine is packed. Not my go to style but when it is done well, it is a nice change of pace. Huge oak. Big blackberry palate. Dark creamy fruits. My concern with this wine is the massive tannins. The acid is decent but the tannins are very present. This is a wine I would be curious to taste in 10 years. 15.9% is the posted alcohol although I didn't find it too boozy. Not for everyone but I enjoyed it last night. However I do not want another one tonight.

12/27/2016 - jasonh wrote:

After having the Brut Rosé and loving it, I thought I should give this a try. Not as intriguing as the Pinot Noir but very good for $17. Lot's of apple on the nose. Tart apple. Pears with a small amount of yeasty richness on the palate. Medium/high acidity on the finish. I am going to hold my other bottle for 12-18 months.

12/16/2016 - jasonh wrote:

Big Ziny aromatics. Powerful ripe flavors. I get a lot of dark fruits but with mid palate and finish there is red berry. Finishes with big acid.

12/26/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

What a terrific wine. 100% Pinot Noir. Dry but lots of fruit. Very complex. Medium acid. Subtle red fruit hits the mid palate. At $18, this is a killer deal.

12/17/2016 - jasonh wrote:

At first, the nose is slightly odd. A bit doughy but also some egg elements would creep in. That did blow off but it was unusual and not very pleasant. 60% Pinot Noir and there is a good amount of richness but the wine seems disjointed. Fruit pops through but then a yeasty element takes over. Argyle does some interesting bubbly but I was not drawn to this one.

12/17/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Not much of a note but this was terrific. Complex and structured. A joy to drink.

12/13/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

To start with, I am not a big fan of 2014. That said, they are so young, it is too soon to judge. Upon opening, this wine shows a lot of ripe fruit on the nose a bit of a bubble gum thing. This is my second bottle so I knew about that and gave it 6 hours of airtime. After that, the wine shows great earthy aromatics along with it fresh fruit. The palate was also darker and very structured. Whole cluster elements. Has come nice xmas spice too. I will not open another bottle for at least 3 years .... ahhh who I am I kidding. I'm sure I'll open another next year.

12/9/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Looks very fresh. By appearance I would not guess this was a 14 year old wine. Young vibrant nose. Jumps out of the glass with black cherries and orange peel. Medium bodied. Bright and fresh flavors. Starts with red cherry and finishes with darker fruits and a bit of richness. Medium acid. The tannin is there on the finish. My first thought was that this still has a ways to go but by the end of the night it had put on some weight and flavors had changed to a darker fruit profile. I am actually not used to such a change in a matter of hours. I say drink now because it is darn tasty.

11/12/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

The wine is so clear and white. Lively nose. White fruits. Apples and pears. For the palate to show it needed some air and was more awake the next night. Nice clean texture. The fruit is balanced with medium acid. A very nice wine that should rest for at least a year.

12/11/2016 - jasonh wrote:

Flawed. Maybe cooked.

12/11/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Awesome now but still so structured. The nose is a bit mellow but the palate is wonderful. Great acidity and tannin. I like it now but could see how another 5-15 years might bring out the best.

12/11/2016 - jasonh Likes this wine:

Oh my. This is an amazing wine. Such richness. This is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Tasty and compelling.