9/2/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

Solid effort, not as extracted as some other KBs. More to the elegant side of the spectrum, bright red fruit, cherry cola of course. Paired with savory lamb shoulder. A crowd pleaser, two plus hour decant.

9/2/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

This is as close to perfection as it gets. Rich, luxurious, palate drenching with legs that go on forever. Opened 30 minutes before drinking and it improved significantly over the next 2 hours. Lived up to its reputation in every way, our guests were visibly, verbally and absolutely floored.

8/30/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Last bottle of this vintage, a beautiful wine that is not yet in decline but there does not seem much to gain from holding much longer. Cherry cola, bright red fruit, paired well with a grilled chicken. Medium elegant finish.

8/25/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Two hour decant, drinking beautifully. Typical rocks nose, the vigonier brings elegance to every sip. Paired with a beef bourgoine.

8/24/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

Blame this on me for not drinking this earlier. LOVE Bedrock, one of the best QPRs out there. But this is on the decline. We have one more bottle and will drink and use for a beef burgundy later this week.

8/17/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Love this style. Elegant without being too light, absolutely beautiful fruit.

8/14/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

30 minute decant. Wonderful bright red fruits, still going strong.

7/28/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

2 hour decant. Paired nicely with chimichuri steak. Time to drink up.

7/19/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Two hour decant. Lots of bright red fruit on the nose along with some pencil shavings (kinda weird but clearly part of this wine). Paired beautifully with grilled chicken and a Thai tofu soup. Faded a little after a few more hours being open, so may be game time for this one.

7/6/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Part of a 9 syrah blind tasting. I wanted to love this more, as 2012 is my favorite vintage for Stonessence and a few other Reynvaan offerings. A solid effort, dark fruits, well balanced, well made wine but did not knock my socks off as I had expected from this winemaker and vintage. Maybe my palate was just worn out.

7/5/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

Part of a 9 syrah blind tasting. Suffered in comparison to the bigger bolder syrahs but also compared to the more elegant ones. Hard to pigeonhole this wine as one or the other, but drinking well now and should have a few more years left. 3 hour decant.

7/5/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

Part of a 9 syrah blind tasting. Held its own among some much pricier wines. Did not place in top 3 but got some votes. Dark fruits, nicely made, drinking beautifully after a 3 hour decant. Such a high quality affordable producer.

7/5/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Part of a 9 syrah blind tasting, did not place in top 3 but had a few top three votes. Some found it jammy, others liked delicious red fruit. Did not stack up as a powerhouse syrah but certainly enjoyable.

7/5/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Quintessential Cayuse Armada. Several of our gang thought that this syrah had not even reached its full potential yet despite its age. Powerful stuff, 4 hour decant. Funk on the nose, as always.

7/5/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Wine of the night from a blind tasting of 9 syrahs (including No Girls, MTR, Cayuse, Betz, The Walls, Bedrock, B Leighton and Reynvaan). A crowd favorite with most using the descriptors powerful and all out syrah. Drinking beautifully after a 3 hour decant. I want more!!!

7/5/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Oh how I wish The Walls continued to make this wine. No. 3 syrah from a blind tasting of 9 syrahs (including No Girls, MTR, Cayuse, Betz, K Vintners, Bedrock, B Leighton and Reynvaan. A crowd favorite with most using the descriptors well balanced, nuanced and elegant. Drinking beautifully after a 3 hour decant.

7/5/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

No. 2 syrah from a blind tasting of 9 syrahs (including No Girls, MTR, Cayuse, Betz, K Vintners and The Walls. A crowd favorite with most using the descriptor elegant. Drinking beautifully after a 3 hour decant.

6/30/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

After an hour of air, this was really tasty. Bright red fruits, paired beautifully with chicken confit.

6/29/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

One hour decant. Bright, fruity, juicy, paired perfectly with duck confit

6/23/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

From our favorite Washington syrah vintage, silky, well balanced with just a touch of funk on the nose. Two hour decant seemed perfect.

6/23/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

In a wonderful place, elegant Brunello, on the lighter side, but with subtle notes of strawberry on the medium finish. Would open about 30 - 60 minutes before pouring.

4/14/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Did side by side with the 2015 vintage, this one came out the winner by a hair. The 2015 was deeper and more luxurious but a little bit of a one note with not a noticeable finish. This one was light on its feet with a nice medium finish. Paired well with a roast leg of lamb.

3/14/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

This is an exceptional wine that is always well received by our guests. Paired nicely with a bouillabaisse. Two hour decant. All things silky and elegant.

3/7/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully now, delicious Grenache fruits, short to medium finish. Silky smooth, if tasting blind would not have picked out the Syrah component.

2/4/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

This was fine, but underwhelming to my taste. The flavor profile is solid but there was a bit of effervescence that I and others in the group found a bit offputting. This calmed down after a few hours so I would definitely favor opening for at least 2 hours before drinking and probably letting it breathe in a decanter for that entire time. Will update when we do that with our next bottle.

2/4/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this GSM+ blend from The Walls. This iteration is led by Mourvèdre which adds a depth that is incredibly satisfying. The Walls continues to impress, so glad we have more.

2/4/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

This is a beautiful wine that punches above its weight. Part of a blind syrah tasting which included excellent wines from Cayuse, DuMol, Rasa and Corliss, it ran a strong second, garnering a first place vote and 5 seconds (out of 6 at our event). Elegant, well balanced, medium finish. Yet another outstanding effort from The Walls.

2/4/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Solid but expected more given all the ratings. Finished middle of the pack in a blind tasting behind syrahs from Cayuse and The Walls. 2 hour decant.

2/5/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

Super disappointed. Corked.

2/4/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully, WOTN in a blind tasting with a number of other strong syrahs, 4 out of 6 first place votes with 1 second. Paired with a fantastic Persian lamb dish. Clear but not overwhelming Cayuse nose with a finish that lasted for nearly a minute. Glad we have more. 4 hour decant.

1/8/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Not as big as the 2012, but still a very nice Bordeaux blend. The Petite Verdot notes are savory.

1/8/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

In a good place after a 3 plus hour decant. Elegant with long brooding dark red fruits and a finish that goes on and on.

1/7/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

PnP, could have used some time open or in a decanter. Cherry cola predominates, fairly highly extracted so if you like that sort of thing (and our guests definitely did) drink up!

1/7/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed the leather and tobacco and dark fruits here. 2 hour decant recommended.

1/7/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

3 hour decant got rid of the alcohol bite, drinking beautifully, paired with chicken saltimbocca and a tartiflette.

1/5/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Really excellent juice. Paired with spare ribs. Deep leather and tobacco notes. 3 hour decant/

1/4/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Time to drink up. Very little funk on the nose, typical olive tapenade and earthiness on the palate.

1/1/2023 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Really started to sing after 3 hours in decanter and another 2 back in the bottle. Typical funk on the nose with lots of great bright red fruits on the palette.

1/1/2023 - RJWallis wrote:

4 hour decant. Big, dark fruits everywhere, a finish that goes on forever.

12/31/2022 - RJWallis wrote:

Needs a lot of air, 2 hour decant, but in its sweet spot at 4 hours in the decanter. Muted nose but gorgeous notes of leather and chocolate on the palette Smooth polished tannins. Not a particularly complex wine but paired well with Beef Wellington.

12/26/2022 - RJWallis wrote:

Just spectacular. Needed a 3 hour decant to blow off a little alcohol but after that nothing but deep tobacco and leather with a touch of oak on the finish. Paired with an epic steak au poivre and tartiflette for Christmas dinner! So glad to have 4 more bottles.

12/24/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

In a very good place. 2 plus hour decant. A crowd favorite at a Christmas Eve celebration. Definitely picked up on the Grenache notes on the finish.

12/22/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

PnP. Singing from the first sip, but improved over the next two hours. Another crowd favorite from The Walls.

12/21/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Simply stunning. Wish we had more. Shiny tiny bubbles that go on forever.

12/21/2022 - RJWallis wrote:

Love this vintage. Three hour decant of this magnum, consumed over next two hours, continuing to improve. Beautifully balanced, wonderful acidity with the malbec being deliciously present on the finish. WOTN our of a great lineup.

12/21/2022 - RJWallis wrote:

Splash decant then back in the bottle for two hours before serving. Elegant but with prototypical earthy notes on the finish. Crowd favorite.

12/19/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Paired beautifully with the final report of the January 6th Committee. 2 hour decant recommended.

12/19/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Definitely want to decant and filter this wonderful wine. Copious amounts of solids. With a little air, the dark brooding fruits make their appearance. A rich, luscious wine.

11/24/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Definitely benefits from a few hours in the decanter.

11/20/2022 - RJWallis Likes this wine:

Two hour decant put this into a beautiful place. Rich red fruits, layers of elegance and nuance.