12/21/2023 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Deep liquor concentrate fruit, creme de casis like. Red and dark berries, very opulent syrah/grenache. Very complex oak influence; spice, milk chocolate, leather, coffee. Notes of bacon :) Silky, sexy mouth feel. Full body, great finish: acidity and tannins in balance. All of it lathered in savory funk. A++. Looking forward to the next bottle.

9/22/2022 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Wonderful experience. Tasted over the course of 3 hours. Oxidized sherry-like nose, in addition to honey, caramel, peaches and cream. On the palate wine is viscous, engulfing the broadside of the tongue. Fruit is mid-toned with oak influence in spice and vanilla finish. Burnt to bitter almond provides a healthy finish. Old Chardonnay is not for eveyone

7/28/2022 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Pleasantly surprised by a wonderful cellar that was acquired. A+ storage. Aged to perfection. 1hr decant. Oxidized red fruit, dried dusty cherry Wonderfully kept. Earthy tertiary food; however present aged fruit. Wonderful experience

12/29/2021 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Green and yellow apple tones on the palate. Viscosity on the heavier side for a Blanc de Blanc. Brioche and almond on the nose. More of a brunch style cuvee with a clean crisp finish. Pleasantly yummy.

11/27/2021 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Bottle in A condition. Cork did it's job, held up, lower 4th saturated with signs of seepage. Amazing color ruby, violets- no brownish tint. Nose began remeninscint of minestrone soup, giving way to berry pie, black tea and band-aid. Unbelievable what great condition! I got lucky.
60% Grenache 20% Syrah
10% Mourvedre 10% Cinsault
Generous palate of red currant & black cherry. Fruit still sharp, tannins still present. Drinking unbelievably for $13 and 23yrs old.
1.5 Hr decant

7/19/2021 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

The bottle was in A+ condition. Superbly appealing! Primary fruit has given way to mature, savory, mellow-earth driven tones. Fruit still present, wonderfully aged; it's a Bordeaux in its prime -mature. Musty, forest floor, cherry and red fruit glide over the palate with grippy tannins providing an enduring finish. Majestic color with reds, browns, and orange- jeweled fire ember in appearance.

4/29/2021 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Youthful, showing sharp blueberry, plum, spice and oak on the nose and palette. Tight core of fruit unwinding after 2.5 hour decant. High alcohol, but ample juicy fruit and refreshing acidity bring balance. Beautifully glides over the palette.

11/23/2020 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Wonderfully aged. Cork was perfect. Capsule still rotated. Decanted. Deep orange hue in the decanter, more a light toasted golden tone in the glass. Nose oxidize, yet reminiscent of a dessert wine: honey, candied fruit. Viscous on the palate: medium, coats the entire tougne, but still mildly vibrant with acidity. Short finish with a bitter almond end. 😀
Ridiculous on the second day! Apricot, creme, candied lemon.

6/30/2018 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Amazing ripe pineapple. Toasted almond. Peaches and cream. Honey like vescosity. Vanilla finish. At an amazing point of it's life.

4/22/2018 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Holding up great! Beautifully integrated tannis. Sour red cherry, raspberries fruit. Very nice

9/22/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

required some patience and coaxing to get to a happy drinking stage- 45 mins to an hour of air. On the nose heavy scents of oak, chocolate, vanilla, gentle spices. Red currant and mature berry fruit round out a very aromatic bordeaux. On the palate the aggressive oak is more apparent, chocking the fruit; which is now into its secondary stage of life. Despite the bottle age the remaining fruit remains green. An acidic and bitter finish does add complexity to the sour cherry. Requires food to really shine, but an overall extremely pleasant drinking experience

8/18/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

I had a difficult time rating this wine. It is more than just a sum of its parts. Cellar time has done wonders to this bottling. Through the first 30 minutes of aeration the wine rollercoasters through- barnyard, chilean green herbaceousness and Brettanomyces; however it settles into dark dusty rich cherries, vanilla, chocolate & overall pleasant nose reminiscent of a right bank bordeaux (a la Pomerol). The theme continues on the palate- violet, plum, dark cherries- all well integrated with wonderful acidity. Cigarbox and earthtones share the palate with mellow fruit. The reason you cellar wine. Probably will last longer, but won't get better

7/27/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Perfume of white flowers, accompanied by green apple and pear aromas cutting the rich buttery notes. Fat tounge, very rich with plenty of buttery essence; wonderful green apple acidity mellowing out the richness at the finish

5/22/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Deep dark red colors in the glass! Violets on the nose,plummy red fruit, dark cherries, gentle spice notes and small hints of vanilla round out the bouquet. Big lush fruit mostly reds and dark fruit- oak influence felt throught the chocolate and spice. Aggressive chalky tannins do not spoil the acidity on the finish- which rejuvenates the palette.

4/11/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Wonderful pear, peach, tropical fruit notes, with macadamian nut aromas rounding out the bouquet. Complex nose of yeast, wet dough ball- reminiscent of on old non-vintage champagne. Intoxicating nose, with an ever slight hint of caramelization. On the palate a bit more reserved; however plenty of the pear and peach similar to the nose. Bitter almond notes and a bit of spice. Well balanced acidity and chalky finish. May have seen better days, but still drinking surprisingly well.

3/22/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Beautiful light color, you can almost read the newspaper throught it. Aromas of dark cherries, oak spice, savory herbs/mushroom/earth tone qualities tyipically found in Burgundies. Very impressive musty old world nose. Very well balanced wine. Initial attack of fruit very reminicent to the nose, with cherries, berries, wild herbs and youthful spice. Hint of whipped chocolate in a short mid palate, while unfolding into youthfull tannins. Finishing off with sublime acidity.

3/11/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Wonderful aromas of violets, red fruit, coffee and vanilla on the nose. Delightful bouquet! Dark cherry like fruit and plenty of red currant on the intial burst on the palate; however green tannins battle for attention. Awesome acidity, mouth watering, very refreshing finish. Very Impressive

3/7/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Red berry and cherry bouquet, very inviting. Initial burst of fruit presents a light cherry, cranberry like tartness- leading into dark currant fruit. Fruit is matured. On the palate very gentle spice: light clove like with dry, chalky tannins, who continue to act youthful. Well balanced finish, lingers on the palate. Drinking ideal.

3/2/2014 - FlavioSFL wrote:

Powerful old world nose, baked matured red fruit on bouquet, dark cherry. Tart cranberry, bit of band aid herbal note- soy & rose petal nose. Smooth attack of fruit on the inital bust, spice, acidity and young tannins. Wonderful Nebbiolo tannins- uber dry. Chewy long lasting finish. complex array of oak spice and earthy nuance. Plenty of reasons to open and enjoy, but equal number of reasons to cellar.

2/27/2014 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Beautiful black and blue fruit both on the nose and palate. The bouquet has some floral notes, but the aggressive oak treatment is present. This is a big pinot noir, think of a pommard, plenty of earthy tones; however the whiped chocolate notes, think tootsie roll, are dominate at this stage of life. Smokey characteristics with clove like spice, gentle. While drinking great, there is still plenty of fruit and oak influence, should mature nicely

1/19/2014 - FlavioSFL wrote:

Aromatics of over ripe fruit, gamy dominated nose- hints of violet and vanilla. Deep notes of mature dark grapes, blackberry, blueberry- in addition to very nice spice. Cooking chocolate like tannis, chalky but soft. Short to medium finish. Drinking where it should be

1/19/2014 - FlavioSFL wrote:

Red currant and sundried fruit, to add to the old world nose. Nice ruby color. Red fruit on the palate, nice chalky tannis- with a solid finish. Lacks depth outside of the ripe fruit. Enjoyable

12/20/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Beautiful matured fruit. Tart red fruit, sour cherry, wonderful acidity. Tones of leather, earth and cigar box. Oak treatment gives wonderful notes of dusty chocolate on the nose and palate. For those that enjoy a mature wine, fruit has mellowed out.

12/13/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Wonderful nose of bread & yeast. Ginger notes, pineapple. Concentration of fruit was step above other nonvintage champagnes. Needs time to open up, drank much better once it was allowed to open 45min-1hr; also benefited from reaching room temperature. Wonderfully vibrant effervesce

12/15/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Big boy! Sweet fruit, dark cherry, notes of milk chocolate on the nose. Notes of leather, dark soil earth tones & black pepper spice, which translates onto the palate. Tannins still very youthful, firm gripping & chalky. Very chewy & long lasting on the finish. Medium acidity. Should age wonderfully. Syrah lovers dream.

12/8/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Youthful wine. Raspberry, blackberry , dark cherry on the palate. Jammy fruit is expressed on the nose with licorice scent. Lively spice, grainy tannins- wine was left in a decanter for 3hrs. Wonderful acidity.

12/7/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Reserved nose, little bit of Band-Aid scent, but a nice cherry is present. 2hrs in a decanter reveals dark currants, plum & a beautiful flora essence on the nose. Mature fruit with vibrant cherry & dark currents on the initial burst of fruit. Tannins are still present, but mostly silky. Nice acidity to finish off. Medium weight to light on the palate. Wonderful color very youthful

9/2/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Showing signs of aging, with nice red color- does possess some brown and orange hues. Nice hay & barnyard earth notes on the nose. Some beef stew like notes on the nose as well. Muted cherry like fruit with cranberry tartness. Leathery, damp earth, cigar box layers, nice and complex. Finess, a wine for those that prefer savory and older wines

9/2/2013 - FlavioSFL Likes this wine:

Wonderful violet color, deep purple, vibrant color. Candy like cherry and plum fruit, give way to chalk cooking chocolate like tannins. Nice lingering finish. Layers of cigar and peppery spice. Solid wine should continue to mature wonderfully.