5/4/2024 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Despite pro reviews this is nowhere ready.very closed even after a two hour decant. High minerality and very tannic with high acid on the tongue and even a burn on the finish with notes of dark fruit, jammy and alcohol. Given a recent taste of the 2016, punt for 3 more years.

The wine finally opened up on Day 4 and largely resembled a standard Napa Cade. Fair amount of sediment at the end.

5/3/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Standard Cade. Drinking quite well right now. Minor decant.

4/26/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Friend brought over. Quite good, but nothing unusual or stand out either.

4/26/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Best served quite chilled.

4/18/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

First impression.
Deep vanilla smooth with black licorice and cassis on the approach and initial tasting. Inky leather and oil slick of flavor on the palette. Alcohol is a too pronounced on the finish. Will update.

4/7/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Dan’s tasting note just below nailed it. Extraordinary QPR and is drinking more than okay even now.

4/7/2024 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Where to start. It looks like a Pinot but….

The approach is nice enough and the front end exhibits spices, cherry, and plumb.

By miscalled it all falls away leaving a disjointed indescribable taste of nothing being integrated before the alcohol was left for the finish.

I’d be interested to hear if this was perhaps just a bad bottle?

3/29/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Blown away. See James Suckling and Jeb Dunnick gushing reviews.

Crème de Cassis, subtle licorice loamy earth complex with toasted oak. Goes on and on. Slight
minerality on the finish but it’s all there in the right proportions. Classic old world Bordeaux style with California power behind it.

Drinking extremely well this should last a very long time. We are very impressed with this 2014.

3/15/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

A bit jammy. It's nice but it’s a lot. Drinking well now. Would be great with chocolates, brie and other soft cheeses.

3/14/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Wow. A dance on your pallet, dark ink covers the mid palette expressing black licorice dark chocolate and dark fruit (black plums) and toasted marshmellows?

The road is long and the end is gentle with tannins fully integrated. Before that there’s almost a slingshot between going slow and boldly pushing the limits. 96+ with no signs of slowing down. Drink not or hold.

3/10/2024 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Consistent with our previous note.

3/8/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

This is a great wine at $70 which was the original price point. Round Pond is trying to get rid of the rest of their inventory to $100, not a good QPR. Very approachable, notes of dark fruit, very decent Napa mid pallet without excessive sweetness or tannins. The tannins that are there are well integrated and the wine exhibits some complexity. Not sure it will hold up especially well in a few more years, but it is drinking very well right now.

2/29/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Smooth and refined tannins of faded but they’re still enough there to hold it all together. Dry, Stags’ Leap, earthy leather in the zone to drink now But do continue to be concerned about the 2013 vintage’s staying power.

2/27/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Much better than my previous bottle (note) more consistent with the 2022 review if not better. Drinking very well, in the sweet spot now, and likely for another 24-36 months. A moderate decant was necessary.

2/27/2024 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Nothing special. Strong hint of grapefruit and white cranberry. Not our jam. A local store was pitching this Brit for $100. No way.

Cool decorative glass and metal bottle though….

2/23/2024 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Sweet apple with bubbles.

2/23/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Had a taste at a local wine bar using a commercial dispenser. Thought it an easier way than actually opening the 18.

Totally get the subtle notes, berries, cinamon toast, some bitter chocolate and fig. Smooth as silk and one of the most well balanced wines I’ve tasted.

That said, it’s ready to go now, at least this bottle which I can’t vouch for regarding its storage. I’m reassessing whether to go ahead and pull ours for a try in 2024. Thoughts?

2/22/2024 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Nothing special sadly. I suspect most of the “umph” has passed, it’s settled down. Not objectionable, but nothing special. Soft muted notes of barriers, silky and smooth, tannins had faded and the bouquet was muted, short finish.

2/18/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Smooth, inviting approach , silky. Subtle hint of vanilla, dark berries, cassis. Unfortunately on day 2 for the last 1/3 noticeable alcohol present coupled with a short finish. Drink now and don’t leave open for long.

2/15/2024 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Light and fruity, perhaps too fruity, strong hint of strawberries and more strawberries. Can / Merlot blend. An acquired taste but if you like it then you like it. Very different offering from other wines from this vitner.

2/15/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Amazing. Drinking very well now. Standard Stag’s Leap.Has softened a lot, drink now to 1-2 years.

1/28/2024 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

The first bottle we tasted was far better. Not sure about the inconsistency as they are from the same lot.

More jammy than anticipated. Needs a good steak to balance. Not at all consistent with my previous experiemce.

Day 2 was incrementally better but not by much. Lingering taste of alcohol present 14.9%). Disappointing really.

1/16/2024 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Nice aromas, lots of red fruit and blackberries amongst a balanced acidity, and tannins.

Some dirt and leather, almost mistook for a Stag’s Leap with some initial smoky dryness but then that didn’t last long and by by mid-palate the fruit (and sweetness) really kicked in followed up by noticeable alcohol.

Disappointing.

1/13/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Standard inky Cade Howell but this one seemed to be less complex with a little more alcohol showing. Not as good as it ought to be.

1/1/2024 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Bottle was cooked. No rating.

1/1/2024 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Neutral on this one. Soft and light, minerality with light hints of citrus and grapefruit. Missing some of the other tastes and smells normally associated with this Austrian favorite.

1/1/2024 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Lovely. Blanc de blancs but 100% Chardonnay. Light. Perfect.

12/31/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

A short decant and wow. Lots of fruit on the approach (blackberry with a hint of bell peppers), rocks, slight oak in the mid-palette and a silky black licorice long slide on the finish, almost a coating.

Drinking very well now, assumed it would be on the backside but this has staying power from an excellent Sonoma vintage.

Could safely go another 3 to 5 years but you won’t be sorry for opening it now.

12/28/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Great blanc de Blancs offering with tiny
Bubbles and hints of apricot, freshness, minerality and apple. Would drink now.

12/25/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

You can see my other notes, this bottle has some stain power. Ballance is still a bit off with tannins and some alcohol on the finish. I think it’s still in the drinking window, but certainly some variation in the bottles this one drinks like it is much younger than it really is. Dark fruits, earthy, tobacco and a little bite in the back end.

12/25/2023 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Listed is white, is a rosé blend. Slight fruit apricot. Well balanced.

12/17/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

A nice pinot that actually manages to be in a more traditional delicate style. Lighter but floral with notes of berries. Not over the top, ever so slightly slightly sweet but not over the top. Drink now.

12/17/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Top ranked WA Syrah. 98 points by JD. Pairs perfectly with charcuterie. For me it was a bit too brooding and fatty, but others loved it. Black cherries, rock and full experienced through the finish.

12/1/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Much stronger than the last bottle, to be fair fair I believe I got several these bottles from different locations. This one tasted like I thought it should and it’s prime drinking very well now.great QPR.
Drink now or hold but will soften.

12/1/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Amazing right out of the bottle. Classic Napa Rutherford. Bold, cherries, plumbs, slight oak with well integrated silky tannins that were present but not too strong. Bright, mild alcohol present. Drinking well now.

11/23/2023 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Lots of cherry, paired well with the turkey. Somewhat lacked dimension.

11/22/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

A year later from my first review….

Consistent with other notes this is a nice wine, but it is pretty muted, tannins and florals have faded yet silky, smooth and on the backside. Always cellared, I hoped that it would last longer, but it is a drink now good QPR.

11/22/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Decent Pinot but not a wow wine for the orice. QPR isn’t there. On the positive side the approach was inviting, floral notes are muted, cherry is there but not pronounced, silky smooth. Drink now.

11/18/2023 - Rossdhu House wrote:

A little disappointed. This wine isn’t holding up as well as I’d hoped. Nice floral approach but it doesn’t translate on the initial taste. Yes some leather, dirt and peppers remain but the finish is accentuated by an aftertaste of alcohol.

11/18/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Great QPR for a SA Bordeaux style blend. Daily drinker. I had rated it higher previously as the fruit and tanins have faded but it’s also softer and more delicate now.

11/16/2023 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Initial: Not really impressed sadly. Dull, flat, lacked flavor or any fruit, a lot of alcohol on approach. Will update.

9/30/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Wow. A full bodied Bordeaux style blend. That does not disappoint. Drinking phenomenally now with a short decant. This wind has staying power. Tasted even better on day two. Most highly recommended. Amazing.

8/26/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Amazing. Drink now.

8/12/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Amazing. Drink now.

8/9/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Middle of the road.

7/16/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Very good, and surprising Riesling from Virginia.

7/6/2023 - Rossdhu House wrote:

Decent Savignon blanc, but too mineral tasting for my own measure.

7/4/2023 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Not our favorite Iton Horse. Tart, not smooth, meh.

6/25/2023 - Rossdhu House Likes this wine:

Simply amazing. Consistent with other (more technical) reviewers.

6/24/2023 - Rossdhu House Does not like this wine:

Corvina blend, very acidic, with notes of blueberry and other fruits. Quite strong, still, almost pungent upon opening. Day 2 more approachable, but still not there. Part of that is the type of grape.

Wine Spectator recommended, but you have to be looking for this type of wine to truly appreciate it.