11/28/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Young and vibrant ruby, carmine red, quite dense. Fairly balanced combination of aromas between barnyard and raspberries, with medium intensity. Fair intensity of fruit upon entrance, with good weight, fairly linear throughout the palate, low complexity, good character, nice structure balancing flavors of wild cherry and dark berries, with very dark flavors at the end, and balanced acidity. Young, fruit forward, mouth watering, though a bit boring. Intense character of Carmenere. Fairly well balanced. QPR.

11/24/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Absolutely gorgeous ruby and blood color dark and medium density, vibrant and young. Nose of cherry bubblegum, a little cool-aid, a little licorice, and hints of creme de cassis. Also hints of granadine. Somewhat dissapointing upon entrance; quite hollow and meaningless until it reaches the 3rd third, and then shows a little bit of a flare, a bit of structure, and a finish of cherry soda, with some acidity, short to medium length, and a little tartness.

10/14/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Dark purple red, very dense. Intriguing nose of manure and purple paint; not too expressive. This wine is rather in decline. Nice almost full body, but all is very atypical to sangiovese Flavors of black currant, and fairly strong acidity and somewhat disjointed finish. Not very harmonious or pleasant at all.

9/29/2011 - Capt M wrote:

So beautiful dark crimson and ruby, slightly opaque and beautiful transparency; very elegant in aspect. And so is the nose, showing sheepskin upfront, but nicely, plus bacon aromas and cassis. Silky texture with beautiful presence of fruit, and unmistakeable character of Pinot Noir. Well balanced and very harmonious. Dark plums and blueberry. I love it when Pinot shows its seductive tannins and supportive structure. The right acidity and desirable finish.

9/27/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Dark opaque ruby, of medium density and a little bit of transparency. Funky and barnyardy nose, showing a fair combination of fresh hay, a little manure, and a predominant dark cherry aroma. Some chalk on the nose as well, like purple chalk. Not too expressive upon appearance, but it evolves fairly well. Medium in body and intensity of flavors, however, the acidity is quite pleasant, and the finish is appealing and medium. It leaves you with a faint but pleasant tannic sensation in mouth. Flavor is dark cherry cola. Aftertaste is young tobacco leaf. Nothing too crazy or trascendental.

8/30/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Nice daily type wine, with good dark flavors and dark fruit concentration, good structure, foodworthy acidity, plum flavors towards the medium to long finish. Some flaws and hints of alcohol left in mouth after passage, but very good daily quaffer.

8/13/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Average nose, nothing too exciting, and quite boosted by oak. Nice attributes that include fruit and malolactic traits, but a bitter, green structure that sticks out some towards the end. Quite oaked in fact. I'll be generous.

8/4/2011 - Capt M wrote:

A very simple table kind of wine, but I believe that I like this varietal quite a bit (Garganega). It has a pleasant character with proper, petite structure, sweetness, freshness, and acidity. Lemony lime flavors, added to some nice mineral notes. Limestone. Rather light body. Nice little wine. Family type.

7/24/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Dark, opaque, dense red with slight brownish rim. Dates and dry fig on the nose. Very polished and suple wine. I believe that this wine has started its slow decline, but it is aging nice and elegantly. Doesn't show much in terms of finish, however, nor intencity of either character or fruit.

7/23/2011 - Capt M wrote:

This wine exceeded my expectations. It is quite a surprise, and a wine of very good quality. And at that price, it is quite the QPR.

7/23/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Not your ordinary Pinot Grigio. This wine has beautiful traits, nuances, and even structure. Quite a lovable and resourceful wine.

7/22/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Awesome character of Merlot. Very, very typical and texbook Merlot. Rather opaque, or medium brilliancy on a dark ruby red. Medium to full intencity nose, very educated, with some funkiness (not too much), and beatiful truffle aromas mixed with hints of red plum. Beautiful fruit balance from the initial attack, showing dark plum, dark cherry and blackberry, evolving to coffee bean and subtle leather notes towards the end, all in a full body, fairly creamy texture, and exiting with some fine tobacco notes. Nice and dry wine. Very pleasant and enjoyable wine. A top Merlot.

7/16/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Beautiful ruby of medium brilliancy and a slight transparency. Very franc aromas of sandalwood, sour cherries, and hints of wild bore. Nice intensity from the front attack, good length and structure, nice grip at the end of mid-palate, leathery sensation, nice dark cherry flavors, and blackberry toward the finish. Nice fruit up front, very nice acidity. Medium finish.

7/9/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Deep, dense and dark ruby, almost purple color. Very barnyardy nose; manure comes to mind, sheepskin, and hints of blackberry; little hints of raspberry as well. Medium to full body with pleasant creaminess. It is quite linear throught the palate; dry and austere, until it reaches its explosive finish. Shows nice dark fruits in the mid-palate, but it is in the finish where it really develops. Dark berries, a little cedar box and sandalwood, but lots of eucalyptus in the mere finish. It lingers in your mouth for quite some time. Kind of like a cough drop. Better pour this wine with food. It would make a great burger wine.

7/7/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Nice sense of terroir and character, if you like this varietal. Pleasant young wine wine nice concentration of elements and sensual structure. Nice cherry flavors.

7/3/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Wow, this is a very serious and meritorious Chardonnay, characterwise worthy. Comes up to your nose unadvertedly and non-stop, with clear vanilla and chardonnay skin aromas. So nice! Non-the-least bashful on the palate right away, show all but the kitchen sink, from character, immediate attack, oak (of course), nuances of vanilla, gorgeous mid-body and substance, ACIDITY! Fruit for ages! Green grape, macadamia nut, champagne liquour, creamy texture, Sudamerican terroir, fullness, ripeness, just the right amount of green tannins but non to be disarmonic, fullness to coat and offer feel. Kudos! Great food worthiness. Isn't wine what is all about?

7/3/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Beautiful pale champagne-like hue and color. Pleasing nose of cleanliness, marshmallows, hints of lemon-lime, with appropriate intensity. Good mouthfeel, acidity, weight, and it's some structure. Definitely a different bet. Acidity with some grip, some (medium) finish, hints of grapefruit, but lots of other citrus notes. Leave it open an hour for the some fake sensation to go flying off. Worthy and worthwhile. Pleasant and entertaining. 86 but maybe 87.

6/28/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Dark and deep in color. Nice nose of black currant and hints of dates. Rich, dark flavors too, on a full body and creamy texture. Very dark and spicy finish, showing good acidity, firm grip, and notes of tobacco, red bell pepper, some leather, and a lot of smokiness. Did pretty well with pizza, but it must be awesome with musty and hard cheeses, and stews.

6/19/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Beep ruby but fairly translucent. Nice nose of chocolate covered cherries and hints of radish. Quite pleasant and accomplished passage through the palate. Shows acceptable concentration, strong presence in mid-palate, fairly accomplished acidity, good grip of soft tannins towards the end. Lots of sour cherry flavors. Medium body. Hints of dark chocolate at the end. Nice sense of freshness upon entrance. Medium finish. A food wine.

6/21/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Looks older than it should be. Rather opaque ruby with quite a bit of a brick tonality, and some transparency. Nice nose, half fruity, half veggy, like one of the new V-8 juices with fruit in it, and aromas of celery and radish. Also some earth aroma, like soil. Enters the palate so pleasant, not shy at all, showing some green and red plum right away; nice evolution, and nice acidity in the 3rd quarter. Always old world, somewhat austere, and ending with a nice hint of black and green pepper, and delicate copper. Nice old world. Very good weight and mouthfeel all the way. Maybe it is kind of a baby Rosso; not explosive at all. But it is what it is.

6/16/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Ruby red of half brilliancy and intensity. Somewhat shy on the nose, yet interesting enough, aromas of cherry cotton candy. Not very typical sangiovese at all. A bit better character on the palate, showing some sour cherry and ending copper notes. Medium tannins, very agreeable. Fairly sweet tannins dancing with a dry finish. Lacks fruit intensity.

2/27/2011 - Capt M wrote:

I am very pleasantly surprised by this wine. Oak is the first thing that comes to mind when you put it up your nose, but all in good proportion and taste. Fantastic intensity in the palate, for the price, with great integration and harmony of the oak. Phenomenal every-day wine. Very good character, not overshadow by oak. Moderation is the essence here.

2/25/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Valuable nose! Fruity and flowery. Lemony lime, hints of passion fruit, hints of acacia flower, hints of eucalyptus, hints of spearmint, medium to full intensity on the nose, real nice. Great minerality; sea shell upon entrance. Nice weight to it. Nice transition on the palate, showing grip, character, length, and some structure. Makes you think of Sancerre. Nice seaweed notes in the mid-palate; then sea water notes, subtle lemon-lime, fine acidity and grip. Fine intensity. Very good finish. Very good texture; almost oily, but in moderation.

2/19/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Plus and minuses in this wine. The pluses overwhelm the minuses quite a bit. On the upside, the nose is pretty admirable, conveying complexity, intensity, and fruit that evidently comes from the power of the varietal. Thus this wine shows character, nice pedigree (terroir), and general structure AND flesh. Character speaks about the identity of Cabernet Sauvignon, which in this wine is very evident and remarkable. Pedigree combines terroir and concentration of fruit. Structure shows well and pleasant. Flavors evoke raspberry and nice notes of strawberry, with ever so slight notes that blend with structure and taste like radish and very slight cabbage. The finish is long, or very long. The acidity is so appreciable. The downside.. maybe a bit short on resources and a bit monotonous. But the varietal shines bright, and terroir also comes through. For the price, this wine is killer.

2/6/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Rough on the edges. Pitch dark ruby. Big nose, sumptuous. Deep and lush, no bullshit, but young and restless. Very stiff structure. Strong tannins. Dark fruit. I respect Bonarda. Blind, may fool me for tannat, the way this wine is structured.

2/6/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Clear, pale hay color with green tint. Exotic nose of detergent and lemon, and hints of eucalyptus leaf. Great intensity right from entrance, showing fruit intensity, half way sweet, nice length, grip, and racing acidity. Asian pear, dandelions, full body, quite exotic, remarkable finish, good quality, but a bit too sweet for me.

2/2/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Young and vibrant, thus clearly able and worthy to cellar easily 8 to 10 years more. But a very crafted composition. Great harmony and proportion among fabulous quality and concentration of fruit, mature tannins that will continue to mature, very valuable complexity of deep, rich flavors and nuances, and very well balanced oak. Full body. Deep and tasty dark cherry flavor that branches out in the mid-palate, onto savory flavors, subtle meat, subtle, leather, subtle cocoa, very subtle green pepper, but never letting go of its deep cherry and lushness. Its nose is superb and sensational, showing cassis liquor, and ever that liquor nose and sensation, rathe than a wine. The wine is outstanding.

1/28/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Solid wine, but didn't impress me too much.

1/31/2011 - Capt M wrote:

Pale straw yellow color, very pale, with slight green tint. Aromas of cleando, detergent, and magnolias. Very flowery, mineral, and green in its flavor profile. I sense some green tannic flavors. Slight primrose and acerola flavors in the mid palate. Quite uneventful and Monday night type wine.

12/8/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Very dark ruby and garnet color, completely dense. On the nose, earthy tones; nice minerality comes through, plus dark berry aromas. Dark flavors, good intensity, grip, and structure all along, but uninteresting and somewhat disjointed. Some alcohol shows at the end.

12/2/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Impressive, voluptuous, somewhat overwhelming, long notes of tobacco, toated oak, long tannins, oaky, the longest finish. Very muscular and exotic. Fruit bomb on steroids, very infused and impulsed by oak.

12/2/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Serious color. Exotic nose of blue and blackberry, and varnish and saw dust. Very intense on the palate; rainbow skittles and nice red flavors until you go from mid-palate to finish, where it evolves drastically, nice and complex, onto voluptous, very dark and tall structured flavors. This wine, though aproachable, it's very young. Deep dark flavors. It coats your whole palate. Nice acidity, and tanginess, and grip. Long and sensational finish. Very voluptuous. Slightly artificial.

11/29/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Garnet, opaque, medium density. On the nose, caramel pop corn, black currant, and hints of lacquer and varnish. Hard to decipher this wine is. Black currant, dark flavors, elderflower, some structure, some acidity, medium to full intensity of flavors, but a rather odd arrangement of aromas and flavors. A little tangy factor shows on the middle; then ends with a medium to long finish of rather strange flavors, maybe some pickle juice.

11/28/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Ruby, rather opaque and of medium to almost full density. Very pleasant and interesting nose of fig, black currant, and these elements infused with just the right touch of oak, on a certain cedar box aroma. Medium body, nice flavors of dark cherry and black currant, evolving nicely onto a finish of some tobacco notes and cedar box. Acceptable length and structure, certain mineral notes, some acidity, not much. Medium finish.

11/27/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Medium golden yellow, champagne-like. Strange nose, urine and some flower component. Good intensity in the palate, decent. Fairly strong petrol flavor towards the end. Good weight and oily texture. Kind of a strange character. Fairly long finish.

11/24/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Dark ruby red with elegant transparency and brilliancy, and medium density. Awesome and sensational nose of bacon fat and blueberry pie; some pie crust, bluestone, and hints of radish and beets; very exotic and interesting. Great development in the palate, exotic, with noticeable minerality, and intensity that unfolds nicely throughout the palate. Beautiful medium body. Sensational mid-palate. Complexity that brings our the nice structure, and the very long finish. Nice compromise between new world and burgundy styles. Exuberant and elegant at the same time. Great character of Pinot Noir, and representation of terroir. Still young and a little bit unfocused.

11/24/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Violet and ruby tones, with beautiful brilliancy and transparency. On the nose, grape and strawberry bubble gum, and nail polish, and lacquer. Flavors of grape soda plus hints of cola soda. Very little structure and character, or even sense of terroir for that matter. Flabby. Not harmonious; showing some green bitterness towards the end, that has no relation or harmony with the start or any fruit whatsoever. Highly artificial overall profile. By Beaujolais standards, quite unacceptable.

11/16/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Beautiful candy red with young ruby tones, medium density and gorgeous brilliancy. Delicious candied apple aroma, combined with beets and elderflower. Great intensity and mouthfeel, right from entrance, followed by a very good grip, and sensational acidity. Candied cherry flavor, great length and finish, with some pomegranate aftertaste. Great quality and QPR.

9/24/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Dark brownish ruby color of medium density. Medium intensity nose, giving off rather faint barnyard aromas and very faint blackberries. Shows some dark fruit flavors upfront, but not enough to support an odd structure of green, bitter tannins that come up towards the end. Finishes medium to long, with a certain eucalyptus flare to it. Quite dry. Not too harmonious. Improves after an hour of opening.

11/6/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Purple color, young looking, medium to full density. On the nose, some funkiness, a little cow manure, a little saw dust, and deep raspberry and blackberry. Enters decisively in the palate, good intensity, also showing some fertilizer flavor. Almost full body. However, some heat that starts to fade out some after more than an hour of opening. From mid-palate to finish, some aggressive artificial fruit flavor dominates the palate. So in the end, it leaves you with a cool-aid plus alcohol sensation. Kind of a fruit bomb, but with cool-aid type fruit flavor.

11/3/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Salmon pink, coral, very nice. Admirable bouquet, rose petal, orange peel, some strawberry aroma, and hits of tangerine scents, and sweaty sock. Sumptuous and exotic entrance, showing orange zest and some ginger. Good evolution in mouth. Good balance between fruit and the lees content. Good complexity. Shows handsome structure and length towards the finish. Strawberry, crimson, and rose petal are ever present. Nice tannins.

11/3/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Great composition. Very champagne-like on the nose. Toasted almonds and brioche, plus hints of primrose aromas. Good intensity and evolution, though oak dominates over fruit. Good character. Good finish. Great butterscotch aftertaste.

11/2/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Though atypical, great character. Quite distinguish nose, very funky and barnyardy, yet delicious to smell. Some aromas of barley and malt as well. Shows its presence right upon entrance. Flavors of beef jerky, eggplant, wet soil, on a leathery texture, full body, deep long tannins, dark flavors towards the end, and a long finish. Silky and leathery. Lamb on the flavor, and sheep manure on the nose. Quite interesting and thought provoking. Very mature and approachable. Difficult to pick out as tempranillo, but great expression and character, though atypical.

11/1/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Beautiful dark cherry color, of medium brilliancy and intensity. Cherries on the nose as well, with a little celery seed and cucumber. Medium body, medium intensity all along, great acidity, Not much in the mid-palate, but sensational finish, showing celery again, radish, light tobacco notes, dark cherry. Very, very nice chianti.

10/30/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Big, voluptuous, structured, long, dark.

10/29/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Very cabernet in color, dense and pretty. Pleasant nose; a little funky, but predominantly showing red and a little dark fruit aromas, cherries, caimito fruit, and a bit of saw dust. Nice blend. Both varietals show well, and blend harmoniously and seemless, with mutual support, showing good intensity, fruitiness. some backbone. Quite quaffable. Showing dignity, character, and harmony. Medium to long finish.

10/22/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Deep, dense purple - magenta color, very dark. Good expressiveness on the nose, of course very dark, chambord, blackberry, black licorice, dark cherries, and "liquor" aromas. Fine oak also comes through on the nose quite prominently; sandalwood. Bold, aggressive, lush, opulent, very robust and dark, showing very dark upon entrance, and developing onto a nice flare of dark cherries and dark plum, thus exhibiting some complexity. Evidently showing a fair amount of cedar box in the middle. This wine is inky and chewable. Oak is a little bit annoying. Long structure of tannins; finishes long. Does leave you with a little alcohol at the end.

10/21/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Dark, opaque ruby red with brownish rim. Cough syrup on the nose, and some celery, rhubarb, radish and alcohol. Not very serviceable. Some cherry-cola flavors, quite disjointed and undeserving of the name zinfandel.

10/17/2010 - Capt M wrote:

Not very exciting. Not elegant or prominent in any direction. Seems to me like this bottle was heat damaged, or in any case, the wine is passed its peak.

10/18/2010 - Capt M wrote:

This bottle is passed its peak. Now it's old, rusty and uneventful.