5/25/2021 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I'm not an oenophile, so take this review with a grain of malt (oops! that's my beer review joke). But I've read enough to know what I don't know, and have tasted enough to know what I like.

Having crossed the wine store aisles between New World and Old World bottles for years, I've finally settled on the Old. I typically drink wine with a meal. The lower alcohol content of the Old World wine, with its restrained presentation, doesn't smother food as a New World wine does.

While perusing a wine mag for old style wines from the US I came upon Akrasia Cellars. It's a Rutherford label that produces only about 100 cases a year, looking to produce quality, lower alcohol cabs similar to those in France.

So here's my verdict after a three hour decant.....its 14.2% alcohol is a welcome reduction from most Napa cabs, the fruit is pleasant and not jammy, and there's a hint of the famed "dust" from its terroir. Its tannins aren't strong, so the flavor is soft. Saying it's elegant probably applies. So I'm impressed!

My only dig is the price. $80 may be competitive in Napa, but a comparable Bordeaux wine (which this winery tries to emulate) could be had for less. So that reduced my grade. That said, how can a winery make a profit selling only 100 cases regardless of the price it charges?

But my hat is off to this relatively new vineyard and look forward to future editions.

5/23/2021 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Im not tasting the distinctive Rutherford cocoa powder that i did with the 2016 version. So im marking it down by a few notches. Too bad.

2/18/2021 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Good QPR, IMHO. A worthy purchase if you're at TJs looking for a $10 alternative to the run-of-the-mill red.

7/26/2020 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

This has become my go to cab for every day drinking. Its renowned western bench terroir is the star, with its "dust" shining through. Unlike so many domestic reds, it's not flabby and has a manageable 14.1% ABV. Good price to boot. I wonder who the grower/vintner is?

7/22/2020 - Magnum Bill wrote:

I was surprised and somewhat disappointed by this bottle. I was expecting a vibrant and acidic gruner, which one normally enjoys with this varietal. Instead it was more like a chardonnay. It tasted fine, but it didn't pair well with the fish I'd prepared. Schade.

6/3/2019 - Magnum Bill Does not like this wine:

Bought this GSM at Trader Joe's. Given the price, I should have expected it, but the wine had a whiff of cough medicine. I don't care much for grenache, so maybe that explains it. More syrah and mourvedre, s'il vous plait.

4/25/2016 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I haven't written a review in a while. After a lot of experimentation, I've migrated almost exclusively to the Old World. Lower alcohol is the primary reason, since it allows an extra glass without adding to my next day's woes. Plus it doesn't overwhelm my dinner, which is when I usually consume wine. It's food, as Europeans say.
However i still had some New World stuff in my inventory. This bottle received favorable reviews from some Old World stalwarts, so I decided to crack it.
This is a wonderful mix of texture, tannin, and flavor. The 14.8% abv surprised me. However it's nicely disguised in a well balanced delivery.
My conclusion: ABV isn't the end-all if everything else falls in place; and New World vineyards...like this one...can produce some very nice wines.

12/25/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Served for a special occasion. Didn't disappoint.

12/23/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Haven't rated any wines in a while. This offering from a 2011 grand cru brought me back to the keyboard. Light and understated, as you'd expect from a chablis. But with a pleasant nose and no off-putting aftertaste, as often found in US chards, this is a treat....albeit a pricey one.

11/28/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Lovely perfume nose from one of my favorite vineyards. A little too much G from this G-S-M for my palate (none would be near perfect), but at least it doesn't dominate.

10/6/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

What a pleasant surprise! I was drawn to this vineyard in pursuit of its Bordeaux blend, Clio. I threw in a couple of these chards. Clean, fresh, with no unpleasant aftertaste. This is quickly becoming one of my favorite VA wineries.

10/4/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I haven't written a note in a while. It took a complex, specially-crafted offering from this P.S. specialist to pick up my pen.

I fully echo DK's notes. This is everything you'd want in a petite sirah, from the difficult '11 harvest, no less. Possibly that's because Arrroyo utilizes minimal irrigation during what turned out to be a very rainy season. I'm buying more.

8/12/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

To most in the New World, this is top shelf, coming from Bien Nacido''s eponymous vineyard. However for me, at 15%, the abv is high; the grapes are ripe, there's little subtlety, with modest complexity. So I've knocked it down a couple of points. Nevertheless, a quality output.

8/10/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Still liking this delivery from Fred, albeit not as much as the last one. Theres no variation between the two bottles, however. In the interim ive been exposed to more quality whites, from both sides of the Atlantic, to compare against this one. Guess I score on the curve.

8/7/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Still tannic, but with great flavor. Give it some time then enjoy. 13% abv.

8/3/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I agree with the consensus. A lovely blend of fruit and spice. Nothing overt, gratefully. And it has a sensible 14% abv. It's obvious the wineries in the Central Coast werent as stressed as their northern freres in 2011. I'm good for more.

7/28/2015 - Magnum Bill wrote:

I've been drinking some fine S.B. lately. And i haven't had a chard in a while. Possibly for both reasons, my enjoyment of this wine reduced a little from before. Not very interesting, although I appreciate its sub 13% abv.

7/23/2015 - Magnum Bill wrote:

Better than I expected. 14.0% abv. Good for parties. Decent qpr.

7/21/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Not as enjoyable as my previous bottle. May have been a storage problem; maybe not.

7/16/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

A high quality delivery from this premier VA vineyard. Great QPR. im good for more.

7/12/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Earthy nose, great balance, with a long, complex finish. The northern Rhones from '05 do not disappoint.

7/12/2015 - Magnum Bill wrote:

Fruity, spicy, flabby.

6/29/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

This wine came out of its shell very nicely on Day 2. Full body, integrated fruit, with a complex finish. It has a tolerable abv of 14.6%. Very good offering from Jerry the zin-master!

6/25/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Lovely balance of fruit and acid. 13.1% abv. Jim Law is certainly one of the top Virginia vintners.

6/15/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I really like the craftsmanship and incredible value of this vintner's offerings. The 2006 merlot isnt as full bodied as the 2005, and the abv is a modest 13.2%. But it's flavorful and has average complexity. Like the '05, this vintage was held for NINE years before release, so its tannins are fully resolved. A super duper daily drinker.

6/14/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Updated on Day 2. Nose of berries. Maybe a bit thin. Average complexity. 13.5% abv. Good not great.

6/1/2015 - Magnum Bill wrote:

I'm conflicted. You see, I dont have the keenest sense of smell (likely due to an unrepaired septum); so ripe, fruit forward wines appeal to me. I can tell what im tasting, and if well made, I enjoy them. But I dont like the high abv that normally accompanies these wines. It reduces the amount id otherwise consume, and thats not good. Plus i enjoy having wine with dinner, and fruity wines can overwhelm the food. Were I still a cigar smoker, 15+% wines would make a good companion. But, alas, I gave up cigars years ago.
So where do I shake out on this wine? It has GREAT flavor, but at 15.2% abv it wont make it into my starting lineup. Pinch-hitting at cocktail parties, however, could be the winning strategy.

5/30/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

This is the '15 Virginia Governor's Cup winner. And rightly so! It has great balance, length and complexity. The merlot shines through even though it's just 25% of the mix. Im not sure of its longevity...a few years more at least..... but it's in a VERY good place now. The best Virginia bottle ive had!!! The state's vineyards have come a LONG WAY since my college days in the Old Dominion 40 years ago. I highly recommend this '09 delivery, especially because Virginia vintages can be erratic, with its variable and sometimes problematic climate. I havent tried the '10 Clio, but you'll be the first to know how it compares. Mr. Jefferson would be proud!

5/25/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

A heavier version of sangiovese than I prefer. Nothing bad, mind you, as its well made and very enjoyable. This is good as a stand-alone tipple; however I typically drink sangios with food, where the lighter style is better, IMHO.

5/24/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Ok, now this is good! Three hour decant. Nose of pepper and dark preserves. Great texture and mouth feel. Balanced, restrained and graceful while not wanting for flavor. Gamey. This is a very good northern Rhone style delivery.

5/23/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

One of the better zins ive had! It's well structured with tannin and acid, is restrained, but displays enjoyable fruit. This varietal isnt one of my favs...too simple?....but this offering shows a sophistication i'd expect from a well made pinot. A pleasant surprise; I'm good for more.

5/21/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Fruitier and with greater ABV than other Bandols I've tried. Plus it's a little hot on the back end. This is better enjoyed while smoking a cigar than having a meal. I'm liking it, but only for the right occasion.

5/18/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Im comparing this bottle to a Caparone sangiovese from the Central Coast, CA. The strawberry-cherry nose and flavor are very similar. Unlike the Caparone, the Poggio appears to be fined, and it has more tannin and ABV(!) than the domestic. While equally enjoyable, im scoring the brunello slightly higher (at 4X the price!) for it's superior structure. Since im all about QPR, my next purchase should be obvious.

5/16/2015 - Magnum Bill wrote:

Light and refreshing. No complaints.Good qpr.

5/16/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Fresh red berries on the nose. OK structure. Great QPR!

5/10/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Had a slow start on Day 1...even after a three hour decant. Closed and somewhat tannic. But on Day 2 this bottle came alive, with dark berries and acid in force. Medium finish. Glad I had some left to enjoy.

5/9/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Decanted for three hours. Should have been longer. The bottle was still closed, however the potential was obvious. I still have two bottles, so next time I'll be more patient and hopefully enjoy its full beauty.

5/7/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Im a New World, QPR-focused guy looking to expand my horizons by trying Old World product. Recently I saw a video comparing some of the best Bordeaux of the '05 vintage. This $25 bottle scored better than a $1,000+ Petrus and other premieres. Wow! I''m still trying to digest the meaning of that. For some CT'ers it's too oakey. Maybe so. However for this nose, its balance of fruit, acid, grip and length creates an enjoyable quaff...at a terrific price!

5/6/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

A lovely surprise! A light, well-made chard. No unpleasant aftertaste. Great with food. And, oh yes, good QPR.

5/4/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Knocking this down a couple of notches since my last review. Still has great flavor, but not enough structure, IMHO. An enjoyable drink nevertheless.

4/26/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Shared with my Old World mentor and long-time friend, Bevetroppo. Dark berries, pepper, and earth with a long complex finish. Well structured but slightly astringent. As expected, this was a departure from the upfront New World offerings I've grown accustomed to. But there's enough fruit to entice me for more.

4/22/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

A little thin, but good flavor. A respectable output from a difficult year.

4/22/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

My first stab at an Aussie shiraz since joining CT. Was expecting big fruit, high ABV, lots of oak, and little subtlety. Am happy to report I was (mostly) wrong. Is it New World? Certainly....but with enough structure and length to make it interesting. Best thing for me? At about $20 it's great QPR! I'll be happy to serve blind at a party and let my guests think it's a quality syrah from Cal's Central Coast costing twice as much.

4/17/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Oh, this is a pleasure to behold! As ive often claimed, a blend from a quality winemaker who's more interested in making a great wine than dumping his surplus grapes into a nondescript batch can be a work of art. Such is this bottle. The nose, flavor, acid and tannin all coalesce for a great result. It doesn't hurt my scoring that im a syrah geek, and 78% of this year's Todos is thus comprised. Nevertheless.....

4/10/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

My impression was banana split....vanilla ice cream, nuts and bananas. If I want a treat, this'll be high on the list.

4/6/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I pnp'd this and quickly gave it an 88. But after an hour, this evolved nicely. Definitely give it some air.

4/6/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Wont be confused with the estate cab, but certainly quaffable. At half the price id be loading up. Average flavor and structure, reasonably complex with normal length. Since im all about QPR, i'll search elsewhere for my next cab.

4/6/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

I need to taste more quality roses and compare to properly score this bottle. Watermelon flavor with a little more body and length than cheaper roses I've had. Very enjoyable with ham served at Easter dinner.

4/2/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

One point higher than my last review. I enjoy this wine's clean, fresh finish.

3/31/2015 - Magnum Bill Likes this wine:

Feminine but not too shy; balanced and a good QPR. My kind of SB.