6/25/2023 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

PnP, enjoyed over 2 hours. Pours light green-gold with slight effervescence. Nose has some hay-over-lime and clementine aromas with an ozonic accent. Really interesting evolution from 2021. Spritz on the entry with key lime, white stone, and tangerine zest. Mid has excellent weight and sees fleshier tangerine and lime flavors. Finishes med, highlighting the citrus and mineral elements. Balanced structure but perhaps at an inflection point in its development. Should hold easily to 2026+. A four bottle buy, should you find this vintage for sale. Very good to excellent, 90.

11/20/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Corked bottle, that's 2/3 from WTSO

11/13/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Short decant. Pours dark maroon with a narrow, clear rim. Nose has some heat, but beyond that yields warm wool suit, crisp fall leaves, dried red fruit, black rocks, and a touch of barnyard. Great texture on the entry. Early flavors of cranberry and black raspberry. Spices (anise, clove, nutmeg) on the mid, along with a warm and pillowy mouthfeel studded with ultrafine tannins. Tannins find every corner of the palate on the long, smoldering applewood-accented finish. Very accessible and beautiful now, or cellar through 2032. Excellent 93.

10/29/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Fabulous wine that has developed well since our first note six years ago. Relatively young looking in the glass. Stunning nose of petrol, white peach, and fall leaves. The effervescence has gone. Stunning texture: chalky, grippy, and serious. Mouthfeel has ample weight from RS and original fruit maturity, balanced well by minerality and acidity. Medium sweet on the finish. This could age positively for another 3-5 years. Bravo! Excellent 93.

7/7/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Probably not deserving of the Premier Cru moniker. Decent citrus, bread, and lees components, but not exceptional.

5/17/2022 - pkbowen Does not like this wine:

Very basic rose with some slightly offensive and bitter aromas and flavors. Could be OK as a cocktail mixer. Don't buy. Average to good 80.

5/13/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Splash decant on bottle five of six. Decent nose of dill, lemon zest, and other green herbs. Palate has a med+ bodied texture and limoncello flavors with green herb accents. Sadly has an unfortunate, unusual mid and finish note of old, cold brew coffee. Otherwise reasonable typicity. Not a recommended buy. Good 83.

5/13/2022 - pkbowen Does not like this wine:

Big oof on this wine. Nose smells like a cheap tennis ball soaked in bready wine, with watermelon candy dominating throughout. The palate leaves much to be desired, sharp and unrefined. NOT a recommended buy. Average 76/100

5/10/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

PnP, color is a deep salmon-orange. Nose is medium intensity and notes of salted strawberries and watermelon. Attack is sparkling cherry, with a basil lime element. Med+ body (notable for a Rosé) and med acid. Beautiful body carries the midpalate with slight meatiness and watermelon and lemon. Medium+ finish. At an amazing QPR, and notable body, we highly recommend this interesting Rosé. Full case buy, Excellent: 93!

5/8/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

PnP, color is salmon-orange. Nose of medium intensity and notes of salted watermelon and orange slice as well as cherry Chapstick. Attack is full of lemon, watermelon, and cherry hard candies. Med- body and med acid with some balancing bitterness. Wax bottle candies and a light meatiness on the midpalate and medium finish, the latter note indicative of the 40% syrah. Interesting and decent quality, but not our style. Probably past peak, drink up. Not a recommended buy. Good 84.

4/28/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Enjoyed over two nights which saw no degradation in the wine. Pours med gold. Impressively fragrant nose of tomato leaf, pineapple, mint julep, green pepper, lemon poppy, and vanilla souffle. Attack has round pineapple, mango, papaya, and dirty martini elements, with cardamom spices and round vanilla joining on the mid. Finishes med+ with an emphasis on the sweeter pineapple (upside down cake) aspects. A bit high on alcohol when warm, but that is a minor critique. A striking, high quality wine, good now through 2024. A four pack buy at over USD$60/btl. Outstanding 94.

4/26/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Tasted over two nights. Pours medium garnet with no sediment. Nose has charcoal, cherry, feminine cherry blossoms, and masculine pipe tobacco and leather notes. Still young and aromatically reserved. On the attack the wine has hard, rustic tannins that overwhelm the flavors. Red and dark fruits and cocoa on the mid with a bright acid accompaniment. Finishes short. Alcohol is not apparent as it is with some other Gigondas, so good on that front. However, it will take so long for the hard structure to resolve that there will probably be no fruit left. Not a recommended buy. Good 83.

4/22/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

PnP. Nose dominated by oak treatment. But agreeable. Crunchy oak plank, dill, char, maybe a little toffee, and a little confected pomegranate. Entry is kind of thin and high acid, but reasonable intensity of flavor with crunchy red fruit and dark cherry. Some cola on the mid. Finishes short and acidic. Pretty drinkable for a $12 pinot, but not a recommended buy. Good 83.

4/22/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Pours very light pink with orange highlights. Fresh strawberries, orange blossom, slate, and river rock minerality. Attack has nice acidic grip and med+ body with lots of green and ripe strawberries. Turns orange-ier on the mid. Finishes medium. Pleasant, but not worth the $34 price of admission. Not a recommended buy. Very good 88.

4/21/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

1h decant. Pours light gold with orange highlights. Ripe pineapple, tennis ball, and mandarin orange nose. Attack is plush, full-bodied, but low flavor intensity. Perks up a little on the mid with lemon-lime and tropical fruit salad with refined, med acidity. Finishes medium. Really well balanced and high quality. Drink now. A one bottle buy. Very good to excellent 90.

4/19/2022 - pkbowen Does not like this wine:

Quite purple in color. Sort of a generic plummy jug wine nose, some pyrazines, and elements of crude oak treatment. Rough tannic structure and some dark berriy and herb flavors, yeasty finish. Feels cheap. Garagiste should be ashamed of this offering. Not a recommended buy. Average to good 80.

4/18/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Splash decant. Pours medium red with purple highlights and no sediment. Generous nose with blackberry and black cherry juice, Turkish rose, and vanilla cola syrup. On the palate it opens with luscious body and both bright and dark, ripe red fruits with vanilla cola accents. Earth, cola, and black cherry on the mid with low intensity, well-integrated tannins and med+, fuzzy red berry acid. Shorter finish, but the acid persists. (Was the acid augmented to add structure?) Good drop for $17 and a solid four pack buy. Drink now. Very good 88.

4/16/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

2h decant. Light color intensity with a wide, clear rim and no sediment. Intense and assertive nose of cinnamon and cloved orange, ozonic notes, new leather, rose, and crab apple. On the entry the wine is quite round and med+ body with a bright pop of crab apple and rosehip supported by acidity and a thin layer of very fine tannins. Apple chips and orange creamsicle with a dusting of spices on the mid. Finishes med+ emphasizes the oak treatment at this stage--plenty of baking spices and vanilla. Open knit structure makes this approachable now, but it should age well to 2028. Excellent 91.

4/12/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Splash decant. Stinky, reductive nose. Nice roundness and balancing acid but also some bitter green citrus pith that doesn't belong. This was much better in the tasting room, maybe needs opened overnight? Oh, well. No rating.

4/11/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Followed over two nights. Pours med yellow with green highlights. Complex fruit and floral nose: lychee, pear, tangelo, honeysuckle, and a dusting of cinnamon. On the entry clementine, banana esters, and cantaloupe are evident. Med+ body with bright, crisp acid pleasantly blunted by neutral oak treatment. Finishes long with a strong reprise of melon and honeysuckle. Drinks well now but could hold 6-8 years. A half case buy. We have had a lot of Riesling...and this is good Riesling! Excellent 93.

(Producer notes, pasted because i am not sure they are published on the CCPP website: 2021 Sonoma Coast Riesling:
Our inaugural white wine! We'd only done Pinot Noir, Rosé and Champagne up to this point. Bone dry, with citrus and mineral notes. Beautiful aromatic expression normally found in Germany and Austria but sourced from 25 year old clone 17 Riesling vines from Abigail's Vineyard in West Sonoma County. Crisp and refreshing, this wine doesn't go through malolactic and is aged 7 months in neutral French oak barrels. Ready to drink now but will also cellar nicely up to 10 years. 12.5% alcohol /110 cases/$45 retail)

4/9/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

3h decant. Some fine sediment. Nose has dark cherry, balsamic reduction, plum, cola, and baking spices. Round, warm, med+ body showing the superior development of the vintage. Weak opening but better mid with dark cherry and other brooding fruits. Med finish with med+ tannins. Tight knit structure. Recommend a one bottle buy. Drink now to 2029. Very good 89.

4/7/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

1h decant before enjoying. Light color and some fine sediment. Low intensity nose with qualities of dark cherry cola and some soapy florality. Rustic tannins and med acid on the palate with flavors of cherry and sasparilla. Med- finish. Quaffable, fine now, could hold in the cellar to 2025. Don't buy. Good 83.

4/6/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

1h decant. Pours clear, bright garnet. Nose is med+ intensity with high complexity. It has warm forest floor/humus funk, cranberry, strawberry, orange/Grand Marnier, oak influence (cinnamon stick, cardamom, bourbon vanilla), and a touch of alcohol. Fantastic, full body and richness on the entry. Sparkling cranberry juice and high toned acidity slide into the sweet and savory mid. Earthy undertones accent well developed red fruit (cranberry, pomegranate) flavors, rounded out by sweet baking spices. Palate-coating, suede-like tannins also join the mid. Finishes very long with oolong tea, roasted red fruits, and earthy elements. Drink now to at least 2032. A solid half case buy. Outstanding 94.

4/4/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Light gold core and copious, coarse bubbles. Savory biscuit and limoncello nose. Attack has a sharp lemon curd and peel, croissant, and phenolic bitterness. Buttered bread and lemon-ginger curd on the mid, joined by med acid. Finishes med-. Not a recommended buy. Good 84.

3/29/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Splash decant. Pours ruby colored with a wide, clear rim. No sediment. Perfumed and intense nose of toasted cumin seed pastry, roasted cranberry and orange zest relish, warm wool sweater in a cedar chest, red flower, and mirto de Panarea. Attack is bright, acid-driven, and red-hued with whole cranberry, red flower, and smoked black tea on the entry. Broadens to red fruit, red flowers, and cola on the mid with fine tannins. Loose-knit structure overall. Finishes long in several acts, ranging from pipe tobacco to cherry cola to sea salt and phyllo pastries. Drink now to 2028. At least a four pack buy. Excellent 93.

3/28/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Wine club purchase. Pours med- density with magenta rim and some coarse sediment. Nose of vanilla, strawberry and cranberry relish, pepper, and a slight tinge of green bell pepper. Entry is bright with good freshness and med body. Straight strawberry juice, dehydrated strawberry, strawberry yogurt, and vanilla with good intensity. Med acid and med refined tannins are about as ripe and well balanced as one could expect from a Finger Lakes Lemberger. Finishes medium with persistent strawberry flavors and tannin. A one bottle buy. Very good 86.

3/26/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Pours mostly opaque garnet with a wide clear rim and some fine sediment. Nose of smoked macerated blackberry and cranberry, black walnut, pine needle-strewn forest floor, and spice cabinet. Attack presents with med+ acid, fresh cranberry sauce, blueberry, and black tea with med body and ample, med+ rustic tannins. Mid sees a contuatuon of the same flavors, acid, and robust tannins. Finishes med+ with an emphasis on the smokier elements. The extensive oak treatment is well integrated and complexity is high. Drink now through 2030! This is a four pack buy. Excellent 92.

3/22/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Not much to add to TBRIGGS' note below. Kind of a fun, light-bodied wine that is soundly made. Not a recommended buy, however. Good 83.

3/20/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Decanted an hour before enjoying. Pours ruby with a narrow clear rim and plenty of fine sediment. Med+ intensity nose of sweet tobacco, cherry, cassis, blackberry, cinammon, black minerals, and underwood. On the attack the wine is medium bodied with mineralic, fine tannins, dark fruits (black cherry and black raspberry) and spice. Somewhat austere and steely on the mid with the tannins well-defined and dusty. Tannins soften on the med+ mineral-driven finish but remain mouthcoating. This is an Old World wine lover's wine, very much about the minerality. No Parkerized nonsense here. Drink now to 2029. This is a four-pack buy. Very good 93.

3/19/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Decanted for four hours before enjoying. At 11 years of age this still has a dense red core with some lighter amber accents at the rim, and plenty of fine sediment. Nose has dense charcoal, well-integrated oak aromas, dark cherry, and alcohol; it is a little hot, but has solid density and mouthfeel. Black and red, almost syrupy, cherries lead the charge, flanked by slightly rustic med- tannins. Fresher cherries and spices (anise) on the mid. Finishes med length, with warm and spicy lingering flavors. In a good place, drink now through 2024. A one bottle buy at $30. Very good 89.

3/19/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Opened about an hour before serving. lovely, generous nose has notes of rosehips, white tea, salinity, soapy peach and clementine. Rounded, med+ body on the entry, with flavors of bright grapefruit, peach, and white pepper. Broader and juicier on the mid with more orange citrus and orange orchard fruit supported by med+ acid. Med+ finish. Balanced structure, quite a bit more accessible than six months ago. We misjudged the acidity and longevity in the tasting room. Drink now through 2027. This is a four-pack buy. Excellent 91.

3/18/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Splash decant. Med straw with green highlights. Aromas of banana and pear malted milkshake, sandalwood, and mandarin oranges with soapy orange flowers. Entry yields subdued flavors of floral, soapy, mandarin and banana. Med+ mouthfeel and canned pear and mandarin orange juice on the mid. Med acidity and slightly grippy river rock minerality leading into the med+ finish. Drink now through 2024. This is a four-pack buy. Very good 88.

3/17/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Pours pink-peach color with an unusually stable, fine mousse. Nose has aromas of crunchy red berries, mango, and orange extract. On the entry, a hit of bright acid, fine bubbles, bitter orange, and orange creamsicle. Quite full body and unctuous texture. The thread of bitter orange continues on the mid with some vanilla and almond flavors. Finishes med- with confected orange and roasted nut notes. A one-bottle buy. Very good 87.

3/16/2022 - pkbowen Does not like this wine:

Slightly turbid light yellow with green highlights. Funky, challenging nose of caramel biscuit, lees, cheese, and ozone. Bright citrus and birch aged feta flavors on the entry, transitioning to chalky lemon drop flavors on the mid. Bracing acidity and intense bubbles provide a firm structure. Finishes short with funky lemon flavors. Not a recommended buy. Average to good 80.

3/14/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Lively, coarse bubbles. A complex aroma of white flowers, tropical fruits, redcurrant, but it has the unfortunate resemblance to Cold Duck that it was hard to push past. Med+ body and surprisingly precise and persistent flavors...but again the Cold Duck parallel is there. How odd to make the connection but it seriously hampered enjoyment of the wine. No score.

3/13/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

4h decant. Pours inky red-purple without sediment. Nose is decadent, with notes of balsamic, mocha, mole sauce, and redcurrant and cherries. Enters with tart, dark fruit flavors. Fine tannins and blueberry cobbler flavors blossom on the mid, leading into a med finish of graham cracker and blue and black fruits. Mouthfeel and acid lag behind the tannins and flavor intensity, but the oak is well done and nearly integrated. Okay QPR at USD$30. A one-bottle buy. Very good 89.

3/13/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

PnP. Quite a light color at the core. Nose is reserved with aromas of golden apple, fig preserve (from used oak), and preserved lemon. Light on the palate with slightly oxidative flavors of bruised apple and fig preserve. Med mouthfeel, maybe from lees contact. Simple, affable, and ready to drink now. A one bottle buy. Good 84.

3/12/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

4 h decant. Pours ruby-purple with a little fine sediment. Nose is med+ intensity and features rubber, petrol, poblano peppers, green peppercorn, smoked cherry, and mocha. On the entry, med rubbery tannins, and med- flavors of smoked black cherry and green pepper. More expressive on the mid with fresh flavors of pomegranate juice, vanilla, and charred pepper. Med body. Finishes med+ with continued roasted poblano pepper and pomegranate seed qualities. Excited to see where this wine lands in a few years when it fully integrates. Suggest to buy half a case and drink over 2022-2031. Excellent 91.

3/12/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

PnP. From flutes. Very light straw core and copious med size bubbles. Nose has med+ intensity aromas of lees, vanilla, earl grey tea, and white stone minerality. Entry has coarse carbonation and med acid, flavors of lemon-lime sorbet and bergamot-laced earl grey tea. Mid has lower flavor intensity white flowers, minerality, and some citrus. Finishes short. While this is a NV bottling, the blend seems to now be improved, perhaps favoring higher quality 2019 and 20 fruit. Good qpr, this is a 4-pack buy. Very good 88.

3/11/2022 - pkbowen Does not like this wine:

Aerated into a decanter. Mostly a purple color at this young age. Nose has some green/herbal, plum, fig, and reductive generic/jug wine aromas. The entry has notes of crystalline purple fruits and purple fruit compote and a little balsamic reduction. Mid takes on more leathery and tobacco flavors. Slightly rubbery tannins and med- acid. Finishes short with some baking spices and smoked cranberry. Not recommended for purchase. How did Damiani manage to make such a middling wine from excellent 2020 fruit!? Good 82.

3/11/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Pale straw color with med intensity mouse and bubbles. Straightforward nose of walnut, vanilla, golden apple, and lemon spun sugar. Entry has relatively coarse bubbles and an opening of crude vanilla and walnut flavors and a green lemon tinge. Some med-, citrusy acid but continued heavy vanilla/walnut flavors on the mid. Lingering bitter lemon sugar cookie flavors on the med finish. Unremarkable but drinkable purchase. Not a recommended buy. Very good 86.

3/6/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

PnP. Pours light ruby with a clear rim. Oak, cranberry, cherry candy, and cola on the nose. Entry has metallic cherry, pomegranate, pink flowers, and med body. Midpalate is medicinal cherry and fine, abundant tannins. Med- finish of cherry vanilla and light toast flavors. A short term prospect. Would not recommend buying. Good 84.

3/6/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

4h decant. Pours inky purple with fine sediment. Nose is a little reserved with aromas of dark barrel char, dark cherries, dates, figs, balsamic, black rock/mineral, and substantial alcohol. Entry offers a med+ body, red and dark purple fruits, purple flowers, and palate-coating fine tannins. Mid is a empty and dominated by med acid and alcohol. Perks up on the long finish with date, blackberry, and dark cherry; oak-derived vanilla and amaretto; and roasted stave. Tannins resolve late but have a nice mineralic texture. This could have benefitted immensely from blending. Unclear where this is headed, but could age to 2030+. Not a recommended buy at USD$32. Very good 88.

3/5/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Comically over the hill. Should have been drunk by 1980-something.

3/5/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

1h decant with some fine sediment. Showing some light browning/garnet coloration and clear rim as a result of age. Nose is mostly secondary. It has a good hit of integrated oak (medium toast, spice cabinet, vanilla, and cedar) and a tinge of sage herbaceousness. Entry is dominated by plums and red fruits on the entry, becoming spicier with cinnamon, allspice, and anise on the mid. Med+ weight; low acid; and low-intensity, mature tannins. Finishes med- with a simple continuation of oak-derived flavors. Drink by 2024. Very good 87.

3/2/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Short decant, enjoyed over two evenings. Pours medium gold. Nose shows golden pear, ripe peach , and general stone fruit. Entry shows fresh citrus, minerality. Light herbal characteristics on the mid. Pineapple and more minerality carries through med+ finish. Drink now through 2025. Very good 89.

2/26/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

No listed disgorgement. Pours med straw with a vigorous mousse and low intensity bubbles of med fineness. Simple nose of croissant, white hibiscus, and lemon sugar glazed cereal. Subdued entry of vigorous, coarse bubbles, with lemon sugar glaze and pastry. Mid has complex citrus fruit salad (lemon, grapefruit, blood orange), green strawberry, and Madagascar vanilla. Short finish, with only lingering acidity. Easy drinking but not exceptional. Very good 87.

2/25/2022 - pkbowen wrote:

Aerated into a decanter. Nose is a little challenging with notes of red, dark, and dried fruits, a good hit of vanilla, Moroccan spice, and a yeasty note. Soft and mature on the palate with low intensity flavors of red fruits, spices, and dusty, soft tannins. Poor finish. Probably over the hill. Good 81.

2/25/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Way better than Scruffy the Janitor's sangria in the toilet! Pours inky purple with fine sediment. Nose is sweet and a little concocted with charcoal, vanilla, and sweet plum aromas tinged with alcohol. Shines on the palate with an entry of cherry liqueur, fresh blackberry, and baking spices. Notable weight and viscosity. Mid is a jammier version of the entry poured over charcoal, cocoa, and anise. More anise, plum, and shaved chocolate on the med finish. Some mild but coarse tannins persist after the finish fades. A fun drop to drink now. Very good 88.

2/25/2022 - pkbowen Likes this wine:

Pours med straw with plenty of coarse bubbles. Reserved nose of puff pastry, lemon curd, and peach jam. More expressive on the palate with an entry of coarse bubbles and decadent pastry with lemon curd. Mid has med acid, lemon drop candy, and continued rich pastry and lemon curd. Toastier with notes of bran cereal, and a continued thread of lemon curd and pastry on the med finish. Drink now through 2025. Good qpr for $15. Would be fun to see how this develops over 2-3y. Very good 87.