2/4/2021 - codysak Does not like this wine:

S: Deep Ruby; some may describe as Purple
N: Medium+ Intensity of Black Current, Black Cherry, Plums of cooked characteristics.
P: Dry, Med Acid, Medium+ Soft Tannins, High Alcohol, Med+ Body, Med+ Intensity of Primary cooked fruit with a Med + finish.
Technically, a good wine with primary cooked, jammy fruit. Although there is a good concentration of fruit, the wine lacks the complexity and freshness of better wines. It borders out of balance due to the overt jammy fruit and just med acid.
Stylistically folks that enjoy the riper, jammy fruit forward style will enjoy this wine as it's well made, but I would prefer lighter, fresher Cab Savs with improved layering of flavors

1/12/2021 - codysak Does not like this wine:

S: Deep Ruby.
N: Pronounced green beans, asparagus upfront that's troubling. Red cherries, plums, violets; but difficult to discern through the stemminess
P: M+ Acid, M+ Alc(a little heat is present), pronounced flavors, but not balanced. Chalking tannins. M+ finish, but not enjoyable
Unfortunately this hot vintage may have required early picking before phenolic ripeness, thus adding pronounced stem notes.
Acceptable wine lacking balance due to a hot challenging year...

5/19/2020 - codysak wrote:

S: Pale Lemon
N(still a bit cold): a Bit subdued; Medium intensity of petrol, kerosene, peach, lemon, honeysuckle; fresh and bright, but not terrible intense
P:High acid(not as overtop like the Jim Barry, Clare Valley), med- body, a slight petrol bitterness giving impression of alcohol like some Alsace Rieslings, but it's not alcohol. Subdued fruit on the back on of the petrol/bitterness(which I like/expect). Ripe peach, lemon; not much else.
A good wine with simple flavors and aromas. I nice uniqueness of the petrol and not so strong to throw out of balance. Lack complexity, concentration, and the refinement of better quality Rieslings. For 15 dollars it does a nice job of a Alsace Riesling.
Note: Previous scores are too harsh on this wine. It's a very solid B

5/18/2020 - codysak wrote:

S: Pale Lemon
N: Med+ Intensity of petrol, Meyer lemon, lime, inflatable "pool toy" aroma. Yes, like the stupid movie
P: HIGH+ Acid. Holy Cow! Med+ Intensity of basic flavors, med- body, med- alcohol, med+ finish. Lemon, Lime, petrol a watery; flavors lacking concentration of the best quality.
A good wine, with traditional flavors and structure of Clare Valley - so exactly what I was training for. But lacks concentration and complexity of flavors. But a nice wine

5/14/2020 - codysak wrote:

light lemon
N: Peach, Pear, Ripe stone fruit. sorry for this one; used french fry oil. Not in a bad way, but I can't place aroma.
P: High acid, med- body/alcohol, m+ intensity of flavors, peach, pear, wet stones, lemon.
It's ok. Sorry, rushing to pair with chicken and rice. Should go nicely. Nice fresh wine, nothing special

5/14/2020 - codysak Does not like this wine:

Deep Ruby
N: Medium+ intensity of overwhelming white pepper, slight gamey/meatiness, dark red fruit
P: black cherry, meat/bacon fat, earth, but overt white pepper throwing everything out of balance; in my opinion.
Not sure if this will improve with time
technically - Med + intensity of flavors as stated above, M acid, m+ tannins, m+ body/alcohol.
Lacks complexity/depth of flavors, white pepper(rotundone) is just overwhelming
Sorry - tasting is not technically sound, but the wine just threw me

5/8/2020 - codysak wrote:

pale lemon
medium intensity of aroma(not proper glassware, but..)
medium intensity of flavors, medium+ acid, medium alcohol, medium body, medium finish. Basic flavors of stone fruit, white flowers, a bit candied fruit. simple sav blanc, modern style of ripe fruit. Nothing interesting, but well made.
Good wine, reasonable price point.
I believe it is doing very well it's trying to do. Inexpensive, craft style wine that just makes it in to this category

5/8/2020 - codysak Likes this wine:

pale lemon; slight oily viscosity
medium intensity of aroma of flowers of jasmine and honeysuckle. Fruits of ripe lemon, tangerine, nectarine. No evidence of oak.
palate is medium+ intensity, medium + acid, dry, medium- alcohol, medium- body. Flavors fruit is more slightly underripe and pithy flavors mainly due to the elevated acid and lighter body. Finish is medium+
It's a very nice wine or very good quality. It lacks complexity of aromas and flavors, but I believe it's meant to be "simple" in a good way.
I like the slight oiliness which give the impression of a greater body, but a light fresh wine.

93 is a bit optimistic for this wine, but must match a subjective preference of TL which is wonderful to find stylistic preferences at such a nice price point.

I too enjoy the wine, but technically it's not a 93 point wine

5/5/2020 - codysak Likes this wine:

S: pale lemon with a oily, weighted viscocity
N: Still a bit too chilled, but medium intensity of leesy, creaminess(explaining the viscocity), lemon, honey, yellow apple
P: wowzy! high acid. medium body(maybe M+), medium alcohol. Acid does a nice job of keeping the lees linear and tight for a very fresh wine. Flavor intensity is medium +, but simple flavors same as nose. A lingering finish. Consider a Chablis with slightly riper fruit and lees stirring. No oak to keep it fresh.

A very good quality wine with fresh intense flavors and aromas, but lacking complexity of better examples. What I would expect and enjoy from a Solutre.

6/4/2019 - codysak Likes this wine:

As always, quality Carneros chardonnay.
Lean, well balance thanks to a bit of malo, judicious lees, and lighter new hungarian oak.
citrus, creme fraise, yellow apple, spice. lingering finish with bright med+ acidity.
med+ to high alcohol but not hot, just body.

5/12/2019 - codysak wrote:

S: Clear, deep ruby core with medium staining
N: Clean, medium+ intensity or red cherries, cloves, cocoa, black cherries, plums, prunes. Fruit is bright, but jammy. Appears a light use new oak aromas or cloves, baking spices.
P: Dry, medium acid, medium + alcohol and body. Tannins are not a intense as I would have expected at med to barely medium+; texture is fine grained. Possibly the fine grain texture is down playing the tannins as the structure is there.
Fruit is dark jammy fruit, almost raisinated like. Plums, prunes, black cherries, black currant, spice. Finish is medium+. I don't get a sense of new oak on the palate, but I do believe there was maturation in barrique.
This is a good to very good wine based on style of jammy, heavy dark fruit. The balance between jammy fruit and acid is ok as it does not feel flabby, but the jammy fruit intensity is just barely kept fresh. The alcohol is not hot and adds nice body, but the wine is primary dark fruit, so lacks the complexity of better examples. The finish is med+ of the jammy, raisin fruit that is fresh but not vibrant.
The wine can age a few more years, but I do not believe it will improve with time.

5/10/2019 - codysak wrote:

Pale Ruby. Bright.
On the nose medium intensity of masculine style of Pinot Noir. Savory, smoke, red cherry, raspberry.
Palate matches the nose with med acid, could be med. + but not lean a more round style. Good balance and integration of oak, acid and fruit to delivery smoke, spicy qualities but not disjointed. Medium+ intensity of flavors, but lacks concentration and complexity of better examples.
Ripe, fine tannin structure could improve with age but there are better examples for the price point

5/7/2019 - codysak wrote:

Provence style. Strawberries, mineral, freah acid. Lean, but refreshing. short finish, lacks concentration and complexity but decent

4/25/2019 - codysak wrote:

Pale Lemon with green reflections. Clean, watery. light tears.
On the nose - clean, pronounced aromas of lemon zest, grapefruit pith, grass, straw, acacia, hawthorne. "Pithy" citrus and grassiness stand out on this wine
On the palate - dry, high acidity, medium alcohol, m- body, finish is long, pronounced flavors matching the nose.
This is a good to very good wine truly dependent on your style. The aromas, flavors and acid are all "dialed up" which to me throws the balance off as a wine that is "screaming" out you. Which some folks may love.
Technically - a very good wine. Great complexity of intense aromas and flavors of fruit, flowers, straw/grass, and some stone fruits. The wine finishes long with lingering flavors and puckering tartness which to me throws the wine a bit out of balance like eating a sour patch kid.
A well made wine that could be polarizing

4/25/2019 - codysak Likes this wine:

M+ Intensity of aromas of fruit cocktail - juicy pear, apricot, melon, lemon peel. No petrol.
On the palate, M+ intensity matching the nose with pronounced acidity supporting the juicy, ripe stone and tropical fruits. Alcohol is properly medium, but feels light an med-. The wine is dry with med body.
This is a very good wine with great balance of lively acidity and fruit. Excellent complexity of stone, citrus, and tropical fruits intermingled with wet stone, chalk, and some spice. The finish is nice, but could be a bit longer.
The wine will improve with some bottle age, but doesn't appear to be meant for long aged life.

4/24/2019 - codysak Likes this wine:

Medium gold, clean, viscous with heavy staining.
On the nose pronounced intensity of candied apricots, dried pears, ginger, honeysuckle with a bit of oxidized, nuttiness qualities. A bit of petrol, but very light adding to the complexity not distracting.
On the palate bright acidity, medium-sweet pronounced flavors with a long sweet finish with a slight bitter back palate. Again, not distracting but adding to complexity in a positive way.
Palate as the nose, but adding marmalade, pineapple, increased nuttiness. Still dried stone and tropical fruits.
This is an outstanding wine with great complexity of intense dried fruits, botrytis, and flowers. Finished long and well balanced, intense fruit a sweetness with ample acidity to keep this SGN vibrant and intense. A wonderfully long finish with weighty, polished textures adding to the experience.
This wine is drinking nicely now, but should age well as the sugar, acid and fruit backbone are still lively and fresh.

4/24/2019 - codysak wrote:

M+ Intensity on the nose of ginger, honey, lychee and rose. Very classic Gewurtztraminer, but not overwhelmingly perfumed.
On the palate m+ acid with same notes as nose, but adding marmalade, pineapple, and chamomile. The wine is starting to exhibit resinous and dried notes adding to the complexity. The medium-dry sweet adds to the long finish with a nice lingering ginger spice and sweet tropical fruits.
A very good example of a late harvest Gewurtz which will most likely become outstanding with a bit more age as the complexity could be slightly better and has the structure, flavor intensity, and body to age well adding tertiary aromas which are just starting the peak out.

4/24/2019 - codysak Does not like this wine:

Medium gold with slight viscous quality.
Nose is muted with simple aromas of honey, pear.
On the palate, flavor intensity are a bit better than the nose but still nothing intense, interesting, or complex. Overwhelming flavors of honey, slight heat. Acid is M+ keeping this wine fresh and vibrant, but finished just medium with simple flavors matching the nose. The wine is medium-dry to medium sweet, but may appear less sweet thanks to the acid.
An acceptable example of a late harvest pinot gris with a nice balance of sweetness, freshness, and simple botrytis and stone fruit flavors. Unfortunately, it falls short on complexity flavors, length finish, and intensity could be better. This wine could improve with age as it has the acid structure with RS body.

Tasted at Riquewihr

4/7/2019 - codysak wrote:

The nose exhibits medium+ intensity of candied cherries, chocolate covered cherries, vanilla, sandalwood, juicy raspberries, and cola.
On the palate the acidity is medium, medium, body, and medium ripe/fine tannins. Flavors match the nose with the oak flavors well balanced/integrated with the candied primary red fruits.
This wine finished short.
A good representation of a new world Pinot Noir, but lacks complexity of non-fruit flavors such as earth, savoriness, or char/smoke typical of better examples. This wine has a nice concentration of primary red fruit and well integrated new french oak flavors, but lacks in finish and back palate lingering flavors delivered with outstanding quality PN.
There is great wine making here. Nice finesse, no bitterness, great balance of oak with the sensitivity of PN.
The tannin and acid structure does not lead me to believe this will age long, but could improve a bit over the next few year (2-5).

4/7/2019 - codysak wrote:

The wine looks star=bright, medium ruby with medium legs. let's see where the glycerol takes me.
The nose is medium intensity of primary red fruit and a horsey/game aroma. Not picking up much else.
On the palate the wine is candied cherry , slight strawberry & juciy cranberry, not tart. The game and horsey-ness is still throw it off more me. It has a medium body, medium fine tannin (almost medium-) and ar round. The wine finishes short with medium intensity of primary fruit and brett.
This is an average to good wine showing juicy primary red fruits, but the balance is thrown off by the horsey-ness. The complexity is lacking delivery only primary simple, yet nice, juicy red fruit. The finish is short and intensity is medium.

3/10/2019 - codysak wrote:

The wine is medium ruby with medium legs. Slight rim variation to a pale ruby/borderline garnet("brickiness").
The nose is clean, with a medium intensity of cherries, forest floor, red current, coffee, and hint sandlewood. Unfortunately, a green/stemi-ness in my option throws this wine out of balance for a sangiovese; both on the nose and palate.
The wine is medium+ intensity, medium+ acid and high tannins that are grippy, but fine.
The body is medium with medium+ alcohol.
Good/Ok with too much greeness which is not an integrated herbaceousness quality; possibly too much vigour from August rains or early picking...
Not my favorite and technically just a good wine as it lacks complexity and balance.

3/10/2019 - codysak Likes this wine:

My notes may be biased as I have been a fan of Curt(Sans Liege).

The wine is deep ruby with a no rim variation and pronounced legs.
On the nose the wine is clean with a medium+ intensity of candied cherries, red current, blackberries, cloves, vanilla, plums, white flowers, blueberries, kirsch and cola.
On the palate the wine is dry with and medium+ intensity of ripe juicy fruits balanced with hints of secondary wood aromas. The texture is silky with medium acidity, medium+ ripe fine grained tannin with high alcohol and medium+ body. The alcohol does not come across as hot, but well integrated with the candied fruit and judicious use of new oak, providing a nice body and long finish.
This is a very good wine with a large palate of juicy, candied fruit with enough acid structure keep them fresh and lively while balancing the elevated alcohol nicely. A very approachable, round and long finish. The wine should improve in 2-3 years, but does not appear to be meant for long aging.
The

3/10/2019 - codysak wrote:

Dry, Pale Lemon
On the nose the wine is clean with a medium+ intensity of grapefruit rinds, ripe peach & pear aromas with a hint straw/hay. Lacking green peppers, flint or zesty citrus aromas, leading to a warmer new world.
On the palate the wine is technically medium+ acidity, but feels almost cloying with the ripe stone fruit and lacking much else. It's a well made wine with a focus on clean, primary fruit which is does a great job of.
The finish is medium with medium intensity of flavors.
This is a good wine with a nice balance of primary fruit and enough acidity to keep the wine fresh and enjoyable, but will not improve with age.

3/10/2019 - codysak wrote:

Bone dry, medium salmon, rose. Small, robust bubbles
On the nose the wine has pronounced aromas of dried cherries, strawberries, hint of red currant. Nice layering of yeast, bread, saline, and lemon zest with the fruit.
On the palate the wine has a medium plus intensity with fine bubbles and exhibits same flavors on the palate as the nose. The finish is long with a savory, lemon zest on the finish.
This is a very good rose champagne with a great balance of a fruit, acidity, and fine bubbles. The complexity of flavors should improve this well made rose champagne the exhibits elegance, refinement, and the structure to age.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

N: Fragrant strawberry and rose petals. Fresh young and feminine.
P: Fresh, under ripe strawberries, light peppery tones, with nice acidity.
Light sense of minerality/crushed rocks.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Nice wine.
Very un-Zin like. Fresh ripe blue and red fruits, not jammy, but full fruit.
Light dill and coconut that nicely integrated.

This wine is fun, yet a mature Zin.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Nice wine.

Bright ruby core. Vibrant color.
Dark red fruit, raspberry, tart cherry, slight pencil led/graphite, ripe strawberries. Elegant, fresh acidity with good structure.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Nice wine. Excellent balance.
Fresh acidity with ripe stone fruits. Nice creaminess sur lie.
Light toast/baking spices, but well balanced

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Wine is ok. Nothing special, but of quality. Traditional domestic style.
Ripe fruit or citrus, oak, baking spices with a creamy mouth feel. Not buttery, but creamy more leesy. maybe a bit of ML. medium acid, so not flabby but not crisp.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Very nice wine.
Fresh floral nose of violets and strawberry blossoms. Crushed rocks.
Similar palate/taste of strawberry, dried cherries, vanilla, dried leather, tar.
Well balanced of alcohol, tannins, acid, fruit and non fruits

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Didn't care for this wine. Not much fruit - under ripe/bitter cherries and eucalyptus. High acid and bitterness dominated this wine

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Candied cherry, vanilla, baking spices, dried prunes. Silky mouth feel with medium + acidity.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Wonderful complexity on the nose and taste. Salty, toasty, earthy, dried stone fruits, ripe apples. Great intensity of aromas.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Backbone and structure with earth and mushrooms. Secondary ripe yellow apples and saline. Dry with a complex and lengthy finish. My pick for a champagne to age.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Baked apples almost sweet, but with a phenolic bitterness. Soft, creamy texture, but not elegant. Fleshy almost rose in style. Ok, but not worth the $100.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Nose of ripe, fresh red apples, sense of minerality, and light toast. Taste of fresh red apples, baking spices, medium + acid. Tart green apple finish. Nice freshness. Crisp medium finish. Weighty structure and backbone. Easily hold up to richer foods.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Nose of dried apples, light toast, an chalk. Short finish, lacks elegance, sharp structure and mouthfeel. Lacks elegance with firm structure and overripe and bruised red apples. light toast.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Rich style. Ripe red apples, red fruit almost like a light rose. Light toast, weighty mouthfeel, but short finish. Good structure, dry, nice red fruit, but short finish left it empty

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Nose of toast, saline, and dried banana. Taste the same with saline, green apples and ripe banana. I enjoyed the saline/saltines and light toast, but the banana was distracting.

3/20/2016 - codysak wrote:

Bruised apple, bruised pear. Lack crisp, tart finish. More oxidized style. slight yeasty, toasty finish with creamy mouthfeel. Dry with average length finish.

3/20/2016 - codysak Likes this wine:

Mild toast and baking spices. dried yellow apple, stone fruit with secondary tropical fruits and creamy mouthfeel. Very ripe style. Dry but not crisp sharp finish, must have some ML. Nice, newer world style.

3/20/2016 - codysak Likes this wine:

Still too young. Traditional Bordeaux style: Tannins are tight and drying. Medium + acid with sense of minerality. primary black current, sage, anise. Secondary dried prunes and crushed rocks.

10/23/2015 - codysak Likes this wine:

Garnet core to ruby reflection on the rim; starting to show a very slight bit of age. silky viscosity with large, slow legs.
Fresh, youthful nose of ripe cherry, cola, a bit of cloves and spice. Hint of blueberry with all fruits fresh and lively.
Great mouthfeel; silky. Fresh ripe cherries, blueberries, a bit of truffle, cola, spice. The finish has a slight bit of astrigency. Not sure if it's the alcohol heat? A bit off at this time.
Still a very nice wine. Juicy, not drying, but the finish misses a bit.

9/7/2015 - codysak wrote:

Nose of bright candied, dry strawberry & cherries. Strong green notes; as I just finished some picking - reminds me of stems... yes stems.
Taste: the greeness hits me again. Drying tannin, tar, dried cherries. Acid/tannin and stems rule the palate.
Very surprised the ratings. With age the acid & tannins will mellow, but the greeness is not a virtue

9/20/2014 - codysak wrote:

Barnyard or brett on the nose, but in a good way. Additionally, sour cherry and cinnamon.
Palate I'm hit with green vegetables. M+ Acidity, M Alcohol, M complexity. Finish is a bit dry, medium, slight tannic.
Although the greenness is slight, It's my least favorite characteristic.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle. It smells like mushroom, cherry, pomegranate, cranberry, sandalwood, cinnamon, clove, rose, violet, green olive and bell pepper.