4/13/2014 - bearsfan wrote:

What a wine. Leather, herbs, spices, bit of black currant and bell pepper. Finish that dances on and on. Great acidity. At 20 likely not improving but should hold strong. Medium+ acidity. Medium body. Profound aromatics. More of a bdx style than CA which is likely why I like it so much. A really really nice old world style. This site (mount eden) never fails to impress.

2/22/2013 - bearsfan wrote:

Showing well and should get better. Looking forward to opening over the next 2-4 years and finding out!

2/20/2013 - bearsfan wrote:

Consistent experience with the prior bottle and unfortunately not the first bottle.

12/22/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Beautiful brunello from this consistently top notch producer. Truffles, earthy, great balance. A hybrid of sorts, with mostly traditional elements but well executed subtleties of modern comes together beautifully. Drinking well now in this difficult vintage. Tough to keep these cellared!

11/10/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Not nearly as good as the prior bottle as the complexity wasn't there. Not sure if this is in an age funk or what. Good thing I have a couple more and I'll keep drinking one per year to see how/if they evolve as expected (they really should!).

9/29/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Spectacular cool climate Old World style, which I favor.

8/6/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

This was a impressive showing. Even better on Day 2. While high in alcohol, it's very well integrated. Not overly ripe and juicy and had good complexity with some old world elements shining through. Last bottle and while it certainly could've waited a year, I don't regret drinking it now!

4/4/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Much preferred it a year ago. May be past prime.

3/31/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Superb. Everything is in tune right now - deep color, earth, herbs and well integrated oak and alcohol. Really glows of the well aged mountain fruit.

3/7/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

This was lovely and balanced despite the 14+ abv. Subtle fruits, ample minerality, good acid and a touch of oak. Agree with others that at least 60 minute decant is needed to get it going.

3/6/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Is this a Kabinett? Seemed more like a later harvest Riesling. Was very very sweet and had little to no acid notes.

2/25/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Drinking very well now. Oak is very much integrated and fruit is subdued. More of a French than CA style, which usually suits me better.

2/24/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

fantastic white. great blend with terrific mineral and fruit balance.

2/18/2012 - bearsfan wrote:

Terrific, more earth than fruit, less ripe, lower (but not as low as I'd like) alcohol. Closer to the real deal (Burg) that you'll get in CA.

11/11/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Such a different experience than the last bottle. This wine was completely boring.

11/4/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

This is an exceptional and unique wine. Amazing combo of menthol, cherry and earth. Cement curated (no wood/oak whatsoever) really and all natural (naturally occurring yeast) really shine through in this unrefined, unfiltered gem. Really something every wine lover (especially old world wine lover) should try.

10/28/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Fantastic SB. Round, crisp yet creamy with melons, apples, vanilla and minerals. Drinking wonderfully now but should have legs for a few more years.

10/19/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Strangely this was much more alcohol forward that the bottle I had 18 months ago. While the time helped other elements, the balance was way off. Not sure these wine have the stones to be held (which makes sense given the decidedly CA bombing style). I have one more bottle and will give it another 18 months to test.

9/4/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Very nice, loved the integrated spice box and oak with enough subtle fruit to make me want more. Didn't have the highest expectations so I was happily surprised!

8/24/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Wow. First time with Cobb and while this is a great vintage for the region, this wine is a terrific example of CA pinot made in a traditional Burgundy style (the terrior certainly helps - very much a true Sonoma Coast). Still young and takes a couple hours to get going, displays layers of complexity, minerality & earthiness & good subtle fruit. After about 3 hours it's really humming (after about 30 minutes it wasn't). Am glad I have more as I'll let them sit for a couple more years. If you drink now, open it at last a few hours prior to drinking. This has the stones to last for a number of years.

8/21/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Drink very well now. Great balance of earth, subtle fruit, mellow tannins and ever so slight oak. This was my only bottle, but wish I had more.

8/6/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Fantastic and unique pinot grigio with a reddish hue (one of a few producers doing skin contact with pg), smooth, balanced with enough crispness. Not rich at all. Could've drank this all night (and day) long!

8/6/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Did a vertical with the 2001 and the '03 is showing better now (but the '01 will blow it away in a few years). Solid, solid wine in a challenging vintage - which speaks to Fuligni quality. I'd drink now and over the next couple years as it's humming and should be for the next couple years.

8/6/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Still needs time as it was much tighter than I anticipated. Did a vertical with the 2003 and the '03 is showing better now but the '01 will blow it away in a few years. Tobacco, earth, well integrated light oak, but still decent tannins. And color was red with orange rim, so it's got a while to go to get to that yummie brown...

7/28/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Top notch. Hard to beat this..stone fruit, honey, every sips begets the next. Loved it.

7/15/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

So my last bottle must have been flawed as this one was killer -- smooth, berry, fairly well rounded, but seemed to get slightly less better with air, which was strange. Thinking then it's time to drink and likely would've been better couple years ago...

5/31/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Loads of berries with integrated tannins and only subtle oak. Some, earth but not enough (hence the score not being higher, but I can certainly see how it could be!).

5/28/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Golden straw, much better balance of butter and oak than in years past. Definitely a CA style chard and a very good one.

5/27/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Much better Sea Smoke experience than the last - which was about a month ago same vintage but Southing bottling (which was borderline undrinkable due to the heat, bitterness, etc) - as this wine was well integrated, showing all the positives of age and it's definitely drinking very well now.

4/23/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Consistent notes from last time. Great wine.

4/9/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

MUCH better than the last bottle.

3/26/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Excellent PR CA Rhone red in a very modern style, gets better and better after air. Drink up.

2/16/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Had a rather strange experience with this and don't know quite what to make of it (please send me a note if you've had a similar encounter): decanted for three hours and then had first glass - great beginning and middle but the finish was harsh - burning, gritty, salty and hot, almost unbearable (certainly unpleasant). Didn't abate even with food. But on Day 2 - essentially 24 hours after first glass - was worlds better and not bad at all (in fact reasonably good, but not the wine it should be). Based upon all the comments and reviews and even a call to the winery, it shouldn't have taken that long to open up, so maybe I had an off bottle. Will refrain from reviewing as I have one more left and will try it later in the year.

1/23/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

Couldn't agree more with the previous note. I think I waited too long as deep fruits are powering through, nearly port-like. Feeling like I waited a year or two too long.

1/14/2011 - bearsfan wrote:

No complexity, no depth, almost rose like (which would've been okay if were supposed to be a rose!). Couldn't even finish one glass

10/30/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Sort of sharp off the top, almost a bit abrasive, even after sitting for a bit. Nothing memorable here - didn't find myself really enjoying it and wanting more.

9/4/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Better on day 3 than on day 1. While I usually love Matt's wines, this one was good but not great.

8/28/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Very good well aged (and aging) cab. Don't have much experience drinking cab when it's supposed to be had (10-20+ yrs), but this was great. My benchmarks are Italian barolos and brunellos with age, which cannot be beat. But, this cab is close.

8/14/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Not as memorable as the previous bottle; has plenty of life remaining. Day 3 was a bit disappointing

7/26/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Completely uninspiring given expectation (perhaps that was part of the problem). Left me wanting much more

7/20/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Solid ME pinot but nothing memorable. Like the burg profile but almost too jammy.

1/31/2009 - bearsfan wrote:

One of the best white wines ever. Great combo leading with Chardonnay made and blend with some modern and traditional techniques and varietals. Expensive for a white, but well worth splurging on.

7/15/2008 - bearsfan wrote:

Beautiful, smooth traditional expression of barolo from a fantastic producer. Can't wait to drink the sibling from the sister vineyard which should be stellar.

5/1/2008 - bearsfan wrote:

Terrific, authentic red from Sardinia indigenous grape. Could drink time and time again. Rich, tannic but wonderful and traditional Italian, which is hard to beat.

8/1/2009 - bearsfan wrote:

Great, slightly modern decently aged Barolo. Smooth drank prior to a '97 reserve cab and it out-shined. Can't wait to drink more over the years. If only it were in a more traditional style...

11/30/2009 - bearsfan wrote:

Unbelievable. LC does it again. Impressive today and will likely continue to develop. Love this wine.

2/10/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Stellar white wine with amazing SB notes with lots of finesse. Wish I had more but will definitely keep the other bottles for a couple years and see how they do as they should so well. ME does great with SB.

3/22/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Great CA char. Big but not overwhelming. Tough to keep around but may be even better with a couple years.

3/26/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Wanted this to be better than it was so was disappointed. But, was still great BDM characteristic of the vintage and tough to find as it was recently purchased. Good experience of drinking an aged (15 year old) BDM in a place where it should be consumed. Good but great experience (although score indicates that it wasn't top notch for the age / quality).

5/8/2010 - bearsfan wrote:

Really special. LC rocks and Rising Tides is one of Matt's best. This was a bomb and very, very enjoyable.