5/4/2024 - Michigan Mostberg wrote:

From 375ml. Upon opening opening, is EXTREMELY floral/violet with pronounced acetate nose upon opening (smells just like my wife's nail polish remover). Remarkably, MOST blows-off over 30 min with just a hint of volativity remaining. All that said, this could be delicious after 5-10 yrs in the bottle.

4/26/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Spicy nose, medium bodied, ample black cherry. An elegant finish, perfect for poultry or lighter fish dishes.

4/19/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

From past experience with this wine, decanted tonight's bottle thru a Vinturi aerator and... I'm all-in on this rustic Howell Mtn Petite Syrah! Dark, dense bramble with hints at green tea. Quite drying on the finish, but accompanied by black fruit. DEFINITELY a food wine, grilled burgers and hash browns tonight. Judging by the structure, this wine will not improve, but could stay here for another 7-10 yrs!

4/8/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Great nose doesn't deliver on the palate tonight. Could easily be compromised taste buds.

4/2/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hr. Deep cherry and anise nose. Soft and silky black cherry palate, slightly drying finish. I like this wine sooner rather than later.

3/24/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

SILKY dark cherry, finish suggests drinking now. A filet wine vs NY strips or ribeyes.

3/24/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Lemon, stone, and mineral for days and days, almost to an extreme. Avoid serving too cold, as I may have done. As-is, needs another year or 2 to settle down.

3/22/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Right where I love BTF pinots, usually at 5-7 yrs old. Has gained a good amount of body and is showing ample spice while retaining some red fruit notes, especially on the nose. Still perfectly balanced, can't ask for much more and would drink over the next 2 yrs. Last bottle of a case, 1 magnum left.

3/11/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

2.5hr decant from 750ml. Dark spice and cherry nose. Beautiful opaque crimson color, no browning gradient to rim. Packed with black cherry and dark plum, a tiny hint of cedar. Can go another 5 yrs at this level before entering its wonderful tertiary twilight.

3/2/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

I love drinking perfectly cellared and wonderfully crafted Napa Valley chardonnay beyond its normal peak drinking window. Beautiful acidity to carry the ample honeyed melon, pear, and oaky vanilla with a relatively crisp, clean finish devoid of lingering tertiary notes. Obviously in its golden years, but will drink wonderfully for another 5 yrs, if you're into excellent old CA chardonnay.

2/25/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Judiciously working through 50 2015-2019 BTF magnums currently in our cellar, tonight's pictured here. Cherry for days without presenting as overly bright or one-dimensional, elegantly supported by a thin layer of light pepper and spice. As are all BTF wines, excluding the 2019 House Pinor Noir, this wine is in perfect balance. This format would've easily extended the wine's middle-aged drinking pleasure for another 4-5 years before showing darker pinot notes, which I'd also very much welcome from such a well-crafted wine... cock-a-doodle-doo to the last bottle of BTF 2016 Sunnyside.

2/22/2024 - Michigan Mostberg wrote:

From magnum (see pic)... again shows as herbaceous and peppery accented by an interesting hint of barnyard on the nose. Grippy black cherry and cranberry dominate with a nice touch of underlying sweet oak and vanilla. Still a somewhat drying finish. The love/hate relationship with this wine comes to an end.

2/4/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

As tasted last Christmas Eve.

1/26/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Still impressed by this wine as tasted/noted back on Christmas Eve of 2022, with literally zero change. That said, not my "go-to" style of wine anymore (have been LOVING Oregon pinot noir for the past 9 or 10 yrs), but it is perfectly balanced and fully supports its 15.6%. 5 cases of assorted Andremily wines to judiciously enjoy over the coming years.

1/11/2024 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Very young. Lighter bodied with a load of red cherry and pomegranate, short finish. I don't get the 93 pt WS rating, but that's not my game.

12/31/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

As tasted in July, just a notch better.

12/24/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Very dark crimson. Almost acetone nose subsided to extremely floral/lavender after 2 hrs. Dark cherry and milk chocolate notes on the finish. More advanced than expected.

12/24/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Another beautiful bottle. Tons of red apple and a fair amount of grilled lemon in this wine followed by a hint of salinity, all backed by great acidity. Nothing creamy, mushy or soft going on here. I don't want a steady diet of older sparkling wine (I think 27 yrs qualifies as old for CA bubbly), but I do love and appreciate them.

12/18/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

From magnum, last BTF wine from this now discontinued vineyard in any varietal or format. Brown at the edges, slightly cloudy appearance. Fairly intense nose, wonderful dark fruit and tea. Am struggling between "lithe" and "light" for mouthfeel, but definitely a longer and more satisfying finish after 90 minutes of opening vs. initial 30 min impressions.

12/4/2023 - Michigan Mostberg wrote:

From magnum. Tasted upon opening, then with ham casserole dinner 90 min later. Decent cherry and clove nose, thin bodied with relatively short finish, everything else just "medium" and unnoteworthy. Balanced, but very uninspiring, even after 4hrs. Not sure what the deal was tonight after thoroughly enjoying 750ml bottles of this wine 3 yrs ago with noted upside potential, maybe an off day for the taster.

11/29/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Loved this wine. Very drinkable right now, will continue to improve. No detailed notes.

11/26/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Thin and a little underwhelming. May need more time in the bottle, but not sure if there's enough underlying fruit to support meaningful development. Matte01 and NFMDS pretty much captured this wine.

11/30/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

From magnum. As described on the reverse label, dusky and packed with cherry and blackberry. Not as heavy as the nose would suggest, though a long, slightly soft finish. Have always been a huge fan of this wine. This bottle would've easily held here for 3 or 4 more years.

12/1/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

From magnum, 1-hr decant. Dark and savory, clean and pure with good grip, lighter bodied with medium-length finish. I prefer to drink this now rather than later, though our magnum would've easily held here for another 3-4 years, and been very enjoyable for 2 or 3 more.

11/23/2023 - Michigan Mostberg wrote:

Didn't realize I'd pulled one of these just 4 months ago... another terrific bottle, opened and poured into glasses 2 hrs before Thanksgiving dinner. Perfect drinking now and will continue to be great for 2-4 more years. The producer of Napa's premier pinot noir.

11/12/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Cork crumbled. Decanted 3 hrs. Perfect balance of medium dark cherry fruit, anise, and a hint of vanilla. Will easily hold here for 5 yrs, but no need to wait.

10/23/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Opaque ruby color, singularly dark dark plum nose. Not rich or oaky, showing perfectly balanced black fruit and a refreshing touch of green tannins. I'm drinking these now, but plenty of life left to suit your taste/purpose over the next 5 yrs.

10/22/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

The most impressive showing of any BTF Funk Estate Vyd Syrah I've tried. Asian spices and white peppery, stemmy nose. Dark plum fruit accented by a hint of green peppers, perfectly resting on slightly drying tannins. No suggestion of bloody, roasted, or scorched meat. This bottle suggests another 2 yrs at this level.

10/16/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Crazy, maybe embarrassing(?), how solid I find most of these Marilyn Merlot wines to be, especially as they get older. Drink over the next 3-5 yrs, or wait for 5-15 more if you want to explore the limits.

10/10/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Wonderful kiwi and peach, nicely rounded edges with enough fresh acidity to thwart flab or richness from creeping in.

10/10/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

As tasted almost 2 yrs ago, but less enamored with its one-dimensional, rustic nature. Would guess Southern Rhone if tasted blind. Not a sipper, but demands food. That said, I think more time in the decanter would've allowed this wine to fully show its stuff.

10/7/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Beautiful dense, ruby color. Cedary, cigar box and dark cherry nose. Perfect secondary medium dark fruit, slightly spicy and grippy finish. In a great spot right now, imagine it wiil remain here for 3-5 yrs. Really a pleasant surprise!

9/29/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

PLENTY to like in this wine! Beautiful red cherry, Asian spice and green tea nose and palate, wonderfully balanced. Graceful and lighter-bodied, am excited to follow this young wine over the next 4-6 yrs.

9/28/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Well said by previous reviewer, MARKCIC. The nose is 100% dark and penetrating cherry. Enough fruit, spice, and non-drying grip for another 2 yrs without becoming tertiary, though no reason to hold.

9/24/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

From magnum (see cellar pic)... taking the time to write tasting notes can be so intrusive to the experience yet can be an invaluable reference. Sentiments of 33 months ago (from 750ml) are reinforced as this wine just never came around. I do like the wine, but I know it is capable of so much more.

9/18/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

As tasted in Jan and Feb. Easily 3 more yrs at this incredible level.

9/15/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Very purple, opaque, quite medium bodied. Plenty of juicy blackberry and dark plum fruit, already very soft without being fat or flabby. Tasty, but not a serious Howell Mountain wine IMHO, certainly not worth cellaring for more than a year or 2, and certainly not worth the $100+ price tag.

8/19/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Wish I hadn't opened this btl so soon after April's tasting note for this wine. Nothing has changed while remaining so beautifully dark, spicy, and graceful with ample fruit and structure to carry it for another couple of years. That said, while no hurry, other than nostaligia (which I fully endorse), no reason to wait.

8/17/2023 - Michigan Mostberg wrote:

From magnum. Corked.

7/31/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

As noted 2 yrs ago, an even bigger WOW factor tonight. The stone fruit, saline, and minerality are out front and prominently support the delicious lemon/honeysuckle fruit. I still perceive an intriguing and appealing underlayment of toasty oak on the finish. Am a big fan of this!

7/30/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Extremely green PnP profile, requires a modest 15-20 min patience. Packed with black raspberry and Asian spice, stops short of being peppery. A tiny but noticeable hint of Rhone bloodiness or roasty notes on the nose after 45min, not at all found on the palate. A balanced grip, thinking this will be GREAT for another year or 2.

7/29/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Delicious spiciness and dark cherry, perfectly balanced. At early peak, 3-5 years at this level.

7/21/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

As tasted 5 months ago. A truly superb effort from California's premier sparkling wine producer.

7/21/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Excellent Washington/Columbia Valley GSM. Super dense purple color. 8 yrs on, WS description still nails this wine. Packed with melded blackberry, black cherry, and a lesser amt of licorice. Enough acidity to easily hold here 3-5 more yrs. Perfect with upscale burgers tonight.

7/20/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

The pinnacle of balance and intensity for northern California pinot noir is in the glass... clove, white pepper, dark (not quite black) cherry, grip, and finish. Never thick, lush, or overtly extracted and oaked, El Molino's Rutherford AVA PNs have the structure to last for years without betraying the varietal.

7/14/2023 - Michigan Mostberg wrote:

Beautiful Napa Valley merlot! Presents as 3-5 yrs younger than its age tonight. Strong anise and pepper nose, just short of penetrating now, definitely in its secondary stage. Picks up grippy black cherry on the medium-bodied palate. Typically very underrated stuff!

7/11/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Beautiful medium gold color, toasty citrus nose and palate, weirdly nice saline richness. Perfect now with cilantro lime salmon.

7/10/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Penetrating nose and palate of sage, clove, and almost fennel. Cherry fruit on a very drying, grippy, and quite pleasing finish. Unique and wonderful now, before tannins overtake the fruit.

7/8/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Agree with most recent tasting notes, but am not equally wowed with the result. Does this really taste like Howell Mountain? All high(er)-end Hall cabs lose their identity as they eventually intersect on their respective maturity curves. At some point, they're all delicious, but heavy, sweetish, and non-distinctive.

6/8/2023 - Michigan Mostberg Likes this wine:

Almost 5 yrs on from BDC's review, I couldn't agree more on all fronts, especially the insightful comparison to the late, great Kent Rosenblum, a fellow Gustavus Adolphus College (that's in MN!) alum, bottling from this vineyard. Definitely big, but not bold, now maintaining its balance and elegance.