7/24/2023 - sachsen wrote:

bretty

5/14/2023 - sachsen Does not like this wine:

Very disappointing. Looking over the reviews, clearly someone is drinking the Kool-Aid, which this resembled far closer than anything I'd consider a balanced wine.

2/10/2023 - sachsen wrote:

Wow, this was surprisingly imcredible. Cut through the spice of our habanero hot wing dinner. Didn't look at the reviews/ratings before choosing the bottle, but they are spot on for this youngster!

1/21/2023 - sachsen wrote:

Beautiful spice box flavors; an incredible surprise how well this aged and held up!

11/30/2022 - sachsen wrote:

NR--flawed bottle.

11/19/2022 - sachsen wrote:

Incredibly bretty.

10/7/2022 - sachsen wrote:

Honestly, this could go another 5-10 years minimum before being over the hill for me. 92 at a minimum with 1-2 points upside for possible graceful aging.

9/26/2022 - sachsen Likes this wine:

I hesitate to rate this any higher, but it was stunning with about 30 mins of air and the initial funk blew off. Even at first pour, there was still fruit, but it only got better through the next 90 mins rather than fading out (as I would have expected).

9/25/2022 - sachsen wrote:

Oxidized. 0 for 2 in successive days, both from Envoyer. Will try the last bottle very soon and report my impressions.

5/19/2022 - sachsen wrote:

A bit pruney for our taste. Past bottles showed much better.

5/17/2022 - sachsen wrote:

Slightly bretty. Still drinkable, but holding off on rating a slightly off bottle.

5/1/2022 - sachsen Likes this wine:

From 5.0l bottle. Beautiful red fruit and spice on the nose, quite tasty still. Held up through the evening as the large group of us took a few hours to finish.

1/30/2022 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Auction purchase. Still alive and well, surprisingly. Mature red fruit and spice. This isn't going to be holding up for a whole lot longer, but I'd estimate that well stored bottles have a couple of years of life left in them.

1/28/2022 - sachsen wrote:

Last bottle. Sadly somewhat marred with brett.

1/22/2022 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Gift from a fellow Berserker. Cork crumbled, so needed to use an aerator to catch the cork pieces. Tight at first, somewhat muted. Red cherry fruit emerged after 45-60 mins and continued to dominate throughout the course of the bottle. Was quite a special wine after 35 years from vintage. THANKS DAMON!!!

12/31/2021 - sachsen Likes this wine:

PnP and was quite good right away, but needs time. Kept improving as the night went on. We like Saxum at about 10 years from vintage date, so this was a bit early for us. 3 hours of air will get this to a good spot for the evening.

12/12/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Opened way too early, but clearly a well-made wine.

11/28/2021 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Oh to be able to try this next to a 2016 Marcassin chard....

6/18/2021 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Incredibly lush mouthfeel like no other I have had from a Viognier. Beautiful tropical fruits and acidity, even 5+ hours of being open. Wow...just wow!!!

6/12/2021 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Decanted nearly 60 mins to let the typical funky aroma to dissipate. Was quite nice, albeit VERY YOUNG. Had purchased 4 from a SoCal importer and was nervous about some of the early reviews. I will probably wait until 2023-24 to open the next bottle of this.

4/22/2021 - sachsen Likes this wine:

After 6 hours decanted, the tannins have settled down. Wine is still very primary but getting flowers (violet and lavender?) and cherry/strawberry flavors. This is going to age quite well! Hold until 2025 for the next bottle.

3/21/2021 - sachsen wrote:

Much better than last bottle, which in retrospect, must have been slightly flawed.

3/20/2021 - sachsen wrote:

Incredibly accessible and huge wine. With about 30 minutes of air, this was a drop-dead gorgeous wine.

3/12/2021 - sachsen wrote:

Wife and I differed in that I thought it was funky with barnyard and she thought it was lightly flawed. Was OK but didn't like enough to finish the bottle, esp. because the Mrs. didn't help out. Didn't check the notes here until the day after, and see a number of notes describing last night's wine.

1/10/2021 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Pineapple and other tropical fruits. Quite nice actually. 91-92

11/20/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

The last of three cases, just delicious over the past 12-18 months. At peak, but will last another 5 years. Cant wait for my Rancias to be ready!!!

10/3/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

A bit austere upon opening, but it was served too cold initially. Improved as it warmed and tropical fruit emerged.

9/10/2020 - sachsen wrote:

Wow, low expectations but this showed incredibly vibrant for its age. Bottle 1 of 4 from auction.

9/7/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Well past its peak, but not quite 100% dead yet. Earth and saddle flavors have long replaced the fruit profile, but still managed to hang onto it's dignity for 45 minutes before succumbing to fate.

4/19/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Beautiful approachable Bordeaux style wine. But at this price, why not go for the real thing? 92+

4/10/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Initially a bit tight, needed a good hour or so to open up. Quite delicious over the course of the evening. Drink now with air, or (preferably) hold.

3/28/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Marc Hochar recommends double decanting and serving at normal cellar temperature--not too cold. My first of six bottles, have to say we served too cold and this could use some time to unwind. HOLD or drink now with 2 hour double decant.

3/24/2020 - sachsen Likes this wine:

The wife and I have to agree with the previous reviewer. This is just a nice wine. I little heavy and full (we prefer wines with 15+ years of age) but still very enjoyable over the next two years. Very sad to have been introduced to this producer as they are retiring. I wish them well and continued health.

1/10/2020 - sachsen Does not like this wine:

Died a nasty death in the glass after a couple of minutes.

12/28/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

A well cared for bottle still has years to go.

10/6/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Great nose. Initial funky taste changed over 30-45 mins in the decanter. Drink or hold another few years.

9/25/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Still had a ton of life left. We like well aged cabs, and this showed about 10 years younger. OK to hold for another 5-10+ years.

7/7/2019 - sachsen wrote:

Outstanding bottle, needed 90 mins or more air to truly show its stuffing. This really smelled and tasted like a 10 year younger wine, a 2016 with primary blueberry, vanilla and spice dominant.

6/16/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine, toward the end, but well within it's drinking window.

6/16/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Still showed surprisingly young for its age. This could go on for several more years easily.

5/18/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Auction purchase. Quite a beautiful wine, holding up well--do not pay attention to drinking window. Drink now or over the next 5 years!

4/14/2019 - sachsen wrote:

Flawed

4/13/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Very nice, but tightly wound. This is one for a few years of aging.

3/29/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Nice bottle of wine once the funk blew off and it opened up (about 15 minutes).

3/23/2019 - sachsen wrote:

Flawed. I thought this was slightly corked, while two others thought it was slightly oxidized, but drinkable with more air.

3/18/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

500 ml bottle. Popped the cork and the smell of cedar box wafted about the room. Cork smelled of cedar, and wine's finish was cedary but blew off after 30-45 mins. Nice wine, pleasant but unspectacular. Really no need to hold much longer if this is representative of other sized bottles.

3/3/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Nose and mouthfeel were a bit austere upon opening, but both developed nicely over the next 90 minutes with air. Threw off quite a bit of sediment.

2/26/2019 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Definitely time to drink up. This well-stored bottle is the epiphany of a well made wine. Mostly leather with a bit of cigar box and pencil shavings, this far exceeded expectations. Nose was initially better than the mouthfeel, but that changed after about 30-45 minutes of air. 89+

1/14/2019 - sachsen wrote:

flawed

12/25/2018 - sachsen Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine, but very very young. A tropical potpourri of fruit. Best not to serve too cold.