5/10/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Vasnessen's previous notes are right on the head. Velvety smooth texture with nose and flavors of cassis, herbes de provence, tarragon/anise, bell pepper, and a little bit of cigar box. I love Cab Franc and Couly Dutheil is probably my favorite producer of it.

5/6/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Lovely dry white.

5/5/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Solid and well structured. Cedar and toast, with vanilla aroma and flavors of stewed plum and dark chocolate. Medium, firm tannins. Medium-plus finish and lingering fruity acidity. Drank by itself but I think it would go well with a variety of fuller-flavored meals. 88-90.

5/2/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

This bottle was just slightly more flaccid than the last one but with a similarly complex and delicious flavor profile. The last couple bottles I've had were better after 2-3 hours open (and on day 2) so it may just be that I'm juding too quickly.

4/30/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

This is a great example of a New World Barbera. Has typical kirsch/cherry flavors but a little more richness and lower acid than an average Italian Barbera. Tannin is subtle and smooth. Long finish. Very food friendly.

4/25/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Beautiful. Chocolate, raspberry and black cherry, plum, mint, velvety tannin on mid-palate. Peaking now, hard to imagine it will get better.

4/23/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Lovely Rose, on the slightly fruitier side, but well balanced and offers some herbaceousness and sweet spice.

4/4/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

I can understand the positive WS/WE reviews at least at a high level. Complex mushroomy/herbaceous mid-palate and lots of minerality, with enough body to feel substantial but also good freshness and grapefruity citrus. I do think it might be better in a year as those flavors ideally gel.

3/23/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Crowd-pleasing bright tropical fruit and citrusy acidity. Medium bodied with a round mid-palate followed by a nice bright and medium-plus length finish. Should have at least one more solid year of drinking.

3/20/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Rich and juicy but also with beautiful minerality and a long citrusy finish.

3/15/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Full bodied and flavorful, drinking well now. Bright fruit without being overly tart/acidic. Milk chocolate, some evergreen and nutmeg. Any oak is completely smoothed out. Long finish with lots of red fruits. Wish I had a couple more but alas.

3/9/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes. Such a nice wine at this price - hits the mid-palate perfectly with spice and mushroom and minerals, just enough lemony acidity to lead into the next sip.

3/6/2024 - Cosmo M. wrote:

My least favorite vintage of this that I can remember. I've gone through at least a half-case of this in most of the last 10 years and always been delighted, particularly as it ages. This year is too much cranberry juice, with a texture like flat cola and a blueberry jam aroma. Saved second half of bottle for tomorrow so we'll see if it improves overnight.

3/2/2024 - Cosmo M. wrote:

WE 94 is confusing at least at this point in its development. Bright berry fruit, notable American (I think) oak toast and vanilla extract. Acid starts a bit tart but flows nicely into the ultra long finish.

3/1/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Wow, this is just drinking perfectly right now. Lush velvety texture, dark fruits with tobacco, smoke and game. 91-92.

2/21/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Haven’t tried the last few vintages of this but loved what I had before. This feels a bit young right now as there’s a dry, possibly oaky mid-palate that leaves a smoky aftertaste. Also minerally, citrusy. Medium plus to full bodied. 89/90 right now but may improve with a little more time.

2/19/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Pretty similar to Nov 2022 although it came across maybe just a bit more astringent and tightly wound this time. It’s a heavy and muscular style of Bordeaux. Should still have several good years.

2/17/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Good varietal character - stone fruit, minerals and flowers, medium plus body, umami/mushroom. Herbs and grapefruit on the finish. Well made and drinking well now. Should have at least another year in drinking window.

2/16/2024 - Cosmo M. wrote:

Really liked the previous vintage of this and while the 2019 is also good, I found it a bit flaccid and short on the finish. Still solid overall. Stone fruit, pepper, grapefruit rind, wet stone, smoke. Medium plus body.

2/14/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Nicely made Champagne. Medium bodied, complex but balanced. Savory herbs, earth, cherry. Paired well with cheese plate. Long finish. Solid 91 if not 92.

2/12/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Lovely Cab Franc in a classic Chinon style albeit with a bit more richness and roundness of fruit. Heavy green olive, blackberry compote, eucalyptus, bell pepper. In contrast to some other recent notes, I think this is drinking great right now and has good varietal characteristic.

2/10/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with 12/25/23.

2/2/2024 - Cosmo M. wrote:

Day 1: Dark purple and opaque. Smoked meat, barnyard, dry cranberry. Little (if any) tannin. Pleasant but maybe a bit simplistic at this stage. 88

Day 2: developed nicely, smoothed out, but also got a little more texture. 89-90.

1/30/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Another excellent vintage of this. Very dry with tingly minerality, lemon zest, grapefruit, white pepper, apple.

1/12/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Bit muted/flat/tart upon opening. Opened up beatifully after about three hours (in bottle without cork, not decanted). Cherry and cassis, leather, raisin, pepper, a bit of cola. Long finish with velvety tannin. 89/90 upon opening, 92/93+ after a few hours. This should be good for a solid 3-5 more years.

1/8/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Same profile description as my Nov. 2023 note. Has some elements of both Bordeaux and Napa, nicely made wine.

1/7/2024 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

WS’s 95 seems really high but this is certainly a solid, food-friendly Chianti. Light to medium bodied (despite 14% alcohol), pale maroonish color, complex aromatics with anise, cranberry sauce and tobacco and chocolate. Similar flavor profile, with bright acidity. Tannin is subtle and already smoothed out. Acidity lingers on the finish.

12/31/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with 8/13/22 (despite 16 months passing!)

12/31/2023 - Cosmo M. wrote:

Slightly off dry. Apples, lemons, pears. Syrupy and a little cloying mid-palate. If you want off dry, this is a fine choice.

12/25/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Overall a really nice bottle and I could see scoring this anywhere from 90-93 depending on how long it’s been open, the food pairing, etc. Medium bodied, smooth mid-palate, relatively bold cherry acidity on the finish. I wouldn’t call this a great value at >$30 but it’s a solid wine regardless of price. Went pretty well with prime rib.

12/25/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Lovely and complex white that is drinking beautifully right now. Has multiple levels of flavor, with some creamy vanilla, lemon curd, and savory herb/pepper/mushroom - all well balanced. I thought I had spent $20 on this and felt it was a good QPR at that price, but came to make a note and realized it was more like $12. Great deal.

12/24/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with 12/12/23.

12/21/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Similar to 9/16/23 note. Got a little less complexity this time, more simplistic tart fruit, though there’s still some nice underlying bell pepper and tobacco. Held up just fine on day 2 so it should still be in the middle of its drinking window.

12/18/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

I like the tobacco, cranberry and menthol elements. But it felt a little tart and underdeveloped. May need some time.

12/16/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Slight more New World style of Cab Franc - bolder with more fruit than French versions. Steely minerality and fresh acidity. Opened up nicely after an hour or so.

12/12/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Agree with a lot of the previous notes. Nice old world style, food friendly with juicy acidity. Should be solid for 2-3 more years.

11/25/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Nice aged Cab Franc. Earthy, stony, peppercorn and green pepper, heavy cranberry flavor. Leathery tannin. Bordeaux-like with a little less body. Did well with Thanksgiving leftovers.

11/23/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

New World style Bordeaux blend from Tuscany. Oak is still quite present at this point though it’s more of a vanilla flavor than a toast element. Complex and concentrated but feels a little closed. Interested to see how it develops in another 1-3 years.

11/23/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Drinking very well now. Medium plus body with notes of cherry, fig and earth. Well balanced but highly concentrated at the same time. I could probably rate this anywhere from 91-95 perhaps depending on food pairing, glassware, etc. It did pretty well with Thanksgiving dinner.

11/23/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Good quality Gruner, medium plus body with lots of black pepper and lemon rind. QPR is only “ok” but price aside definitely a nice wine.

11/23/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with previous notes.

9/16/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

I’m generally a big fan of Cabernet Franc. This was a pretty good one, definitely shows some traditional varietal character such as black pepper, earth, red fruits. It is somewhat New World in style; a bit more concentrated and extracted then French versions. Acidity is medium-plus, probably a little bit more than I was looking for, but it does help to balance things out. I think it’s right in the middle of its drinking window right now.

9/2/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Bold and bright, a nice balance between old and new world style of Rhône blends. Has some herbaceousness, mocha, without the overpowering concentrated jam we often see in California / Aussie Rhône style wines. Velvety tannin. Long finish. Acid is just a bit heavy right now. Would probably suggest drinking 2024-2029.

8/29/2023 - Cosmo M. wrote:

Well made. But a ton of oak.

7/29/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Doesn’t have the length, body or complexity of the 2020. Still, it’s a tasty, fresh summer quaff and a decent value.

7/23/2023 - Cosmo M. wrote:

Ha - I didn’t read my 2/3/23 note and forgot I had decided to wait until 2024+ to drink this other bottle. Oh well … actually, it seems like it’s developed well in the last few months. But I’d still suggest waiting until at least 2024 for whatever you have.

7/21/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Consistent with 5/25/23

7/13/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Mature and delicious. Brick red, loads of tobacco along with fig and prune, and think tannin.

7/13/2023 - Cosmo M. Likes this wine:

Strong clarity and very clean; dark color, still feels young. Will be better in 5+ years.

7/8/2023 - Cosmo M. wrote:

I think my 4/12/23 bottle must have been flawed. This one was fresh with lots of mid-palate minerality and mushrooms earth, overall complex with a long finish. However, note that this is far better with food than on its own — a bit overly metallic when quaffed solo.