3/1/2020 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Like chopping peppers in a stable while somebody two stalls down eats a fresh fruit salad. Full notes of Earth and leather are complemented by a "barnyard funk" and hints of red fruits. As the night wears on and the bottle breathes the young, primary fruits become more apparent.

Palate: Smooth almost indiscernible tannins provide a lite frame for the fruits that really comes through on the palate. There is a bit of a crunchy, acidic bite near the back.

Finish: If the nose is a stable, then the finish is a strawberry field. Strong, bright fruit flavor persist that are supported by the sharp acidity that is much more evident here.

Thoughts: This is where I prefer my wine, more savory than fruity. While the funk is there on the nose, the youth is still very evident on the palate. It's damn sure a good drink now, but I wouldn't be in any hurry to finish what you got.

6/24/2017 - bu11itt wrote:

Cooked (from Wine Bid)

3/17/2017 - bu11itt wrote:

Finally decided to opened one of my two bottles to see if I wanted to order this year. Unfortunately it was quite "corky". Oh well, such is life sometimes....

12/12/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface: I read my note from last year before opening his bottle, so I had an idea of what to expect before going into it.

Nose:  Much more meaty, gamey and spicy fresh out the bottle as opposed to last year. The fruit doesn't take to express itself, trending darker and slightly rich.

Palate: Smooth, crisp and bright. The fruit seems a bit closer to red territory here, probably as a result of the popping acidity. The tannins are well resolved and not the least bit biting or prickly.

Finish: Creamy and more thick than thin (not syrupy) with no discernible heat. The more savory aspects come back around here and really shine with notes of pepper and gamey meats.

Thoughts: Drinking very well right now, but more than likely still on an uphill climb. The interplay between all the elements of the nose are perfectly on point. If you told me this was slightly north of 14.5% I'd call you a liar (until I was halfway through the bottle and feeling it), there's just no "hotness" present anywhere. I'm digging in this more than I was last year and am glad I've got 2 more.

10/7/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Intially bright with expressive light blue fruits with hints of blueberry and boysonberry. There's an interesting undertone that I can't quite out my finger on; it's not quite spicy, maybe a little herbal...

Palate: Light to medium bodied, it's got a creamy mouthfeel with smooth, but prickly tannins. The fruit starts to darken up a little and there is a nice acidic pop on the end.

Finish: Not terribly long, but lingering (make sense out of that).  It has a wonderful bright lift from the acidity that plays extremely well against the fruit, adding a sharp, tartness to the otherwise smooth, creaminess.

Thoughts: The only thing I feel I need to say is I haven't written a note in almost 5.5 months, and this wine made me want to. It sits on the line between easy drinking and intellectual very well, dipping a toe in each. I feel that anyone, from causal drinker to a more hardcore wino, can find something to enjoy with this wine.

4/23/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

HOT DAMN!!! Wine of the night hands down. So open and expressive with fruit and earth and barrels notes all on the nose. The palate was just alive with flavors and felt so young with wonderfully integrated tannins that still showed their presence and a tart acidic kick that lasted all the way to the end. Everyone loved it. Really the best thing I can say about this wine is the wife of one of the guys at the table just does not care for red wine. She will normally drink beer or a cocktail when we all get together. Out of curiosity and I guess open-mindedness, she halfway participated in the tasting, taking small sips from her husband’s glasses. After sampling the Mondavi she looked up and said, “Oh wow. That’s good.”

4/23/2016 - bu11itt wrote:

The biggest disappointment of the night. Oddly enough, of all the Bordeaux it had the best, most expressive nose but had a horrible metallic taste on the palate and finish. Some descriptors from the table were; hard water, river water, copper, iron and my personal favorite, “It’s like licking corroded steel pipe.” Don’t know what went wrong as I’ve never run across such a strong metallic taste in a wine, especially one that smelt so good, which prompted my wife to quip, “This bottle has obviously had a nose job”. I left it open all night and tried a sip again the next morning, still bad. I’d venture to say that 80%-85% of this bottle got poured down the sink.

4/23/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Darker fruited and almost youthful, there were great notes of graphite on the nose. Not overly thin with a bit of body left on the palate, the fruit was there, but presented a little musky. Still relatively bright on the finish. While it’s possibly over the hill, it’s not too far removed from the peak and is drinking well.

4/23/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Cigar box, damp earth and light graphite on the nose, with hints of darker, dried fermented fruit. A little flat and thin on the palate, it seems a little over the hill although still bright on the finish. You can definitely taste the age on this, and I’m not necessarily saying that’s a bad thing, just that it on the downward side of the slope.

4/23/2016 - bu11itt wrote:

Surprisingly consistent with the bottle I had late last year, if not a little younger. Solventy notes on the nose with a bit of a decomposing fruit aspect, the palate was somewhat more lively as the red fruit picked up with some dried cherries. It was thin and light but not tired and slightly bright on the finish. All in all it wasn’t a bad bottle and everyone found something to like about it.

4/15/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface: Pulled the cork at 1 PM for a sample pour. Initially very tight, let it sit and "slow O" until 3 PM when I poured another small glass, still kinda closed off. It wasn't until 5 PM, 4 hours (and a couple small glasses) later that this really started to open up and sing.

Nose: Lighter in the stem aromatics but with a good dose of white pepper and a hint of olives, there's no shortage of rich (not ripe) darker fruits.

Palate: Bright, smooth and slightly creamy. The fruit trends a little lighter with notes of dark cherries. Not really picking up a strong tannic presence, but they are there, wonderfully integrating into the overall balance of the wine.

Finish: Here is where the black pepper really shows up for me. Along with the pepper, I'm getting great notes of stewed meats and the fruit that was starting to lighten up is coming back around to the dark side.

Thoughts: I'm really digging on how the leaner aspects of 2011 are playing against the wine's overall style. It's like it wants to be a little bigger (but in no way overblown) but it's being held back, which strikes an excellent balance for me. The aromatics were amazing, I found myself constantly putting my nose back in the glass for another smell. Just an overall enjoyable drink.

3/27/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: The nose is quite reductive at each pour (barnyard and bandaid) but that resolves nicely into  wonderful aromas of leather and earth accented with bright red fruits and hints of blood.

Palate: Sharp and angular, the fruit is zippy, tangy and lean with strong notes of cherries. The tannins are noticeable but not overpowering. There's a smoothness to the mouthfeel that belies the apparent structure underneath.

Finish: Barnyard funky and bright. The red fruit travels from the nose, through the palate to the finish.

Thoughts: I'm not normally a Southern Rhone kind of guy, but this is an exception. Just enough of a bretty funk to provide a little excitement with a bright fruit profile and plenty of structure without being heavy. At almost 15 years old this wine is still quite young. No clue to hold long it'll live, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to drink it.

3/19/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

It took a good 3 hours to really open up. At first pop I was honestly thinking very low grade TCA, not really detectable but just enough to keep everything muted. Turns out, it was just time that it needed.

The nose is full of prominent darker fruit, hints of olives and an earthy (some might call it rocky) funk. It's slightly viscous but not heavy with creamy tannins and a noticeable amount of acidity, without being racy. The finish is fruity and funky with a little bit of an astringent bite and a slightly chakly feel.

3/16/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

The nose is red fruited, spicy and brambly. Notes of slightly candied cherries and strawberries. There's a light-medium mouthfeel that is slightly creamy. The tannins are polished and smooth with bright red fruit and zesty acidity. It finishes long, maybe a little thin and astringent with lovely tart fruit and an earthy spice. This is a wonderful food friendly wine with just enough acidity and younger, primary fruit. I have no idea how a Carignane will age, but I may hold onto my other bottle just to see where it goes, that is if I can keep my hands off of it. It is drinking really well right now.

3/7/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Wow. This is interesting (and I don't mean that in the "I'm trying to be polite even though it don't like it" way). The nose is full of plums, olives (light), pencil shavings and dark cherries. I'm reminded of not quite young, but not quite matured Bordeaux. Initially I caught hints of herbal cab fruits, meaty syrah notes and what I can only call a merlot smell (that I can’t describe, but to paraphrase Justice Stewart, I know it when I smell it). On the palate it’s juicy and full. The fruit is dark red, plums and cherries from the nose mixed with graphite and an earthy spice, all supported by chalky, slightly sharp but smooth tannins and a crisp, polished acidity. It finishes long and astringent with fresh, tart, crunchy darker fruit. It's slightly lean but svelte with an odd mix of a meaty but herbal profile, I'm assuming from the syrah/cab blend. The last glass was unfortunately all but wasted thanks to my own mistreatment of the sediment. Regardless, I greatly enjoyed this wine that is drinking quite well right now.

3/5/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

At first pour it's surprisingly red fruited and fresh with strong hints of green peppers.  It doesn't take long for a bretty-ish barnyard funk to show up, but that quickly blows off. What's left are notes of smokey leather and decomposed earth. The palate is thin but sharp with a surprising amount of red fruit present (don't interpret this too mean there's a lot, more that I can still taste some on a 39 year old bottle of wine). The tannins have all but dissappeared, integrating well into the overall balance. The finish is austere with tart red fruits and loads of smoked peppers, if not a bit lite. It's a well matured, enjoyable Chinon that is in a good place right now with an easy few years of life left.

2/23/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Wonderfully red fruited, slightly spicy and floral. There's a perfumed lift with some sort of the heavy, underlying base note that I just can't figure out, it's leathery and just the slightest bit smokey (mourvedre component?) that gets more prominent the longer it breathes.

Palate: The bright red fruit is continued from the nose with flavors of pomegranate and a hint of Rainer cherries. It's light bodied with a tart acidic pop and smooth, fine-grained tannins.

Finish: Fresh, smooth and polished. The fruit is crunchy with a little bit of flesh. It's moderately astringent that gets creamier as the night and bottle progresses.

Thoughts: Hot damn Larry does it again. I have yet to have a Tercero wine that was not immensely quaffable (using phrases like "immensely quaffable" I'm obviously more than a little bit into the bottle...). It's sharp, fruity and still more than a little primary. It evolves as the night goes on, trending darker and a little funkier, giving a look to a good future. I'm gonna hold onto my other bottle for a while, looking forward to a positive evolution.

Night #2: Funkier and spicier on the nose with a darker fruit profile. The tannins softened and the acid got a little sharper, if that makes any kind of logical sense. Maybe it was just the softening of the tannins made the acid seem more pronounced. Either way, it was just as good as the night before.

2/16/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

I'll start by saying it poured a little more orange than I was anticipating, and that gave me a little pause. Once I got into it, any doubt quickly disappeared.

The fruit was still in the forefront but wonderful secondary spices and notes are dancing all around the nose and palate. It was tart, svelte and smooth with a bit of an orange peel aspect on the backend. Night 2 saw a very positive evolution as the more secondary chatatieristics started to become a little more prevalent and were less obscured by the fruit. With the idea of "peak" being subjective, I feel that it's not quite there yet. I'd like to see the perfect point on the curve where the fading fruit meets the barrel notes and spices giving a wonderful, harmonious balance.

As always, I really dig on Sandler pinots.

2/9/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface: With a sick wife and one sick child, my plan was to just enjoy a good bottle of wine (without worrying about a note) and a grilled ribeye. However, once I put my nose in this glass I knew I wanted to spend some time with this one. Bottle was popped and poured and drank over the course of 4-5 hours.

Nose: Wonderful savory notes of olive, brine and a little smoke. A bright, fresh red/blue fruit starts to awaken with air.

Palate: Sharp with crunchy red/blue fruit and a zingy acidity. It's light bodied and smooth with no noticeable heat and a slight mineral component.

Finish: Astringent and tart. The savory notes are alive on the backend; they interplay very well with the juicy cherries and cranberry notes that linger for days. 

Thoughts: Another great wine from Wind Gap. It's got a bright fruit component with amazing dark, savory olive and game notes.  The stems seems to have integrated well at this point. I found this bottle to still be rather young, maybe I'm not good at picking up secondary characteristics and instead focus on the tertiary ones, I can't say for sure, but I can say I'm really enjoying it either way.

PS: I'm once again digging on the 12% ABV on this bottle. I can sip all night long, kill the bottle if I wish, and still sleep well and feel fine the next day.

2/5/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Right out of the bottle on PnP there's a strong green smokey-ness, reminiscent of roasted green peppers on a campfire. As the evening and bottle progresses hints of "dark earth" (think of slightly decomposed darker fruit mixed with leaves and dirt) start to emerge.

Palate: Fresh and sharp with what can be best described as "smooth" acidity (easy to drink with bit of a tart kick) and fine grained, prickly tannins. There's a bit more fruit here as it presents with some black cherries and cassis.

Finish: The herbaceous "savory-ness" that is prevalent on the nose really shines on the backside. Green peppers and smoke with tart, dried cherries thanks to a bright acidity.

Thoughts: This is an amazing drink. I enjoyed the prevalent green notes as they played off of the less well defined fruit. Medium bodied and angular, it's very fresh and drinkable if not a still a little young.

3/7/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Initial notes of bread, the nose is slightly muted but starts to open up with some air to rich notes of dark fruit.

Palate: Full bodied but not heavy, extremely smooth and fleshy, the mouthfeel is exquisite. Just enough of a tartness to provide bite with silky but structured tannins. There is a subtle amount of fruit that brings it all together.

Finish: Moderately sweet but not syrupy or excessive, smooth and dry with a good amount of acid that adds some excellent backbone. The dark fruit brings up the backend and really lingers, providing an excellent contrast to the astringency.

Thoughts: Nothing tells the story of this wine better than when I went to pour a glass for dinner (after popping the cork while cooking) and noticed over half the bottle was gone; it just drinks that easy. The nose might be a bit on the moderate side but the mouthfeel and overall palate more than makes up for it. While each element has it's time to shine, they all come together for an overall sense of balance. Damn fine wine, it's a shame cellar tracker doesn't have a "I love this wine" option...

1/15/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface: Ridiculously tight right out of the bottle, aggressive swirling brings out pure, primary cab fruits and hints of barrel spice. I'll give this a splash decent and revisit in about 3 hours.

Nose: The fruit is still very primary and on the brighter spectrum of the dark side. There's a hint of a floral component as well, lightly perfumed with ever so slight oaky notes.

Palate: Light and svelte, it glides effortlessly across the palate, one could almost call it feline... ;)  There's fresh and lively acidity and flavors of dried cherries and currants. Fine-grained, earthy tannins provide an excellent foundation upon which everything else is built.

Finish: Sharp and astringent with tart acidity that amplifies the currants and cherries from the nose and palate with a wonderful crispness. There's a slight  heaviness that is accented by ever so subtle creamy vanilla notes.

Thoughts: While its young, tight and primary, it's still very accessible. Not knowing any different, I could drink and enjoy the hell out of this right now.  However, having had some Black Cats with a little age on them I know better. This is going to be fun to follow over the next decade or two...

1/13/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Intially quite floral with black/white pepper (% whole cluster or Viognier co-ferment?) and a hint of cherries. As the evening progresses the pepper really kicks in as the fruit starts to trend a little darker.

Palate: Saline, sharp, savory. The once prevalent darker fruits give way to notes of olive and brine. Bright, racy, and strong acidity with smooth, svelte tannins for a structured but light mouthfeel.

Finish: Astringent and wonderfully savory. There is pepper and a bit of gamey meat on the backside with slight hints of darker fruits. The acid remains strong and tart with flavors that last for ages.

Thoughts: Damn this is good. It's hitting the savory notes on all cylinders but there's still just enough of a fruit character to keep it fresh. Sharp acid plays well with the darker fruit and saline pepper. Drink now? Drink later? Who cares, just drink.

1/3/2016 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: An interesting mix that is dominated by blue and black fruit with hints of vanilla and barrel spice. There's also a slight, high-toned sweet floral aspect as well.

Palate: Rather strong blue/black berry notes accented with spice and an ever so slight sweet streak that runs right down the middle. This mild sweet note is offset by crisp, fresh and lively acidity with firm, leathery tannins to provide a slightly heavy and creamy mouthfeel.

Finish: The finish is highlighted by bright acidity and chewy tannins that lead to mouth drying astringency. There is a lingering, persistent, slightly sweet vanilla and blue/ black fruit note that takes forever to fade. As the night (and bottle) progressed a minor caramel note starts to show up.

Thoughts: This is a crowd pleaser Cab that punches well above its weight class. Is it young and mostly primary right now? Yes. Will it benefit from some additional bottle age and time to integrate? Most definitely. Can be opened and enjoy right now? Hell yes.

12/27/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface : The capsule was sticky and smelled of past seepage. Wine was not decanted but popped, poured and tasted over 3 hours.

Nose: Strong notes of sandlwood, leather and damp earth. There are undertones of dark dried fruits, plum, pomegranate and a bit of cherry.

Palate: Slightly weedy, but not in a bad way. The acid is still sharp but somehow a little soft (yea, it doesn't really make sense, it's hard to accurately describe). The tannins are silky and intigrated.

Finish: Astringent and long with hints of dark fruit and "forest floor".

Thoughts: I was at first rather underwhelmed, but with a little air the underlying fruit seemed to emerge from behind the more brown/green aspects adding some wonderful depth and character. This bottle seems to be over the hill, but it's near the top and not at the bottom on the other side with several years of life left.

12/23/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Intially quite funky with a strong barnyard (reductive) that eventually gives way to crisp red raspberry notes. I think I'm picking up a slight floral component as well.  

Palate: Bright with crunchy red fruit. It's slightly angular and tart with strong cherry/strawberry flavors.

Finish: There is a spicy, savory aspect at the end that adds contrast to the slightly candied fruit.

Thoughts: Lean, sharp and evolving. Not much I can say beyond it's a great wine.

12/20/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

I don't normally comment on whites, not that I don't like them or enjoy drinking them, I just lack the vocabulary and sensory knowledge to accurately comment on my experience with them.

Having said that, I know what I like when I drink it, and I like this. It's bright, floral, limey, peachy, peary with crisp, livley acidity that really adds lift to the palate. I actually find I prefer it a little warmer, around low to mid 60's, as I find it had a little more weight and really highlights the whiter fruits.

My only issue with this wine is it so downright quaffable that I'm just about shotguning it, and that doesn't bode well for work tomorrow morning.

11/28/2015 - bu11itt wrote:

Color: I only mention color because while it is almost all a red/orange old world brick, there is a violet undertone that suggests there is still some life left.

Nose: At initial pour (very gently down the side of the glass) there is a small amount of red-ish fruit that is quickly overtaken by more solventy notes of petrol and an odd combination of dried cherries/menthol.

Palate: Soft and silky with a bit of brightness that allows what fruit that is left to peak from around the strong tertiary notes of barrel spices and what I'd call a musty vanilla.

Finish: Still astringent and slightly sharp, the finish is all about the age with what is left behind after the fruit has faded.

Thoughts: I honestly feel I lack the necessary familiarity to accurately describe and judge this wine. However, I can say that I'm really enjoying the experience of drinking something outside of my norm. While it's for sure not young, its not over the hill just yet. There's still a spryness to its step so I'd call it middle age.

Afternoon #2: Recorked and stored overnight. It's almost completely bricked at this point, but oddly enough, is still in relatively the same place it was yesterday. If anything, some of the more solventy notes have subsided allowing the fruit to be a little more prevalent on the nose and palate more specifically. Make no mistake however, it's still an older wine that is on the downward side of its curve (I think, I've already admitted to not really having much experience with 30+ year old wines).  Regardless, I'm still enjoying drinking it, both from and intellectual, learning experience and an "this is actually a pretty decent wine" experience.

11/5/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Oh wow. The funk on this nose is amazing. It's got a darker red fruit character with a somewhat spicy accent.

Palate: Smooth, fine-grained integrated tannins and an acidic lift that adds a freshness to the fruit that trends it more to the red spectrum. There is still a funkiness (notes of leather?) on the palate that adds wonderful counterpoint to the brighter fruit.

Finish: Wonderfully fresh with tangy red fruit and prickly tannins.

Thoughts: Hot damn this is good. It's not overly complex, but it is amazingly easy to drink. I'm actually a little sad I only got two bottles of this. Between this and the Tercero mourvedre I've recently had, I really need to do a little more exploration into the M of GSM.

Night 2 saw a rounding out of the fruit and the citrus tang that others referenced (which I couldn't find on night 1) popped up in a very subtle way. While I agree with the consensus that this is ready to drink now, I wouldn't be in a hurry as the evolution on night 2 was a positive one and possibly points to several more years of enjoyment.

11/4/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: At first, I'd call this "farm in a bottle." After a few hours that dissipated leaving notes of green peppers and spice with accents of brighter red fruits.

Palate: Intially quite funky and savory, as the nose evolves so does the palate, bringing out a wonderfully pure red fruit (cherry/strawberry) character and crisp, lively acidity. There are fine-grained, silky tannins that add some depth to the palate.

Finish: Tart with mouth drying astringency. There is something savory on the backend that makes me think of licking a horse (but I like it). The fruit is the last to fade.

Thoughts: My teeth feel like I've been been drinking orange juice all night, this wine is just that acidic and sharp. This sharpness, however, really accentuates the purity of the fruit adding zing and bite to the more savory aspects of green peppers and spice. That this wine could be so fresh and brilliantly fruity yet still savory and gamey is intriguing to me. I think I'm going to have to explore some more.

10/31/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: It has an almost whiskey-esque quality to the nose at first that intermingles with notes of honey and petrol. There is a little bit of a whiter fruit aspect as well. Maybe pear, or it could be very faint hints of honeysuckle.

Palate: Strong flavors of honey that are accentuated by the oily, creamy mouthfeel. After a few hours it becomes less "organic" and adds flavors of pear and Granny Smith apples.

Finish: Still had plenty of acid left to give it a lift and bring out the apple and pear on the backend.

Thoughts: While some might think a 9 year old grenache blanc would be long dead, this wine is far from it. After a few hours the petrol and more "solventy" notes blew off allowing the white fruit to "wake up" and the wine to shed years of age. While this is not a bottle I'm going to sit down by myself and knock out over the course of a night, it's definitely one I would open with a group of friends to discuss and enjoy the evolution of over the course of a long evening.

10/23/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Intially (and I mean pull cork, pour into glass, smell) very fruit forward. It doesn't take much swirling to start to bring out a wonderful whole cluster spice. Strong notes of white pepper and hints of smoke. What fruit that is there is darker and more subdued.

Palate: Smooth but heavy, the tannins are fine and slightly tingly with a soft moutfeel. The fruit peaks through with small notes of dried cranberries that slightly outshines the other, less fruity aspects.

Finish: Occasionally a little hot, the white pepper is continued from the nose. The more savory aspects (hints of game and damp earth) and pepper/spices play well against the moderately bright, acidic pop. It ends with final wave of darker fruit that slowly fades leaving only the more earthy flavors.

Thoughts: What started out very youthful eventually (with more than a few hours of air) matured into a very respectful young adult. While initially a little more abrasive, after about 4+ hours the wine started to soften and present a very svelte mouthfeel. The primary fruit that was at first in the forefront, eventually gave way to strong hints of pepper and earth. Is this wine starting to hit it's window*, I don't know, but I kinda doubt it. I think you can catch glimpses of its future here and there but it's still a little reluctant to be too telling.

Night (ok, afternoon really) #2: The nose is more balanced, no longer are the fruit and pepper/spice fighting for the spotlight, now they are dancing a 2-step (not quite delicate enough for a waltz or sexy enough for a tango). The palate is still silky and soft and the tannins are just as mellow as before. The finish remains crisp and fresh with a tart, slightly more red, fruit bite. I don't know if I prefer it on night (yea, yea, afternoon) #2, but it for sure ain't worse. Thinking about it, I might have to give the edge to day 2 as the wine just seems more "balanced". Drink? Hold? Who gives a damn, it'll be good either way...


*I fully acknowledge the fact that a "prime drinking window" is purely subjective. I can only speak for my general preferences and thoughts.

10/12/2015 - bu11itt wrote:

Nose: Intially it was quite floral with some meat, pepper and darker red fruits.

Palate: Rather thin and flat, but not in a horrible way, more in a light, almost elegant way. It's bright and fresh with strong notes of dark cherry and pomegranate.

Finish: The definition of angular. The acidity hits the backsides of the mouth with gusto. The finish remains fairly fruity but brings in slight elements of pepper and game.

Thoughts: Intially quite unimpressive, after about 2 hours or so of air it starts to wake up and show more character and "flesh out" as it were. It shows a slightly more savory aspect with stronger notes of pepper and game. Enjoy it now with a healthy decant or hold it for a few years to let it come into its own.

10/7/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface: As soon as I pulled the cork and poured a glass I realized I made a mistake; I forgot about the head cold I've been fighting for the last week, so my note is likely to be less than stellar (of course that might be falsely assuming my notes are stellar to begin with, but I digress...)

Nose: Well, it smells like wine... But seriously, even with a compromised nose I'm picking up a somewhat darker red fruit character with notes of spice and the occasional green/floral element.

Palate: Velvety, smooth and downright creamy, thanks (I can only assume) to the fact that this is both unfiltered and unfined. There is almost no noticeable tannic influence on the palate with darker fruits offset by a medium-light acidity.

Finish: Bright, astringent and tart with crunchy dark fruit. The creamy, heavy mouthfeel continues on to the finish giving some weight to an otherwise light and elegant wine.

Thoughts: Why oh why can I not keep my hands off my young Sandlers? Yes, they drink well, but I feel like I'm missing something by just enjoying their primary, youthful exuberance. Can you drink this wine now? Yes. Should you drink this wine now? Well, that is up to you and your preference. I just can't help but think that I'm not giving this its due by not waiting a few years.

9/28/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Initially bright with red/blue fruit. An old world spice starts to show up as the fruit trends darker with air. It smells like a sangiovese, so take that for what it's worth.

Palate: Man I hate using this phrase, but it's apt; "iron fist in a velvet glove." The velvety, smooth, fleshy mouthfeel plays very well against the somewhat heavy, structured tannins. The fruit is fresh and bright with a strong strawberry/cherry character.

Finish: Astringent, lively, zesty with tart red fruit that works with the "Autumn spice" (as described by my wife, who frankly has the superior palate) of clove and nutmeg...?

Thoughts: Direct quote after first sip, "Hot damn!! That's good!" I cannot stop drinking this wine, and frankly there really is no higher praise. It's wonderfully bright, crisp and fresh with a tannic/acidic bite and stuffing that provides a great oomph. I don't doubt this wine has many years ahead of it because as well as it's drinking now, it's still rather fruity/primary. I want some more of this, really want some more of this.

9/2/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Wonderfully earthy and loamy. The stems provide a nice spice that plays well against the darker red fruit.

Palate: Light with elegant, silky tannins and a great acidic pop on the backend. It's rounded out with a crunchy red fruit that adds a bit of youthful exuberance to the otherwise somewhat morose teenager.

Finish: Tart, astringent (yea, I know they both kinda mean the same thing, but there's a difference here. Tart coming from the fruit and astringent from the acid/tannin 1, 2 punch) with a spicy/stemy aspect.

Thoughts: Well now, this is pretty damn good. Gotta say the nose is actually a little better when first popped as the stem/earth quality is stronger. The more air it gets the more the fruit starts to emerge and the more youthful it becomes.

8/12/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: At initial pop there's a very fresh, light, almost red fruit character. It doesn't take long for that to start trending darker with a wonderful gamey, savory aspect.

Palate: Intially quite lush, it's soon rounded out with firm, earthy,  prickly tannins. The acid peaks out near the end providing a fresh, crisp punch.

Finish: Astringent and sharp, the dark fruit takes a back seat to the more savory notes of olive, meat and game.

Thoughts: Damn it, I didn't want to like this as much as I did (point of clarification, nothing against Tercero at all, it's just that I have enough, more than enough really, wines that I like to drink and purchase so I don't really need another). My preference for syrah normally trends a little more to the meaty/savory arena, but the balance of all the aspects of this wine work so well together that I just can't help but like it. As an afterthought, about 2-3 hours of air later this turned a little brighter, tangier and a little more red. The more savory aspects are still present, but more subdued.

7/28/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Wonderful nose of "Sandler spice" (it means something to me...) and amazing fresh red fruit of strawberry and cherry.

Palate: Bright, crunchy, crisp. It's surprisingly light and airy. There's an excellent balance of fruit and structure with fine tannins and pure acidity.

Finish: Good lord this finish is so fresh with tart fruit that reminds me of biting into strawberries fresh from the garden.

Thoughts: I'd repeat my first words after putting my nose in this glass but it's not polite. Let's just say this wine smelled so good it made me curse the Lord. As good as this is drinking now, it's still rather primary with pronounced fruit with an ever so slight floral, green aspect. It's young but oh so good. I'd like to give it a few more years, but I don't know if I can...

7/27/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Slightly floral with bright red and blue fruit. There's an earthy funkiness that I'm really digging on.

Palate: Pure silk on the palate with firm but svelte tannins. There's a crunchy darker fruit that grips the side of the tongue with flavors of cherry and pomegranate.

Finish: Wonderfully astringent with a tart, fresh fruitiness. There are strong leathery tannins that continue the earthy goodness from the nose.

Thoughts: I've got a decent (maybe an 'ok') handle on the "S" of "GSM" but I wanted to expand to the "G" and "M". Well if they are gonna drink like this; sign me up for more. This has got a great floral, fruit profile with enough stuffing for the long haul, but is delicious right now. It's got a nice tannic backbone that provides an "oomph" while drinking, but doesn't strip the enamel from your teeth. There's enough of an earthiness to give it an older world aspect but it still speaks to its Cali roots. Yep, this is good... very good.

7/13/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Bright red fruit with hints of "zin spice" and (maybe it's because I was just in the flower section of the store buying my wife an orchid) I catch a subtle floral note.

Palate: Wonderfully light and airy on the palate there isn't a hint of heat anywhere. The tannins are silky and supple with crunchy red fruit strong on the strawberry and cherry.

Finish: Crisp, lively acidity with a lingering tart cranberry aspect with some small hints of vanilla on the backend.

Thoughts: I don't normally drink zinfandel, but wines like this that will change that. So easy to drink with a smooth, lively fruit profile and just the right amount of bite.

7/5/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Dark berries, pepper and spice. After a few hours some more savory aspects show up, bacon fat and game, but they remain subtle and overshadowed by the fruit.

Palate: Smooth, lush and velvety. There are integrated, fine, silky tannins that slide across the tongue with a juiciness that is like biting into fresh fruit.

Finish: Tart and astringent. The full mouthfeel continues with a strong tannic bite on the end. The fruit character is still present leaving lingering thoughts of strawberries and a hint of pomegranate.

Thoughts: I am shocked at how young this is drinking. I'd swear it was only a year or two from bottling, not 10 years from vintage. The tannins are integrating nicely but still apparent. The fruit is still ever-present and in the forefront. This is drinking so well but I'd say it's got more than a few years left.

6/30/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Bright floral notes with hints of spice and a wonderful red fruit character. There is a subtle pepper aspect and aggressive swirling brings out a almost indescribable licorice quality.

Palate: Pure silk on inital taste it rounds out to the mid-palate with bright acidity and surprisingly firm, leathery tannins for the age. The fruit is in the background here with a damp, almost decomposing earth.

Finish: Astringent and sharp with a strong earthy, mineral, chalky undertone. The fruit is tart and trending towards darker here, probably because of the tannic influence.

Thoughts: This wine is starting to round out with some additional brown character like earth, dried herbs and mushrooms. There's a nice, if not subtle, fruit aspect still present.  It's deeply layered and heady. I had a little difficulty wrapping my head around this wine, it was just so complex. I am glad I have a few more bottles to revisit.

6/19/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: At first pour sticking your nose in the glass brings a strong smell of meat, raw and freshly butchered. Further swirling brings out a gamey quality followed by pepper with a subtle layer of darker fruit underneath it all with a very small floral aspect.

Palate: Darker fruit profile with a big, big, lush mouthfeel. Tight acidity and firm, leathery tannins make for a huge backbone.

Finish: Enamel (or varnish if you prefer) stripping tannins on the backside here. There are flavors of tart blackberries with small bits of olive and meat.

Thoughts: Man this is so close to where I like my syrah to be. Young, big and bold; but not in a ripe, jammy way with darker fruit and a wild meat character. The longer this breathed the softer (relatively) and more open it got with the fruit becoming more prevalent on the palate but the tannins are still ever present and strong. This is a screaming syrah that needs time, but is drinking well now, if you don't mind a tannic teeth cleaning.

Night 2: The loss (but not complete absence) of some of the non-fruit character continued into night two with a much broader fruit profile showing up on the nose, palate and finish. The strong tannic structure is, well, it's still strong. I have no doubt this wine would have no trouble making it to night three, other than the fact it's delicious and will be gone long before night 3.

6/17/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Bright red fruit with a slight chalky mineral aspect. It's still pretty closed after two 2 hours of air, but there is an herbal greenness with a little bit of spice that is starting to come out.

Palate: Strong, firm, grippy tannins dominate the palate. There is a deft balance of fruit behind the tannic wall that keeps it from being one dimensional.

Finish: Bright, astringent and fruity. The red fruit (cherry/strawberry) come through here with a tart bite. There is a crisp acidity that works well with the fruit and tannins.

Thoughts: I don't know if it's in a stage between the exuberance of youth and the complexity of age but it seems pretty tight and closed. After 4 hours of air it's starting to open up a little but still pretty reluctant. The structure is there with a bit of fruit and spice that makes me anxious for the future. Even with the reluctance, it's still drinking well now and only has upside in the foreseeable future.

6/8/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Hints of slightly turned darker fruit with a strong brown/green damp forest floor note. There's some sort of a high, sweet note that is barely noticeable that I can't put my finger on.

Palate: Strong, stout tannins dominate the mouth here. The earthy undertones are stronger than the barely noticeable fruit combining with the tannins to give the wine a leathery, angular feel.

Finish: Astringent and dark with stronger fruit (currants/dark cherry/plum) and earth character.

Thoughts: Drinking well, it's got an earthy quality that overshadows the fruit but doesn't dominate. The tannins are still quite strong and pronounced. Decent drink if not a little green.

6/3/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Darker fruit with (very) subtle hints of cola and some spice / earth / meat on the backend.

Palate: Light and lively.  Smooth with a wonderful fresh red (cherry) fruit character. Very accessible, the acidity is delicate and slightly soft (but still with a decent bite) with fine, silky tannins.

Finish: Slightly astringent with a much stronger meat/herb character. There is still some fruit on the end that adds a nice pop to the finish.

Thoughts: Damn, the QPR here is outstanding! It's got a new world, "easily enjoyable by all" style that is neither hot, jammy or a fruit bomb, but dips its little toe in the old world waters. Superbly easy to drink, I can't recommend this enough.

5/17/2015 - bu11itt wrote:

Meh... It's decent enough with some green/funk on the nose intermingling with the darker red fruit. There is a firm acidity that plays along with the fine tannins and follows through to a fresh, dry finish. Not bad, but not great; good at best. Definitely not worth the price.

5/12/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Light floral notes with a strong, intoxicating red fruit character, strawberry/cherry.
 
Palate: Crisp and lively, the acidity is bracing and griping without being overpowering.  The tannins are almost indiscernible, almost, they are there, fine and structured, providing a nice compliment to the fruit and acidity.
 
Finish: Fresh and fruity, I’m loving the sharpness here that gives it an edgy, tart characteristic complimented by red fruit that follows all the way through to the end.
 
Thoughts: Not all wines have to be amazingly complex or super intellectual to be enjoyable.  Sometimes, you just want to sit back, relax and enjoy a great wine without having to be in your head.  That's just what this wine is, a great wine. That’s not to say there isn’t complexity here if you want to find it, there’s plenty, but it’s just as enjoyable if all you want to do is sip on an amazing wine.   As I find with most Harrington wines, this one got better the longer it was open.

5/9/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Preface: Pulled the cork at 8 AM. Poured a small glass at 10 AM. Splash decant at 1:30 PM.

Nose: 10 AM-Initially very tight and reluctant. Only primary red/blue fruit showing.1 PM-Still very, very tight. 7 PM-Pretty much the same but with slightly more pronounced notes of olive, herbs and meat alongside the fruit. Maybe I'm a little crazy but I swear I can smell some small hints of lavender.

Palate: 1 PM-Still very closed. There is a bright, refreshing acidity and fine tannins. 7 PM- Starting to get some earth along side the fruit, which is starting to darken up now. The acidity is still quite strong with leathery yet fine tannins.

Finish: 1 PM-The most important note here is on the very backend I can catch a faint note of the cool climate influences.  7 PM- As with before, this is really where your cooler climate influence to start to show up. Strong notes of herbs and dirt with a dried raspberry / cranberry character thanks to the astringency.

Thoughts: Slain before its time. The wine is very reluctant and quite closed. With extended air it starts to come out of its shell and show its true character. I agree with the winemaker in that this wine needs cellar time to come around and fully integrate.  Regardless, it still does drink fairly well with a lot of air. If you want to drink one now, I'd say give it a 12 to 24 hour decant beforehand. No rating due to youth.

5/5/2015 - bu11itt Likes this wine:

Nose: Intense darker red fruit with a very slight earthy, loamy undertone.

Palate: Bright and crisp with fresh strawberry / cherry / pomegranate quality. There is a deft balance of the fruit and acidity that gives it a tart, silky mouthfeel accentuated by fine, almost indiscernible tannins.

Finish: Decidedly long and astringent. The acidity is strong here that leads to dried fruit finish that lasts for days. A small amount of greener notes add a nice contrast to the pure fruit.

Thoughts: I'd think a winemaker knows exactly what they want and how to get it when you can notice a similar thread weaving its way through all of their wines. As soon as I put the wine to my lips I knew it was a Harrington (well that and the label). It's an amazing balance that plays like a jazz ensemble, with each individual component adding a piece to the whole but occasionally getting their own time to shine.