4/22/2024 - RPerro wrote:

P&P through an aerator. A bit tight and thin on the fruit at this stage. Paired quite nicely with grilled pork chops though. Acid is medium++, thinner on the fruit than I'd expect from Spanish Monastrell, but I had low expectations going into this bottle from the start based on the price. Solid though, and given some time to mellow, likely a good buy from FP. Drink now with a couple hours of air-2031.

4/21/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

P&P; tasty Syrah that's in a really good place right now. Some savory flavors of black pepper, grilled beef and earth, backed up by sweet blackberry fruit and chocolate. Easy drinking and a steal from Full Pull! Drink now - 2028.

4/18/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior notes.

4/16/2024 - RPerro wrote:

P&P; opened for my April bottle in the NW Wine Report 2024 Rhone Blend Challenge. A bit acidic at first, this calmed down a bit with air. Rich black and blue fruit, tobacco and earth, shrouded in acidity. Quite good paired with food, less so on it's own, for me. Drink now - 2029.

4/12/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; reminds me of Oregon Pinot noir! Quite light and feminine, with some really tasty savory elements of saddle leather, bramble and hints of barnyard funk. Red raspberry fruit lurks behind the savory and edges deep into the finish. Delicious stuff! Drink now - 2029.

4/10/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; On the attack this is somewhat savory and wild, really nice component! Sweeter as it lingers on the palate, finishing with a good deal of vanilla and fig. Blackberry and raspberry fruits on the midpalate, touches of espresso and dark chocolate in there as well. A touch flabby in the middle, but aren't we all? Drink now - 2028+.

4/7/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Decanted 90 min; Very fruit-forward, with flavors of black cherry and currants, eucalyptus, and oak and vanilla flavors on the finish. Was far more enjoyable on day 2, so may need additional time to further integrate. A fairly sweet tasting wine, this did better when paired with some food. Drink now - 2028.

4/4/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; in a much better place than my last bottle...much more integrated, which I think the decant certainly helped with. Gobs of black fruits, road tar, earth and espresso coffee. Tasty wine, but still just an infant, so drink accordingly. Best 2025-2038.

4/2/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

3 hour decant; black fruit, figs, road tar, freshly brewed espresso...this wine has a lot going on. Some sweet vanilla on the finish as well. A refreshing change from the funky Rocks Syrah I've been drinking lately. Really enjoyable by our entire group, and it was gone too quickly. Drink now with a bit of air - 2035.

4/2/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note. Outstanding Rhone white with lovely mouthfeel. Drink now - 2028.

4/1/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Since I picked up another couple bottles of this from Full Pull, I decided to pop this one. Tasting consistent with prior notes. Still holding strong with a long life ahead. Great pairing with grilled pork chops!

3/30/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

PnP through an aerator. This was really nice off the pop, but WOW on day 3. Left half the bottle sitting on the counter (<65*) vacu-sealed for a couple of days unintentionally, and was rewarded last night when I finished the bottle. Super rich and intense, really fruit-forward with flavors of blackberry, caramel, root beer, and hints of vanilla oak. This is still drinking really young, so do not be in a hurry to open these. Drink now with some air - 2036...?

3/27/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Consistent with prior note. Great juice!

3/25/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; very delicious Syrah, as I have come to expect from Maggie Harrison and her team. Dark berry fruit is primary, with some nice savory elements showing up on the midpalate and finish: Espresso, cracked peppercorn and tar, along with a bit of dark chocolate. Wish I had more! Drink now with air - 2032.

3/21/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

P&P through an aerator. A bit of spritz at first, causing me some worry. Not sure what's going on there. Aggressive aeration and time resolved that thankfully. And this bottle is definitely not as 'in your face' as previous bottles. It really needed some time to come around. Pop-and-pour NOT recommended. Give this a few hours-minimum-decanting for best results. Lots of funky, savory flavors, although for me, this bottle was a bit flat on the midpalate, especially at first. Blackberry fruit shows up earlier than with previous bottles, but still far overshadowed by the savory aspects. One thing I've found with the HP wines...they take a lot of work to enjoy. I thought at 12 years past vintage it would be a sure P&P win, but that is just not the case here. All in all, this is still a stellar wine, even with the spritz and midpalate flab, so I'm being super picky here. Enjoyed it so much I finished the bottle in one sitting! Drink now with several hours of air - 2032.

3/19/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; this one is still just a baby, and was a bit disjointed on day 1 for my palate. Too heavy on the acidity made it feel a bit out of balance for me. Flavors of red raspberry, strawberry, white pepper, and some hints of coffee and bitter dark chocolate. I let half the bottle sit overnight, and it had integrated more and smoothed out the acidity. Fruit became much more sweet, rather than the slight tartness from the high acidity. Delightful wine on day 2 that paired nicely with spicy grilled chicken and broccoli. I'd let this one lay down for another few years. It should be outstanding around 2028 and drink well for another 8-10 years past that.

3/11/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; paired with grilled pork chops and broccoli. Nose of oak, vanilla, and blackberries. Flavors are very rich, full of blackberry and cassis fruit, cigar box, sweet vanilla, with black tea tannins showing up on the lengthy finish. Outstanding wine at this young (for Quilceda Creek) age! Glad I have another to sit on for another 5+ years. Drink now with a couple hours of air - 2038+.

3/7/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; Young Syrah, very fruit-forward and showing lots of oak influence at this point. Flavors of blue and black berries, peppery spice, vanilla and wood. There is a savory component floating around in there too, but I can't put my finger on it...it's not Rocks Funk, but maybe something like fire-grilled beef? Good stuff with a LOT of upside potential. Drink now w/air - 2035+.

3/9/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; a fairly massive wine, dark and brooding, yet surprisingly fruit forward and drinkable. Petite Sirah and Tempranillo... whodathunk? Nice black fruits, spice, vanilla, hints of oak and earth, nicely integrated tannin and acidity. This was a very enjoyable bottle, and I wish I'd picked up more than just the one. I believe this was the first year 4 Hearts was released, and I don't believe I've gotten any since. May have to revisit that next time! Drink now with an hour or two of air - 2036.

3/4/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

1 hour decant; paired nicely with a pesto pizza. Smells of oak barrel, raspberries and vanilla. Flavors of raspberry, kirsch, and garrigue, with hints of white pepper and chalky earth. Tannins are a touch chalky but well-integrated, and the acidity is medium, also well-integrated. This reminds me of a French wine from the Southern Rhone somewhat. I don't see a JS98 at this point, but it is still fairly young. Great wine with definite upside with some additional bottle age. Drink now with air - 2035.

2/29/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

P&P; solid Rocks Syrah, with that lovely Funk and minerality bracketing the black fruit and savory grilled meat flavors. Olive and pepper showing a bit as well. Last bottle of this one, and it drank well. Enjoy now - 2033+.

2/21/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

P&P for my February bottle in the NW Wine Report 2024 Rhone Blend Challenge. Delicious wine, with lush black and blue fruits, vanilla, hints of white pepper and tobacco. In a great place right now, and this drank wonderfully over 2 days. Drink now - 2034.

2/19/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

1 hour slow-ox prior to service; paired with seafood cioppino. Delicious blend that worked well with the heavy saffron tomato broth of our cioppino. Flavors of raspberry and black cherry fruit, sweet tobacco, and oak vanillin, black tea tannins showing on the finish, but very well integrated. Sad it's my last bottle...drink now - 2035.

2/19/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

1 hour decant; paired with seafood cioppino. Delicious, as fully expected! Deep and brooding black fruits, cracked pepper, vanilla and some bitter scorched earth notes on the finish. Great stuff and drinking well right now. Drink now - 2031.

2/18/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Decanted 90 min or so. Much better than the 2017 I had a few days ago, however, this wine started out much the same as that wine. Quite thin and overly acidic, drying tannins, and lack of lush fruit made me worry a bit. I left 2/3 of the bottle vacu-sealed on the counter (<65*) overnight and was rewarded this evening with a much better-integrated wine. Fruit is now at the forefront instead of acid, tannins have smoothed out, and while the acidity still feels quite high, it's not as shockingly apparent as on day 1, and my reflux didn't trigger from it. Black currants and cherries, woodsmoke, hints of baking spices, and some vanillin oak on the finish. Tasting both the 2017 and 2018 vintages of this wine within a week has me thinking they probably need more cellar time. Both were out of sorts on day 1, even after a decant. While the 2018 came around overnight, and was ultimately enjoyable, the 2017 did not get there. Recommend holding both vintages until at least 2025, but preferably 10 years past vintage. Will try to do that myself, but I'm notorious for popping things too early...

2/17/2024 - RPerro wrote:

Decanted 2 hours and drank over 3 days. Reading other notes, I was really excited to try this wine. Unfortunately, this just isn't my style of Syrah. I could say the same for the Pax Sonoma Hillsides Syrah... highly rated, but just not for me. I need more fruit, and WAY less acid. With food, this one was pretty good, but my reflux kicked in hard when drinking it alone. I hate to be the guy that brings down the average, but there it is. Black and red berry fruit, white pepper, hints of black olive and brine. Nicely integrated tannins, but that acidity is just too much for me. I had hoped with some extended aeration it would even out the acidity, but it never happened over 3 days of consumption (stored vacu-sealed in it's bottle on the counter at <65*). I'm going to sit on my 2nd bottle of the 2019 to see if it comes around in...5 years or so?

2/17/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Bought with a couple of the guys at Ruth's Chris in Portland. Popped and poured, paired with their excellent steak sandwich on Happy Hour. Rich and mouthcoating, with nice texture. Black currant and vanilla flavors are most apparent, with secondary flavors of earth, cigar box and dark chocolate coming in on the finish. Really nice wine, although at the restaurant price it's a fairly poor QPR. I'd buy this again at retail though. Ready to go now with a bit of aeration and should drink well through 2034.

2/14/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Berserker Day 2024 purchase; P&P through an aerator. Flavors of cassis and cherry fruit, some earth and tobacco, and a vanilla coffee finish. Quite bright and acidic at this point, and thinner than I expected based on older vintages I had 10-15 years ago. Not sure if it's vintage or winemaker style, but I definitely prefer the older stuff. This may just be a bit on the young side right now too...time will tell. This was a great pairing with pot roast and mashed potatoes though! Drink now with air - 2032.

2/12/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; popped for Super Bowl and finished the next evening. This wine is outstanding, by itself or paired with food. Black fruits, espresso, hints of grilled beef, violets and dark chocolate. I'd say it hasn't really changed much in the last couple years, so no rush to open these. Drink now - 2035.

2/11/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

1 hour decant; Flavors of blackberry fruit, smoked beef and Rocks Funk. This was singing on all fronts; even on day 2. Delicious! Drink now - 2033.

2/10/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; paired with Thai curry, which honestly wasn't the greatest pairing. Flavors echo my previous note: Blackberry compote, vanilla, a bit of smoked meat and pepper. Stored 1/2 bottle overnight on the counter (<65*, vacu-sealed in the bottle) and day 2 it was MUCH more tannic than day 1. Hard to drink without some food to cut the tannins, but still very good stuff, and still nowhere near peak. Drink now with air - 2033+.

2/8/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; Another amazing Andremily Syrah! Flavors of blackberry liqueur, freshly cracked peppercorn, and sweet vanilla with hints of oak. Silky smooth texture with intense fruit, and tannins that reared their heads in earnest on day 2. Still just a baby, this wine has years of development ahead...likely decades of it. No rush; drink now with some decanting through 2038+.

2/6/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; This is outstanding Cabernet for $22! Very impressed it is drinking so well so young too. Cassis and black cherry fruit with pipe tobacco and hints of loam. Finish showing some vanilla and coffee. Nice acidity and very mild tannin. This will only get better over the next 5 years. Drink now with air - 2031.

2/2/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; great wine in a really nice place right now. Flavors of red and black berries, tobacco, loamy earth, black tea tannins and some cocoa on the lengthy finish. Really liking this one! Drink now - 2032+.

1/31/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

After my first bottle was corked, I HAD to open my 2nd (and last) to scratch this itch, having not tried any Piolet wine before and the Spring offer dropping in a few days. 2 hour decant; notes from day 2 (375ml vacuvined and stored at 65* overnight). Nose of huckleberry, currant and tobacco, following to the palate. This reminds me of Quilceda Creek quite a bit. Very robust structure...probably too young at this stage, but really drinking well on day 2. Lots of sediment in the bottle, so be aware and don't get a mouthful of chunks like I did. I'd say hold for another couple of years if you can, or else decant 3 hours minimum. This one should be outstanding at age 10 and drink well through 20 or even longer!

1/30/2024 - RPerro wrote:

Super stinky with TCA! I could smell it wafting from the bottle right after opening. Needless to say, this went down the drain. :(

1/29/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; This wine is truly outstanding! Rich, black fruit integrated nicely with acid and tannin, following through to a lengthy finish of vanilla oak and espresso with hints of dark chocolate. Kinda sad I didn't go deeper on this vintage...maybe I can find more. Drink now - 2033+.

1/25/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; paired with grilled pork chops and broccoli. Rich and mouthcoating, lush blue and black fruit, sweet vanilla, dusty earth, and coffee. Still just a baby that should drink well for another 15-20 years with proper storage.

1/23/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Spot on with my previous notes. Great juice!

1/25/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Opened for my January bottle in the NW Wine Report 2024 Rhone Blend Challenge. Let's do this!

Slow-ox for a couple hours, then consumed over 2 days w/a half bottle vacu-sealed and left on the counter overnight at <65*.

This wine is just outstanding...very fresh, and full bodied, with flavors of blackberry, fig, tobacco leaf, a bit of woodsmoke, and espresso-heavy mocha. Delicious on day 1 and I'd say even more so on day 2. Nothing out of place on either day; day 2 was just a bit more integrated. No rush to open these...I'd drink now with some air - 2033+.

1/21/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; this is some seriously good juice! Dark and brooding, with ample Rocks Funk on the nose, and some blackberries hiding behind it. In the mouth, this is silky and elegant, with no hard edges. Blackberry leads the attack, with some funky and vanilla showing on the midpalate, and cocoa and espresso closing it out. Finish goes on for a bit too. Really great stuff; very happy I have several more. Drink now - 2037.

1/14/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant; deliciously savory red and black berry fruits, pepper, saline, hints of seaweed and oak barrel. Finishes strong and long, with dark chocolate, coffee and vanilla. Great stuff only just entering its window, so no rush to open these. Drink now with air - 2032+.

1/17/2024 - RPerro wrote:

Consistent with prior notes.

1/16/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

P&P; super-umami flavors, showing coffee, soysauce, brine, and smoked meat, with black berry fruits and hints of oak. Finish is quite savory with loads of bitter dark chocolate. Great stuff, sad it's my last bottle. Drink now - 2031.

1/13/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

3 hour decant; super rich and extracted sweet cassis fruit, almost liqueur-like, with touches of tobacco, earth and oak barrel. Vanillin finish, quite long. Some grit in each glass as well. Good wine paired with grass-fed meatloaf and mashed potatoes. Drink now - 2032.

1/11/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

Splash decant; Quite savory with black and blue fruit, vanilla, barrel spice, and dark chocolate and coffee bringing up the finish. Delicious! Drink now - 2033+.

1/9/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

90 min decant; really nice right off the pop once it warmed a bit from cellar temp. Blackberry, oak, vanilla, hints of dark chocolate and coffee. Tannins took a firm grip of the second half of the bottle on day 2 (vacu-sealed and left on the counter at 65*), but still quite nice. No rush on these...drink 2025-2038.

1/9/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

P&P; great cassis and black cherry flavors on day 1, day 2 was full-on CHERRY. Really nice wine, paired well with pretty much everything. Drink now - 2029.

1/4/2024 - RPerro Likes this wine:

2 hour decant on day 1; this echoes my last bottle back in October '23. Tight at first, showing blueberry and cassis fruit, tobacco, and a nice finish of sweet vanilla oak. Had the second half of the bottle on day 2 and it was even better and more integrated. Smooth as silk with no rough edges. Bumped the score up a point based on this. Also, no rush to open these as they are still just infants. Lots of time left here, but ready to go with a little air time right now, and should drink well for another 15 years or more. For sub-$40, this is a STEAL!

12/31/2023 - RPerro Likes this wine:

3 hour slow-ox; Big wine with lots of fruit, showing red and black raspberry, sweet tobacco, hints of oak and vanilla, and espresso on the finish. Just an outstanding wine that knocks it out of the park every time. Drink now - 2030+.