3/12/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:

Return to Napa; 3/6/2022-3/13/2022 (Wineries and various restaurants): Big and bold and dark and structured and still very much needs a lot of time. This is one of those monster wines that if you need to drink now needs a good overnight decant but really needs maybe 20 years.

4/25/2023 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

If all Bordeaux was like this, I'd drink more of it. No "brett" here. Savory fruit and a beautiful silky mouth feel. Need more!

4/1/2023 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

Thirty minutes of air and it was showing well, but after an hour it was even better. The way it evolved over the night proved it certainly has the stuffing to last another 10-15 years.

Initially it was fruit forward but the mid-palate started to really flesh out with a hint of menthol over time.

My issue is that it tries to straddle the line between Bdx and Napa stylistically while not really being one or the other. This indecision really holds the wine back from being great and confirms my decision to not invest in the following vintages.

In the end it's a well made wine that is certainly enjoyable and has a decent QPR IF you got it at under retail.

9/21/2022 - DavilaDC wrote:

You need more time before opening this one. It was too big, too fruity, too sweet, and too cloying. The acid was fine as the wine wasn't flabby, but something just wasn't right.

3/30/2021 - Collector1855 wrote:

During a testing session at a WSET school. Deep garnet, complex and dark pitched nose with licorice, dark cherry, vanilla and some sous bois. I would have guessed CDP. Rich and ripe but the balance works due to the freshness and well judged dry extract.

7/21/2016 - DavilaDC wrote:

Smooth and round in the mouth with tannins that were soft. Medium bodied that was dark garnet in the glass. The nose was full of black cherries, blackberry, vanilla and toasted oak.

This wine is absolutely brilliant now.

4/7/2022 - Paul852 wrote:

Very ripe dark red fruits on the nose , and these continue to the palate. For me this is too ripe and Parkerised, no elegance. Not a repeat buy for me at the ~US$21 I paid, although I can see that it might appeal to those that prefer big, unsubtle, in your face type wines.

EDIT - on day 2 the "in your face ness" has moderated a bit, but it's still a bit over ripe for my taste. Maybe an 84/85 on day 2.

10/21/2021 - CWilliam wrote:

Drank over 2 nights - better on night 2. On night 1 thought wine was tainted from volatile acidity and drank 1/2 a glass and then dumped it out. On night 2, much better. On nose, crunchy red berry fruit (strawberry / cranberry) - this fleshed out on night 2 to include blueberry, saline and meat. On palate, red fruits with sweet tobacco and licorice. Medium body, high acidity, low tannins and long finish. 89+/- night 1 and 92+ night 2.

This wine really fooled me - I have had earlier vintages of this and it was a huge (but well structured wine). This bottle was more Rioja like given flavor profile. Maybe the vintage?

9/12/2021 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

Spanish Wine with a Chef (Pawleys Island, SC): Totally out performing all of its professional ratings, this bottle has integrated the oak so well to bring out a new world version of Rioja that is beautiful in the glass, even IF it might lack a little essence or sense of place. Beautiful deep dark maroon color with no signs of browning around the edges. Silky smooth with loads of cherry and vanilla on the palate with perfect acidity. Feel free to let this rest for longer or drink now, I can see both sides to that argument. One of the best I've ever had from CVNE.

8/25/2021 - Tacoma714 wrote:

Love hate experience. Bought it based on wine critic reviews and was absolutely disappointed. Maybe its young or maybe it just doesnt have the potential. Very light wine, all the traditional Tempranillo notes and flavors but extremely light. I know the price seems enticing but I would stay away.

8/14/2021 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

Almonds, walnuts and honey on the nose. A mild lemon acidity on the palate. The best part is it's just going to get better. For now, it's an absolutely stunning wine and my all time favorite bottle of white.

3/8/2020 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

This is getting even better over time. The nose is even more explosive than my earlier TN along with tannins that are brilliantly smoothing out and integrating so well. One of the best Napa cabs I've had and probably the best example of Atlas Peak.

4/19/2020 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

This bottle is the tale of two different experiences. The palate is STUNNING!!! Smooth, rich, opulent and absolutely sexy. Black fruit, licorice and menthol with a second gear that the mid-palate brings in to give a bit of mint.

But, dear God, what happened to the nose??? Even after an hour we continued to get this dusty undertone on the nose that held back the overall impression. The bottle was not corked. Maybe just a variant?

1/1/2021 - DrBad Likes this wine:

Had next to Anderson's CVV '95 Estate Cab for New Year's day steak dinner the Seavey was the clear winner showing little signs of age. The cork was firm and came out clean with an Ah So, mostly just stained at the tip. Decanted about 30 minutes to remove sediment this drank great from the first glass and showed no sign of fading over 5 hours. The color is still reddish purple with only a hint of browning at the rim. Some dark fruit on the nose dominated by cigar and cedar. Full bodied and rich on the palate with many layers of red and dark fruits and a long finish with round tannins, mint and licorice. Really remarkable how well this is drinking at age 26. One more left which I will wait at least a few more years on, maybe open at year 30.

1/4/2021 - Paul852 Does not like this wine:

Obviously something I've had a glass of many times at parties, but this is the first time I've sat down at home with a bottle gifted to us.

The nose is a little yeasty, which follows to the palate which is thin, bland, no bite, utterly, utterly boring. What finish there is is slightly cloying.

I really don't see the attraction of this wine - it is bland, uninteresting, fizzy grape juice. No complexity, no weight to stand up to food, and not at all more-ish.

At this price point (~US$36) there are so many much more interesting champagnes out there. The 41000 bottles in CT cellars demonstrate the power of branding and marketing over substance.

6/13/2020 - DavilaDC wrote:

I get the feeling that it was still trying to remain two separate wines inside one bottle. I get the pinot noir in the color and nose. Then I get the chardonnay as a massive primary flavor profile. But they never seemed to integrate. The part that kills it for me is the finish reminds me of lemon seltzer (almost artificial lemon flavor), acidic and thin.

Pair it with oysters or caviar and the acidity will cut through any fat on the palate. For me, unfortunately at this price point it shouldn't need to hide behind food.

10/23/2020 - DavilaDC Does not like this wine:

Bitter dark chocolate and green notes abound. We didn't even finish the bottle. The bottle was not corked.

5/22/2020 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

Tonight's bottle was consistent with my previous note.

It needs 30-45 minutes of air before you can even think of enjoying this bottle.

4/19/2020 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

More red fruit than blue or black fruit on the nose. The tannins are soft which makes this immediately enjoyable. Unfortunately, it's lacking a mid-palate that gives you anything to think about. Slightly one dimensional.

1/11/2020 - lundmc Likes this wine:

Strong first impression- very enjoyable right now, and probable the evolution will be great. Red fruits up front, with some dark fruits and hints of some tertiary pieces that will come out. Buy more of this vintage, drink or hold- no wrong answers with this one.

Update 07 July 2020: try to get more of this vintage if Jason has any more. Had multiple bottles- excellent.

5/8/2019 - mchern02 wrote:

2 hour decant; still too hedonistic for my taste.

1st is 6 bottles; will lay down for two or three years. I’m not sure this is in line to “get better” but maybrelax a bit

Just massive without a lot of structure or cohesive ended. Alcohol is high and it comes through on upfront bomb and somewhat heat-induced finish.

RE-bottled and will try again tomorrow. Updated notes to come

UPDATE: opened after 24 hours and poured another glass.

Mellowed a bit but still quite large. I wouldn’t call it at all a California fruit bomb just is quite big.

Nose: dark fruit, violet petals, a bit of green and a bit of anise.

Palate: mouth coating tannins and a mix of hotness; more dark fruits and plums. Not balanced from a structure and acidity

Finish m: fine length with a mix of tannins and heat.

Will wait 2-3 years for the next one.

I’d also wait another 24 hours and try again

Either way, better QPRs out there for sure

2/19/2019 - DavilaDC Likes this wine:

Ordered at a Michelin Star restaurant in Bilbao and the sommelier "warned us" against it saying it's not your typical white wine. Having ordered it anyway, the chef came out to see the bottle and tweak a few things we ordered. For example, he replaced the lemon that accompanied the oysters with lime and did that set off this wine!

Almost amber in color and a body to match the hue. The nose was full of almonds, herbs and honey but with a fresh acidity.

If it wasn't for the food, I could understand the reviews here that are not so positive when this bottle is asked to stand alone. But, when paired correctly this wine is like nothing else.

7/12/2018 - Racer117 Likes this wine:

If you look in the dictionary between Burgundy and Sonoma, you'll find this.

This has rich cherry fruit and is full bodied but its wonderfully reserved. Excellent.

5/18/2018 - #1Winelover Likes this wine:

Wine dinner and tasting with Tim Mondavi. We tasted Robert Mondavi Reserve '97 and '99, and Continuum '05, '11, and '14.

This was much easier to drink. It smelled great, was a nice deep color or purple and red, and still had fruit and backbone.

5/14/2018 - vinomex wrote:

Easy drink. My brother in law really liked it. A little softer than expected for a mountainside wine. Enjoyable, great drink alone or with food, but at this price point, there are better options out there. Solid 90.

4/12/2018 - brouigu1 Likes this wine:

Good Pinot no doubt.

PnP and consumed with some light snacks of cheese, crackers and nuts. Bright purple, good clarity and a nose of fresh ripe cherries.

Well balanced and the ripe fruits of cherry and cranberry shine on. Soft mouth feel and decently integrated already.

I do enjoy Domaine Serene wines and have for many years but as their prices inch up I find I turn to equally as good Oregon Pinot from multiple sources and at half the price.

11/23/2017 - grover91 Does not like this wine:

One dusty note throughout. No discernible fruit. Sour tannins on the finish. Maybe there was an issue with this bottle, since my experience was so off of the other reviews.

9/18/2016 - ColluraJ Does not like this wine:

Medium purplish color and clear. Aromatic with some age. Aromas of steamed vegetables, petrol and coal. Bone dry with a medium body. Tart acidity and medium tannins. Unbalanced with moderate favors of tannin, hydrochloric acid and white vinegar. Poor.

6/17/2016 - drrobvino wrote:

I'm not a fan of bruiser, new world Syrah. Especially in the $75 range. Too much gummy fruit and glycerin is not my cup of tea.
This wine is something I purchased way back in 2010, when I thought collecting expensive poser wines was the way to go, and I've been cellaring ever since. I think time has been a good thing for this wine, as the big and burly edges were at least partially polished off with 9 yrs of bottle age.
From memory: an alluring nose of ripe and obvious new world black fruit, with some added BBQ smoke road tar. The palate is nice and full for sure, repeating flavors from the nose, with a bit of spice, and showing ample med acidity alongside a fairly long and even finish of black fruit syrup.
A very good quality wine, made in a big style, because that is what most RRV microclimates will give you...but not over the top, in this wine. Drink now through 2022 or so. Quite good, but not good value for the $ at $75.