2/5/2023 - Babik Does not like this wine:

Can’t tell if this is supposed to be so flawed or not; have had some “natural” or “wild” wines that taste like this. Decantes four hours and tried last night, and back in Kyle overnight in cellar and tried again tonight Both times all I got was horseshit. Literally. Worst brett experience ever.

10/17/2022 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank. Thought there was a VA issue. Went through that and a porty period so put back in decanter for later. After three hours was a good wine, nice Grenache notes and full-bodied but nothing spectacular.

6/30/2022 - Babik Likes this wine:

Check RHORSEY’s note below - nailed it. Particularly the neutral oil note; very well-put and not sure I’ve detected specifically neutral oil, and this really is that, in a Syrah before. This wine has so many interesting nuances, very savory but the high-toned acidity also as stated in the other notes very cool wine. 93 on intellectual pleasure.

6/30/2022 - Babik Likes this wine:

Double decanted and drank over three hours; kept at 55 in between pours. Love this stuff; the mouthfeel is incredible. Honestly thought it was a bit much at the start when I popped past bottles of Andremily rose, and like other posters almost wouldn’t say it’s a like other rose at all exactly, but this time after the decant we had this out of big Bordeaux glasses - perfect! This needs a large bowl and then you have a wine that is varietally correct but every aspect is up to 11. Not afraid to give this rose 94. Drink up!

6/29/2022 - Babik Likes this wine:

This rose continues to impress; had my first bottle 4 years ago. Still bright and fresh but also has lots of body and richness; if you truly tasted blind (eyes closed) you might guess white burg. Wish I had more bottles of this. If you have 1, drink now. If you have more, drink now and then hold the other for another 4 years!

That note was from PNP. After a couple hours lost some steam. In retrospect: drink now on PNP at cellar temp and enjoy!

4/27/2022 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank an hour later. Very well-integrated and smooth but still early in drinking window. Don't recall specifics well enough to rate but low-mid 90s for sure.

3/2/2022 - Babik Likes this wine:

This is very pretty. Has good balance and still some grainy/light chalky tannins and has decent acidity so honestly would hold if you have one bottle left; still pretty fresh. Delicious Paso wild strawberry jam and bramble Grenache on the palate; not as giving on the nose, more alcohol there. Decanted 1 hr then back in bottle for 2 hr and was all the better for it. Wish I had another to try in a few years.

12/31/2021 - Babik wrote:

All VA. So disappointing. Didn’t get any better after a day open in cellar 😫

8/21/2021 - Babik Does not like this wine:

Decanted 30 mins. Had the expected Rocks Syrah notes I was hoping for, but also a strong minty/pyrazine note I couldn’t ignore. With food it was highly elevated. Bad bottle? I don’t know but I bought a bunch of this stuff and hoping other bottles are better. Curious if others have tasted that note …

8/20/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

Beautiful wine. Has a large lush oily mouthfeel with white flowers and citrus and chamomile and toasted nuts you might expect from this blend from this region, all large and in charge, but with that Stefan minerality, and delivered nicely as a PnP. However, on day 2 and now day 3 this wine has narrowed focus and become an almost lithe elegant version of day one that is just fantastic. Unless you have several I would lay down a few years. 94 if rating.

5/23/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

My prior tasting note rings true except much more integrated today; creamy and pliant but with plenty of acidity. Still some heat but just a really nice Grenache. 92 if rating.

5/17/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

5hr slow ox and 1 hr decant; 1/3 bottle for day 2. Other tasters here nailed it; perhaps too young but still so good. The bacon essence and olive elements really are at the forefront, which some may find unbalanced. Fruit does come lurking. After long decant and day 2 was so smooth and seamless, with not a gap between various overtures of notes. I suspect this will get better but still 96 now if rating.

5/17/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours and saved 1/2 bottle for day 2. First day this had the nice dusty dried strawberries and savory qualities I expect from Torrin grenache, and developed a great creamy mouthfeel over the evening and definitely day 2. Think Special K Red Berries, milk and all, but make it all savory. I was not a fan of this at release in the tasting room, but this has come together. Acidity and tannin to last. 94 if rating.

5/17/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted ~2 hours. Was standard Torrin JBV (for me) at first, but over next couple hours really came together. Generally find this cuvee to not be too integrated; much more the parts than the sum, and as such usually our least favorite of the lineup. At release this was a mishmash, and was better after the short decant, but really was quite nice after a couple more hours. Give this some more time or long (>4hr) decant; dusty tannins and ample acidity will keep this a while so lay em if you got em. 90 if rating.

5/17/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

PNP. At first all salty lemon nose; a bit austere on palate. After 15 mins in glass smooths out and gets full and oily on palate. Nose broadens to toasted nuts, different citrus fruits; minerality gets more chalky. Quite refreshing. Gets smoky as glass warms. Just what I wanted tonight; 94 if rating.

5/1/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

See Quiet Lion and Lord’s tasting notes below; I’m aligned with those. Particularly to try it PnP. It got better in the glass but the evolution over the initial hour or so shouldn’t be missed. Impressive concentration and depth for such a weightless silky sip.

4/12/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted and followed over 4 hours; last sips were the best. Wasn’t showing well for more than an hour then started coming around. Tough to tell the longevity for this one as it softened so much by hour 5; might be in its best spot in the next few years with a good decant to avoid getting into the no acid zone.

3/15/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

1hr decant while finishing off a Booker estate of the same year that was on the downside of its drinking window; this HS BN Syrah is ready to go and peaking now. This bottle has been untouched cellared since release and needs to be consumed; drink this year.

3/14/2021 - Babik Does not like this wine:

NBKAT8’s note is spot-on. I’m guessing the drinking window ended because I had a bottle some years back and it was good. Drink years ago or place in time machine.

2/20/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank. This was meaty and delicious from the get-go. As others have said, definitely try one now if you have multiple. Evolved quite a bit over the three hours consumed from decanter, but was good the whole time.

1/19/2021 - Babik Does not like this wine:

Mistakenly labeled under 50% whole cluster heading; notes from last night:

Yesterday: Decanted 30 mins and drank. This was a menthol mess from the get-go, and didn’t change over two hours. There may have been other notes in there but the menthol nose and palate was so off-putting. Put back in bottle under cork and tried again tonight and the same if not worse: all menthol and mint. I’ve had other Myriad wines and they’ve been good, including their syrahs, so I’m trying to believe this wine is ruined/spoiled/corked in some way, but I’ve not had a corked wine that displayed this character. Be interested to know if others have had a similar profile from a corked wine.

1/8/2021 - Babik Likes this wine:

Double decanted and back in cellar for 3 hours and based on prior tastings this approach is the way to go. See other tasters' notes for specifics, and add a browned butter minerality on the back end of the other notes; really quite rich. I imagine you love the style or don't enjoy it at all. If drinking on its own a bit too rich and loses a bit of minerality as it warms; recommend leave in cellar or fridge until serving. Leaving 1/3 bottle corked in cellar to see how it fares overnight. Not a lot of experience with Aubert but excited to taste through the lineup if this is the entry level! Perhaps 94 if rating.

12/11/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

From memory: Really nice right out of the gate at celllar temp. Toasted almonds with some grilled lemon and faint roasted garlic notes. You can tell it’s got a lot of oak but in a good way. Doesn’t have the tension to lay down, unfortunately; a touch more acidity and this would really be something. Drink up. 93 if rating.

12/9/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank over 4 hours. Beautiful high-toned chambord jolly rancher Paso Grenache on the nose; this was most of the palate on PNP. As the hours passed the body came into play; the acidity and tannin are well-matched, but the herbal and meaty notes still play distant seconds to the pure fruit, which is not a bad thing and why I liked Sticks and Stones. Opened partly out of fear from reading other notes hinting at decline but this is in a great spot and will still coast for a few years. This is fruit-forward to be sure, but the balance hasn’t changed since release. 93 if rating.

10/11/2020 - Babik wrote:

Tasted right on decant, and was a bit tart but smoothies out over 30 minutes and was great, as others describe. However, then I let it sit 1 hr in decanter. Nose dominated by a minty green pyrazine note, followed by other aromas others have described. Green notes on palate are more in the background, but still there. I assume I have an off bottle? 92 if rating ignoring the pyrazine; nice and juicy otherwise.

4/4/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

In glass for 30 mins. Grapefruit, smoky lemon, river pebbles, faint jasmine and chamomile; very distant orange zest. On the palate a sing of razor sharp kjnerality and acidity; just mouth watering. On the back end the rest comes through. Had to try one but I’d hold a few years for it to round out; going to be fantastic though I think.

3/10/2020 - Babik wrote:

Decanted and nothing but pigshit; so much Brett. Will decant a couple hours and see what comes through …

Three hours later some warmth and fruit and herbs came through but will vac seal and try tomorrow. 90 if rating tonight.

3/9/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted 20 mins; needs more. Intense rich grenache wild strawberry liqueur, scorched earth, licorice, mineral streak. Palate is all that with mouthfuls of dusty tannin. This is intense but good now though 4 more years in bottle and it's probably in just the right spot.

3/4/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

See previous notes but more high-toned wild red fruits (raspberry, ripe strawberry) come thorough, and ends up more towards the 426 Days Grenache bottling than the standard bien nacido Grenache. Really nice, really big. Tannin fully resolved; drink now.

3/4/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

See notes from a year ago, which I should have read myself; has maybe budged an inch but still needs years. Definitely mid 90s in time.

2/15/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

Double decanted and needed it; really started to smooth out at hour 3. I don't think this is built for the long haul but needs lots of air to round out the funk and allow all the fruit to show.

2/15/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

Agree with previous notes; this was double decanted and really started to show well after 4 hours. On PnP was quite coiled with serious acidity; may be best to wait a few years. Good QPR.

1/7/2020 - Babik Does not like this wine:

Nose of oak, cherry Halls, some raspberry, rhubarb. Sour cherry and drying thin oak palate, no real body to speak of. Finish is watered down Hawaiian Punch. “Oh Yeah!” Actually - no.

1/6/2020 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted and drank. See Eric Guido’s note from 06 Nov 2019: spot on. Savory elements are huge in this wine. For my palate this is balanced and won’t hold to the end of the drinking window; drink up.

12/25/2019 - Babik wrote:

3 hour decant. Flat nose then on the palate: soy sauce. I’m praying my mag isn’t ruined as well.

11/29/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted 15 mins. Sweet smoked blueberries, seaweed, chocolate caramel on the nose. Palate has lost some energy. Some dusty tannin at the end a bit higher than expected given loss of acidity at this stage; still really nice though. Drink now.

11/28/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Wow! Silky and intense. Refer to CSIMMS’s note(s). So much potential you can feel then there is a building glide that explodes across the palate. Decanted two hours and enjoyed yesterday, then vac sealed 1/2 bottle and have had it in the glass for 40 mins and it honestly hasn’t budged. I get the recommendation to let it blossom. BUT, no harm in enjoying one now ��

9/25/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted three hours. Still quite primary; would let alone for a few more years at least.

9/13/2019 - Babik wrote:

Day 1: Pruney porty mess, from opening to decanting and three hours later. Probably 80 if rating. Oddly bottle has been impeccably stored since purchase from Tablas and the cork looked great with the telltale sediment/wine cake on the liquid side with no cracks/leakage. Just a very bad bottle?

Have one more 2010 left and very curious to see what that one is like! Alas, buried in the cellar so can’t compare head to head.

Vac sealed in cellar overnight. Uncorked in morning and slow oxed another 10 hours.

Night 2: finally some candied raspberry and chambord notes emerge to balance out the porty notes which have taken on a beefy quality on the palate but still distracting on the nose. Won’t rate above as I’m guessing this needs a 48 hour decant? 90 otherwise.

8/19/2019 - Babik wrote:

Night 1: Decanted. Acrid Welch’s followed by mouthful of unbleached flour. After 4 hours in decanter, started to picture what others have mentioned in their TNs, but not quite integrated even then. Left open in cellar and will check back and adjust rating tomorrow. Guessing needs another 3-5 years but a night open in the cellar will be telling.

Night 4: was open a night in cellar but didn't seem to do it. Vac sealed and tried a few days later and it came around and was better integrated. Don't get the accolades; poor QPR.

8/11/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

See prior notes; unyielding. Needs more like 5-10 more years.

8/5/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

PNP from a 375. So lush and crisp. Amazing wet mineral nose and palate, with fruits that follow as described below. Drink up on the 375s!

8/3/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

This was great last night on PNP but even better today after vac sealed and back in cellar. Beautiful honey color with lots of fruits, herbs, some pepper, and of course the savory sweetness. I’d hate to see the go over the edge as it’s so good right now; drink up!

8/3/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

RUMI’s and others’ notes below are spot-on for the tasting when the wine finally comes around. On night one with 60 mins in decanter this was unyielding. After reboot long, vac sealing overnight in cellar, and another 60 mins air today it’s starting to be that familiar Iso. This needs a few years; the CT drinking window is probably accurate here.

7/18/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

INTERNATIONALWINEREPORT and Jeff Leve’s notes are spot on, and this can be enjoyed now, but needs a vigorous decant.

7/7/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted 30 minutes. Reminds me a bit of the Myriad NV cab but way more red fruit, veggies, and more delicate; okay perhaps not like it at all. Lots of menthol and herbs on the nose with the red fruit, even some ginger in with the fresh tobacco. Palate is nice and light with acidity and bright red fruit, some powdery tannins that build. Probably better to hold bottles a few more years, and consume on the cooler side.

7/2/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Very pretty nose with a strong fresh ripe wild strawberry note. Very light spice note; maybe Indian or Moroccan. Very light cured meat note. Very nice mouthfeel though not integrated, still has all the great elements. Ample tannin and the bright fruit will take this a long way. Decanted 30 minutes and was great right away.

6/5/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Notes from 2017 hold except the acidity still present is surprising, and it’s become more creamy and integrated. If you only have one bottle I would hold; beets years are still ahead.

3/28/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Same notes from 8/2018 apply. This hasn’t moved at all; so maybe can last a while. Sad this is my last bottle. CT window is off?

3/28/2019 - Babik Likes this wine:

Decanted four hours. Dark dark dark. Excellent, but hold hold hold.