4/7/2020 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

We've been drinking down some of our older KBs. The 08s are certainly past their prime and need to be consumed. We've drunk the Russian, Sonoma, Amber, the 3 K's, Gary's and Rosella's. These in combination with their 09 counterparts.

08's drink up

09's drain up soon. The last bottle we drank of the 09 is the Sonoma Coast. This wine is drinking awesome right now. Don't wait much longer if you want to experience a stellar wine.

I am amazed at its dept and structure at 11 years in. Drink and be happy with the experience.

3/28/2020 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Drank with the 08. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

3/28/2020 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Drank with the 08. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

3/28/2020 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Drank with the 08. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

3/18/2020 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Drank with the 08. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year)

3/28/2020 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

A little light, still showing the Kosta Browne expression - drink now. Drank with the 09. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

3/25/2020 - TwistedArmadillo wrote:

A little light, still showing the Kosta Browne expression - drink now. Drank with the 09. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

3/25/2020 - TwistedArmadillo wrote:

A little light, still showing the Kosta Browne expression - drink now. Drank with the 09. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

3/28/2020 - TwistedArmadillo wrote:

A little light, still showing the Kosta Browne expression - drink now. Drank with the 09. The 09 still has a bit of time (this year).

2/3/2019 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Compared to the 1998 Château Gazin Pomerol drank first, this wine is not as sophisticated. Still a very nice wine.

2/3/2019 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Not sure about the other comments. This wine is sophisticated, balanced, and a beautiful wine at 20yr old.

1/19/2019 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Still drinking nicely - nothing different than previous note.

7/22/2018 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Very pleasantly surprised by this wine - great value for the price. Dark black fruit, spice - not fruity. Drinking well now, will be interesting to see how it shows over the next few years.

7/7/2018 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely. Everything you would expect in a CA Pinot. Nose cedar, graphite, inky purple color, flavor profile consistent with previous bottles.

6/17/2018 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Agree with previous notes from 2015, still holding its own.

3/27/2018 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Nice wine - next time I'll give it a proper tasting note.

8/18/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Excellent, looking forward to seeing how this port ages.

11/16/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

This wine has matured nicely. Decanted for about 2 hours. All the flavor profiles you expect, it is spectacular. If you have a few bottles you are holding - pull on out and enjoy at what I think is its peak.

6/28/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Was given this wine a few years ago and tonight seemed to be a great night to bring it up from the cellar. A nice wine with the characteristics expected of a CA Cab. I wouldn't hold this wine much longer. It is drinking nicely right now.

6/23/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

One of my favorites, and last of this vintage. I'm glad I drank it as it has lost a bit of luster and is on the down swing. Most of the flavors others have stated present, but pretty muted with a quick finish. I wouldn't hold this wine much longer.

6/17/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

An 83 for this wine is just too low. I was given this wine and it has been sitting in the cellar for some years. As I read the other reviews I was a bit worried that this wine was going to be Kool-Aid. It is actually a lovely wine, and a great value at the price point - probably due to it being aged for some years in the cellar. Nose: smoke, pencil savings, dark stone fruit, cassis, a bit of 'green/herbal'. Legs: medium. Palate: dark stone fruit, cassis, a bit of graphite. Finish: a bit lite, but it does linger nicely. I think the difference in the 3+ years since last tasting note is significant. It is drinking nicely now, but can age a few more years without a loosing its structure. The problem with these lower priced wines is that they are bought and drank to quickly - they need time to mature a bit. For most, a few extra years in the bottle makes all the difference. This is a wine that can be bought by the case and stored several years if you have the room - the end result will be worth it.

6/16/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Agree with QUAFFNOV 2015 note. Two years later still showing well with very similar profile.

6/7/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Nice wine, good structure. Should hold for another few years without issue.

6/3/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

For the price point a nice wine. Nose of leather, and cassis - rustic barnyard hints; palette pencil shavings, leather, dark fruit - a good finish.

6/2/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Nose - funky barnyard, slight black cherry fruit; Palette - vanilla, spice, dusty, cherry cola, dry; Finish - medium to long; Structure - moderately complex. Overall, nice wine.

5/27/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Spectacular! I agree with others, this wine is certainly at a peak. All the characteristics of what you would expect of a KB, dark candid fruit, and leather notes on the nose. Mature, well integrated, spice, cola, more black than red fruit on the palate as others have noted.

5/27/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

This wine has matured nicely. Exactly what you would expect from this wine. As stated before, garnet colored, slow legs, candied raspberry, cherry on the nose; balanced with a hint of smoked bacon and dark cherry on the palate. It is an outstanding wine.

2/4/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Absolutely awesome wine. Decided to drink one to see how it was aging. Wonderful flavor profile, everything you would expect from this wine. No need to rush this one.

1/1/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

ID 115003, 163ème Edition. Exquisite champagne. Drank with friends in celebration of achieving doctoral degree - perfect champagne for the occasion.

1/1/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Lovely champagne, agree with the other posts. Great value

1/1/2017 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Paired with rack of lamb, roasted brussel sprouts with french country blend of spices, and roasted potatoes with rosemary. Drank as a vertical with 2003 and 2004. Each wine paired well with the food. The 2002 compared to the others had more dried fruit on the palate (dried white raisins with a slight hint of fig), dry and dusty mouth feel. The 2003 had more ripe fruit on the palate with barnyard mouth feel on the palate, and the 2004 was more similar to the 2002, but not as dusty/dry. Overall everyone ranked the wines 2002 best, then the 2004, with the 2003 behind.

12/31/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Paired with rack of lamb, roasted brussel sprouts with french country blend of spices, and roasted potatoes with rosemary. Drank as a vertical with 2003 and 2004. Each wine paired well with the food. The 2002 compared to the others had more dried fruit on the palate (dried white raisins with a slight hint of fig), dry and dusty mouth feel. The 2003 had more ripe fruit on the palate with barnyard mouth feel on the palate, and the 2004 was more similar to the 2002, but not as dusty/dry. Overall everyone ranked the wines 2002 best, then the 2004, with the 2003 behind.

12/31/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Paired with rack of lamb, roasted brussel sprouts with french country blend of spices, and roasted potatoes with rosemary. Drank as a vertical with 2003 and 2004. Each wine paired well with the food. The 2002 compared to the others had more dried fruit on the palate (dried white raisins with a slight hint of fig), dry and dusty mouth feel. The 2003 had more ripe fruit on the palate with barnyard mouth feel on the palate, and the 2004 was more similar to the 2002, but not as dusty/dry. Overall everyone ranked the wines 2002 best, then the 2004, with the 2003 behind.

12/27/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Nice Chardonnay. PnP - wrong way to approach this wine. Initial response was a bit off. I would have guessed it was a Sauv Blanc, but after a bit of air it opened up nicely. Slight oak on the palate, just a lovely Chardonnay with the typical flavor profiles.

12/27/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Wow, what a terrific Zin. PnP this wine with an explosion of flavors on the nose. Most prominent is cedar, pickle juice, black cherry fruit. Great mouth feel, slight heat/spice mid-palate with similar flavors of cedar, pickle juice and black fruit with a bit of graphite/pencil shavings. Long finish. Sad this is the last of the 2011 in my cellar - hope the subsequent vintages are as awesome.

12/26/2016 - TwistedArmadillo wrote:

Average compared to other tannats (only Texas tannat I've had). The Stryker Tannat costs a little more and has a wonderful flavor profile. They Caldwell Tannat is even higher priced and an absolutely wonderful wine. This wine - first glass PnP, 2nd glass wine had decanted for 60-90 min, nose is lacking, slight cola on the palate with none of the characteristic traits of a tannat showing through. There is a lot of alcohol that hasn't blown off since opening. This is leaving the finish lacking as the alcohol is overpowering the fruit. Glad I tried it, not sure it is a $30 bottle of wine.

12/24/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Agree with others, this wine has lost its luster. Last bottle, not what it was a few years ago. Drink up if you have some left. Still a nice wine, but average in its flavor profile. Nothing on the nose, light cola, cherry on the palate, quick finish.

10/14/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Lovely, lovely wine. Nothing more to say.

9/30/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Very nice wine - the flavor profile, nose, etc. reminded me of Quintessa.

8/20/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

The wine was awesome, everything you would expect from Quintessa.

6/15/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Upped my previous rating. Black inky red color, black currant and black cherry nose - no menthol as indicated by RJonWine. Black currant, black cherry and cola on the palate. Maybe some burnt black currant, but I think it is the cola currant combination. Wonderful long finish.

6/14/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Wonderful wine - had this with stone crab claws brought from Key West. I made a dipping sauce - chipotle lime with some New Orleans spices - wonderful together.

6/14/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Awesome wine - nothing else to say - only one bottle left - ugh.

5/22/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Very nice wine that has a super tuscan profile, dry earthy mouth feel.

5/22/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Light crisp wine, distinctly sauvignon blanc, very nice wine especially for the price

4/30/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Drank with Beouf Bourguignon and it was a lovely pairing. Decanted for several hours. The wine had a lovely brick color, slow legs, and light sediment. The nose was musty, dusty with some stoniness, not a lot of fruit - a hint of dark dried fruit. Palate of dried blackberry, and a petrol (hint of diesel)/minerally profile. Full bodied, complex linear texture with a really nice finish. Probably has a little more time left, but it is showing its age - a lovely wine.

4/24/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Did a vertical tasting with the 08 which was similar but more complex. I like the 08 a bit more than the 09, but both are excellent wines. This wine is garnet colored with slow legs. The nose has dark cherry, and a hint of vanilla. On the palatte dark cherry, stoniness with a hint of barn-yard funk - the 08 had some smokiness as well. The body is full with a soft elegant texture and nice long finish.

4/24/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Wonderfully complex wine. Garnet colored with slow legs. The nose has red currant, dark cherry, hint of vanilla with a smokiness. On the palatte dark cherry, stoniness with a smokiness. The body is full with a leathery texture and nice long finish. Did a vertical tasting with the 09 which was similar but not as complex, but more elegant and softer.

4/16/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Light sediment in the bottle, garnet color with weak legs. The nose showed forest floor with hints of dried fruit (fig, plum and dark cherry). The wine has a slight green and leathery note mid-palate along with the dark dried fruit flavors above. The finish is soft/weak. Wine appears to have reached its peak. Drank a 2003 Château Les Grandes Murailles earlier, I would pick the Château Les Grandes Murailles over this wine - more complex with a better flavor profile.

4/16/2016 - TwistedArmadillo Likes this wine:

Still drinking well (drinking window off - just changed to end 2017, may go longer). Light sediment in the bottle, garnet color with medium legs. The nose showed forest floor/mushroom with hints of dried fruit (raisin, plum and dark cherry). The wine has a slight tannery/leathery note mid-palate along with the dark dried fruit flavors above. The finish is rich - soft but long. Solid wine that has a bit of time left.