3/24/2023 - jjlgd wrote:

Ben - I agree, if I focus on it there may be a touch of smoke taint on the finish. But it is so small I am not sure if it a negative or a bit of complexity.

Overall, this is a perfect choice if not sure if a white or red would be best - with so much much more enjoyment factor than a typical rose.

9/25/2022 - jjlgd wrote:

I consistently find this wine drinks much better at age 10, when hints of tertiary flavors start to develop to complement the strawberry fruit. This bottle had threw a lot of sediment, so decant or careful on the last glass pour.

7/18/2022 - jjlgd wrote:

Flawed? Finish is sour and vinegary, suggesting VA. Did not see any other notes suggesting VA, but my wife could not drink at all and I gave up after one glass.

3/9/2022 - jjlgd wrote:

Story of two wines. On PnP it was light and not showing much - disappointing (similar to my last bottle in 2018). After 2 hours, a different wine - it had opened, softened, and expanded into fine elegant Barbaresco. Nothing exceptional, but better than I was expecting.

1/15/2022 - jjlgd wrote:

Much much better than my first bottle in 2018. One hour decant. Clearly a Bdx on the nose and palate, with surprising tertiary character already present. Medium body. Threw a very fine sediment, decant carefully. Good acidity and a hint of tannins on the finish, so can drink or hold. This is soo much more complex now - well worth the wait!

1/8/2022 - jjlgd wrote:

Many Tuscan cabernets taste of Tuscany first with hints of Cab, while this sings of Cabernet first, then adds Tuscan acidity and earth on top. I've been drinking a few classified Bdx recently, and this reminds me of them but a bit more rustic (and half the price). Still some tannin, could use a few more years or a longer decant (this note after only 1 hour). I love this style of dark, intense, earthy, dry and medium bodied wine (and my wife does not enjoy it at all....). My only 2013, looking forward to trying the 2016 in a few years.

12/16/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

Drinking great after about 15 minutes and over 2 hours, then fading after three hours. Suggests time to drink up!

10/14/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

This wine is phenomenal! I was raised on Bordeaux (a long time ago), and this wine has all the complexity of a classified growth (say St. Julien) with California fruit gently layered on top. Much more medium bodied than Napa, and the 15 years of cellaring has added just the right amount of tertiary flavors (for me). If you like fruit drink up, and if you appreciate tertiary flavors like forest floor, this could hold at least 10 more years as the fruit is still present and the acidity is very well balanced. I love Napa cabs, but I usually drink them younger than Bordeaux (within 10 years typically) as I find the big fruit and tertiary flavors can compete - but this wine is more like old world as far as aging. Drank well on PnP, very well after an hour decant, and was still going strong with no signs of fading after 3 hours in the last glass. No significant tannins or oak present and a the touch of tertiary flavors add complexity, so this is drinking perfectly now for me. Enjoy!

7/8/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

Light bricking at the rim. Classic chianti nose, with that bitter sour cherry thing going on. On the palate, elegant and very easy to drink. Medium body at most, a bit rounder than expected due to 2015 heat and/or Felsina style, with adequate acidity. With the bouquet and softness, I find this fully ready to enjoy after only a 30 minute decant. Nothing extraordinary, but exactly what I want in a <$20 chianti.

3/28/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

Rich and full, with a hint of tertiary nuances. Fully ready to drink, I would drink this sooner than later.

2/20/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

Unique nose for Napa - a touch of menthol? - that hints at Bordeaux and is certainly not valley floor. Tasting gives the same - medium body (for Napa), dark intensity in a medium body. I could quibble that the mid palate is a bit hollow and the finish just a touch short - but instead I prefer to focus on how much I enjoy this wine. If this was $35/bottle, I would drink cases of this. At $50 lots of interesting competition, including Super Tuscan, but regardless I really enjoy this wine! Ready to drink after a 2 hour decant, but will hold for many years.

2/6/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

I pulled this from my cool cellar, and it was firing on all cylinders - no hint of being over the hill (but ready to drink). It was lush and full for PN, with just barely adequate acidity to balance. Almost like drinking cherry candy with a hint of cranberry. Certainly not Burgundy, but still delicious in its own way. Not my style, but my wife loved it!

1/27/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

Textbook CdP in a medium bodied (for CdP) format at 14.5%. Classic spice and fruit on the nose, with a hint of maturity. Similar on the palate, with a beam of raspberry fruit cutting through the spice and hint of maturity. While the fruit and acidity suggests this will hold a few years longer, I would suggest drinking soon. Threw a bit of sediment. Last of my 2010s, can't wait to try the 2015s in the cellar.

1/15/2021 - jjlgd wrote:

Brett

12/30/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Dark with good intensity. Tertiary flavors starting to peak through. I always question aging these full rich fruit filled wine, as the tertiary flavors do not always mesh with the fruitiness. I love my 10+ year old Bordeaux and Barolo, but full rich wines like this I think I prefer a bit younger than this, perhaps 5 years after the vintage.

12/19/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Lean, intense and green. Not for everyone (wife and son preferred the Hall Merlot), but I love this style. Classic cool vintage Tuscan red, with some Cab Franc green notes to add interest (or detract, depending on your palate).

11/18/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Initially closed and not impressive on PnP, with limited nose and tight. Decanted and started to open after 2 hours, and was much better at 4 hours. An elegant St Julien that initially went better with dinner, but after more time was quite good on its own.

10/23/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Interesting and delicious. Old world medium body with new world fruit profile. Good acidity and tannins resolved. Ready to drink after a 1 hour decant, but should last and improve with more cellar time.

10/23/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Interesting and delicious. Old world medium body with new world fruit profile. Good acidity and tannins resolved. Ready to drink after a 1 hour decant, but should last and improve with more cellar time.

9/24/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

This was not impressive at all on PnP. After an hour, it evolved into a tasty , dark, yummy if not complex Cab. Tannins fully resolved, no reason to wait. This doesn't stack up to most Napa Cabs, but at half the price it is a very good QPR. 89 - 90 pts.

8/26/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Rich, a bit roasted (some of it oak), soft, with a touch of acidity. Very long lingering finish. Went really well with our steaks. Tannins fully resolved. Decanted for one hour, I would drink sooner rather than later as this bottle was soft and ready to drink.

8/16/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Agree with SLYWKA7's notes, especially that this veers more towards CA. For the first hour I would have guess this as Santa Rita Hills. At three hours, it had faded a bit and was perhaps more Oregonian, but not as enjoyable. Had with Ahi Tuna steaks and was a perfect match. So I recommend drinking now and enjoying it for what it is - a relatively big and fruity Oregon pinot that is delicious and ready to drink.

8/14/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Nose was subdued. Fruit really started to come through the earth and acidity after a 2 hour decant. Ready to drink now with a long decant, or will last quite a while longer as has good acidity and structure. Lots of sediment so pour with care.

8/7/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Needed on hour decant and then drank well in a structured way. So can drink now but I will hold my last bottle a few more years and see where this goes.

7/26/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Finishes just a touch short for a 90, but really a nice wine. Medium body, very dry but tannins in check. Went really well with lamb chops, too dry for Sherry to drink alone.

6/2/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

A bright and herbal cool climate Syrah. Like a N. Rhone - not with the complexity of Hermitage or Cote Rotie, but more like a St. Joseph or Croze Hermitage.

5/15/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

A classic example of Pinot Syrah. A plump, soft, lush and fruity wine with little to no pinot noir character. I served it blind to friends and they all loved it - and were shocked to hear it was a Pinot. So serve it for what it is - a crowd pleasing cocktail wine. Don't serve it if you are looking for a RRV PN.

5/2/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Strong tertiary notes on nose and initial palate detracted from the vivid fruit on the finish. This was clearly on its downward slide and I held it too long before drinking - drink up!

4/11/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Lush merlot fruit, and now some tertiary funk coming through - which does not work out as well as hoped. I would recommend drinking up now while the fruit is still in the forefront.

3/25/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

Amazing what bottle age will do. I gave my first two bottles, drunk ~3years ago, consistent reviews - bright, light, and a bit boring. A bit of tertiary notes are now starting to peak through, adding considerable complexity. This is my last bottle of 2010 (lot 13-074), and I will now keep my 2012 until 2022 before trying.

1/5/2020 - jjlgd wrote:

drinking very well after a 2 hour decant. Soft and easy to drink. Perhaps a bit simple, but a very good match to the chicken dish we had with dinner.

12/31/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Agree with Zinnful, this is as close to left bank Bordeaux as you can get in Napa - with that extra Napa fruit. Decanted for an hour and was open enough - nose was dark fruit and spice, palate was medium body (for Napa), dark and complex - Bordeaux like with a touch of Napa mountain fruit and structure. Drinking well now after a decant, but I feel like this could age and improve for many years.

12/28/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Much more approachable than my bottle a year ago. Now has CdP character in a medium body format

12/15/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

A big rich style, even for Siduri. Fruit forward and a crowd pleaser, but lacking in Pinot character.

11/24/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Typical NZ SB nose. On the palate, an intensely bright wine. I enjoy it and find it refreshing, others found it too lemony and couldn't drink.

11/24/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Drinking wonderfully after a 1 hour decant. Faded a bit at 4 hours, so likely best to drink up in the near future.

10/30/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

1 hour decant gives a wine that is smooth yet bright. Clearly new world, yet the acidity keeps it lively and helps hides the 14,8% alcohol. Ready to drink but should be fine for a few more years.

10/23/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Still drinking wonderfully, with big and lush fruit. No reason to hold, ready to enjoy.

8/31/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Oak very present on nose and palate on PnP. After 2 hour decant, oak is integrated and fruit, acidity and oak are all in balance. Medium full mountain fruit body. Signature is usually <80% Cab, and it shows in this wine but in a good way. I wish I could afford to drink wine like this every night! Lots of sediment at the end, so beware!

8/4/2019 - jjlgd Likes this wine:

A brighter, cherry driven style of BdM. High acidity well tempered with lamb chops for dinner. Tannins resolved, will last quite a while but drinking well now with a 2 hour decant. Has evolved from my last bottle two years ago, a bit softer with more cherry fruit. I think I would have guessed Sangiovese from Tuscany, but I would not have guessed BdM given how bright and cherry fruited the wine is.

7/28/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Unique wine - carbonic maceration, no SO2, only 12%. Initially some funk and petillance, which mostly blew off after an hour (some N. Rhone funk remains). Bright cherry fruit, medium body, and fully resolved tannins.

5/9/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

An interesting wine with two ways to look at it. On the positive, the Cab and Merlot (25% each) round out the Sangiovese, so even folks who find Chianti too acidic will like this, and it will go great with the food that goes well with Chianti (ie a crowd pleaser Tuscan). On the flip side, the 50% Cab/Merlot muddles the Sang, and this doesn't have the sour cherry notes Chianti lovers expect. My take - I like it, my wife loves it (and she doesn't like Chianti) and it is a great QPR - one of my favorite every day wines! Drinking very well after a 1 hour decant - can hold but can also drink now.

4/20/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Drinking much better than my last bottle a year ago. Tannin has resolved and wine is now drinking well. Dark and with some intensity, but without much on the nose or much complexity.

4/18/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

2 hour decant. Dark yet medium bodied. Intense but not lush - more Super Tuscan than CA Cult. We loved it - proof is we drank it much quicker than typical.

3/16/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

More mature than expected, ready to drink with a roasted spice note on the finish

3/3/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Huge funk on the nose - a full Brett onslaught. Good CdP fruit behind it, but the Brett nose dominated the wine

1/24/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Not a plush Napa wine. Oak, spice and restrained, even after a 2 hour decant. An interesting wine that you can think about.

1/4/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

A very light chianti for Felsina, and also very easy to drink.

1/1/2019 - jjlgd wrote:

Initial a bit of age showing, and then after just a few minutes the fruit filled in and this was drinking perfectly. This was the WOTN in a distinguished line-up.

12/27/2018 - jjlgd wrote:

Classic Napa Cab. Some oak on initial opening that integrated after an hour of air. Full of fruit, not showing any signs of age other than the tannins are fully resolved - still dark to the rim. Can drink now or hold for many years.