4/20/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Simple, quaffable PG, crisp and reasonably dry.

4/20/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Agreed with last review, needed a bit of air to soften the initial astringency, otherwise, soft, smooth, reasonably complex Rioja, with a touch of spicy notes on the finish. Should hold for several years!

4/14/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Very nice QPR, works well with many appropriate dishes.

4/14/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

A bit more complex than previous bottle, this bottle showed a bit more dark cherry, cassis and currants, which complimented the earthy minerals.

4/5/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Very nice Loire cab franc, floral nose, with hints of spice, lovely palate of plum, currants and spice, smooth medium long finish. Paired well with stuffed quail, as my wife and I celebrate our anniversary @ L’ Opossum, Oregon Hill, Richmond.

3/31/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Tremendous showing, this bottle had a lovely floral nose, the palate was full of complex fruits, plum, cherry, currants, cassis, very long soft fruity finish. Based an this bottle (3 left) at its peak now, but should hold for several more years.9th bottle tasted since 2014!

3/30/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Pnp, drank over two days, initially I found this bottle closed on both the nose and palate, it started to open up after 30 minutes showing a floral nose with hints of black licorice and leather, lots of tart plum, cranberry and cherry on the palate, a bit of terroir on the finish. Overall this should improve over the short haul.

3/27/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Took to restaurant, so soft, elegant, restrained, integrated, full of balanced red fruits, plum, raspberry, cranberry, hints of truffles and earth. Paired nicely with Scottish salmon and chicken and dumplings.

3/24/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Enjoyable Toscana, pleasant nose, plenty of tart red fruits, cherry, plum, cranberry, very dry, with a medium finish of spice and earth. Nice QPR and worth buying more!

3/24/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Pleasant nose, plenty of ripe, extracted one dimensional dark fruit, new world style, however RS was not noticeable as in many new world wines at this price point. Luca Maroni gave this a 95 rating, perhaps he had outside influences, but for me , I would had liked a touch more terroir notes to score this bottle any higher, still a nice QPR and I would buy more.

3/23/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Loads of dark, one dimensional, concentrated, sweet fruit, low structure, tannins and acidity, certainly a crowd pleasing red.

3/17/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Pnp with no sediment, personally cellared for 11 years.
This particular bottle was mineral driven, with stone, iron and earth, fruit was nearly non existent at first, but became a bit more prevalent after an hour or so. Paired very well with medium rare roasted duck breast, au ju duck stock reduction, creamy polenta and roasted plums. Would had scored this higher if there was bit more fruit, still enjoyable for it’s old world nuances.

3/9/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Impressive for its juicy new world fruit, dark plum, currants, blackberry, pleasant smooth medium finish. Would buy again for the fruit but wish there was more Bordeaux like minerals.

3/9/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Mahogany color, simple, hints of burnt orange, apricot, quite dry for a sticky, drink soon.

2/24/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Light, easy to drink, innocuous, almost quaffable generic Bordeaux, decent balance between fruit and minerals. Meant to be consumed over the short term!

2/23/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Fruit basket nose, major fruit bomb , very jammy new world style, however the RS was present but in check, this is sure to please most novice crowds. Good QPR @ $10

2/19/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Decent fruit and structure but a bit to much acidity for my taste, it did soften a little over the time we took to drink.

2/19/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Purchased from restaurant wine list in midtown Manhattan, paired quite well with their Osso Bucco good balance between fruit, earth and minerals, agree with Vinnut room for further develoment.

2/18/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Ordered from wine menu at Dizzy Jazz Club Manhattan, very nice Rioja, cranberry, plum, cherry, truffles, earthy undertones. Should improve over the short term and last for ten + years.

2/17/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Super jammy fruit bomb, little structure or tannins, not for everyone but it should please most novice crowds.

2/17/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Arrived in manhattan late Friday afternoon, after dinner we wanted more wine and went to a market close to hotel that latterly had 3 reds to choose from. This PN was drinkable at best, it did get better near the end of bottle, showing some funky earthy flavors that save this bottle from being draino.

2/11/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Pnp, modern style, good fruit, hints of coffee, herbs, fully integrated but should hold for several more years, decent QPR.

2/11/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Pnp, fruity nose, jammy, smooth, a bit of RS, but in check, nice long finish. This bottle was fully integrated, but shows no signs of fading, cellared since 2016, last tasted 7/2021 with consistent notes.

2/4/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Another excellent QPR from TJ’s, very nice balance with juicy dark fruit from the Granache, spicy mineral notes from the Tempranillo, lovey medium long finish. Still seems to be aging gracefully for a wine at this price point, I would have no problem holding for another five plus years in a cool environment.

1/28/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Another nice showing from a perennial outstanding QPR, plenty of juicy fruit, yet balanced with minerals and structure without the cloying RS. Highly recommend!

1/20/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Good Bordeaux at this price point, good fruit, hints of minerals, some structure, firm acidity and soft tannins. Probably will integrate further over the short term!

1/14/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

This bottle had everything I look for in a Bordeaux, great balance between fruit and earthy minerals, plenty of structure, firm yet soft tannins, lovely mouth feel. Should drink well for several years!

1/13/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Sweet, jammy and one dimensional, drinkable but not what I’m looking for in a zin.

1/13/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

PNP, this blend is made from 43% touriga nacional, which is famous for its use in Porto blends, followed by 28% Pinot noir, 28% Aragonez ( Tempranillo) 13% Syrah. That being said, this an excellent wine, modern style, rich dark fruit, decent structure, a touch of sweetness is noted but in check, very good QPR. Suckling 90 points!

1/13/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

PNP, decent fruit, little in the way of structure, tannins, or acidity, quaffable, pleasant to drink, yet nothing to write home about. Drink soon!

1/7/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Decanted and tasted, this fruit in this bottle was a bit muted, certainly not as good as the bottle I had eight years ago, seems to be fading a bit. I would drink sooner than later.

1/6/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Nice everyday Bordeaux, good balance between fruit and minerals, tannins are present but soft, not a lot of structure but still a pleasure to drink. Drink over the next several years!

1/3/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Plenty of dark concentrated Napa style fruit, very rich, a touch sweet but not over the top. Based on this bottle, I would drink over the next couple, three years.

1/2/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

I found this bottle to have some decent, typical NZ citrus, I also found this bottle to have to much acidity, making it taste manufactured. Still it was drinkable regardless!

1/1/2024 - wineshaman wrote:

Nice PN, perhaps not as typical as some Oregon PN, in a good way.
Pleasantly floral in the nose, a good dose of red plum, cranberry, hints of raspberry and earth on the finish.

12/30/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

This bottle was quite different than the one I tasted last May, more minerals, earthy notes, less fruit, not jammy or sweet, I even noted a bit of structure, two more bottles left.

12/25/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Decanted 9 hours with heavy sediment, personally cellared sine 11/97.
Lovely port, beautiful nose, zero heat, RS fully integrated, huge amounts of dark fruit, hints of caramel, dark chocolate, very long finish. This bottle seems ready to go but should hold for many years. Absolutely worth the wait!

12/25/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Decanted 2 hours, with moderate sediment, lovely floral nose, Bordeaux like structure, spicy notes, plums, cassis, currants, finish was medium long, with nice hints of graphite. Based on this bottle (my only) though fully integrated, should last for several more years.
Paired nicely with pistachio encrusted Aussie rack of lamb for Xmas eve dinner.

12/23/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Pnp, $8.00 at Trader Joe’s, it appears more than double elsewhere, I guess this shows the power of direct buying.
This Bordeaux was quite good and a tremendous value at TJ’s price, mineral and terroir driven, with spicy notes and a touch of tart fruit on the finish. I think there is room for further integration over the short term. Purchased 12 more bottles at TJ’s price.

12/16/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Light in color, nice nose, simple red fruit, somewhat innocuous, a touch of earth adds much need complexity, fully integrated, even at this early stage. Paired with veal Marsala!

12/10/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Jammy, sweet, simple, a little to much RS for a CDR, still a crowd pleaser.

12/10/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Last bottle of 12, very dark, concentrated, moderately extracted, plenty of typical Aussie dark fruit, a good dose of oak, RS is noticeable but in check, appears to be fully integrated. Paired nicely with pistachio encrusted rack of lamb!

12/9/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Wow, amazing amounts of jammy fruit, cherry, plum, cranberry, not much in the way of structure, nor was the RS overwhelming, just a simple quaffable fruit bomb, that keeps you coming back for more. An excellent holiday crowd pleaser and meant for early consumption.

12/8/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Simple, priced right generic Bordeaux, almost quaffable, a touch of graphite makes me come back for another sip. Drink over the next several years!

12/8/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Plenty of sweet, dark, jammy fruit, little tannins or structure, still easy to drink, but can’t get past the RS.

12/3/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Enjoyable Bordeaux, though a bit simple as expected, there was some mineral notes that added some much needed complexity. Certainly would buy this again given the bucks.

12/1/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

PNP, very nice genetic Bordeaux, floral nose, fruit forward, dark cherry, plum, pomegranate, modern style, perhaps a bit too modern for my expectations, but I still enjoyed the fruit.

11/27/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Plenty of mineral notes in this Bordeaux, hints of cherry, cranberry, plum and tea. Should drink well for several years.

11/25/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Cranberry, plum, pomegranate, darker than expected, nice long finish that is slightly tart, in a good way. At this price worth buying more.

11/25/2023 - wineshaman wrote:

Last bottle of six, purchased at the winery, lots of plum, cranberry, dark cherry, hints of tea, earth on a medium long finish. Based on this bottle, drink over the next couple of years.