5/5/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

In a good place now and has many years left secondary to its richness and solid tannins. Unsure if there will be much more evolution. Complex. Very dark red rich stewed fruits with a solid wood core. Characteristic Quilceda profile. A wine for heavy meat.

5/4/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Best bottle yet of my case and by far the highest I have ever rated this vintage for this wine. Previously the tannin balance never hit correctly. Still needed 2 hours in the decanter and just beginning to enter secondary phase.

4/23/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Somewhat muted nose that I am not sure will improve. Dark sweet fruit with a strong tannic background that lacked integration with the fruit on night one. However, went well with red meat. Kept on Argon gas and was much more approachable/evolved on night 2. Solid finish! Perhaps give it another 5 years but...

4/14/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Beautiful yellowish color. Great balance of mineral and citrus fruit with a mild rich nutty background. Solid body. Just coming into its drinking window and will be so for probably the better part of a decade.

4/14/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Still a baby. Wish I had opened in another 5-10 years. Some darker red fruit, brambles, lots of potential. Even tastes blind, would have pegged it for a Côte de Nuits.

4/10/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

A baby. Brought to a tasting dinner. Consumed within 1 hour by many. Tannins austere and took over. Hopefully with more time in a decanter or several years in bottle it will balance better.

3/31/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Classic Barolo notes and immensely connected. Magnum. Tasted each day for 3 and better each time! Still in secondary phase and plenty of time (years) left.

3/25/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Still a baby. Good stuff going on here. Brought to a tasting and unfortunately I didn’t get to spend enough time with it. Crowd seemed to really like it.

3/25/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Ready to go.

3/16/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Despite the color becoming slightly brick, it is still a baby. PnP over along steakhouse dinner. Took about 1 hour to open up. Fine for consumption then. For my next one, if I open it within the next 5 years, it's going to see a decanter. In its late primary phase. Tannins still strong and structured and outweigh the darker fruit upon opening. Cassis and Blackberry as well as blue notes going on. Very well structured. Can only imagine it getting better with a huge drinking window. May warrant another point or 2 in the future...

1/28/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

If you have never had this wine the the better part of 2 decades old, you have not done it justice. Forrest, cigar box, and chocolate nose. Darker fruits, chocolate, and subtle richness on the medium plus body matched with velvety integrated tanning. Maturing very slowly. Suspect near its peak but will remain there for at least a decade.

1/27/2024 - spineguy wrote:

A little under an hour in the decanter and ready to go. Entering into secondary phase with tannins softening. In a nice place. Hint of tobacco and boysenberry on the nose. Ruby fruit. Medium bodied. Perhaps lacks a bit of complexity but at this price point, I am ok with it. Works with or without food.

1/9/2024 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Great example of Mercurey blanc. Unctuous mouthfeel. Works with or without food. Definitely a white Burgundy but the backbone of a Viognier. ABV 14.5. Drinking well now.

12/5/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Brought to a Napa tasting. Specifically, only valley fruit. PNP. Prime secondary phase drinking window. Not a crowd favorite but enjoyed by most. Perhaps a bit less unctuous then some of the other wines.

11/26/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Still alive and going strong.

11/24/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Tobacco, graphite, and darker fruit readily apparent on the nose. Definitely connected to Graves. Nicely in its secondary phase but still a bit tight upon opening. Needed about 30-45 minutes in the decanter and then continued to evolve quickly. Cassis and blackberries with a hint of bacon on the palate. Well put together. Nicely evolving and has at least a decade or 2.

11/24/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

The most feminine wine I have ever had. Wonderful floral nose of heather, honeysuckle, and dandelions. Soft peaches and very mild citrus on the palate. Well integrated but relatively simple. Not a food wine for more intense flavors. It will be overwhelmed. Tasted last year and seems to have evolved and become much softer. Unsure if the bottle storage was the same. Very nice overall.

11/11/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

First time I have had this wine. The showing was spot on. Darker red fruit on the nose and palate. Some stewed fruit. Hint of anise. Nicely in it's secondary phase with a great balance of soft, mature but not "too old" tannins. Don't think it will get much better. Still has 3-5 years in this phase. If I tasted blindly, I would not have pegged it for a GC. Suspect that a few years ago the balance was not nearly what it is now. Wish I had more.

10/29/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Drinking well now and still has at least several good years in its secondary phase. Nice darker fruit and a hint of anise integrated with nicely reserved tannins at this time. Fairly big and pleasant wine.

10/29/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Still a baby. Considering the year, I would have expected more maturity and integration. The orange marmalade I have come to love in this wine was overwhelmed by sweet creme brûlée, loads of honey, apricot, and peaches. Nice texture and finish.

Great potential and go for it now if you like it in its primordial phase. But, if you are looking for more reserved orange marmalade and better sweetness/acid balance/integration, I would let sit a few more years.

10/21/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Nicely balanced. Drinking well now.

9/23/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

More acidity and low wood on the palate than I would have thought but worked very well with rich appetizers. Lacked a bit of complexity. I might have thought a village or premier cru chablis if I tasted blind. Still youthful and refreshing. Curious how it will evolve.

7/15/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Last tasted 5 years ago and the evolution (or bottle storage conditions) are completely different (came from a different cellar). Much more positive review this time. Darker integrated fruit with firm but mellow tannins. Layers and layers. Solidly secondary phase, perhaps hitting tertiary over the next 5 years. In a great place now without a decant. Taste before letting it sit in decanter!

7/7/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Unctuous with a balance toward oak and heavier dried fruit. After several tastes which were very interesting, a food wine for sure. Perhaps chicken and richer fish dishes. Certainly not a meek wine.

6/17/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Our of a 375 ml. So much more evolved then my last bottle taste 3 years ago. Wonderfully integrated and refined. Elegant darker fruit and hint of earth. Tannins/fruit balance in a great place. Did not decant as it changed nicely in the glass. Solidly in it's secondary phase. Lacked a bit in complexity.

6/17/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Best and highest rated of my bottles. 375 ml so I suspect more evolved then 750 ml's. In a great place now. Graphite, stone and integrated darker fruits. Just what I expected. Needed 30 minutes in the glass and then was singing. Perhaps not the most complex wine but did get an extra point for QPR.

6/11/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Unexpected WOTN. Probably wound have not guessed a Pouilly-Fuissé because of the linearity, focus, and presence of the acid. This was balanced with integrated fruit and medium backbone. Greatly complex for a wine of this price point.

6/11/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Piercing and linear. Acidity component is strong but not overpowering. Seems the wood notes from other older reviews are fading. I should have ordered the fried oyster appetizer to go with it. Suspect many years left but expect a very slow evolution.

6/11/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Slightly maderized but drinkable so holding off on rating. Unsure if/how that will change the drinking window but seems to be in it's prime. Great evolution in glass over 30 minutes. Mid to darker red fruits. Some unctuous/structure backbone yet elegant. Very nice but not profound overall.

6/4/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

I purchased 18 375 ml bottles and have tasted this wine many times over the years. Some I have given away as gifts. I did not think it could show any better, but it did. The balance of acid and residual sugar, the gently integrated fruit, the finesse and complexity. Wish I had more! Best showing yet and still has lots of life left.

6/4/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

At its prime or slightly past. Very nice balance of reserved fruit and tannins. 30 minutes in the glass to open up and worth the wait.

5/5/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Still alive and well. Went too fast at a tasting for thorough notes.

4/30/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Just singing. At the peak of its prime. Drink now or over the next few years. Rich and unctuous but not overdone. Elegant integration of red and dark fruit. All the varietals are working in harmony.

4/29/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Still quite young. At 2 hours in the decanter it was just beginning to open up. Unfortunately, dinner was almost over. Nice composition and balance of tannins, albeit more time would have been even better. Looking forward to my next bottle in a few years with proper time in the decanter.

4/29/2023 - spineguy wrote:

Maderized/cooked. I think it was given as a gift from a non wine friend. May have sat upright above stove for years...

4/9/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Would have suspected a Chablis if I tasted blind. Flint and stone. Lots of minerality. Suspect it needs a few more years. Went great with oysters!

4/9/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Starting to show its stuff now out of a 375 ml. Great mellowing fruit and strong but pleasant tannic background which I expected. I would be concerned about opening a 750ml at this time. Has many years left. Best of the bottles I have yet (all 375's).

4/9/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Great complexity and dark fruit going on. Similar tasting notes to previous bottles. Drinking very well now but needs at least 45 minutes in the decanter. Wish I had more.

4/9/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Nicely in secondary phase. Orange marmalade with grapefruit on the nose. Gently viscous and really well balanced light acidity integrated with the mellowing fruit created a great and complex mouthfeel. Wish I had many more.

3/18/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Best of the 9 bottles I have tasted. Ready to go. Ever so slightly brown. Needed 30 minutes in the glass to open up. Unctuous and balanced tannins. Well rounded and a great example of a BdM.

3/12/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Wow! I thought it was going to be a baby and not approachable, but I was happily incorrect. Still big fruit present but pleasant and nice integration that made it just delicious. Maybe it was the company (Gordon's 81st birthday party) but this wine was singing. Paired perfectly with a desert of Dutch Baby with Taleggio, honey, and berries.

3/12/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Best showing of this wine yet. Spectacular balance of sweetness, acidity, and integrated tangerine/apricot citrus. Nicely in it's secondary phase and will remain so for a number of years to come. In a great place now. Out of a 375ml.

2/12/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Same notes as previous. Even out of 375ml, needs a minimum of 30 - 60 minutes. Plenty of life left.

2/12/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Traded this bottle but got lucky enough to try it. Great complexity and true to QC style. In its prime window now but still has time.

2/12/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Getting a little dusty. Fine structure with fading tannins and mature fruit. Really nice mouthfeel but lacking in brightness and character. Less big then I would have expected. Pleasant all around. Needed 30 minutes - 1 hour to open. Drink now. Perhaps I waited too long and am not being fair to this wine?

2/8/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

i was skeptical of this Cali wine but it delivered! Great rich graphite and smokey dark forest nose. Like a rich Pauilliac. Soft and full on the palate. Lots of reserved dark fruit going on. Almost port like with a bit of residual sugar and a finish that just keeps going. Drink now or hold for up to 5 -7 years. Not a small wine.

2/8/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Much better after 1 hour in the decanter. Nose of brambles and fruitcake. Somewhere between red and black fruit. Not much in the complexity department. Initially austere with overwhelming acidity but this resolved quickly with time. Drink now but not going anywhere quickly.

2/1/2023 - spineguy wrote:

Nice nose of darker fruit, cedar, graphite, and a touch of brambles. Then, I really tried to appreciate this second growth. My eighth of 12 bottles and they all were similar. I have enjoyed many other vintages of this usually great wine. However, there was a lack of concentration and an acidity that overpowered the cassis and lavender. 2 hours in the decanter before tasting. Tasted the second night and no better. Tasted with several Francophiles and all had the same thoughts. Purchased the case from Costco. Impeccable bottles and corks so probably not the issue.

1/22/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Rich red fruit with smoke and balanced tannin. Took about 1 hour for integration. Complex and great all around. Much better then the same '05 that someone else brought to the tasting but unsure how their bottle was cellared.

1/22/2023 - spineguy Likes this wine:

Pure Granache at its best. Visited (spend time with the family...visitor friendly...great experience) and then purchased from the winery and they shipped it. Anticipated it was going to be way to young and brought to tasting. Happily wrong as the old vine ganache is quite friendly young. Wonderful balance now of sweet cherry, light dark fruit and a hint of smoke. Sweet tannins and sweet fruit so nicely integrated (sweet seems to be the theme here) and luscious. Unsure if it could show better. Not old school CNDP and will not live forever. Drink now - 5-10 years. Wish I had more.