10/24/2020 - navquarter Likes this wine:

Simply yummy. Smooth with jamny tannins.

Not much on the nose buck a knockout in the mouth. Wow.

Caramel and graphite on the pallet.

Legs that go for a good 20 seconds.

Starts small but grows through the pallet and leaves you wanting more...like the one that got away...

8/12/2015 - navquarter Likes this wine:

This is just lovely. Balanced and easily approachable now. Still a little hot so could probably cellar another year or two.

Nose: not much here really. touch of menthol, hint of tobacco, balanced by some cherries.

Pallet: jammy goodness. Heavy black cherries, some currant, with a nice touch of dirt to round it out.

Legs: just enough tannin to know that it's there. Not an overpowering 30-40 second lingering sensation, but a good 5-10 seconds of yumminess.

The pallet and legs are super tasty. Only things holding it back are the lack of a well defined nose and a longer bigger finish.

8/9/2015 - navquarter Likes this wine:

This isn't a bad wine, per se, but it's very "thin". There's not much to it.
It's very smooth for a hot day and almost drinks more like a white wine than a red wine.

Color: very light, almost translucent. I think the Viognier is heavier than is suggested by the label.

Nose: not much to it. Some hints of cherries, grapes, and a little dirt. Very little there though.

Pallet: extremely smooth. No bitterness at all. But that's kind of the problem, there's not much here at all.

Legs: maybe 5 seconds of tannins?

Overall, it's a smooth, crisp red that's lovely on a hot day. I wouldn't pair it with any food as there's nothing to see here, but sipping by the pool or out on the porch it's quite nice.

12/25/2013 - navquarter Likes this wine:

This wine is terrific!

Nose: cherries and chocolate! yummy!

Pallet: the sweetness of the nose gives way to an altogether different taste. Very smooth at this point, but could age for another few years. Nice combination of blackberries, graphite, and dirt.

Legs: chewy tannins that go on for a good 30-45 seconds. This is all dirt. Delicious earthy, dirty, gritty pleasure

12/16/2013 - navquarter Likes this wine:

Needs some decanting, but extremely smooth right now
Nose: not much going on here. Not hot, just not much of anything; some hints of cherry and caramel?
Pallet: not much on the front end, but the rear! Oh my, the rear has lovely earthy smoothness. Graphite combined with blackberry. Very smooth
Legs: wonderfully chewy tannins! Legs taking off where the rear left off. Lingering notes of dirt, cherry, and cassis?

Very strange. Not much at all going on during the first half (although it is really smooth) but the rear pallet and legs are smooth, chewy, and awesome!

12/24/2012 - navquarter Likes this wine:

Nose: smooth cherries and a little pepper; decanted for 60 minutes, and still a little hot

Pallet: dirt, graphite, bark (?) - not sure that's the right word but it makes me think of the woods; not in the way that a scotch does, but it makes me think of wintertime in the woods

Legs: very smooth with some nice tannins; could have used a bit more, but very smooth; perhaps in a few years this will come together, lose the heat and

Overall very nice; wish I had another bottle or three

4/21/2012 - navquarter wrote:

Smooth but a bit thin - there's just not much there...no heat which is good, but not much depth of flavors either

Nose: hints of plums, carroway, and graphite with some of that pinot giveaway barnyard
Pallet: slight hint of strawberry but very subtle and some nice caramel
Legs: a bit of tannin but very smooth if a bit light - i could have done for more of something...anything really

8/28/2011 - navquarter wrote:

A bit too early - should have waited another year or so. I let it wait 45 minutes but could have waited longer, still getting better but a bit too hot too early to be fully formed. Doesn't really taste like a cab - almost no fruit and no oak - very strange.

Overall very smooth but limited depth. I guess you could call this balanced, but I'd call it underwhelming - I expect more on the nose and palet - great legs though!

Nose: very hot! earthy (graphite?) with very dark dirty smell
Pallet: a bit like a filet (charcoal + iron?) with a very subtle hint of oak, but not much...hard on the acid. Where's the fruit? Maybe a touch of caramel or chocolate covered cherries - but now I'm really stretching to find it...I don't think there's much there.
Legs: nice long legs with little to no heat

7/24/2011 - navquarter wrote:

Wow - this is really nice. 2006 Napa may not be 2007, but it's pretty damn good!

Nose: wonderful - very low alcohol - just caramelly cherries and lovliness
Pallet: super nice with great tannins
Legs: go on forever like Ingrid Bergman - yummy!

4/5/2011 - navquarter wrote:

Nose: still a bit too hot/young to smell much of anything...perhaps a bit peaty? after 24 hours open, still very tight - probably needs more time
Pallet: reminds me more of an Aussie Shiraz than a Cali Syrah - pretty nice, but much more fruit forward with over the top tannins, but in a nice way. I'm getting strawberries and rhubarb with some subtle cherries with a hint of pepper on the legs...maybe some dirt as well?
Legs: nice long legs, maybe 15 seconds of lovely tannins with the dirt / pepper / graphite? as the last dominating impression

Overall - very enjoyable and I'm glad I have 3 more, but I think I'll wait before opening any more

3/19/2011 - navquarter wrote:

Absolutely yummy! After 30 minutes in a decanter it really shines!

Nose: Peat, heat, caramel, brown sugar, oak?, and a hint of cherry
Pallet: Explosion of wonderful flavors and sexy tannins. Cherries, strawberries, malt?, oak and cedar?, and so very smooth.
Legs: Caramelly tannins that go on for a good 15-20 seconds.

Getting better and better...glad I have 6 remaining!

3/12/2011 - navquarter wrote:

Opened for 3 hours and pulled on it throughout.

Nose: licorace, cedar, cherries? Takes a while to get out thought, could probably use a few more years
Pallet: yummy! needs a few hours at this point to open up, but nice tight tannens with some heat and nice caramel and cherries
Legs: lots of them - maybe 20 seconds of delightful tannins!

Can't wait to try Orin's new offerings!

12/23/2010 - navquarter wrote:

Needs an hour or so to really open up - very tight upon opening, but once it does, it sure is nice. Could use a bit more time.

Nose: Lots of heat with hints of malt and cherries
Pallet: Lots of tannins, has a bit of butteriness usually found in a Chard. Nice bits of oak and cherries? Needs more time for the fruit to come out.
Legs: run for quite a nice long time

I like the 2007 better, as it has a much bigger pallet of fruit and a bigger nose...hoping this one goes on to follow its older brother!

12/19/2010 - navquarter wrote:

Nose: maybe some graphite and cherries
Pallet: very thin, few tannins. Definite fruit forward, but no lingering wow
Legs: very short

I certainly don't see how this was rated so high in some of the professional reviews

11/20/2010 - navquarter wrote:

All around disappointing. Not much there for a $60 pure cab.

5/29/2010 - navquarter wrote:

This was a major disappointment as I had quite high expectations. Very smooth but so very very thing. Few layers to speak of: what little there is tastes of strawberies and vanilla. Finishes nice, but for $40, I expected more. The finish is nice with some decent tannins but the lack of nose beyond the subtelist hint of caramel and the limited palet really hold this wine back.

1/17/2010 - navquarter wrote:

Needed the overnight to open up - which means it could probably last another year at least.

Nice nose and chewy tannins.

1/10/2010 - navquarter wrote:

Not much to this. Not a bad wine, just hardly anything to it. Very drinkable, but not much to write home about.

Nose - Very little - maybe some fruit? (strawberry?)
Pallet - No heat to speak of. Some cherry/caramel/chocolate hints typical of Napa Cabs. Just no depth and not really any impressive or big flavors.
Legs - Tannins start to peak in after ~60 minutes of breath time.

1/1/2010 - navquarter wrote:

Happy New Year!

This is quite a nice bottle of wine, and still getting better! Mostly fruit with a bit of tobacco and earth, but could use more of the non-fruit.

Nose - some heat, but wearing off as it open ups. Pepper and earth (but not barnyard - more like mud)
Pallet - cherries galore with nice graphite, caramel, and pear?. Burst of tannins but then not overwhelming heat
Legs - wonderful hints of cherry, tobacco, and back to the pepper - but could use more acidity.

I'm really hoping the 2007 is just as good...

12/26/2009 - navquarter wrote:

This tastes much better to me than some of the notes below.

Nose: licorich and pepper with some caramel. Lot's of fruit (strawberry and cherries?)
Pallet: very smooth. Some peaty notes, with massive fruit forward. Tons of strawberries, caramel, chocolate and cherries.
Legs: nice tannins that last for a good 30-45 seconds. Some woody (cedar?) and coffee notes.

This is just a very smooth blend. Very complex layers of flavors and easy to pop and pour.

11/26/2009 - navquarter wrote:

Nose: smells like single malt scotch with cherries and caramel! So neat!
Pallet: almost no alcohol - very nice indeed. Fruit (strawberry, grapes?), Caramel and pepper?
Legs: few tannins, but a nice low low heat

10/17/2009 - navquarter wrote:

Overall this bottle is very very small. There's nothing here to suggest it's a $100 cab. It's a fine $15 bottle, but at $100 it's WAY to small and one-dimensional.

Nose: very little - small hints of cherry and tar
Pallet: smooth, but only b/c there's not much there
Legs: minimal tannins.

I'm very disappointed in the lack of depth here...

8/7/2009 - navquarter wrote:

Very nice for a supposed "off" year for Silver Oak. Nice hints of Cherries, Caramel, and spice with a nice long finish. I certainly didn't see the down year at all...

7/7/2009 - navquarter wrote:

Undrikably sour, flat, and dirty

7/10/2009 - navquarter wrote:

Very different Tuscan wine than we've ever had, much thinner than traditional Super-Tuscans with much less fruit.

Nose: strong Barnyard with very little fruit
Pallet: thin but with nice hints of pepper, corn, and dirt
Legs: some weaker tannins and earthy bits

More like a pinot than super tuscan...perhaps had I been in that mood it would have tasted better....

5/31/2009 - navquarter wrote:

This is a really great bottle of wine. Much much nicer than its price point.

Deep burgundy in color.
Nose: not an intense nose, but some cherry, spice, and chocolate?
Pallet: just fantastic! Lot's of spice and fruit. Early hints of cherries and caramel, and late touches of pepper.
Legs: Tangy with some nice tannins, but softer tannins than usually found in shiraz.

Just a very nice $20 bottle.

1/7/2009 - navquarter wrote:

I like this quite a bit. Perfect with food (big red meat).

Nose: I get the cherries and paint thinner with some graphite?

Pallet: Nice complexity of cherries, caramel, sour apple?, and some caraway

Legs: Nice soft, persistent tannins with spice and little heat.

1/4/2009 - navquarter wrote:

This is the second bottle of this that we've tried. This one is much better. Decanted for an hour and shook several times.

Nose: Tons of heat with little bits of cherry and tar?

Pallet: Explosive fruit (cherry, currant, strawberry, blackberry, caramel), some soft oak, but not much, and some nice spices to boot!

Legs: Softer tannins that go on for 15 or so seconds

I'm now a believer in the Mollydooker shake!

1/2/2009 - navquarter wrote:

Slight bit of oak on the nose, with little else

Graphite and heat on the pallet.

Little on the legs save some softer tannins.

12/20/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Heavily fruit forward. Hard to believe it's a Cab. Needs to be drunk with food, and ideally over lunch. Hints of cherries...and little else.

12/14/2008 - navquarter wrote:

This is quite a beguiling wine: out of the shoot, it's all pallet. Takes a while for the nose and legs to come around.

Nose: Just a little heat. Very little else - not much to speak of - maybe a little oak?

Pallet: Big fruit bomb! Jammy caramel with lingering heat - but the heat wears off with time (opening up). Opens up with buttery fruits and nuts.

Legs: Out of the bottle, there's not much to speak of - what little there is is hot soft tannins. After it warms up, the legs do show up and are quite lovely. Refined tannins on the finish are still quite soft.

For all of the talk of this being too big for its britches, I just don't see it. It's all about the pallet - which is great - but there's simply no complexity. Strange.

11/3/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Needs about 15-20 minutes to open right up. All-in-all a pretty nice $15 bottle of wine

Nose: heat, pepper, and earth

Pallet: very spicy - little to no fruit, but not really a thin wine - some nice caramelly texture with just a touch of strawberries?

Legs: well integrated softer tannins and a bit of that caramelly strawberry flavor

11/2/2008 - navquarter wrote:

This is such a nicely balanced wine for right around $30. It has fruit, but not too much, harder earthy spices, but not too many, and nice legs with softer tannins...but not too much. It's just a shame they've decided not to make Claret any more...

Nose: After 45 minutes it's just heat, but get some big berries after about 90 minutes (blackberries and cherries with a persistent touch of heat)

Pallet: Nice bits of pepper and cantellope? on the font pallet, and caramel and black cherries on the mid pallet - also some caramel and oak as the wine opens up.

Legs: Soft but definite tannins that hint at some earthy minerals (graphite?)

10/25/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Lovely and great QPR.

Takes about 30-45 minutes to open up.

Hot currants on thenose. Hints of cherries and chocolate on the pallet. A hint of tartness on the legs.

10/25/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Decanted for 2.5 hours, and still opening up.

This is the best bottle to date.

Color: Deep, deep purple

Nose: Massive cherries! Hint currants and earth with just a slight bit of heat. As it continues to open, I think there's some graphite and more earth there.

Pallet: Explodes with fruit (strawberries, cherries, and caramel?) but then trails off a bit. Soft but existant tannins. Round and soft in the mouth with little acid (again, once it opens up, it really explodes with the fruit). Only hints of oak - seems like the oak is really starting to integrate well.

Legs: Not as long as some of the earlier bottles we've had, but also nowhere near as hot. Perhaps 20-25 seconds of softer tannins and the cherries peak out yet again.

Not as layered or complex as I would have liked, but a nice little bottle that I will continue to enjoy. It's incredible how the heat wears off after it opens up, and you really get a lot of fruit - only wished it were more layered, but perhaps that's asking for too much from a Zin.

9/13/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Very nice

7/20/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Great $10 bottle of wine.

7/6/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Never disappoints. Needed this after an 8 hour drive that should have taken 5.

Nice hints of sweet cherries and pommegranite on the nose.
Pallet of dry cherries and some pepper with just a slight hint of charcoal.
Legs of eye-tooth-rubbing but not lip-smacking dryness. Some hints of caramel with lingering notes of cherries as well.

7/3/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Holy crap does this bottle need to be decanted.

Nose: peet moss to the tone of scotch. Nice sout cherries as well.
Pallet: caramelly cherries and pepper
Legs: long, long, long legs of caramelly tannins with a hint of graphite

Very nice, but not really much at all like the other 1999 Tuscany's we've had

7/1/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Nose: nice notes of pears and green grapes
Pallet: perhaps some white chocolate to go with the green apple
Legs: nice oaky dryness

Pretty nice chard

6/30/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Deep purple in color.

Nose of dirt and cherries.
Pallet a bit think but with some depth towards the back of the mouth of caramel and ash.
Legs of rose and chocolate.

6/13/2008 - navquarter wrote:

A very nice white!

6/22/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Eeek. Very sweet.

6/30/2008 - navquarter wrote:

A bit too sweet

6/23/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Loveley - very, very nice after decanting for 3 hours.

6/7/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Wow does Laura like this stuff!

Sweeter than most drinkable non-Sauternes white, this "Chocolate" wine from Basque is fantastic!

6/14/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Still one of the best whites around.

Smokey oak with pears on the nose,
Earthy ectoplasm on the ballet,
And lenthly vanilla and apple tinges on the legs.

Quite nice indeed!

6/6/2008 - navquarter wrote:

A very nice Pinot. Light on the palet with excellent legs.

5/28/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Had with ham risotto for dinner.

Nose: Nice hints of apple and pear
Pallet: Tarty apple. Very nice crisp tart. Tarter than a NZ Sauv Blanc without the fruitiness.
Legs: Not much to speak of - maybe 10 seconds of green apple? Sweeter than the pallet - nice!

Overall - a good cheap white wine alternative. Nowhere near the high end Chardonnays, but then, it's not trying to be either!

5/26/2008 - navquarter wrote:

Drank with my wife on the day we lost my grandfather. Memorial day seemed a fitting day to die for a WWII vet.

Color: very dark and lucious
Nose: Caramel, cherries, cheese, earthy, with lots of character - and hot, hot hot!
Pallet: very hot - with berries and currants, more personality than you'd expect
Legs: long hot legs of currants and cherries

Kept getting better the longer we decanted. I recommend decanting for at least. Would have rated much lower on the very first glass, but the last one was much, much better.

Will let my other two bottles age more.