12/25/2023 - fjv3 wrote:

Drinking beautifully still.

10/21/2023 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

On the downside of the drinking window, but still quite enjoyable. Has taken on a bit of rust colt in the glass and nott as fruit forward, but still maintains some pleasant structure.

4/8/2019 - fjv3 wrote:

Still at peak

8/8/2018 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

Still quite good, but window is closing.

11/22/2017 - fjv3 wrote:

Past

11/5/2017 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

Prime drinking window. Tart cherries, rhubarb jam, nice acidity.

7/9/2017 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

Blackberries, dried cherries, plum, slight tobacco or leather. Prime drinking window.

6/25/2017 - fjv3 wrote:

Past it's prime. All leather and stewed fruit.

5/26/2017 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

A little tight after opening, but drinking beautifully after a couple hours.

11/6/2016 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

Slightly past peak, but still quite enjoyable. Plums, tobacco, fleshy.

1/1/2016 - fjv3 Likes this wine:

Nice nose of earth, mint and leather. Dark fruit, currants and minerals on the palate. Long finish. Still at peak, but now is the time to drink.

4/20/2013 - fjv3 wrote:

Better as it opened up. A little early for this bottle.

2/19/2012 - fjv3 wrote:

At its peak. Chocolate covered blueberries.

1/8/2012 - fjv3 wrote:

On the money with a 30 to 45 minute. Lovely balance between the fruits and structure of the wine.

12/27/2011 - fjv3 wrote:

Lots of terroir ... loam and graphite hit you early ... takes a while for the fruit to open up.

12/27/2011 - fjv3 wrote:

Still too young.

12/26/2011 - fjv3 wrote:

Still too young.

1/16/2011 - fjv3 wrote:

Perfect time to drink for my tastes - secondary characteristics have developed, but not overtaken the fruit.

11/25/2010 - fjv3 wrote:

Great balance of fruits (strawberry, raspberry), cola and tannic backbone. Not quite the stunner as other KB bottlings, but enjoyable nonetheless.

11/25/2010 - fjv3 wrote:

Enjoyable, but perhaps needed more time to open up and less overpowering foods since it came across a little one dimensional.

11/25/2010 - fjv3 wrote:

Really enjoyable mix of lighter fruits (raspberries?) and earthy flavors. Slightly better than expected.

10/31/2010 - fjv3 wrote:

Fantastic Zin ... especially for the money. Great combo of fruit with a little spice.

10/31/2010 - fjv3 wrote:

A little past its prime, but still enjoyable. Terrific nose and still has a lot going for it, but the prominance of the fruit is gone.

10/31/2010 - fjv3 wrote:

A little past its prime, but still a classy wine.

12/25/2009 - fjv3 wrote:

Big bad Cali cab. Right in the sweet spot.

12/25/2009 - fjv3 wrote:

Great with Christmas ham. Bright cherries, cola. Solid backbone, but still balanced.

8/15/2009 - fjv3 wrote:

Decanted for 1.5 hours. Luscious wine. Dark fruit, dark chocolate, earthy leather. Lots of stuffing left in this wine. First of 6 bottles consumed. Good drinking now with proper decanting, but will likely improve with age.

1/18/2009 - fjv3 wrote:

Inky-purple color. Distinct dark fruit notes (blackberry, blueberry), with a hint of fig and chocolate. Enough tannins to provide structure. With a little air, this one is drinking very well right now.

1/9/2009 - fjv3 wrote:

Decanted for 30 min or less. Wonderful nose, almost perfumed, fruit definitely hidden in the background. Liked, but didn't love. Wine had a lot of good characterstics, but didn't put it all together for me. I don't drink much South African wine, so perhaps it's just my lack of familiarity with their wine making styles.

12/31/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

My favorite bottle opened in 2008. Plush. Generous fruit, with balanced tannins. Typical Chilean terroir. This wine was right in the sweet spot. Sad to see it go.

12/6/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Plush and silky. Generous fruit with balanced structure. Right in its wheelhouse right now.

12/6/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Still a little tight. Very powerful. Dark fruits and exemplary Chilean terroir. Best days still ahead.

11/27/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Loads of red fruit (cherries, rasberries, etc.). Noticeable oak. Viscous. Enjoyable, but perhaps a little early.

10/5/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Opened up nicely after a little decanting, and continued to evolve in the glass. Nice dark fruit, silky tannins. Tart cherries and creamy vanilla on finish. Very enjoyable.

9/22/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Not quite what I was expecting. Lacking some of the common dark fruit characteristics. Perhaps just a difference in style that is not to my liking.

9/3/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Perfect companion for dry-aged sirloin. Showed some bottle age, but still had nice dark fruits with balanced tannins. Very enjoyable. Right in its prime.

4/5/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Very funky upon opening. Nearly concluded it was a bad bottle due to overwhelmingly tart cherries on the nose. Had it not been for the synthetic cork, it would have been written off. Instead, I let the bottle breath for a good hour. Everything started coming back into better balance. Pretty mellow tannins right now. Still a little acidity to give it punch. Even more enjoyable the second day. Window is closing though.

3/23/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Fairly heavy wine -- stains glasses and teeth alike. Good fruit that struggles for attention because of in your face tannins. Will let other bottles rest for short term cellaring to see if tannins soften.

3/21/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Mold on cork.

3/21/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Interesting wine. More fruit on the nose than on the palate. Long finish - earthy and mineral rather than pure fruit. Agree about need for air. Better on day 2.

3/14/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Nice tart cherries. Nice acidity. Too much wood ... overwhelms the fruit to some extent.

3/3/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Big, balanced shiraz. Deep ruby color, sticky legs in the glass. Plums and cherry cola (without oak getting overwhelming). Excellent value.

2/27/2008 - fjv3 wrote:

Sticky garnet glass cling. Perceptible nose of oak at outset that, fortunately, is subdued on the palate. Dark fruits. Spicy. Long finish.