9/11/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

An 11 year old beauty. It’s deep ruby, with purple streaks, youthful in color. Med body. Weighty nose, blackberry and raspberry preserve, blueberry pie, prune, sweet almond, graphite, smoked meat, and underbrush. The palate is fruit laden with completely resolved tannins, but powerful enough to extend the finish. Palate: WOW-blackberry juice, raspberry jam, plum, thyme, sage, black pepper. Luxurious mouthfeel. The finish is 30 seconds+. Decadent!
Night 2- no dropoff.

9/4/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Does not like this wine:

If you like grippy, old-world rusticity, open now. Everyone else, open in a couple years. This wine is a changer. After 30 minute decanting: bright ruby red w/ brick edge. Med-light body. Nose not reminiscent of PN. More Sangiovese. Fresh cherry, ground almond, vanilla bean, eucalyptus, wet rubber, cinnamon. Palate: fresh cherry and tobacco, then muted out by tannin. 90 minutes: more PN typicity, nose has crushed raspberry, sweet smoke. Palate: still grippy, raspberry, underbrush. Interesting!

8/24/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Beautiful sunset salmon color, quite stunning. Medium-light bodied. The nose is not fruit-forward. The primary notes are rubber, sweet smoke and marzipan. The tasting reveals restrained fruit; asian pear, dried papaya, salt water taffy. These are dominated by the structure of the wine; it’s totally dry. The acid is present by not high. This is a restrained but quite interesting Bandol. Also needs 10-15 minutes to show well.

8/18/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Interesting semi sweet offering, the color and the taste profile is eerily reminiscent of concord grape juice. It’s residual sugar level is relatively high, and the abundance of fresh, almost unfermented fruit makes this translate as fruit juice instead of wine. Enjoyable chilled, this wine is not built for dissecting, instead it delivers freshness and simplicity.

8/6/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Still quite youthful, pomegranate juice colored. Beautiful purple tinged deep red all the way to the rim. Pretty nose; rubber, chalk, marzipan, vanilla paste, black cherry, scorched earth. Palate; nice mild stemminess, firm tannin still slightly unresolved, bright cherry juice. Could use another year or two to round out, but already drinking nicely. 89Pts.

7/30/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Medium straw color, medium body. The nose is quite rich and warm, with oak, vanilla, brown butter, light toffee, and pineapple brûlée. The palate is also quite serious and deep, with a palate-saturating intensity that might be cloying if not for a decent level of acid to balance. Some tropical fruit on the palate in addition to the above said mirroring notes including dried papaya and pineapple. Nice food wine, can match full-bodied dishes.

7/30/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very interesting, you would not know this a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot due to the upbringing. It’s very rich and extracted with a Merlot-like mouthfeel. Velvety. It’s almost syrupy for a Pinot with overripe prune and raisin notes. Seriously, then first note on the nose is Port. Very full-bodied, ripe and even slightly sweet with a touch of residual sugar. Just slightly off-dry. Very interesting and unexpected offering, I liked it.

7/29/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Red raspberry color with hint of purple. Medium body. Nose is typical Zin, raspberry tart, briar patch, sour red raspberry, very pretty closing herbal note. The palate confirms the nose but is a bit more conservative than anticipated. The fruit is sweet and ripe however not so far as jammy. Has enough acid to balance and a touch of grip on the back. Pretty good value.

7/22/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Medium crimson with a hint of brick when swirled. Medium-light bodies. Nose has crushed raspberry, rubber, underbrush, herb de Provence. Palate: quite rich and ripe considering body and nose. Very ripe and sweet fruit, with red fruit and even jammy notes dominating. Has cinnamon and clove in the background, good length. Could use a bit more acid to balance out the sweet fruit.

7/21/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Really nice typicity, has a richness and creaminess. Acid dominates but in a great way, very fresh and bright. Has a tart finish with a palate-cleansing bitter component.

7/21/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Quite new world, tastes a bit hot and extracted. Pale crimson, color is similar to Pinot Noir. Nose is big, almost port-like. Overripe. Intense raspberry liqueur and some funk show on the nose. Palate shows ripe raspberry and raspberry jam, very full-bodied and intense. Overall enjoyable but a bit out of balance. To be fair, the glass that was poured was quite warm. Served at the proper temp this wine may show quite differently.

7/15/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Pure cherry color, medium plus body. The nose is fresh cherry, underbrush, framboise, light toastiness from wood, black pepper, smoke and clove. The palate has excellent typicity for this region. Fresh acidity, buttery secondary notes, ripe red fruit and near perfectly balanced grip at the end with very fine-grained tannin. Great balance and value, super-enjoyable!

7/14/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Beautiful light straw color with a hint a jade, really pretty. Nose is awesome; rubber, salt water taffy, jasmine, potpourri...these are relatively restrained but you can sense the energy. Palate is more typical of Gruner, bracing acid, tastes green in a good way, and that bitter finish that marks this varietal. Really nice, Granny Smith apple, lime, and Asian pear. Quite dry. Very clean and a wonderful match for dishes touched with chili.

7/8/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Color is exact match for cranberry juice, medium body. Nose: Underbrush, ripe cherry, cranberry sauce, raspberry jam, sweet almond...very ripe. Palate: Good intensity and attack. Lots of ripe cherry and sort of undilineated red fruit on the front, mid-palate is slightly underwhelming with sweet cherry and a hint of grip, finish with mild tannins and fades quickly from there. Wonderful mouthfeel, texture. Nice for what it is, big fruit and simple, pleasing weekday sipper.

7/1/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Lush, full-bodied and extracted. Quite a departure from the Pinots I have tried from Laetitia. Really soft and delicious, drinking wonderfully. It has Merlot-like qualities to it. Deep red fruit with a long, palate-saturating finish. Quite a head-turner. 92Pts.

7/1/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Lighter in color than you would expect for a young Grenache. Very well-rounded and brimming with sweet, ripe fruit. Nice background herbal note, and liquor notes due to ripeness. The real stand out here is the mouthfeel, texturally it’s quite lush. Very nice, 88Pts.

7/1/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Big, rich muscular Aglianico, crafted in this style it’s quite similar to Nebbiolo. The energetic nose gives generously of black cherry, almond, marzipan, vanilla, and underbrush. Opaque purple in color. The palate expresses intense, ripe cherry and vanilla along with excellent freshness and good closing grip. This is a beautiful wine, and still youthful. Definite upward potential. 93pts

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very nice, rich and round with Chard quality. Good balance.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Light, refreshing but simple cab. Lacks personality but pleasant enough.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Smoked meat, raspberry jam, full-bodied, quite jammy. Predictable but solid.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Ripe, refined, pure white peach.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very nice, raspberry and spice.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

White peach, honeysuckle, good acid.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Average desert wine...one dimensional.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Excellent, deep and rich, slightly overripe notes of fig and raisin. Fresh black fruit...long full finish that coats the palate.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Awesome, big but balanced, great extraction of fruit.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Nice funk on the nose, very cool climate but expressive.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Pickle juice on the nose, so interesting...wonderful, super-sweet pure raspberry on palate, funky unique Pinot.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

92Pts, excellent and balanced. Good richness and power without dominating the delicious and delicate fruit structure.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Excellent typicity. Has the lighter, fresher profile so common in Edna Valley Pinot. Tastes like younger fruit, but sewn together nicely, great finesse.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Knockout, this is a full, lush Pinot that is not overly extracted or outside the proper profile for Pinot from this area. It’s very high quality fruit and serious skill on the winemaking. Equal with Pinot twice the price.

6/25/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very Rhône-like, nice. Solid fruit with freshness and good balance with tannic grip on finish.

6/24/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Quaffable, but extremely one-dimensional. Cherry juice, and that’s about it. After it’s first opened, it’s a bit too rustic but after a bit of aeration it rounds out. Nothing to write home about.

6/16/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Light golden color, stunning balance on the nose between pure, focused green apple, slightly unripe anjou pear, golden apple. The palate reveals wonderful, round and mouth-watering acidity with ripe, cool-climate fall fruit and richness which extends the finish considerably. First-class, highly recommended!

6/14/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Overall a bit disapppinting. There were good elements, such as deep, layered fruit, richness and palate-saturating prescence. However, the balance was thrown off by the residual sugar. Had it been offset by more acid or structure, maybe it would have been more enjoyable. This was a pass for me.

6/9/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very ripe, rich fruit, plum and cherry, cherry preserve. Slightly flabby, could use a bit more acidity to balance out the voluptuous fruit. However, it’s very enjoyable and drinkable, enjoy for the rich, refined fruit and luxurious mouthfeel.

6/5/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Nice peach in syrup and white flower on the nose. Very sweet fruit is accentuated with a bit of residual sweetness. Very nice.

6/5/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Wow, this is extraordinary. Powerful, intense and layered extraction. Profound. Being young it’s a vibrant purple, also very full-bodied with viscous legs. The nose is blockbuster; smoke, rubber, cherry liqueur, subtle herbaceous green note...awesome. The palate is already delicious, rich but balanced with a long finish. It attacks the palate...this will be amazing in a couple years.

6/3/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Dark garnet, med plus body. Nose comprised of a raspberry jam and kirsch and a little sweet smoke. If I didn’t know, I would say this is a Syrah blend or GSM based on the nose. Quite a pretty and promising nose. After 45 minute decant, slightly underwhelming but pleasing on the palate. A bit rustic and unrefined but decent fruit and balance on the palate. old world characteristics and with food quite enjoyable. Just seems a little washed out...

6/3/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Light straw, medium body, pretty nose with restrained but focused nose of pear in syrup, clove, persimmon, slight note of toasty wood. Palate is very ripe and round with abundance of fresh, vibrant Asian pear with nice amount of res. sugar. Relatively dry overall but the slight sweetness in tandem with ripeness all balanced with good acidity, this is awesome.

5/31/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Such an interesting, delicious style of Pinot. Still quite young, but what is so enjoyable is the freshness. This smells like you sautéed fresh cherry in brown butter. Seriously. On the palate you get pure ripe red cherry with excellent freshness and acid. Quite ripe but in a light fresh style. Nice grip on the finishing note but not out of balance. I believe this will evolve a bit more, but with the currant tannin level probably not more than a coupe years, and you will miss out on the beguiling freshness going on right now. Love this.

5/31/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very nice, ripe Chardonnay with almost Sav Blanc aromatics. Quite tropical with notes of dried papaya, pineapple and salt water taffy on the nose. Although unoaked, it’s also unfiltered and has a nice textural richness as well as round, full expression of fruit. Great tension between ripe fruit and bright acid. Great style of Chard.

5/27/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Garnet, brick when swirling. Nose is loomy, bell pepper, crushed black cherry, rubber, black pepper. Medium body. Palate contains cola, ripe bing cherry, resolved but structures with nice finishing grip. Lower in acid than ideal, however overall quite pleasing.

5/26/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Stunning, simply put. Incredibly ripe on the palate to the point of being juicy. Dry but packed with sweet strawberry and almost Jello and fruit punch notes...very rare pure ripe fruit attack for a champagne. Bringing delightful tension is wonderful acid level with super-fine texture, almost ideal. This is rose champagne of finesse, refinement, richness and balance. Awesome!

5/26/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable, I would say it’s drinking quite well now however tannic grip on the back suggests a bit more patience to reach zenith. Quite restrained overall, it has moderate intensity on the fruit factor...cherry and kirsch notes on both nose and palate, pronounced tabacco, fresh raspberry purée, licorice. Acidity is moderate but bringing enough freshness to pick the fruit up on the front and especially mid-palate. However the finish is a bit abrupt and tannins take over. It’s not unpleasant but if the fruit holds out I believe a few more years will help.

5/21/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Really nice although not quite cohesive yet. My rating is based on its potential. Its got all the elements needed, very nice ripe fruit predominantly Morello Cherry with dried raspberry ...lots of baking spice, crisp acid reinforcing from the time it hits the palate through the finish, a whisper of green stemminess and moderate grip on the finish. However its not showing super well right now, its need a few years of bottle age and it should show nicely. Currently, its overly tart on the front, the mid-palate is muted and the finish is slightly course on the tannins. Wait until 2020.

5/21/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Tasted 2016 at the winery yesterday. Wow, its curious how much more is going on with Oliver vs their other single vineyard Chards. We tasted Rincon and Rosemary's and everyone agreed those were not close to Oliver. Rincon lacks fruit and the mid-palate is stagnant. Maybe its shut down temporarily. Rosemary's is pretty good, but not complex. Oliver is super energetic with a lemon rind, saline finish that lasts a good 15-20 seconds. Excellent, 93pts.

5/10/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Easy drinking very simple Grenache...that’s it.

5/6/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Nothing unexpected, pleasing underripe strawberry and raspberry notes on both palate and nose, nice texture and refreshing if not short finish. Enjoyable as a start to the meal or especially with h’orderve.

5/6/2018 - bambinojw@yahoo.com Likes this wine:

Outstanding, this Rose starts out with a full-bodied nose of ripe cherry, tart cranberry powder, and spice...close your eyes and you would say this was a well-rounded Pinot. Add drinking temp of about 50 degrees this is perfect, very expressive and rich with a beautiful texture. As it warms the more expected Rose profile emerges, not unpleasant but not as unexpected or interesting. Keep it at around 50 degrees and you will not be disappointed.