1/30/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Deep ruby in the glass with a seductive nose of red fruit, flowers, spice and a touch of coffee mocha. On the palate this wine delivers a mouthful of darker berries than hinted at by the nose, a lot of sweet spices, floral notes and a touch of oak. The tannins are nicely integrated in a well structured blend giving a long lingering smooth finish. The blend is Garnacha (Priorat), Tempranillo (Rioja), and Carignan (Ribera del Duero) and delivers nicely on Phinney's exploration series of the world's more interesting wine regions. The Spanish E5 edition is well worth seeking out.

1/4/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 90 minutes air in the bottle. Dark ruby in the glass with only the slightest hint of bricking. The nose was expressive and youthful - dark fruits - black cherry, plums, and a touch of spice (anise maybe). On the palate, this wine really showed! Dark cherry, dark plum, spicy herbs, anise and a nice mineral base that seemed more Santa Rita hills than Sonoma. Long smooth finish and wonderful notes across the full range of the palate. Overall, this wine is at it's peak, IMO. This is the 7th bottle from the case and while the notes are largely consistent, it is really showing well and I do not see any signs that it will improve from here. If you have it in the cellar, start enjoying your good fortune now.

1/4/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened and two hours air in bottle. Medium ruby with only a hint of bricking in the glass. A nice Pinot nose showing cherry, tea and spice and hints of flowers. Initial impressions were mostly reacting to the heat that obscured the fruit on first taste. It literally took almost an additional 2 hours before the heat dissipated and the wine really started to show. At this point, a lot of what made this a wonderful bottling emerged showing cherries, red berries, tea, and spicy/floral notes in a long finish. I would drink soon, and definitely give at least 3-4 hours air in a decanter to really enjoy this wine.

1/4/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 4 hour decant and tasted over ensuing 2 hours. Dark ruby, almost purple in the glass. Lovely nose of dark fruits - dark berries really, mixed with anise & spice notes and a hint of the vineyard. On the palate it still shows young - but the longer decant revealed loads of dark fruit & berries, spice, chalky minerals, chocolate notes and a touch of anise lingering in a long lovey finish. Young, no question; but this will be a much better wine in about 2 years - or give it a long decant and enjoy now. [SnowBound 2017 event]

1/4/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 4 hour decant plus 1 hour in the glass. Medium to darkish ruby in the glass. The nose is rich and generous - cherry, berries, leather, tobacco, and lovely spicy floral notes - all of which carries over to the palate revealing an exceptional Sangiovese full of cherries, berries, tobacco, with chocolate mocha & spice notes all wrapped in a nicely integrated, smooth mouthfeel and long lingering finish. Still young - another two years+ in the cellar will reward the patient. [SnowBound 2017 event]

1/4/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 5 hour decant via WineBreather. Deep purple in the glass; maybe very dark ruby with a ton of light. Dense visually and even with 5 hours decant and an hour opening in the glass this baby was dense from start to finish. Opening this anytime in the next 3-4 years is too early - tag it for opening in 2021 and you will be rewarded for your patience. The nose is huge after the decant (closed and monolithic when first opened - dk cherry dominant) showing dark cherry, black berries, plums, and an intriguing spicy note. On the palate - pretty much the same - dark cherries, dark berries, plums, leather/grilled meats, and the most interesting spice/floral notes with a mineral base lingering in a long powerful finish. It is just a Wow! Syrah; but to repeat: give it some quality time in the back cellar corner with your newer Ports. My initial score will most certainly rise with time - highly recommended - seek out and cellar! [2017 SnowBound event]

1/3/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 4 hour decant. Medium ruby in the glass with lovely nose of dark cherry, blackberry and a touch of oak. In the mouth this Grenache was 100% Chris Ringland in your face beauty full of dark berries, vanilla, herbs and a hint of anise. The big fruit was nicely balanced with well integrated sweetish tannins that somehow remained crisp and smooth in spite of all that fruit. Lovely long finish. Not a wine for the ages (drink in the next 4-5 yrs) but not a wine to miss either if you love Grenache. maybe the best 100%
Grenache I've enjoyed in quite some time. [SnowBound 2017 event].

1/3/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 5 hour decant through WineBreather. A dark, dark ruby in the glass with a big nose focused around blackberries, dark plum and hints of smoky blueberry compote. On the palate - a rich mouthful of those same black fruits - a lot of black fruits - but well integrated into a solid structure of smooth tannins. This beauty continued to open over the tasting showing layers of berries, smokey forest notes, spices and a touch of vanilla. Long mouth-coating finish. [2017 SnowBound event].

1/3/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened w 5 hour decant in WineBreather. Dark ruby to purple in the glass. Nose rich with dark berries and plums, hints of cherry and an almost minty spice note. Huge in the mouth showing tons of dark berries - purple raspberry, blueberry, blackberry - nicely integrated into a well structured wine that will age beautifully through several decades. The finish is long, smooth and full of spicy tea/coffee notes that hang on forever. Highly recommended. [2017 SnowBound event]. Addendum: looking back at other ct notes, it is almost like we were tasting another wine at SnowBound - it could be the long decant for the SnowBound wines - 5 hours through a WineBreather for ones we thought would need it. Delight and mid-90 scores consistent across 12 tasting that night.

1/1/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with a 5 hour decant. Purple with dark ruby edges in the glass. Big rich nose of plums, red berries, leather and a touch of smoke. On the palate this wine is simply amazing - plums, dark cherries, leather, and some smoky-spicy & mineral back notes that linger in a long smooth finish. While probably not my wine of the year, it is definitely one of the best wines i've enjoyed this year. It is build to age so seek it out and exercise some discipline if at all possible after the first bottle... [2017 SnowBound event]

1/1/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Four hour decant before tasting. Dark ruby/purple in the glass. A lot of dark fruit, plums and olives on the nose which carry over into a well-integrated mouthful of plum, black fruits, olives and herbs with hints of peppers & chocolate. Wow! By the 6th hour this wine was singing - so well structured and delivers a wonderful lingering finish. Highly recommended; but remember this is young and will definitely benefit from 4-5 yrs cellar time. [2017 Snowbound Event]

1/1/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened with 60 minutes air in the bottle. Light honey-gold in the glass and a nose of buttery oak & green apples. Another hour+ in the glass revealed green apples, citrus, stone fruits and light spice beyond the initial hit on the open of buttery oak & citrus. Crisp acidity and reasonable balance overall with enough air. There are much better Chards out there, I would recommend a pass on this or a single bottle to trial first if you are a Gary Farrell fan. One caveat- this wine is young, young, young - and it was against a very polished 2014 WA Chard from Charles Smith that was smokn' good... I will revisit this in a few years & knowing Farrell, I expect it will show some real improvement.

1/1/2018 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened w 60 min air in bottle. Light gold in the glass with lovely nose of flowers, apples, vanilla and touch of citrus. On the palate - vanilla, apples, white flowers, grapefruit/lemon and nice lite minerality with hints of spice. Moderate oak, decent acidity and smooth integrated tannins - silky mouthfeel was surprising and overall very well balanced presentation. I loved this and I normally only drink unoaked Chards and a few select produces who have a lighter touch. Guess I can love a little oaky butter after all ;) so long as it is not overdone. Great price from Costco makes this a multi-bottle purchase - recommended! One last comment - i initially rated this 92 but adjusted up after revisiting about 2 hours into the tasting when it had really come together in the glass... age this one a bit is the message...

12/25/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

Unbelievable. Beautiful dark ruby without a hint of bricking. The cork was perfect, only half infused; bottle from a case purchased on release and stored at 55f it's entire life. The nose is rich with cherry, plum, hints of cedar/delicate earth and a touch of leather. On the palate - Wow! Cherry, plum, leather, fantastic spice notes, and that touch of forest floor earthiness. Very decent acidity and smooth as silk with beautifully integrated tannins - this wine was amazing out of the gate and continued to open over the first hour. This bottle was peaking - nothing "old" about this bottle - I am drinking my 750's and holding the mags. Easily the best Tig I can ever recall tasting and I rarely miss a vintage.

12/18/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This is a very nice Garnacha; especially for the Costco bottle price. Dark ruby, medium purple in the glass with defined legs. A seductive nose of cherry & red berries with spicy notes and a hint of flowers. On the palate a tad hot underscoring the 15.5% alcohol, but settles down with about 60 min air - and will definitely mellow with a little age. Generous with the vanilla cherries, raspberries, chocolate, spice and a hint of anise. Nice long lingering finish with just the right acidity and beautifully integrated tannins - really nicely balanced wine and one of the better Garnachas I have tasted this year - everything i love in this grape! I would have scored higher but this beauty is still youthful and showing just a touch of overripe, almost jam-like expressiveness that should mellow nicely with age - expect to score it higher in a year or so... buying enough tomorrow to make sure i can continue the tasting out a tad just to see.....

12/18/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

There is a lot of promise in this bottle; but just too early to open. If you own this, hold it for another 4+ years and you will likely be rewarded with a real beauty. Today - still tight and restrained - BUT - showing huge promise. A big expansive nose of dark berries & black cherry with an array of complex supporting notes - mostly spice, anise, chocolate after 2 hr decant. Pretty much the same on the palate - again black fruit, spice and chocolate supported with well integrated tannins and a long finish. Just flat-out too young today - way too young. Let this one sit for another 5+ years and then bring on the steak! Today 90 pts; tomorrow - hard to give a number, but i guarantee it will be gaining points with each passing year. Very happy to own a few more.

12/18/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This Shiraz somehow buried itself in the back of my offsite storage so just now opening a bottle. Classic dark purple in the glass and with 60 minutes of rest in the decanter it delivered a rich nose of dark fruit, pepper & spice, and a herbaceous back-note. On the palate - classic Clare Valley plums & prunes with lovely smoke & spice and a intriguing mineral note that is hard to describe. This is a big wine but nicely integrated and delivering a long Shiraz finish. Bring on the beef! Drink & enjoy now and over the next 2 years if you have it.

12/18/2017 - CMz Does not like this wine:

The 2014 The Boy Grenache Syrah blend was the first disappointing entry in an otherwise stellar series of the new 2014 releases. A light ruby in the glass that portends the emerging overall perception of thinness and lack of substance on the palate. The nose is a lovely Grenache varietal montage of red berries, smokey Prime Rib, leather and flowery notes that continue into a light but distinct mix of berries and smokey meats on the palate. The wine seems almost too light to support the sense of high alcohol and acidity which disrupts any finesse to this bottle. The finish is smooth and lingers - perhaps the only part of this wine i actually enjoyed - unfortunately delivering only on the finish is not enough to swing my score into the 90's - it's just not there now. Perhaps with some age in the cellar this one will come into it's own. If you already own it, lay it down; otherwise move on to some of the other stunning K 2014 releases.

12/6/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This wine is drinking surprisingly well for its age - most thought it over the curve in '12-'13 but the obit was premature. Dark ruby, almost purple with only the slightest bricking on the edge. Nose of dark fruit - blackberry mostly - with pepper & spice - and a wonderful smokey grilled meat note all of which carry over into the mouth. Nice minerality with all that black fruit and savory smoked tenderloin - maybe a bit of red plum - but sooooooo smooth with tannins sitting nicely under a still rich fruit expression. I am so surprised - this was so good i am checking my friends lists to see who still has it.. long finish, silky smooth - wait, i said that already!

12/4/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This is my first revisit to the 2003 vintage Cab and surprisingly far better than expected. Dark ruby in the glass with distinct bricking on the rim. Bouquet of dark berries, flowers, spice with hints of chocolate; far less complex aromatics than the last time I opened this over a decade ago but quite lovely. Once you sip, this becomes quite interesting - velvety smooth with perfectly integrated tannins that leave a glycerin coating long after the taste. Predominantly blue fruit with distinct vanilla tones; spice and currants, hints of smoke and chocolate - all of which persist in a long, long finish. Silky smooth and quite pleasant despite having given up some of the early complexity it exhibited during the first 4-5 years. This wine is far from done even though seemingly past its prime. Time to Coravin a 2003 QC just to check in....

11/24/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This wine always surprises. The second wine of Mas Doix from families who have been making wine in Priorat since the mid-1800's; this is always a treat. 2003 is right on point showing a nose of black cherry and dark berries with a funny hint of tobacco all sitting comfortably in the glass with a medium ruby/very slight bricking - it is definitely lighter in color and far better integrated than my last tasting. This is a fully mature Priorat; i do not think it will get better - only slowly fade away the fruit over the next 5 years. If you have it, drink it now. It is still a wonderfully expressive, nicely integrated Garnacha/Carinena blend beautifully expressing old-vine black cherry/blackberry flavors that linger.

11/24/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This Pinot has matured beautifully and is worth searching out if you like big complex PN's. Deep purple with light bricking in the glass. Cherry, plum and berries on the nose, slight floral notes linger. On the palate - smooth well-integrated tannins establish a firm background to loads of cherry and plum with a interesting light sweetness in the finish. Less spice notes than in earlier bottles, less earthiness - almost none really. Just fruit and flavor which does not over power it's graceful structure for a Pinot that is this old (acting young) and big in presence.

11/18/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

Dark ruby with a bouquet that while initially tight opened over an hour to reveal cherry and berry notes with a hint of tobacco. The dark cherry repeats on the tongue - easily the dominate note; but combined with berries, smoke and an interesting woody element that was some combination of oak and cedar. This bottle was fully mature and while it may still evolve and perhaps improve over the next 4-5 years I am going to give my remaining bottle 2 hours of decant and consume this year. Overall - paired nicely with grilled meat; but not memorable.

11/10/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

Deep purple color with no signs of age in the glass. The nose was rich with dark fruit, plums and dried prunes/raisins especially; with a touch of mint. Very well integrated tannins, moderate acidity and a silky smooth mouth-feel with a long dark fruit finish that revealed tar, mint and spices. This wine is still beautiful and not showing any sign of falling off - mature, yes; but definitely still has a window of excellence ahead for bottles properly stored.

11/7/2017 - CMz Likes this wine:

This Cab/Syrah blend has really flowered into a wonderful wine. Dark fruit - mostly cherry/blackberry - well integrated tannins that have finally softened nicely to give definition. A touch of spice and a little minerality on the finish. This wine has really matured nicely and my scoring jumps from 88 points in 2011 to a solid 90 points today. I would almost edge it up but for a constrained nose and [only in contrast to another wine I am tasting in parallel] somewhat limited breadth. Not a negative btw; by itself - maybe a point more. Nice medium ruby with a tad of bricking on the edge. This wine is not done evolving but have to feel it is peaking 2016/18 in 750ml.

12/14/2013 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened and poured. This wine still has good dark ruby color in the glass with some bricking on the edge. The fruit is reemerging after being very subdued over the past several years - nice dark berries & plum, smoke and cedar. High alcohol notes have noticed in prior tastings has faded back leaving moderate acid (lower on the cab scale perhaps than i would normally like) and smooth tannins. This would pair nicely with a beef dish now..but drink if holding - should be good through 2018

1/25/2013 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened & decanted 90 minutes, returned to the bottle for 30; dark purple in the glass. Wonderful nose of blueberry/blackberry, smoke, & coffee. This is a big wine, and still young, but also very well balanced with nicely integrated tannins and an abundance of fruit after sufficient (almost required at this point) air. On the palette - more blueberry, blackberry, plum layered with spice, coffee, smoke and a light backnote that reminds me of buffalo jerky all melded into a truly amazing syrah. The finish is long and smooth leaving the mouth coated in spiced blueberry.

Tasted blind in a syrah event, this Grand Reve came in #2 behind a smoking Grange - if you can find it - buy it. World class at a fraction of the price.

1/25/2013 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened and 90 minutes air in the bottle. Dark, rich purple. Cherry, cherry, green olives and smoke blended in with a distinct coffee note on the nose. I did not recall the coffee note from earlier tastings - a nice surprise. Pretty much the same on the palette - this is a big syrah - not a surprise given the winemaker but unlike some of his efforts this is very nicely balanced & well integrated start to finish - a long wonderful finish btw.

Note to self - this wine needs food - meat to be precise. This was blind in a shiraz/syrah tasting & showed well vs the Aussies. Note to all - Also in the tasting was the '07 Grand Reve Collab III syrah which blew it's doors off at less than half the price - hint, hint!

1/25/2013 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened, double decanted w total air 90 minutes. Very dark purple, almost ink. Wonderful nose full of dark berries, vanilla and smoke. Big, big, big on the palette with loads of blackberry, vanilla, coffee. Amazingly well integrated and while big! the evident alcohol did not detract and faded back over time. Long finish.

Tasted blind in an annual tasting event and despite my generally not liking Mollydooker wines, this one impressed. That said, the '04 Amon-Ra was in the tasting - a better wine imo, scored higher by the group and half the price... hint, hint...

1/25/2013 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened and double decanted with a total of 60 minutes air. Tasting notes consistent with notes from '09 and '11 tastings - this is and remains a beautiful shiraz and one of the better vintages of Amon-Ra. Deep, deep purple with a huge nose of dark berries, vanilla and smoke. Very well integrated and smooth on the palette opening to show a range of dark berries - mostly blackberry, some blueberry in the finish, vanilla, smoke and spice. This wine is still a buy in my book if you like this style of Aussie shiraz - one of the best.

1/25/2013 - CMz Likes this wine:

Opened, air in bottle for 45 minutes. Golden straw yellow with huge nose of citrus dripped on fresh cut red apples layered over a distinct & very nice bedrock of minerals. Lovely wine, bright on the palette, good acid, well integrated with a long lingering finish - apples & lime juice at the end. While i expected a bit more, i am very happy to have a bit more... far more approachable in youth than some earlier vintages.

4/11/2012 - CMz wrote:

Opened, Venturi, 30 min air in glass. Light ruby, lighter on the rim. Devoid of fruit on the nose or palate. Initially not recognizable as Pinot; some vague references to the varietal emerged over about 45 minutes. Three sips, the dumped the bottle; remaining 5 bottles into the recycling 5 minutes later. Unlikely i will ever buy a "mystery wine" again based upon this first experience. Easily the worst recommendation from this vendor, any vendor, period.

2/3/2012 - CMz wrote:

Opened and poured; deep ruby, almost purple color. Big nose full of black fruit, blueberry, and smoke. More of the same on the palate with the blueberry being dominant, some nice spicy notes and a hint of licorice. A lot of fruit but not oppressive on the palate, really very enjoyable and the lovely moderate+ finish and smooth mouth-feel really make this wine a value at price. Well worth seeking this one out and buying a few under $30.

2/3/2012 - CMz wrote:

Opened w 30 min air in bottle; deep ruby and only slightly lighter on the rim. Nose rich in berries and spice; on the palate dark fruit, spice, and a smokey note all layered over a nice mineral base. Well balanced with a decent structure; not a big wine but very enjoyable with a long finish that leaves a lingering blueberry note but one where you caught the small stem when you bit down. That brushy note faded away after the wine was open for 90 minutes. nice juice; happy to have a few more....

1/27/2012 - CMz wrote:

Opened with 90 min in decanter. Deep dense purple, only slightly lighter on the rim. Big nose that took a lot of time to really express - a bouquet of blueberry, spice and smoked duck..... on the palate, more of the same and showing a wonderful spiciness that literally danced on the tongue. Long, long finish..wow! Seek this wine out; it is one of the better Shiraz i have had in some time but really more for the future - this wine is still very, very young and will benefit from another 5 years of patience (which i doubt i will have).

1/27/2012 - CMz wrote:

Open with 30 minutes in the bottle. rich purple to the rim showing a big nose ripe with blackberry, a peppery spice and smoke. On the palate, still a vigorous shiraz but much more evolved and expressive than my last tasting in early 2009. This is a rich soft mouthful of blackberry, dark fruit, earth, smokey meats and a wonderful spice. Very long silky finish belies a well structured wine with solid tannins and one showing the potential to go another 10 years. I thought this wine was peaking in '09 - anything but. It would have scored higher but for the 2001 Dead Arm it was paired with... this is great shiraz!!

1/27/2012 - CMz wrote:

Opened, decanted 45 minutes. Nice med-dark ruby with a rich cherry nose & earthy, almost Oregon notes. Very nice on the palate with dark berries added to the dominant black cherry, earthy notes present but faded behind the fruit after about two hours. A smoky note lingered with the cherry on a medium-long finish. Medium body, nicely integrated overall w a decent structure but hard to guess how this would age. I plan to consume mine over the next 2 - 3 years max.

1/12/2012 - CMz wrote:

Opened w 45 min air in chilled decanter. nice light honey gold color with a beautiful fragrant orange/lemon nose, flowers and vanilla. Just that much more amazing on the palate - citrus in abundance, peach, touch of pear, and a wonderful mineral base note layered under the fruit. I expected more oak with the vanilla notes in the nose but not so; nor any indication that this wine was almost 16% crafted in new french oak - Wow!! Easily one of the best Chards i have had in a long time but more like a Meursault than any CA Chard should be... Great structure along with great balance - should age....

12/27/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened with 2 hours bottle air. Deep purple to the glass rim and a wonderful nose of dark fruit, especially black cherry, flowers & spice. On the palate a mouthful of cherry, berries, spice and a touch of herbs & earth. This is an amazing Merlot dominant (60%) wine that is well worth seeking out. Great structure and balance should give this wine a decent run over the next 6-8 years.

12/27/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened with 60 min air in bottle. Medium ruby in the glass with a wonderfully complex gentle nose showing cherry, berry, and lovely floral notes. more cherry, berry, flowers, spice and light minerality on the palate. Good structure very well packaged in a silky smooth mouth feel and a long lingering finish. This is not a big wine but a complex, layered - almost old world style - wine that beautifully expresses Willamette pinot. Well worth seeking out the similar but less expensive Seven Springs estate version..

12/27/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened with 45 min air in bottle - not enough for this wine. Still youthful and tight on the palate. Dark ruby in the glass, and while constrained it displayed an enticing nose of black berries, oak and spice. On the palate - more dark berries, plum, oak, spice, very nice minerals, and hints of chocolate. moderately long smooth finish. The next bottle will receive at least 90 minutes in a decanter as the wine improved measurably over the course of 3 hours and what began as a 88+ score opened to a solid 90 points.

12/13/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened and 60 minutes bottle air. Dark ruby, slight bricking on the edge. A lot of dark fruit on the nose with an oaky afternote. Not especially complex on the palate and while drinking nicely it seemed already tired. Still showing some nice dark fruit but lacking a dominate note. Smooth, nice moderate finish.

12/13/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened and decanted 90 minutes. Deep purple to the edge; Blackberry, Blueberry and spice on the nose. Still big fruit on the palate but much more approachable and showing more complexity than the '09 tasting; definitely drinking better now. Loads of dark berry - mostly blueberry - with minty spice & smokey notes. Great balance & Long finish..

12/13/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened and decanted for 90 minutes; deep purple to the rim. Rich nose heavy with blackberry, vanilla and minty spice. On the palate - blackberry, dark fruit, spice and light oak. Well integrated tannins and long finish. This is an excellent example of a decade old shiraz that is aging beautifully.

12/13/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened and decanted for 1 hour. Ruby with only a hint of bricking. OK - all i can say is that this wine has finally arrived. Wonderful nose of blackberry, cherry, raspberry and spice. On the palate, this is really nice - blackberry, raspberry, coffee and a nice minerality that is no longer just pencil lead, something more like crushed stones. Very balanced with smooth, well integrated silky tannins, long finish. What a great surprise...

12/13/2011 - CMz wrote:

Decanted for 90 minutes, followed by 30 air decanted back into the bottle. Deep purple, no hint of bricking. Wonderful nose of blackberry, cassis and cedar that really began to open after an hour in the decanter and only improved from there. On the palate - smooth tannins supported rich black fruits, cedar and wonderful floral notes - hints of anise on the finish as well. Long finish and still has legs to run for another 4-6 years - that said, if you have more than a couple of bottles, time to start enjoying this wine. Hard to call the peak with many of these Aussie shiraz and easy to call over - given how well it is drinking, now is good.

11/8/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened w 30 min air in bottle. Light straw-gold color and a wonderful nose of peaches, pears and sweet flowers. Very balanced with great acidity that adds some very nice minerals and orange blossoms to the white fruit & flowers. Long finish with a great almost silky mouthfeel. While i thought it fell short of the '09 Mt Harlan, this is a wonderful wine and worth seeking out if you like Central Coast Chards.

11/8/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened w 45 minutes air in the bottle. Nice honey yellow and showing a lot of apricots, pears, minerals and a hint of pineapple on the nose. On the palate, this is really a delight - a nicely defined mineral base piled on with apricots, peaches, pears, spice, honey and a wonderful honeysuckle floral note. Very crisp with great acid, well integrated tannins with only hints of oak and a long lingering finish that ends with the stones & apricots. The prominent mineral notes, apricots and honeysuckle are very reminiscent of white Rhones - thinking of the new vintage of Guigal's la doriane that i tasted a few weeks back. Have to say i like the crisp acids in the FM Viognier more...

11/7/2011 - CMz wrote:

The '82 Las Casas was decanted for over 4 hours then another 2 decanted back into the bottle. I let a pour sit another 3 hours in the glass. The double decanted pour at 6+ hours was amazing - still a deep inky purple with no sign of bricking. The initial impression was graphite, spice & a woody/Cedar note. Still a ton of structure and beautiful balance and the impression another 10 years would server it well. The final pour with the additional time in the glass was beginning to open and show some floral notes, almost like violets along with the graphite & spice and dark fruit. The fruit was more black cherry than anything but still tightly held after 9 hours of air. Pretty impressive...

10/13/2011 - CMz wrote:

Opened w 1 hour in decanter. Dark purple, only slightly lighter on the rim with a nose rich in plum, blackberry. a little black cherry and some nice spicy notes. On the palate, much more of the dark fruit, spice & a hit of anise, minerals w light earthy note and a bit of oaky vanilla... a lot of fruit really, but well structured w good tannins delivered in a well balanced rich mouthfeel - almost silky - and a medium-long finish.

The '08 reminds me of the '05 which i consistently rated 94-96 points in blind tastings - this will be an outstanding Carmenere with a little cellar time and well worth seeking out if you love great Chilean wine. A number of the Costco stores stock this wine for around US$56...check for it.