1/26/2018 - mike.s wrote:

- Full body. Round texture with a long finish.

1/21/2018 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Jammy, cinnamon raspberry. Pleasurable and complex upon consideration

8/28/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Ready to drink, went well with gourmet burgers

7/26/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Great picnic Zin!

6/24/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nose has similar profile to Bonncousi from same vineyard, earth, cherry, a little cola.. palate balanced with the nose, medium finish with the end being a little more released. A few more years and I suspect it will show even better. Very ready to serve with food today and enjoy even the current mix of flavors!

6/24/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Classic new world chard from Wente clone, only 8 barrels! Finish is hot, retro nasal is oak & hay. Fruit is very mild on the palate, balanced overall to make this a great wine with traditional chardonnay pairings!

6/4/2017 - mike.s wrote:

Damn great.. Santa Cruz forest floor comes rippling up from my memories of walking through the redwoods -- banana slugs, wet earth rich with decay renewed on the surface mixed with needles, mushrooms and salt air. Subtle but very present fruit: cherry, tart red fruit. Follows on with worn, but cared for horse saddle leather not recently ridden.
Structure has nice tannins, great acidity, very very drinkable.

As a practice, I do not "score" wines, but I want people to know how special this one is.

6/4/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

This and another bottle consistent with my previous notes:
Citrus Grapefruit Nose and Palate -- simply delicious and a delight to drink!

5/25/2017 - mike.s wrote:

Nose Earthy nose, lower on fruit than I expected on the nose. After 15 minutes, nose opens up fruit on top of the earth: Cherries and strawberry jam (though not overpowering like the vineyard specific I've had from them). Palate fits with the nose quite well -- mild earth, mild fruit. Tannins are easy going but clear and present to help balance out the fruit and acid to give the wine decent structure.

5/15/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Like previous vintage note, I would have blind guessed this as an Oregon Pinot. Great earthy nose, mushrooms, roasted eggplant. Fruits are dark and subtle on the nose and come out to play on the palate in the form of dark cherry,. Smoke, spice on the nose emphasized and enhanced on retronasal expulsion. Nice long finish. Easy to drink and enjoy and easy to linger over as well.

I would buy again at the right price ($28-$36) for me and share with friends. Fantastic wine when well paired. Recommended

5/11/2017 - mike.s wrote:

Nose is subtle..

5/9/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nose: Cherries, secondary mushrooms with dark wet earth dangling off the mushroom
Taste: Nice acid-tannin balance, oak via vanilla, candied cherries without being overly sweet, earthy.
Nice lingering finish holding the taste for a pleasant continuation of the core themes found in the nose.

I preferred this bottle to my previous try. Bottle variation or context of food (some nice mild coconut curry this time) matters not, I like this wine today!

5/7/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Good, not great

5/3/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Appearance is clearly of an old white.
The nose is exotic and unique to other wines. Such an amazingly refreshing nose after too much cheaper Grand Cruller Chablis and New World Chardonnay. Amazing complexity that makes me want to hang out sussing out the various components of the nose. Some honey still in the comb -- not overly sweet, but clearly . Floral that seems to be attractive to bees and aromas on a warm humid day on the gold coast of California. It is almost as though it signals a Paso area terrior. Citrus is muted and as if it were fresh squeezed into a mixed drink. Fruit is background nose at this point -- lightly fermented pineapple for my nose memory. Also a hint of vanilla and a pasture covered with dew just barely brown with hints of green. Morning wet horse feed (*not* hay, but the right mix of the richest of horse feed with nice alfalfa and other tasty grasses mixed in).
Mouthfeel is also wonderful, low acid, drinkable, pleasant and easy to leave on the tongue with pleasure.
Taste is fantastically complex, finish is long and transitional with a tour of different wonderful tastes. The flavors are utterly amazing in their complexity. Underlying the foundation is a hint of honey.
Finish has hints of nuts, vanilla and something delightful I cannot identify but I want to find again in other wines!

Straight up, I'd prefer this without a doubt to my Ceritas Porter-Bass Chard (which I very much enjoy).

n.b. Cork wet all the way to the top for about 1/16" of the diameter of the top of the cork.

Good luck finding any with decent provenance, but this is *Highly* recommended to drink now. Cannot imagine it could get better. I am on the hunt and if you have some, contact me. I *adore* this wine! I'm even more interested now in the Tercero Verbiage Blanc and it's Roussanne based blend.

4/28/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nice blend at a sub-$20 price

4/24/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nose has fruit: currants, dark red fruits, cherry, pepper driven spice. Tannin medium plus through the longer then I would expect for $15 finish. Mild oak flavors with spice/pepper on the mid palate and finish.

QPR with food recommendation only.

4/21/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Wow. Nose is *fantastic* fresh squeezed grapefruit swirling around with Palisades fresh cut peaches. Utterly blind, you might think this a hand crafted mixed drink as a neophyte, but it is utterly fantastic as a fresh, fun rose with amazing character. This is not farmers market fruit smells, but fresh on the farm. The palate is matches the nose quite admirably with zest and acid to match the dry-ish mouth feel and the grapefruit and peaches swirl admirably in the mouth as they did on the nose. The finish is longer then a nice basic rose and keeps you on the farm. Ironically, it brings me back to times in the CA central valley fruit tree farms I've been on and the Colorado Western slope peaches as opposed to Santa Ynez Valley where I think of vines, horses, and oak trees among sweeping grasses along hills. If someone were to ask me for a fantastic rose, this comes right to the very top of the list of my recommendations. I thought I might have purchased a bit too much, but I am rethinking that I need to grab another case!

Highly Recommended.

4/12/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Appearance is that of older Pinot, Ruby slightly smokey element. Nose has nice elegant Cherry Cola (is that possible?) with some red fruits like raspberry or strawberry. Could have blind picked this out as CA Pinot easy.
Palate is complementary and balanced with the nose, pleasant acidity, baby tannins, nice earth on the middle and finish that lingers nicely. Lucky buy!

4/7/2017 - mike.s wrote:

The wine looks medium to deep ruby colored with less opacity then what I would think of as typical for a pinot. Strong, forward darker fruit aromas, almost like a merlot? It smells like candied cherry with secondary plum, mildly of black olive and weakly of kitchen spice. Darker dirt/earth underlies the fruit forward nature after contemplating the glass for a few minutes.
If it were blind guess after look and smell, I would have guessed new world merlot if it were not for the candied cherries I'm finding on many CA pinots.

Light bodied, but tannins crisp up the palate with nice balancing acidity. Dark fruit shows on the palate without the forwardness on the nose, plum more noted on the palate then the nose, overall more relaxed and enjoyable. A little heat in the finish with tart cherry -- pleasant but not magnificent.

4/2/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Fresh clean nose with minerality and pears coming out clearly. Palate has fantastic basic structure, not a lot of complexity, but a great basic wine for the price and still going strong.

@Blue Star Cafe

4/2/2017 - mike.s wrote:

From a 2-oz blind pour in a dark room:
Nose indistinguishable dark fruit. Oak noted, but well integrated.
Palate medium body, dark fruit revisited, but again, could be distinguish.
Short finish well integrated, pleasant but not complex.

4/2/2017 - mike.s Does not like this wine:

Opacity is not what I expected, appeared more like a sub-$10 Pinot. Nose was smack-you-in-the-face candied fruit, like a fruit flavored jolly rancher. Palate was thin and weak but had some hint of sweet red fruit. Glad it was only 4 oz, let my wife finish it.

3/28/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Delightful fruit forward nose with some nice complexity and layers of red fruit..plums, freshly picked blackberry, spices..recently ground black pepper, after a bit of contemplation horse barn out behind the house with alfalfa hay. The inky purple color and viscosity confirms a typical CA Zin. The tannins still help provide sufficient structure and the flavors are also complex though dominated by fruit with mild acidity. Warmed up from cellar after a while and the heat from alcohol popped out a bit much, but not throwing this too far out of balance.

A delightful zin with an italian like dinner at home. Most importantly, wife likes it :)

Recommended!

3/28/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nose of roses and blueberries; I've never had such a wonderfully characteristic blueberry profile. I could just hang out and enjoy the curious wonderful balance of flowers and fruit. Mid palette sees the tannins clearly overpowers the acidity and puckers the mouthfeel into the finish. I suspect this will balance out over the next year or two.

Recommended

3/13/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nose has light minerality and still strong crushed strawberries. Palette generic decent Rose; with Tart fruit on the tongue, more strawberry on the finish.
Should have drunk sooner, but great on a warm sunny day in the midst of what is typically cold and snowy.

3/3/2017 - mike.s wrote:

Still too tannic buts lacks acidity to give it balance,mildly sweet red fruit on the nose. Very much a $10-$12 merlot. Not "bad", but not a purchase to pursue.

2/18/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Red in color, lacking opacity from its younger age, . Legs match the heat on the palate. Some sediment in my careless pour. Nose has some red fruit left, hints of chocolate, nose slightly overpowered by the alcohol. Tasting gives heat with some spice and fruit commensurate with the nose. Just fantastic even on the downhill slope with food, some mild spiced Indian food in this case. At $17 a bottle it really is a steal despite being slightly overpowering alcohol which happened to go pretty well with my Indian!

1/28/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Pale ruby, clear with little to no legs (though a light clear coating along the glass). Nose is clearly tar & floral. Linear. Noticeable mouth watering acidity while tannins are only noticeable on intentional inspection, but clearly provide sufficient structure to this light bodied wine. Taste is a bit simple & light, but pleasant, barely perceptible red fruit at this point. @$22 this is a fantastic light red for regular drinking that I suspect will only get better with a year or two. A stalwart Pinot Noir that can act as a cellar defender with stealthy points for quiet oenophiles at the table.

1/13/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

High alcohol based on both the nose and the palate. Inky purple. Red berry fruit nose or maybe a little prunes? A bit overpowering alcohol on the nose but acid balances it out. Legs seriously lasting over one minute. Almost like a fortified wine. Young? Recommended for QPR with the right meal (mild spiced Lamb indian food in this case).

1/5/2017 - mike.s Likes this wine:

This wine just keeps giving! Must seek out more. A great wine solo or with spicy foods. Nose has string earthy farm scents that keep on in the glass for an hour or more.

12/30/2016 - mike.s wrote:

Tasted along side a Cava and a Cremant exploring inexpensive sparklers:

Prosecco with a twist cap. True to form, very little fizz and what was there left quickly. Hints of a citrus fruit nose, maybe some peach as well? Yeast (duh) and slight possible earthy-like saline flavor.

All in line with previous inexpensive Prosecco, I need to try something a little more substantive to see if there's something worth pursuing.. Yes, this is likely not something I would pursue or explore, but I wouldn't say that I don't like it, but instead wouldn't choose it (preferred the Cava and the Cremant to this). Perhaps with the right food pairing?

12/31/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

A pleasant though not above average Champagne. Frankly, it presented as nicely as, but not better than the Cremant d'Alsace rose but with more fun pink bubbles.

12/30/2016 - mike.s wrote:

A curiosity of Cava exploration: Nose has diesel like on Alsace riesling? Almonds, and clearly yeast of rising dough (overpowering yeast), mineral, a bit more subtle butter (but not like oak-derived butter, but instead like what I would have of fresh baked bread with salted irish butter). dry, medium to medium+ acid.

12/25/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

A decent fruit forward syrah consumed over meal & conversation over 4 nights screw capped and refrigerated. By the last day oxidation has turned it to vinegar, but on the first day a decent fruit forward nose and please taste with mild tannins and some structure, but no notable character.

12/23/2016 - mike.s wrote:

A decent BTG pour in a tumbler style glass, but by no means an outstanding or interesting wine with tapas at the otherwise delightful Tapateria restaurant. I just wanted to try a Ribera del Duero wine and this was, I certainly hope, a poor representation.

11/9/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Pale garnet color shows a light red wine translucent and colorful enough it could be used in a kaleidoscope against the bottom of my Zalto.
Aromas of Red fruit, strawberries, raspberries, secondary earthy nose with rich soils.
On the mouth we find ourselves a light start with mild structural tannins and mild acid. A relatively balanced finish, but for a wee touch too tannic slap on the but like you're in the World Series to match with the rest of the tasting experience. Alcohol is medium only coming forward on the finish with a pleasant heat and swoing its legs when waltzing along the walls of my Zlato. Very drinkable, pleasant. Perfect with light Italian cuisine, possibly a few dollars overpriced @$21, but a nice QPR under $17!

11/2/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Hue is a deep red. Nose with clear black plum, secondary green bean hints.
A nice fit with my prosciutto and wasabi havarti cheese

10/31/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

This wine is on the far end of its peak, but fantastic funky earthy horse ranch smells, abundant sediment means careful pours and the nose means 10-20 minutes just diving into the nose! Dark red fruits... not just the cherry, sucking the meat off of and the marrow out of the pit of a fantastic cherry. Totally blind could be mistaken for a cherry coffee cherry? Tannins are well structured, not beastly (just the way I like them) and the experience is dry enough to tease your hair up like it was the 80s and you're a white guy with an afro (don't ask). A well worn leather plush hand made leather chair in the office of the manifestation of the monopoly "Top Hat" character overlooking the coast from a dark leather walled room. Fantastic with my asian spicy wings!

10/21/2016 - mike.s wrote:

I am *loving* the deep rich golden color on this wine. Aromas scream "Chardonnay" varietal with a hint of oak that does not "own" the palate or the aroma. Toast with butter, but not overpowering. Acid is medium, soft on the palate, even loving and long with the warmth of alcohol that brings a relaxation and enjoyment of the finish that is balanced and pleasant with a butterscotch that hangs over the aroma as well.
Recommended!

10/15/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Medium acid, medium body, to dark to properly assess color ("Definitely a red wine!"). A nice balanced aroma of dark red fruit, but not overly sweet or strong. Taste aligns with aromas. Unable to pick up on any distinct fruits or secondary flavors. A nice gourmet "pizza wine" for the QPR and not at all unpleasant to drink while chatting at the wine bar. Recommended

Wine bar BTG - bottle opened directly in front of me straight from wine fridge at 60 degrees. Needed to warm up a bit for aromas to develop. On a not unrelated note, I am growing to despise restaurant wine glasses! Addicted to my Zaltos and Gabriel Glass; I'd like to start carrying my glasses with me to taste! What I sight that would be!

10/14/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Earthy with red berry flavors: that soil aroma that surrounds you as you lay in the thick grass of water laden soil on the side of a hill on a spring day in a field of red berries. Balanced through to the finish with nice acid, alcohol heat say "I'm here, but I'm not going to dominate the conversation", mild tannins, fruit forward, but not a bomb by any stretch of the imagination. Flavors coming out after a few minutes include spices like pepper fruit narrowing down to raspberry. Nice and dry on the finish with wafting flavors over mild heat on the tongue.
Highly recommended @$20, a nice safe choice to go with many foods due to its balance with pleasant flavor that makes for a strong presence of the wine without overpowering the food.

n.b. Coravin pour

10/8/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Opaque purple with hints of brown in the center and an old pinot garnet around the edges. Tannins help provide structure without overpowering or dominating. Nose is spice, dark red fruit, cherry, licorice and yes... bacon.. keeps delivering more. This is a delicious wine if not a clearly exceptional wine at twice the price! Decanting brings out even more interesting and expressive spices and even more elegant finish. I will get another case for drinking over the years and returning to see how it grows and changes! Highly Recommended.

10/9/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Bold, Fruit forward, spices with a hint of earth and some somewhat harsh alcohol heat and medium tannins that seem like more with the alcohol. Jammy red fruits with balanced earthy undertones.

Wife enjoyed like it was chocolate cake level yum with the fruit and alcohol. I would have preferred a little more subtlety and age maybe?

10/9/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Starter wine at the Blue Star Cafe and fit nicely. Subtle and well structured. Easy to identify as a riesling; balanced, but not complex; just barely sweet. The wine is a "nice" riesling worth enjoying. Weakness? It doesn't really stand out or have a great character that sets it apart. If it were an appraisal on an employee, it would be "Successful Contributor".

Wife enjoyed immensely (now time to graduate her to Trimbach!)

Stunning QPR for a nice basic riesling! Recommended.

10/5/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Fruit forward, nice with sausage pizza

9/22/2016 - mike.s wrote:

Delightful balance for the price. While not an "outstanding" wine, it is an unbeatable deal for a balanced wine with fruit evident, but not overpowering. Quite simply, a great wine for a basic dinner during the weak! QPR recommended. I will be ordering another case and watching future vintages!

9/21/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Nice aromas complemented by a surprising finish! An excellent BTG choice at Biaggi's, fruity but subtle

9/14/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Basic spicy zin, but not too spicy. Cherry and possibly other berry fruits. A great "daily drinker" red wine when properly paired with the right meal. QPR based recommendation as a daily drinker, but save something more distinctive for the weekend or a nice meal!

9/8/2016 - mike.s Likes this wine:

Deeply aromatic: Aroma deep an strong of blackened savory, gamey sausage and yet fruit forward with raspberries, violets, hints of spice like black pepper, cherry & licorice.. maybe a barely perceptible touch of brett? Enough going on to make things very interesting! Tannic but not overpowering, spice & heat in the finish suggesting strong alcohol. A delightful wine for the price. QPR based recommendation is highly recommended @$10.

A fantastic spicy italian sausage, or grilled brätwurst (well done for me thank you very much!) or a latin chorizo.

9/5/2016 - mike.s wrote:

Tangent is a Central Coast wine with this wine coming from Edna Valley just south of San Luis Obispo and over the "mountains" north of the hot summers in Arroyo Grande and north east of Pismo. A beautiful drive up the 101, reminds me much of the vines past Buellton on the 101. A great place for summer oriented wines like Sauvignon Blanc... This one is bright and clear with a yellowish silver clarity. The legs are medium and hang around for a bit longer then normal. There is no sediment, but on first pour, a slight bit of fizz. It smells strongly of citrus with lemon/lime primary and just a hint of grapefruit, a clear mineral nose and hints of hazelnut on second pass. It tastes like apple, alcohol/hot and quite dry and with lemon citrus overpowering other fruit aromas on the nose and that characteristic "cat pee" nose. The body is light. The wine has high acidity as expected. The wine finishes hot and lingers almost as though it has jalapeño skin. A nice summer wine, but nothing extraordinary. Recommended *only* upon your interest in this kind of wine, but nothing overly attractive about the wine or looking for a QPR focused summer wine.