6/20/2020 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

This wine is in a great place right now. A dense mouthful of dark cherries and licorice, great balance, just wonderfully satisfying. One bottle left, which I'll hold for a special occasion.

11/22/2019 - oldmanalamo wrote:

Really enjoyed this wine tonight at the Whaling Station in Monterey. Super velvety, lush, dark, well balanced, yummy ripe plums and black cherries with strong tannins holding it all together. Not super complex for sure, but nonetheless it didn't disappoint. A nice effort from Louis Martini with this 13 year old Lot 1.

5/11/2018 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Wow. Lush, delicious, this wine was a meal in itself. Big and bold, every drop was enjoyed. Wish I had more.

4/1/2018 - oldmanalamo wrote:

Wow. A big mouthful of dark fruit, plum, berry pie, and spice. Great structure and balance, easy to enjoy this with or without food. Savored every drop, and wish I had more. Can't imagine what the 2009 Lewis Cab or Reserve Cab are tasting like right now.

2/5/2018 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

I agree with a previous review, I didn't get the 97 rating by a certain reviewer. That said, this wine was very enjoyable, even surprising given the price point. Deep, velvety, tones of juicy black currant and vanilla, with lovely tannins. A keeper.

10/8/2017 - oldmanalamo wrote:

Big, smooth mouthful of dark fruit and vanilla, this was drinkable as soon as the unique glass cork was removed. A fantastic and enjoyable wine, I wish I had another bottle. Seems to me to be right in its drinking window.

10/2/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

We really enjoyed this wine tonight. The cork was in great shape, removed completely intact. Dark ruby in color, the wine offered up plum, dark fruit, shoe leather, licorice, earth, and cedar, it really came into its own at the 3-hour mark. Fantastic balance, luscious, savory, with an old world feel to it.

8/26/2017 - oldmanalamo wrote:

Lovely wine, really drinking well now. Big, lush, velvety mouthful of blackberry, cocoa and plum.

7/16/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Dark red, almost black in color. This is a big, bold, effort from Pruett that we enjoyed immensely. Unapologetic, it just jumps out of the glass. Blackberry, plum, and oak. Very well balanced.

5/21/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Drinks more like a chard then a sav blanc, notes of honeydew melon, butterscotch, and citrus. A crowd pleaser of a wine, always enjoyable.

4/26/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

I concur with the previous reviews. A great Cali Zin, a dark, jammy wine with nice tannins showing through to a silky finish. Really enjoyable wine.

4/23/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Decanted 1 hour, deep, dark ruby red when poured. With a strawberry and dark fruit, earthy nose, this is a silky smooth, jammy, well balanced wine with vanilla and berries on the finish. Drinking very well right now, I wouldn't wait too much longer to drink. Thoroughly enjoyed this great wine from Matthews.

4/22/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Light amber color, almost golden. Needed a full hour to open up, and improved the longer it stayed in the glass. Nose of honeysuckle and ripe pear. Lush and balanced, with a honey and mango finish. A very nice wine, but left us a little underwhelmed.

4/22/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Another nice effort from Harney Lane. Nice fruit and balance from this wine, with a hint of vanilla on the finish. Very enjoyable.

4/17/2017 - oldmanalamo Does not like this wine:

Corked.....

2/20/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Based on recent tasting notes, my expectations were low, although this magnum had been well cellared for 20 years. Notes of leather, dust, and licorice on the nose, the wine was lush, dark, and big, offering a mouthful of plum and cocoa after only 30 minutes of opening. The ruby color of the wine was just starting to fade to garnet on the edges. but only minimally. As the night went on, it just got better, the surprise of the night.

2/11/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

1 hour decant, this offering from the Sierra Foothills was loaded with flavor and character. Great balance, a jammy mouthful of plum, carob, and licorice. A great surprise indeed!

1/27/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Really drinking well right now. If you like big, fruit-bomb zin's, this isn't for you. But this wine has great balance, a dark ruby color, and held its own to a dinner of roasted leg of lamb.

1/22/2017 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Dark, ruby color. After a 90 minute decant, this wine really exceeded expectations. Great balance, lush, very satisfying.

11/20/2016 - oldmanalamo Likes this wine:

Drank this last night at Chez Panisse celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary. Wow, what a wine! It was opened at the restaurant and decanted for about 90 minutes, and over the next hour kept getting better and better. The wine had a deep, garnet color and didn't show a hint of age, with the nose a delight. Great balance in this wine. The tannins are still showing but softened as the evening progressed, and I don't believe this wine has hit its peak yet. It was the highlight of our evening!