4/17/2024 - g-man wrote:

1st bottle was an eyeopener, great qpr. 2nd bottle was a late open and only had a glass before vacuvin. At this point it was an 89-90. The next day however it was doa.
Just flat, no character, just blah. It's still a good bottle for the $$ but just drink up after opening.

4/13/2024 - g-man wrote:

I don't drink viognier that often but found it a very pleasant wine. A very light white great for summer.

4/1/2024 - g-man wrote:

Opened a 375ml as a trial run. It's just entering it's drinking window. Already enjoyable with an hour of air. Almost floral on the nose with much lower alchohol on the nose than you might expect at this age. Well balanced. Tannins help frame the wine but are not at all harsh. Black fruit on the palate. It might pick up a point or two in another few years adding some tertiary character. This is drinking well young and representative of the vintage.

2/27/2024 - g-man wrote:

Great nose of cherry and dried fruit. Drying tanins. I would drink up within a couple of years. Still s great weeknight QPR for $12 with food.

2/14/2024 - g-man wrote:

Has lost some of its' sweetness and is very light on its feet. Lemon curd, a little honey and some faint pineapple.

1/26/2024 - g-man wrote:

Just blahh, rather muted flavors without any distinguishing identity. Really dissapointing since my last bottle. I'm not sure if it's in a transition phase or just a mess now. I might as well try and wait it out since nothing to lose and hope it pulls put of a tailspin.

12/31/2023 - g-man wrote:

Wow! This is really at its' epogee now. Tanins are mild while the fruit really shines. Not overblown and really balanced. Hints of blackberry with slight euchalyptus notes. This ranks as one of my favorite Insignias. Only 2 bottles left and will probabably finish them in 7 to 8 years.

12/31/2023 - g-man wrote:

Great minerality and only lacking in that crushed stone element to really elevate it to the top level. Hell, for the quality and price sub $20 you can't beat it. Enjoyed with cheeses prior to NY's dinner.

12/22/2023 - g-man wrote:

Much better than when I first tried in August. Openef up nicley over an hour with a balanced attack blood, iodine, black fruit. It's still s little primary but well balanced. This is my 5th bottle of a case and I see this hsving more tertiary character in five years. Now I'm happy I bought a case after some initial regret. My 16's snd 19's I plan on not trying until their 10th birthday to be fair.

11/26/2023 - g-man Likes this wine:

Bought off the list at 111 Chop House in Worcester MA. Decanted tableside and open up nicely over 2 hours. For a relatively young wine it was very approachable. Initially dark fruited, more chocolate notes became more forward. Price was very reasonable for $126 on the list.

11/13/2023 - g-man Likes this wine:

Really solid. Opened up with an hour of air. Still young with plenty of structure but well balanced showing copious dark fruit, cassis and a slight herb note.

11/8/2023 - g-man wrote:

It's one of the best qpr's for a everyday chardonnay I know of. For $14 it's a bargain.

11/5/2023 - g-man wrote:

Followed the advice of opening a couple of hours ahead and it definately helps. Nothing distinguishes it as brunello other than you know its Sangiovese.It is pleasant as an everyday pasta wine with round tannins . Short term aging might help a little but not a wine to make old bones.

11/3/2023 - g-man Likes this wine:

It's been 4 years since my last bottle and time has been kind. A beautiful nose of black cherry with a mild camphor note. Great texture and mouthfeel. It's viscosity helps the palate linger on. Strong black fruit with edgy tannins providing a great framework. Moderate finish but this will lengthen over time. In ten years this will be a mature stunner.

9/24/2023 - g-man wrote:

It is what it is, a very nice everyday/ weeknight red to have with simple food. It's not a 95pt wine but with proper expectaions it gets the job done and a decent value.

9/4/2023 - g-man Likes this wine:

I just loved this bottle. A perfect example of the potential of a 25+ year Cali cab, just extrodinary. Tanins totally integrated with tertiary forrest floor, mint and a little dark chocolate(?). Nose matches the palate and it's finish lingers close to a minute. I have a few various vintages of Mount Eden but this is my oldest and look forward to them in time. I have had the 95' in the past but this blew it away.

8/2/2023 - g-man wrote:

My 2nd of a case. Very atypical of other 2015's I've had. Slightly tart and astringent. I don't see this coming around for a number of years... if it does come together. If it improves I'll update the note.

On day 2 the tannins have softened but it really hasn't put any weight on or developed any depth which is concerning. I'm not optimistic at this point.

7/16/2023 - g-man Likes this wine:

Like many other 2014's, this does not disappoint. Well balanced with tannins framing the black fruit nicely. It only needs 3-5 years to allow the primary flavors to soften.

7/2/2023 - g-man wrote:

Still primary and sweet but not at all cloying. Tropical fruit snd quince. Well balanced and long finish. From 375ml and see a long life.

7/2/2023 - g-man wrote:

This has a few years to go to really fully enjoy. Approachable now with some air but tannins are dominant. It has all the pieces and just needs time.

6/17/2023 - g-man wrote:

A very pleasant wine and was very complementary with homemade grilled pizza. Liked it but it just didn't have that depth of flavor as a riserva.

5/29/2023 - g-man wrote:

My experience was similar to jmoon's noting thea loss in the brightness of youth but taking on more tertiary notes of forrest floor and cedar. I'm going to try and hold off another 4 to 5 years before enjoying again. I sense it's in a transition phase.

5/17/2023 - g-man wrote:

Wow! A great sticky to end dinner. Walnuts and toffee with an endless finish.

5/17/2023 - g-man wrote:

Flighted with the 2007 CUNA Gran Reserva. Compared to the CUNA, the Alta was muted and appeared stripped of its' personality. On the nose I initially suspected it may be corked but on the palate it was fine. If it wasn't my bottle I'd question storage but I've had this since release and kept at controled 57 deg temp.

5/3/2023 - g-man wrote:

It is what it is, an entry level bottle but a lot of wine for $15. Not a lot of tanin but the fruit is bright with some camphor and cherry on the nose. A great wine with a lighter meat like chicken. It's earthiness matches well with mushroom. Definately adding this to the weekday line up.

4/2/2023 - g-man wrote:

Im so glad I opened my last bottle, a mag, now thanks to everyones recent notes. Audozed it 2 hours prior to pouring. Gorgeous notes of dark cherry and spice on the back end. No evidence of the hot vintage and very well balanced along with smooth tanins.

3/27/2023 - g-man wrote:

This is scary. Although only eight years post vintage, this is continuing to drink very well. So far, this is one of the best vintages I have enjoyed. If 16' & 19' surpass this then I will be one very happy camper. Very well balanced with very friendly tannins. It paired with a NY strip perfectly. Very fruit forward but the structure is there for further developement. No rush to drink but for $55/btl it kicks Cali's ass and glad I still have over a case.

3/15/2023 - g-man wrote:

Very soft with low tannin. Food friendly, mild red fruit. Moderate body and finish. Early drinker.

3/13/2023 - g-man wrote:

This continues to amaze me how open, giving and balanced it is. It has not shut down and is very enjoyable even pnp. I'm 9 bottles into a case and only wish I had another case or two. A great value for the vintage. I doubt I'll have any left by maturity.

2/8/2023 - g-man wrote:

My 7th bottle of 16 and it is steadily improving. Enjoyed with a glazed bone-in pork chop and it matchex very well. Just enough tannin to cut through the fat of the chop and enough fruit to not overwhelm the food. As usual, it will be at peak when I'm down to my last few bottles, lol.

1/27/2023 - g-man wrote:

2nd to last bottle out of 24. Best bottle yet. Tannins well integrated, beautifully balanced. Plently of red fruit with a mellow herb note. This had at least another 8 to 10 years ahead of it.

1/22/2023 - g-man wrote:

Tasted blind and never would have guessed Salon. Surprising amount of residual sugar. Very expressive with stone fruit and some flint on the finish. While very enjoyable it's frankly not worth the current pricing.

1/16/2023 - g-man wrote:

I screwed up and didn't buy cases of this instead of only four bottles for $35/btl. Each one has been better than the last. Black fruit with a touch of herb to round it out. Tannins are mellowing but still enough struction to maintain balance. Sweet fruit but not cloying or over the top. This will continue to get better over the nect 5 to 7 years. My last bottle will probably be long gone by then.

1/11/2023 - g-man wrote:

Tried over two days. Day 1 was similar to others with ripe fruit yet slightly bitter on the back end with pepper and mint notes. Day 2 tannins smoothed out and on the back end of the palate a slight iodine note snuck in. Overall, very balanced and round tannins. Very nice but no real umpff to make it stand out.

11/22/2022 - g-man wrote:

Opened an hour ahead of a dinner of asian beef & broccoli. Strong alcohol initially on the nose
But blew off over tge hour. It continued to improve over dinner with the black fruit pushing its way through almost blackberry pie like sweetness but not cloying or syrupy. It has a very nice texture and mouth feel. This was my last bottle after a six year hiatus and this was by far its' best showing. Believe it still has at least 3 to 5 good years left.

11/6/2022 - g-man wrote:

Time has smoothed out some of the rough edges but it is still rather pedestrian. Nice nose of earth and ash but muted fruit on the palate and a clipped finish. Good food wine but not one to stand alone.

11/5/2022 - g-man Likes this wine:

At the seven year mark this is really coming into its' own. Tanins are rounding out and muchn better integration with the fruit. Great balance to this wine. Red fruited with a lingering finish.

10/24/2022 - g-man Likes this wine:

2 hour decant. Opening nicely but given its' youth, a light but pleasant nose. Gradually putting on weight as it opens up. Still rather primary but still enjoyable with air. This will really improve with more age.

10/9/2022 - g-man wrote:

My last bottle opened to accompany apple crisp. Delicious and giving a moderate level of sweetness without any cloyness. Honey, wild flowers on the nose deliver on the palate. This is still improving and no rush to drink. Sad it was my last bottle and hope to find again.

10/9/2022 - g-man wrote:

My note mirrors the last couple posted here. Sound bottle with a beautiful nose but it has lost its' punch. Tannins are completely resolved with mellow palate of dried flowers and underbrush. My last bottle and glad I opened it while it is still enjoyable.

10/3/2022 - g-man wrote:

Corked

7/24/2022 - g-man wrote:

One of my all-time favorite wines but I fear this monumental wine has passed it's peak. It's still vey enjoyable with menthol, smoke, red fruit, and earth but missing a certain richness and balance that has captivated my interest in the past. It will be a bittersweet moment when I open my last bottle and the end of an era.

7/20/2022 - g-man wrote:

At age 9 this is losing its' baby fat and really starting to bring to develop some beautiful beautiful secondary characteristics. Black fruited with tar and a little smoke. Enjoyable now with a couple of hours of air. Give it two years and should be killer.

6/30/2022 - g-man wrote:

My 2nd bottle and was slightly disappointed only by the absense of much pinot character. While it was a very enjoyable bottle, in looking for the varietal typicity I found I had to dig through a syrupy, jammyness to get there. I found a slight menthol note to it and it resembling a more RRV quality to it more than what I would expect from an Oregon example. I have enjoyed many Shea Vineyard wines in the past but found this to be a head scratcher.

6/18/2022 - g-man wrote:

My 1st of 4 and really singing. A little light on opening but put on weight over the next hour. Tannins are still there and provide balance to the bright red fruit. A delightful wine that is totally ready to go. It may improve slightly if you prefer more tertiary points but for balance, fruit and character this is a go-to now.

6/8/2022 - g-man wrote:

Still young and primary but should start drinking well in 3-4 years. I like the character that tertiary notes add so Im letting my case sit and hopefully I'll have some patience.

5/23/2022 - g-man wrote:

Corked

5/15/2022 - g-man wrote:

Another winner for the vintage. After a short decant this was firing on all cylinders. Creosote, tar and dark fruit on the nose. So classic in style, slightly lean but not green with great mouth feel. Rich but not over extracted. Sadly, I only managed one bottle at a bargain price of $42.

4/26/2022 - g-man Does not like this wine:

It's not a bad wine but a total letdown compared to the rest of the offerings. No wonder it's a hostage wine on the Monte Bello program. There's no way they would ever get $58 for this otherwise. Over oaked with no heart to it. Nuff said.

4/16/2022 - g-man Likes this wine:

Opened an hour before trying with a strip steak. Still very young with the tannin very dominant but tamed by the fats of the beef. Great legs in the glass with strong camphor and tar on the nose. As time passes it puts on weight and rounds out slightly. This needs another 5 years to really come into its' own. Given air it is pleasant now but time will definately reward it.