1/15/2021 - pfc wrote:

So sorry to see this go. I wish I could replace it!

8/23/2020 - pfc wrote:

I was excited to try this, and there was nothing objectionable about it — but it was a little boring. A little too much alcohol, a little lacking in acidity, and not much going on beyond the pleasant oak. At $28, not a great QPR for my taste.

9/28/2017 - pfc wrote:

Clearly many of these are spoiled with something profoundly nasty given the reviews, but mine was not. Lovely and completely unobjectionable, if opinionated, Cab Franc. Chalk, sour cherry. Unfiltered. Would love another bottle.

3/2/2015 - pfc wrote:

Lovely despite having peaked; be in no great hurry to consume but it's not getting better, just aging gracefully. I wouldn't wait much beyond 2020 and even then only if you enjoy the peculiarities of time.

11/4/2014 - pfc wrote:

corked

1/23/2013 - pfc wrote:

Either I'm crazy, or the bottle-to-bottle variation is high, or it's actually getting better--but this bottle was terrific. Really in a sweet spot right now.

11/30/2012 - pfc wrote:

Better on day three, improbably; give this one some real air. Pairs well with Pizza.

2/25/2012 - pfc wrote:

Over the hill, alas.

1/31/2012 - pfc wrote:

Needed to breath for a good two hours. Green pepper notes led to an improbable but /perfect/ pairing with a wakame salad with sesame seeds.

1/24/2012 - pfc wrote:

disjointed upon opening; re-corked and a day later (and the next) it was heavenly

12/9/2011 - pfc wrote:

Over the hill, alas.

9/8/2011 - pfc wrote:

Manure on the nose; blackberry and hard candy, great long finish. Really in it's sweet spot right now.

8/11/2011 - pfc wrote:

Paired well with leg of lamb.

7/9/2011 - pfc wrote:

No longer improving; drink quick. Also what vintage variation! After a few bottles of each, I'm certain the 2003 remains twice as good...

6/18/2011 - pfc wrote:

To my glee, the cork was like new: barely stained, and solid as a rock. A terrific cab that's not getting better, but is not far off its peak. It will hold up for another few years at least -- who knew? Paired perfectly with w/pork milanese, quinoa, and braised spring greens. I wish I had another.

4/2/2011 - pfc wrote:

Wow, keeps getting better. Wish this weren't my last bottle. Sour cherry, menthol, great balance...

12/18/2010 - pfc wrote:

Very thin--the life has left this one--but entirely drinkable; no spoilage or funk. Could taste the Nalle signature nonetheless. The '89 has been the best of the '88-'93 bottles I've scrounged up so far.

12/20/2010 - pfc wrote:

Lost most of its oomph but still some cherry and other fruit coming through. More interesting than great, but I enjoyed it.

5/17/2010 - pfc wrote:

Paired well with Mexican lamb and mushroom mole.

4/3/2010 - pfc wrote:

The perfect bubbly for ceviche. Pepper, grass; great acid. Much better than I expected.

2/2/2010 - pfc wrote:

Fascinating wine. Cloudy golden hue. Honey, melon on the attack, mysterious mid-palette, long finish. Good acid. Held up well to lasanga, suprisingly. Loved it. Very unusual.

12/26/2009 - pfc wrote:

Faded fruit but unspoiled and thoroughly enjoyable. Fabulous nose (easily 91 alone). Cherry, a little menthol, sticks.

1/7/2010 - pfc wrote:

Powerful fruit; decent balance. Not amazing, but has a perspective, and no off notes.

7/18/2009 - pfc wrote:

Popped and poured half a glass at cellar temp, sans decant. Sweet, hot, fruity, and one-dimensional...yuck. Re-corked it almost full, stuck it in the fridge, and then had to leave town for a week. Upon my return, it had improved -- it had become more complex, balancing the sugar, and as it warmed to room temp it got better still. Nevertheless, not a good value at this price point.

6/16/2009 - pfc wrote:

My initial taste wasn't impressive, but it came alive days later when paired with a sandwich of ham and brie on a baguette.

6/27/2009 - pfc wrote:

Unfortunately this bottle didn't fare as well as the last, despite being stored side by side for its entire 20-year life. Cloudy in the glass with faint remnants of great flavor. But no vinegar and enough hints of beauty to be enjoyable. I wish I had another bottle with which to roll the dice.

6/24/2009 - pfc wrote:

Wow, rarely have two bottles seemed so different (I rated my prior bottle of this vintage 6 points lower--maybe it was flawed, or my palette was insane that night), but this wine was elegant and delicious, with good acid and prominent raspberry. Finished off the refrigerated remnants four days later and it still had life.

6/26/2009 - pfc wrote:

This bottle was a wonderful surprise. Nose of blue cheese! Well-integrated oak. Would love to have more.

6/27/2009 - pfc wrote:

To my palate, near-perfect acidity and minerality (a nose like wet granite), and not too viscous -- wonderful.

6/23/2009 - pfc wrote:

Outstanding at this price point. Bright, well-integrated flavors, no unpleasant heat. Not a complex wine, but that's not always a bad thing.

6/17/2009 - pfc wrote:

Hmm, winesteaksushi has it exactly right. After two bottles, it's clear that this improves with time and air. Decant, or better yet save some for day two. And as other reviewers have said, pair with food -- this wine needs some help to spring to life. (I paired with Maytag blue and Al-Mak crackers.) There's complexity there, but at first it's disjointed and a little hot. It never comes together as much as I had hoped, but for the price it was worth the price -if- you can catch it at its peak.

6/6/2009 - pfc wrote:

Paired nicely with a Laotian squash curry. Nice grass and green pepper notes, even a little rosehip. Not what I was expecting, and not a home run, but a solid base hit.

6/3/2009 - pfc wrote:

Wet leaves and cherry on the nose, as well as some heat. Even less fruit and complexity than I remember from the prior bottle, but what was there was nice -- no off notes. The chalky finish, while nice, just evaporated -- after fifteen seconds, nothing. At this price point, a disappointment.

5/31/2009 - pfc wrote:

Fresh grass, ocean air, hay. Good balance.

5/16/2009 - pfc wrote:

Sour and unusual, but a little too simple and unfocused.

5/18/2009 - pfc wrote:

Paired perfectly with soft cow's milk cheese and crispy sesame crackers.

5/5/2009 - pfc wrote:

reminds me of Pignoletto Frizzante, my favorite local wine in Bologna

4/19/2009 - pfc wrote:

iodine, old log, forest water, chalk on finish; nicely sour, great body; after 30 minutes, more vinegar, less fruit

5/8/2009 - pfc wrote:

Well past its prime, but drinkable while it held together. After a few hours it was shot.

4/25/2009 - pfc wrote:

no formal notes, but this was still in great shape, light and lovely; a wonderful bottle of wine

4/14/2009 - pfc wrote:

Seepage and oxidation took their toll. Some fascinating old, pruney flavors -- but after half a glass I was done.

4/14/2009 - pfc wrote:

Some seepage and oxidation, cork disintegrated upon opening. It was drinkable, briefly, and interesting, but not good. A worthwhile experiment, but one I won't repeat.

4/3/2009 - pfc wrote:

Annie liked this one.

3/23/2009 - pfc wrote:

Great QPR. I didn't find it over-oaked, and I'm not an oak fan.

3/18/2009 - pfc wrote:

Dry, restrained, chalk on the finish. Less fruit than I expected, but wonderfully refined and balanced. Paired wonderfully with octopus, less so with head cheese.

1/20/2009 - pfc wrote:

Bottle arrived frozen -- literally. Cork was even pushed out a little. Vendor couldn't replace it so gave me a refund and told me to taste it. Defrosted and drank at cellar temp. It was fabulous; go figure. Chalk. Hard candy. Beautiful. Wish I could get more and try it unspoiled.

1/22/2009 - pfc wrote:

I was prepared to be disappointed, but have to admit it's got QPR.

12/28/2008 - pfc wrote:

What mikep said.

12/30/2008 - pfc wrote:

Unbalanced and hot, but it doesn't suck. For a $25 a bottle this would be a disaster, but for under $12 shipped it's a worthy effort to enjoy when you're not paying close attention.

12/25/2008 - pfc wrote:

Tart jam, sour cherry, looooong finish; held up through the next day. Paired perfectly with -- yes, I know -- salty chips.