12/25/2022 - bheller Likes this wine:

TIme to drink

8/18/2014 - bheller Likes this wine:

Very nice for price point.

12/22/2013 - bheller wrote:

At our house with Jameson's fields Phillips

6/11/2011 - bheller wrote:

The right time to drink this - a bit of delicious sour cherry, a bit of alcohol,
overall a great Rochioli pinot.

4/12/2010 - bheller wrote:

very nice, smooth, for first try by winery very encouraging

2/28/2010 - bheller wrote:

Just doesn't have the fruit to compete with the tannins.
Definitely drinkable, but no excitement here.

12/14/2009 - bheller wrote:

Much better than earlier bottle. Not a lot of fruit.

3/1/2009 - bheller wrote:

Very pleasant, not overpowering Aussie. After having two bottles in last couple of months, believe it is time to drink this up. Moderate fruit, but reasonable balance with tannins.

2/19/2009 - bheller wrote:

Not a lot of nose. After an hour in decanter, was very drinkable.
Still not a lot of fruit, still a little harsh, but contrary to my expectations
and previous note, the wine is definitely improving. Will give last bottle
a couple more years. Don't drink this right after opening the bottle.

2/7/2009 - bheller wrote:

Drinking well right now, not huge fruits or tannin like many Aussies.
Will keep second bottle for a year or so at most.

1/13/2009 - bheller wrote:

Don't think this is improving.
Too tannic to drink the first night, sour and unpleasant the second.

11/18/2007 - bheller wrote:

Ready for prime time, but not a big rush. Drink next bottles over next few years.
Pleasant fruit. 15 minutes in decanter made a difference, little austere right out of the bottle.
Tannins very subdued.

7/11/2007 - bheller wrote:

Keeps getting better as the years go by.
Nice structure. Light on the fruit, but didn't feel it was thin.
Some life left in the other bottles.

7/6/2007 - bheller wrote:

More interesting than I remember from the last bottle.
Time to drink, nice fruit, bit of good sour cherry

6/17/2007 - bheller wrote:

For $18, good inoffensive pinot. A hint of the new style (Loring, etc.) but not nearly that much acidity or fruit.

4/2/2007 - bheller wrote:

No rating - threw it out. Not sure if it was seriously over the hill or defective, but
nothing good here - horrible odor, not drinkable. Have had this before, it has been
a comfortable wine before.

3/29/2007 - bheller wrote:

A little disappointing.
Not as much fruit or cherry as I remember - bottle variation?
Somewhat promising nose to start, but a bit austere.
Little nose after first few minutes.
Have more, will try some in next year.

12/19/2006 - bheller wrote:

Decent qpr - tannins have been tamed by time,
oak is subdued, but it is about the right time to drink this.

12/3/2006 - bheller wrote:

Way past its prime. Cork almost soaked through.
Lost a lot of fruit. Still drinkable.

11/7/2006 - bheller wrote:

Decent drinking, but a bit plain. Tannins definitely softened, fruit level ok but not overpowering.
Probably should drink these, don't expect greater things from it.

10/29/2006 - bheller wrote:

No fruit. I assume I drank this much too late, or the style is significantly different than other rieslings. This was barely identifiable as riesling. No bad tastes, just very little of anything.

10/23/2006 - bheller wrote:

Not a "Parker syrup bomb." Didn't decant, which I will do next time. Very little nose.
Problem was not too much fruit, but too little. Very smooth, easy to drink. Will wait
a couple of years before opening last bottle, and decant for a while. I don't think this
one is over the hill.

10/15/2006 - bheller wrote:

Don't buy this again, even at $8. Too old.
Not drinkable. No fruit, no nothing.

10/6/2006 - bheller wrote:

Time in bottle well spent for this wine. Right out of bottle, unusual, somewhat musty nose. That went away soon. After 20 minutes, next hour or so was very good - classic sour cherry from a 10 year old Cal Cab. Then the cherry receded, pucker factor went down, just smooth drinking after that. Can drink these now, will probably be interesting for at least a few years more.

10/3/2006 - bheller wrote:

The type of Cal Cab I like - sour cherry, depth, good finish. Aging nicely, can drink remaining bottles now or wait a few years.

8/21/2006 - bheller wrote:

Give next four bottles at least a year each to see how develops.
Nice fruit coming out, but tannins hopefully will soften over next few years.

8/13/2006 - bheller wrote:

Ok, but not $35 worth of wine.

7/26/2006 - bheller wrote:

A bit light-bodied for my taste, didn't get the fruit I expect from zins.
Maybe a different vintage will be more powerful.

7/26/2006 - bheller wrote:

Not very fruit forward, very subtle, slight pear, slight grass

5/14/2006 - bheller wrote:

very dark color, brown more than yellow.
Don't know if bad bottle (bot it just a few years ago) or if storage a problem.
Flavors flat - very little fruit, very little acid, just dull.
Will try my other bottles - hope springs eternal.

5/8/2006 - bheller wrote:

Opened bottle without drinking, put cork back in full bottle
for 48 hours. A little one dimensional, but overall has
done well with the passage of time. Nice balance. All
flavors (oak, cherry, etc.) muted.

5/6/2006 - bheller wrote:

With Malaysian food.
Very nice. Touch of sweetness, but not at all overpowering.
Probably in its prime - no hurry, but great to drink now.

3/29/2006 - bheller wrote:

Tasted at Cmd De Bdx dinner

3/7/2006 - bheller wrote:

Improving with age since last bottle.
Give it six to eight months for next one.
Fruit subdued but coming forward.

2/27/2006 - bheller wrote:

Better than the last one in May 2005.
Still a bit too much tannin, but the fruit
is starting to show a bit more.

1/27/2006 - bheller wrote:

Spritzy at first, but that went away quickly.
Just right amount of sweetness with Chinese food.

1/11/2006 - bheller wrote:

Beautiful color, dark purple.
Tannic, almost undrinkable out of the bottle.
30 to 60 minutes of decanting, much better,
but time will tell if this can show any fruit to
overcome the tannins. Give this a couple of
years before drinking the next bottle.

1/3/2006 - bheller wrote:

For $5 closeout, one of the values of the year.
Crisp, citrus, a little hot.

12/22/2005 - bheller wrote:

Showed well with a 1979 Sterling Reserve Cab. Still red, slight bit of brown. Smooooooth. Tannins receded. Time to drink it, but withstood test of time very well.

12/22/2005 - bheller wrote:

Was worried about this since I got it in mid 1980s and have only had a cellar for proper storage for five years or so. It was magnificient! Certainly had more years to go, but mellow, only slightly sweet, lots of caramel. Yum!

12/20/2005 - bheller wrote:

Either bottle or taster variation - this one a bit better, nice sour cherry, but a little thin.

12/9/2005 - bheller wrote:

Slight sour cherry.
Fill level below foil (high shoulder)
Still young. More fruit forward
than other (97,96) LBs.

12/1/2005 - bheller wrote:

It is time to drink up, but still had some of its fruit left.
Will drink last bottle in next few months, not getting better.

11/28/2005 - bheller wrote:

Sour cherries.
Very slight vegetal, but not enough to matter.
Good right after opening, slightly better an hour later.
Very nice development after first bottle a couple of years ago.

11/26/2005 - bheller wrote:

Give the rest of these some more time.
Still a little harsh. Maybe decant more
than did at Thanksgiving dinner

11/23/2005 - bheller wrote:

This is my last bottle anyway, but compared to my previous bottle and the reviews, this was a pretty good bottle. A little hot just after opening, it soon developed the classic ROAR fruit. Maybe has faded a bit in last couple of years, but this wasn't an over the hill loser.

11/14/2005 - bheller wrote:

Still drinking fine.
Last bottle.
Probably would have been fine to drink in a year or so,
very nice, light but good fruit.

11/9/2005 - bheller wrote:

This one a bit better than in April,
but still time to drink these.

11/5/2005 - bheller wrote:

Nice mix of fruit and minerals. This was ready to drink and great.
Smooth, creamy.

10/13/2005 - bheller wrote:

Either I am in a better mood than when I drank the last bottle,
or this bottle showed a lot better. Silky, fruity, not harsh at
all, this one was a winner. Last bottle, now on to 1997.