5/29/2022 - West Wine wrote:

This was a very good bottle...much better than the last bottle I had two years ago, which I assumed had some oxidation issues. The cork disintegrated upon opening, which happened with the first bottle, so my expectations were not high.

The color was dark and showed slight bricking on the sides, and the nose was initially pretting standard WA cab...dark fruit, cassis, and a bit of tobacco leaf. Initial taste showed the fruit was slightly muted with blackberry and a hint of tobacco and chocolate. This developed over the next few hours and the fruit came to the forefront. Tannins that were noticeable upon opening started to fade. Left half a bottle open and on day two this had really balanced out with both fruit and tertiary flavors coming out and the tannins had faded.

This has improved with the 10 years of age, but probably no better time to open than now.

4/12/2022 - West Wine wrote:

Fairly dark in color, this kicked off with a delicious core of red fruit…strawberry, cherry, black cherry. Such a rich, plush mid-palette with a fairly long finish. Held up well on day two. Really good!

4/12/2022 - West Wine wrote:

The nose started with earth and mushroom and on the palette hints of strawberry and Asian spices and then developed into a watermelon lollipop with a cherry kiss finish. A good swath of acid and minerality. Wow...very good!

12/5/2021 - West Wine wrote:

Red raspberry dominant with plush tannins and some tertiary baking spice and mushroom. It was light/medium bodied, but full flavor on the mid-palette with a lingering finish…in a great spot now.

10/29/2010 - West Wine wrote:

Funky, stinky, Cayuse-lite but with it's own expression...wonderful.

10/9/2010 - West Wine wrote:

Shared with my cousin while she was up on business from SF. This knocked both of our socks off! She is a big Napa/Sonoma proponent that has had mixed success with WA wines but this wine was truly impressive and interesting. We decided to go out for dinner but not bring a bottle because she wanted to try a WA wine that was BIG, but might not pair well with food. Popped the bottle before we left and served it at 63 degrees 3 hrs later. Initially, black olive and red meat engulfed our nose and palette. After 20 minutes of swirling and enjoying sips, hints of tobacco emerged and finally after our last glass two hrs later, dark fruits dominated, but still with hints of black olive and tobacco. This was a truly interesting and fantastic wine journey!

4/12/2010 - West Wine wrote:

Wow. Creamy berries is an apt term after an hour decant, this sailed all the way through the mid-palate and the finish was long. Light and bright throughout...almost pinot like, but after a couple hours of air it gained a significant gaminess. A beautiful wine tonight.

10/24/2009 - West Wine wrote:

Really enjoyable and very much reminiscent of Cayuse to me on both nose and taste. After a 2 hr decant, nose of black fruit, olives, and smoke. Taste of dark cherries and a bit of funk. My only complaint would be a bit short on the finish and after 4 hrs it seemed to thin out. Nice first effort and I will buy more if possible.

10/20/2009 - West Wine wrote:

wonderful funk on the nose. Black and blue fruits fill out the mid palete with a medium finish. Very enjoyable. 91-92.

12/31/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Very big nose of dark fruit with some blueberry. This was decanted for about 1.5 hrs and drank over another 2 hrs. It got better the longer it was allowed to open up. Later I noticed some hints of chocolate. Overall, I am looking forward to drinking more of this. It had some stiff competition from Washington/Oregon on this night (Cayuse, Owen Roe) and was not my favorite.

12/25/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Initially too much alcohol on the nose, but after decanting for 1.5 hours the nose really came alive with chocolate and coffee. The taste was dark fruits with predominate blackberry and tar. On the very long finish, hints of coffee. This drank way too quickly and was extremely enjoyable. I look forward to drinking more in a year.

10/10/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Blind tasted this with 04 Quilceda and 01 Barolo...the 05 was the clear winner. Balanced and elegant, I wish I had much more than a few bottles. I could not get enough. The 04 was very good also, just not quite as balanced.

9/6/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Well structured wine, but generally disappointing. Decanted for 2 hrs, but very tight and not much fruit coming through. Saved a glass for day 2, but nothing more on the nose or palete

8/30/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Terrific. Had this on a trip to Lopez with friends. Big wine with strong cherries and spices and lengthy finish. Friends loved it.

9/2/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Had this with friends while on a trip to Lopez Island...great Pinot with hints of rasberry and strawberry. Finish was a little short, but the consensus was that this was a great Pinot for the $30 price. 90+.

8/1/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Very enjoyable Pinot! Decanted for 45 min before drinking. Nose of red fruit...strawberry, cherry, cranberry with a hint of age. Tasted like a fruit candy shop at first and after 3 hrs a hint of medicine and tobacco appeared. I hope to find more and thought this was great for $28.

7/24/2008 - West Wine wrote:

Good bottle with ripe red fruit. Our guests really enjoyed this and had nothing but good comments. It has medium body and is a bit jammy, but OK as an everyday drinker.

5/19/2008 - West Wine wrote:

I really enjoyed the earthiness of this wine! Bright cherry mixed with a thick, dense, grittiness really hit the spot with homemade fajitas. Glad to have a few more.