4/2/2024 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable on a warm spring evening with smoked pork ribs. Light bodied, juicy, slight black pepper, ripe red and blue fruit. Delicious.

3/1/2024 - Jonquil wrote:

Enjoyed this seemingly at the winery. But this night seemed very one note (muddled purple) that didn’t improve with food. I’m trying to drink my 2020s sooner than later.

3/5/2024 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

I continue to underestimate this bottling because the vineyard is less well known than others (ie Temperance, Hyland, Koosah). But this is just stinking delicious. Lemon curd, brioche, tart yellow apple, candied lemon, med + acid, and a very long very pleasant finish. Paired well with Indian food previously and tonight with charred broccolini and Aleppo pepper. I have one more bottle I will save for a while but will likely buy more Havlin in the future!

2/27/2024 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Amazing QPR at $15. Bright red fruit; high but balanced tannin and acid; anise; earth; very pleasant cigar box finish. Excellent food wine.

2/17/2024 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Purchased off wine bid. Opened about one hour before dinner. I wish I would have taken notes but alas... Likely my WOTN. Beautiful aromas and palate that were just singing. Floral, coffee grounds, burnt sugar (werthers?). Wish I had more. Would be interesting to see how this ages more but it was stunning last night.

2/6/2024 - Jonquil wrote:

Not a subtle pinot but with finesse. Nose of burnt sugar; ripe strawberry, earth, and almost a brininess. Med + tannin; high acid; med + body; med alcohol (13.8); med + finish. Big mouth feel that followed nose. This held up to a spicy aglio e olio (I know not a typical pinot pairing). Overall enjoyed.

2/6/2024 - Jonquil wrote:

Tasted at the winery. I think it had been opened the day before for an event maybe? Very compelling nose— old spice, forest floor, dried or candied red fruit. Balanced on the palate with similar notes. Very enjoyable! And I preferred this to the 2008 also offered.

2/4/2024 - Jonquil wrote:

Purchased from Flor in PDX.

Med gold and med + intensity on the nose with notes of ripe yellow apple, dried apricot, dried nectarine, wet stones, candied lemon peel, baked apricot, fennel and pastry dough. On the palate: some residual sugar noted (paired great with Indian food); med alcohol; med + acid; med + body; med + intensity; long finish. Mouth follows nose. Very nicely balanced. Very pleasant to drink both day 1 & 2

1/28/2024 - Jonquil wrote:

Purchased off wine bid and let sit upright for 6 weeks before opening. Initial nose was very muted and palate lacked fruit—mostly acid, a little reduction and bitter pithy quality. We let it sit for about two hours occasionally tasting and swirling. Came to life around 2 hours with hint of caramel green apple, pleasant reduction, citrus pith and an increasingly nice texture. Much more balanced and enjoyable with time.

12/10/2023 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Enjoyed over 3 nights. I think the 2nd night the best. High acid. Medium plus tannin. Very aromatic with Charred green pepper, dried herbs (oregano?) and red and blue fruits. Definitely a cab franc nose despite (I think) it’s only 30%. The remainder is Cab Sauv. Enjoyable on its own but paired nicely with steak on night 2

4/19/2023 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Bright red crunchy fruit. Aromatic nose. Light bodied, earthy, punchy (fists and fruit) but with finesse. Reminds me of a Cesanese.

3/9/2023 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Love the nose on this wine: flinty, toast, lemon, roasted nuts, toasted marshmallow, cheese, savory savory salinity! Palate follows nose with addition of grapefruit pith. Long finish. But the nose is what keeps bringing me back. Wish I had more!

1/2/2023 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Purchased from Flor after tasting with Becky Wasserman rep. Drank over 4 days. 4th day was my fave but might have also been best pairing or conditions. Fruit forward and aromatic. Earlier days had an overripe bruised fruit quality. Last day more candied. But with still high acidity. Enjoyable.

4/16/2022 - Jonquil wrote:

Old library book nose. Still red fruit and not even fully prune yet. Balanced tannin and acidity very much still present. Likely past peak or very much near time to drink. But still enjoyable.

12/8/2021 - Jonquil wrote:

Probably the 3rd or 4th bottle I’ve opened. Nervy, high acid, savory, meaty, and light bodied. Really enjoyed. Excited to see where the other bottles go with time.

10/26/2021 - Jonquil wrote:

Lovely beautiful nose. Red fruit, something savory or briny, citrus rind. Light tannins, light bodied, easy and enjoyable to drink. Saved some for the next day and found the first day was optimal.

9/13/2021 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Magnum. Drank with friends as this was their anniversary vintage. 16 years later after harvest! Quite nice. No pruney characteristics other than maybe color. Maybe blue fruit? Nice acidity, very balanced with a nice finish.

8/15/2021 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Love the nose on this. Smoke, brine, pepper. High acid. Light bodied. Paired with a rib eye with peppery seasoning. I think it might be nicer with appetizers than with a heavy steak. But overall very much enjoyed.

8/15/2021 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

I love that it’s been 11 years since this bottles been reviewed on CT! This was a gift from a friend. Paired with ribeye, grilled zucchini and chocolate chip cookie for dessert. The latter of which was the winner. I think this is primarily cab sauv. It was still quite nice considering the age. Not overly pruny. A little banana notes. Tannins very much resolved but not flabby. Enjoyed!

6/11/2021 - Jonquil wrote:

First note is candied banana— husband says banana runt candy. As it opens up there’s more earth (like sun shining on a big hot rock). Maybe plum and blueberry. Smells familiar like WA wine. Mouth feel is rich but not overly so. Balanced tannin and acidity but both still very much present. Red Mountain fruit. Perhaps from Ciel du Cheval (per future vintages)? Happily surprised by how well this aged.

4/29/2021 - Jonquil wrote:

Consumed over 3 days at Beams End cabin overlooking Navarro River towards the ocean. Day 2 and 3 the best. Light body, med+ to high acid, very low tannins (or just washed away deliciously by high acid.) I guessed the etoh to be closer to 12 but actually 13.4%. Nose of red tart but ripe fruit, spice, tobacco, white pepper, cured meats, dust. First day and beginning of 2nd had a little effervescence in the mouth but went away. 2nd day more supple but not losing any of the amazing nose and acid. 3rd day a little more briny—which I love. Husband critiques “It’s a wine to talk about”. But I loved it. I would love to try their Syrah!

3/8/2021 - Jonquil wrote:

Second bottle. Tried this a year ago and found it disjointed and high alcohol seeming. But I think it just needed time. Much more enjoyable today. Med body; low tannins; med acidity; med + alcohol; fruit forward with crushed red raspberries. I imagined all that goes into the bottom of a raspberry flat on a warm day (crushed berries, a little earth and a little leaf). Saw another note saying black licorice and would agree. Enjoyable.

2/11/2021 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Surprised by this. Friend purchased from winery as they seem to be liquidating their library wines. Cork came out easily with ah-so. Decanted for about an hour. Initial nose is dusty and prune but still surprisingly present with fruit. Fruit also apparent on the palate. Unfortunately we were drinking outside (thank you covid) and so cold temps may have tempered it's nose and taste. That evening may have later become a little metallic. Next day was not terribly interesting--but not bad.

2/9/2021 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

First nose impression is of blackberry pie with a flaky crust. Wine is well balanced with good acidity. More savory notes as it opens up. Really enjoyed the first night. Tannins softer on day 2 and also nice! Pleased by this 13 year old wine!

1/21/2021 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Consumed over 4 days—4th night the best. First night nose is red berries, dried herbs, fig newton and Graham cracker turning into chocolate Graham cracker, darker fruits and coffee. Unique mouth feel. Soft. Med - body and Med - tannin. Med acidity. Little bit of a bitter finish. Day 2 with a little more pepper on the nose. Maybe a hint of olive? Day 3 still nice aroma. Day 4 beautiful nose of savory notes with chocolate, coffee and dill. Enjoyed this day the most and wish we had left more to try tomorrow! HOLD!

12/15/2020 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Pleasantly surprised by this 40 year old wine! Purchased as a birth year wine for myself and a friend. Magnum. Nose initially somewhat metallic or bandaid like. But opened up very nicely in about 30-40 min with savory qualities. Blue cheese savory! Enjoyed.

12/1/2020 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Drank this wine over five days. Each day more enjoyable. Day 5 with a beautiful nose of wet stone and maybe gentle floral or fruit? Unsure with this untrained nose. But the taste and body was extraordinary. The word “unctuous” came to mind. Luxurious texture. Good acidity still even after day 5. Maybe slight hint of petrol as it warmed up? Beautiful beautiful wine.

11/8/2020 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

This is the oldest bottle I’ve tried. Birth year wine. Smells still bright but with prune notes. Later dill. Still some acidity remains but soft tannins. Enjoyed drinking especially after 30-60 min time. Friend picks up on citrus notes and grapefruit peel. Overall enjoyable.

2/9/2020 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

The wine we served at our wedding. Had again tonight 2.5 years later with homemade pizza and friends. Blue to black fruits, black licorice, integrated tannins, really nice finish. Wish we had more of this left!

8/18/2019 - Jonquil Likes this wine:

Half glass at OK Omens. Definitely the oldest wine I’ve ever had. Tannins were like nothing I’ve experienced before: “Like a cat licked my tongue” is what I told my husband. This was last night but I remember the acidity and the nice nose. I would order another glass.