10/1/2022 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Beautiful dark ruby color on the pour. Generous fruit and delightful cherries fill your palette.

12/18/2021 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Deep dark inky black. Powerful and chewy body that slaps you in the mouth with bold flavors of cassis and wild small berries. Tasted more like its powerful brother Helmut of Mambrino at this stage considering this is Quixote white label. Drank sans food but this wine desires a big fatty ribeye or similar to compete with.

12/18/2021 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Very nicely constructed with deep color, opulent fruit, medium backbone and lingering finish.

12/8/2021 - DianaPaul wrote:

Wine is beginning to come into its own. Beautiful color with bright ripe fruit that takes over the entire palette. Enjoyed with some napoleon style pizza and had a hard time deciding what I enjoyed more. Bought a case and wished I had bought 5 at this price since it punches several weight classes above.

4/12/2021 - DianaPaul wrote:

Dark, naughty and big from the start. Could not help myself to this Petite Sirah prior to Carlisle's drinking date of 2028. Personally, too hard to resist and do not want to think of what I was giving up in years to come. So bold and delicious with my sirloin. Wish they had more for me to cellar.

4/9/2021 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this big Zin with softer edges. Definitely drink worthy at this early date but should please for a number of years.

4/9/2021 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Lots of potential here but currently very raw tannins. Just too young but I believe in 2 + years, rewards will be worth the wait.

3/13/2021 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Very big chianti. Lots of acidity. looking forward to holding the balance of the case a few years to see it develop.

12/31/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Give this a least an hour to open fully. I attempted a little early and it was a bit tight. Very smooth and well balanced with length. I thought it was bigger than anticipated with big cherry notes and earthy finish. I had this with coquevan and it was the star of the show. Beautiful Napa Cab that deserves accolades.

12/21/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Just opened this up after receiving my allotment for winter. This Chardonnay is light and crisp without the heavy oak feel. It almost feels like a blend of chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. It has a terrific nose and will be a perfect accompaniment to any seafood or light fare. I am not a big white drinker but this would certainly be on my table at dinner.

12/20/2020 - DianaPaul Does not like this wine:

I was expecting much better and was obviously disappointed. Just a very mediocre Syrah with an uneven taste profile lacking in anything I could characterize as positive. As I drank bottle through course of day over 6-8 hour span, it continued to confirm that I was tasting something very different than those who had enjoyed it. I don’t consider it flawed but only a poorly constructed wine.

11/29/2020 - DianaPaul wrote:

Yum

11/24/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Bold and big Pinot Noir that stands out. Layers of flavor that are soft and supple yet make themselves known.

11/25/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

A very serviceable everyday wine at this price. An abundance of fruit on the nose and mouth. Deep red cherry color with good acidity.

11/8/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Still very tannic and appears to need several more years of time to round out the sharp edges. As a 2014, I was expecting a better profile at this date.

11/23/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Terrific balance and long smooth taste to the palette.

10/28/2020 - DianaPaul wrote:

Delicious and balanced.

10/19/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Beautiful inky black color with powerfully big and smooth flavors that consume your palate with long finish. Drank sans food and enjoyed every sip.

10/14/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Nicely constructed

9/4/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Decanted for 5 hours before tasting. Beautiful rich purple color. So approachable, silky and filled with cassis, black cherry notes. What a pleasure to drink. Tannins were light but still had enough backbone. Long decant may have led to their softening. At times, I wished for a little more tannins but nonetheless this wine was a pleasure to drink. Need to buy more 2012 if any still available. Great value for the quality of this wine. Wine is ready to drink at this stage in my opinion.

4/19/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Beautiful deep color with a very cherry burst of flavor. will buy again.

4/18/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Found that second day and second 1/2 of bottle appeared to improve taste profiles. I did not decant or give it much time to open on initial tasting.

2/27/2020 - DianaPaul wrote:

I had first sampled this wine at Hall in October 2019 at their Bergfeld tasting building. It was stunningly delicious. I thought I would treat myself to a bottle recently and was perplexed that even after decanting for an hour or so that it was flabby with no structure and balance. In March I returned to Hall again and was again treated after another tasting with the same Sacrashe vintage and behold, crazy good. I do not think I had a bad bottle but I am somewhat confused on my home experience. I will in the future corvin this vintage the next time to see what results I get. For the time being, I am confused.

2/22/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

A beautiful dark and deep purple color that excites you at the start but becomes the root cause of disappointment soon after. Out of the bottle you're expecting something special but this wine leaves you looking for more unfortunately. Subtle aromas of blackberry and cassis on the nose. Bottle only had a short decant but despite a smooth round opening, there is no tannin that elevates this wine into something better than I would expect. It lies flatter than a virgin on her wedding day and thus there are certainly better wines for money. She may get slightly better over time but would have preferred she was given a little more direction some time ago after waiting 5 years for her to be deflowered.

2/7/2020 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Ready to uncork. Black and red fruit with deep purple color. Beautiful to gaze at and nicely balanced with round edges and a decent amount of grippy tannins. I enjoyed this without accompaniment but would certainly think that innumerable combinations would certainly work. Just as delicious the second day. Would purchase again.

12/12/2019 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Black Ink beauty that rises from the glass with strong leather, graphite and earthy notes. Black cherry and tobacco engulf the palette with long soft and silky feel. Tannins and acidity are in harmony as this wine was waiting to be shown. Ready to drink and likely will only get better.

11/27/2019 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Just a fun expression for enjoying without too much judgement.

8/28/2019 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

This is a beautiful Syrah with a deep dark purple hue. Has a great balance of acidity and tannins that create a finish that doesn't seem to end. I feel fortunate to have another sitting in the wings seeing that only 150 cases were made. This is ready to enjoy.

8/27/2019 - DianaPaul wrote:

This Chianti takes a while to open up. I found that at least 2 hours was necessary or else it would taste like its price. I drank half one day and other half on second day and much preferred it on second.

3/9/2019 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

An elegant beast of a Pinot. Nose is sublime yielding lively cherry and plum. Garnet to dry blood in color with thick robust tears. Medium acidity with bold fruit mid palate. A Pinot to love for us Cab lovers.

3/7/2019 - DianaPaul wrote:

Just was alerted someone gave this wine a 73 that caused a big guffaw on my part. Party likely had a flawed bottle. This wine is excellent. Great enticing nose that prevents you from drinking since it fills the senses with aromatic bouquets of honeydew melon, granny smith apple and pear. Great acidity and lively taste up front that continues to please. A little tart (granny smith apple like) on mid-palate in a most pleasing way. For $30., I think this is a great buy and and I look forward to my next sip.

2/20/2019 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Great nose and complex tasting notes. Spicy with heavy cherry notes mid palate that linger and express themselves smoothly. Nice finish that provides impetus to pick up glass again and again.

12/23/2018 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Still holding up well late in December of 2018. This is not a overreaching "in your face Zin". Nice ruby color with slight garnet rim and addicting nose. Peppery bell pepper with above average acidity and very nice upfront cherry notes for balance. I also like the medium finish (slightly tart) which is subtle after initial punch. Nice thick viscous legs. I paired this with a stuffed portobello mushroom with mildly spicy Italian sausage. Very nice complement with starter course.

11/18/2018 - DianaPaul wrote:

Delicious and worthy of after dinner dessert. Lighter than traditional port but this zin port is easy to drink without being overly sweet. A great way to finish a nice dinner before retiring to the boudoir

7/6/2018 - DianaPaul wrote:

Lovely color and high alcohol content. Very silky tannins with medium to medium plus acidity. Dark cherries and currant flavors but not a prolonged finish as I had expected from this producer. May be better in another year or two. Slightly pricey for what this wine delivers.

5/29/2018 - DianaPaul wrote:

Unfortunately so, I found the 2015 Chappellet Merlot to be somewhat unremarkable. I drank it sans food. I was certainly expecting more but there was not one thing that I can say that stood out on the taste spectrum. I have another bottle sitting in cellar and I am hopeful that possibly another year and another time might be different.

5/27/2018 - DianaPaul wrote:

I found this Zin to hit above its weight based upon CT scores. I consumed much of it while eating some homemade pizza which I prefer peppery and spicy. This wine cut through with all the smoothness of a big ass Cadillac on a newly paved road. Great nose upon opening with dinkability with a nice long mid palate and finish. Another fine wine from this producer.

2/10/2018 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Full bodied with awesome sweet cherry notes that are round, silky and full. So delicious that only 1/2 hour of decanting took place before we were on way to bottom. Enjoyed with some home made pizza but wine would go well with pasta, meats and hearty foods. Wine has aged beautifully and possibly will only get better in a few more years. Encouraged to not drink newer vintages until they reach at least 10 years. With only a few years of tasting some better wines and and some lack of experience I am giving this a 93-94.

11/11/2017 - DianaPaul Likes this wine:

Lovely bouquet with equally impressive tasting notes in nicely balanced blend.