2/17/2024 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

After opening, a bit closed with a slightly bitter finish but quickly opened up after about 30 minutes and was delightful. Dark fruit, smooth tannins and a long finish. This is drinking well.

Was enjoying with a cheese plate later and it paired extraordinarily well. A nice surprise.

2/17/2024 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still a big forward facing shiraz but age has smoothed all the elements into a great bottle of wine. I can’t imagine it will get any better but still has many years of enjoyment for those opening a bottle in the years to come.
Others have summarized flavor nuances of this wine well.

12/24/2023 - tgkswine wrote:

Gifted

12/24/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

This is drinking beautifully. All the hallmarks of a great Aubert Pinot but, with age, the complexity is there but in a softer, more nuanced manner.

Sublime is my one word descriptor.

12/23/2023 - tgkswine wrote:

This is just beyond its peak and on a downhill trajectory. Still very drinkable but the finish is now muted and the Zin vibrancy of dark fruit and a hint of spice and peppery finish no longer pronounced. Okay to drink, particularly with good.

11/23/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

A nose of dark fruit with an earthy river stone undertone highlighted with plum, hints of cherry, dark berries and bramble.
I think done more time in the bottle will help better define this wine but it’s enjoyable to drink now.

11/23/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

I opened with some curiosity at Thanksgiving as an option in a group of top notch wines. From an 07 Bond St Eden, 12 Rudd Cab, Kanzler Pinots, and more.

After 30 minutes in the bottle, this drank incredibly well blending Syrah dark fruits with the Zin structure and hint of pepper. Everyone raved at this surprise winner. I’m glad it got some age in the back of my cellar. For the wine enthusiasts in our group, this was their favorite wine of the night.

10/10/2023 - tgkswine wrote:

A bit rough on first taste but transitions into a more compelling finish of dark fruit, twigs and earthiness

10/10/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Fully in balance and drinking very well. Red fruit, integrated tannins and a long smooth finish.

9/23/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still a lot in the tank enjoyable big Syrah tanins pronounced but integrated into the dark fruit.

9/2/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still drinking well.

7/4/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

My last bottle still drinking well with red fruit dominating. It held up fine and remains enjoyable but, if you are holding bottles, I would consume in the next year.

7/4/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

A well integrated brunello drinking very well. Decanted 30 minutes before tasting and over the next 2 hours just got better and better.

1/22/2023 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Simply put, this is drinking beautifully and cannot imagine it improving from here. From the wonderful nose to the full mouth feel everything is a beautiful symphony of not over the top California Pinot.

12/28/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Opened my last bottle, a magnum, that I’d been holding onto. Very curious whether it was way past it’s peak. Happy to say that despite fairly extreme age for a CA chard, it is still drinking extremely well.
Love the hints of lemon zest, flowers and pineapple. Lots of complexity with a medium finish. SK remains one of my very favorite California Chardonnays.

12/25/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Typical of K-B Sonoma Coast. Drinking well. Full bodied with red fruit, flower and hint of cola. Long , even finish.

11/24/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still very young but paired well with Thanksgiving dinner. Lighter body CdP with a medium finish. Black and red fruit with some earth/wet gravel undertones. Excellent

10/6/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. Fruit and hint of earth on the nose. A big but not overpowering CA well constructed wine. Red and dark fruit with tanins well balanced and a long enjoyable finish. Paired well with grilled steak.

9/24/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Excellent Balanced, still full bodied Zin that was excellent with pork tenderloin. This has gotten better with some age on it.

9/23/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Absolutely drinking beautifully. With age had more of a Burgundian character. More delicate than many bigger California Pinots. At its peak so will consume remaining bottles in the next year.

7/8/2022 - tgkswine wrote:

This one is losing steam. Hopefully my remaining bottles have more life than this one. It’s drinkable and fine but not great.

5/3/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Big and powerful showing its youth. Drank along side a ‘06 Schrader RBC providing interesting contrast to two wonderful wines six years apart.

Dominated by dark plum, cherry and blackberry with sprinkles of cocoa and cassis . Some chewy texture that was not off putting. Just big and powerful but not over powering I’d love to see how this evolves in another 5 and 10 years. Really enjoyed.

5/3/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

The benefits of a little age were showcased in this bottle consumed along side a ‘12 Tusk that was excellent as well but younger.
A full bodied red fruit dominated wine with hints of subtle cocoa, earth and some dark fruit mid palate to finish. Not overpowering at all with smooth tannins and everything in harmony through the long finish. Just wonderful.

4/2/2022 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Drinking very well. Smooth, dark berry, smooth tannins with hint of cocoa. not a big cab feel to this blend. Time to drink. Pairing well with food as it does not over power.

12/25/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

I love holding these big California Pinots back as they seem to get better and better with some aging. This was the last of my ‘08 SC and wish I had more. The wine has softened with time. Dusty red fruits with cherry/raspberry in mid palate. Everything is synched to provide enjoyment from first taste to long, smooth finish. Lots of gas in the tank for this one.

12/25/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Opened at 2:30, decanted at 6:30 and began consuming at 8:00. A big, sumptuous cab with plenty of dark and red fruit. Hints of mocha and fully integrated tannins. A wonderful mouthfeel with every sip including a long, smooth finish.
An ‘06 Harlan seemed somewhat thin side by side but it seems it needed more time to evolve to reach its peak, which we didn’t give it time to do.

12/6/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still very enjoyable Great QPR but think it has just peaked. Time to drink up.

11/25/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Enjoyed with 2013 and 2014 KB RRV over Thanksgiving celebration. This 08 was in a different league given age although all are typically great Pinots.
Vanilla, cola, red fruit combined with minerality and a floral nose. wonderful finish. Drinking beautifully.

8/28/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

I wondered how much gas in the tank this would have? The answer is plenty. Drinking very well with dark fruit, integrated tanins and a long smooth finish. Popped and poured and it got better and better as it warmed and got air.

8/27/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

What a pleasant surprise. Wasn’t sure what to expect but found all the elements being in synch with no signs of fade. A medium to full body with dark fruit. Clearly a Zin with dark fruit and hints of that zin pepper, but subtle. Simply speaking, all the elements are working together to make this a wonderful bottle of wine.

6/20/2021 - tgkswine wrote:

Overly sweet cherry.

5/15/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Dark and red fruits with hints of dust. Medium, smooth finish. Not overly fruit. Drinking very well.

5/8/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

This one is still young and needs lots of air. Opened and sat for 2 hours but closed on taste. Decanted and let sit another 90 minutes and it opened up like a beautiful rose. If you give it time you will be rewarded.

3/20/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. Dark fruit with no hint of fade. Smooth tannins with some earthiness. Medium finish. Think it’s time to drink up.

3/20/2021 - tgkswine wrote:

Like other reviews, there is not much fruit. Just a flat, somewhat minerally, monolithic drink. It’s okay with food but not anything I’d look forward to opening in the future.

3/7/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Love this Chardonnay. Not too over the top California chard like sone of the over extracted PM Pinots. Just a wonderful wine.

3/7/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still drinking well. Opened for an hour before tasting. Red fruit, dusty, with hints of cola. Tannins fully integrated with cherry cola on the finish. Was not sure what to expect and pleasantly surprised. If you have bottles left, I’d suggest you start to drink up. I don’t believe time will be an asset at this point but it’s a great bottle for now.

3/7/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Full bodied with integrated tannins, black fruit, saddle leather with joints of tobacco. This wine has continued to evolve, getting better with each tasting. There is still plenty left in the tank. Will wait 3-5 years to open my last bottle.

3/5/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still drinking very well. Well integrated with lots left in the tank.

2/13/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still drinking well but showing signs it’s time to drink up. My last bottle. Yellow golden color, hints of tropical fruit and vanilla on the nose.
Not oaky as others mentioned. Minerality present with vanilla, caramel hints along with green apple, pineapple and a smooth medium finish.

2/8/2021 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Wonderful

12/25/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. As it opened the wine displayed balance of dark fruit, dusty, integrated tannins. Very enjoyable. First of 6 from this vintage and exceeded somewhat modest expectations.

12/25/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully.

11/26/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

I’ve had this in the cellar a d pulled out as part of our Thanksgiving wine options. The surprise wine of the day/evening. Still shows it’s power with dark fruit but tannins very smooth and simply delightful.
I can’t imagine it can drink any better and looking forward to my remaining bottles.

11/26/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

A little age has smoothed this wine into a wonderful drink. Strawberry and cola hints in a fully integrated Pinot with a long, smooth finish. It is at its peak so will drink my remaining bottles.

11/21/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Still enjoyable but slightly past it’s peak. Mature with more muted nose and fruit.

10/28/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

Absolutely delicious. Balanced with soft fruits and floral. Decanted but readily drinkable within 30 minutes of first tasting. One of, if not the finest BdM I have ever enjoyed.

7/25/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

This has been sitting in the cellar as the last of 4. We opened the Blank vineyard last in December 2012. I expected this to be way past it’s peak but to my surprise it is vibrant and going strong.

A floral nose, plenty of red fruit with hints of cola and a bit of dustiness. A smooth finish keeping everything in wonderful synch.

In this crazy Covid world, one of those unexpected pmeasures.

4/18/2020 - tgkswine wrote:

Past it’s prime but still very drinkable.

4/7/2020 - tgkswine Likes this wine:

This is really drinking well. My last bottle but still has plenty in the tank.