11/25/2015 - masonjp wrote:

This was pretty spectacular. No formal notes but it sipped well before, during, and after dinner.

10/18/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Opened, decanted for three hours and drank over the next three. Still a youthful Bordeaux. Deep merlot nose with a hint of alcohol. The palate was crushed blackberries and olive. Very distinctive. Loved it but it can be better with patience.

10/12/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and consumed over two days. Not what I was expecting. Got some heat and redness but lacked depth. Day two it mellowed and was pleasant but overall not a stand out Pinot.

10/12/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Been three years since the last bottle was consumed. Still drinking like a young cab. Deep, cassis, dark. Noticed a little "green" with this bottle. Overall still a wonderful wine.

9/22/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Very cherry and uninteresting... Basic.

9/6/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Very well put together. Still a bit youthful yet seems as if the fruit has taken a step back. Cigarbox and graphite dominate the palate like I would expect from a good chateauneuf de pape. There is some black cherry in there which is sneaky good. This probably will evolve still yet.

8/15/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and poured around a campfire while camping. Hit the spot.

5/17/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and let breath one hour than drank over the next two. Had with NY steak, portobello mushroom, beets and salad. This needed the steak to really shows it's beauty. The nose was deep dark chocolate cherry. Palate had some alcohol but washed away over time with blackberry and vanilla. Very good with time left.

4/18/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and poured. Basic cab with the normal nuances of the region. Good food wine.

4/11/2014 - masonjp wrote:

Completely faded... Bummer

3/22/2014 - masonjp Likes this wine:

This is some hedonistic juice. Pop and pour and consumed over three hours with steak dinner. Dark, almost black. Nose shows some glycerin and black berry. Palate has good deep plum and leather which lingeres nicely with grippy tannins. Lots of time left on this one.

12/25/2013 - masonjp Likes this wine:

Had with prime rib Christmas dinner. Opened and decanted for two hours while the roast slow cooked. Beautiful nose right away. Deep dark fruits with purple hints. Still young at the start, makes you respect patience. On the palate it gives you cigars, blackberrys, and some vanilla. Stout tannins which blend the acidity nicely. This seems to be just coming into its window and will reward further cellaring. Very good!

7/6/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Opened and let breathe for about two hours. Not much giving on the nose however what I do pick up is wet rocks and minerals with some underlying cherries. On the palate is what I want in a Pinot. Slightly dry, very little spice with wonderful raspberry and cola. I wish the finish was slightly longer however it did round out the experience. The 2008's are starting to show there beauty. Probably close to its peak.

5/19/2013 - masonjp Likes this wine:

Popped and drank order the next two hours with top sirloin. The nose is nice but lacks a little depth. However, if you can sense past the heat there is some black and blue hints of dark fruit. Once this opened up a bit the palate was coated with tar, black cherry, and dark chocolate raisens. The length was excellent and tannins are intergrated. Very good wine for the price paid.

5/18/2013 - masonjp wrote:

It's amazing how such a light and delicate wine can give so much. There is a distinctive funk to the nose which I have only found in Oregon Pinots. The raspberry fills in the rest. On the palate, those which savory a mouth full, will experience a dusty fresh red fruit that lingers and becomes more powerful after a few long seconds. Wish I would have picked up more of the '07 when everyone else was trying to get rid of them.

5/12/2013 - masonjp Likes this wine:

Had for Mother's Day. Beautiful Oregon Pinot. Had the distinctive nose from 2008 of dark raspberry. More complex than I was expecting with the palate ranging from light red spice to darker berry with a light funk mixed in.

5/3/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Seeing lots of bottle variation with this case. So far three out of the five bottles have been over the top acidic with little to no complexity.

5/4/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Wonderful nose, deep black cherry perfume you can only recognize as Napa. Palate was quite hot. Softened slightly over time. Maybe a little bottle shock from the shipment. Will try a second bottle soon for consistency.

3/15/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and Lear breath for a hour and consumed over the next two. Wonderful nose of blackberry jam. Tasted a little hot but the boysenberry, black cherry, and cinnamon made this very enjoyable. Probably not at its peak. Hold.

3/9/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Bought at my local wine shop, they talk me into it when what I originally went to purchase was sold out. Big mistake. I can only think the bottle had been in heat. Cork was perfect, bottle showed no signs of seepage however the wine was undrinkable. Nose was a sweet sour candy raspberries. Taste like jolly ranchers. I'm going to write this up as a bad bottle.

3/3/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Clean, pure, fresh. The nose has an earthiness to it which brings you out to the vineyard. Light on the palate with raspberry and spice and the finish is just long enough. Improved with time and air which leads me to believe this will become more complex with some short term cellaring.

1/27/2013 - masonjp wrote:

Had with theme Greek night. Decanted one hour before dinner. Cut though the heavily garlic meal with hedonistic tannic structure. Lots of spice and a bit of peppermint and licorice. Fun wine but would not drink on a normal night.

1/19/2013 - masonjp Likes this wine:

Excellent.

10/4/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Very dark. Great nose with musky blues on the nose. Much more complex than expected with a few different layers of crushed blackberry transitioning to smokey bacon. Great wine for any day of the week.

9/2/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Day one this was very disappointing. Poured one glass and recorked. Two days later poured another glass and this was very good. Dark fruit, smooth, the acidity mellowed and was very nice juice.

8/11/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Last bottle still as fresh as the first. Decanted for three hours and it performed. Dark, balanced, and rewarding. On to the 2009's!!

7/8/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Not much good going on here. If kept very cold there is some sweet citrus however once it warms up it is very acidic and unpleasant.

2/25/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and let breath for an hour. Great drying cedar and tobacco. Black berries come out on the finish. Good wine!!

1/21/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and poured. Deep intense nose of black cherry. Very fruit forward for a pinot. There is a good balance of fruit, acidity, and tannins which makes it very enjoyable. Dark fruit on the palate. a little funk came through after a while which I love. Great wine.

1/20/2012 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and let breath for an hour and enjoyed for the next four. Lots of earth and cedar on the nose. Some underlying dark fruit is still apparent. Wonderful cigar palate with soft round fruit. No quite as big as the last bottle but still very happy.

12/25/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and let breath for a hour and a half. Had with prime rib Christmas dinner. Very smooth with a good black fruit and drying cigar and cedar. Round tannins and a good length on the finish. Went perfect with dinner.

12/24/2011 - masonjp wrote:

M and I had while wrapping presents. Delightful.

12/17/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Very fresh and delightful.

12/3/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and drank over the next two hours. Very vibrant with cigar and black cherries on the nose. It did start out with a little musty funk but it blew off quickly. Nice round tannins with hidden fruit of plums and black berries. Good length that is slightly drying. Beautiful Bordeaux.

12/2/2011 - masonjp wrote:

This could be pasted off as a bottle triple its price tag. One of the best Pinot QPR's that I have had.

11/24/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and let breath for an hour. Beautiful dark nose follow by light and pretty floral and spice. Not a overpowering wine.

11/24/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Very decent.

11/19/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Decanted. The nose was pretty floral with hints of red berry. Alcohal dominated the palate. Very hot. Would not buy again.

10/27/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Popped and let breath for a little over an hour. Intoxicating nose of oak and black cherry. Very strong tannin structure that is nearly perfectly balanced through to the end. On the palate it is almost hedonistic. Blackberry fills the mouth followed by toasted oak and a little vanilla. Good length on the finish that leaves the mouth a little dry. Probably just coming into its window. Will drink beautifully for the next decade.

10/7/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Very light. Pretty nose. Even for the price I was fairly disapointed.

9/22/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Nice and light.

9/19/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Had to celebrate Brady's Birthday. Wonderful bottle.

9/6/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Simple everyday drinker. Probably some better values out there

8/26/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Had at Andina with M. Opened very quickly with some air. Very soft and approachable with nice raspberry and hints of mocha. Excellent!!

8/25/2011 - masonjp wrote:

For $20 this is great juice.

8/5/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Tonight this bottle was a star. Popped and let breath for about two hours, no decant. Nose was beautiful blue fruit and what I imagine garrigue brings. Wonderful red shows on the palate. Some good leather and a hint of sage. Ends with some pepper and the finish is just long enough. Great showing for a basic bottle.

7/27/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Very good. Right out of the bottle it was in your face crisp and a complete melody of citrus. Mellowed after a while and even on second day much more approachable and complete. Makes me think it will actually cellar some to round a bit.

7/21/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Good bottle. Lots of oak and smoke on the initial palate. Some acidity but not overly complex.

6/20/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Second bottle. Opened and let breath for about a hour. Great Zin. Dark spicy and round. Deep black and blue fruits dominate the palate and a wonderful finish. Some alcohal is still present but it is developing nicely.

6/18/2011 - masonjp wrote:

Decanted. Very round and soft. Not overly complex but very enjoyable. Very rich deep dark profile all the way through with good length on the finish.