9/15/2021 - DonWinspear wrote:

I typically mention notes from the glass, then from the palate, but I'm not going to do that. Here's my review. Friggin delicious. That is all.

8/23/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

A nose that exudes cherry, fruit with just a hint of heat. I dislike the phrase "has a lot going on," but this applies perfectly to this wine. Cherry, spice, tobacco, cocoa. All wrapped up in a beautiful, smooth tannic delivery. Moderate to long finish. This is really a fun wine to drink and explore.

8/23/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

It's tough for me to pinpont the nose on this one. Some dark fruit emerges, but little else. Smooth, smooth palate. Notes of cassis, plum. A decent helping of the Rutherford dust. It's drinking well now, but I would not wait any longer. A moderate finish.

8/23/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Just a moderate nose. The palate is also quite moderate and unidimensional until after 30 minutes. Then some characteristics begin to take shape. Red fruit, cherry, some forest floor. However, nothing truly exceptional develops. A nice drinker, but I think it's time has come and is going.... going........

8/15/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

There is some heat on the nose. Almost enough to mask any decent notes. Tasting is a different matter. This is a fine wine. Beautiful fruit; strawberry, raspberry. Complemented with some plum. But not super extracted so that it comes off as a fruit bomb. And, of course, 9 years of resting will help that. The tannins are very present, but smooth and easy going. Overall, a wonderful drinker.

7/24/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Relax, sit back, and let CJ take you for a ride. The nose is berry intensive, both dark and red. The first sip is smooth and delicate, just a hint of structure in the distance. Raspberry, blackberry, tobacco. Wait a minute or two before your second sip and then a wonderful development of tannins creates a boldness that was absent from the first sip. This continues to build over the following 20 minutes or so until you realize that the sip you are taking now was nothing like the first. I realize some wines do this, but the CJ experience is wonderful. And for the price point, one of the best QPR I have had in a while.

7/3/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

What I find most surprising about this wine is that no one has commented since 2015. What the.... Coravined a glass last night. The nose hinted at vanilla and cherry. The tannins are very smooth but with a hint of structure to add some substance to the taste. Vanilla, cherry, plum, hint of oak. It's a very nice wine, one I might label as being a tad "sweet." But with the three primary essences that I derived, it would be tough not to be. To be clear, not in a negative sense at all. This is the personality of this wine. The finish is moderate.

6/2/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

OK, every once in a while, a bottle makes you sit back and go "Wow." This is one of those bottles. Not because the tasting experience totally blew me away, but because it's a 2007 with an auction value of $31 and a community value of $24. One would wonder if there would be anything left upon opening the cork.

This wine is great. A mild nose of melons, honey. And a palette that replicates this and adds a little apple and a hint of pineapple. There is a great sense of a minerality serving as a foundation for all of this. I got no sense at all that this wine had surpassed its drinking window. Nor did the two others enjoying it. A wonderful surprise.

5/13/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Didn't know quite what to expect given the vintage. PNP from a Coravin, which ultimately proved to be not the approach to take. The initial nose and sip makes you take a step back and wonder. But, all this wine was asking for was a little aeration. The long she spent in the glass, the more she improved. After more than 35 years, the tannins are still intact and the fruit still alive. Primarily dark fruit with some forest floor and mocha. Surprisingly, it's not overloaded with the earthiness that one might expect of a wine this age. I blinded a friend who guessed 15 years. A minimal but growing finish. Overall, a pleasure.

4/15/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Blow me away. My last note on this wine was a year ago. This wine just keeps on coming. The color is the same, the nose is still fresh and the palate is still very much alive. Lots of fruit, cherry, raspberry. It just continues to impress me I have had wines that cost significantly more than this show their age significantly more. Sadly, last bottles were consumed.

4/8/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

This wine is sheer elegance. I will start from here and move on.... Decanted about 4+ hours before drinking. Vinturi as well, for a little extra aeration. Dark ruby. A delicate nose of dark fruit, cocoa. The palate is remarkable melody of fruit and additional notes. Cassis, raspberry, mocha, some spice box. It's as complex as it is integrated - it all works together beautifully. The tannins are relaxing providing a smooth and delicate yet structured mouthfeel. Perfect balance. Nice long finish with no bitterness attached. An ideal complement to beef tenderloin on the Green Egg.

4/8/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

It's a light wheat color, not much change from the early years, if I recall. The nose is like a light, earthy sauvignon blanc. Not much fruit there, but it does exist. The palate is definitely mature. Wet stone, some earth, citrus, melon. In my opinion, she's approaching the end of her journey. A mild yet tart finish.

4/1/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Nice dark color. The nose is fruit focused, mostly red. Some oak coming through. The palate is profound. Cherry, raspberry, blueberry. Maybe a hint of vanilla. It evolves and changes over the time in the glass, suggesting that a decant is advisable. Despite being just 5 years old, the tannins are already fairly relaxed, more than I expected. While it meant for am enjoyable sipping experience, I was anticipating the wine to be a little more "tight" than it was. Still, I can't help but think that this has time in the tank. The finish is moderate to long.

2/26/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark dark. The nose is active with hints of cherry, dark fruit. The palate is similar. Cassis, cherry, cocoa. This wine has a multi faceted flavor profile. You can dig into it and try and discern additional notes. The wine is support by soft yet prevalent tannins. The finish is long and enjoyable. This baby gets better the longer you drink it. I'm honestly trying to think what may be wrong with this wine, and there's not much. Excellent flavors, terrific mouthfeel, it finishes. Will be interesting in another 5 years.

2/15/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark. A nose of dark fruit with a hint of sweetness. The first few sips were fruit intensive, primarily blackberry with a hint of raspberry. What surprised me was the sweetness provided by the notes of vanilla. The wine's structure was peaking, at best. Very smooth tannins, though I will not say they are fully resolved. But, they are certainly mature. The wine evolved as I drank it, especially the structure - it seemed to become more pronounced. The flavor profile did not change significantly, however I did notice just a hint of olive as the evening wore on. Moderate finish.

2/10/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

As I sipped this wine, I was immediately reminded of the movie Armageddon where Bruce Willis is left behind to trigger the nuke and after the folks in the escaping space shuttle debate the wisdom of returning once the required period of time has passed, Ben Afflect says, "Harry will do it. I know. He doesn't know how to fail." This wine is good. The Halls don't know how to fail. It's dark and has a nose of cassis. The palate is intriguing because it offers up both a fresh fruity dark berry along with a touch of earthiness to convey a semblance of age. Two faced, you might say. The tannins are solid suggesting a few more years may benefit this wine. A moderate finish. Very nice wine and at $50 a great deal. Well worth it.

2/6/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

The nose gives you the first indication that this wine is fruit forward, but in a good way. Cassis and vanilla, primarily. A delicate sweetness to it. The palate confirms it. I would not call this a fruit bomb by any means, but it's the first reaction I had taking an initial sip. The blackberry is pronounced as is cherry and vanilla. A trio that works really well together. More subtle appearances of mocha, maybe some raspberry. The structure is good, not mind blowing. Solid tannins and acidity, but not that which suggests to me that this will go the long haul. Beautiful finish of moderate length. As the glass remained out, I sensed that the wine settled down a bit a reflected a bit more maturity, if that makes sense.

2/3/2021 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Well, hello. Upon my first sip, this is what the wine appeared to be saying. The wine is dark. The nose is, well, restrained. Hints of dark fruit and other nuances, but by no means anything that that makes you sit up and take notice. Then that first sip. Blind me and I will tell you I am drinking a wine 1/3 its age. Rich, solid tannins that offer no hint of a 15 year old Pauillac. The wine offers up beautiful dark fruit, blackberry. Maybe a hint of raspberry. There is a small sense of earth, leather, and a couple others that I could not put my finger on. The finish was long and delicate. Overall, it's beautiful. And in 5 years it will be better. Very likely 10 years as well. This beauty will stand the test of time.

12/2/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

My glass is Coravined, so I pour a house sized amount to allow the wine to breath while I drink it. The nose hints at cassis, raspberry. The palate has an initial sweetness of raspberry to it. A few additional sips allow blackberry and blueberry to join in. Over the next 30 minutes, it continues to open up, suggesting a decant will benefit the wine. The tannins also come into focus which, along with a nice acidity provide a perfect structure. Although it is drinking really well now, it will still go longer in your cellar. I give this wine a 94 because of the overall beauty it is to drink. Gorgeous flavor, perfect balance and backbone.

11/13/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Just a touch of expected bricking around the glass edge. A nose of red fruit, some florals. The wine offered a few more notes. I picked up a touch of olive, truffle. All these become more expressive and complex over the hour following the PnP from a Coravin. A moderate finish. Overall, I kept telling myself that I was really gigging on this wine. The tannins were still alive providing a nice structure to the drinking.

11/6/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

A nose that shows red fruit and a little heat. This wine is so very characteristic of a Napa Bordeaux blend - and I mean that in a good way. Although my first sips were immediately following a PnP, I caressed the glass over an hour. And the time was well spent. Raspberry and vanilla lend to its initial sweetness, but this is well balanced with blackberry, mocha and I also get some florals. This baby has tons of structure to it, so it's early. If you have multiple bottles, try one and then turn your back for another 5 years and see what happens.

11/2/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Not much sign of age. A nose that hints of fruit and a little oak. The pour is from a Coravin, so no real time to breath. So these notes are from about 20 minutes after the initial pour. This wine belies its age. Just a hint of forest floor, but much more fruit attacking the palate, primarily red. Raspberry, a hint of vanilla sweetness, perhaps a little blueberry. The tannins are still raring to go, so there is a lot of time left for this beauty. The more I sipped it, the more I was enjoying it.

10/2/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark in the glass with a touch of aging showing around the edges. Like most of us, eventually. A nose that exhibits red fruit, florals, some oak. My first sip and I looked at my wife and said Cherry upon cherry. But, this was a first sip using a Coravin, so literally no chance to open up. Which, once it did, revealed red fruit, some tobacco, vanilla. This wine definitely needs either time or a decant to fully express itself. As the night wore on, it just got better and better. Tannins remain firm enough for a balanced structure that you would expect in a near 20-year old wine. Nice long finish with no bitterness. Have one more bottle and damn glad I do.

9/15/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

It's dark. I'd like to say it should be, but that's not necessarily true. An opulent nose of both dark and red fruit, spices, tobacco and forest floor. I let this sit in my glass for a while and then started drinking. Old Pauillac can be gorgeous, and this is. Smooth, velvety, just a pleasure. I worked at trying to discern the fruit and derived blueberry and strawberry (yes). A definite sweetness, though muted by the decades of resting. Graphite, forest floor, earthiness round out the notes. The tannins are still alive suggesting that there is some room in its future. Personally, I wouldn't wait. Moderate finish.

9/14/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Nice nose of dark fruit, forest floor, spice. Took a couple of sips and immediately thought to myself, Hmm, one dimensional. But, as the wine sat in the glass it opened up. Vanilla, blackberry, a touch of cherry. And, a tannic structure that built upon itself following a couple of sips. Still had come chops. Surprisingly long delightful finish. Had to admit, I was surprised.

7/21/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

The nose is surprisingly nondescript. Very faint. However, the palette more than makes up for this, which is a tad confusing. Initial impact of dark fruit, anise, with complementary notes of mocha, vanilla. The tannins are still very much alive giving the wine a great drinking experience. It was a pop and pour, which allowed the wine to open up during its time in the glass. This did nothing but allow the wine to improve. The finish is long and beautiful. Just a great example of why Bob Foley does what he does and oh so well.

7/17/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark dark purple. A nose full of fruit, floral aromas. This wine is stinking delicious. That's my professional opinion. Cassis, blueberry, a little spice, cherry. It just goes on and on. Being young, the tannins are fully intact, yet the wine drinks beautifully. Paired with a BGE wagyu steak, it was a perfect match.

7/17/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

A nice garnet color. The nose is moderate, mostly fruit with little oak. The palette is a conundrum of sorts. My initial impression was it being a little unidimensional, but the second glass was offering more notes, proving that a little air is always a good thing. Bright red fruit, mocha, light currant. And, a nice surprising structure for a 15 year old wine. More than I expected. A light appealing finish. Don't wait much longer.

6/22/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Very light straw color. A medium nose of citrus, melon. Let this wine sit for a few minutes and a primary citrus characteristic becomes apparent. Almost to the extent of biting down on a cross between a regular and Meyer lemon. There are some additional notes of melon, peach, green apple. Moderate acidity. A nice long finish that begs for an additional sip.

6/19/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark dark in the glass. A robust nose of casise and blackberry. I was not sure what to expect, but this wine did not disappoint. Nice solid attack of dark fruit, a hint of oak. Overall, the structure of the wine is still very much intact. Firm tannins and a nice acidity to balance it out. It was a pop and pour via Coravin, the wine matured nicely each time I got a glass given that it had only about 20 minutes of air time. Definitely a pleasure to drink. A moderate finish.

5/21/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark garnet color. A nose full of fruit. Raspberry, blackberry, oak. The palate reflects the nose. Add in some notes of spice, cherry. As for the tannins, they initially strike the front of the palate with little past that. Overall, they are quite, but not fully relaxed. There is little acidity resulting in a very moderate structure. But, for a 15 year old wine, it is drinking well. A medium long finish with no bitterness.

5/17/2020 - DonWinspear wrote:

A moderate nose of fruit and oak. What first strikes me with this bottle is that the tannins are still very much alive and solid. Just like the fruit. Blueberry, blackberry, vanilla. What's missing is an overwhelming sense of earth and dirt, that which you might expect from a 20+ year old wine. I know what I wrote last time, these tannins are not completely relaxed. Bottles are different. Period. And this one is great. Give her about 15 to blossom in the glass and she's a dream.

5/14/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark ink. A nose of cassis, cherry, touch of oak. The palette is full bodied. Dark fruits, cherry, plum, a touch of sweetness - vanilla perhaps. This wine has lots of structure - its tannins and acidity suggest a few years to go. Concluding its drinking window in 2018 as suggested is premature, it is drinking great now. There is no real earthiness that typically accompanies aged cabernets.

5/7/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Used a Coravin to taste it over three days. Mildly fruity nose. The palate reveals the right bank, fruit-driven merlot concentration of the wine. Cassis, red fruit, spice. The tannins are nearly completely resolved, but there is enough structure so that it is not flat. It's a pleasing wine to drink. Mild finish.

4/15/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Honestly, I did not know what to expect with this. I had let 6 bottles remain in offsite storage for much longer than they should have, especially considering I purchased them 11 years ago. The color showed no signs of brick. The nose is light and cherry focused. The palate also is cherry centric. There's a hint of cocoa, cassis. The tannins appear to have completely relaxed, though a quick swish awakens them. The finish is short and not really exceptional. A little bit of time in the glass is a friend to the wine as it gives it a chance to kick into gear a bit. Just a bit. My expectations for this wine were shall we say questionable. It's a 15-year old wine that I purchased for $70. Honestly, I wasn't sure if they had over-aged. But, they are very drinkable. Yes, they would have been better 5 years ago. But, as the one-arm knight said in Monty Python, "I'm not dead yet!"

4/11/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

I am drinking this using Coravin. Full pours, not just tastes. The initial nose and taste are wrapped up in the earthiness one might expect with a 30-year old wine. Lots of forest floor, a bit of funk. However, all that's needed is a little time, say about 20 minutes, to awaken the fruit that exists. Cherry, raspberry along with cocoa. The earth remains, only it is no longer prominent. The tannins still provide a delicate structure. I love this. Is it my favorite, no. But it is a beautiful representation of how a moderately priced Merlot based Bordeaux can age 30 years and still be in the game. The price tag on this bottle is $30. The finish is moderate - in fact after drinking for about 15 minutes, the finish is split evenly between fruit and tannins.

4/6/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Light straw color. A light nose of pineapple. When this hits the lips - wow. Melon, pineapple, peach, mild citrus. But what really draws me to this wine is its drinkability factor. It is beautifully bright, lively, crisp. Great acidity. Medium finish. Not extracted, not oak heavy. Just a pure joy to drink. With a few more bottles cellared, it will be interesting to see how this develops over the coming years.

3/25/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

A moderate nose of cherry, dark fruit. The wine has - and I hate to use this phrase - a lot going on. Cherry, mocha, dark fruit, cherry. Did I mention cherry. It's gorgeous. I am so happy I cellared this beauty after buying it from the winery almost 10 years ago. Beautiful tannins with a balanced acidity provide an ideal backbone. Moderate finish, no bitterness.

4/1/2020 - DonWinspear wrote:

Corked

3/24/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Light straw color. A very unassuming nose. Barely discernable. The pallete however is delightful. Lemon, melon, river rock. Beautiful acidity. It is, and I almost hate to use this term, a really pretty wine. Nowhere near overpowering or over complicated. Just one of those wines you can pop, pour and enjoy. Although I was enjoying with panko chicken, this is an exceptional cheese wine. Tomorrow I will test that theory.

3/11/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Initial nose of some oak, dark fruit, cocoa. Palette is, dare I say, delightful. Cassis, raspberry, cocoa. A bit of earthiness. I hate to use this phrase, but there's a lot going on. The tannins have relaxed a bit, but are still supportive of a beautiful wine. This one is just friggin yummy. Paired with tenderloins grilled on the BGE.

2/14/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Dark dark ruby color. A nose that hints of cassis, oak, some spice. And then you taste it. Kazowie. My first thought is of raspberry, but it slowly evolves into darker fruit. Additional notes of cocoa, oak and the same little spice I had on the nose. An absolute dream. The tannins are still very much alive along with a perfectly balanced acidity. Yes, it has years to go. The only bad thing? I drank 2 of my remaining 3 bottles. Paired with a grilled beef tenderloin on the BGE. A meal that just would quit.

1/27/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Light pinot color with not much indication of age. A gentle nose expressing red fruit. This wine is fabulous. I will confess that I don't find it multidimensional, but that's OK. What it does give you is greatness. Raspberry, strawberry, cherry. Tannins are relaxed and silky smooth. It's nearly 40 years old, so one should approach this wine with the respective expectations. A medium long finish.

1/21/2020 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Inky dark with nary a sign of bricking. The nose is a tad uni-dimensional with some oak and dark fruit. But the first sip removes all concerns. First impression is that is has the tannic structure of a young wine. Blind, someone may guess that it's only 5 or fewer years old. The dark fruit come forth, primarily blackberry. It's complemented with a little earthiness, a hint of tobacco. And a finish that doesn't quit. This is a pure joy to drink. Now, and for a long time into the future.

12/21/2019 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Medium straw color. A nose that exhibits melon and pineapple. The palate is pineapple with melon, lemon, just a wee hint of vanilla. There is a strong acidic structure which balances with a rounded feel that is a function of its fermentation. Take one sip and you will soon be wanting your next. The finish is long for sav blanc.

12/1/2019 - DonWinspear wrote:

The color is inky dark, save for dark rose around the rim. The nose is earthy, with extra notes of mushroom. That may be first time I have used that descriptor. Then you taste it and things change, the fruit take over. Primarily dark fruit, blackberry. Some of the earthiness also comes through, but it's secondary. The tannins survive as does the acidity, enough to provide a structured drink. This is not a 15 year old wine that drinks like resolved velvet. Perhaps a function of the 15.5% abv. Overall, I'm impressed. It's a great wine that drinks well by itself or some cheese or a light meal.

11/14/2019 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Coravined (is that a verb?) a glass. The nose is delicate but ripe with fruit. The palate is still remarkably fresh for a 13 year-old wine. It's red fruit dominant, especially raspberry and strawberry with a hint of cherry. The tannins take a minute or two to kick in, but they exist to provide a mellow structure to the wine which along with the acidity make for a nice pour. Over the next half hour, the flavors develop and the wine rounds out suggesting that an hour decant would definitely be of benefit. The finish is moderate, but full of flavor.

11/3/2019 - DonWinspear wrote:

This will be an odd tasting note, as I am suffering from a slight cold. Which could impact nose, palate. etc. A friend brought this wine over and we tried it following a glass of 1999 Ch. Montelena which we both agreed was excellent. An initial nose of this wine didn't impress. Not much fruit, just some forest floor. My initial taste was like opening the door of a wooden cabin that had been closed up all season. Musty, musty, musty. Hard to discern much if any fruit at all. It's very young, the tannins are powerful and tight. To be honest, that's about all I get on this wine. Is it the cold? I don't really think so because of the beautiful fruit I picked up on the Montelena. Off bottle? Perhaps.

10/11/2019 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Good lord, where to begin?? First, avoid any impression before allowing 60+ minutes after a decant. Both you and the wine will appreciate it. A complex nose of earth, olive, meats, dark fruit. The initial attack is commensurately complex and bountiful. I once read that anyone who suggests more than 5 notes is either faking it or very talented. This wine tests that. Bacon, truffle, forest floor, cassis, spice. As I took a second sip I could not help but think that this wine is a meal unto itself. Pair it accordingly. We were dining on grilled steaks and pork burnt ends. The second sip leads to a third, to a fourth, each time leaving you wondering just what else is going on with this wine. And just as you think you have it all, you notice a very light, delicate sweetness develop mid-palate. The finish is long and flavorful. The structure suggests that life in the cellar remains; but why? She's fully developed and waiting for you to unwrap all that she has to offer.

10/9/2019 - DonWinspear Likes this wine:

Poured a glass using a Coravin so to save remaining wine for the coming days. Dark ruby color. No real sign of aging, even when I looked for bricking around the meniscus. A delicate nose of light oak, red fruit, florals. The palate is ablaze with fruit; raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, floral notes, a touch of oak. The tannins still provide a soft backbone complemented by decent acidity. CT is showing that, based on the opinions of 20 people, the average end drinking year is 2017. Whoever said that or earlier, I dare you to find a bottle and try it. I double dog dare you. This wine still has cellar time in its future - not too long, but it's there. CT also shows that of the 1,826 bottles purchased, more than 1,000 still remain in people's cellars. Smart.