10/11/2014 - Winston Cellars Likes this wine:

$9.99- A extremely good value for the money! When opened and poured, was a little muted with dark fruit and cassis on the nose. Taste was compelling with medium body and plum and dark cherry flavors. A touch of smoke and lively acidity on the finish. Second day, this wine has really come into it's own. Speaking of the second day, how many $10 wines can even show on a second day? This one delivers beautiful blackberry and cassis fruit with velvet tannins. The finish is long and the mouth feel is medium bodied. I can't recall another $10 wine that had this level of polish and complexity....

12/26/2013 - Winston Cellars Likes this wine:

The Most Balanced wine I've ever had the pleasure of Drinking! Beautifully oaked and not over the top! Medium to full bodied with predominantly red fruit. Finish is very long and VERY Spicy, lots of licorice on the end!

12/10/2013 - Winston Cellars Likes this wine:

I'm a bit biased when it comes to Turnbull Wines. I've been a club member for almost 7 years. With that said, the 2010 Amoenus is a bit of a question mark for me! The biggest issue is the amount of oak! It is pretty overpowering! But, there is a Beautiful wine lurking behind that! It is very young and has not begun to come together, but it does exhibit very nice fruit with laser focus on the tongue. The finish is a bit hot, but this is a young wine that does, in my opinion, need to rest for another 3-5 years before everything starts playing nicely together. I believe I'll hold my other bottle until after 2015 or so before opening.

4/13/2010 - Winston Cellars wrote:

I've been off and on the Columbia crest bandwagon for a number of years now. They seem to make some surprisingly stellar wines one year then, not the next year...This bottle is a glorious surprise! At $8 a bottle in Safeway, it has to be considered a brilliant value. It has beautiful red fruit in the pallet with a firm sour cherry middle and a decently long/dry finish. Nicely complex and very well balanced for an $8 bottle of Merlot. Off to buy a case or more!

1/6/2010 - Winston Cellars wrote:

A pretty big surprise regarding this wine! Yes, it is a little candy-fied but there is some very redeeming qualities! The nose is Strawberry Jam, Pepper, and W/ a hint of BBQ and some candied Cherries. The taste is a little off balance with the alcohol bursting through (14.5%) but has a beautiful red fruit flavor. The finish is where you'll either love or hate this wine. It is a bit HOT but does have some great acidity with drying tannins, although a bit short, maybe 10-15 seconds. All in All, based on a number of california CAB wines I've tasted in the $10-$20 range, this surely deserves a try.

9/4/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

What should you expect from a $10 "Napa" Cab? Definitely not this. I really like this wine for what it is...A good value cabernet sauvignon for $9.99. There is more complexity than one would expect for something in this price range. Starting with sour cherries on the nose with a little mint action. Although a bit thin, the flavors are very distinctive showing sour cherries, vanilla and well balanced toasty oak. For the price this is an admirable effort. I didn't go into tasting this wine with high hopes! Maybe that's why I think it is a good value! Bought at Trader Joe's...

8/22/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

A very nice everyday wine-well extracted fruit with big berry flavours and big body! Stainless steel fermented and bottle aged, no oak. Very dark colour with zesty tannins and acidity. Would pair with a number of dishes from grilled steaks to heavy cream sauces. I new favorite of mine! And, at about $14 a bottle, you would be hard pressed to find another wine of the depth.

8/22/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Not quite as good as the previous bottles from my cellar, but still quite nice! This one seamed a little too oaky for my taste...

8/22/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Very nice fruit forward red. Good balance with long finish. Nice!

8/12/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Having tried a number of Napa cabs in the $75-$150 range, this still is a brilliant wine! The best cab for the money, PERIOD!!!

8/12/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Has that great "Smokey" rich, black cherry style of syrah!

8/12/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

I have an affinity for Turnbull. I find their wines to be some of the best wines for the money in all Napa Valley!

8/12/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

A very nice medium to full bodied Washington Bordeaux Blend. Well balanced with red and black fruit and nice ripe tannins. I nice wine for the money $45...

8/12/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Color is a bit light for a wine of this price and varietal...candied cherries on the nose with a bit of sweet mustard? The taste is very light and thin on the front end, cherries again...then explodes with a "HOT"mid pallet! finishes with nice firm tannins. A bit out of balance at this time but should come together with a few years of cellaring. Still an enjoyable wine, but not for the retail price of $75?! Can have a nice Napa merlot form a number of top notch estates for half this price....

7/4/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Bought this for my wife's 40th birthday! Very rich aromas of concentrated dark fruits. beautiful mouth feel! This is my first introduction to the Opus One realm. I'm very impresses with the balance of sweet fruit, mature tannins and well integrated oak. After an hour in the glass the wine exhibited marvelous notes of cinnamon and eucalyptus. Had I very nice and long finish! One of the best Cali Cabs I tasted...For our pallet, we both score this wine in the 95 point range.

1/19/2009 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Flawed-replaced by winery

11/26/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

The quintessential Napa Cab! The best Cabernet for the money I've tasted! Rich dark fruit on the nose! Jammy flavors followed by firm, ripe tannins. For $45, you will not be disappointed!

11/17/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

A little sweet for a Fume' Still very nice !

11/8/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Excellent Rhone style red. A little tight upon opening, but developed nicely later.

11/8/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Nice fruit flavor, better the second day! Has chewy mouthfeel and a very nice smokey finish...

10/28/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

bought on sale for under $10. For this price you get a pretty well balance Cab. Medium bodied with bright red fruit. Nice acid with well defined, but not harsh tannins. A good everyday cab!

10/26/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Not my style of wine... I thought I'd give it a try based on these reviews here. severely Lacks any body and complexity. Nothing memorable about this wine except its lack of anything noteworthy. For $16 buy any Napa Merlot instead!

10/24/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Hard to beat for $8

10/22/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Earth on the nose, musty. A little too much fruit ( perceived sweetness) at the front. As with a number of Walla Walla wines, there is a smoky nuance to this wine-Maybe a little too much.. Nice acids with decent finish.

10/20/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

I usually enjoy wines from Hogue. Not this one... This wine has an overpowering toasted aroma and taste. Very one dementional with an extremely HOT finish. Not a good wine even at this price point.

10/18/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

The quality of Castello di Amorosa seems to be on the rise...Early on these wines lacked polish and balance (too tannic, too sweet, too oaky) But this 04 Cab was different. Typical California Cabernet with nice red fruit up front (strawberry) with a rich full-body mouth-feel. Nice oak nuances and a spicy finish. Nice bottle of wine...But $42? Maybe $20-$30 is more realistic.

10/17/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

As with others with this vintage, the cork was soaked through. Definite Bordeaux nose upon opening...No noticeable flaws on the aromas. Very dark fruit, ripe plum, blackberry with some aromas of black current. Tight on the pallet, needs time to breath... After 2 hrs, this wine is still in full regalia! Still has youthful structure with perfect tannin maturity. Well balanced with cedar notes and earthy flavors. can still age another 5 years! If you are lucky enough to acquire this vintage, check the cork. If soft with noticeable seepage, drink now. If the cork is dry, hold off for another few years. I enjoyed this bottle immensely!

10/14/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Over-done Secondary Fermentation leaving this wine pretty "Flabby" Not enough acid to balance the fruit and Oak. Not a bad wine, but for $35 I'd expect something a little more balanced.

10/13/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Brand new winery located in the Nisqually River Valley north of Olympia, WA. We were there on opening weekend. They had only one wine released at the time and was this 04 Syrah. Very Tannic, almost bitter and very overpowering of the fruit. Having not talked to the winemaker, I would guess that this syrah was crafted in a Northern Rhone style and fermented with the stems?

10/11/2008 - Winston Cellars wrote:

Aromas of toasted marshmallow. Bright fruit, taste of blackberry, black currents. A little heavy on the oak, but well balanced. I decent value for the money.