4/13/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Delicious Chardonnay on its own and paired well with seafood. Lovely floral notes mixed with pear and lemon peel were the initial flavors that jumped out of the glass. Very balanced and the finish was beautiful. Medium mouthfeel and opened up a bit more in the glass throughout the evening.

4/8/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Beautiful Chardonnay. Loads of peach and lemon flavors that evolve with more time on the glass. A nice touch of salinity but can definitely taste the oak influence. Medium mouthfeel and nice finish. My opinion is this last bottle is showing a bit better than the earlier times we drank it. Definitely worth the wait!

4/6/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

I was worried that this one may be nearing or past its prime but happy to say it was not. Wonderful stone fruit flavors of peach and apricot and brioche. Heavier mouthfeel and lovely finish. Paired well with Mahi Mahi and rice.

4/6/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

First time trying this wine and also this brand. Great nose upon popping the cork. Initial palate is sweet red cherries with a bit of floral influence. Touch of spice (not overdone) on the nice long finish. Decanted only about 30 minutes - but definitely evolved in the glass over dinner. Looking forward to trying the Cab now!

3/31/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Opened this Pinot stunner with Easter brunch. Definitely more of a “big - Cabernet lovers Pinot.” The wine immediately demands attention due to its sultry,inky, Deep garnet color. The initial palate suggests hints of ripe plum, cherry and a bit of wet earth. With time in the glass, the wine opened quite well with a wave of black cherry, then builds to a fresh blackberry, ripe strawberry, zippy red currant profile. Finishes with more savory characteristics: dried herb, anise, soy and milk chocolate. Delicious wine!

3/29/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Definitely a new favorite for Chardonnay. First time trying this one. Wow! Beautiful nose upon opening - which got better with time. Tropical fruit characteristics with medium mouthfeel that developed with time in the glass. Pineapple, guava and a bit of citrus with perfect tension and a beautiful finish. Ranks right up there with Aubert and Kongsgaard in my opinion. Will definitely buy more.

3/2/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Wow! Really enjoyed this Cab. Purchased on WineBid to try (along with a FM Chardonnay which was also quite nice). Decanted the cab about an hour and then it was definitely ready! I will confess up front that I generally love all Sleeping Lady vineyard cabs and this one did not disappoint. The nose begins this journey with big, red fruits, cassis, plum and a bit of fresh blueberries. The wine was balanced and a bit complex while staying true to the usual feminine, more elegant qualities that exemplify thus vineyard. Nice, long finish. Definitely one to savor and enjoy! Will buy again.

3/2/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Beautiful Chardonnay. tasted at the Armstrong Estate while in Napa. Rich, creamy mouthfeel with gorgeous first aromatics of white peach. Initial taste on palate reminds me of lemon icebox pie with maybe just a touch of tropical notes. Definitely continued to evolve with time in the glass. Glad we bought a few bottles so that we can cellar over a bit more time to see where this one goes. Sad that there will be no more Chard from this vineyard site. Truly delicious!

2/9/2024 - Mds319 wrote:

Not my favorite Chardonnay for sure. Nice initial flavors but then it tapered off and had very little finish. Didn’t love the nose either. Weird for a Platt Vineyard Chardonnay (which we usually really like). Would not buy again

2/3/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

First time trying 4 Winds Cab. Delicious! Loads of dark cherry and blackberry on the initial palate with spice and a touch of leather nuanced in after some time in the glass. Nice structure and balance. Finish was smooth and long. Classic Napa Cab.

1/13/2024 - Mds319 wrote:

Flawed bottle. Definitely bad

1/13/2024 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

First time to try this Chardonnay. Citrus fruits on the nose and initial palate followed by hints of tropical and white flowers. Definitely preferred it more as it was allowed to open more in the glass and as temp rose a bit. Medium mouthfeel with acidic backbone. Definitely not a butter bomb.

12/25/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Wow! Decanted this Cab for 4 hours prior to consuming with a prime filet. Words can’t truly express the full experience. The nose was striking and beautiful full of dark berries - blueberries and blackberries especially. The palate began with these same dark berries and some coffee flavors and then melded into tobacco, licorice and even some floral notes. Tannins were well integrated and the finish was amazing. Will keep my last 3 bottles for a while longer to see how it continues to develop. A truly special wine!

12/24/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Delicious Chardonnay. Rich and opulent mouthfeel. Plenty of tropical notes on the initial palate and nose (specifically lemon and pear). As the wine evolved in the glass, more spice notes came through. Beautiful finish. Hazy in the glass. Will save my other bottles a few more years to see how it develops.

12/22/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Nice Chardonnay. Lots of pear on the nose and initial palate. Mid weight in the mouth and a nice medium finish. Vanilla and some spice on the end.

11/23/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Delicious Pinot. Drank with Thanksgiving dinner. The blueberry and blackberry flavors with dark cassis and spice paired so well with the sage and sweet potato dishes. Opened even more in the glass over time for an even more soft and round finish.

11/16/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Fabulous Zin! Lots of dark sweet cherry aromas on the nose and big jammy flavors on initial palate. Fruit forward but nice oak integration. Paired with a meat lasagna and it was delicious!

11/13/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Opened this bottle for a special occasion. Definitely pretty tight when opened. After settling down for about 30 minutes, began to open up a bit. More blueberry on the initial palate than cherry (which is what I thought based on the initial smell). Dark inky color. Lots of oak on the nose for sure. Then the flavors of mocha and tobacco were coming through. A touch of vanilla was present on the finish. Nice finish - just not quite as long as I prefer. Overall a delicious wine. But definitely give it a decent decant before forming an opinion.

11/11/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

This bottle was fantastic! At the perfect drinking spot that we prefer. Still plenty of flavors on the initial palate (dark, sweet cherries, leather, toffee with hints of a floral note). Weighty in the mouth with a long finish of vanilla and some cassis. Tannins nicely integrated at this point but structure still there. We paired with a nice prime filet. Delicious!

10/29/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Nice California Chard. Heavier mouthfeel with initial flavors of Gravenstein apple and a bit of citrus. Longer, creamier finish than most Chards with more acidity on the backbone. Paired with triple creme Brie and it was delicious!

10/28/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Absolutely beautiful wine. The integration of the tannins and complexity of flavors is completely on point right now. Great long finish and amazing aromas on the nose. So glad we saved this one for a special occasion

10/22/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Really nice wine that is drinking lovely now. Lots of blueberry, spice and licorice on the nose. Smooth texture with a medium finish. Touch of mineral/earthiness but not overpowering. Not especially complex by any means but pleasant to drink right now. Paired well with a nice filet for dinner.

10/6/2023 - Mds319 Does not like this wine:

We did not enjoy this Chardonnay. Very acidic and “minerally” on the initial palate. No finish and had weird aftertaste. Maybe it was a flawed bottle?

9/11/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Beautiful Chardonnay. Initial aromas of pear and then flavors of apricot and some spice on the palate. Nice long finish that gets better in the glass. We paired with a lovely chicken dish and really enjoyed the melding flavors.

8/19/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Decanted for 45 minutes prior to consuming. Amazing cherry and cola flavors on initial palate. Tobacco flavors on the finish. Great depth and balance in the tannins. This wine is drinking beautifully now!

8/19/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

This is a fabulous CA Chardonnay! Loads of citrus on the nose and initial palate. Lemon and grapefruit specifically. But the mouthfeel is full and the flavors balanced. I got a touch of mint on the back palate and the finish. Definitely opened up more as the night went on. Even a bit of lime on the finish.

5/13/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Drinking great right now. Super inky, opaque color. Dark berries, mocha, spice and a touch of licorice. Nice structure and balance. Finish is long and smooth. Paired with Wagyu fillets. Beautiful!

5/5/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Really nice Cab. Decanted only about 30 minutes and could have used another 30. Deep flavors on the initial palate of blueberry and mocha. Nice finish and tannins are starting to lay down. Delicious with filet. Finish was smooth.

1/13/2023 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Really, really liked this new Chardonnay from Sangiacomo. Smooth, full bodied wine that begins with Meyer lemon flavors that evolve into Bartlett pear and some apple. Love the finish and the heavier mouthfeel. Definitely will re-order.

4/3/2022 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Really loving this vintage of Seashell. Hasn’t been one our faves in past vintages but the 2019 has it all going on. A fresh bouquet of pear and citrus followed by great acidity for backbone and a long finish. Served slightly more chilled than most Chards we enjoy, the wine got better and better with time in the glass. A true stunner!

1/30/2022 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully right now. Silky smooth finish with loads of blueberry and dark fruit flavors. Just a touch of spice. Really enjoyed it!

1/28/2022 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Way too early still. Even with an hour decant, too tight. Flavors on initial palate and nose are nice. But no finish and no “wow” factor. Needs at least 5 more years in bottle.

1/8/2022 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Almost a bit past it’s prime, the cork shattered easily when opening. But the wine was ok - although I don’t think it could have gone much further. Still had a beautiful nose and great fruit flavors but the complexity was not there. Color was beginning to turn a tinge as well. Glad we opened it and enjoyed it with friends now.

12/29/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Super rich with amazing floral and lemon notes on the front and mid palate. Just a touch of tropical notes came into the glass after a bit of time with air. Long finish and heavier mouthfeel. Not overdone (at all) with oak but the presence is there. Showing beautifully now. We loved it!

12/25/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

One of our faves from Ram’s Gate. Loads of floral notes with a touch of tropical flavors (lychee?) on the initial nose and palate. But nice, long finish. Continues to evolve in the glass. Well integrated oak that doesn’t overpower the flavors. Showing really well right now.

12/24/2021 - Mds319 Does not like this wine:

First time trying this Chard. Not a fan. Very acidic. Not much depth or complexity. Will wait to open other bottle to see if wine develops with time.

11/23/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

This wine was a big surprise for all of us! First time trying. Very approachable with lots of fruit and jam up front. Not super complex but easy to drink for many.

11/23/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

One of the absolute best Cab Francs I have had (my favorite varietal). Everything about this ‘18 is firing on all cylinders. Loads of black and blue fruits layered with a wonderful spice and vanilla backbone. Super interesting and lots of potential with a few more years (if I can wait that long).

11/23/2021 - Mds319 Does not like this wine:

Did not enjoy this wine. Too oakey, buttery with little depth or layering. Initial taste was ok but could not finish the glass.

11/23/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

First time trying this wine. Loved the aromas from the bottle upon opening. Loads of dark fruits and a touch of vanilla. First palate impression was bold flavors of the same coupled with mocha and a leather note. With more time in the glass, the wine definitely opened and continued to show more depth and character. Still quite an early wine, I would definitely do a longer decant on the next bottle (we only gave it 30 minutes). More elegant and finessed wine.

11/2/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

First time trying Ceritas Chardonnay. Really enjoyed this one. Beautiful floral and citrus notes on the nose with amazing acidity on the palate. Opened up with some time in the glass to reveal even more depth and character. More distinct pear and Meyer lemon. Not too heavy of a mouthfeel. Would definitely order again.

10/23/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Absolutely delicious! Loads of grapefruit on the nose. Initial taste bursted with flavors of citrus and stone fruits. But grapefruit and lime was most prevalent throughout. Beautiful acidity with a more round finish than most SB. Lovely by itself but can imagine a nice pairing with oysters or other high saline seafood. Would definitely buy again.

6/17/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

First time trying this Chenin Blanc from DuMOL. Typically more of a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc drinker - especially in the hot days of summer. Decided to try this one after really enjoying other whites from this winery. Extremely (and pleasantly) surprised. Delicious flavors of pear and florals on the nose and initial palate. Less acid than most Chenin that I have tried. A bit of lime comes out on the end. Easy to drink - and lighter than most Chards. Delicious! Would definitely purchase again.

5/17/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Drank this wine with an Asian Chicken pasta salad. Excellent pairing as the wine didn’t overpower the food at all. But instead provided enough backbone and acidity to enhance the flavors. On its own, the wine is dry with flavors of nectarine, peach and even lychee? And the aging on the ‘15 has helped the wine evolve more into a beautiful wine. Not sweet. Not waxy. Just beautiful!

4/24/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Decanted 2 hours. Nice balanced Cabernet. Nose of bright fruits coupled with tobacco and leather components. Wine opened up nicely with nice backbone and acidity but nice finish at the end.

3/13/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Beautiful Chardonnay.

3/13/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Very impressive wine at this point. Loads of blueberry and blackberry on the nose - extremely aromatic wine. Nice texture on the palate with hints of vanilla and florals. Beautiful long finish. Will cellar well but drinking nice now (with several hour decant)

3/12/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully right now. Very short decant. Super dark, inky color. Load of blueberries and blackberries with a touch of vanilla on the front end. Mid palate had a touch of coffee and dark plum. Easy finish. Definitely mountain fruit vs valley floor.

3/11/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Drinking great right now. 30 minutes decant. Load of blackberry and blueberry on the front end. Long finish with just a touch of licorice on the end. Tannins are laid down making for a beautiful wine with or without food.

2/14/2021 - Mds319 Likes this wine:

Decanted for 3 hours prior to dinner with Wagyu beef tenderloin. Beautiful nose full of dark fruits and a touch of spice. Palate evolved (even more with time in glass) with blueberries, dark cherries, cassis and a touch of tobacco. Nice smooth finish. Beautiful wine. Will hold my last bottle for 3-5 more years as I believe the wine will continue to soften and improve.