9/1/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

For a wine in a 3 liter bottle, I was disappointed that this was a bit past its prime. I thought it would have lasted longer. Although there was still lots of flavor, the aromas suggested a bit of oxidation. Still plenty of leather and dark cherry aromas, but I just couldn't get past the fact that it had seen better days.

11/20/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

When first poured, powerful aromas of earth, leather and dark fruit that settles down after a few minutes. Rich flavors of plum, dark cherry, olive and dark chocolate. Long minerally finish with smooth tannins. Disagree that it's past its prime. Tasting just fine, better than I remembered, and could actually keep for another year or two.

11/10/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Awesome fruit forward example o RRV Pinot. Intense bouquet of strawberry and mushroom. Bright cherry and cola flavors with a nice finish. Nicely balanced with good acidity. A perfect food wine. Wish I had a lot more of this as it's just starting to taste perfect.

5/29/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

So dark, it could be mistaken for a Petit Sirah. Lots of heady aromas of smoked bacon, toast and graphite. Rich velvety palate with flavors of plums and blackberry jam with smooth tannins. Could have used a bit more acidity to offset the fruit, but otherwise very good.

5/29/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Much better than when I first tasted this. Definitely needs time to breathe. Initially very tight, but opens after some time to reveal aromas of cassis, anise and earth. Fruit forward with vibrant flavors of cherry and raspberry eventually softening to include flavors of cocoa and anise. Good firm tannins still. Could go for a couple more years to mellow even more.

5/22/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

A bit too fruit forward for my tastes. The combination was quite disjointed and unfocused with little complexity. Reminded me of another producer in Napa that blends Zins with other varietals. Didn't care much for that either. Gave the rest away.

5/21/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

This would have benefited with decanting, but as it is, it still was very good. Dark brick red in color with amber edges. Initially tight but eventually revealed a pleasant nose of cedar, black cherry and pipe tobacco. None of the vegetal aromas often found in Cab Francs. Vibrant flavors of plum and cherry with a harmonious acidic balance, if not a little tightly knit. Firm tannins that smooth out a bit after some time in the glass, but it suggests that a few more years wouldn't hurt this vintage. Paired nicely with a ribeye steak and sautéed mushrooms.

5/4/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

This wine just keeps getting better and better. Been 3 years since my last notes and figured it was time for an update. Deep brick red clear color. Fragrant aromas of violets, cloves and cherry. Helen's feminine style is evident in this gorgeous wine. Silky and luxurious dark cherry and raspberry flavors. The savory characteristics beg for rich foods such as duck or pork belly. True, it's very high alcohol at 15.5%, but the wine is so well integrated it doesn't taste hot and maintains an understated richness on the palate. Medium finish with a hint of cracked black pepper. One of the best Grenache I've had from California.

5/2/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Tasted with 5 other 2005 Bordeaux and this came out on top for both the group and myself. Not decanted, just popped and poured. Deep purple color/garnet rimmed. Inital nose of cigar box and cedar. Starts with lots of dark fruit but not over-the-top, good acidity to balance. High and dry tannins that softened after an hour in the glass. Although it's showing quite well, it's still too young. With it's impressive structure, this one will keep for quite a while.

5/2/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

I received this as a gift...that person obviously doesn't like me. This has to be the worst wine I've ever had that wasn't obviously flawed. Actually, to be honest, I've had some very flawed wines that were better than this. So flat and lifeless, I'd swear it was corked, but no telltale odors when first opened, just nothing but a harsh acidic odor. Don't be taken in by the fancy bottle. This is yet another collaboration of amateur winemaking with professional marketing. If you see this on your store shelf, just run away.

5/1/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Tasted with 5 other Bordeaux from 2005. Decanted for 6 hours. Initial aromas were funky and a bit phenolic, but that blew off after a few minutes in the glass. Not thrilled with the tastes as they were quite disjointed with the oak a bit overpowering and not well integrated. Flavors improved after several more hours in the glass and it wasn't as fragmented as I initially thought. With the firm tannins, I see some potential to revisit this in another 5 to 8 years.

5/1/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Tasted this side by side with 5 other 2005 Bordeaux. Decanted for 6 hours. Toasty aromas of eucalyptus and cedar, but not what I would expect for a Margaux. Loads of dark fruit and good acidity to balance it out. Firm tannins on the long finish. Lots of potential but needs a few more years. Compared to my initial impressions of this vintage from more than 3 years ago, I think it has improved slightly, but still doesn't have the wow factor I had hoped for.

5/1/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Decanted for 6 hours. Aromas very tight with faint earthiness and cloves. Still loads of black fruit but its youthful high tannins make this difficult to enjoy now. Way too young. Maybe another 5 years before I revisit this one.

4/30/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Aromas of raspberry and lavender with a subtle sweet floral bouquet. Herbal flavors of thyme and anise with soft savory tastes in the finish. Very smooth and ready to drink now. A very nice wine for the price. Wish I would have bought several more.

1/23/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

A little closed at first, but as it warmed up offered aromas of hazelnuts and pears. Better served at cellar temperature. Tropical fruit flavors with well integrated oak giving it a distinctive, but not overpowering, buttery flavor. Smooth lingering finish. Served with fish in a cream sauce. Excellent pairing.

1/21/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Still very good. Aromas of apple, pear and honey. Flavors of quince, honey and a hint of mint. Very light body and not overly sweet. Doesn't overpower the actual dessert but could be a dessert on its own.

1/21/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Very nice. Aromas of cherry, cola and a touch of earthiness. Loads of raspberry and cherry fruit flavors, good acidity, and a very pleasant soft finish. Paired with stuffed mushroom caps and it was fantastic. Nancy Walker did a great job on this one.

1/21/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Nice nose of grapefruit with a touch of floral. Bright citrus flavors with good acidity. Paired with spicy Chinese food and was quite good.

1/21/2012 - bricksofwine wrote:

Not as good as I remembered the last time I tasted this. I really wanted to like this wine but it was a bit flabby and still quite tannic, but otherwise, okay. Maybe it would have been better with food.

6/30/2011 - bricksofwine wrote:

Big and impressive without being overbearing. Smooth tannins and a rich nose of cassis, anise and leather made this the perfect compliment with red meat. Wish I had a few more bottles.

1/14/2011 - bricksofwine wrote:

Nice. Very good classic Burgundian nose. A great food wine. Nice bright cherry flavors with a hint of good earthy funk. I will definitely savor the last remaining bottle I have.

4/10/2010 - bricksofwine wrote:

A little tight, but with aromas of lavender and raspberry with flavors of red fruit and a hint of spice. Nicely balanced with rounded tannins. 7 more bottle to go so I'll see if age improves this. It pairs nicely with pork and other lighter meats.

11/29/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

I'm doubt I can attribute this to bottle shock even though this wine just took a 2-hour plane ride along with 2 hours in the car and rough baggage handlers. The color was a bit brown especially for a 2004 and was not a good sign. The aromas initially were a bit sharp with some mushroon and earthiness, but after a few moments started to take on a more acetic tang. On the palate, it was initially pleasing, with some raspberry and cherry, but then it started tasting more like a raspberry vinegarette than a wine. After a couple hours, those strong vinegary flavors seemed to subside but didn't go away completely only to be replaced with a slightly oxidized taste. I did finish the bottle with food, which seemed to bring out the earthiness, but my wife refused any more after her initial tastes. Very disappointing for the price and the age.

11/13/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Inky purple in color with a nose of ripe cherries and moist earth. On the palate, fruity cherry, plum and black currant with a hint of oak. Med-long finish with firm tannins and a bit of a mineral finish. Not the best PS I've had but for the price, it was much better than I expected.

10/26/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Aromas of cherry and mushrooms. Flavors of ripe cherry, raspberry with enough oak to give it a little spiciness. Medium length finish and for the price was very good. In the year since it was first reviewed I'm sure the oak has toned down quite a bit, adding a nice complexity and bit of tannin to the otherwise smooth finish. I think I'll have another glass.

8/9/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Great Ken Wright Oregon Pinot. Not sure what the other reviewer was drinking but this wine changed in a matter of minutes in the glass becoming better as time passed. Aromas of herbs, raspberry and mint with black cherry and a touch of basil on the palette. Smooth medium length finish and good acidic balance. Thoroughly enjoyed this wine and thank our friend for sharing it with us.

8/9/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Very nice. Dark garnet color with enough brett to make it interesting. Dusty blackberry and herbal aromas. Dark cherry, cassis and hints of tobacco on the palate with smooth tannins and a pleasant minerality to the finish.

7/30/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

What a great summertime Rosé that goes great with a variety of foods. A light golden pale pink color with complex aromas of pear, mushroom and earth with subtle floral. Flavors of strawberry, kiwi, citrus with a great crispness and balance. Dry, not sweet with a lingering mineral finish. Good even when served too cold straight from the fridge and improves as it warms slightly. Great value at just around $11 a bottle.

7/14/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Absolutely wonderful Viognier. Impressive floral bouquet with a touch of citrus. Like being in someone's rose garden next to an orange grove. Rich oily flavors of crème fraîche, mangoes and lychee. Great acidic balance and minerality on the finish.

6/18/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

A little closed at first but opens up to black fruit and plum aromas with a touch of oakey vanilla. On the palate, rich black cherries and cassis with notes of tobacco and minerals lead to a long finish with smooth tannins and well-made structure. Had this with a variety of cheeses and was wonderful.

6/18/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

I remember this wine distinctly. Aromas of citrus with a touch of grass and grapefruit. Just enough oak to take the edge off the acidity, but overall, a bit lean and not very exciting

5/23/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Classic dark purplish-red color with aromas of black fruits, licorice and pepper. Big mouth-filling blackberry, dark fruits and smoke with nice balance and rounded tannins. Not a very long finish and not overly complex, but very much drinkable now. About what I would expect for an Aussie Shiraz for the price.

5/14/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Aromas of thyme, cedar and blackberry. Initial hit on the palette of black cherry and plum with a lingering warm finish of cranberries. Tight tannins still and nicely balanced. Great QPR.

4/28/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

I didn't really expect that the Cab Franc would be reminiscent of a luxurious Burgundy. It's brilliant garnet color and expressive bouquet of smoke, leather, cigar box and delicate black fruits was the appetizer. The main course of pomegranate, black olives, black cherry and beef jerky on the palette was incredibly savory. The finish was elegant, balanced and lingering, leaving the mouth refreshed. This wine was detailed and graceful making me forget it was a Cab Franc. I'm just glad we still have another bottle of this in the cellar.

4/20/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

The color is a deep garnet with a rim of brick red. The aromas are a quite closed but I get subtle floral at first, followed by some white pepper and earthiness. Flavorful medium body of strawberry and raspberry with a medium finish of cloves and tobacco. Tannins are still firm with good structure suggesting that this wine could still age and slightly improve but easy to drink now. Good but not exceptional with a great QPR for an everyday dinner wine. Paired this with pasta and a mushroom cream sauce and it was very enjoyable.

4/8/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Very light body with a clear almost pale garnet color. Initial aromas after first opening the bottle were minerally, like flint, and almost rubbery or medicinal, like sniffing a balloon. Decanted and after about half an hour, I started getting more floral qualities. On the palette I mostly got red fruits: strawberry and raspberry with some licorice on the medium finish. Good balance of acidity to counter the fruit-forward characteristics. Definitely more of an old-world style than most American Rhone blends I've encountered. Overall, drinkable, but not entirely enjoyable.

4/2/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Bottle was flat. Cork was defective.

3/28/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Slightly oxidized but still tasting good in an old world style. Oak flavors well integrated with flavors of hazelnut and minerals. This is wine you either love or hate and our wine drinking friends were definitely split on how they felt about this.

3/23/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Served with Roast Duck at La Toque in Napa. Great pairing that brought out the ripe cherry, raspberry and fragrant floral notes. Long smooth finish with a great balance of acid and tannins that make it drinkable now and better with some aging. Get some now before it sells out like their Syrah. Only 162 cases made.

3/17/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Only aromas I could coax was a slight medicinal Band-Aid smell. Flabby light body with some flavors of blackberry and licorice. No hints of oak aging or any perceptible tannins. Actually adding a pinch of tartaric acid gave the glass I poured a little life, but ultimately still couldn't resuscitate this wine. Really disappointing for a St. Émilion, but then again, they'll give that Grand Cru designation to anyone. Glad I only bought one bottle to try first. Drink now through next Tuesday.

3/6/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Bright ruby red color and nose of chocolate and earth with notes of ripe cherry and raspberry on the nose and palette. Med. body with nice glycerin mouth feel. Smooth med-long finish and nice structure with good acid balance. It was a remarkable wine and given the price, truly spectacular. Went back and bought a case.

3/5/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Deep garnet with brown edges, bouquet of chocolate, earth and raspberry. Slight VA upon first smelling it. Balanced structure with flavors of raspberry and blackberry with a long finish.

3/5/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Nose was very subtle floral. A little sweet for my tastes with apricots and honey a little too predominant. Nice smooth finish and balanced acids.

2/28/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Past its prime and to be expected for a 2003. Aromas of diesel, eucalyptus and citrus. Tastes of grapefruit and what I would imagine furniture poilish would taste like. Much better a couple of years ago. Yet another testament to drinking new world white wine when young.

2/28/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Very recently bottled and showing some bottle shock--aromas of burnt matches immediately after opening but dissipating quickly. Very pale in color with subtle floral aromas of honeysuckle. On the palette was subtle flavors of asian pear and citrus with a crisp finish with hazelnuts. A little tight but opens up after about an hour. Very drinkable now.

2/14/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Not overly bubbly with a pale straw color. The nose reminded me of fresh baked bread and toasted hazelnuts (which could be why my wife liked it so much). On the palette, it was not as dry as many Brut champagnes, with a nutty, kettle popcorn taste. At less than $12 a bottle it was very drinkable and pleasant.

2/14/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

The color was a deep clear brick red with almost no signs of age. A great bouquet of berry notes and smoked meats became more intense the longer it was allowed to open up. Medium-bodied with equally intense flavors of dark cherries, plums and black olives initially with spices and integrated oak throughout. There was even a hint of mint on the smooth medium finish with very soft tannins. What a pleasant surprise this was. The complex flavors paired especially well with the red meat and mushrooms we had. Decanting for a couple of hours improved this wine considerably. After reading the other notes, I'm wondering if they tasted the same wine.

2/8/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Side by side comparison with the 1953 Clos St. Jean was a real treat. Dark brick red colors with violet edges. Crisp red berry nose with lots of smoked meats and leather bordering on barnyard. Incredibly complex layers of ripe cherries, spice and gamey meat. Nice long finish with soft tannins and nicely balanced acidity. Would easily have been the wine of the evening if not for the '53. Still it was a better overall wine and still holding up quite well. Easy to see why this was a top 100 wine of the year.

2/8/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Not everyday that I get to taste a 56 year old wine. Cloudy brick red in color with amber edges. Nose of toast and smoked meats. Nice dark cherry, raspberry and meaty palette. Smooth long finish. Initial TCA aromas after opening that were completely gone after an hour in the decanter. It opened up even further after a couple more hours. I'm disappointed that it was almost gone by then because it was just getting good. Impressive and delicious.

2/3/2009 - bricksofwine wrote:

Dark garnet in color with some amber fringes. Initial bouquet of earth, leather and red berries that eventually tones down. Initial flavor is typical new world with a somewhat feminine quality and very little oak, followed by raspberry and clove but with a short-medium crisp cherry finish with almost no tannins to speak of. It reminded me of a Sangiovese. I think this vintage is just past its peak on the way down. Drink now if you have any.