11/28/2012 - branman1986 Likes this wine:

I had never heard of this producer before, but holy crap I was really happily surprised! Very well done CF, very complex and vibrant on the palate, and still had very focused fruit. Fantastic!

11/28/2012 - branman1986 Likes this wine:

Best Chardonnay I've tasted anywhere approaching this price. Oak is well integrated and the fruit and oak don't taste fake or cheap which are the usual faults in sub $10 Chards. Great fruit and acid, and great balance.

11/28/2012 - branman1986 Does not like this wine:

Wine is very acidic and very tight with some sour cherry fruit and minty green herbal notes. Tastes like an old green Bordeaux, but I believe contrary to most of the other tasting notes, that this wine will do better with more age on it. Absolutely no sense in opening now, since the wine is in such a sucky place. Wait 3-5 years and try again.

8/12/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

I hope people have kept some bottles of this because it is aging super well. It was pretty stunning last night. Not too oaky, good acid coming through on the back end. Blind, I would have guessed this was way more expensive.

4/16/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Still extremely shut down. Double decanted for about 8 hours and decanted afterwards for another 4 hours. Better than the bottle from two years ago, but it's still barely budged. Would recommend not opening currently. I will try again in two years, but honestly I think waiting until 2017+ is a good idea.

4/16/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Very impressed with this wine. Very good complex and multi-layered fruit with superb structure. Great now, but will improve with time.

2/18/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

I don't know what the deal is with these ratings. Anyways, the bottle I just had was terrible. I'm hoping/assuming it was an off bottle. NR

1/25/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Not as open as the other 07 Copain Syrahs, but I haven't had one in about a year. I definitely think it's either somewhat shut down, or just needs more time. Not touching the other 2 for at least 2 years. Some nice savory and clean roasted meat notes, and very dark tar & cassis. Not as "big" as the rest of the 07 lineup.

1/19/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Delicious, but drank far before it's peak. Pnp, but just got better in the glass. Very dark fruit here, mostly black currants and a little tar and charcoal, with a hint of licorice. Didn't really envelop the mouth yet, and wasn't quite expansive enough at this point, and with air the dry tannins really fleshed out. I think this needs at least 3+ years to show its potential. Please let your bottles rest!

1/18/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Glad to hear some people's bottles are opening up, but the bottle I just opened up tonight was locked down tight. Poured through a vinturi, but no dice. Let's hope it opens up tomorrow. NR. edit: 4 days later and it's still jacked up pretty tight, but just starting to open up a little. I'd say it's almost Bordeaux like at this point.

1/18/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Surprised nobody else has noted the extremely dark color for a pinot. Really good window to drink right now if you like your pinots on the young side, but I think will be hitting it's stride in 1-2 years. Dark red fruits, spices, good acidity. On the ripe side enough to not have much floral or perfumey characteristics.

1/11/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

This wine is a little Dr Jekyl & Mr Hyde. Had about 3 bottles of thin, weedy crappy wine, and 3 bottles of perfectly balanced delicious wine. The last bottle I had a week ago was great.

1/11/2012 - branman1986 wrote:

Upon opening, earthy & slightly herbal, well balanced. But with a few hours of air, some gorgeous fruit came forward. Definitely give this a 2-3 hour decant or wait another 5 years, or you'll miss the good stuff.

12/29/2011 - branman1986 wrote:

Drank out of mag for Christmas. Popped and poured, but should have had a long decant(4+ hours). Very tight and shut down. Definitely leave these alone for a while(in mag).

5/26/2011 - branman1986 wrote:

Give it some time...very disjointed with pnp, also had a strange plasticky taste on the finish that eventually went away.

2/16/2011 - branman1986 wrote:

This wine is really just not good. Overripe, pruney, just not good at all. Plenty of heat at just 14.5 alc.

2/16/2011 - branman1986 wrote:

Very typical 07 southern Rhone. Garrigue, black & blue fruits, very fruit forward...a little rustic as the wine really lacks focus. Moderate tannins built with some air, so I think this will drink well in the near to moderate term(maybe '14). Good enough wine for the money, tastes very similar to a low end CdP from '07.

I didn't get any heat, so I believe Ken's bottle was flawed. (if you're that far off the bell curve, you should suspect something is up and reserve judgement).

12/22/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

A lot of gamy meat & smoke, with a licorice kicker. For my tastes, it's a little too straight-forward(read: boring) right now to drink. Would definitely hold.

11/24/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

I really liked this wine. I know this is an odd statement, but it doesn't taste much like a CH cabernet. A lot of deep, dark fruit & dark chocolate on the nose. On the palate, a nearly singular expression of black currant fruit, with a smattering of blueberry & blackberry mixed with some dry cocoa. Extremely acidic and fairly tannic on the back end, so it has the structure to go for a while, but you've got to like high acid reds to get into it.

11/24/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Smells like raspberry & strawberry jam on the nose. On the palate, extremely bright, more raspberry/strawberry flavors. The barely slightest hint of white flowers and stemminess. It has some solid tannins and structure, but since it's an 09, either it had very little barrel age or very little bottle age or both, so I honestly wouldn't touch these for at least 6 months. Not that it's going to be the best pinot ever in 6 months, just that the flavors are a little simple and amped right now, but seems like it could come together especially if the floral & stemmy character becomes more pronounced. For a point of reference, it tastes a whole lot like Polaner's Wyatt Pinot Noir right now.

11/18/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Fantastic brooding core of dark fruit, immense impression on the palate while staying very elegant. Smooth tannins are enveloped in a blanket of fruit. Fantastic.

11/17/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Agree with VDE's description, but I think this is a fairly big pinot. Not very complex, but not bad. Very few tannins to speak of, so I'm not sure I'd hold onto this more than a couple years. There are some barbecue-y notes which makes me think it may have had some smoke tainted Sonoma/Mendo fruit blended in, but it's mostly hidden if it's in there. Apologies to CH if it's off the mark. Worth the $12 spent easily.

11/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Quite a change. Some VA and a little alcohol on the nose, actually it almost smells like a high end premium Napa cab a little. But the palate doesn't match the nose, unfortunately. Still delicious, gained some character since a year or so ago. Tannins are very soft, this is perfect for drinking now.

11/3/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Agree with OneLastSyrah. Definitely worth more than the $6 on closeout, but nothing to write home about. 85pts.

edit: Actually with some air, some chalkiness shows in the finish and a little acid peeks out. Up to an 87.

edit2: Drinking this almost 2 weeks later after going out of town and leaving it in the fridge. Still has some verve and the acidity really fleshes out. A little oxidized at this point, but I'm going to hold onto my other bottles for a LONG time.

11/1/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

High acid, tight and tannic. Should have waited a few years. NR
Day two - at first still tight and tannic, but after a few hours some of the goodness started to emerge. I think this will be stellar, but my bottle was in a very dumb tight phase. Give it at least a year.

10/30/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Just really really boring

10/23/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Extremely good for the money. Hanging in there age-wise, right where I like my SBs...a little more complex, but not crazy fresh and I would drink them up over the next 6-9 months. Great nose of crushed rocks, melon, passion fruit and lemon juice. Not huge on the attack, but nice passion fruit, minerality, melon. Transition to midpalate is my only disappointment - sort of disappears for a moment, but the finish is *very* good. Great acid, grapefruit pith, chalky finish that hangs on the palate for nearly 15 seconds. 87-88.

10/15/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Wanted to like this more than I did...I'm a big CH fanboy. Decent fruit & structure, but I didn't get the high acidity that others got. Was fairly uninspiring. A little spice, and almost a jello/gelatin flavor & mouthfeel which was sort of interesting, but not enough to keep it from tasting too much like grocery store wine.

The lot 179 is way way way way way better juice for only a few more dollars.

10/13/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

While delicious now, this will get better with many more years on it.

10/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Passable, but was not my favorite. Was at a party, with no detailed notes.

10/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Upon opening, very savory, meaty Syrah dominates the nose & palate. A little closed and tannic, with huge acid. Almost Rhone-like. Acid is *very* noticeable on the back end, and very pleasurable and adds complexity. Hudak is spot on...day two the cab became much more prominent and the acid & tannin died down a little. This wine is ridiculous for $12. The descriptor "elegant" comes to mind. I disagree with the BBQ wine statement completely.

9/20/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Worst corked bottle I've ever come across

5/30/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Delicious...best domestic rose I've had in a long time.

5/19/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Agree with the last taster. Was just too simple on the palate, not dynamic at all. Seems like the stuffing may be there, but it may take years to unravel. I'd rather wait 5 years and see how they do than waste another bottle now.

5/19/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Lot 143 seems to be shutting down. Two very unimpressive bottles in a row.

5/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

King Cab's TN is right on the money...def got the hint of brett. Not really what I was expecting though.

5/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Tasted bottle of what will be the final blend. Unbelievably good, like 07, but even more depth and complexity. Still has that amazing Missouri Hopper blue/black fruit mixed with gorgeous ToKalon Cab Franc(which by itself is OBSCENE from barrel), giving it a very multilayered depth with persistant finish. 98+ for now, will only get better.

5/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Fresh honeyed apricot & peach with vibrant acidity. Delcious!

5/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

I've always rep'd Jacquelynn & Boswell wines pretty hard, but got to taste the final blend for the Oakville & To Kalon 08's and was even more blown away. I got to taste the component barrels as well previously, and while everything was amazing, the 5 rows of To Kalon Cab Franc barrels that blend into the Oakville(I think - and Bure Duration) were knee bucklingly good. The Oakville has a deep, complex, velvety attack and monsterous depth and the To Kalon was silky smooth with amazing finish. Hard to pick a favorite.

5/8/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

I've always rep'd Jacquelynn & Boswell wines pretty hard, but got to taste the final blend for the Oakville & To Kalon 08's and was even more blown away. I got to taste the component barrels as well previously, and while everything was amazing, the 5 rows of To Kalon Cab Franc barrels that blend into the Oakville(I think - and Bure Duration) were knee bucklingly good. The Oakville has a deep, complex, velvety attack and monsterous depth and the To Kalon was silky smooth with amazing finish. Hard to pick a favorite.

5/6/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Gorgeous blue & black fruit on the attack, amazing midpalate & great persistant finish. Triple. Donkey. Power.

3/21/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Needs a ton of time. Don't open for a few years

3/21/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

I'm not exactly sure what to say. Cali style, but impeccably balanced. Phenomenal. If it were not so expensive, I'd load up. Creamy, not buttery, nice toastiness, beautiful acidity, very, very nice.

3/7/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Similar to last bottle, but got some sweet herbaceousness with this bottle. Great QPR

3/7/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

This is pretty good cougar juice. Typical Cali Chard - very buttery & oaky, but good acidity, so it's not overly cloying. Would overpower any delicate food, but pretty decent on it's own or with something very peppery/creamy.

3/7/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

I think this needs a crapload of time. Good, but just better and better with air, a little dull otherwise. Won't touch another until 2011.

2/25/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Didn't get any barnyard or funk, so new world drinkers, buy away. A great deal from WTSO.

2/18/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

For the other dude that's got this bottle. I have the same and just popped it last night and it was definitely on the bottom edge of the downslope. Still drinkable, but very oxidized. Dominated by caramel & petrol.

2/3/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

Popped another bottle, sort of thin compared to my first. Some dark chocolate & maybe a little mocha...dark cherries, but a little green and the explosive fruit and balance wasn't there like my first bottle. Definitely going to let the remaining bottles rest for a while.

1/30/2010 - branman1986 wrote:

surprisingly quaffable, no brett or barnyard, decent fruit & tannins, just not really complex. Worth the dough prolly.