5/6/2024 - Kerosene Does not like this wine:

Oof, much too fruit-forward, syrupy and sweet for what I expect from a PS. Of course, I bought six bottles of this, unfortunately.

4/29/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

A solid QPR at $20

4/26/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

The taste profile was quite different than what I was expecting, but this is clearly a finely crafted, nicely balanced endeavor. It wasn't as powerful as I was anticipating, but it was elegant and distinctive.

4/6/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Definitely dry with mouth-puckering tannins, but a lovely balanced wine that should go well with a wide variety of food.

4/2/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Boy, I was pleasantly surprised by this $20 Costco find. Went very well with red sauce chicken dish. Of course, they probably don't carry it anymore, and Brunellos cost twice as much at Total Wine.

3/21/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Nice example of a Cali Syrah. I'd buy again.

3/18/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I'm not that familiar with Barolo and was anticipating a big, brooding wine with some notable acidity. This poured a lovely shade of garnet with a lovely floral nose. Even without a decant, the taste was vibrant, balanced and interesting, with a medium body. It reminded me of a lovely glass of Nebbiolo I enjoyed at a small courtyard restaurant in Stresa, northern Italy on Lago Maggiore. Just as good a day later (pumped of course). I encountered little acidity and no alcohol burn as noted in other reviews. I see this as eminently drinkable today. Fortunately I have 3 more bottles that I will try to space out over the next 5-6 years.

3/16/2024 - Kerosene wrote:

Downgraded my original rating as there just isn't much here for a $37 Napa Cab

2/26/2024 - Kerosene wrote:

Surprisingly, a bit too sweet for my taste. I've never had an Argentinian Cab Franc, so it's hard to say if this is region or this particular wine or vintage. I drank the bottle over two days, which is why I gave Neutral vote.

3/1/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Love this wine...what a great QPR at $25. Solid "presence" with a lovely mouthfeel. I personally think it is very drinkable today. I'd give it a 93-94 rating if the bouquet was a bit more interesting.

2/29/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Better than I anticipated, as most of the Chianti I've been served as seemed overly astringent. This was quite pleasant and approachable, though not over-the-top impressive.

2/10/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

This one surprised me. I wasn't expecting much from a $13 bottle, but it holds its own.

2/8/2024 - Kerosene wrote:

Not all that impressed with my 1st of four bottles, but I also didn't wait to drink the first glass. It seemed to open up on the second glass and provide a bit more complexity, but my sense is that this could use another 2-4 years of aging.

2/7/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

A much lighter and less acidic profile than I anticipated. A nice wine that could fill in for a Pinot Noir if needed.

2/6/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I just love this wine, which I think punches well above it's weight. Great to drink by itself, with light apps, or with a savory meal. A lot going on here for less than $20.

2/5/2024 - Kerosene wrote:

I didn’t find this overly thick or syrupy as some have described, but I also didn’t find much here to talk about, especially for a Argentinian Malbec. It’s certainly wasn’t unpleasant, but I’m glad I didn’t purchase it.

1/30/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Not much on the nose but a decently bold profile with soft tannins.

1/24/2024 - Kerosene wrote:

A bit too sweet for my taste in an otherwise nicely structured PS.

1/2/2024 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Whoa, much better than I anticipated. A lovely, powerful, well-integrated Syrah with just a pinch of pepper on the aftertaste. And that's just the first glass after a PNP. I'm so glad I have two more bottles!

12/30/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Quite a pleasant bottle, despite not being paired with the right dish, but a good weeknight wine.

12/25/2023 - Kerosene Does not like this wine:

I think that is one of the few petite sirahs that I haven’t liked. Overly acidic and tart, with not much going for it. I drank it through our Christmas dinner of 6-hour beef stew, but the bottle may remain unfinished. I purchased based on another CT reviewer, but it’s hard to believe this is the same wine.

Update: Two nights later I poured a final glass from the pumped bottle that was much less astringent, although there still isn't much to this wine, especially compared to the J. Lohr Tower Road PS that I tasted next to it.

12/18/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

A bit fruitier than 2018, but still a nice, inexpensive wine for a weeknight dinner.

12/15/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

This one surprised me a bit. I have never really appreciated Mendoza Cabs, but this one was substantial enough to interest me. I noted a sporadic hint of ethyl acetate during the PnP first glass, but it was fleeting and didn't reappear after the first glass. Finished the "pumped" bottle the next day, and while the flavors were better blended it had lost some of its uniqueness.

12/6/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

Whew, I certainly wouldn't call this a dry red wine, but it is more fruity than sickly sweet. The wife likes it but I'll just tolerate it for dinner (and open something better tomorrow!).

11/29/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

A big, rich red that simply coats your mouth. I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of this one.

11/16/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Tangy, with enough grapefruit to be balanced without going over-the-top.

10/30/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I thought that this was a fantastic bottle. The first glass in late afternoon was pretty good, but it improved in the open bottle over a few hours (until suddenly I had finished the entire bottle by myself!). Not quite a 96 as advertised, but excellent, especially at this price point.

10/21/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

Not as big as many Zins out there, but nicely balanced and suitable as a dinner wine or a pre-dinner sipper.

10/5/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I wasn't expecting that much based on the price and other CT reviews, but I thought this Napa Sangiovese over-delivered. It is not nearly as acidic as many Italian versions of this age, and has a nice balance and richness. Not much on the nose, and the aftertaste isn't as long as I'd like to see, but it went very nice with my tomato sauce-based dinner.

9/17/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

One of the better Malbecs I've enjoyed outside of high-end Argentinian restaurants!

9/16/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

This was a nice surprise for an inexpensive Rioja Crianza. A bit more complexity would have pumped up the rating into the low 90s, but this was a very pleasant and drinkable wine (Wine.com, $15).

9/1/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

PnP late evening. I can see why some people like this, but it is a bit too fruit-forward and cloying for my taste. Of course, that won't stop me from finishing the bottle tonight, but at this price-point I'll stick to Napa Cabs.

8/31/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

This exceeded my expectations, and even better, my 15 dinner guests really enjoyed the wine. Now, it's not a high-end Tempranillo, but the QPR is pretty incredible. I'll keep this in mind for weeknight dinners and larger celebrations.

8/25/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

Hmm, this didn't live up to the sole exalted rating, but it was decent, especially for its $29 price tag. I'll give my other bottles another year or more to see if it opens up a bit more.

8/19/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

A bit more fruit-forward than I typically like, but overall quite a nice showing. Wish I had waited a few more years to open.

7/29/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

This was a hit with everyone at our dinner party, both with apps and over dinner of huge grilled pork chops in a teriyaki/pineapple marinade. Lively on the tongue with a bright, fruity taste. I was surprised that it wasn't as acidic as I anticipated. I'll see if I have the discipline to save my remaining bottles for a few years.

7/17/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

Nice scent, with a very rich and luscious mouthfeel , but a bit tame aftertaste. Still, I would purchase again, especially at less than $20.

7/13/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

Not much going on with the nose, but the taste is certainly pleasant and works well as a weeknight wine.

7/4/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Enjoyed as a pleasant happy hour red.

6/19/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I found this to be a pleasant Tempranillo, perhaps lacking a bit on the perfume I enjoy on a higher quality Temp, and a bit astringent at first, but quite drinkable by itself.

6/18/2023 - Kerosene wrote:

Somewhat non-descript, with much less bouquet than I was anticipating, but certainly a balanced formulation. I certainly wouldn't purchase it again at $45/bottle.

5/29/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

A solid weeknight Cab that was gifted to me, but I'd consider buying for myself. What it lacks in bouquet and aftertaste it makes up for in mouthfeel and richness.

5/29/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I was a bit concerned after seeing some of the reviews, but I thought my first bottle (of two purchased) was quite refined and polished. I look forward to my second bottle in the next year or two.

5/16/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

I purchased in Healdsburg and found the taste profile interesting and unique. My bottle didn't disappoint. Very well structured and enticing.

4/19/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Fantastic weekday wine, though perhaps a bit sweeter and a smidge lighter than I gravitate to. Enjoyed with a dinner salad of spinach with roasted veggies and a bit of chicken, which it didn't overpower.

4/17/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Unable to properly decant, so had to make do with opening the bottle about 30 minutes before pouring. Consequently, the bouquet wasn't as expressive as I was hoping for. The tannins were certainly present but not intrusive, and everyone enjoyed the rich, silky taste (especially compared to the cheap Chilean Cab that was served during the party to a broader group!).

4/15/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Lovely weekday dinner wine or a porch-sipper on warmer days. Experienced a hint of secondary fermentation but it did not seem to impact the taste profile.

4/11/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Well integrated, rich and sultry. Lovely nose on the first pour. Tannins make themselves known but don't overpower. Perhaps a bit sweet on the aftertaste, but overall more of a "brooding" personality.

4/6/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Boy, I thought that this was a great wine, although I haven't had very many Barbaresco wines. Similar in weight to a Cali-Coast Pinot Noir, but with a bit more acidity and texture. I'll be bringing my other bottle to Easter dinner, as I can't see this wine maturing much more.

3/28/2023 - Kerosene Likes this wine:

Decent weekday dinner wine.