2/2/2024 - VinZen wrote:

Gifted to Chris North

9/10/2023 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Had the bouquet of an old wine but the color was bright and exceptionally clear. Medium light body with notes of stone fruit and cedar. Amazing showing for a 41 year old wine.

3/25/2023 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Dusky, with notes of cedar log and truffle and macadamia.

3/7/2023 - VinZen Likes this wine:

This is a very pleasant wine, exhibiting all of the region’s best qualities, with great structure and balance, and an intoxicating bouquet to boot. It has amazing caramel and jammy notes cradled in an ethereally light body. I could drink this without caution or reservation. (uh-oh) We enjoyed this with a pan-fried salmon laid on top of a bed of farro, asparagus, capers, garlic and chopped red peppers. Match made in French Heaven. Igor, go dig me up another case!

12/31/2022 - VinZen Likes this wine:

New year’s eve 2023

9/17/2022 - VinZen Likes this wine:

This was a jeroboam bottle purchased at auction in 2015, and the guest of honor at a dinner party we hosted with several wine-loving friends tonight. Decanted and began to sample immediately after opening. Color was inky purple-black. Nose was faintly floral and ripe with fruit. The fruit forward impression carried forward into the initial tasting, with hints of blackberry and fig lingering on the palate. Well balanced, soft tannins, not oaky at all. Had plenty of time to experience the wine’s evolution over several hours, with more nuanced flavors of plum, cherry and chocolate appearing late in the game. It still seemed like a young wine with plenty of room to grow into its full potential. I’m a convert to the magic of large format bottles.

2/6/2022 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Deep purple, almost black color. Hints of cedar and fig in the nose, and maybe buttered toast? Smoked oysters, raspberry and bitter chocolate flavors mellow into a toffee finish with a truffle kick.

12/31/2021 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Thick plasma scarlet color. Candied raisin and banana nose. Hints of buttered toast and salted almonds with a plum finish. Nice companion for our NYE dinner chateaubriand.

12/19/2021 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Black cherry nose. Dark chocolate, plum, nasturtium flavors fade to a chalky finish. An appropriately rustic example of Cab Franc.

12/11/2021 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Flinty nose followed by dominant pear notes with apple and lemon playing backup. Grapefruit emerges on the finish.
This is a great wine at this price point. I need to rush back and pick up a half case.

11/7/2021 - VinZen wrote:

Wonderful nose of blackberry and plum. Vanilla, cherry, and raspberry flavors bridge to an almond and hazelnut finish. An inspired red blend that demands dark chocolate company.

10/8/2021 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Dense red color. Licorice and plum nose. Light body with firm tannins. Notes of vanilla bean and coffee followed by black cherry and olive.
Enjoyed with a simple meal of Italian sausage with tortellini and ragu sauce. A charming country wine for a weekday dinner. Light, aromatic, with engaging flavors.

8/15/2021 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Deep crimson color to the edge of the glass. Raspberry and orange rind nose. First notes are brown sugar, salt, licorice. Medium body and soft tannins. Cedar appears on the bridge to a caramel and black cherry finish. Very decent cab for the price point.

5/16/2021 - VinZen wrote:

Our last bottle from our first futures buy, 23 years ago. Clearly presents as an old wine with fading tannins. But the initial flavors from our original barrel tasting still shine through; cherry, licorice, and dark chocolate. But there is now a nuance of pear and plum appearing on the finish, and nasturtium. All in all, one of the most memorable wine buys, and experiences, of our wine journey.

12/24/2020 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Pulled out for Christmas Eve dinner. Tasted a splash out of the bottle then decanted and left to breathe for an hour. Magnificent partner for our duck breasts. Smoke and cedar nose. Cherry, vanilla and buttered toast with a carob finish. I should have bought a case.

9/4/2020 - VinZen wrote:

Pulled this dusty bottle out from the back of the cellar. What a delight! Still solid and rich with stone fruit flavors and robust tannins to balance. A commemorative bottle from B. Leighton that does its honor proud. Thank you to the winery for this treasure to enjoy on my birthday.

8/10/2020 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Epic wines need to be drunk, not cellared forever. This one would have been great 10 years from now, but maybe not me. So, mesmerizing deep purple hue with a rosy edge. Overripe black cherry nose with lilac notes. Massive tannins tempered with vanilla and caramel undertones, black licorice and swisher sweets on the finish, in good way. Sigh, it’s gone now.

5/31/2020 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Inky color with violet edge in the glass. Dusky nose with hints of cardamon and cinnamon. Notes of tobacco and buttered toast give way to vanilla and sour cherry and dark chocolate on the finish. Tamarack’s take on the rusticity of the cab franc variety is spot on with a unique signature that is all their own.

3/27/2020 - VinZen Likes this wine:

A delightful affirmation of what pinot can be, and what Domain Drouhin can do with it. Rich stone fruit flavors conveyed on a delicate structure with notes of limestone. This is why I spend money on wine.

12/22/2019 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Oaky withey apricot and peach notes and citrus scents. Graham cracker finish.

11/23/2019 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Big butterscotch rush on the first sip. Raspberry and blueberry bouquet on the subsequent sniff. Graham cracker and stogie rise to build the arc of impression. Velvet chocolate finish in the end. Or at least, kismet.

9/28/2019 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Good sub for a pinot noir when facing salmon. Dry, lots of stone fruit and terroir. Light but firm body with a dusty finish.

2/18/2019 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Deep purple color and a big fruity nose. Immediately impresses with its complexity and balance. Hints of plum, licorice, fig and bitter chocolate open things up with a slow fade to nasturtiums and almonds. It’s a pantry in a glass!

2/2/2019 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Blackberry and cinnamon nose. Currants, raspberries and caramel notes come through in the sips with a brown sugar finish. Oh the charms of a well made Syrah. Life affirming, pleasure validating, and truly enjoyable. More please.

9/22/2018 - VinZen Likes this wine:

This 20 year old reserve cabernet is still well structured and engaging. The vibrant cherry notes we tasted in the barrel are muted but still present, along with pepper, fig, and cedar.

4/7/2018 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Transparent ruby color. Cedar, pepper and caramel notes in the nose. Hints of pistachios, portobello and butterscotch on the palate. Light body but not out of range for the variety. The mineral terroir comes through in the finish with chalk and granite bite softened by a vanilla coda. Fun, fun, fun in the Willamette sun.

3/10/2018 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Smoke and licorice nose. Cedar and truffle notes give way to black cherry and butterscotch and a dark chocolate finish. Every bit the contender for the medium rare steak.

2/4/2018 - VinZen wrote:

Flat iron steak with potato ragu and peas. The wine has an American Beauty rose halo in the glass. Scents of cedar, anise, and single malt on the nose fade into a caramel and dried cherry finish. The steak and this fine wine cry out for a rare stogie but alas, not to be.

11/26/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Crimson hue with a dusty rose ring. Black cherry and blackberry nose. Cedar funk and butterscotch vanilla with a buttered toast and almond paste and bitter chocolate finish.

10/22/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Oh man, this is big. Inky color wit a violet edge. Heavy blackberry nose with a hint of cedar. Dark chocolate, dried prune, mushroom and vanilla flavors. My steak is getting cold as I linger with this fetching beauty. Oh wait, a black licorice coda! My wino life is validated once again.

9/17/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Brilliant ruby clarity with an amber edge. Slight cedar and caramel nose. Beef, chalk, and toffee flavors with an anise note on the finish.

8/13/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

The light, semi-sweet character of Cotes du Rhone was the perfect match to the sweet weight of the dried fruit meat loaf and spuds. The underlying earthiness of the wine lent meaning to the loaf, elevating our modest entree to heavenly delight. Vice la France.

7/21/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Found at the back of our cellar. Presented amazing richness and balance after all these years. Savored over a couple of weeks after dinner with shortbread cookies and other desserts.
Dense plum and blackberry nose that carries through in the flavors and finish. An impressive achievement.

7/16/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Scents of freshly cut cedar bark and blackberry. B
Flavors of sea salt caramel and cherry smoked beef jerky with a black licorice finish.

6/11/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Inky black color with crimson edge.Cedar bark and dried plum nose. Even stronger cedar bark tannins on the palate with blueberry and black cherry flavors close behind. Bacon on the finish with a trace of cigar to make it manly. I definitely will be looking into future vintages.

6/9/2017 - VinZen wrote:

Indigo color with a purple edge. Scents of plum and moss precede bitter chocolate, raspberry, and blackberry flavors with a faint licorice and caramel finish.

5/22/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Flavors of cinnamon and cedar with a sweet black licorice finish.

5/12/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Inkai black with soft purple edge. Dusty plum and fit nose with scents of blackberry. Hints of caramel. buttered waffle, sea salt, and orange rind with a faint licorice finish. The solid tannins gently release the varied character of the vintage.

5/13/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Inky black color with a soft purple edge. Dusty plum and fig nose with a whiff of blackberry. Hints of caramel, buttered waffles, sea salt, and orange rind with a faint licorice finish. The solid tannins gently release the engaging character over the life of the bottle.

5/7/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Kind of like a combination of a pinot noir and a cabernet Franc. Lots of terroir and tannin but light bodied. An engaging wine at a good price point.

4/8/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Deep, rich and smoky with pronounced stone fruit and a touch of tobacco.

3/17/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Dusky rouge color. Cedar and blackberry nose with hints of cherry pie. Solid tar and tannins at the fore with black licorice, fried buttered brioche, and cigar flavors emerging on the palate, fading to wet stone. A successful result from the unique blend of merlot, petite verdot, tempranillo, and cabs franc and sauvignon.

3/11/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Medium body, big tannins, and berries galore. A great Rhone red for our stir fry and flank steak.

3/10/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Wonderful light rustic red blend paired with Korean pork tenderloin. Ripe cherry and plum nose. Delicate cherry and apricots flavors with a blackberry finish. Moderate tannins balance it out. Looking forward to the next bottle from the cellar.

3/5/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

FLWD is a bit harsh. This is atypical for a merlot, more akin to the weight and character of a pinot. The label extols 'aromas of sweet berry and tangy cherry' and there is truth in that advertising. For me the wine's simple, light fruit structure was a perfect companion to our BBQ baby back ribs. Not sure I would seek it out again but for the $6 introductory Wine Insiders price, I'm a satisfied customer.

3/4/2017 - VinZen wrote:

Dark inky color, chocolate and plum nose.with hints of black cherry. Bitter chocolate first flavor followed with cigar, leather, steak and other robust tannic flavors. A butterscotch-graham coda seals the deal. Love it.

3/3/2017 - VinZen wrote:

Fresh, crisp, and fruity with flavors of pear and apricot and a caramel finish.

2/18/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Bright golden color. Pear and caramel nose with notes of crisp apple and cinnamon. Flavors of graham, caramel corn, butterscotch, sour cherry and brown sugar come together with a bourbon bitters finish. Good balance and a great pairing with the richness of the smoked salmon and butter cream sauce.

2/17/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Medium red color with pale edge. Blueberry nose with scents of cedar and cola caramel. Flavors of pepper, black cherry, buttered rye toast with a rusted iron finish.

2/14/2017 - VinZen Likes this wine:

Indigo color with blue edge. Charcoal nose with dank cedar moss funk. Sour cherry and prune notes with bitter chocolate, vanilla and butterscotch flavors ending with a graham finish. A remarkable Washington Malbec.