4/8/2018 - kain wrote:

To Matt

4/8/2018 - kain wrote:

Producer didn't release and refunded

4/8/2018 - kain wrote:

Producer didn't release and refunded

4/8/2018 - kain wrote:

Producer didn't release and refunded

4/8/2018 - kain wrote:

Producer didn't release and refunded

4/8/2018 - kain wrote:

Producer didn't release and refunded

6/5/2016 - kain wrote:

Paired well with Led Zeppelin.

7/21/2012 - kain wrote:

corked

11/20/2011 - kain wrote:

Tannin finally resolving. Fruit still there. Still has years but in a very nice place right now.

5/22/2010 - kain wrote:

Tried to go pop and pour but very disjointed with a clipped finished on opening. Decanted and set aside for a couple hours while it warmed up and settled down. After a couple hours we couldn't wait any longer. Lots going on. Black olive, cabbage, lush black fruit, wonderful balance and complexity with a long finish. The finish never came all the way around compared to other tastings but I'm not complaining.

4/20/2010 - kain wrote:

I liked this much better than the '95. Chewier tannins and less prune/raisin on the palate. Just didn't seem nearly as mature where the '95 seemed to be headed down the other side of the hill.

3/14/2010 - kain Likes this wine:

Really well balanced. A little Cayuse funk, some green flavors, good black fruits. Still has a few years ahead of it but seemed to start to fall apart and become disjointed at about the 5 hour mark.

FWIW: This is generally my least favorite Cayuse bottling

2/19/2010 - kain wrote:

The wine was well made; good color and clarity without alcohol or oak sticking out but meh... One dimensional generic red fruit. Just seemed muddled and non-descript. As Mark C wrote the structure is bigger than the fruit profile

2/15/2010 - kain wrote:

Still a big wine. Anise, cassis, white pepper. Good balance and well integrated tannins. As other have noted the Cab Franc component stands out. Drinking very nice now but still has years ahead of it.

2/1/2010 - kain wrote:

Nice. Bright acidity with granny smith apple, and asian pear. Nothing complicated here but a very solid room pleaser.

9/3/2009 - kain wrote:

Very nice. Bright fruit and no heat, well integrated tannins ready to drink now. Paired with a Morrocan spiced Brick Chicken and roasted potatoes.

9/1/2009 - kain wrote:

A little sweet for palate but a very nice wine. Paired very well with shiraz braised pork butt and mashed potatoes.

5/14/2009 - kain wrote:

From 375. No real notes. Soft, round, oaky, nice mouthfeel. Generally pleasant but nothing particularly special.

3/16/2009 - kain wrote:

Past it's prime but very drinkable. Dusty, prunish nose. Fig, leather, portish taste. Decent length finish. Picked this bottle up at auction so I have no idea how it was stored but the fill was good and the wine was within my expectations so I'll assume good storage.

3/2/2009 - kain wrote:

at under $20 an excellent value

2/14/2009 - kain wrote:

Still tannic and a little hot. Corked and put on the counter for 4 days. Fruit stuck around and the tannins backed off some. I don't think the tannins are ever going to fully resolve themselves with any fruit left and as noted by others the alcohol isn't going to help the balance. That being said I'm looking forward to giving this another shot in 3-5 years...

12/29/2008 - kain wrote:

Really hot on opening, calmed down after an hour in th glass. Found it a bit candied and sweet. Was hoping for more earth and less fruit. Still young though and I didn't take formal notes.

10/30/2008 - kain wrote:

Nice fruit core of plums and figs without the stewed flavor I sometimes get with those fruits. A little smoke and some minerality. The wine is dark, thick and sweet and is a better cocktail than dinner companion. I was a bit surprised I liked this as much as I did having seen the other reviews here; perhaps I've been drinking too many lighter bodied wines lately and needed a little kick of something bigger. Drank over 6 hours

8/6/2008 - kain wrote:

Pop and pour after some rather rich wines. Found this to be very green (even for Cab Franc) and it was not liked around the table. I came back to it several hours later and the green tones had calmed quite a bit. Next time decant for a couple of hours or pair with appropriate food.

7/23/2008 - kain wrote:

Licorice and a subtle floral aroma. Tastes of licorice, raspberry liqueur and bramble. Hides the 15.1% alcohol very well. Balanced, sweet, tasty. Still has a few years ahead of it as well.

7/15/2008 - kain wrote:

Pop and pour. As MagnumGourmet noted it starts very green but that mellows out over a couple of hours. I did find that the fruit came through with time although the green elements, bell pepper, tomato leaf and celery stick around. Personally, I like the green elements in Cab Franc and that is why I buy it. This has very good varietal character but I don't think it is for everyone.

6/16/2008 - kain wrote:

Bottled in 2004. Light and clear in appearance. Nice nose of hazlenut, cherry and dried prune. Tastes of honey, golden raisins and hint of dried cherry. Very enjoyable as I wanted just a taste and found myself going back for "just a little more" several times.

4/20/2008 - kain wrote:

First older riesling for me. Granny Smith apple, a little petrol. The acidity makes it seem much younger than it is.

4/10/2008 - kain wrote:

Floral nose + pear. Taste of pear, apple, and mango. soft medium finish.

2/15/2008 - kain wrote:

Floral, anise, red fruit and gravel nose. Garrigue, tart raspberry, good acidity, tannins still very much in play. Finish a little clipped. It's not going to be one of the best wines you've ever tasted but I wish I had purchased more. Some time in bottle should mellow the tannin and the balance is there for this to be a good wine for several more years. Try again in 2010.

2/6/2008 - kain wrote:

The nose (cedar, red fruit and something floral) is much better than the palate (red current, tobacco, a bit astringent/vegetal with firm, integrated tannins and good acidity). I don't think is going to get any better but there is certainly nothing wrong with it now and I would guess it will drink well for a couple more years. A very good wine and excellent QPR.

1/11/2008 - kain wrote:

Still young (I'll save the last bottle I have of this vintage for at least another 2 years). Decanted and drank over 3 hours. Nice fruit from the Merlot and Syrah, backbone from the Cab Sav and tobacco/tomato leaf component from the Cab Franc. A well put together wine.

8/25/2007 - kain wrote:

Good varietal character, and well balanced with good acidity. Went well with charred ribeye.

4/27/2007 - kain wrote:

I'd have to agree with Pickhardt. Nothing exciting but nothing to complain about either.

11/23/2006 - kain wrote:

50+8+12+10+8=88

5/5/2006 - kain wrote:

Strawberry syrup. Just sweet, none of the spice or depth I expect from a Zin.

3/12/2006 - kain wrote:

I love this wine. The soft tannins of the Champoux vineyard mke this wine accessible at a young age. Good balance and structure.

2/16/2006 - kain wrote:

Very dark. Strong with dark fruits; blackberry, black cherry and under-ripe plum (Claire's term). Soft but very present tannins. Long finish. Too tight for me in the first couple of hours but started to open up at about 3 hours and drank quite nicely at about 6 hours in the decanter. I'll be buying a couple more bottles and laying them down for about 3 years before I try again...

2/14/2006 - kain wrote:

Well balanced and integrated. Medium finish. Opened up quite nicely over 6 hours.

1/25/2006 - kain wrote:

Very good wine at any price

1/7/2006 - kain wrote:

Too early. Very tannic straight from the bottle with no breath time. My first Petite Sirah so maybe I don't know anything... Wife first thought (as a blind tasting) very young Zin that needed both aging and decanting.

10/21/2005 - kain wrote:

Didn't hold up well to air at all. If you have a bottle, drink it now. First glass was very good, subsequent glasses (within the hour) lost anything special and this became just a very drinkable wine.

10/17/2005 - kain wrote:

Needs another 2-3 years