1/11/2024 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of wines with past due drink by dates. i had opened this bottle a month or two ago but was unable to finish it. no formal notes. leftover wine was stored in the bottle with no preservation methods used. had the remaining wine today. the wine still offered pleasurable drinking. dark color. rustic nose and mouthfeel. earth and bramble. a hint of brown licorice. substantial sediment in the last glass. this wine appears to be indestructible.

12/1/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. no formal notes. i agree with notes from other ct members that this wine is not offer either quality or qpr comparable to previous vintages of this product. although it is pleasant and enjoyable, there is nothing to make it stand out as anything other than an every day drinker. will attend to remaining bottles over the next six months.

7/18/2022 - bacchus wrote:

brought this to semolina restaurant. shared with pat. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i had overlooked this bottle since we don't drink dessert wine often and there were no recent notes from other ct members. unfortunately, we were unhappy with the menu, the service and the attitude of the waitress so the atmosphere was not pleasant. also, marty was unhappy with some of the other wine i had brought. he was losing patience and wanted to leave. i had a few rushed sips before hastily leaving the restaurant as they let us know that they needed the table. the wine was quite oxidized but still enjoyable. bee's wax color. honeysuckle flavor. surely, this wine would have been more vibrant and enjoyable some years ago. marty declined his share as he stated that he does not enjoy sweet wine.

12/30/2023 - bacchus wrote:

this bottle got dropped from the radar due to a failure to record its location in the cellar. i discovered the bottle accidentally while processing another bottle. i decided to pop and pour due to possible longevity issues. shared with pat at selkirk manor as part of holiday season festivities. the wine proved to be in sound condition. generous fragrant nose. prominent spice notes which i don't usually associate with pinot noir. i also taste usual dark cherry and raspberry notes. the wine develops and fills out with air. this observation together with firm structure suggests that this wine has the potential to develop and improve further. a remarkable showing, considering that this is a half bottle. need to look for more recent vintages from this producer.

1/1/2024 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor to celebrate new years day. this wine was off the radar for three reasons. 1. lack of feedback from other members. 2. poorly defined storage location. 3. sentimental reasons as this wine was served at ellen's wedding. this bottle was purchased for the wedding but not served. i performed a dilligent search to locate this bottle as i was concerned about longevity issues. the wine proved to be in sound condition. color is a little more golden than last time. slight hint of oxidation but not to the extent that it impacted negatively on the tasting experience. paired with florida stone crab from Best Stone Crab and California caviar (kaluga hybrid reserve) from Imperia Caviar. overall taste impressions similiar to last time, summarized as follows: the wine continues to hold up well and even appears to be improving a bit. fragrant nose. abundant tiny bubbles. flavor profile consistent with my favored style. nice notes of lemon, yeast and walnut. some mineral notes which tend to overtake the fruit. nevertheless, still very enjoyable. medium weight although it had added some since last tasting. lingering finish.

10/7/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. the wine proved to be in sound condition. a remarkable showing for a nine year old california chard. the pale color does not create an expectation regarding how substantial the wine proved to be on the nose and the palate. generous flavor profile featuring yellow apple and some nutty/yeast aspects. made in a clean style with no buttery influences. enough acid to hold things together. medium body and finish. will enjoy the remaining bottle soon.

3/1/1973 - bacchus wrote:

another bottle shared with pat and our new friends, norman and elaine. impressions are the same as when tasted last month. see previous note from 2/1/1973. i remember breaking at least one orrefors glass as the stem was so thin that it could withstand even the slightest pressure. the wine itself was memorable. the dead horse decorates the cellar.

2/1/1973 - bacchus wrote:

served at our ocean parkway apartment 14-L. sbared with pat, norman and elaine. this note is being written after the fact. this goes back to the earliest days of our adventure with wine. 1967 was not considered to be the best of years but it was readily available on the market. the price of $10/bottle represented 10% of my weekly salary, so it was quite a splurge. at that time, there was not much information available regarding longevity/ideal drinking windows. so, it was an impulsive pop and pour to share with our new friends. i remember the wine showing beautifully despite it's youth. this is one of the few wines for which i still have a sense memory of its nose and palate characteristics. the wine is quintessential bordeaux cab. it presence with elegance, finesse, balance and vinosity. i wish that i had saved one bottle to enjoy now as i can no longer afford to buy wine of this calabre.

11/24/2023 - bacchus wrote:

brought this bottle to clarizios italian ristorante in freehod. shared with pat, marty and sandy. i selected this bottle to pair with the cuisine which turned out to work well. served with main course selections ranging from salmon to pasta to veal. i had promised marty an older wine that was still in its prime drinking range which proved to be the case. as per the recent tasting note from another member, i gave the bottle one hour of air before serving. the wine showed beautifully. sangio nose leaps out of the glass. complex red fruits on the palate. acid and tannin nearly resolved. everything in perfect balance. enjoyed by all. although both have their charms, i prefer the 2008 to the 2009. will try to be paitent and wait awhile before opening my last bottle.

11/24/2023 - bacchus wrote:

brought to clariios italian ristorante in freehold. shared with pat, marty and sandy. served with appetizers. the wine is no longer shy and has come together nicely. complex flavor profile consisting of white peach, lemon, walnut, butterscotch. ample acidity holding things together. i believe that the wine is in its prime now although it probably has a few good years left. this is still on the shelf at my favorite retailer. thinking of taking it all.

12/13/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i selected this bottle to drink while participating in an adam lee zoom meeting devoted to a discussion of recent sta. rita hills vintages. i was first introduced to this producer at a pinot festival held at city winery about ten years ago. i almost passed it up because of the modest exhibit table with no other tasters at the table. since the lines at more well known producers were intolerable, i took advantage of the situation and feel most fortunate to have done so. tonite's bottle offered a wonderful experience, which brought back fond memories of the initial mmoment of discovery, this is probably the second best pinot which i have had coming from this ava and among the top five in my overall experience. the bottle has an impressive wax capsule. this wine was in a perfect state of evolution. well balanced, with all elements in harmony. tannins fully resolved. flavor profile dominated by bright red cherry fruit. medium body and finish. i need to look at more recent vintages.

12/25/2023 - bacchus wrote:

second of two bottles brought to elena and sal to pair with christmas dinner. i selected this wine because i needed two of a kind and a recent note suggested that the wine was in serious decline. reviewing notes from other members over the past few years reveals widely variant opinions regarding longevity. this bottle proved to be far from moribund. a few minutes of air were needed to blow off slight bottle funk and reveal the true nature of the wine which impressed with a substantial upward crescendo. strong tannins present but they do not overwhelm the generous fruit flavors including dark red skin fruit such as plum and blackberry. fulll bodied in the mouth. long finish. the wine continued to show well the following day, suggesting that it still has some further longevity. the wine was enjoyed by myself, pat, mario, elena and giuseppe.

12/25/2023 - bacchus wrote:

first of two bottles brought to elena and sal to pair with christmas dinner. i selected this wine because i needed two of a kind and a recent note suggested that the wine was in serious decline. reviewing notes from other members over the past few years reveals widely variant opinions regarding longevity. this bottle proved to be far from moribund. a few minutes of air were needed to blow off slight bottle funk and reveal the true nature of the wine which impressed with a substantial upward crescendo. strong tannins present but they do not overwhelm the generous fruit flavors including dark red skin fruit such as plum and blackberry. fulll bodied in the mouth. long finish. the wine continued to show well the following day, suggesting that it still has some further longevity. the wine was enjoyed by myself, pat, mario, elena and giuseppe.

11/18/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. although there was no recent feedback from other members i was holding on to this bottle due to parker's projected longevity. the wine proved to be in sound condition and appears to be showing at its best. lots of cherry notes, other dark fruits and earthyness. a hint of sweetness. nice body. strong finish. glad to have enjoyed this wine at its peak. i discovered this producer at a pinot fest held at city winery ten years ago. i have been on the winery's allocation list since then and have purchased several other vintages. i have not made any recent purchases. i need to get back on the bandwagon.

12/2/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i had been exercising benign neglect due to disappointing showings of this wine in the past. paired with sirloin burgers from Supreme. after tasting three less than stellar bottles in the past, finally, an enjoyable bottle. wish i could figure out whether it took all this time for the wine to come around or whether there is just significant bottle variation. despite having been stored properly, the cork was dried out and shattered upon extractioin with some remnants adhering to the bottle. had to use sieve when pouring to avoid cork fragments entering the glass. the wine showed beautifully. very fragrant. fully resolved acid and tannin. mediium body. medium finish. builds a little with air. does not go down hill. will enjoy remaining bottles over the next few months.

4/5/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to pull bottles with past due drink by dates. the wine showed remarkably well; especially considering that this was a half bottle (375 ml). we paired with Omaha burgers. the wine showed with weet cherry notes. Youthful but ready to go. the wine can probably maintain a steady state for a while.

11/10/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. the wine showed well and proved to be in soud condition. no formal notes. a little bit jammy but not annoyingly so. a better than average california cabernet. there is no need to make haste when deciding to enjoy the next bottle. another WTSO winner.

10/14/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i had failed to incorporate the note that appeared 2/2023. the wine was better than i expected it to be. a good example of bordeaux superior but nothing extraordinary. at this price point, there are better wines from other areas. while the wine is enjoyable, i do not find the nuances described by other writers. it presents in a straight forward manor. dark fruit, tannin and acid are well balanced suggesting that the wine is intended to be consumed upon release.

7/9/2023 - bacchus wrote:

brought this bottle to whispers restaurant in spring lake. shared the bottle with pat, marty and sandy. whispers is one of marty's favorite restaurants and pinotnoir is his favorite varietal. i was anxious to introduce him to this product. in the past, we have shared other wines from gary's vineyard but this one is a notch or two above the others. the wine was enjoyed by all at the table. it presents as an iron fist in a velvet glove. aroma bursts into the air upon opening. generous mouth feel. firm but silky grip. lots of cherry and other dark stone fruit. long finish. will benefit from another year or two of bottle age.

11/3/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. my notes had projected drinking a bottle last spring but my attention was focused on other things. it is now nine years since the vintage and the wine continues to show very well. still vibrant. i continue to get mostly green apple notes with generous acidity. i love wines from this area and this one is an excellent example. another WTSO winner. the wine seems to be fully mature. will enjoy remaining bottles soon.

10/11/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. celebrating my birthday. this product is made by steven kent (m.) i received this bottle in trade for an m. family heirloom. there was no information available regarding longevity. but since this bottle had been in the cellar for several years, i did not want to take a chance. the occasion called for bubbles and the nostalgic aspect of how it as acquired added to the romance of the evening. this bottle is listed as a rose but the color is just faintly pink suggesting minimal skin contact. a very refreshing and enjoyable wine. would look for this again but i don't believe it is widely marketed.

9/15/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. celebrating natioinal granache day. selected this bottle because it was close at hand. no formal notes. a little bit on the sweet side but in a good way. this is well made wine with a lot of stuffing. very enjoyable now, but it will most certainly improve with additional bottle age. will try to be patient while waiting to open the next bottle.

10/27/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no feedback from other sources. decided to open a bottle based upon my previous tasting note. the wine continues to show well with characteristics much the same as last time. generous typical dark cherry fruit. luxurious mouth feel. improves with air. i think this will continue to develop with another year or two of bottle age.

11/19/2023 - bacchus wrote:

this wine was served at the 45th induction ceremony and induction dinner of the Garden State Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs held at the Ryland Inn. the wine was paired with the dessert course which consisted of majari chocolate bombe, cranberry yuzu, lime marshmallow, ginger graham, champagne-gin gelee. this experience was unusual for two reasons. i don,t recall ever having had a sparkling red before. and, at first glance, although i know that some people do, i would not think of having a red wine with chocolate. as it turns out, the wine being made in a sweet style made it work perfectly. and the bubbles added additional excitement to the most creative dessert we have ever had. overall a delicious product which sells at a very reasonable price. a wonderful ending to a glorious evening.

11/19/2023 - bacchus wrote:

this wine was "discovered" by George Staikos who selected it to be served at the 45th induction ceremony and induction dinner of the Garden State Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs held at the Ryland Inn. the wine was paired with organic semolina radiatore pasta, parmesan, wild mushrooms, pancetta, toasted brioche breadcrumbs. the wine showed well and proved to be a suitable pairing which complemented the heartiness of the dish. the wine was youthful and although it showed good balance, the bold structure suggests that it will improve with more time in bottle. for me, this is a 90 point wine. however, i am giving it an extra point because it is an unusual blend coming from an american winery. a bit pricey, but perhaps worth it due to the uniqueness of the experience that it offers.

11/19/2023 - bacchus wrote:

this wine was served at the 45th induction ceremony and induction dinner of the Garden State Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs held at the Ryland Inn. paired with grilled hawaiian head-on prawns; acorn squash agrodolce, frisee, red watercress; toasted anson mills grain, macadamia nut puree; golden raisin-chamomile vinaigrette. very pale color. had to give it a nose test to make sure there was wine in the glass and not water. prominent grapefruit notes on the nose and the palate. i have not tasted grapefruit in many years due to health issues. the profile of this wine reminds me of when a was served grapefruit as a child which was customarily topped with sugar. as a pairing, this did not work well for me as it clashed with the herbaceousness of the food. the wine would have been more enjoyable in a different context, either as an aperitif or perhaps with a waldorf salad.

11/19/2023 - bacchus wrote:

this wine was served at the 45th induction ceremony and induction dinner of the Garden State Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs held at the Ryland Inn. served during reception with passedh'ordeuvres, including foie torchon & muscat grape jam, pumpernickel, caraway; mushroom tart tatin, vincotto; serrano ham and sherry caramelized figs; lucky liome oysters and smoked trout roe. when tasting this wine i thought that it was slightly oxidized. after reading tasting notes from others, i realize that this was actually a hazlenut component. very dry style. frothy bubbles which dissipate quickly. an unusual but interesting and pleasant sparkler which served as a good pairing with the food.

11/19/2023 - bacchus wrote:

this wine was served at the 45th induction ceremony and induction dinner of the Garden State Bailliage of the Chaine des Rotisseurs held at the Ryland Inn. Winery owner, Pinto Naravane was at the table. the wine was paired with ribeye crown roast, potatoes a la boulangere, mustard greens, roasted garlic, wild foraged mushrooms and horseradish-charred leek chimichurri. the wine showed well on its own and also paired with the food. the wine was young but enjoyable. 78% cabernet sauvignon and 12% merlot. lots of dark fruit on the nose and the palatte. firm structure. medium body. mellow tannin. medium finish. this wine will improve with more time in the bottle.

9/22/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. paired with fish from metropolitan seafood. no formal notes. an enjoyable wine although it did not show as well as when we tasted at point of purchase. drink up.

8/21/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no formal notes. the wine proved to be in sound condition. needed some air to open up. full bodied, generous fruit, good structure, long finish. i am generally not a zin/primitivo fan but this wine is the exception. a great wine. and, of course, it evokes fond memories of having met george several times at stage left. this wine is at its peak and should continue to show well a while longer.

7/21/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared this bottle with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. decided to open this bottle in accordance with daniel posner's longevity estimate. current abbreviated impressions- golden color but young and vibrant. Rich mineral, lemon and wet stone. this wine is indestructible. impressions are essentially the same as previous tastings over the past four years. i quote, "this bottle has the same golden straw color as last time which is consistent with the idea that its progression to maturity is proceeding at a slow pace. the wine is in sound condition and still shows lots of fruit on the nose. fills the mouth from cheek to cheek with stone fruit. a hint of hazelnut as well. some gravel in the background. the wine remains fresh and clean. no oiliness. 5 second finish. i love this wine. i love it more than the professional critics. it is probably my favorite vire-clesse. glad i have more which i will drink over the next year or two. need to seek out its big brother (bongran).

8/13/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of wines with past due drink by dates. was hanging onto this bottle as a memento of when we served the wine at ellen's wedding. no formal notes today. see previous tasting notes for more information regarding my tasting imipressions. today, the wine is still enjoyable but is starting to show some age as reflected in a hint of oxidation. will drink the remaining bottle at the next festive occasion which should be soon. will take detailed notes at that time.

7/8/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no formal notes, except to say that this was an enjoyable bottle. haven't had many wines from washington state so i don't have much to compare this with. also, this is a blend of cab. sauv., syrah, merlot, malbec and petit verdot. (percentages not specified), so, that makes this somewhat unique. in any event, the wine was enjoyable and held up well to a steak dinner. i had not noticed robinson suggested longevity before opening this bottle. in hindsight, i believe that this could have gone the extra mile.

6/24/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. this is a wine that marty s. and I first tasted at Novita. Marty i did not purchase at that time. marty gifted this bottle to me in 2017 when visiting the house. i was holding on to it to share with him on a subsequent occasion as i knew that he liked the wine better than i did. somehow, the opportunity to do that in a timely manner never came about as i know that he prefers to drink his wines early in their development. additionally, the wine got "lost in the cellar" due to lack of feedback from others. i decided to drink this bottle without him as i feared it might be teetering. no formal notes. although chateauneuf is not my favorite region, this bottle showed well and appears to be a credible example of its type. marty is most likely attracted to the sweetness in this wine which, for me, detracts from the enjoyability of the tasting experience. all things considered, i believe that this wine is at its apogee and should be consumed soon.

7/14/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no formal notes except to say that the wine is holding up well; far beyond pro review suggested drinking range. we are partial to the wines from d'abruzzo, particularly the montepulciano. this is a nice example of what a white wine grape from the region can produce. will take more careful notes when drinking the next bottle which we will enjoy soon.

8/4/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of wines with past due drink by dates. no formal notes except to say that this was a very enjoyable bottle. see previous note for flavor profile. the wine seems to have put on some weight since last tasting. i was staying conservative with my drink by date due to lack of feedback from others. wish i had read the back label winemaker suggested drinking range of 2021 to 2024. in hindsight, i probably would have waited a little longer to see how much further the wine might develop. proud to be a wvv stock holder. i guess this adds a little to brand loyalty although i think i am being objective.

7/28/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. no formal notes but the description on the back label rings true. a better than average cali chard, especially at this price point. i like it better than the critics. it has held up well still showing vibrancy and energy, although it is rather light bodied.

9/10/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. the occasion called for bubbles. we were celebrating pat's birthday. we tasted this last november at cree wine company tasting event. i was curious to see how it was doing. paired with kaluga hybrid caviar from imperia served on crackers with cucumber and cream cheese along with garden salad. after this, enjoyed with spanish goat cheese. i have never had a cremant de bourgogne before so i have nothing to compare this with. if tasted blind, i might have mistakenly identified it as a being produced in the champagne region. However, although there is some yeast evident, it idoes not have the intensity that a true champagne would offer and which I enjoy so much. nevertheless, the wine presents well with persistent bubbles. pale straw color. fresh and lively. a burst of green apple fruit and strong acidic backbone. short finish. the wine became a bit harsh with air. best enjoyed soon after opening. next time will pair with shellfish. plan to go back to the vendor for more.

8/26/2023 - bacchus wrote:

i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i also saw an unfavorable note from another ct member. brought this along on vacation at minerals resort. shared with pat in the condo. paired with shrimp, garden salad and asiago cheese. this bottle proved to be in sound condition. no evidence of oxidation. pale straw color. flavor profile is less pronounced than when we tasted this in 2021. nevertheless, i still pick up notes of tropical and citrus fruits. would buy again.

6/18/2023 - bacchus wrote:

i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i brought this bottle to father's day celebration being hosted by mario and aurora. i had served this wine at giuliana's baptism and thought that it would be fun to serve again for her 7th birthday which we were also celebrating a week early. apparently, i had foolishly neglected this wine as a strong oxidative component indicates that i kept the wine too long. mario removed the bottle from the table. i managed to put down a few sips. wine did not improve. will use the balance of this botte for deglazing. will attend to remaining bottles very soon. hope to have better luck.

7/14/2022 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. this bottle had been shipped in error by WTSO and got lost in the cellar. this wine flew below the radar with no info available from internet sources or other ct members. i don't know what inspired me to celebrate bastille day with an italian wine, but, it is what it is. this note is being written one year after the fact. unable to recall details. fortunately or unfortunately, (depending upon how you look at it) i would have to attribute this to the wine being lacking in memorable qualities rather than to my pre-senile dementia.

12/22/1989 - bacchus wrote:

this bottle was brought by keith to a cellar tasting/holiday celebration dinner held at weir mansion-amboy road. the wine was shared and enjoyed with keith, jean and pat. this note is being written many years after the fact so i am unable to provide details. keith is my friend, wine mentor and tasting companion of more than 40 years. keith introduced me to vintage port wine of which i had no prior knowledge or experience. i have held on to the dead horse all these years and it now decorates the cellar at selkirk manor. looking at the bottle from time to time brings back fond memories of having enjoyed this fine fortified wine as well as the many years of companioinship with a scholar and a gentleman.

3/1/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. previous tasting notes have shown this wine to have problems with funk and oxidation. tonight's bottle was true to form. however, as usual, unpleasant notes blew off quicklly. the wine continues to show dark fruit, dense nose and mouth feel. ample tannin continues to give it a youthful presentation. i am still most sensitive to dark cherry flavors. will enjoy remaining bottle with the first chill next Fall.

6/24/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. last tasted on 2/20/2021. a year later, notes remain essentially the same although the wine is starting to show its age. dark color. but with slight browning. the wine remains big, bold, full. lots of cherry, coffee and spice. at this point, i would have to say that anyone holding this wine should think about drinking soon. great wine from Teramo. need to look for more recent vintages.

6/4/2023 - bacchus wrote:

we attended the Winemaker's Co-Op Spring portfolio tasting-Fete de vin at which this wine was released. the co-op considers 2019 to be the vintage of the decade due, in part, to no rainfall during the last three weeks before harvest. the working dog proprietor/winemaker indicated that his winery contributed the merlot grapes to the project which were produced from grafted vines sourced from chateau petrus. commercially sourced yeast was added to help inoculate fermentation. we tasted the wine during the VIP presentation. the wine showed well. dark color. full bodied. rich mouth feel. some green pepper on the palate. we brought a bottle home which we enjoyed with dinner. the wine continued to improve. i consider this to be the best of the six versions shown, the other producers being William Heritage, Unionville, Hawk Haven, Beneduce and Auburn Road.

6/2/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. i selected this bottle because i knew that i would be seeing Bill Heritage at the open source tasting over the weekend i wanted to share notes with him. the wine proved to be in sound condition. the wine was still alive and vibrant. the wine retains dark color with no browning or fading at the edge. if tasted blind, would have guessed it to be a bordeaux. the 60% merlot in the blend dominates the taste profile which is smooth, velvety and ever so slightly sweet. a true gem which, in my experience, is the best wine made in new jersey. will enjoy the remaining bottle soon.

4/9/2023 - bacchus wrote:

served with easter dinner at ellen and louis' house. shared with pat, louis, ellen, mario and aurora. paired with lamb roast. i had been tracking this wine erroneously as i had mistakenly posted purchase to pinin riserva. further confusion was caused by the fact that ct did not map correctly to winesearcher as there was lack of specificity with regard to product information. curious that the reserva has a shorther projected longevity than the non-reserva. this bottle showed some funk upon opening which blew off with thirty minutes of air. nevertheless, the fruit remained muted and overshadowed by tannin and wood. the wine smoothed out and put on some weight with additional air but never showed the power that i expect from barolo. not sure about longevity. will try the next one in a year. this bottle was served alongside 2018 90+ cellars barolo lot 26 provided by louis and was decanted. both wines were in the same ball park.

6/16/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. selected this bottle to celebrate the first leg of the new bull market. i had not read the back label before opening. serendipitously paired with sushi in accordance with the producer's recommendation. the wine proved to be in sound condition and served as a nice pairing. also paired well with Frolic cheese from Bobolink Dairy. the wine was enjoyable but was light bodied and did not have as much acidity as i often enjoy in wines from the macon. i would not rate as high as Maroni which serves as a caution that his scores may be inflated. will enjoy remaining bottle soon.

3/18/2023 - bacchus wrote:

shared with pat at selkirk manor. i continue to prune the cellar of bottles with past due drink by dates. this bottle proved to be in sound condition and showed very well. no formal notes. a better than average cali cab. rich flavor, full body, long finish. the wine is still in its optimal drinking window. the price is a bit hefty but the experience was memorable.

6/4/2023 - bacchus wrote:

Had a taste at the winemakers co-op event held at Unionville Vineyards VIP Lounge (farmhouse) delish.