4/3/2024 - SGates Likes this wine:

I am always a fan of Secret Squirrel. This Cab starts with cherries and cassis. There is a green pepper or stem note in the middle and then it finishes with a vanilla coffee note and a long finish. Sooo good for $22.

4/3/2024 - SGates Likes this wine:

Decanted several hours before drinking. Starts with lots of black flavors such as black licorice, black tea and graphite. Moves on to sweeter chocolate and vanilla. Medium finish, smooth tannins and not as powerful as many Penfolds. Interesting blend of Cab Sauv and Shiraz. Would drink again.

3/16/2024 - SGates wrote:

Lychee, peach grapefruit. Touch of sweetness and a nice acidic zip. Went well with spicy vegetarian Indian dinner

3/14/2024 - SGates Likes this wine:

dark cassis and black plum, dark chocolate, and some green/savory with a juicy acidic finish. Dusty tannins. Pretty nice WW cab for $20

2/5/2024 - SGates Likes this wine:

Thick and dark; cassis, blackberry cobbler and black plum, hint of cocoa powder. Finishes with a touch of oaky vanilla and smooth tannins. quite a wine for $20.

12/31/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

dark black fruit, plums, blackberry with dusty oak. Mouth coating with vanilla and dark chocolate finish

11/3/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Agree with PortlandSeth’s review.

11/5/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Interesting PV, almost commercial. Lower on green pepper, tang and zip I associate with PV. More black currant and black fruit and some minerality. Drinks very well by itself and with pasta bolognese. Great for $20.

10/12/2023 - SGates wrote:

Kind of what you expect from a $12 Cali Chard. Apple, pineapple, apricot and toast. Less oaky or buttery but more acidic and zippy. Not bad with Chinese takeout.

10/12/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Dark, blackberry, pepper and vanilla. Always one of my favorites. Did not disappoint

10/4/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Went well with shellfish pasta. Crisp, minerals, lemon, lime, pink grapefruits. Zesty with River rock stone.

7/14/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Received as a gift from a friend and drank on our anniversary. Young but well integrated. Dark purple color. Flavors of dark cherries, blackberries and plums with some cocoa/leather notes. Stood up well to Fillet and roasted Brussel Sprouts.

8/27/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Golden yellow. Leads with chardonnay notes. Lemon, peach and vanilla. Nice acidity on the finish.

8/26/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Very black flavors. Black cherry, black licorice, cola, tobacco, blackberry Strong tannins and grip on the finish. Has a lot of room left to run.

8/25/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Very nicely matured Brunello. Noticeable bricking on the rim. Bargain Brunello from a great vintage with some age equals great QPR. Loads of sediment in the bottle. Smoothly integrated, cherries and bramble, the sum is greater than the parts. Went well with chorizo pasta (or pizza).

7/21/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Easy and crushable at a neighborhood bbq from Dixie cups

7/8/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Nice mature Chardonnay. Starts as white peach, then you taste the peach pit, then the mineralty of a River stone. Went really well with four cheese risotto and seared ahi tuna.

6/25/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Tangy and spicy. Raspberry and black plum and rosemary. Light tannins and somewhat easy drinking but layered and delicious

6/24/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Ultimate Robert Parker point chaser. Over extracted and over oaked. But sometimes you are in the mood for everything to be turned up to 11. This stood up to NY Strip w/peppercorn sauce and roasted red potatoes

6/21/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Garagiste Mystery wine home run. Sub $30 Red Mountain Bordeaux Blend. Spicy, complex and sweet. Heard it was bold so matched with a NY strip and blue cheese. Didn’t disappoint. Red fruit flavors of cherry, chocolate and pepper. Was a little too sweet so had a touch of over-engineering but great otherwise.

6/21/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Starts with green apple aroma. Flavors evolve from apple to apricot to grapefruit. Ends with a wet stone finish. Went great with fish tacos.

6/11/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Got better over time. Give this some air.

5/21/2023 - SGates wrote:

Lovely dark black cab that went well with steak and grilled mushrooms/onions. Opaque black ink color. Blackberry, black plum, and cassis flavors. Long finish with Forrest floor and leather. Great QPR. A little bit simply sweet, Just needs more integration to be excellent.

5/4/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Floral nose. Stone fruit, pears and honeysuckle. Very nice Chard

5/4/2023 - SGates Does not like this wine:

I agree with Brujazz and AussieRoddy. Sharp and acidic notes overpower the fruit. Hopefully this is just young and that will all resolve itself with time. No rush to drink my remaining bottles. Wouldn't reorder.

4/28/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Dark fruit, blackberry, plum, pepper, leather and a hint of green bell pepper. Not your typical red blend but very nice.

4/15/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Masculine wine,black fruit, grippy tannins. Some cocoa and baking spices. The malbec and cab franc really show through.

4/9/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

similar tasting notes, black fruit. still lots of life ahead of this one

4/6/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Close to 90 pts/excellent. Classic cab flavors of red fruit and cassis. Juicy, mouthwatering finish. Nicely integrated tannins. Drinking well for another 5 years at least.

4/3/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

Nice bright cherry raspberry flavors. Simple weeknight wine.

3/28/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

This has come together more since the last bottle. Dark fruits, black cherry, dark plums. Nice touches of leather and tobacco. Glad I have one more to see how this keeps evolving

2/27/2023 - SGates Likes this wine:

What a good WA malbec. Black fruits really come through, blackberry, plum, cassis. Some coffee, leather and vanilla.

2/7/2023 - SGates wrote:

Nice Chard for $7. Sweet but not flabby. Some pear and apple. Nice amount of oak. Def a crowd pleaser if you need something by the case. Also a great choice to cook with and drink the rest ;-)

12/11/2022 - SGates Does not like this wine:

Rough edges, not cohesive.

10/18/2022 - SGates Does not like this wine:

Had higher expectations for this as a wahluke cab. was fat, flabby and didn't firm up on day 2. Good enough for a party pour or when your non-wine friends want you to open up a second bottle. Won't buy again, even at $13/bottle.

6/18/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Evolving to include a dusty chocolate note

5/14/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Better than the Soos Creek Cab we had the same weekend.

5/14/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Got better as it opened up. Really thick and chewy Cab.

3/27/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Consistent with my prior notes. Great WA cab. Clearly WA and not some CA or French wanna be. The funk and green pepper really set it apart and give it a sense of place.

3/22/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Agree with Portland Seth and TheBonnyDooner. Nice pop and pour cab for under $20. Nice currant and cherry flavors with a touch of tobacco. A little too much sweetness for my taste holding it back from 90+

3/4/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Dark, teethstaining, blueberry, blackberry, and black cherry, and leather with a long finish

3/4/2022 - SGates wrote:

Popped and poured after a huge Napa Cab. This came across as disjointed and funky. Not a good showing for the top WA Syrah in my cellar.

3/10/2022 - SGates wrote:

Similar notes as Vespasian. Green plant leaves, saline, mineral. Not what I was hoping for from a Gaja white. I liked it well enough but a big swing and miss for the price.

3/10/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Blueberry, blackberry and plum fruits. Floral nose and some mocha on the finish. Went well with rack of lamb. Amazing even though this young. Great wine with lots of room to grow.

2/24/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Similar tasting notes as last bottle. Continuing to improve.

1/21/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Rough, needs some more time to settle down. Blueberry, vanilla and lots of tannins. Typical Australian monster Shiraz

1/4/2022 - SGates Likes this wine:

Nice spicy syrah once it opened up. Blackberry, pepper and coffee grounds (a first for me)

12/31/2021 - SGates Likes this wine:

similar notes to prior bottle. Was up against a 2007 Montelena so came off as rougher and more bramble but held up well to prime rib and horseradish sauce.

12/31/2021 - SGates Likes this wine:

Amazing complex and mature cali cab. Complex mix of black currant, red cherry, tobacco and chewy tannins. Lots of life left in this (as long as cork holds up. my cork broke on removal but was still a good seal).

12/14/2021 - SGates Likes this wine:

Floral nose. Napa cab cassis, blackberry and currant. Velvety mouthfeel.