7/10/2021 - juggernt wrote:

Medium-bodied, only lightly acidic, light tannins. Floral aromas resting on top of nose of raspberry. Beautiful fruit, juicy throughout with a hint of darkness behind it. Rich mouthfeel, excellent length. Excellent effort.

9/9/2020 - juggernt wrote:

Consistent with previous notes--sultry and sensual. Ripe fruit that hasn't gone too far, intoxicating aromas, and world-class balance. Roasting meats on the nose that Gimli would be proud of, mouthfeel of pure silk.

7/18/2020 - juggernt wrote:

Beautiful, deep, rich, right in the middle of its drinking window. Excellent representative of Right Bank Bordeaux.

7/11/2020 - juggernt wrote:

If you didn't know from the deep color, from the first nose you know it's Cali Zin, with the dark and expressive fruit, the waft of blueberries and spring herbs coming over the top. Comparatively low acidity, but plenty of structure. Mouthfeel out of this world, silk in a glass. Well more mellow and elegant than one expects from a Zin, the heat mostly undetectable. Fruit from nose continues onto palate. Notable length. It's easy for $100+ wines to not live up to the hype. This one absolutely does.

5/9/2020 - juggernt wrote:

Made me realize how much I miss Aussie Shiraz

4/11/2020 - juggernt wrote:

This is exactly what mature Bordeaux in its prime should taste like. Barnyard, leather, and tobacco on the nose. Dark and heady fruit. Rich, deep mouthfeel, extreme length.

3/20/2020 - juggernt wrote:

The right kind of tart cherry and right kind of warm spice blended together for a luxurious experience. Medium to high acidity, long and lingering finish.

2/18/2020 - juggernt wrote:

Exciting and expressive, with more than enough of all of your favorite Chard elements to pique your interest. Rich and creamy without going too far over the top. Good balance (maybe slightly hot initially) and length.

6/17/2019 - juggernt wrote:

Light aromas of sweet tropical fruit. Acidity balanced with a great mouthfeel.

4/14/2019 - juggernt wrote:

If you like expressive Pinot, this one is right up your alley. Great nose of cherry cola and baking spices, rich mouthfeel, great length.

12/15/2018 - juggernt wrote:

Classic Pinot nose with a little charcoal added in. Fruit a bit riper than personal taste. At the price, a reasonable daily drinker/crowd pleaser.

1/4/2018 - juggernt wrote:

Quite Burgundian in style while holding onto its California roots.

9/23/2017 - juggernt wrote:

Yeasty, almost champagne-like nose. Good, round red fruits on the palate. Enjoyable, but at the same price can't compare to the Martinelli or Emeritus roses.

9/5/2017 - juggernt wrote:

Consistent with previous note with the addition of tobacco and roasted meats on the nose.

6/5/2016 - juggernt Likes this wine:

Tasted a second time with consistent notes. This is remarkable wine. After the collapse of the Australian market, I lamented the loss of good Syrah at around the $50 price point (there's now basically The Dead Arm and little else). This is the replacement. I only wish there were much more to be had.

3/6/2016 - juggernt wrote:

Subtle and delicate compared to other Martinelli Pinots.

2/6/2016 - juggernt wrote:

Super spectacular juice!

2/1/2015 - juggernt wrote:

Powerful nose of blackberries, lilacs, cherry cola, and loamy earth. Black currant and red fruits on the palate. Great acidity, excellent balance. A superior effort.

8/27/2014 - juggernt Likes this wine:

Objectively, a very nice wine. Good fruit, excellent nose of berries and spice, good balance. Strangely enough, slightly too much fruit for an Oregon Pinot. Blind, I would have guessed it was from California.

7/2/2014 - juggernt wrote:

Spectacular California Pinot. Classic nose, great fruit, excellent balance.

6/20/2014 - juggernt wrote:

Fantastic all around, great example of the super-charged Cali Pinot. Rich, ripe, elegant, great aromas and spices. A slight amount of heat throws off the balance some, but not distractingly so.

5/20/2014 - juggernt wrote:

As close to a perfect wine as I think I've had. Dark cherries, violet, and something smokey on the nose. Black fruit on the rich palate. Supremely integrated. Can't wait to drink the rest (but then it'll be gone).

4/13/2014 - juggernt wrote:

Consistent with Parker's notes, but we drank it too young. If you have these, hang onto them for at least another year.

4/13/2014 - juggernt wrote:

Outstanding stuff. Rich, ripe, and ready for action.

8/12/2013 - juggernt wrote:

Exactly the Pinot I was looking for at the moment. Great example of the Cali style. Ripe plum, cherry, baking spices, well-integrated with excellent length. Couldn't have asked for much more.

3/23/2013 - juggernt wrote:

Sizzling bacon fat and baking spices on the nose. Rich, round, ripe fruit on the palate with deep mouthfeel.

1/13/2013 - juggernt wrote:

Second bottle with consistent notes. Also noted deep, dark color.

1/13/2013 - juggernt wrote:

Nose of sizzling bacon and tar with a hint of spice. Palate of red fruits, black pepper, and licorice. Great mouthfeel, excellent length.

1/13/2013 - juggernt wrote:

Exactly what I want and hope for from this wine. High-octane, rich fruit. Cherry cola on the nose along with a nice dose of baking spice, dark fruits mixed with strawberry across the palate.

1/13/2013 - juggernt wrote:

Delicious, creamy, classic notes: toast, apple, vanilla-laced spices. Complexity and depth. Lower acidity, nice texture, and excellent length. Won't replace Ruinart for us in this general price range, but I'll be happy to drink it any time.

11/28/2012 - juggernt Likes this wine:

Nice, light, and accessible. Pleasant fruit of the Grenache, nice pepperyness of the Syrah. Excellent QPR.

5/7/2012 - juggernt wrote:

Dark and moody without being unbalanced. Deep, deep color. Stewed plums on the nose. Powerful and rich flavors of dark fruit and some baking spice. Nice effort.

3/16/2012 - juggernt wrote:

Tasted again with consistent notes. A little additional time in the bottle hasn't hurt it. Dark, rich fruit, large wine.

2/18/2012 - juggernt wrote:

Classic if muted Pinot nose. A little thin on the palate, but enough fruit to round it out. Being used to bigger (Cali) PNs with enormous amounts of fruit and great mouthfeel, this felt a little lacking, but certainly drinkable.

2/15/2012 - juggernt wrote:

Big-boned, rich, sweet, blueberry and cocoa with a hint of something citric--maybe orange?--on the end. Beautifully integrated with no real hint of the insanely high ABV.

12/12/2011 - juggernt wrote:

Beautiful and heady aroma of cigar box and tar. Rich, dark fruit, just enough oak. Well-balanced. Excellent effort.

11/30/2011 - juggernt wrote:

Tasted again with consistent notes. If anything, becoming more interestingly darker.

9/27/2011 - juggernt wrote:

As detailed on http://discoveriesinfoodandwine.com/

9/16/2011 - juggernt wrote:

Beautiful nose, structured, balanced, brilliant. Good enough backbone to go with food, nice enough bouquet to drink alone.

4/24/2011 - juggernt wrote:

Second botle tasted with consistent notes.

4/20/2011 - juggernt wrote:

Beautiful, rich, integrated. Great fruit, great structure. Probably still has some more coming-together to do. Great now, will be great next year.

3/15/2011 - juggernt wrote:

Beautiful, elegant, rich, layered, expressive. The adjectives just keep coming for this wonderful effort.

1/1/2011 - juggernt wrote:

A fair amount more tannic and less fruit-driven than previous bottles.

12/28/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Second bottle with consistent notes.

12/28/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Slightly overdone with the wood, but that mellowed relatively quickly. Good rich fruit, sufficient integration after some time in the glass.

12/13/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Nicely under-oaked. Cali Chards are generally a style I don't like because of the wood, and this was well-restrained.

12/11/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Unrepentent vanilla bomb, but still very nice.

11/11/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Beautiful nose of black cherry and spices. Powerfully bodied. Deeply layered black and blueberries, with hint of anise. Finish that stays with you. Always a lovely wine.

10/1/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Old-World style Pinot from California. A great expression of the grape without being over the top. Beautifully balanced fruit and acidity, pleasant mouthfeel.

6/14/2010 - juggernt wrote:

Super-good for $9.