1/31/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Upon opening the color is still young and the flavor profile is on the acidic side.
Really didn't want to open but needed to gauge where it was.
Dense and flavorful in a classic Bordeaux way. Will be so interesting to see how it develops.

After an hour it really began to soften in a good way. I'm thinking 2-4 years before opening the next one.

1/19/2017 - Mark Larson Does not like this wine:

Was a big lover of this winery a few years ago and before but sadly they've jumped the shark. Takeover? Embracing tourist culture?
This is mediocre residual sugar wine. @14 per at Costco it's silly. Pretty much criminal. Sad. sad. sad. Just generic wine. Bye bye. Never again.

1/15/2017 - Mark Larson wrote:

Never really came together but enjoyable nonetheless.

1/15/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Wonderful and many years left.

1/15/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Of the last 3 bottles consumed in 2016, 2 bottles were a point. Spectacular. The third was a bit tired.

1/15/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

At least for my bottles, this is on it's way down but an excellent Kabinett.

1/15/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Very enjoyable but needed much more time.

1/15/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

The last 8 bottles performed very well with the last two headed down quickly in 2016. Really impressive for a 2003 and a 375ml. Very traditional.

1/14/2017 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This is a general note over 6 bottles. Love love Neil Rosenthal wines and these did not disappoint. Very classic French Syrah. Wanted to save a few to see how they aged beyond 6 years but couldn't do it. Highly recommended but/and very traditional.

1/14/2017 - Mark Larson Does not like this wine:

Thin and hard. Not very enjoyable but drinkable. A bit better with traditional Italian food. Overall just very uninspiring. My guess would be over-cropped.

10/1/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Just beginning to tire but what a joy. Really impressive.

7/22/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Amazing. 5 years later incredibly consistent. From 55 degrees F cellar this is just happy. 1 more bottle. Bravo to Shafer-Frohlich and Rudi Weist!

7/22/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

10 bottles with consistent experience. Just textbook and sublime.

7/22/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This is a satisfying very enjoyable rose Champagne. Maybe with some age it would develop some complexity?

7/16/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Outside of the Last Bottle Hyperbole, and I'm assuming most of the recent notes are from Last Bottle purchases; a bit tired. Direct from the Chateau. ?
Good Sauternes although a bit tired. Drink soon. Run don't walk.

7/16/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This, like Ridge Monte Bello will make it's way to one of the top 15 wine estates of the world.

7/16/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Over 4 of these, disappointing. This should be legendary. In the book that describe Joel Petersen's journey Joseph Swan was his mentor and inspiration.
My only guess is he is gone and others are running the shop. Higher ABV's? Restaurant wine gaming? These are good wines that aged a bit and are at what they can do. Good. No more.

7/16/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This is a general note for 5 bottles over the last year. All very consistent so kludos to Stolpman.
A bit intriguing that these wines tasted better at 500 ft in Naperville vs 6,000 ft in Albuquerque. Not that they were in any was less in ABQ. Just the bit heavy ABV shown a bit more here in the promised land.
This is quality New World Syrah that is always delicious and ages magnificently.
Another example of Syrah being the grape that should be grown in much of California.

6/17/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Bought at retail in Asheville, NC. Pop and pour. Agree with the last two tasting notes.
It might get a bit better with age but the tannins are very present and there is a licorice flavor that is not very appealing.
Nice to see though that there are still wine regions in the world that actually have vintage variation.

6/10/2012 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Was a joy to drink. Very special. Classic California Chardonnay old school with not too much modern notes.

6/8/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

An excellent wine but somewhat disappointing. It could be it needs another year or two. The oak is not fully integrated. But it was lacking a bit of magic.
I still think back to the 2005 Home Ranch.
At this price point there should be more Ridge here.
Not to paraphrase Gertrude Stein.

6/8/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Sadly I am moving away from the sentiments from the other tasters. Recently drank a 2009 Zinfandel from Swan and 2 of these and have to wonder if the style now is not what Joseph Swan was doing when Joel Petersen became enthralled. These are ageing. And they have a lot of compelling virtues. But they are not taming the non-virtues of California. Maybe my palate is changing? Sad.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

And 90 pre Parker.

Well worth seeking out and aged well.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Over 14 bottles quite very good.

If these people ever focus on excellence it could happen here.
But I think they will not do that.
Money does strange things to people.c

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Poof. Very bitter. Built my cellar teaching high school music lessons.
10 in All State Band. Many others, many life lessons.
Ignorant people should not be drinking great wine.
Divorce.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Has promise. Another 10 years.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

The divorce fairies tiptoed their way in to the protected zone and had their way.
Amazing how common law and I imagine Napoleonic law has no bearing.

Goodbye.
Those who do... Good luck.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Absolutely satisfying in Ruidoso. Exactly what modern Gigondas should be. Ripe year and not traditional. But very enjoyable.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

I really thought this had greater potential????

Maybe Sagrantino is a 7 year wine.

Price need to reflect this reality.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

The bats consumed this from my divorce purgatory.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Gone by the gullets of albatross.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This is great sweet aged Chenin from the Loire. More bottles to come and September promises Foie Gros with plum freezer jam.
This is the real deal. So different from the last bottle tasted 5 years ago.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Disappeared through the divorce. C'est la vie.
Nothing like wine held hostage.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Not as good as the 06 but real wine. Acid pronounced but still compelling. Drink with food and definitely drink up.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Once obtaining my cellar again there were 4 of these over the past month. Great Burgundy, non. But satisfying wonderful wine? Yes yes yes. Bravo. It is at peak at total beyond expectations.

6/7/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This was a well stored bottle as are my others. Great classic nose of French Burgundy on opening but acid a bit off to the side. First reflection is it will harmonize.
But it didn't and all components showed and hid all at different times over two days.
I think this has promise but only in the next 5 years. Definitely a prickly beast but isn't this why we chase rainbows?

5/30/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Fruit in front but more earthy notes are beginning to emerge. Plenty of life ahead.

5/30/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Excellent. Almost too bretty but great depth and presence. Really impressive and young.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Great potential but still too young.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Very hard to evaluate this. Still too young. Will it develop into something parkerized or more graceful.
I guess the impressive thing at this stage is it is holding it's age well.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Spectauclar. Just exactly what you hope for. Largely dry and a pointe.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Fairly mediocre; drank in 2012.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Corked. Bought on release and cellared correctly. Along with a 2002 which was also corked.
Emailed Becky Wasserman. No response. Sort of reminds you of GE customer service in 1974.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

At it's best around 2003. Now it's very good but just loosing cut. Not a pedigree but enjoyable and correct. This being said in a good way.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

The whole group of four enjoyed it greatly. I thought it was way to young but it is just starting to show it's stuff. These are going to be monumental.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Updating my cellar after the divorce. This one disappeared. Hope the Naperville Municipal Band group enjoyed the wine shooter. Greek tragedies pale.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

Drank 2 bottles in April - May 2016. The first bottle I thought was flawed upon opening but after 30 minutes of air it opened up nicely. Excellent aged Pinot.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

This is classic beautiful Auslese. Consistency from bottle to bottle was impeccable. I think the best descriptor was from the Owner Sommelier in Tarboro, NC. Spring Rain.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson wrote:

Drank 5 of these over a 3 year period. Just awful. The worst aspects of Parker inspired hedonist wine. Will never visit this winemaker again.

5/29/2016 - Mark Larson Likes this wine:

With Sushi this was just sublime.