1/21/2011 - Matushka S Likes this wine:

Balanced but lighter than most SB Winery reds. Still, it was perfect with our pizza, and enjoyed by all.

8/14/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

This wine is confusing - not in a bad way, but not what I was expecting. It's big and bold with clean fruit flavors, and so dark I can't see through it. Reminding me a lot more of a Syrah than a Pinot Noir. High alcohol, but enough fruit flavor to balance it out. Nicely done.

7/18/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Aging well - beginning to develop a raisin nose. Balanced - enough of everything to be interesting. So nice.

6/23/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Balanced - very nice in the price range. On second day, even smoother. Something keeps drawing me back - faint Sweet-tart flavors, but dry. Soft tannins, lively acidity. 14.2% ETOH, but I'm not noticing it.

5/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Plums and spice on the nose. Well balanced, lively acids, smooth tannins. This wine was very nice in the price range.

4/9/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

While I don't like this vintage quite as much as the 2005 (which was incredibly bold), it is still the Petite Sirah that I use as a yardstick for others.

4/13/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Like most of the Santa Barbara Winery reds, big, lush and satisfying.

4/9/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

A very nice kit from start to finish. I will be doing this one again. At four months in the bottle (after ~ six months bulk aging) it is very respectable. Nice fruit with pleasant spice. I did add a spiral of American oak to the carboy, but only for about a week. I am very pleased with how this kit turned out (and in general how all of the kits from US Elite turned out.)

3/5/2010 - Matushka S Likes this wine:

This was much better than I expected for the price (~5.50 - may have been on sale). Pronounced peach flavor, but not unnatural. It was a good sipper, and nice with my dinner. It seemed just a bit off-dry, but that might have been be the fruit. This is not my usual cup of tea - but I have been appreciating whites more lately, and this was lovely.

2/25/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Quaffable, though a bit disjointed. I might have been happier with this at a lower price, but have had better in the ~$14 price range.

2/23/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

What a difference six months makes! A little tight last fall, but showing beautifully now. Lush cherry, brown sugar with a touch of sweet spice. I did not think the 06's were going to be as nice as the 05's, but happy to be found wrong. Get this small production wine (529 cases) while you can.

2/9/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Handpicked from vineyards not accessible by tractor. Co-fermented with 5 - 7% Viognier, with a small amount of Petite Sirah (~1%). Aged two years in 60% medium toast Burgundy barrels. Very dark, purple and inky. Aromas of blackberry and meat. Lovely depth of flavor.

2/13/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Dirty socks and alcohol. I bought this on the strength of the name Moueix - mistake. Everyone poured out their glass and went to a new bottle.

2/16/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Medium bodied and crisp. Aromas of pineapple, apple, lemon.

2/15/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Light body with strong impression of white pepper and roses. More complex than expected. Good sipper for casual conversation, but expect this would have been great with a meat stew.

2/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Spice and cedar with enough fruit to carry it through.

2/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Lovely, balanced, refreshing.

2/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Such a beautiful wine. Deeply extracted but with balance.

2/5/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Dry, refreshing and great with food. I have paid more for Roses that were not nearly as satisfying.

2/5/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Deeply extracted, balanced with a lushness that is characteristic of Santa Barbara Winery reds. Smooth and dry, but with aromas of sweetarts. This wine has improved significantly since I first tasted it mid 2008, and given it's ample but not unpleasant acidity, I expect it will have many years left in the bottle. However, this is enjoyable now and much more accessible than a 2005 Nebbiolo from Italy.

2/2/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

A good food wine, balanced between the old and new world in style (though from the old). Subtle spice and vanilla, subdued fruit, not too funky on the nose.

2/2/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Really nice for the price. Great balance of fruit, acidity and spice. It is hard to find a Priorat in this price range, and this one is a enticing gateway to that region.

2/2/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Big fruit, balanced oak. I really liked this wine - I think this bottle was the last of a case. It had good QPR - hope future vintages will show as nicely.

2/2/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Pear, apple and very faint spice. Wish the wine delivered more, but what is there is nice.

1/31/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Cherry up front, but a very natural cherry. After airing a bit, some spice. Soft tannins. This is nice - not very complex, but very good in it's price range.

1/31/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Inexpensive every day value. Mild vanilla and spice on nose and attack. Good fruit, but somewhat alcoholic on finish. Still nice in this price range.

1/28/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Disjointed, cherry and vegetal flavors up front. Airs into an inexpensive cab, not very interesting.

1/28/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Nice red blend. My daughter says this was her gateway wine for Santa Barbara Winery - she was on a grad student budget. Not in the same league as some of their other reds, but solid within this price range.

1/28/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Fruit forward, with faint spice, but alcohol pretty evident. In the price range, a pass.

1/26/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

The classic flavors of Pinot Noir are present (berries, cola - more light fruit, less dirty barnyard, but definitely PN), but with more pronounced fruit than is usual in this price range. The oak is apparent early on, but I don't find it out of balance or overbearing - mild spice and vanilla. I really appreciate this effort - it is nice to find a lovely Pinot Noir sipper in this price range.

1/24/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Black fruit, cedar and sandalwood on the nose. The fruit doesn't really follow through on the palate - it's more restrained with bitter coffee finish. However, with goat cheese this begins to take on more interesting aspects - probably a better food wine than sipper.

1/24/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

First whiff was bananas, but this quickly gave way to stone fruits and citrus. Very nice food wine. This white has glossy texture and balanced acidity.

1/24/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

The last bottle of this vintage in my cellar; even though a bit past it's prime, still a wonderful Petite Sirah. This is the Petite Sirah that I benchmark others by, and I have never found another that equals it for extraction, balance or flavor.

1/24/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Fruit forward but balanced; black fruits on the nose and palate. Very nice in the price range - would buy again for casual dinners or quaffing.

1/24/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Earthy, balanced with cola and red fruit notes. However, this is somewhat disappointing for the price range and AVA - expected a bit more from Russian River Valley.

1/22/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Unbalanced, uninteresting and a mostly tasting of alcohol.

1/19/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Fruit forward and accessible. Good sipper, good price.

1/19/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Pronounced oak on nose and palate which unfortunately overwhelms other aspects of the wine. Some spice and fruitiness; tannins that are smooth. This is not my cup of tea, but might be yours.

1/14/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Blackberries and something floral on the nose. Pleasant dryness, smooth with enough acidity to be interesting. This is a great food wine – works with pizza, mexican soup, cheese and chips. I would definitely buy this again at this price.

1/13/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

This vintage when initially released captured me with it's pear, apple and nutmeg flavors, and despite the fact that I drink very little white (and my husband almost none) I tucked away some bottles for nights when I was dining alone. It has lost some of those fresh flavors now, but still is very drinkable. A year ago I would have rated it higher - 90 or 91, but as I said, it is still nice even though a bit past it's prime.

1/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Big and bold, but has lost a little of the fruit that made it outstanding a few years ago. I wish there had been more of this made – and wish the winery offered a more recent vintage. Dense color / extraction, black fruit, moderately long finish. Have had this three times and didn't regret it – solid.

1/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Pale yellow. Slight pineapple on the nose, as well a little nutmeg. Nice acidity and body – wouldn't go all the way to oily, but not thin. Bought this when our daughter fell in love with the Muscat from the same winery while studying in Bulgaria (both the Muscat and this wine are dry). Served with a mild coconut chicken curry and it was a fairly good match. Given the very reasonable price, good QPR.

1/12/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Nice rose, but veers to the acid side slightly. Good food wine / casual meals (probably good match with seafood).

1/10/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Interesting attack - all acid and fruit at the tip of the tongue, but it does not develop into anything more interesting. Still, while it lacks in complexity and has a short finish, it doesn't deliver any of the odd flavors that you frequently get at this price point. Not bad QPR.

1/10/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Did not decant (should have). Initially some metallic flavors, but these resolved after time in the glass. Mild green pepper consistent with Cab and not too pronounced. Not very complex, but after airing a bit, quaffable.

1/10/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Enjoyed during two trips to Santa Barbara County; blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Very Good! My notes from the last tasting: full bodied, smooth tannins, balanced, blackberry, dried / dark fruit.

1/9/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Very dark in glass and viscous. The flavor is all honey and figs with very little impression of alcohol. The first dessert wine that knocked my socks off - wish it was sold in my area.

1/8/2010 - Matushka S wrote:

Representative of Santa Barbara Winery reds - lush, concentrated but with balance. Black fruits, smooth tannins, very satisfying.