6/18/2022 - pnwskibum Likes this wine:

Excellent balance between fruit, acidity, alcohol and a structure that is present but still easily drinkable right off the bat. Lots of fresh berries, toast, and cab notes. Great nose. This gets me excited for 2019.

2/1/2017 - pnwskibum wrote:

Smokey and sweet red fruited nose that has great purity accented by floral notes. Really nice nose. Palate is sweet open and delicious, tannins just barely balance the fruit. This is really good. 93++

1/22/2017 - pnwskibum wrote:

Absolutely fantastic wine. This has limestone, spice, passion fruit, and bright red fruit notes on the nose. On the palate great depth and balance of fruit tannin and acid, silky tannin that is both lush and structured. A total winner IMO. 94+

1/10/2017 - pnwskibum wrote:

Very pretty combination of sweet red fruits and spice with great balance between fruit,acid,tannin. A complete wine full of complexity. A joy to drink now that will surely improve. 95+

11/28/2016 - pnwskibum wrote:

From 375. Really impressive for such a young wine. Tannins are present but still very drinkable and not overpowering. Nose of fresh berries with faint oak adding to the richness. This is drinking great, I hope it doesn't shut down because the balance is great for a young Bordeaux. 92+

11/27/2016 - pnwskibum wrote:

From 375, quite a bit of oak upon opening that blew off after an hour. Smells of cherries, earth, truffle, and rocks and reminds me of a hybrid between classic Bordeaux and a more modern styled wine on the nose. Obviously a young wine that has integration to do but the quality is there and is by no means undrinkable. Looking forward to trying again after a few years. 92-93

3/4/2016 - pnwskibum wrote:

My last bottle. This has evolved to be a beautiful wine. Complex Chablis specific aromas of lemon, tidal pool, and oak. Very well balanced fruit, acid, and sweetness. I was very pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this after my last note (89). Should age for some time, but is great right now with no premox at all.

1/24/2016 - pnwskibum wrote:

Nose is a little muted but with aeration, spice, roses, and bright cherry are all there. Nice fruit on the palate then the tannin clamp down at the end. Overall a great value for very well made Cru Barolo that I'm certain will improve into a beautiful wine with 5+ years in the cellar.

12/7/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

This was wonderful tonight. Once open an hour nose was full of strawberries, craked pepper and herbs. Seems like a pinot until you notice the strong pepper/herb notes. Good body and flavor intensity if a little short. Excellent. Will surely be drinking well for many years.

11/29/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Awesome

11/6/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Light and fresh, fine bubbles and good but but not great body. Seems like its just a little lacking in depth of flavor right now. Still really good.

11/6/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really liked this out of a group of 3 champagnes. Nose seems evolved and in kind of a sweet spot. I wouldn't age this much more than 5years or so. Good body fine bubbles, very nice bready, apple, palate. Killed the NV Bollinger.

10/27/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really impressive for the QPR. After the Campogiovani 06 which had obvious new oak this seemed much more traditional and enjoyable.

6/13/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Very good entry level Barolo. I paid $33 at costco. Little oaky on the nose with some red fruits. The palate is quite dry but backed by leathery red cherries with some good fruit. It impressed some non wine geeks I shared it with, they didn't know why they liked it but they did.

4/16/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Great nose of sweet spices and bright red fruits, rich palate impression with present tannins not as great as the nose but obviously young, great color. I can see this turning into a beautiful wine in 5+ years.

4/15/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really pretty good wine that is drinking great right now but could easily last 10 years.

3/31/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

After being underwhelmed by the 05 I wanted to check in on this and see if this property really aligns with what I want to keep in my cellar.

This bottle really impressed me. The nose has a Burgundian edge to it with sweet cherries, plumbs and earthy Bordeaux notes. On the palate its silky sweet then darker at the end. Long finish. I love this and I'm glad to have another bottle. I will be selling my 05's though.

3/3/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

This has really improved since my last bottle. It has almost fully shed its green notes and tannin. This is drinking great right now with its classic B+ sour cherry, herb, leather nose. All that is left on the palate is sweet silky fruit and acid, the tannins are almost gone. Very enjoyable.

2/3/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

After attending the UGC tasting in SF and being underwhelmed by smokey, light weight wines with not much depth of fruit I wanted to try this after seeing such positive reviews.

The nose on this kills almost everything in memory from the tasting, milk chocolate, blackberry jam, floral. On the palate it is still a 12, medium bodied, good fruit, dry mid palate follwed by red fruit and good acidity. Very good for the year and not over oaked like may wines in 2012. Still for $80 at Total wine a pass for me.

1/25/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

This is why people love Bordeaux. Not a great year but with a little age this is really doing great. Fresh and classic nose of bright red fruits, rocks and floral tones. This really comes alive on the palate, it's concentrated with tangy raspberry and earth but still has the tannins to balance and good acidity. Not a great first growth by any means but a completely delightful Margaux that shows true character and sense of place. Good value at $40 on release.

1/18/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

My first of three. Very good showing, this wine excels on the nose with spice and dark red fruits, reminds me of a rich Burgundy but you can sense this is pure Bordeaux. A little short on the palate but still brings lots of cranberries earth and spice, dry in the middle. A great value on futures at $42

1/6/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

My last bottle and much better than my last one a couple summers ago. I solid 1er Cru and good for the price but there are many Chablis 1er Cru that punch far above this. So no rebuy but fun and enjoyable.

1/3/2015 - pnwskibum wrote:

I completely agree with Ibetian.

12/28/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really good wine. The nose is all milk chocolate and raspberry. Deap smooth palate that seems to have come together fully. The tannins are there but just supporting everything in the background of the intense deap fruit/spice/earth combo.

12/28/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Smells like a typical bordeaux, dark red fruit and a little spicyness. Color is very dark red/black. A little freshness on the palate but dominated by drying hard tannins with little hope of the fruit ever ever surpassing.

12/6/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Enjoyable bottle, nice dark fruits more blackberry plum than anything else. If you ever need a bottle to bludgeon someone with this is it , its huge.

11/30/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Good wine. Not really representational of of Tuscany at all, I agree with bam man that this is closest to a new world WA wine than anything from Italy. Falls in the modern but good camp I just wish it had a little more Tuscan character ie; new leather, herbs, ect. Solid but not a rebuy.

11/26/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Better than my last bottle by quite a bit. Last had more pronounced acidity and was a little lean and herby. This bottle showed more sweet red fruit and spices with a medium finish and balanced acidity. Must be some bottle variation out there to account for this.

11/24/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

A delicious young Ursules, by no means undrinkable although the tannins and extract are still very powerful. Red bing cherries are prominent on the nose with a light spicy background. Red pinot fruit with herbs on the palate. Still tight and tangy but good texture. A little austere. Should turn out well in the future. A buy.

11/12/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

After drinking the 05 this is a nice contrast, a little more mature and refined. It is lacking some of the vivid apple and green fruit of the 05 but more than making up for that with a great smokey lemon nose. On the palate sweet citrus fruit hits with real depth and concentration with nice acidity and a long finish. Delish!

11/9/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really enjoyable and my last of six so a fine farewell. Nose of herbs and dark fruits with great rocky notes. The palate is a little short but still had good fruit and a nice sweetness. I would say this is good to go and would last for 5+ years.

11/8/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Dark purple color. Great nose that hits you with a strong cracked black pepper element. Its a little tangy on the palate but has a nice soft profile of blackberries and meat. Its not overly sweet or long but clearly well made. This is so distinctively a northern Rhone Syrah. Fun and a great QPR.

11/6/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

PnP I've been looking forward to trying this and was not disappointed. A little funky on opening that seems to have mostly blew off, strong spicy, herby nose complemented with some serious red raspberry. Pretty low alcohol for a CDP as in its not really noticeable. Palate is soft and fruity with herbs and stoney flavors. A wine to drink over the next ten years I would think.

11/3/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Spice and red fruit dominate the nose and palate. I would describe this as a mix of a right bank Bordeaux and a napa cab. Not much on the tannins but should age for at least another 5 years. Good.

11/3/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really ellegant wine, loved this and cant wait for my remaining bottles. The nose is worth the price with bright red fruit coupled with bordeaux stoniness and just that little extra bit of complexity that takes it to another leval. Still a little tannin at the finish but really is drinkable now.

4/18/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

I think aagrawal described this wine very well. I have had many better for the price, not a rebuy.

1/18/2014 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really drinking well right now. Very pure red fruit, current nose followed with a really smooth palate with almost no tannin and great fruit. I think I will drink my remaining bottles in the next five years but no rush at all.

12/5/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

This is one of my favorite vintners of champoux fruit. It does seem to be on of Washington's top vinyards for bordeaux varietals.

Smooth and balanced nose of sweet red fruit and milk chocolate creamyness. You can tell this is a very balanced and well made wine.

11/14/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Ruby copper colored. Interesting nose of rocks and raspberry followed by herbs and strong bay leaf notes. Good flavor intensity and acidity but a little lean and austere. A great example of a good wine in a lesser vintage that still delivers.

11/10/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

This wine is really good, it reminds me of the Beaucastel Blanc VV in its flavor intensity and length and overall impression of lemons and stone.

Its a little light on the nose but still delivers almond, stone (granit), and a lemon, that really carry through to the palate with some green herbs in there too. Pretty darn good.

10/20/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really serious nose of red fruit, fig and herbs. Not cooked or really showing any heat at all. Still a little flabby and ripe on the palate but it more than makes up for that with its deliciousness. Really a nice wine, maybe not the '07 or '10 but still solid.

10/19/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

From magnum. This was great and a big step up from my last bottle a couple years ago. Tannins are soft and the fruit really stands out with bright red fruit flavors and a little herbs in the background. Not too hot but still has a touch of alcohol but what do you expect its a CDP. Excellent.

10/7/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Slightly better than my last bottle but still the melted fig smell and taste along with the noticeable alcohol leave me wanting better balance.

9/29/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Not really feeling the strong medicinal, sour cherry funkyness on the nose. It does have some complexity but still dosn't smell very good. The taste seems to confirm the nose overall, the flavors and the high acid big tannin combo isn't working for me. I love the more traditional style of Brunello but this is pretty rustic and hard to love. Sorry...

9/15/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Nice nose of blueberry, flowers and "stone" , good texture but its finished by drying and broad tannins. Just young but seems to have good potential. Will be fun to try this and the 05 side by side one day. 2018+

8/23/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

I agree this is a nice meld of old and new. I don't know how much better it will get but it still has a long life ahead 15+ ish I would think. Rich dark fruit nose with just a little heat noticeable, some spice. Dusty but even tannins with good fruit. A pleasure to drink

8/12/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Drinkable for sure but still reminds me of an average Rosso at best. Not much Fruit. 93 JS???? I don't see it.

8/1/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Pre ox. Total bummer on my wife's birthday. Hopefully my other two are ok.

7/8/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Good balance of fruit and acid, pure liquid minerals with great complexity. Really enjoyed this.

7/6/2013 - pnwskibum wrote:

Really nice depth on the nose, earth and coffee with blue fruit. You can tell that this vintage, although a little lean has some great fruit to tannin ballence that will only get better in the coming years.