3/28/2022 - Philly NQ King wrote:

A true Emperor Has No Clothes moment for me. Very humbling. Clearly a well-made wine in a huge/extracted style, but it’s right there…with each and every sip…smoke and ash. I have no idea how I didn’t notice this slap-in-the-face before. I’m honestly more disappointed in myself than I am the WA hype machine that convinced me to buy a full case…

1/7/2021 - Philly NQ King wrote:

I’ve only had one other encounter with this producer...about 8-10 years ago, but a very memorable 6-pack picked up on a flyer (‘03 vintage, I believe). Wife loved it and kept saying the name of the producer like the music artist Jason Derulio. So lame. So endearing. The stupid things you remember with wine...

Notes from day 2: reticent nose...coiled and not releasing much. A bit of violets and a bit of gasoline. Fruit still tastes youthful, but those mountain tannin have been completely tamed...smooth sailing right now. Orange rind and blackberries with a bit of cedar and dusty leather. It’s all there, but also a but muted...volume needs to be turned up a bit. Doesn’t feel like it’s declining, so perhaps in a dumb phase? I was dumb at 16. Just sayin’...

1/7/2021 - Philly NQ King wrote:

I don’t recall purchasing this wine, but - per the magic of Cellartracker - looks like I picked this up several years ago for a song ($17)

Notes from day 2: Still has grip and plenty of fruit, with great spice (clove & cinnamon) to compliment the strawberry and darker plum notes. Was distracted night one, but it couldn’t have been this good. A 9 year old pinot from Santa Maria that’s still going strong on day 2...for less than 20 bones? No complaints.

11/7/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Just arrived, so pulled a cork and gave it 60 minutes in the decanter. Typing day after + popping just off the truck + not serving at proper temp = not going to score. Impression was of a hugely extracted wine...perhaps too much so, at least at this stage. Massive tannin and massive everything. So, to the fun part...my guess is Outpost True Vineyard cab (made by TRB)

9/16/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

OK - finally took the plunge. Upon opening, it has rip-your-face-off tannins which only slightly subside on day one. Day two is much more mellow, but still with noticeable grip. Stating the obvious here, but this is painfully young. Weighty and intense, but more on the red spectrum of fruit than blue/black. Obvious quality and - while I'm not qualified to venture a guess as to it's roots, having never tasted the 'famous cult wines' personally - the flavor profile has me leaning more towards Screaming Eagle vs. Promontory. Petit Verdot, I know, I know...but can anyone else venture a better guess?

Bumping this up a point to 94. Just finished the last glass on night 3. Still grippy with tons of sweet (black cherry?), fully concentrated, red fruit. Tonight, compared it against another of the top values from the Wine Access portfolios...the 2016 Idiosyncrasy Reserve (the '16 Oakville is an embarrassment, the '16 Reserve a different story)...and it simply bested it in every way. The Idiosyncrasy was more silky smooth (Julien Fayard, so no surprise there), but the Yesterday had more weight, intensity of fruit, expression of flavor, etc. Clearly a step above. Doubt if will become available again. But if it does, i'm jumping with both feet...

9/2/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

My case arrived, but am hesitant to crack one given the varying opinions to-date. To satisfy my curiosity (I've been racking my brain), anyone care to venture a guess about the winery-behind-the-label? They claim a cult Oakville winery with prices starting at $500/btl. Could this possibly be BOND?

2/27/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Consumed after 3 (admittedly lighter) Bedrock Syrah bottles and this was in a completely different league. Depth, richness, complexity. Sonoma doesn't get much better than this. Had high expectations, but this exceeded them. Almost at peak (?) and can hold here for another 5-10 years. Impressive QPR.

2/27/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Mini-Horizontal w/ the '16 North Coast, '17 Coast to Foothills & '18 California Syrah bottles (all, essentially, the same blend). The '18 had the most weight, density and potential...but the finish clipped short and was still a bit angular. The '17 had much higher-toned red fruit and higher acidity...so likely the better food match (currently). The '16 was a great combination of both with more finesse and complexity that either of its younger siblings. The '16 and '18 were more in-line with the '17 a bit of an outlier stylistically. Ultimately, I think the '18 will be the better wine. For now (and for the next few years), however, the '16 is proof that I need to keep my hands off these wines upon release...

2/27/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Mini-Horizontal w/ the '16 North Coast, '17 Coast to Foothills & '18 California Syrah bottles (all, essentially, the same blend). The '18 had the most weight, density and potential...but the finish clipped short and was still a bit angular. The '17 had much higher-toned red fruit and higher acidity...so likely the better food match (currently). The '16 was a great combination of both with more finesse and complexity that either of its younger siblings. The '16 and '18 were more in-line with the '17 a bit of an outlier stylistically. Ultimately, I think the '18 will be the better wine. For now (and for the next few years), however, the '16 is proof that I need to keep my hands off these wines upon release...

2/27/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Mini-Horizontal w/ the '16 North Coast, '17 Coast to Foothills & '18 California Syrah bottles (all, essentially, the same blend). The '18 had the most weight, density and potential...but the finish clipped short and was still a bit angular. The '17 had much higher-toned red fruit and higher acidity...so likely the better food match (currently). The '16 was a great combination of both with more finesse and complexity that either of its younger siblings. The '16 and '18 were more in-line with the '17 a bit of an outlier stylistically. Ultimately, I think the '18 will be the better wine. For now (and for the next few years), however, the '16 is proof that I need to keep my hands off these wines upon release...

1/10/2020 - Philly NQ King wrote:

The Wine Access tasting note is overly generous. Too lean, too acidic and lacking both weight (to make it interesting now) and tannin (to make it interesting later). First bottle of a case and opened the day of arrival...finger's crossed this is simply bottle shock. If not, certainly not the Oakville cab that I expected when pulling the trigger on 12x...

3/2/2019 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Have had a handful of bottles over the past 3-4 years...and will be interested to follow my remaining bottles over the next 3-4. Piercing acidity lends itself to a savory wine...but one with luxurious oak treatment with an abundance of exotic herbal notes - juniper, dill, green peppercorn. Toss in a hint of pinesol and some mascerated cherries and you have an interesting wine that cerebral and keeps your attention...

3/2/2019 - Philly NQ King wrote:

GALAXIE500’s note below convinced me to pop my final bottle (3 of 3, purchased upon release)...and glad I did. Talk about ‘sweet spot’! Both prior bottles were consumed in ‘16 and were above-average, but underwhelming for a Mike Officer wine. Just needed a few more years. I recall the wine previously having a distinctive citrus/grapefruit flavor (I’ve noticed this in other Carlisle wines, but was less appealing in this application). Now, those flavors have evolved into more complex tropical qualities - ripe banana, coconut, papaya - alongside the traditional dark berry and spice notes more typical of zin. Highly interesting and highly appealing. Lesson learned - I drank my allocation too early/quickly...

1/8/2019 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Tasted side-by-side w/ Alpha Omega's 2016 Cab Franc for the national championship game. The Chappellet came out of the gate with a gorgeous and perfumed nose (esp. compared to the AO which was shy and giving up almost nothing), but left both bottles to breath for 90 minutes before tasting. Nose was still floral, but added dark chocolate and oak to the equation. Neither bottle lasted long enough to take detailed notes, but the Chappellet was a bit smoother and, to me, had more layers of flavor. Wife preferred the AO, for what that's worth. In the end, however, they were much more similar than they were different...

Oh, and Clemson won. It was a great night ;)

1/8/2019 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Tasted side-by-side w/ Chappellet's 2016 Cab Franc for the national championship game. The AO came out of the gate with a muted nose (esp. compared to Chappellet), so left both bottles to breath for 90 minutes before tasting. Nose had opened up a bit - dark chocolate, oak, and dark fruits. Neither bottle lasted long enough to take detailed notes, but the AO was the darker/bigger of the two...and my wife enjoyed it a tad more. Personally, I preferred the more perfumed and nuanced Chappellet a bit more. In the end, however, they were much more similar than they were different...

Oh, and Clemson won. It was a great night ;)

1/6/2019 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Nose is tight on the pop...not giving much. Initial taste is all strawberries and muted dirt - all Grenache and no real Syrah notes. An hour later, a completely different experience! The wine has gained weight and the violet notes from the Syrah start to shine.paired well with dark chocolate. Smooth, but still some notable tannin. Let it breath or give it another 1-2 years. OK value at $24. 87 at open - 89 by last sip

1/6/2019 - Philly NQ King wrote:

My last bottle...and first in 2 years. PnV. Nose is a nice blend of BdX dark fruit, cassis and graphite mixed with a good dose of Sangiovese-like acid and Tuscan dirt. Taste follows nose. Tannins still present, but nicely integrated. Acid, however, a bit aggressive and puckering. Let’s see where this goes with some air, but Initial impression = significantly more interesting than 2 years ago.

After 90 minutes of air, the BdX notes are mostly gone and the fruits have gone from black to red - much more CCR in style and delivery. Fruit is starting to fade and tannins remain strong. Preferred the wine at the cork-pull, so drink up.

I like it more than the wife...and she noticed a hint of effervescence (wasn’t there after air) that I didn’t. We both agree that blackberry, sour cherry and citrus notes (esp at pop) are most evident. Likely at peak, so - again - drink up. For the $19 I paid, a very nice QPR that’s not in our traditional lane.

6/17/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

The greatest young wine I've ever tasted. Was worried it wouldn't live up to the hype, but was absolutely singing after a quick 1 hour decant. Violets, perfume, Cuban cigar and asphalt...and a finish that sailed on for a full minute. Wow!

3/2/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

I get the CdP reference, but don't expect any funk or nuance at this stage...it's all about the fruit. Much more aromatic and open on day 2 vs. PnP night 1. 90 upon opening, 92 with proper air. Doesn't feel like this is one for the deep cellar corner, but 2-3 years should do it good.

2/15/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Significantly better than prior years...but not quite up to Parker's rating. Tons of cocoa powder, ripe fruit and tannin (especially before the hour mark) - this is a massive wine that coats the palate. Tons of weight and flavor, but needs a tad more acidity IMHO and does have a slightly artificial taste profile. Overall, a very nice wine and priced about right.

2/14/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Tasted alongside the Limerick Lane '14 Bedrock bottling. Great compare/contrast of the winemaker's styles. At initial PnP, the Limerick clearly had the better nose, more body, etc. Was a bit surprised and, honestly, a bit disappointed...but that didn't last long. After an hour of air, the nose just soared from the glass - so much lift, so much energy. My nose actually tingled with each deep inhale. Medium bodied (especially compared to the heavier Limerick), but - in the end - I'd put this on-par with their '14 Montafi and is one of the better Zins I've had in quite some time...

2/14/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Tasted alongside Carlisle's '14 Bedrock bottling. Great compare/contrast of winemaking styles. Limerick was darker in color, thicker in the mouth, and more immediately appealing. With air/time, however, we noticed a bit of palate fatigue from this one and started gravitating towards the lift and energy showcased by the Carlisle. Still a fantastic wine - Limerick rarely disappoints.

1/27/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

While certainly lifted (as a cool-climate Syrah should be) with a touch of smoke (just as I recall from prior vintages), it simply doesn't have the depth or complexity (yet?) as the '14. Finish is a bit short too. Give it a year or two, but still enjoyable now.

1/27/2017 - Philly NQ King wrote:

While certainly interesting, different, and a cool story to tell while contemplating the juice...it's ultimately not that good.

1/28/2016 - Philly NQ King wrote:

It's been 2+ years since last sampling and - I suppose this is a positive - it's holding steady. Consistently below average and consistently disappointing...but not the grape piss others describe either. Tart? Yup. Slightly medicinal? Oh yeah. Drinkable, but why bother...

Needed space in the cellar (that this was wasting) so decided to dump my last 6 bottles (a solid $40 investment) - this note is consistent with 4 of the bottles tasted before the drain. The other 2 appeared flawed and/or were more indicative of the scathing reviews by others.

3/2/2015 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Solid juice with brambly blackberry and black cherry notes on the nose and palate. Also present, yet subdued, were the smokey/toasty notes from barrel. Decent length and very smooth, as the tannins have almost completely resolved. My last bottle, but I'd recommend drinking up in the next 2 years...

3/2/2015 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Very concentrated for a CdR with a rich mouthfeel. The initial funk blew off after about an hour, but a strange effervescence remained. It didn't taste flawed, per se, but I prefer that red wine doesn't tickle my throat. Weird and unpleasant.

4/24/2013 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Not near as horrendous as prior notes would imply, but still not that good. Pissed I was suckered into a case purchase of this...

3/9/2013 - Philly NQ King wrote:

More than a year since my last bottle and what a difference. All my bottles are from the original batch, but have still experienced plenty of bottle variation. This bottle - fantastic. Balance, spice, depth and complexity. My other bottles were NOT like this...too bad this was my last.

12/1/2012 - Philly NQ King Likes this wine:

One of the better recent PLCB Chairman's and a great qpr at $15. Full bodied and smooth with a nice Christmas spice component...

11/14/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Much bigger wine from what I recall of the '07...and a better wine overall. Glycerine mouthfeel with blue fruits, Christmas spice, and a touch o' heat. Smooth and savory with only the slightest hint of tannin, this will be a crowd pleaser and one to ideally enjoy over the next few years. I think I've found my holiday juice!

10/28/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Better on day 2, so I think this juice still has a few more years of peak drinking. Sweet fragrant nose and pleasant brambly zin-like notes on the palate. Smooth, smooth, smooth. A touch simple, but a very nice effort...continue to be impressed with this producer.

10/27/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Not really sure how to rate this. My first taste of mature Barolo, so no reference point on quality. This was certainly an intellectually engaging wine. Subtle flavors and a light body require your attention to appreciate. Orange, clove, tar, cranberry, and rose petals. Fully resolved (but still evident) tannin. A faint nose that's full of funk and earth. Pleasurable, but not in a traditional sense. The wife found it disgusting - I found it engaging.

10/22/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Classic WA elegance here, folks. Raspberries, blueberries & violets on the nose. A similar flavor profile with the addition of graphite and cedar fleshing out the lenghy finish. Medium bodied and still tasting youthful, this clearly has years to go. I'm a fan.

10/15/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Finally a Spanish wine where I agree with RP's score. Yup, it really is that good. Drinking perfectly now, but can easily hold for another 5-10. Mature notes accented with cedar and red licorice with persistent (but well integrated) tannin. Sexy 1.5l bottle, individually numbered, and a cool story (an almost extinct clone of tempranillo with velvety leaves) mean this is the perfect "wow" wine to serve with guests without breaking the bank. An unbelievable deal at $40/magnum...just picked up 6 more!

10/7/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Needs serious time to breath, but the reward is worth the wait. Continues to improve w/ a bit of age...too bad this was my last bottle. Should be singing in another few years. Huge new world wine, so just make sure you're in the mood before popping the cork...

9/28/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

What a change! It's been 2 years since I last popped a cork on this bottle, and it's amazing what time has done. The oak has largely subsided, leaving a nicely complex and smooth drinking medium-bodied bdx blend. Smoke, lavender, and a lengthy finish highlight the evolution. One left and I'll see what another 2 years can do...

9/22/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

The purity of fruit is amazing...a laser-beam of high-toned purple and spice! A big wine, but not obnoxiously massive like some other Zins...nothing flabby about this juice. Perfect structure hints at a long life ahead, but drinking nicely now (improved with air - decanting is recommended). Best Zin I've ever had. Period.

9/17/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

As a Gus Anderson wine proclaiming to be "right bank" in style...and from a vineyard located right next door to Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyard, I fully expected this wine to be a bargain ACV Right Bank. Nope. It was a good wine and certainly hinted at bdx, but barely a shadow of the wine it aspires to be. If these two wines are any indication, Todd Anderson's talents have easily exceeded those of his old man...

9/15/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Nicely matured bdx Cali blend. Short of spectacular, but you can still smell/taste the quality of this juice. Peaking now, but should easily glide through the next 2-3 years...

9/14/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Amazingly young, fresh and vibrant for an 11 year old bottle of juice! Mature notes of leather and dark cherry are evident, but so too are the youthful tannins. Full bodied with a long, dry finish. Consumed over 2 hours and it kept getting better, so next time I'll decant to tame some of the fierce tannins. Years and years of life left. Will seak out more at the current sale price...

9/11/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Stunning bottle and easily the best of 3 I've consumed to date! Wild cherry and licorice highlilght the nose and palate while the terroir-driven finish lingers with a lasting sweet cherry impression. With plenty of structure remaining, this juice could easily go for 5 more years, but is in a perfect drinking window right now.

9/11/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

J2K hit the descriptors on the head below. Glad I didn't pay retail price, though...

9/10/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

PnP was a mistake - too sweet and one-dimensional initially, but the second glass showed beautiful lifted red fruits. Still tasted sweet, but in a complex and elegant way. A nice change of pace from my usual Cab/Rhone preference.

9/10/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Very rich and purple-y, with black fruits, charcoal and a nice floral element. Not very complex (why would it be at this age?), but decadent and delicious. From 375ml.

9/7/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Better on day 2, so decant or continue to hold. MASSIVE wine...wow...tannin, blackberry, cedar and black cassis forever. Balanced despite its size. I'll try to lay off my last bottle for a few years?

9/7/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Immediately open and ready for business! Yonster really nailed this with the first post - Cuban cigar dipped in blackberry preserves...but not overdone. Restrained, elegant, and demands your attention. Yonster, if you're reading this...pop another bottle as its clearly come out of hibernation. Verry impressed with this producer...

9/4/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Slightly better than I recall, but still not impressed. Too sour with an orange juice twang on the finish. The slightly drying tannin are starting to overtake the fading fruit.

8/31/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

I respectfully disagree with the last taster's notes (and the community window) regarding drinking window - this wine has several peak years remaining! Very CdP-like in structure and aroma - the tannins have soften, but are still clearly evident, and a nose of licorice, strawberry & raspberry preserves and provencial herbs jumps from the glass. The fruit has started to mature, but vivid and deep berry notes remain. I'm very impressed with this wine and essentially stole it for the $12 pricetag I paid. Another stunning deal from PA's serious wine sale...

8/26/2012 - Philly NQ King wrote:

Wow - I was blown away by this juice! Allowed 4+ hours to breath and it was the consensus and run-away WOTN. Went well with multiple courses and on it's own. Still seems young, given its age...so assume this has plenty of life left. Agree with all of yonster24's descriptors below (full bodied, complex, leather, earth, olives, cherries, etc.) but want to especially highlight the nose. What a nose! As complex and intriguing a nose as I've ever encountered with a Cali Cab. At the price I paid, this was an absolute steal and I'll be ordering more...