5/8/2024 - eyewino wrote:

PnP. Pale yellow fading quickly to a thin watery rim. Mild nose of lemon zest, ripe apple, and pear. On the palate it is plush with medium acidity, medium high body, and flavors of pear and saline. Short finish. It became more expressive as it warmed. While I appreciate the mouthfeel, the passive aromas and flavors are just not enough to recommend it. Maybe past its prime?

5/6/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Medium orange in the glass fading to a watery rim. With six years time, this does not appear very "rose" colored. The nose is still vibrant - strawberry, lime, and melon with a whif of dried herbs. The palate is dry with a bit of tannin, medium-to-high acidity, and flavors of melon, mineral, and thyme. Really good. It keeps evolving in the glass. Over an hour it softened and became more juicy. Most roses would not last this long. I'm glad I held this one back. Drink now, but who knows - it may ladt acfew more years.

4/27/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Dark ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Cedar, dark berries, vanilla, and dried herbs on the nose - beautiful. On the palate I am finding smooth but persistent tannins, medium acidity, a full body, and flavors of more dark and red fruits and oaky vanilla.

Not terribly complex, but I really like this wine, especially at the price point. Heck, I really like Rioja, so I am absolutely biased. But trust me, this is a good one. Drink now or hold for another ten years - Riojas last a long time.

4/27/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Medium ruby almost fading to pink with a thin watery rim. On the nose, I get cranberry, strawberry, and baking spices. The palate shows medium body, low, but acumulating tannins, good tannins, and flavors of tart cherry, more baking spice, and a medium-length finish.

Juicy. Not my preferred region or style of wine. But drinkable. Put it in the fridge for a few minutes and drink it on the patio. Serve it with barbecued chicken. Drink it, don't think too much about it. Drink now through 2025.

4/24/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Brilliant light gold fading quickly to a clear watery rim. Green apple, lime, white peach, and mineral on the nose. In the mouth it is Light-to-medium bodied, with medium-to-high acidity, flavors of green apple, unripe pear, and sour patch kids (minus the sugar). Medium long aftertaste of mineral and pucker.

Recommend. A very good presentation of the grape from a top producer. You will be rewarded if you have held yours this long. Drink now through 2028.

4/22/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

PnP. Brilliant straw/gold fading quickly to a watery rim. Fresh lemon, lemon zest, green apple, and fresh-cut rubber on the nose. Palate is light-bodied with focused acidity, flavors of lemon pith, mineral, and talc. Long finish.

I don't give high scores lightly. This is really, really good! I wish I had bought more at the winery. This wine is why my wife and I love Mosel Riesling. It is so focused, on-point, and delicious. Paired very well with citrus salmon, but I'm sure it would complement many dishes and overshadow (but not overwhelm) many others. I'm not sure it is available in the US, but if you can get your hands on this, do so. Drink now through 2040. Delicious!

4/21/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Deep garnet fading to brick red with a thin watery rim. On the nose is dark cherry, stewed tomato, a bit of forest floor and some tobacco. The palate is Full-bodied and dark with medium tannins, medium acidity, and an astringent finish of dark fruit and prunes.

This is past its prime. I will drink it, but I'm sure it was better three years ago.

4/17/2024 - eyewino Does not like this wine:

Deep ruby becoming crimson towards the edge with practically no watery rim. Huge red and dark fruits on the nose with just a hint of pyrazine (bell pepper) at the end. Palate is full-bodied with fine but strong tannins, medium acidity, and overwhelming flavors of boysenberry and vanilla. Medium length finish.
I wanted to like this. I am a big Loire Cab Franc guy. The nose had promise...kind of. Unfortunately, the palate is a typical over-the-top big Cali spoofified, megapurpled, monstrosity that reminds me why I don't generally like California wines. (Sigh) Oh well. Drink whenever - it doesn't really matter...

4/12/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Medium to dark ruby in the glass. Thin pink rim. No signs of aging after five years. On the nose is raspberry, forest floor, and cherry pit. Medium-bodied with low tannins, flavorscof more red berries and mineral. Short aftertaste of cherry.

Eh. Fine. Not great. Certainly not exciting. Probably past its prime. Drink 1-3 years ago.

4/10/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Very dark ruby core fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Expressive nose of dark raspberry, dark cherry, barnyard and sweet tobacco. Palate is of more dark red fruits and mineral. Full-bodied with grainy tannins, this leads to a medium-length aftertaste of cherry and eucalyptus.

This was the third of my six bottles. The first was tasted two years ago and had much more barnyard funk. The funk seems to have receded (darn it!) and been replaced with more primary dark red fruits. Paired very well with grilled venison and mushroom risotto. Good now, but I will hold my next bottle for a couple years and the last for perhaps six more years.

4/8/2024 - eyewino Does not like this wine:

Bright straw color fading to a clear rim. Very muted nose of apple, clover, and perhaps some wet stone. Light-to-medium bodied on the palate with goid acidity and flavors of yellow apple, unripe peach, and dried herbs. Short finish. Disappointing. Not recommended.

4/8/2024 - eyewino wrote:

PnP. Bright ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Notes of fresh cherry on the nose along with cola, barnyard, and smoke. Medium body on the palate with medium acidity, medium tannins, and a disappointingly simple flavor of sour cherry leading to a medium-length finish.

Gosh, a lot of medium descriptors here. This Haskell's staple is fine, but not special. Spend a few extra dollars/euros for something more distinctive. Drink now through 2026.

4/6/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Brilliant ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Fresh strawberry on the nose with mushroom, and forest floor. On the palate is medium tannins, ripping acidity, and flavors of raspberry, mineral, and barnyard. Long finish. Recommended. Drink now through 2027.

4/5/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Bright and very pale straw in the glass. Aggressive nose of lemon, lemon zest, tangerine, and mineral. Light bodied with zippy strong acidity, and flavors that follow nose with the addition of talc. Long finish.

This is really good. I would consider this winery a Saar Valley gem. Only 8.5% ABV. Drink now, but can be held 10+ years.

4/3/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Bright straw-yellow in the glass. Nose of nectarine, lemon-lime, and orange blossom. Light bodied on the palate with high acidity, and flavors of lemon-lime soda, nectarine, and a hint of mineral. Medium length aftertaste of talc and white flowers.

Fairly solid Pfalz representation of Riesling. I am not generally a fan of this particular winery, but I can't say I dislike this bottle. But I will say there are better values. Drink now through 2028.

4/1/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Brilliant ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose of cranberry, tart cherry, forest floor, allspice, and cola. There's a lot happening here. Medium-bodied, low-medium tannins, good acidity, and flavors of tobacco juice, red fruits, and astringency. Medium length finish of tobacco. I enjoyed the nose far more than the palate. Paired well with Korean barbecued chicken. A "thinking person's" pinot. Drink now or hold through 2028.

3/8/2024 - eyewino Does not like this wine:

Brilliant ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose of raspberry, bing cherry, crushed rock, and A LOT of smoke/ash. Palate is medium-bodied with good acidity, but is dominated by a harsh smokey taste that dominates any fruit flavors. Medium length finish of smoke and red berries.

I tasted this at the winery and liked it enough to hand-carry a bottle home to the US. I can't believe it tasted like this at the winery - there is no way I would have wanted more. Smoke taint? Flawed? If this is a flaw in the winemaking process, it is unlike any other I have experienced. I guess I will leave it without a numerical rating, since I am not sure this bottle is representative of the wine in general. The rest of the bottle was poured down the drain.

EDIT - tasted four hours later, it was obviously just extremely CORKED.

3/5/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Brilliant pale straw in the glass. Ripe pineapple, red apple. And mango on the nose. Palate is light-bodied with high-minus acidity. Flavors of more pineapple, peach, and mineral lead to a medium-length finish.

As mentioned by another taster, this has more sweetness than expected for a kabinett. The flavors are quite ripe - I am not sure if this is due to a warm year, or just a particular location that is in a warm pocket of land. Not my favorite example of a German Riesling, but then I much prefer Mosel to Rheingau.

2/4/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Amber to orange quickly fading to a thin watery rim. The nose has bits of orange blossom, white flowers, tangerine, and saline. Light-bodied on the palate with good acidity, mild gentle tannins, and flavors that follow the nose, with addition of unripe apricot. Short finish. Dry. 13.0% ABV

What a great summer wine! While technically orange, I see this not as "challenging" as many orange wines for casual drinkers. It is refreshing, food-friendly across a variety of proteins and vegetables, and a great introduction to orange wine for those who may want to dabble in that direction. It is certainly not profound, but it isn't trying to be. I really like it for what it is - a highly affordable, fun, delicious wine. Highly recommended!

1/29/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Very pale yellow at its core fading quickly to clear. Pleasant nose of lemon zest, lemon juice, and white flowers. Very light-bodied with medium plus acidity, notes of lemon and a little mineral with a short finish.
Purchased at the winery for a mere $6 USD, this is a simple, quaffable, thirst-quenching wine. Think of it as the Pinot Grigio of German wines. Not profound, but perfect for a warm day on the patio.

1/28/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Light straw color fading quickly to clear, which extends to the rim. Nose of pure fresh-cut lemon with a touch of talc. On the palate it is light-bodied with mouth-puckering acidity, flavors of lemon, lime, and chalk. Medium length aftertaste of the same. Well-made.

We are high-volume Riesling lovers. This is a top-tier producer from an iconic region for the grape. Yeah - it all works. As is often the case with Mosel Riesling, fabulous QPR. Drink now through 2026 or 2031 - 2040.

1/27/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Medium yellow in the glass fading to clear. Notes of lemon, pear, and thyme/tarragon on the nose. Medium-bodied, medium plus acidity, palate has more lemon, a touch of oakiness, and a medium-length saline finish.

Bravo! Complex, a little savory, delicious - everything I often want in a white wine with dinner. It paired very well with rosemary chicken. I'll bet it goes even better with the seafood paella we plan on making next week. A steal at the $17USD I paid. Drink now through 2026. Highly recommended.

1/21/2024 - eyewino wrote:

PnP with no decant. Medium ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose of cherry, cola, and a little green vegetal note (I see what Sranrocks was talking about). Medium bodied with mild tannins and medium acidity. Medium length aftertaste of cherry bell pepper (yes, the Cab Franc analogy sticks), and mineral.

I purchased this at Costco based on the producer's excellent reputation. Obviously, based on price, I realized this would be an entry-level offering. The Archery Summit bottles I have had in past were far more elegant than this. But they were a lot more expensive, too. I guess I was hoping this would punch well above its price point. Alas, my hopes are not realized. It's a decent Pinot Noir, but I won't be buying more than the two I purchased. I will lay the other one down for a few years and see if it improves.

1/15/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Very pale gold fading quickly to clear. Nose if fresh lemon, lemon zest, and talc. The palate is very light-bodied with mouth-puckering acidity, more lemon, mineral, and a medium-long finish.
Quite good, especially for the $16 USD I paid for it at the winery. Recommended now through 2030.

1/10/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

My review of two months ago is still largely correct to me, but the petrol I wanted seems present in this bottle. That nudges the score up considerably. I hope I can find the willpower to sit on my final bottle for 5-10 years.

1/10/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Fourteen months since my previous review. I stand by my earlier notes with the possible substitution of raspberry instead of strawberry. No change in score

1/9/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Purchased at the winery. PnP. Bright yellow in the glass. Nose of fresh lemon, lemon curd, and clover. Light bodied on the palate with zingy, electric acidity and slight sweetness. Flavors follow nose. Medium length aftertaste of mineral.

This is a very good example of feinherb Riesling. It is not very complex, but it is delicious. Low (9.8%) ABV. Equally good as an accompaniment to a light meal or on its own on a warm patio. Drink now through 2027.

1/6/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Pale straw in the glass with a thin watery rim. Ripe lemon, thyme, and white flowers on the nose. On the palate, it is light-bodied with high acidity, a subtle creaminess, and flavors of fresh lemon, wet stone and talc. Medium length aftertaste.

This is a good, not great Vouvray. It paired very well with grilled pork chops, but it would accompany many pork, chicken, and seafood dishes with aplomb. Definitely worth the $22USD I spent on it.

1/4/2024 - eyewino wrote:

PnP. Medium vibrant violet fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose gives cranberry, green pepper, and a little raspberry. On the palate it is medium-bodied with medium plus acidity and medium plus tannins. Flavors follow nose.

Good example of a Loire Cab Frac. Good price point. Natural cork. Recommended if you are new to the region/varietal. Drink now or hold through 2030.

1/3/2024 - eyewino wrote:

Medium ruby in the glass quickly fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose of red cherry, dried herbs, and a little cola. Palate is medium-bodied with low tannins, good acidity, and flavors of soft cherry with a medium-length aftertaste.

This tastes more new-world than I expected (or wanted). No notes of mushroom, forest floor, etc. Don't get me wrong - its not bad at all, just not what I want from a Pinot Noir. It is a decent entry level Pinot, but certainly not from Burgundy. Drink now through 2027.

1/2/2024 - eyewino wrote:

PnP. Pale orange in the glass fading to a thin watery rim. Nose actually gives quite a bit of orange peel, along with dried strawberries, mild herbs, and furniture polish. Medium-bodied with medium plus acidity, tastes of lanolin, dried orange, and talc. Medium minus tannins. Previous vintages have tasted "fresher". This is a beginners orange wine without the heavy tannins and challenging flavors many others have. Think of it as a heavy rose. Drink now through 2025.

1/1/2024 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Pale yellow fading to a thin watery rim. Nose of white flowers, lemon, and a trace of wet stone. Light-to-medium bodied, medium-to-high acidity. Flavors of overripe lemon, quince, tropical fruit, and lemongrass. Medium length aftertaste smacking of salinity earing the bottle its moniker.

The blend is "50% Riesling, 30% Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Mucat, and few others." Low (12.5%) alcohol. To me, this is an old world wine from the new world. I really like it. It paired amazing well with citrus salmon - the Gewurtztraminer gives me the aromatic nose, the Riesling has the fruit (and acidity) to go with the citrus, and the Pinot Blanc has the perfect amount of body for the heavyish fish. On its own, it has the balance of fruit and body to succeed as well. Gimme a case. Highly recommended, especially for the price.

12/21/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Pale ruby fading quickly to rust/orange with a clear rim. Cherry, sandalwood, and damp earth on the nose. Light-to-medium bodied on the palate with mild tannins and low to medium acidity. Flavors of redand dark berries and graphite. Short dusty finish.

I want to like this. But I'm not quite there. I want more...something - berry, earth, mineral. Something to give this an identity. It's fine. I will finish the bottle. But I will not buy another.

12/20/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Garnet in the glass fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose hits with raspberry, cranberry, forest floor, and purple flowers. On the palate it has high acidity, low tannins, medium body, and flavors of sour cherry and a long earthy finish.

Gamay from Slovena...recommended. I am a Cru Beaujolais fan, but this hits a little differently. The earth is more pronounced. It is almost like a Cru Boujoulais/ Earthy Pinot Noir mashup. I had it with a pork chop and STRONG mushroom and onion sauce. I found myself appreciating the earthy components, and wanting less cherry/berry. Appreciate it for what it is - a well-made wine from an underappreciated region. Drink now through 2026.

12/13/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Decanted 30 minutes before first tasting. Medium ruby fading to pink - this wine appears youthful. Big nose of blackberries, tar, purple flowers, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, Medium plus acidity, medium shaggy tannins on the palate with flavors of cherry, dark berries, and herbs. Long finish.

After two hours, the blackberry faded, leather emerged. More tertiary flavors become prevalent. It's more integrated. I wish I had purchased more of this. It is fantastic. Paired beautifully with classic lemon/rosemary/garlic lamb loin. Drink now through 2032 with a generous decant.

12/11/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Medium ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Raspberry, cola, and a hint of sweetness (alcohol?) on the nose. Medium bodied with medium minus acidity, palate of cranberry and cherry. Short aftertaste.

Bummer. I have had decent bottles from this producer in the past. This one doesn't cut it. I would not think four years is too old. Bad vintage? Off bottle? Can't recommend.

12/11/2023 - eyewino Does not like this wine:

Pop and pour. Sangiovese 37%, Merlot 32%, Cabernet Sauvignon 31%. Deep ruby in the glass with a thin pink transition and a watery rim. Nose hits hard with cedar, dark fruits, deep plumb, and sassafras. Full-bodied, medium minus acidity, palate of licorice, dark fruit, and...cork? Heavy coating tannins. Medium length finish.

Admittedly, I am not a fan of super Tuscans. I find Cab Sauv easily dominates anything it is blended with. This wine is what I expected - heavy, tannic, brooding, and monolithic. Not much change on the second evening. I'm sure many people will enjoy it more than I do. To me, it tastes like it could be from anywhere. It overwhelmed my charcuterie board. Not recommended now through 2027.

12/6/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Bright straw in the glass. On the nose is lemon, herbs, and chalk. Medium-to-light-bodied, high acidity, lemon pith and talc. Long finish.

Good chablis. Solid, correct. Very good food wine. Drink now through 2029.

11/28/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Beautiful pale straw yellow in the glass. Muted nose of lemon curd, unripe peach, and white flowers. On the palate it is light-bodied with high acidity and notes of tart apple and lemon.

Very linear. Beautiful, elegant, balanced, but lacking some of the petrol that I love in Mosel rieslings. Beautiful label on the bottle, too. Drink now or hold for as long as 10-15 years.

11/24/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

PnP. Beautiful straw color in the glass. On the nose is stone fruit, lemon, and white pepper. Light-bodied, high acidity, and flavors of meyer lemon, unripe pear, and green apple on the palate. Medium length aftertaste.

This is a well-integrated wine from a great site and a good vintage. What's not to like? Pair with light protein, veggies, spicy foods....Drink now through 2029.

11/24/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Medium ruby quickly fading to pink with a watery rim. Red and dark berries, plumb, forest floor, and a little baking spice on the nose. Delicate mouthfeel with good acidity, mild fine-grained tannins, and slightly muted flavors of plumb and forest floor leading to a medium-length finish.

I like it. Definitely a lighter Pinot in the Burgundy model. Big Cali Pinot fans will not like this. Wonderful nose, falls a little flat on the palate. Recommended for the price.

11/15/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Two hour decant. Dark ruby with slight bricking leading to a thin watery rim. Generous nose of dark berries, herbs, coffee, and a sweet alcoholic ending note. Full-bodied, gentle tannins, medium acidity, and flavors of cassis, chocolate, and leather lead to a long finish.

Very good. Great year, of course. Give it plenty of air. Drink now through 2035.

11/10/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Medium ruby with only very slight bricking - it appears very youthful for a 16 year old wine. Nose of dark berries, mushroom, undercooked bacon, and wet stones. Medium-bodied in the mouth with aggressive tannins, medium-plus acidity, and secondary flavors of more dark fruits, tertiary flavors of leather, and blood.

This wine still has 10+ years of good drinking. Initial notes made only 30 minutes after opening. Ninety minutes later the tannins had settled down and the wine was much more integrated. Paired beautifully with lamb marinated in garlic, rosemary, and lemon. Decant at least two hours. Beautiful. I wish I had two bottles so I could open the next one in 2030, but probably not a repeat buy at the $107 USD I paid.

11/8/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Acetone. Some strawberry and darker berries underlying. Challenging. After reading previous reviews, I have to think this bottle is the outlayer.

11/7/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Pop and pour. Medium ruby fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Strawberry, herbs, and vanilla on the nose. Full-bodied with medium-high tannins, medium acidity, and a surprisingly long finish of red berries, sweet tobacco, and dried herbs.

I purchased this Rogue River Valley (Oregon) non-vintage blend at the winery just over two years ago. It consists of 41% Grenache, 31% Syrah, and 28% Tempranillo. 13.8% ABV. While I am not generally a Grenache fan, and I think the RRV is still searching for an identity as an AVA, this little wine is a gem - it tastes "old world" to me. I really like its balance and integration. Drink now through 2025. Well, at least this bottle - as a NV label, I don't know how that applies to yours.

11/6/2023 - eyewino wrote:

PnP. Medium to light ruby in the glass fading to pink with a thin watery rim. Nose of sour cherry, leather, and herbs. Medium-bodied, high acidity, medium low tannins, and tastes of cherry and cedar, with a medium-length finish.

Not terribly complex, but the striking acidity makes it a very food-friendly wine. Drink now, as I fear it is on the downhill slope.

11/5/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Dark magenta fading to red with a thin watery edge. Dark and red fruits, vanilla and herbs on the nose. Full-bodied, strong tannins coat the cheeks, low-medium acidity, and flavors more dark fruit and plumb lead to a medium-length drying finish.

Perfectly fine. As with most Portuguese red wines I have tried over the last several years, it seems to be a decent wine at a very good price point. But it isn't something that wants me to pour a second glass.

11/3/2023 - eyewino Likes this wine:

Medium-to-dark ruby fading to pink. Not much watery edge. This wine appears much younger than its seven years. Big nose of dark fruits, damp earth, purple flowers, tar, sweet tobacco, bacon fat...this has a lot going on. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, flavors of tar, sour cherry, violets, and herbs lead to a long finish.

Oh my goodness this is good! It punches far above its price point. It is better and more representative of Northern Rhone than some Hermitages I have had. Decant for at least an hour or two. Drink now or hold for another 5-10 years.

10/29/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Slow ox for 2 hours. Dark ruby with a very thin pink transition zone leaving an even thinner watery rim. Tart red fruit and bell pepper dominate the nose with minor floral and dried fruit notes. Medium-bodied, almost scathingly tart acidity, flavors of violets, cranberry, and mineral lead to a medium-length finish.

Admittedly, I am a Loire Valley Cab Franc fan. This is a fair, but not fantastic representation of the genre. The pyrazines run a bit high. A good pairing with many foods (thank you, high acidity), drink now through 2026.

10/27/2023 - eyewino wrote:

Almost transparent straw in the glass. Restrained nose of lemon and beeswax. Light to medium bodied, medium low acidity, waxy/lanolin mouthfeel, flavors of white flowers and lemon pledge.

Better as it warmed - more expressive. More of a food wine than a stand-alone sipper. Drink now through 2025.