1/6/2024 - Vandiner wrote:

Decanted for only an hour. Initially quite subdued, maybe because of transitioning from an in-the-pocket CCR to this wine. Opened up in the glass, and was complex, balanced and delicious. Lots of life left (and I have 3 more:)

12/17/2023 - Vandiner wrote:

no notes but yummy

11/17/2023 - Vandiner wrote:

Very nice shortly after opening (90), but fruit and complexity faded within a couple of hours (88)

10/28/2023 - Vandiner wrote:

A bit strange - almnost overwhelming nutmeg, cinnamon and potpourri on the nose, better on the pallet and eventually, when the nose settled down, a nice wine - a decant would have been a good idea.

9/7/2023 - Vandiner wrote:

With DF1962.
Holding up well, impressively youthful for the vintage. Juicy, new world style chianti, but super yummy.

12/31/2022 - Vandiner wrote:

A gift from a friend many years ago. Pleasantly surprised - quality Meritage - perfect with a nice striploin. Holding up very nicely.

9/3/2022 - Vandiner wrote:

Still a baby - decant required.

9/3/2022 - Vandiner wrote:

Drinking beautifully.

3/4/2022 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Slightly off-dry - like US zinfandels commonly are - this wine opens up and settles with 20 minutes of air. Fine dark cherry chocolate with a side of espresso. Beautifully balanced, light tannins and a silky finish. Beautiful. Will rebuy and put one down for 5 - 8 years to see what happens

1/15/2022 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Amazing CDR-V - maybe the best I have ever had. Forward dusty blackberry blueberry fruit with a touch of white chocolate. Maybe a bit of residual sweetness but integrated, seamless and delicious. Astonishing value. Can't wait (but will) to get into the Gigondas's from same producer.

12/29/2021 - Vandiner wrote:

What a great value. Not spectacular but delicious and impossible to criticize (and cellarable to boot).

12/19/2021 - Vandiner wrote:

Harmonious and at its peak.

11/20/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Yummy. I saw the lower rating on CT and the end date of 2020 so popped and poured. Was much better than expected (later noticed that the CT score was based on a single rating). Classic cab-based Bordeaux, medium/full body, subtle tannins, drink now or keep.

8/14/2021 - Vandiner wrote:

Corked.

7/14/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Enjoyed this a lot. Medium to full body. Dark fruit flavours. Balanced. Perfectly stepped back from being a fruit bomb.

7/10/2021 - Vandiner wrote:

Consumed over 3 days - delicious but not spectacular - needs time for complexities to develop. Have another bottle will wait a few 5 - 8 years.

7/1/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Didn't enjoy as much as first bottle - nice wine but seemed to fade over evening 1 and was a bit flat on day 2

7/10/2021 - Vandiner wrote:

Yummy. 90 minute decant. Was perfect with striploin on arugula salad. Drink now - has some life but not a complexity that suggests waiting any longer.

2/14/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely, some life left but no reason to keep longer; would be hard to distinguish from Bordeaux if tasted blind - delicious.

1/10/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Yummy. Slightly outshined a Chasse Spleen of the same vintage.

1/10/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Drinking nicely. Nothing particularly noteworthy but went great with a beautiful rack of lamb.

1/1/2021 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

drinking beautifully - worth the wait

12/31/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Smooth, balanced and delicious. No flaws. Still has life but I would drink up.

12/25/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully. Had this with our Christmas dinner and didn't make any particular notes. Rich, balanced, and delicious. I have another bottle yay!

10/10/2020 - Vandiner wrote:

Clean, gulp-able, delicious. But, subdued and somewhat closed. In all honesty, I wished that I had waited longer on this bottle - the notes would come out with air and age.

8/29/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Really enjoyable - consistent with my previous review

8/22/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

PnP as wasn't planning on opening another bottle - probably better than this rating but didn't give it much chance to open up. Definitely should decant and let breathe but certainly an outstanding wine.

8/19/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

PnP. A little initial funk on the nose that went away with 20 minutes in the glass - after that gorgeous. Medium to full body with lots of dark fruit on nose and palate. Nice finish. Held up well and drinking beautifully.

8/6/2020 - Vandiner wrote:

Lots of Brunello character. Massive dark fruit on the nose - though a touch disjointed - delicious and balanced on the palate. Settled down a bit on day two. Has life ahead.

8/8/2020 - Vandiner wrote:

PnP, seemed a little subdued, understated - fine but probably should've decanted.

7/10/2020 - Vandiner wrote:

Another bottle put away in unexceptional storage conditions that has held up amazingly well. After being open for a couple of hours a dusty dark cherry nose comes out. Easy to drink, but the finish is not long. Delicious but fading.

7/1/2020 - Vandiner wrote:

Disappointing

7/5/2020 - Vandiner wrote:

I put a couple of these in deep storage as a bit of an experiment and this has held up nicely. PnP and didn't like much, but really opened up after a while and was even better on day 2. I have another bottle, despite its age - will decant 2-4 hours before consuming.

7/4/2020 - Vandiner Does not like this wine:

Corked - put a couple of bottles (along with a few other everyday wines) in deep storage - I'll see if the other holds up.

6/20/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

A mature Zin at the end of its plateau. No rush, it has the stuff to stay where it is for a couple of years but will not improve. Even so, this still needs some air to open up. Decant gently and enjoy. Yumm.

5/17/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

This has lots of life and is maybe even better than 92. PnP and was great after just a little air. Good chat over dinner - more detailed notes next time :)

5/17/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Cola, vanilla, maybe a bit of date on the nose, so nicely balanced. Simply a great bottle of wine for the money. Still has life - no hurry, better on day 2.

2/1/2020 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

PnP, evolved and opened up over the evening, dusty cigar box on nose, young but dark fruit flavours - early fruit compote - balanced. Lovely to drink right out of the bottle and after 2 - 3 hours of air. Bad match though for spicy Italian sausage pasta - but would be great with something like mushroom risotto (next time). Not for ageing, but would improve with a vigorous decant.

11/30/2019 - Vandiner wrote:

Blackberries, white pepper and a hint of vanilla on the nose. Medium-full body, balanced with a reasonably lingering finish. Has life, but not for too long, perfect to consume over two nights.

11/12/2019 - Vandiner wrote:

Drinking beautifully. Subtle, balanced with cola and fruit compote notes. Not too much life left, but still vibrant.

10/4/2019 - Vandiner wrote:

Continued to open up and improve over 6 hours. Drinking beautifully. Demonstrates the age-worthiness of modest Bordeaux from great vintages.

8/29/2019 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

A subdued nose of just-shy-of-ripe blackberries dried orange peel, a bit dusty. Opens up on the palate, especially after an hour of air. Balanced and delicious. Higher score possible if I can save some for tomorrow, and certainly if you give it a year or two.

7/5/2019 - Vandiner wrote:

Drinking nicely. Medium-bodied. Cola, vanilla, tart cherry. Smooth tannins. Easy to like.

5/20/2019 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Smooth, balanced and approachable - very easy to like, great finish. Nothing particularly noteworthy other than I really enjoyed every sip and was sad when the bottle was finished.

1/28/2019 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Menthol, cigarbox on nose. Closed and without a lot of fruit at first taste, but opened up beautifully over about 4 hours. Balanced with some nice tannins and a good finish. Last bottle but I have other 2006 Bordeauxs and am happy.

1/18/2019 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

This is why I love Chianti - yummy- what I want to drink over the course of an evening. Not spectacular but so inthe pocket. Would buy this bottle anytime i could find it. Amazing QPR,

11/6/2018 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Good solid tasty balanced BC Meritage.

10/8/2018 - Vandiner wrote:

Delicious. Some spice and coffee notes on nose, round medium bodied, easy, with some complexity. Probably would not guess Italian. A crowd pleaser with none of the cynicism that that characterization can bring. Hard to see anyone not enjoying this.

10/8/2018 - Vandiner Does not like this wine:

Entirely drinkable, but that's it. I have no idea why this wine is highly rated. Reflects my previious opinion, I thought maybe give it a couple years and the answer is - nope. Bright, simple, fruit flavours - ordinary finish - straightforward wine. Have 2 more bottles and don't feel they will improve with age - but I will give it a shot.

10/7/2018 - Vandiner Likes this wine:

Drinking beautifully.