4/17/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit day - A ‘found in the cellar’ wine. Screw cap finished. Pours lemon into the glass. Nose is rich with lychee, rose petal and spice but there is a thickness there you find in concentrated Gewurtztraminer wines. On the palate the ripeness of the fruit shows with flavours of apple, pear, lychee, rose petal, spice and even a bit of an umami character. It is just off-dry due to the medium plus acidity. The finish is long with white flowers, lychee, rose petals, spice and pear/apple. This is tremendous wine - rich and flavourful with amazing depth. This wine drinks as if it were bottles only a couple of years ago but the depth and character of the wine belies that. Stellar!!
Those that still have this wine in their cellars - open this or next year and enjoy it at it’s peak. 8 bottles remaining in the Cellar Tracker community cellar as I write this note.

4/15/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Leaf Day - checking this one out because I’ve had good wines from Goichot before and this looks like it could be a good cellar candidate. Using a Riedel Pinot Noir glass for evaluation. Opaque dark cherry core extending to a very thin crimson edge and rim. Nose is dark cherry, white pepper, sweet herbs (mostly basil), sweet scented red flowers and a light touch of cola. On the palate it shows very rich and juicy dark cherry initially backed up with red flowers, sweet and savoury herbs and a little spice but the fruit depth and flavour is outstanding. Medium ripe tannins and medium plus acidity indicate an opportunity for it to develop well. This is not what I expected from this subregion. In the past the Aloxe-Corton wines I’ve tasted were tannic brutes at this age. There is so much fruit on the palate that the quality of the balance of the wine and its finish (medium with the fruit, florals and spice continuing) could be overlooked. This is pretty darn good and worth buying and cellaring for at least 5-8 years.
Next Day - Leaf Day - nose is earth, savoury herbs and smoke - has closed down. On the palate the fruit is still evident but has turned to savoury dark cherry, spice, sweet herbs with a bit of sous bois. The medium finish is now red florals, dark fruit (both fresh and dried), sous bois, smokiness and spice. This is a well made wine showing its depth of flavour and density. I’m getting more.

4/14/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Flower Day - clean and just off dry with medium body and balanced flavours of lychee, apple and pear. Went beautifully with a salmon poke meal.

4/11/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Fill to just above shoulder with seepage showing (barely) at the top of the sound cork. Decanted off about a teaspoon of hard sediment grains and returned to the cleaned bottle (double decant). Still an opaque garnet core that extends to a fairly thin crimson rim. Nose is wet clay, some funk, wet leather, dried red fruit and just a hint of dried savoury herbs. On the palate it’s soft and very alive with bright red fruit, light spice, sweet herbs, red flowers and a hint of new leather. Very youthful on the palate. The long finish carries the red florals, spice and red fruit. This is remarkably youthful and so gulpable even at this advanced age. What a treat!

4/10/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - golden in glass with small persistent bubbles. Brioche, apple, lemon and minerals on the nose and palate. Rich, round, ripe and just plain delicious. Drink now and over the next 3 or so years.

4/9/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - pop and pour into a Riedel Pinot Noir glass. Translucent dark cherry core extending out to a narrow crimson edge. Nose is beautiful - dark cherry, red flowers, dried herbs (oregano and basil), some sous bois and light spice. On the palate the medium plus acidity hits front and centre but the ripe and present medium tannins make their presence felt as well on the mid palate. The flavours in this medium weight wine are cherry, cranberry, red florals, and slightly underripe strawberries. The finish is medium with the red florals being the dominant note followed by the red fruit and light spice. The tannins are pretty grippy on subsequent sips. This is a pop and pour so I’ll wait to see what some time in the glass and exposure to air does to it.
Next evening - Fruit day. Now this is more like it!! Nose explodes with red florals, spice, red fruit, sous bois and oregano. On the palate the fruit is forward with savoury notes, the florals, a touch of smoke, a lick of granite and the oregano again. The tannins are supple and softened but still present and the finish is much longer with the fruit, granite and florals continuing. Just needed some air. Points are from the second evening. This has the fruit (which I wondered about the first evening) to develop well for the next 3-5 years.

4/3/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Purchased in 2013 - Root Day - Dark lemon in the glass with small persistent bubbles. Nose is wonderful - brioche, citrus, mineral and saline. On the palate the mousse is bright and lively and the flavours echo the nose with intensity. The finish is long with the mineral and citrus predominate. An amazing bottle of Blanc de Blanc that is mature but still very much alive.

4/2/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - Lemon coloured in glass. Nose is mineral, citrus and apple. Must admit I didn’t any too much attention to it as it was served as an aperitif wine and I was busy cooking. It’s very very good but (to me) not a huge amount better than their regular Chablis.
2nd Day - Root Day - there was a weird reductive note when poured into the glass that dissipated with swirling and/or time. After that it was a really excellent example of Chablis with all the attributes you’d hope for - citrus, mineral, saline and a bit of green apple. Really enjoyed this tonight and it was much better than my quick sip when I opened the bottle yesterday. 92 on the second day.

4/2/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - translucent garnet from core to rim. Nose is earthy and spicy with red fruit and florals - intoxicating! On the palate it’s medium bodied and lithe yet penetrating with medium tannins and medium plus acidity. The flavours on the palate carry on the nose elements of spice, herbs, red fruit and red florals. The fruit flavour doesn’t last long on swallowing but the spice, herbs and florals continue. There’s also a bit of a licorice note on the medium length finish. This is a delightful spring and summer wine to be enjoyed with the lighter entrees of the season like burgers and sausages although it would be good with a charcuterie board and any light pasta dish.

3/29/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

A No Day in the Biodynamic calendar. Translucent garnet to the rim. Nose is lovely with red fruit, red flowers, wet earth and light herbs. On the palate it’s delicious with red fruit, red flowers, sweet herbs, spice and garrigue. The finish is medium with the palate flavours continuing. Acid level is medium plus and the tannins are light and ripe. This is such a versatile and tasty wine - so easy to pair with food - anything from salmon or sausages to hamburgers and anything poultry. And, of course, pasta with a meat or red sauce.

3/28/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Flower Day - wine to bottom of bottle neck. Cork sound with wine ingress about 3/4 of the way to the top. Decanted off about a teaspoon of fine sediment. Translucent garnet core out to an orange tinted mahogany edge. Tasted in a Pinot Noir glass. Nose is glorious - fine herbs, woodsy underbrush, red flowers, light black licorice, touch of vanilla and light red fruit. There’s supposed to be (according to knowledgeable critics) a green peppercorn element to it - I suspect that’s my fine herbs that I get. On the palate it’s showing some maturity with a bit of (not overbearing) Volatile Acidity along with a pruney, earthy, very ripe plum flavour. Red fruit, light savoury herbs and some spice are follow ups to the main flavour profile. The long finish is warm with the spice, earthy fruit, and light VA continuing. The tannins are fully resolved and the medium plus acidiy is balanced by the fruit. I expected more tannic structure so was pleasantly surprised by the softness of them. It’s interesting and pretty tasty but not a grape or wine I would pursue in future.

3/26/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Pale lemon in the glass. Nose while still chilled is light lemon, mineral, spice and light herbs with a bit of saline as well. On the palate it’s crisp with medium plus acidity but still quite a full mouthfeel. Flavours are (to me) classic Chablis - mineral, crushed rock, lemon, lemon zest and apple. The medium length finish carries the apple and lemon flavours along with some zip from the acidity, minerality and spice.

When allowed to warm in the glass, the flint, mineral and lemon increase on the nose and there’s some white flower emerging as well. On the palate the citrus and apple is front and centre with the crushed rock, mineral and white flowers playing the supporting role. The finish carries the palate in the same way.
I hate to say this, due to the cost, but in BC, Canada this is a very well priced Chablis.

3/23/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - been hearing about this one from customers so thought I’d give it a try. Screwcap finished. Very pale lemon/green in colour. Nose is tropical fruit - guava, pineapple, cantaloupe - not your normal NZ SB nose. There’s a touch of herbs on the nose but very expressive with the tropical fruit side. On the palate the gooseberry hits first followed by lush tropical fruit (canned pineapple, mango and papaya). There’s medium plus acidity lifting it above any cloying flavours and it finishes with gooseberry again. It’s good and tasty and would be a great summer sipper on the patio but there’s no complexity to it at all. Still, it’s pretty tasty and would work well with lots of pork and chicken entree’s and sausages as well as anything with a bit of spice to it.

3/20/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Stellar bottle - fine mousse - crisp and dry with wonderful nut, brioche and lemon flavours

3/20/2024 - biggie wrote:

Unfortunately this bottle was over mature - all toffee and baked apple

3/21/2024 - biggie wrote:

Over the hill

3/15/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Ullage to just the bottom of the capsule. Cork sound and wine had ingressed about 1/2 way. Double decanted (back into bottle) off about a teaspoon of fine sediment. Opaque garnet core extending to a narrow translucent garnet edge. Little in the way of browning. The nose has a vegetal funkiness and a touch of sauerkraut to it initially. With swirling and air the nose changed to dried roses, red fruit and mint. On the palate the flavours are red and blue fruit, savoury herbs, old leather and pipe tobacco. The finish is medium with little in the way of continuation of the palate flavours. Instead the just ripe tannins coat the palate with little in the way of an extended floral or fruit expression. 89 at this point which is essentially a pop and pour. I’ll see where it goes in an hour or so.
With some time in the glass the Syrah (78% with with rest Mourvedre, Cinsault and Grenache) is really starting to show itself with some smoke, smoked bacon and mint. On the palate there’s some salami with the bacon and the smokiness of the wine is really carrying on into the now medium plus finish. The tannins have receded due to the other flavours coming to the fore. It’s getting more and more complex and interesting as it gets more air.

3/10/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

A No (following Leaf) day in the Bio calendar - screwcap finished. Nose is ripe apricot and peach. On the palate it’s rich, full bodied and smooth. Acidity is medium. Flavours are ripe peach, apricot a bit of pineapple. This is a really delicious and nicely textured wine that envelops the senses and is a treat to enjoy both by itself and with a meal. In our case it was with a seafood lasagna. The medium length finish carries the full bodied weight and full flavours of this wine. It’s delightful and a steal at this price for a BC wine.

3/7/2024 - biggie wrote:

Root Day - Darker crimson/garnet core out to a narrow light crimson edge. Nose is damp loam, forest floor, black fruit with a touch of blue added, warm spice, light herbs and milk chocolate. On the palate it’s soft and round with warm spices, ripe blue and black fruit, forest floor, soft newly tanned leather, light ripe tannins and medium acidity. This is quite a sophisticated wine - pleasant enough to enjoy on it’s own but rich and deep enough in flavour and texture to have with roasted poultry or duck or with something as fatty as pork or beef sausage. Drink now or let it develop for a couple of years.

3/7/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Opaque dark crimson core out to a medium light crimson edge. Nose is herby with earthy elements and dark chocolate with a hit of blue and red fruit. On the palate it’s quite smooth with ripe resolved tannins although they are definitely evident the longer you hold the wine in your mouth, medium acidity and flavours of red fruit, light tobacco, blue florals and spice. The finish is medium in length with the fruit, light tobacco, spice and florals continuing. Little in the way of ‘greeness’ but still carrying the Cab Franc herby side with lots of fruit.

3/6/2024 - biggie wrote:

Root Day - fair bit of funk on opening but once it got some air there was ripe red and black fruit along with some savoury herbs on both the nose and palate. The finish is medium in length with some spice accompanying the fruit and herbs. Well done and showing some maturity. Drink now.

3/6/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Gold in the glass with very fine but surprisingly minimal bubbles (extra clean glasses?). The mousse was there in the mouth. Wonderfully aromatic with nuts, brioche, light mushroom, marzipan and yeast. On the palate it’s mouth filling and rich with flavours of brioche, custard, nuts and mushroom (in a good way). The finish is long with the brioche richness and the nutty flavours continuing. Wonderful!!

3/3/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Leaf Day - fill to bottom of neck. Cork sound with little ingress. Double decanted off a small amount of sediment. Opaque dark garnet core extending to almost the edge with a very thin browning rim. Nose (in a Riedel Pinot Noir glass) is damp loam, old leather, mushroom, dried red flowers, potpourri and dark fruit. The palate is supple with still some ripe and resolved tannins and medium acidity. The flavours are rich and warming with spice, ripe black fruit, mushroom, supple leather and plum leaning but not yet to prune richness. The finish is long with the spice, black fruit, plum/prune and leather continuing. A mature bottle of wine still showing beautifully.

2/29/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Flower Day - Wine level to bottom of neck. Cork sound with very little ingress of wine. Decanted off a small amount of very fine sediment then decanted back into the cleaned bottle. Tasted in a Pinot Noir glass as I prefer them for developed Italian wines. Core is still opaque and garnet in colour and extends almost to the edge of the wine. There is a fairly thin slightly orange coloured rim. Nose is stunning! Red fruit, dried red fruit, spice, a little forest floor and some lightly lifted florals (violets?). I just nose this all night! On the palate there’s spice, red fruit, a hint of Brett (but just enough for complexity), licorice and some saltiness. The finish is florals with spice, red fruit (both ripe and dried) and a bit of funk. This bottle has held up well!

2/25/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Just barely opaque dark crimson core out to a wide lighter crimson edge - very youthful in appearance. On the nose you can immediately smell dark cherry with underpinnings of (for me) pine needles along with a bit of a candied cherry note. On the palate there’s structure and medium plus acidity with bright cherry and light savoury herbs. It’s pretty simple and basic in flavour and texture with a little more weight than a Chianti (not a Classico). The finish is short with the same flavours as on the palate - maybe a bit of spice and floral added in. This is good but not much better than a basic Chianti in my book.

2/22/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - Ullage to just above bottom of neck. Cork is high quality composite with little ingress of wine. Decanted off about a teaspoon of sediment. Opaque garnet core out to a just barely bricking edge. Nose is warm spice, blue fruit, light oak and light leather. On the palate it’s ripe, round and very smooth. The flavours are blue and red fruit, red flowers, spice and new leather. The finish is long with the spice, fruit, and florals continuing. Very youthful! There’s some spice that lingers on the back palate and the fruit supports it. This looks and tastes like a five year old wine, not one that’s 20. It’s closer to medium than full bodied at this stage of its life but has the ripe light tannins and medium plus acidity that don’t oppress it. Wonderful and I’m glad I waited till tonight to open it.

2/20/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Flower Day - Ullage to bottom of neck on bottle. Cork sound with no ingress of wine. Decanted off about a teaspoon of fine sediment with some stuck to the side of the bottle. Opaque dark garnet core with a medium garnet edge. Little sign of development via sight. Nose is blue and black fruit, vanilla, saddle leather, dark chocolate and potpourri. On the palate the tannins are fully resolved resulting in a soft and supple mouthfeel. The flavours are dark fruit with an earthy component (mulberry?) along with spice, dried red flowers and a bit of forest floor. Acidity is medium and the weight is lighter than expected leaning more to medium plus than full. The finish is long with the fruit, spice and floral elements carried by it. Really very good and the fruit is still a combination of both ripe and dried suggesting to me it’s still on the plateau. Drink now but it will hold another couple of years in a good cellar. Mine was purchased on release and held in my cellar till tonight.

2/16/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day. Cork was sound with little integration from the wine. Decanted off about a teaspoon of very fine sediment. Opaque garnet core out to a medium garnet (with the lightest touch of browning) edge. Nose is very quiet - damp sand, dark fruit, light leather and a tiny touch of funk. On the palate very smooth with fully resolved tannins, medium acidity and gentle flavours of ripe blue and black fruit, sweet herbs, light florals and spice. The finish is long but delicate with the fruit, spice and floral elements all continuing. This wine is stunning tonight and I would never have guessed it 20 years old. I’d be guessing maybe 10 years of age and while certainly non-European in style it has a wonderful elegance. Glad I have two more as this drinks very youthfully and they will hopefully stay on this plateau for another 3 or so years.

2/10/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Translucent garnet core out to a wide crimson edge. Delicate yet penetrating nose of damp earth, red fruit, red florals and light leather. On the palate the leather is noticed first in this medium bodied wine followed by ripe red fruit, spice, and red flowers. The finish is medium with the fruit and florals continuing. It’s not quite there yet in the way of development - still a little simple and straightforward but the potential is there. Drinkable and enjoyable now but you aren’t getting what you’re paying for at this point in it’s evolution.

2/9/2024 - biggie Does not like this wine:

Root Day - Stelvin cap. Translucent crimson core out to a crimson edge with a touch of orange. Nose is slightly confected with notes of vanilla, cotton candy, red fruit and a hint of spice. On the palate it’s smooth with the vanilla showing initially followed by an orange brandy kind of note (Triple Sec?) and a little red fruit and light spice. If this was blind I doubt I’d pick it out as Gamay. Not terribly impressed.

2/8/2024 - biggie wrote:

Root Day - translucent crimson core out to a wide crimson edge and thin watery rim. Nose is dark fruit, light spice, beet root and light florals. On the palate it’s medium bodied with flavours of red and black fruit, herbs and savoury herbs. The finish is short with the flavours falling off almost immediately. The tannins are medium as is the acidity. This is a simple, clean and innocuous wine.

2/7/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - Dark crimson opaque core out to a wide crimson edge. Nose shows some pepper, black fruit, light herbs and garrigue. On the palate there’s red fruit immediately with medium body and medium acidity. Fresh and lively on the palate the way Garnacha should be with the fruit and some light spice along with some floral notes. The medium plus finish carries the fruit and spice (white pepper). Good value and very drinkable. Would be excellent with salmon, sausages, pork ribs or anything lightly spicy.

2/6/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - ullage bottom of neck. Cork disintegrated on removal. Double decanted through filter into decanter then back into cleaned bottle. Translucent garnet core out to a wide browning edge and thin watery rim. Nose is dark fruit both blue and black, red flowers, light vanilla and herbs. It’s not overly minty on the nose. On the palate the tannins are still very evident, it’s medium bodied and contains medium plus acidity. I found it to be a bit watery in both flavour and mid-palate on the decant and pour. Flavours on the palate are light blue and red fruit with a touch of savoury herbs. The finish, however, is excellent with good length and the light fruit and savoury herbs are persistent.

2/5/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Pale gold into the glass. Nose is brioche, citrus, mineral, toast and crushed sea shells. On the palate the brioche, toast, citrus and mineral combine into a wonderful mosaic of flavours. The finish is long with a beautiful chalkiness backstopping the brioche, mineral and citrus. Terrific!

2/1/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - my son’s birthday today and he was born in 1991 but this is not from his birth box. It was an extra that wasn’t considered worthy at the time but still good enough to cellar. I had drink by 2015 so didn’t have much hope for it. Some ullage - between shoulder and neck. Cork totally saturated but sound. Decanted off about a tablespoon of sediment that was very well behaved - i.e. decanted all but it from the bottle. Still garnet in colour at the core out to a slightly browning edge. Nose was from the start of the cork pull evocative and aromatic. There’s full tertiary elements of damp earth, mushroom and forest floor but there’s also dark fruit (not dried), dark florals, spice and umami. On the palate it’s incredibly smooth and lithe with medium acidity, medium and fully resolved tannins and flavours that I can only describe as fully mature Bordeaux - leather, tobacco (both pipe and box), spice, cedar, dark fruit and a bit of garrigue. The finish is incredibly long with the spice, fruit, leather, tobacco and florals continuing. This is one of the best wines I’ve had in a very long time and perfectly in balance and development. Purchased for $25 in 1996.

1/31/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - Stelvin cap - first taste cold from the fridge - almost colourless in the glass. Nose is fresh cut grass, gooseberry, white flowers, saline and a marine tang - kinda non-Sémillon Bordeaux on the nose. On the palate it’s clean, sharp with med plus acidity and flavours of gooseberry, green grass, citrus, mineral, saline and savoury herbs (parsley/tarragon). I’m kinda digging this. I find it a little hollow and watery on the mid palate but overall it’s very appealing. The finish is medium with the herbs, citrus and mineral continuing.

When warmed - 1/2 hour in the glass - the nose is the same but deeper with a little more citrus coming out. On the palate the gooseberry is still the predominant flavour but the backup flavours really fill in the mid palate. There’s some texture now and complexity to it as well. This is the temperature to serve it - much more interesting and flavourful. I’m getting 6 and throwing them in the cellar - with the Stelvin cap they’ll develop slowly and will be available (up to 10 years I’d guess) whenever you want a terrific crisp, dry and flavourful white wine.

1/29/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - composite cork. Dark garnet core out to a medium crimson edge and thin watery rim. Nose is damp earth, wet leather, red and black fruit, spice and red florals. It’s an earthy, interesting and complex nose for such a young wine. On the palate it’s fresh and alive with slightly candied red and black fruit, some light leather and tobacco, a bit of smoke and light spice. The finish is medium in length with the fruit and spice continuing. Simple and gulpable but not nearly as interesting as the nose suggests. A good value though.

1/29/2024 - biggie wrote:

Fruit Day - Cork is composite suggesting it’s a drink in the first couple of years wine. Barely opaque core out to a wide translucent crimson edge and thin watery rim. Nose is bright red and black fruit and spice with a bit of a confected floral element. On the palate it’s smooth with medium body and flavours of blue and black fruit. There’s some tannin there and medium plus acidity but little in the way of depth. Simple and clean with bright blue fruit and floral finish along with a tiny bit of spice. Nothing wrong here but also nothing to write home about.

1/27/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - mid neck fill. Cork sound with wine ingress about 1/2 way up one side. Decanted off about a tablespoon of fine sediment. Definite mahogany tinted garnet core and wide edge - development showing. Nose is leather, tobacco, dried red flowers, dried fruit and some funk/shoe polish. On the palate the fruit is riper than on the nose with the leather, tobacco and some light funk present. Soft on the palate with the ripe tannins still present but resolved. Medium acidity keeps it lively. The finish is long with some spice present as well as some floral notes. This is at a decant and taste stage while the wine is still cool from the cellar.
Later the funk has subsided allowing the fruit and tertiary flavours to come to the fore. This is a tasty mature wine that paired really well with Osso Bucco and celery root/potato mash. Drink now.

1/23/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Flower Day - delivered to the store by mistake. Pop and poured. Cork is composite with a coating. Almost translucent garnet/crimson core with a wide crimson edge. Nose is very Barbera - fresh red fruit, red floral, light white pepper and an indescribable earthy character that cries out Italy. On the palate it’s medium bodied and very bright with medium plus acidity and light tannins. The flavour is what sets this one apart - there’s layers of red fruit, spice and red floral flavours here with some intensity and depth. The finish is medium plus in length with a savoury character along with the fruit, florals and spice. This is an extremely well made wine with lots going for it. Is it too pricey for a Barbera? Perhaps, but I’m really enjoying it tonight.

2nd night - Leaf Day - Nose is dark fruit with damp earth, savoury herbs and light spice. Much less exuberant than yesterday. On the palate it’s softer with the dark fruit more expansive and the acidity covered with the fruit. The tannins are showing a little more today as is the savoury herbal component. The finish is long with leather, dark chocolate, dried black fruit and spice completing it. Two different wines on these two days. Both enjoyable with today’s version much more food oriented due to the reduced liveliness of the fruit and acidity. I would say this is one to enjoy over the next year or so.

1/22/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - cork sound with only the tiniest of ingress by the wine. When the cork was pulled from the bottle there followed a wonderful scent of ripe black fruit. Decanted off almost a tablespoon of sediment. Small garnet core with a wide ruby edge and rim. Some development showing in the colour. On the nose it’s very floral with spice notes and some potpourri. After swirling there’s some leather and forest floor as well. On the palate its very soft and smooth with red and black fruit, medium resolved tannins and medium acidity. There is some raisinated flavours on the back palate but when the wine is swallowed it disappears and the spice, dark fruit and florals come to the fore. The finish is long with a complex combination of all the scents and flavours. I’d say it’s on the plateau now but will probably stay there for another 3 years in a good cellar.

1/21/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - decanted off about a teaspoon of fine sediment. Dark purple/garnet core out to a purple tinged rim. Little sign of development. On the nose there’s tobacco, leather, damp earth, spice, chocolate and dark plum. On the palate the tobacco and leather are the first flavours followed by dark fruit and spice. The fruit and spice continue into the long finish with the leather and tobacco. This is surprisingly undeveloped with the exception of the soft but present ripe tannins. Slightly disappointed with it as there’s not a ton of complexity showing. It seems a bit simple.
Over the course of four hours it smoothed out even more with some dark chocolate showing up in the finish.

1/18/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - pop and pour. Pours translucent crimson into the glass. Nose shows forest floor, cherry, red flowers and spice. On the palate it’s soft with light ripe tannins, bright red fruit, red flowers and sweet spices (think cinnamon and nutmeg) which warms the palate and continues on into the medium length finish. This is a very good buy and an excellent and versatile food wine. Drink now but I suspect it’ll develop for the next 3-5 years easily.

2nd day - Fruit day. Nose is more herbal and floral today with some light red fruit. On the palate the fruit has faded (it’s still evident) but there’s now a savoury side to it with less spice and with the acidity showing more. Today it seems closer to a Barbera in style - still an excellent food wine but an indication of which direction it may go in development.

1/12/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - cork sound with wine about 1/2 way up cork. Decanted off a tablespoon of fine sediment. Dark garnet core out to a garnet edge and thin watery rim. Nose is leather, earth, dried dark fruit, dried red flowers, wet clay and light spice. On the palate the tannins are fully resolved with flavours of tobacco, leather, dried dark fruit, milk chocolate and black licorice along with some floral notes when you exhale. It’s a wine that’s fully mature but not over the hill to my surprise (I had drink by 2014). Straight from decanting it’s a really tasty mature Côtes du Rhône and well worth the paltry sum I paid for it back in the day. From this bottle I’d say it has a couple more years at this plateau.

1/10/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Fruit Day - customers asking about this one so thought I’d give it a try. Transparent crimson in a Pinot Noir glass. Nose is warm with spice, red flowers, red fruit (cherry and strawberry) and a tiny bit of earthiness. On the palate the red fruit comes first and covers the palate. With some chewing the spice comes through along with some leather and light tannins. The fruit and spice go on into the finish. This is a well made, well balanced New World PN with a nod to the Old World. I am impressed. Drink now and over the next 5 or so years. With the price of Bourgogne skyrocketing this is worth checking out. It does remind me of Oregon Pinot Noirs so if that’s your preference it should satisfy that palate too.

1/8/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Leaf Day - Purchased in 2013 - cork sound with wine at the bottom of the neck. Decanted off a small amount of fine sediment. Some bottle funk on decanting. Now 1/2 hour after decanting - dark garnet core out to a light crimson edge. Nose now is dark fruit, damp earth, leather and some mushroom. On the palate it’s smooth and spicy with medium plus body and resolved but present tannins. Very floral with dark fruit on the palate along with new leather. Very supple on the tongue as the medium acidity balances the fruit and tannin. I’m very happy I waited till now - this needed time to resolve the tannins other tasters mentioned (years ago). Has a sort of Malbec character to it but has more red fruit showing than a Malbec would. Really enjoying this with grilled strip loin.
Now an hour in - as it gets more air the red fruit shows more than the dark and it’s getting more elegant.

1/6/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Flower Day - ok, so this is ridiculous!! Screw cap finished 2007 Red Rooster Reserve Gewürztraminer and it is absolutely delicious! It would be guessed to be maybe 3 years old if tasted blind. Lemon coloured (no age showing), nose is rose petals and spice. On the palate it’s ultra smooth with rose petals, spice, lychee and honeyed pear. The finish is long with the spice and other flavours continuing. It’s not opulent but instead elegant with persistent flavours. Stunning!

1/5/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root day. Decanted off a teaspoon of sediment. Slightly translucent in the glass with little trace of development. Nose is mint, damp clay, light tobacco, new leather and savoury herbs. On the palate it’s velvety smooth and plush with mouth filling flavours of ripe black and blue fruit, herbs, sweet tobacco and spice. The spice, fruit, herbs and some anise continue into the long finish. What a treat. Served with beef stew on a cold evening and it was an excellent pairing.

1/4/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - level bottom of neck. Cork sound but wine soaked almost to the top. Dark lemon in colour with a wonderful bouquet of nuts, citrus, chalk (?), mineral and caramel. On the palate it’s mouthfilling with little of the sherry aspect I expected - much more fruit forward (pear/apple) and with stunning acidity that cleanses the mouth. Long finish with citrus, sherry and now some toast and spice showing. Definite drink now.

1/4/2024 - biggie Likes this wine:

Root Day - purchased 2011. Dark lemon in the glass. Continuous stream of very small bubbles. Nose is brioche, light yeast, light citrus and mineral. On the palate the toast and brioche hits first with terrific palate cleansing bubbles and medium plus acidity followed by flavours of light mushroom, citrus, salinity and mineral. There’s a beautiful umami element to this wine due to its development. Great way to start off 2024!