3/17/2019 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Dried black cherry, strawberry jam and earth on the nose. There is a bit of alcohol on the nose that makes me mark this down a few points. The overall characters are there, but it's drinking hot and I am not sure that will continue to integrate. I am on some allergy meds, given the time of year, so I maybe a bit sensitive at this time. The mouthfeel is nice and round, the nose carrying through, but again, a bit of bite from the alcohol. I want to love this as there is quite a bit of stuffing to this Grenache, but it's got some sharp edges at the moment. Will try the next one in 8-12 months to see if things settle down. I welcome criticism. It really cut through the fat and salt on our corned beef tonight.

2/9/2019 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

I continue to be impressed by this wine. On the nose there are dark red and black fruits, tar and a sweet hint of toasty barrel. The palate is amazing, mouth coating with a rich mouthfeel. Tannins are smoothed out at this point and lead to a finish that is long on cocoa and espresso. Excellent wine at an excellent price point.

2/9/2019 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Tasted over two days. The first day showed tight dried cherry, damp soils with leather and tobacco undertones. On the second day the wine opened up and showed off some sexy floral notes in addition to the above, but had much more structure. A nice brunello, but would like it more for about $20 less.

1/13/2019 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Open and decanted 4 hours before dinner. Notes are based on what I am tasting now, versus the initial opening. The nose is black plums, cassis, with toasty oak that frames some espresso notes and an underlying earthy tobacco. The tannins are medium to medium plus, and there's a general brightness to the finish that lingers on the palate for a good 20 second. A very great effort that should be given some additional time in the cellar or quite a bit of time in the decanter.

12/2/2018 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Just an amazing cabernet that is drinking great now. Hard to lay off these, but they are rich and opulent, lush, with a nice long finish for the price it's hard not to like this wine.

12/2/2018 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Very light in color, a bit deceiving since this wine packs a nice punch, with a nose of strawberry, red fruits and a hint of clove. On the palate its muted juicy fruit candied cherry, light in texture, but the finish is nice with a subtle lingering bit of earth and smoke that mixes nicely with the cherry. A feminine wine for sure but a really great diversion from big fruit forward Cali pinots.

11/3/2018 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A nice nose that has really opened up over the last two hours. Pomegranate and rhubarb for sure. The palate is nicely textured and the finish is deep, rich and lush. This is a great wine for $55.

10/26/2018 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Big and brooding, developing mocha and chocolate notes in the glass. This wine does not disappoint. New world Cabernet!

10/26/2018 - ListenToMeWine Does not like this wine:

past its prime, lifeless, black magic marker on the nose, no fruit

10/26/2018 - ListenToMeWine Does not like this wine:

past its prime, lifeless

10/26/2018 - ListenToMeWine Does not like this wine:

Past it's prime, old and tired

10/19/2018 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

This was an amazing chardonnay from the time it opened to the last sip. Tropical fruits on the nose, some sweet vanilla tones on the nose, the palate was nicely textured, a full bodied experienced that lingered on the palate and hung around. Too bad there's none left when I went to reorder. A very special wine at this price. It had it all going on and wish I had more than 1.

3/3/2018 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

awesome nose of dusty berry, tobacco and saddle leather. However the palate is thin, and the finish is gone in three seconds. past it's prime, but that nose is still intoxicating.

12/30/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Concentrated dried red fruits, and baking spice on the nose, concentrated color and gets better after an hour of being open. A nice pinot with some complexity. In a good place at the moment.

12/30/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Dusty berry, leather and tobacco notes. A good deal for Barolo, needed about an hour of air in the Zalto magnum decanter and really started to shine. I liked it now, if I had more I would drink them.

12/17/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Lemon and floral aroma's dominate the nose, while more citrus attacks the palate. Zesty and alive from nose to finish. A very crisp white from Mike Smith.

12/16/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A well made cabernet, however a bit sweet for mountain fruit. I would like a bit more grip on this wine. Cocoa nib and black fruits in the nose a lengthy palate, but seems a bit one dimensional. Good.

12/15/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

An off vintage, but I am glad I have let this sit in the cellar. It's nose has developed some secondary characteristics dark red fruit, some cola and cherry. On the palate, it's luxurious and still has some tannin. I think it's in a nice place now. Better than a few years ago.

12/10/2017 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

Dusty dark red fruits, cassis on the nose, tannic with plenty of grip on the palate, this would be delicious with more bottle age, but we couldn't wait. Will buy a few more to lay down.

12/5/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Quite simple, however, sometimes that works out to be just great. A nice nose of vanilla and tropical fruit. Sweet on the palate and finish but not cloying, there's a good dose of oak, but for the price point its pretty tasty, however, if this was a more expensive wine I would criticize it for being too simple and having too much oak. This is in a good spot now, try one if you have it.

12/2/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Classic Howell Mtn profile, dark fruits, with plenty of tannins. This sat in a decanter for an hour and a half before having the opportunity to taste while at Otium in Los Angeles. This drinks well now, but will be better in a few years. Lots of stuffing in this one.

12/2/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A muted nose at first, black fruits, violets, graphite, this opened up over the course of an hour and was lovely. I would hold onto this another year before trying another, it's very tight.

12/1/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Dusty cherry and tobacco on the nose, dry tannins and a lengthy finish. This is good, would like it to be a be brighter, seems somewhat muted.

11/25/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Awesome classic Russian River Fruit. Some nice red, raspberry and cola on the nose. Beautiful profile that sang upon opening. Really shined after an hour. Lengthy finish. I wouldn't hold them if you have them, try one and see how you like it.

11/25/2017 - ListenToMeWine Does not like this wine:

Maybe I just don't get this wine, but I was hoping for the "carbonic" to dissipate and when it did after an hour or so, it just left some bland funky red fruits. It was not pleasant and it was not exactly drinkable by our crowd. I do not believe the bottle was flawed in any way. Opening my second bottle will be the true test. Three of us tried the wine and we all agreed, it was just too funky. Good thing we had a 2012 Cirq, 2014 Rivers-Marie Kanzler and 2010 Rochioli Sweetwater. Dissappointed in this wine.

11/25/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Toasted oak goodness. Not for the faint of heart. Must like big chardonnays.

11/24/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

On the nose this is subtle cut bell pepper, olive tapenade, blackberry and sweet vanilla. The palate reveals some sweet tobacco, wet earth and spice with a medium length finish. A very nice to drink now Cabernet. If you have these laying down I would say try one now and space them out over the next year in a drinking window. Thank Jean and Bob for this lovely bottle!

11/20/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Awesome grenache dominant wine. Lots of subtle cherry and kirsch on the nose. I think this one will be better in a year, as there is still quite a bit of baby fat that needs to burn off. I really like this wine and think as the alcohol dissipates the nuances of this wine will shine.

11/17/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

This wine needed some time. We gave it 3 hours in the bottle after opening and it sang notes of sweet plum and gobs of cassis. The finish was long and silky. This is drinking well with plenty of air, but think I will wait another year for the next bottle or talk a friend into opening his. :)

11/17/2017 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

For one who does not normally enjoy sauvignon blanc this was a treat. It was crisp and acidic, with notes of citrus and tropical pineapple. The finish was lengthy. We used it as an apertivo while relaxing before and during cooking. Darn good for the price point. Thanks Mike Smith.

11/12/2017 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

Big on acidity, juicy red fruits. Would pair well with Thanksgiving, which is why we opened it to see how it would hold up. Enjoyed with fried chicken.

11/12/2017 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

opened one and it wreaked of TCA. Opened a second and it was just one note, dark red fruit. Not a whole lot going on with this monolithic offering. I wish I could say better things, because the Ancillary Sangiacomo was rockin' good the last time I had one.

11/12/2017 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

a big touch of oak and plush. This is delicious Sauvignon Blanc, which is my least favorite varietal. Not for the faint of heart. Drink this now if you have it.

2/21/2015 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A very elegant wine. Medium light in color to brick red, notes of earth and sour cherry, with a good dose of wood. On the palate flinty saline like texture, red fruit with leather and tar, a softer finish than I would like. Nice crafted lighter red with a decent heft, not a wimpy wine.

2/13/2015 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A very strong wine. Dark coco nib on the nose, with a matching palate that screams with deep rich and intense dark red, some black fruit. This is a little more earth driven than fruit. A nice palate coating, tannic finish. A very well constructed wine by TRB.

1/25/2015 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Spicy red currant, sour cherry on the nose, nice acidity for a wide range of foods, a really nice wine. Intoxicating nose is the highlight, but well made and priced correctly.

1/2/2015 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

Nice nose of cherry fruit, dark red in the glass, on the palate silky tannins and goos acidity make this a winner. Nice finish.

12/13/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

This is a wine with brooding fruit that deserves to contemplated over an evening. Raspberry coulis, white pepper nose with a lingering mid palate and finish dominated by blackberry and blueberry fruits with some earth. A lovely wine that's sure to get better over the next 2 years, but if you like big complex, fruit forward wines there is no reason to wait with a half hour or more of air.

12/7/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Perfumed combination of cola and spice on the nose, tart cherry on the palate with great acidity and a lingering finish that with emphasis on the cola and earth once again. Really good stuff. This is drinking really well after an hour of air, could use another year or two to hit it's prime, but this is very good juice.

11/23/2014 - ListenToMeWine Does not like this wine:

Maybe an off bottle, but too thin, acidic and tart for my palate. Just hit the middle of my palate with bitter alcohol.

11/28/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Dark red and some blue fruits, lengthy finish. Nicely balanced showing restraint even at 15.5% alcohol. Well done.

11/27/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A very well made pinot. Red fruits followed by far cherry and earth. Some spice on a nice round palate. Lengthy memorable finish.

11/30/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Juicy, with some good fruit. Strawberry, watermelon. Tasty stuff.

11/30/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A very good rose. Lip smacking good, not over the top, but nice flavors of strawberry and melon.

11/15/2014 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

Just ok. A well made pinot, but it still borders on being a bit thin, with tart characteristics. Complimented dinner well, but would have liked a bit more complexity rather than simple red, tart fruit.

10/5/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Nice drinker for the price. Good fruit and texture. Paired well with tri tip.

9/23/2014 - ListenToMeWine wrote:

Easy drinking Pinot noir. Less fruit that I remember, lighter with a nice acidity. Paired well with wild caught King Salmon for dinner.

9/13/2014 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

Tasted with Nick at Nicora. This is a smoking good Syrah. Lots of black fruit, gobs of character and complexity. This is palate coating goodness with great tannins and a lasting finish.

12/22/2013 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

After an hour begins to shine, cola, red fruit, lasting finish. Good juice.

12/15/2013 - ListenToMeWine Likes this wine:

A bit one dimensional with big hints of rhubarb, clove, red fruits and a lingering finish. Lush, rich style of Pinot.