March 25, 2012 - Nice dark color. Enjoyed it very much. Had with lasagna.
October 3, 2011 - Nice rich nose of black fruit. Nice flavors of leather with some spice, but smooth finish.
August 9, 2011 - Nose initially a bit tight, some alcohol and black cherries, not a whole lot else. First taste: rich mouth feel, smooth/round tannin, and fruit forward with a touch of oak in the background. Quite pleasant, should open up nicely.
It seems to be getting a little more dull after about 15-20 minutes...hope that's a blip and the more interesting layers come to the fore. For $12, no complaints. It's balanced and works either on its own or would stand up to food.
January 17, 2011 - Nice, somewhat fruit-forward and overall well balanced, I think. A hint of the Syrah bacon-fat awesomeness and some spice to go with it. For $12, no complaints here, and I might even pick up a few more.
November 13, 2010 - Decanted and poured, this wine showed well with some airing. This begins sterns and somewhat unyielding. Airing brings out more detail in the aromatics; however, the never fully loses its stern profile. The wine displays enough fruit to counter balance the hardness. This drinks well but never becomes compelling. Perhaps a year or two of extra bottle age will soften the wine and bring out more complexity.
October 16, 2010 - A nice smooth drinker with a touch of fruit and just a hint of pepper.