April 15, 2017 - My last bottle. Not much to add to previous notes, other than it's nicely soft at this point, tannins nearly fully integrated.
March 5, 2016 - See previous note.
February 13, 2016 - Black currant, black tea, cacao, leather. Great concentration and depth. Really good value.
September 4, 2015 - Terrific. Nice red and black fruit, spice and just slightly funky. Drinking very nicely.
July 6, 2015 - Crowd pleaser and never a bad bottle. Great value wine that will make you look like a rock star wine buyer.
December 31, 2014 - This surely is a testament to Eric Dunham!
Air time reveals highly aromatic scents of toasted oak and barrel accents; baking spices of clove and nutmeg with lighter nuances of anise and cardamom. Boysenberry and huckleberry aromas lean on the jammy side with additional fruit notes of plum, blackberry, and cherry. Ancillary aromas include a patchwork of violets, vanilla, pepper graham cracker and herbs that come together harmoniously.
Full bodied on the palate; Fleshy and smooth texture gives way to rich flavors of baking spices, boysenberry jam, huckleberry, fresh picked forest blackberries, ripe plum and cherry that weave in caramel, toasted oak, vanilla, violets, herbs and a touch of graham cracker. The richness is balanced by fresh medium-plus acidity. The medium/medium-plus tannins are ripe and velvety. The finish is plush and medium-plus in length letting the spice and berry flavors play out.
Overall in its prime drinking window. A beautifully put together wine from a great vintage and an even better winemaker.
February 21, 2014 - Really enjoyed this bottle. Red and black fruit, hints of herbs, something fun going on mid-palate. Fine tannins and good acidity. Nice.
November 3, 2013 - An unexpected treat. While there's plenty of vanilla gloss and black fruit here, typical of higher-end WA red blends that feature cab sauv and merlot and new oak, the 42% syrah adds an earthy baritone note and a juicy peach flavor that can also typify WA syrah. A balanced and fresh wine that also shows terroir, depth, and interest.
October 14, 2013 - Nose: vanilla, hint of floral, mushroom, pepper
Taste: vanilla overpowers somewhat in mid-palate, bright juicy fruit, lacking complexity and the barrel seems to really show to much for me.
October 13, 2013 - Balanced, between the right amount of Cab and Syrah, with a splash of Merlot. Tastes like the more traditional Columbia Valley terrior. Would recommend.