July 12, 2016 - I’ve had some good bottles of this, but not this one (fill was fairly low and cork a little sunken). Dead, dead, is no more, bereft of life, this is an ex-pinot C-
July 11, 2016 - Dead. Shame, as the other bottle Dale had opened last year was really nice.
July 11, 2016 - An atypical Monday (Dale's): Dead.
May 24, 2015 - (decanted into another bottle about 3 hours before). Red raspberry fruit (I think guesses centered on 90s Gamay and Grenache), cedar, earth. Pretty and refined, if not very pinotesque. B+
May 21, 2015 - Served blind by Dale, and a real shock when unveiled. Lots of bright red fruits framed by more savoury developed earthy and leathery notes, and a whiff of VA on the nose that had me guessing Musar initially. Bright acids beneath and light tannins make it very easy to drink, this is a treat. Lovely.
April 18, 2015 - The 44 year old Napa is a comparative fruit bomb. Darker fruits, sweet, a tamari meets sesame note. Unusual, not very Pinoty, but interesting and all fine tasty. B
December 19, 2014 - omplex, earthy, big and ripe, very NOT pinotish but good. B+
September 13, 2014 - bit funky when opened. Some air time, then a quick sip. Funkiness blown off, but seems a bit thin. Yet it comes on strong with more time, fills out with tart but ripe cranbery and raspberry fruit. Some soy, some smoke, interesting wine with plenty to give. B+
July 2, 2014 - Solid fruit, licorice, complex and evolving. Not very PNish, but I really enjoy. B+/A-
July 25, 2012 - Old Sterling Vineyards reds: Ruby with light edges, no browning. Soy, brown sugar, straw nose. Light to med body. Alive but not much going on. A tad astringent. Bit leather and rose petals. Soy. Sweet nose. Bit lemon. Later more soy but no sugar. Rounder, more weight, more interesting with time. Herbal, soy, bit smoke later. 2nd day, muted nose, hanging on but not a whole lot of pleasure.
Well worth the $10 from Winebid for a bit of Napa history.