• TannicBeast Likes this wine: 94 points

    July 4, 2020 - Deep ruby. Thick, dark and viscous. Explosive, complex, intense nose of ripe black currant, ripe red cherry, baked blueberry, chocolate, sweet baking spices, vanilla and caramel. Dry but very fruit-forward, with some RS and a luscious mouthfeel. Med acidity, med tannins and high alcohol (15.5%). Full-bodied, intensely flavored, with great length. It has evolved nicely in the last 3 years and should show well for several more. It is remarkably well balanced considering its big, luscious and brash style.

    Comment
  • bobthebuilder Likes this wine: 92 points

    January 3, 2020 - With seasoned strip steak. Up from cellar and opened two hours ahead based on other tasting notes. Wife correctly guessed zinfandel up front. Nice spice, some fruit, and decent finish at first. Substantial change at end of meal. Typical zin fruit came forward and finish improved. Would strongly recommend opening several hours ahead. Suggests further improvement so will wait on last bottle.

    Comment
  • Buck naked wrote: 92 points

    December 3, 2018 - Excellent !

  • oaklandchild wrote: 91 points

    November 25, 2017 - Dark fruit, and dry tanins with pepper. Would go great with pulled pork or something sweet and juicy. Excellent.

    Comment
  • oaklandchild wrote:

    November 25, 2017 - Plum, light grass. Dry tanins and pepper. Would go well with a juicy pork or something sweet.

    Comment
  • TannicBeast Likes this wine: 93 points

    August 23, 2017 - Tasted blind. Decanted. Deep ruby, no sign of aging. Thick, dark, viscous legs. The nose is clean, complex, developing, medium (+) in intensity, with aromas of black currant, ripe red cherry, eucalyptus and American oak-induced sweet baking spices, vanilla and caramel. The palate is dry but very fruity, with a very luscious mouthfeel. The acidity is medium, the tannins are medium (+) and the alcohol is high (15.5%), but so well integrated that it is not particularly noticeable. The flavors are consistent with the nose, with primarily ripe black cherry, black currant and dark chocolate. The wine is full bodied to robust. The flavors are intense, with great length. This wine is drinking well now, is still fairly youthful, and will probably continue to do well for several more years. It is remarkably well balanced considering its big, luscious and brash style, but that is also its appeal.

    Comment
  • rharl wrote: 90 points

    July 14, 2017 - I thought this was nice, perhaps even better day 2. Good rich zin flavor as you'd expect from JC.