December 13, 2020 - A very clean wine — almost too clean, such that it seems a little stripped of character. Nonetheless, quite enjoyable to drink with pizza. Opens with notes of varnish, fresh plum, and apple skin. A bit of margarita mix on the finish.
November 30, 2016 - I was not optimistic about this wine when I opened it. I initially thought it was going to be way past its prime. Acidity was up there initially and subsided after an hour. Day 2 presented a very different wine! Velvety, dark fruits and a hedonistic pleasure...
April 21, 2015 - Had over 2 nights. Only note is to say that for a vineyard I generally dislike and from a producer that says to drink their wines young, I thought this was mighty fine. Lots of fresh dark fruits. Acidity is a bit out of whack but not too distracting.
March 7, 2015 - Had at potluck after the rock pile, which rendered this impotent, thin and weak. Lighter bodied, pale on the rim. Notes of pomegranate, cherry.
November 16, 2013 - If you still have some, drink now. Still very good and quite big with lots of fruit remaining.
July 20, 2013 - Past its time, too bad I waited previous was a 90 to my taste.
May 18, 2013 - Liked this as it was silky, good acidity and nice cola notes. Black cherry fruit with some oak creaminess.
January 31, 2013 - light red in color. cranberry, cherry, smoke, earth on the nose. smoke, cranberry, tart cherry, cola on the palate. short finish
March 12, 2012 - Spicy and dusty nose on opening. Tart red fruit, maybe cherry. Finish was short, with most of the flavor on the mid-palate. On day 2, the acidity had taken over, though it was still good with hot dogs with onion, mustard, pineapple.
June 3, 2011 - Starting to fade a little, I had hoped that this would age longer. Nice color, almost translucent ruby. Good nose of berries, spice and a little barnyard funk. Mid to light body with nice acidity. Not a very long finish, but nice flavors of sour cherries, cola, spice and a little loam. Definitely not a wine for those who expect a highly extracted Syrah as Pinot that Brian's wines often are. Almost feminine but definitely lets you know that it is a Gary's vineyard since it has the typical Gary's spice and black fruit. Drinking well but I don't know that it will go much longer before it starts to decline.