December 4, 2023 - Lively red fruit-nose (strawberry, raspberry) bogged down a bit by strong oak influency (clove, vanilla, coconut). On the palate, there's high acidity, low tannin, good freshness. Strawberry meets black liquorice in a slightly simple flavour combination. To me, this is like a well-made but unassuming CDR, probably excellent with rustique dishes.
October 28, 2023 - Herbal and flowery on the nose with a light spicy and licorice note on the end.
Juicy, cool fruit on the medium-bodied palate.
August 30, 2023 - A lighter weight fruit forward quaffer. Not the Cigare of yore
April 9, 2023 - Good value for dollar
September 13, 2022 - Light red, acidic with low tannins. Strawberry/raspberry with tobacco.
Excellent for asian and seafood
August 6, 2022 - Murky lighter red color. Burnt fruit aromas. Red fruit flavors with some juicy acidity for food. Lengthy pleasant finish.
December 2, 2021 - Very fresh and true to the Rhone, though perhaps a bit leaner and more nervy than what you'd find over in the Southern Rhone. Fragrant cherry and berry fruit with just a hint of crunchiness, alongside some red liquorice and bramble. Very nice, well put together, with character a plenty. Needs more time to fully integrate, but certainly accessible and enjoyable to a variety of palates.
September 29, 2021 - 2018 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant (California)
This Rhone-style red blend of 52% Grenache, 35% Cinsault and 13% Syrah has an enticing aroma of kirsch, raspberry, plum and leather. A leaner more tart style than most past releases (since 1986!), probably due to the cooler vintage, but still has juicy flavours of cherry and roasted plum with a steep of back tea. The soft tannins and good length are finessed by a sense of restrained yet lush sweetness. Some progressive clouding in the glass by bottle’s end (with a residual crust of tartrates) was somewhat surprising for such a recent vintage of a popular standby. This once original and fun blend for pouring has now become a tad boring, or may just be snoring but isn’t worth storing. Overall, an inoffensive crowd pleaser, the Tom Hanks of fermented grape juice.
Note: Innovative and quirky winemaker Randall Grahm, one of California’s original Rhone Rangers, sold his majority interest in Bonny Doon Vineyard last year and has recently partnered with the E & J Gallo Wine company to produce Central Coast wines under a new label, The Language of Yes. More to come.
September 6, 2021 - rich dark color and ripe aroma, mixed blend with interesting tannin, easy to drink
August 15, 2021 - Pink tinged dark purple. Nose is medium red berry fruit and flowers, fresh and pretty. Fruit forward, light weight with the right structure for early and frequent dinnertime drinking. Impressively long finish. It’s My first glass of this well known wine and I am perturbed with myself I haven’t had it earlier! $20 on sale in Calgary - it’s a mouthwatering deal.