December 30, 2023 - What a cool, cool wine. As some of my wine friends have coined the phrase, when in particular, this is definitely a "Mark Wine." 54% Shake Ridge Mourvèdre, 12% old vine Barbera, 34% old vine Chenin Blanc. Yes, 1/3 Chenin. Uncorked, this one poured like a boujole into the glass. A little bit muddy, but still a vibrant red. The nose was extremely interesting. Strawberry, kiwi, red cherry. On the palate, definitely mild to moderate bodied. Quite a bit of acidity, not really in a bad way either. Roasted red Bramley fruits, strawberry, red cherry, tart cranberry, But I was really getting some dirty passion fruit and even a bit of yellow fruit. At this point I really had no idea that it was one third Chenin! Finished with more of a white pepper spice. Extremely enjoyable wine But my advice to you if you have this one is to let it bottle the cant for a good 20 or 30 minutes because it did have what seemed like a touch of VA at first but it completely blew off. I'd say if you have these, it's time for them to be opened and enjoyed!
November 22, 2023 - Decanted for 90 minutes. Some pepper and spice on the nose. Cranberry and cherry on the palate with a nice elegance. There might even be a sweetness on the back palate (don’t laugh, but like Smarties). The finish is medium-long. Enjoyable and unique wine.
November 4, 2023 - How can a wine this wonderfully geeky and untraditional give so much pleasure? It is just astounding what Hardy Wallace does. Might this have been a little disjointed a year or two ago? Maybe. But now it opens up quickly into a beautiful and layered wash of sweet candied red fruit - raspberry, strawberry, candy apple, jujube, a touch of a smoking sage smudge stick and fresh thyme, a floral note, a smart acidity and a crunchy and textured finish. The beautiful red fruits remind me of what I loved about a 93 DRC Grands Echezeaux. How the hell is this thing 30% chenin?
Hardy Wallace is a special winemaker. And I am not an easy grader.
August 18, 2023 - Immediately after opening this was fruity and a little disjointed - you could clearly taste the chenin in the blend and the components didn’t really seem to come together. After a 3 hour decant and a chance to warm up from cellar temp this really transformed into a beautiful wine- I’d guess this was pinot if blinded, and I’ve never gotten that from a Dirty and Rowdy or Extradimensional before. A serious wine in the making…probably worth giving it a few more years in the cellar at least before opening the next bottle.
October 12, 2022 - These are stunning. Should really hold these but opening one is such a life affirming experience it reminds one why we drink wine.
Edit: Day 2 even more delineated, more layered, less exuberant and more aristocratic. K2, my Napa Cab friend said "wow, this is good" 5 times over one glass.
June 3, 2022 - Delicious, “life-affirming” as someone said earlier. Very very EDWC. High acid, borderline shrill, but thankfully balanced out by a sweet ‘n’ crunchy mourvedre fruit, chenin-esque waxy profile, and a bit of woody herbaceousness (some whole cluster?). Takes an hour to really come out of its shell and then it’s quite delightful.
April 30, 2022 - 73 cases produced, made up of 54% Mourvèdre from Shake Ridge, 34% Chenin Blanc (yup), and 12% Barbera. Decanted for 4 hours. Ripe Blackberry, sour cherry, really nice acid and depth. Delicious as always from Hardy.
April 20, 2022 - See prior note. Opened up more quickly this time, this is soul affirming wine : ) and dang there is a fleeting something of a Burgundy by way of Beaujolais nose coming out of left field on this tonight, no complaints. Fruit buried in the soil reemerging as a flower.
January 14, 2022 - (Y'all, the notes are true - give this one plenty of time to breath, it gets better and better) After half an hour... black cherry, rhubarb, combined with something earthy and loamy, almost green/mossy. Gorgeous ruby color. Elusive at first, then tart. Tangy. Memories of a sour patch kid that was once in your mouth. But then a pleasant subdued raspberry fruit. Checking back in later... transformed, deeper, spicier, lush-er, a bit more structure. The tartness has receded, but the energy has picked up. And later... truly blossoming, more florals now, more seamless, actually lighter feel than last check-in and more harmonious and flat out gulp-demanding.
December 22, 2021 - ***
Decanted ca 90 min.
Medium weight, great length and balance. A really exceptional wine, just pulls you in and won't let go. Somehow the white wine component added to its interest and versatility. Bravo Hardy!
Held up two days on counter (as advertised).