February 1, 2015 - A curious nose that immediately leads me to the Rhone; black pepper, cherry, licorice, garrigue, a wisp of smoke, something animal, feral even. Somewhat rustic tannin, like a country wine with great refinement and intrigue. Intense and lasting palate. I could sit with a wine like this for hours.
January 27, 2015 - Absolutely beautiful. Consumed over three nights, each showing very well if somewhat differently (less fruit, more flowers and soil by day 3). Bright ruby<light cranberry hue; clear. Somewhat high-toned on PnP, with loam, some EtOH, watermelon hard candy, garrigue and dust. Medium-bodied, red fruited, with meaty, cherry, loamy, toasty notes that emerge by the second glass; adds some weight/texture with air, but always manages a fresh, lively cut.
Day#2: game notes, rosewater, lilac; acids and tannins more pronounced. Structured, lovely. Long, clean and detailed finish. Finishes with a gentle kiss of warmth. 14,5% abv., thru 2026. highly recommended
Served non-blind.
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September 17, 2010 - An interesting nose with exotic scents and a vast palate....well made and worth attention. I wish I could say more...but this was one of those few wines that I found myself with little interest to sit with pen and paper. I simply enjoyed the unique expression of a time and place...and that is something special for any wine that can offer it.
January 27, 2010 - Lots of complex fruit and slight spicing with a really nice svelte profile, but also nothing stepping outside that fruit-centric box. Loads of enjoyment as it is a very pretty box.
March 26, 2009 - An extremely sophisticated, finessed wine that's like grand cru Burgundy in its svelte proportions and silky texture. But not in complexity or character, as the fruit is pretty simple and one-note and there isn't much else there besides a slight seasoning of cedary oak.
December 18, 2008 - Just about anything would be a letdown from the build-up of the wine and it was despite the quality here. Bang-up dark and brooding colour with a suprisingly shy nose. Exotic elements peek out, but honestly this was far spoofier than I expected. I just don't have a lot to say here.
June 8, 2008 - Every once in a while you run into a wine that just blows you away. Chaad at Paesanos in Ann Arbor gets small quantities of special wines which he offers to a few interested customers. Most of the time they are good wines of types that I might not get to try under other circumstances, but occasionally they are world-beaters. This was head and shoulders above any wine I have ever tasted in my life. The first smell from a swirled glass made me snap my head back; it was so intense that it frightened me. Edging back for another sniff I realized that it was just the unexpected power that had startled me. After dinner, I brought the the partial bottle home with me. Almost three hours after the initial opening it is still there, changed, but still powerful. I wish I was one of those people who can pull a thousand smells and flavors out of my head and compare them to the wine. I can only say that I drink 2 to 5 pretty good northern-Italian wines a week, and this one is the best I have ever had.