September 12, 2021 - Alas. My final bottle.
Just love their 7/8/9s and the contender is actually my favorite.
Nose a little less funky than I remember, but still savory with sourdough, olive, smoked meats and butter, along with lots of plum, some black currant and blueberry.
Palate is a bit more straightforward with the alcohol seeming a bit more present.
Clear medium garnet with medium meniscus.
Full bodied still, bit of a burn from the alcohol. Med+ acid with balanced tannins. Long finish, but just giving med+ complexity, as others I've had definitely had more. While this will keep, not sure it will improve further.
February 20, 2020 - Opaque garnet, the slightest amber at the edges. Very viscous appearance. Moderately pronounced aromas of dark berries, plums, smoky roasted meat, tar. On the palate, still full-bodied but very round, smooth and balanced. Tannins have resolved, still a bit hot from alcohol level, but wonderful long aftertaste, just keeps going. This was their first release, along with In the Rocks, and it has matured beautifully. Our last bottle, though. It bodes very well for the longevity of their wines.
Ric
February 19, 2018 - Still drinking beautifully
December 30, 2015 - Popped and let sit in the glass for an hour or so (Drank right before the Horsepower Tribe). Can't believe this wine is already 8 years old. I remember drinking it for the first time in the summer of 2009 and thinking this unheard of winery named Reynvaan has got it going on! After drinking 50 or more of their wines since, my opinion has not changed one bit. Stacy's mom might have it going on but she's no Matt Reynvaan! This wine is all growns up and growns up and growns up. All the parts were in sync from the whiffs of bay leaf to olive tapenade to pickled cherries to red currants. Loads of dark black fruit on the palate which paired expertly with the underlying funk that is still present to this day. At it's peak now and most likely for 5-7 more years. 96pts.
November 27, 2015 - Two hour decant before Thanksgiving Dinner, with a few check ins I could not resist. Tight and a bit hot on opening, it evolved beautifully over the next two hours. Dark fruit and pencil lead on the nose, rich and full bodied on the palette with a smooth long finish with a nice touch of complexity.
November 1, 2015 - Took to a Halloween party.
Crowd enjoyed this. Showed really good, maybe a little less vibrant than past tastings.
October 16, 2015 - Our last bottle of the 2007 vintage.
Served with a balsamic chicken dish. Nice pairing.
Strong funky nose in a very attractive way.
Palate was complex, meaty, iodine, bacon fat, pepper
finish was long and mouth watering.
Would buy again
August 12, 2015 - Consistent style. Really peaking now. Love this wine!
June 17, 2015 - Was a bit worried when I Coravin'd off a small glass, thought that might be corked. I think on retrospect it is just in a very closed nose on initial open and between that and The Rocks Funk, it can fool you, especially if just a sample from the Coravin. Subsequent glasses with 1-2 hours air were all very nice and the last half bottle slow O'd for 3 hours tonight is just rocking.
Funk, black cherries, iodine on the nose. Palate full and rich with iron/blood, iodine, red and black fruits, olive brine, slight hint of smoked meat. Tasting notes for Reynvaan and Cayuse make you wonder wtf you are drinking, but these wines just work and are tough to put down if you like them.
Outstanding (91-93)
August 20, 2014 - Crimson in color. 13.99% ABV. Funky nose of iron, blood, cherries and bacon. Medium body and low acidity. Concentrated and complex with a unique sense of weight on the palate. Flavors of cherry, olive brine, soy and grilled meats. Stunning finish. There is so much to like here and the wines are simply getting better every year. Like Cayuse, I suspect this wine will age effortlessly. Drink over the next 2-3 years.