March 21, 2014 - A big, bold full bodied wine that's enjoyable and quite fun to drink! Still holding up quite well and has a couple more years of life left. Looking forward to drinking my last bottle.
August 21, 2013 - Similar notes as prior bottle. But starting to come together nicely. Big, bold with great balance and wonderful long finish!
April 28, 2013 - Full bodied wine with great balance. Fun to drink.
September 14, 2012 - Fairly simple. Drank smoothly and enjoyable. However, no complexity and short finish. Fine but nothing to remember.
June 28, 2012 - Dark, full bodied with complex flavors and a long finish. I like this wine a lot. It isn't a perfumed finesse wine but packs a powerful flavor profile without punching you in the nose.
September 26, 2011 - A big, bold, wonderfully balanced blend of seven varieties, with a lengthy finish. Bordeaux-like, with some Syrah, Grenache and Petite Sirah thrown in for some additional character. Still quite young and should improve nicely with same additional age.
Quite delicious, with a fun bottle that's sure to be a conversation at any party or dinner. ARRRRRGH, mate!
May 23, 2011 - Deep, dark and full-bodied. A very nice wine.
January 25, 2011 - In Vino Unitas: California Producers Direct Market (St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, California): Very dark red violet color; smoke, tar, tart black fruit nose; tasty, tart black fruit, tart plum, charcoal, tar palate; medium-plus finish (blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Grenache; 40% new French oak for 22 mos.)
January 3, 2011 - First impression: why did I buy this? Nose of bright sweet cherry, (Alexander Valley?) oak, vanilla.vNothing too impressive. Easy to drink for a Rhone/Bordeaux/kitchen sink blend.
Day two: wow. A lot darker fruit, earth and tobacco coming through. The juicy black fruits of the grenache came out, along with more pronounced mid palate, and a pepper note.
Overall not worth the price tag. I'd take Leviathan over it any day. But it was interesting on day two, so I hope the rest of the 6 pack evolves.
November 25, 2010 - Thanksgiving 2010 (Brenda and Don's): At the time of this posting the wine had a 92pt average. Is that Screaming Eagle hype spilling over? It's a good wine but even the cab lovers in the group weren't overly impressed.
Even with 3 years on this wine, it's a very young wine and the 2013 community drinking window is way off. I'd put it at 2016 on the top end for starters.
Guessing the presence of the petite sirah is adding greatly to the dark color and rough tannins at this point. The significant number of varietals does add to the complexity on the nose and palate. This finish is tannic, slightly dry, and there's no hiding the oak.
Put this to bed for 3 more years.