10 years on, the last bottle is uncorked... How does Rousanne from Santa Barbara age a decade on when treated by Maggie Harrison and crew? PnP into Zalto Burgundy glasses and started over-chilled in order to experience the temperature escalation and its effect on the wine over time. First of all, the color is a magnificent golden color that invites you to dive right in. Aromatically intense and rich, notes of lychee, banana and pineapple ( my wife says mango, lemon peel and lilac, once she said it, I have to agree) give the impression of a sweet compote. When the wine enters the mouth it reveals that it is on the fleshy side of medium bodied and it is indeed luscious, however it is also dry and completely composed with just enough acid to keep the wine from being overly large or ripe. The palate echoes the nose with restrained tropical flavors that run the gamut and perhaps a faint impression of white tea with the lightest touch of honey and a touch of floral white pepper. While the nose suggested a dessert wine, the palate revealed a nuanced a tasty wine that could stand on its own or pair with certain foods. The wine definitely comes into its own as it warms up a bit. A decade on this wine is delicious and fun without any signs of slowing down. Drink now and hold to see...
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This was decanted for 45 minutes prior to pouring. It was deep golden in colour and clear. The nose surprised me by quite a strong amount of vanilla along with some mixed citrus notes. The flavours in the glass included honey, lemon and a hint of peach. The wine was very smooth and showed wonderfully.
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Drank at a local sushi restaurant, this wine was lighter yellow in colour and a nose a butter and lemons. It was very smooth in the glass with flavours of peaches, lemons and a tinge of honey. There was nothing outstanding about this wine but overall it was a solid bottle with lighter flavours and good balance.
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Not really sure what to think about this wine... I get many of the characteristics that others have described - stone fruits, pineapple, full bodied, etc. However I thought it could use some more acid. The biggest issue is the moldy, musty funk - it was overwhelming. We could not get past it. Not sure if this was a bad bottle, or what.
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Slight funk on nose and palate. Starting to come into its own. Still feels like it will benefit from some time. Will try to hold for at least a year more.
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Really unusual, but nice as it gets some air. Lemon zest, peach, and honey in the palate, with a rather waxy and viscous body. Hard to gauge if this is a good qpr, as it may be in an odd place. Maybe give it two more years and see if it sheds some of its goofiness.
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Medium yellow gold in the glass. Scents of pineapple, golden delicious apples, and a little wild honey come through on the nose. Full bodied and smooth upon entry, the fruits and sweetness show up first. There is what tastes like grilled pineapple perhaps, along with some honeyed notes on the palate. There is enough acid present to stop the wine from being cloyingly sweet, but this almost comes across like a dessert wine. Texturally, it is a real treat, rich and luxurious with a little oiliness on the finish. I can see where this would be a crowd pleasure on many an occasion, it simply reads sweeter than I had anticipated. If not a dessert wine, then a cocktail wine instead. There is even a touch of heat on the finish. Big, juicy and rich, it deserves a course of its own. On day two, the heat is no longer discernible on the finish and the wine comes across as a little less rich. So, depending on how you like your Roussanne, either drink it now or hold. I'll be holding mine.
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Day 1- really unappetizing. Texture is too thick/viscous and overpowered by a sweet honey flavor. Day 2- Really excellent. Texture has lightened exposing additional flavors of stoney minerals and lemon zest.
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Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of apricot, peach, yellow apples and florals. Flavors of peach, lychee, lemon and minerals. Medium acidity, medium body. Drink or hold.
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Let me start off by saying i thought this was delicious, and I am a big fan of Lillian. With that being said, this is a bit pricey for this wine. I think Stolpman L'avion is an equal to this wine, and is half the price. If I take away the price aspect, the wine is a wonderful expression of the grape, and is a great alternative to Chardonnay. I decanted it for an hour before drinking, and it was on point.
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At this price point, this is a wine that one should taste before buying, which in this case, I wish I had done. Surprising impression of off-dry and sweet without much acidity to redeem it. Too early to drink? Also need to research this more--the cork was branded "Antica Terra."
3/29/2021 - PDX-S wrote:
10 years on, the last bottle is uncorked...
How does Rousanne from Santa Barbara age a decade on when treated by Maggie Harrison and crew?
PnP into Zalto Burgundy glasses and started over-chilled in order to experience the temperature escalation and its effect on the wine over time.
First of all, the color is a magnificent golden color that invites you to dive right in.
Aromatically intense and rich, notes of lychee, banana and pineapple ( my wife says mango, lemon peel and lilac, once she said it, I have to agree) give the impression of a sweet compote. When the wine enters the mouth it reveals that it is on the fleshy side of medium bodied and it is indeed luscious, however it is also dry and completely composed with just enough acid to keep the wine from being overly large or ripe. The palate echoes the nose with restrained tropical flavors that run the gamut and perhaps a faint impression of white tea with the lightest touch of honey and a touch of floral white pepper.
While the nose suggested a dessert wine, the palate revealed a nuanced a tasty wine that could stand on its own or pair with certain foods. The wine definitely comes into its own as it warms up a bit.
A decade on this wine is delicious and fun without any signs of slowing down.
Drink now and hold to see...
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2/2/2019 - Rosengoo wrote: 94 Points
This was decanted for 45 minutes prior to pouring. It was deep golden in colour and clear. The nose surprised me by quite a strong amount of vanilla along with some mixed citrus notes. The flavours in the glass included honey, lemon and a hint of peach. The wine was very smooth and showed wonderfully.
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10/8/2017 - Rosengoo wrote: 90 Points
Drank at a local sushi restaurant, this wine was lighter yellow in colour and a nose a butter and lemons. It was very smooth in the glass with flavours of peaches, lemons and a tinge of honey. There was nothing outstanding about this wine but overall it was a solid bottle with lighter flavours and good balance.
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8/27/2017 - Deadhead wrote: 85 Points
Not really sure what to think about this wine... I get many of the characteristics that others have described - stone fruits, pineapple, full bodied, etc. However I thought it could use some more acid. The biggest issue is the moldy, musty funk - it was overwhelming. We could not get past it. Not sure if this was a bad bottle, or what.
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6/13/2017 - smphelps wrote: 87 Points
Not really developing much from my point of view. Oily and waxy, with a lemon zest.
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11/27/2016 - Hodad Likes this wine: 93 Points
Complex and delicious.
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8/26/2016 - Knicksfan wrote: 92 Points
From magnum; delicious expression of Roussanne. Crisp acid and nice mineral backbone yet the tropical fruit was there in abundance.
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9/11/2015 - PDX-S wrote:
Slight funk on nose and palate. Starting to come into its own. Still feels like it will benefit from some time. Will try to hold for at least a year more.
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5/17/2015 - smphelps wrote: 88 Points
Really unusual, but nice as it gets some air. Lemon zest, peach, and honey in the palate, with a rather waxy and viscous body. Hard to gauge if this is a good qpr, as it may be in an odd place. Maybe give it two more years and see if it sheds some of its goofiness.
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12/4/2014 - PDX-S wrote:
Medium yellow gold in the glass. Scents of pineapple, golden delicious apples, and a little wild honey come through on the nose. Full bodied and smooth upon entry, the fruits and sweetness show up first. There is what tastes like grilled pineapple perhaps, along with some honeyed notes on the palate. There is enough acid present to stop the wine from being cloyingly sweet, but this almost comes across like a dessert wine.
Texturally, it is a real treat, rich and luxurious with a little oiliness on the finish. I can see where this would be a crowd pleasure on many an occasion, it simply reads sweeter than I had anticipated. If not a dessert wine, then a cocktail wine instead. There is even a touch of heat on the finish. Big, juicy and rich, it deserves a course of its own.
On day two, the heat is no longer discernible on the finish and the wine comes across as a little less rich.
So, depending on how you like your Roussanne, either drink it now or hold. I'll be holding mine.
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10/14/2014 - pcwoz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lovely, rich and well put together. Really nice: nutty, stone fruit and even some tropical notes. Good acuity too
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9/23/2014 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Day 1- really unappetizing. Texture is too thick/viscous and overpowered by a sweet honey flavor.
Day 2- Really excellent. Texture has lightened exposing additional flavors of stoney minerals and lemon zest.
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9/1/2014 - wineismylife wrote: 92 Points
WIML92
Tasted non blind.
Light yellow to yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of apricot, peach, yellow apples and florals. Flavors of peach, lychee, lemon and minerals. Medium acidity, medium body. Drink or hold.
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7/29/2014 - rdsboca Likes this wine: 92 Points
NIce tropical fruit flavors. Pretty thick with notes of honeydew melon and pineapple. A bit of a waxy mouthfeel.
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7/19/2014 - jlaws7lh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Let me start off by saying i thought this was delicious, and I am a big fan of Lillian. With that being said, this is a bit pricey for this wine. I think Stolpman L'avion is an equal to this wine, and is half the price. If I take away the price aspect, the wine is a wonderful expression of the grape, and is a great alternative to Chardonnay. I decanted it for an hour before drinking, and it was on point.
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6/9/2014 - Italiana wrote:
At this price point, this is a wine that one should taste before buying, which in this case, I wish I had done. Surprising impression of off-dry and sweet without much acidity to redeem it. Too early to drink? Also need to research this more--the cork was branded "Antica Terra."
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5/18/2014 - RMundell Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice.
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